第１４５５堀：事態を整理する (Part1)
Chapter 1455: Organizing the Situation
Side: Yuki
Yesterday, everyone successfully completed their duties as envoys and returned, leading to a banquet in the evening. It was the first time we had been separated for such a long period. Well, technically, I had been reuniting with them at home after they returned from their doppelganger forms, but worry is worry, regardless of the logic.
At any rate, there are no physical aftereffects for my wives, or for Menou, Show, Difes, Kaya, and Claudia, who accompanied them. Rurua and Lilishe performed thorough examinations, and no abnormalities were found. I had been on edge, fearing they might have been exposed to some strange pathogen or curse. It’s a common tale in these parts: an envoy becomes a carrier, and their home nation is struck by a devastating plague. I had asked Rurua and the others to check for that specifically, fearing the "Dark Guild" might resort to such underhanded tactics. They started the examinations with incredibly serious expressions, though in the end, nothing was found. I suppose we should credit the strict disinfection and hygiene protocols I’ve insisted upon.
I just hope no plague breaks out in Sulus. But since the Allied Forces have already stepped in to establish hospitals and provide guidance, there’s little cause for concern there.
The biggest issues remain: the fact that Irinau allowed an attack to occur and drove out the envoys, and the ongoing pursuit of the Dark Guild members. Both are problems, but for now, we are in a "wait and see" phase. In other words, there is nothing to be done on the diplomatic front. Of course, I still have to compile reports and oversee the investigations underway within Weed, so the workload remains as heavy as ever.
As I was thinking this, scanning the reports my wives had worked so hard to compile, the office door suddenly opened.
"Hey, Yuki. Got a moment?"
"Pardon the intrusion while you're working."
"It's been a while since we've been in the office."
For some reason, Agil, Stasia, and Jessica had arrived. Orelia and the others reacted instantly, beginning to prepare tea without a hint of panic. I’ve gotten used to these sudden visits, so I replied.
"Sure. But aren't you three supposed to be off today?"
Yes, even though the wives who went to Sulus and the other two nations are on long-term leave after their return—well, four days of it—they had also pulled off the grueling task of compiling and submitting their reports immediately upon getting back. I was worried because they had been exhausted before the banquet, but they seemed to be having a lively time. It was that classic "Friday night after a long week" energy. Even though it was past noon now, I wondered if they should really be showing their faces at the workplace. I asked out of genuine concern for their health.
"It's fine. The leave continues, and there's no problem. It was much tougher when we were generals."
"Indeed. No issues at all. It used to be much worse in the old days."
"That's right. Life has been easy since coming to work for Yuki."
All three insisted that their past lives were far more grueling. That may be true, but that doesn't mean the present isn't difficult in its own way. Still, it’s better to hear them out and get it over with than to force them away.
"Don't push yourselves. So, can we talk here? Should we move?"
This is my office, after all, and there’s a fair amount of foot traffic. People from various departments gather here—monsters like Steve, Nina from the Resident Affairs, Prof from the Information Division, and my aide-in-training, Lyushi.
"This is fine. Everyone here is already entangled in the Dark Guild and Dungeon Master business."
"Ah, is that what this is about?"
"Exactly."
Agil sat on the long sofa, Stasia beside her, while Jessica took her own desk.
"We were acting as the military and as envoys this time, right? So, we prioritized the mission without getting too bogged down in speculation."
"That’s only natural. It’s not like you had any concrete information to go on, right?"
"Yes. Since there was no direct harm to the military or the envoys, we prioritized completing our mission."
"Stasia isn't wrong. If you stop to worry about every little thing, nothing ever moves forward."
If there were blatant signs of damage, interrupting the mission would be a given, but it’s impossible to halt operations over vague uncertainties. If there had been something that truly triggered their intuition, they would have contacted me, but that hadn't happened either. Or rather, even I wouldn't ignore a report from veterans like Agil and the others. Since no such report came...
"It wasn't worth reporting, but was there something that bothered you at the time?"
"We discussed it yesterday while writing our reports, but we wanted to hear Yuki's take on the information you hold. That’s why we came to ask you separately. You know, it takes forever to analyze small doubts when everyone is gathered together."
"I see. That makes sense."
It’s true; if I listened to the opinions of all my wives, the conversation would never progress. In those meetings, it’s better for members who have already synthesized the information to speak. It wouldn't do to have the meeting stall over ambiguous data, and my wives would likely keep their mouths shut regarding unconfirmed information anyway. Only those with a natural, sharp intuition—like Riel or Aslin—would speak up about a strange feeling in such a setting.
"I’m glad to hear your opinions, Agil. Everyone, stop what you’re doing for a moment. We’re all going to listen to this. Orelia, once you’re done with the preparations, join us. Nina, Prof, you too, alright?"
"Sure thing."
"Understood."
Nina and Prof followed my instructions, setting aside their work. Meanwhile, Orelia and the others finished preparing the tea and served it to Agil’s group.
"Thank you."
Agil and the others took a sip, looking relieved.
"Right, let's begin. First, the background. Yuki, you started moving to resolve the situation after hearing about the Great Flood in the Sulus region of Litea, but the original reason you heard about that was to protect—or rather, verify—the existence of rare races, right?"
"If I recall, the detailed objective was to accompany Queen Miyabi to the Saint's Spring to confirm their existence, correct?"
"That’s right. As Agil and Stasia said, I had already decided to visit Sulus. I planned to hold discussions and provide explanations in advance to prevent friction with rare races and to stop slave trading within the alliance."
Yes, the visit to Sulus was originally intended to confirm the existence of the spirits—the so-called rare races—to avoid inter-species trouble as the alliance began.
"Also, before this talk of visiting Sulus, you were considering making contact with rare races like the Gem Tribe and the Winged Tribe in Liliana's Last Kingdom, weren't you?"
"No doubt. It feels like a long time ago, but it was only recently."
I looked off into the distance. I was supposed to be solving the issue of rare races, and yet here I am, dealing with the Dark Guild, Dungeon Masters, and territorial violations. After I finished speaking, Agil and the others exchanged glances.
Then, Jessica spoke in a firm tone.
"Yuki. To be honest, I don't understand the Dark Guild or the Dungeon Master situation at all, but I believe we should make contact with the rare races immediately."
"And the reason for that is?"