第１５８５堀：ある少女との会話 (Part1)
Chapter 1585: A Conversation with a Certain Girl
Side: Stasia
“……Phew.”
I handed the report to Father—no, to His Majesty, the Emperor of the Findarl Empire.
It had been three days since Yuki-sama returned.
Under normal circumstances, such a swift report would be unheard of, but because many nations, including Findarl, had been keeping a close watch on the situation, the report was expedited.
“It’s rare, Stasia. To see you sigh in my presence. Or perhaps it’s the fact that you’ve removed your mask that is the rarity?”
“Father, Sister has been like this for a while now, hasn’t she? Please, don’t tease her so much. She’s on good terms with Brother-in-law, after all.”
To Father’s dark joke, Arge, who was sitting in on our meeting, offered a word of support.
The mask in question was the iron mask I had worn until now; it was quite improper to have worn it even in a setting like this.
“Hahaha, my apologies. I suppose I just can’t help myself when I look at Stasia.”
While offering such words, Father began to scan the report, but without paying any mind to the work at hand…
“And so, Father. Is it truly alright for you to be here in Weed? Isn’t it quite busy on your end?”
That’s right. Setting aside my own presence, the fact that Arge—a dead woman—could meet with us openly meant that we were currently within the territory of Weed.
Ordinarily, a report of this nature should be delivered in our home country, Findarl, but…
“What are you talking about? The travel between our Findarl and Weed takes but a few minutes. You know well enough that nobles with business can use the dedicated gates, so there is no issue. My urgent work has already been concluded. The problem lies here.”
As expected of Father, he had finished what needed to be done before coming here; it seemed he had been eagerly awaiting my report.
Specifically, he was likely interested in the events that transpired in Hinsua.
“Come to think of it, Sister. I know that Brother-in-law and the others returned safely, but what was the outcome?”
“Ah, well, it is technically classified information…”
Yuki-sama would likely tell me that it was fine to speak to Arge, but I felt it was improper to do so without prior consultation. Just as I thought that…
“There is no need to hide it. I am already aware of the operation to annihilate the Dark Guild. Well, I don’t believe my son-in-law would be angered by something of this level, but I will make sure to follow up by saying it was I who spoke of it, so do not worry.”
“Thank you very much.”
“And Arge, it is not incorrect to call it classified. If you wish to hear such things, prepare yourself so that you are worthy of being told.”
“Understood. I shall not be so thoughtless in the future.”
Arge responded sharply to Father’s reprimand.
However, from the flow of the conversation, it was painfully obvious that it was all an act.
Still, I suppose it was a necessary one.
“Very well. As for the contents: it is written that the initial objectives—the search for the hidden treasure in the former Vinoshia royal capital territory, the identification of the Dark Guild members, and the grasping and subjugation of the dungeon—have all been completed.”
“Ohhh, as expected of Brother-in-law. Right on schedule, and without any casualties, too.”
“It is only natural for Yuki-sama.”
I answered Arge’s comment with my head held high.
My husband has no openings.
“Well, that is indeed Yuki-dono for you. However, it was not entirely perfect.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It seems there was no Dungeon Master. Apparently, the Dark Guild members who discovered the core became capable of using it themselves.”
“Excuse me? What does that mean, Sister?”
Arge seemed not to grasp the meaning, looking to me for an explanation.
Well, it would be difficult to understand the details from Father’s brief summary.
“To put it simply, the ‘hidden treasure’ spoken of in Vinoshia was, in fact, the core. We have confirmed that the Dark Guild members stumbled upon it and gained the ability to utilize it.”
“Huh? What were they thinking? What was the Dungeon Master who placed the core thinking?”
“We share that very question, but we do not know. After all, the person in question is nowhere to be found.”
“Indeed. As Stasia says, we have no idea what their objective was. Regardless, the report states that the fact that those Dark Guild members are acting as pseudo-Dungeon Masters using the core is a threat. Furthermore, it seems opinions within their ranks split, and the individuals capable of using the core have already departed toward the coast.”
“Wait!? Doesn’t that mean nothing has been resolved!?”
Arge’s eyes widened at the news that the pseudo-Dungeon Masters had escaped.
She seemed to understand just how problematic this situation was.
However…
“No, the objectives of securing the hidden treasure, the Dark Guild members, and the dungeon in the former Vinoshia territory were completed, so the plan was executed perfectly. Those who left with the core did so due to a difference in policy before Yuki-dono and his party could even intervene.”
“Ah, I see. In other words, the fact that the Dark Guild members escaped with the core is… a major issue, isn’t it? It means something like what happened in Suurus could occur again, right?”
“Your assessment is correct. However, all activities in Hinsua have been concluded. We cannot simply extend this operation to pursue the Dark Guild further. Do you understand, Arge?”
When I asked her this, Arge thought for a moment.
“Now that you put it that way… I suppose you’re right. If it were a matter within Hinsua, there might have been a way, but with the Dark Guild members having fled to other countries, it is impossible to pursue them as an extension of a treasure hunt within Hinsua.”
Arge is no fool; when she thinks about it calmly, she can arrive at the answer herself.
Seeing this, Father nodded as well.
“Exactly. Well, one could argue that since the treasure wasn’t found and new information led to another country, the mission could be extended, but that would no longer be a matter concerning only Hinsua. It would require negotiations with other nations. So, what do you think we should do? What kind of move do you think we should make to pursue the Dark Guild?”
While explaining this, he threw the next question at Arge.
Father had already read the part of the report regarding the coastal survey and the construction of a new port, so he was asking this on purpose—one might call it mean-spirited, or perhaps he was simply enjoying himself…
Just as I was considering whether I should step in to help, Father shot me a glance, and I decided to remain silent.
“Ah, you’ve forbidden Sister from speaking. In other words, this is a challenge to solve it without any hints.”
“No, I wouldn’t say it’s that difficult. Trying to follow the train of thought of that son-in-law of mine is a bit of an impossible task, after all.”
“Ah, indeed. Brother-in-law’s way of thinking is not something a normal person could conceive.”
“I would like to deny that, but I cannot. However, I will say once more that Yuki-sama is a good person.”
His intellect is truly not to be underestimated, so I thought it best to emphasize his kindness.
“I know that. If he weren’t, he wouldn’t think to keep a dead girl by his side—a girl who could become a ticking time bomb in the Hayden region if her existence were ever discovered. At most, the profit he gains is nothing more than the gratitude of us Findarl royals. Even you, Father, would discard me immediately if I were used as leverage for a threat.”
“That is true. You and the citizens are not to be compared. Gratitude is free, after all. But the idea of my son-in-law using Arge as leverage is impossible. By the time he would ever need to do that, it would already be far too late for the enemy.”
Indeed.
If it were Yuki-sama, I can see clearly that by the time one realized it, the situation would already be beyond saving.