第１６１３堀：敵の今後について (Part2)
"That is certainly true. However, rather than cornering them carelessly and forcing an unpredictable escalation, it might be safer to let them enter a dungeon and seize control from within. The fact that they are on the move suggests their DP reserves aren't increasing."
"I see your point. With only ten thousand or so, if we corner them and they panic, they might summon a powerful monster and unleash it—that would be a disaster."
If they were summoning them to fight us, that would be one thing, but having them lose control and spawn monsters blindly is a different headache entirely. Without a core to anchor them, those monsters would be no different from wild beasts.
"Indeed. If they are inside a dungeon, they will naturally burn through their resources. Even if they summon something powerful, they should settle for something manageable. That said, I doubt even a sudden expenditure of ten thousand DP would produce a monster capable of challenging us. But as you say, Master, if they simply generate them at random rather than directing them at us, the aftermath becomes the real problem."
"That is true. Even if we can track them for now, we cannot rule out the possibility of them summoning something far away and losing control. If that happens, we won't be able to move rashly until the damage is already done."
Deryu’s expression darkened, clearly grasping the gravity of the situation. In contrast, Vilia tilted her head, looking puzzled.
"I understand the discussion, but wouldn't it be simpler to just capture them without resistance? It worked well in Vinosia, didn't it?"
"Yes, Vilia-sama. As you say, it went well in Vinosia. We have no intention of failing this time either, but it was not a matter I could decide on my own."
I nodded. Vilia’s question was logical, and Kirika’s caution was equally sound. Now, it was up to me, as the one responsible, to make the call. All eyes turned toward me.
"Let’s watch them build the dungeon. It’s not just about avoiding the risk of them unleashing monsters; I want to confirm who they contact from that base."
"I see. In Vinosia, we didn't know the scale of the dungeon, and there was a constant threat of the town being attacked, so we had to suppress it immediately. But in this case, there are no towns or villages nearby. You mean to keep them alive to gather intelligence as long as there is no damage?"
Jessica asked, having parsed my intent.
"That’s part of it. Naturally, I’ll get permission from the Alliance. It’s not good for the Rogari Continent to have things stirred up any further. If we have them under our thumb, we can let them move freely and see if we can use them to dismantle the enemy’s branches."
"I see. You intend to use the information gathered to crush the dark guild’s associates."
"Exactly. If we crush them here, the trail ends. Well, it might serve as a warning to their associates, but that alone won't stop the dark guild or their ilk from doing evil."
"…That is, unfortunately, true."
Prol agreed, though she looked slightly displeased by the reality of it. Well, if they were the type to stop just because of a warning, they wouldn't be doing these things in the first place.
"Kirika, that’s my plan. Can the intelligence department spare the personnel for this?"
"It would certainly require fewer resources than a frantic chase or on-site investigations, so it is possible. However, will the allied nations approve of such a method? If the dark guild’s associates cause an incident, we could be held responsible."
"Indeed~, as Kirika-sama says~, if something happens, won't Weed be blamed for just watching them~?"
Hovis chimed in, echoing Kirika’s concern.
"I’ll go and ask them to decide that. Given the power balance, I doubt it will be an issue. Even the great powers are annoyed by this situation, so they’d likely prefer this over a simple destruction. It’s fortunate we found them before things got out of hand. Well, we haven't 'found' them yet, but I’ll prepare to report to the higher-ups. Kirika, keep tracking them."
"Understood."
And so, the situation was… well, whether this was good or bad for us remained to be seen. It was a delicate balance. I was determined to exploit this to the fullest. You always keep the leash on, waiting for the rest of the prey to take the bait.