第１６１７堀：慌てるのは分かるけどよく考えてみよう (Part1)
Chapter 1617: I Understand the Panic, But Let’s Think This Through
Side: Yuki
Following the report—or rather, the proposal—I made yesterday, I decided to gather my wives and companions today for an explanatory meeting.
After running into Kagura in the bathhouse and realizing that the various nations were indeed suspicious of us, Seraria and Rurua had advised me that it would be best to provide a proper explanation of the situation from Weed’s perspective through my wives.
The result…
“““……”””
Almost all of my wives who serve as diplomats were slumped over their desks.
Seeing this, members like Tori and Riel offered wry smiles.
The only ones among the diplomatic team who had heard the circumstances in the bath yesterday were Kagura and Mikos. They had their heads up, but since they would be the ones relaying this explanation to Princess Carrie and the various kings, their faces were stiff with tension.
“I’m sorry to put this on all of you who handle the dealings with the other nations, but it was necessary. That’s why I want you to take back any questions you might have.”
“……I understand the situation, but are you truly intending to hand over even a portion of a Dungeon Master’s rights—the provision of a Core—to these other nations?”
Fiora finally lifted her head, asking the question with a grave expression. Stasia nodded in agreement.
“Fiora is right. I understand the concerns, but won’t this just lower Weed’s value by allowing them to create their own dungeons?”
As expected, opinions are divided on that point. It’s only natural for some to think that if they carelessly touch the Core and cause a runaway, that’s their own business.
“I understand Stasia’s opinion, but I also understand Yuki-sama’s. If they use the Core to expand their influence in places we don’t know about, that would be a nuisance. It’s a matter of where we place the weight, isn’t it?”
“……At the end of the day, the talk of Cores and dungeons is already out there. I understand Fiora and Stasia’s worries, but now, countermeasures are what matter. Besides, I promise not to act on my own like this again.”
“That’s right. At the very least, you were in the wrong this time.”
“I agree. I think Cleena-san is correct.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
Everyone reached the same conclusion: my unilateral decision this time was unacceptable.
“Yeah, I know I was in the wrong there. From now on, I’ll consult with you all and make sure to put on a proper performance.”
“““……”””
When I mentioned the “performance” part, some of the members looked away. Well, even if I kept it from the higher-ups, the chances of it leaking were high anyway.
“Well then, let’s settle this by having your husband work hard both morning and night as an apology. Honestly, even I, who isn’t in diplomacy, am going to have a hell of a time from here on out, so I want at least that much.”
“That’s true. Truly. Not just me, but everyone needs to be pampered.”
“The Adventurer Guild will be in an uproar if they hear about this. So, we too…”
Somehow, even those outside the diplomatic team started raising their hands. Actually, everyone was raising their hands. Perhaps because things have been so busy lately, they’ve all got things pent up.
“Understood. I’ll accept my punishment for this time. You wives can decide on the method.”
“You seem to be reflecting, at least. If you put it that way, we’ll forgive you.”
“Indeed. You’ve been working too hard lately, so having a few more breaks shouldn’t be a problem.”
While all the wives were nodding along to Seraria and Rurua’s words…
“Ah, I have no intention of commenting on your marital affairs, but in the end, how are we supposed to move?”
Zargis raised her hand and asked the question without any particular concern. Nice. As expected of a researcher who can’t read the room.
“I felt a very rude gaze, but Yuki, what are you thinking?”
“Well, the diplomatic team has a lot to explain, but there’s no reason or need for the others to move. Depending on the conclusions the nations reach, there will be meetings regarding the exchange of goods, but that will likely only involve Eris and Ratz. Oh, and Milly will have a burden depending on how the Adventurer Guild gets involved.”
“That means adjusting the flow of funds between nations based on the goods produced in the dungeon, right?”
“The goods are the same, too… This is going to be more than just a small matter…”
“The Adventurer Guild is the same, too…”
“I’ll show my face there too, so I’ll try to minimize the burden on the three of you as much as possible. If they can provide goods within their own countries, the possibility of interaction decreasing arises. That would be counterproductive.”
“Indeed, if they can prepare things themselves, the necessity for trade disappears. From that perspective, isn’t providing a Core a bad idea?”
It seems Zargis also has some objections to providing the Core. Well, what I just said is a genuine problem. However…
“I’ve thought about that, too. Or rather, please just calm down and think about it. If you produce goods that you currently rely on trade for within a dungeon, how much DP do you think that would require? Not just for the upper echelons, but to satisfy the needs of the populace?”
“““Ah.”””
They finally seemed to realize the fact upon my pointing it out.
“I’m glad you understand. In other words, just because they build a dungeon doesn’t mean they can earn DP immediately. People have to live in the dungeon, after all. And in that case, I don’t know if they’ll be able to provide goods to the public like we do in Weed, but they won’t have enough leeway to replace what they currently supplement through trade.”
“That is certainly true. We do provide various things with DP, but that’s only because we have many residents, and even then, the scale wasn’t large at first. It felt like we were just barely managing to set up the necessary environment, didn’t it?”
“Yeah, as Ratz said, we were barely managing to set up the environment at first. It’ll be the same for the nations we give the Cores to. That means they’ll need time to move people and set up living environments, and it will take quite a while before they can use DP with any leeway.”
“Hmm. Considering that, it will likely take years, just like it did for Weed.”
As Deryu said, it will take at least years. After all, just bringing people over is a struggle in itself. Still, it’s not as if there aren’t loopholes…
“But in that case, couldn’t they just build a dungeon under an existing town or something?”
“Yeah, Riel is right. That way, they’d get DP income immediately, right?”
As Riel said. That is a loophole, but…
“Hmm, if they could do that, it would be the best, but that’s impossible, of course.”