第１６１９堀：物を作るということは (Part2)
"That’s the situation. I could certainly manifest steel and the like, but since we can also manifest the blast furnaces required to process it, it’s far more efficient to source the raw iron ore ourselves. It saves DP, and frankly, our resources aren't infinite. I suppose I could provide everything through the dungeon, but..."
"Hmm. Indeed, that would lead to depletion. Ah, I see. So, the question of how to procure such raw materials becomes a hurdle in itself."
"Iron, is it? That’s practically a strategic military resource... Would it be naive to hope that places with a surplus might be willing to sell it to us?"
"We’re talking about manufacturing vehicles and the like from here on out. You might think it’s best to be self-sufficient at first. Of course, market prices are bound to skyrocket, so selling off your own stock to secure capital is also a viable strategy."
I see, I see.
Even when it comes to crafting a single item, there are mountains of factors to consider.
No, I knew that much.
But hearing it laid out like this, I realize I hadn't truly grasped the sheer complexity of it all.
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
"Tell me, Yuki. Is it truly alright for Weed to be pouring DP into such ventures?"
"It’s not so much that it’s 'alright' as it is a matter of managing limited resources. If I gave the R&D team—led by Narjia—a blank check, they’d burn through our entire DP reserve in the blink of an eye."
"...Is it really on that scale?"
"It is. Fortunately, we’ve been saving up, so we can handle emergencies, but even so, if we were to produce fifty units of the modern weaponry my husband is so fond of, our savings would be utterly wiped out."
"I had heard they were expensive, but to that extent?"
"Some types of ammunition cost as much as a single citizen’s entire lifetime earnings for just one round."
"I see. No wonder Eris and Ratz look so pale."
If such things were fired off willy-nilly, we’d be bankrupt in a heartbeat.
"Glad you understand. At the end of the day, while people dream of the potential of dungeons, they aren't some omnipotent panacea. You need the initial capital to make them work."
"I see. So, simply handing over a core and creating a dungeon doesn't mean you can just conjure anything you desire."
"Exactly as Prol says. And as Seraria and the others discussed, before they even get to the funding or the materials, every nation has to grapple with where to build the dungeon and how to attract the necessary population."
"And on top of that, you’re the one suggesting they produce vehicles and medical equipment, aren't you?"
"...Ahaha, even I can see where that’s going. Every nation is going to insist on doing it themselves, that’s for certain."
Rurua offered a wry smile as she spoke of the future.
And I, too, can see that same future unfolding.
Even a standard dungeon would have been a prize worth fighting over; with the added capability to produce vehicles and medical supplies, the political leverage of any nation possessing one will undoubtedly soar.
Of course, it would be under the royal family's mandate, but the nobles appointed to oversee such operations would certainly see their influence grow.
Such a lucrative position is destined to become a battlefield of ambition.
In other words, just as Rurua said, there will be so many candidates that it will be impossible to reach a consensus.
"So, this is the optimal way to stall them?"
"I wouldn't call it 'stalling,' exactly. The truth is, if not for this incident with Suls, I never would have provided cores or dungeons to other nations. It wasn't part of the plan."
"Well, that is true. They are difficult things to handle."
When we first heard the proposal, we all thought he had lost his mind.
It was obvious that if a fool were to get their hands on one, it would lead to a Great Outbreak like the one in Suls.
But at the time, we hadn't considered that by suppressing it, we might drive other nations to scramble for cores on their own, leading to an even more uncontrollable situation.
That is why Yuki is using the production of vehicles and medical supplies as bait to force them to accept the provided cores and dungeons.
That way, even if they use a salvaged core, the priority remains tilted in our favor.
"With that said, I’d like you to handle things with that intent in mind."
I understand Yuki’s intentions, but I find myself just as troubled by the work ahead as I was before.
After all, even the same tool functions differently depending on the user.
It requires the right kind of customization.
Ordinary people, for instance, have no need for a self-destruct mechanism.