第１７４８堀：待機の間に起こっていること (Part2)
Solidifying mana into physical platforms to use as footing is both safe and convenient. To be told to simply float in a dungeon with no foreseeable end is practically a form of torture.
"So, I started by checking how much dust had accumulated and how many points of entry were being used by people."
"I see. So you’re narrowing down the areas that might hold some information?"
"Exactly. And if there are no issues, the plan is to turn it into a dungeon and bring it under our control."
"You mean to confirm whether a Dungeon Master is involved? But isn't that dangerous if you don't have definitive proof?"
"It’s dangerous, yes, but we won't learn anything unless we do it. Besides, there’s the matter of how long the exploration will take... From what we’ve gathered, it’s been confirmed up to the fourth floor. As for the scale, it’s at least a kilometer wide."
"That’s larger than I thought."
A one-kilometer labyrinth type.
One shouldn't dismiss that as a standard size; when you're exploring with your life on the line, it becomes an incredibly long trek. Especially when there’s a time limit, as is the case this time, it truly drags on.
"But if that’s the case, won't it be too late by the time Leila and the others, and Kate, arrive?"
"Ah, that doesn't matter. The important thing is to act while we’re drawing the Usano Kingdom and the Aeh Kingdom out. Besides, the duration of our stay is for the sake of the investigation; I’m anticipating at least a month."
"...Is that so? We’re supposed to have a discussion, right?"
She says it so nonchalantly, as if it’s a given that we’re stuck here working overtime for a month...
No, I suppose for members of the Holy Sword Users, spending years on field investigations was normal, but being away from Weed is another matter entirely. Now that I’ve grown accustomed to that convenient life, it’s not that these cold, remote villages are bad, but living in comfort is undeniably better.
Unaware of our inner turmoil, Seraria continues.
"Yes. We’ve already offered to cooperate with the investigation. We plan to have Roschur and Gartz act as patron nations, and we’ll have the major powers of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance—Litea and Rumel—backing us as well. We’ll assure them that this won't be used to disparage their nation. We’ll tell them we’re unaware of the actual situation, that we’ll cover the investigation costs, and ask if there’s some reason they find that unacceptable."
"...I feel like that could work, but they refused us last time, didn't they? We even offered them favorable terms, right?"
"We did. And they still said no. But this time, it’s not a request from envoys of major powers, but a direct request from their leaders. And not just one, but several. We’ll keep an official record of it. I’ll explain the current situation as well."
"Ugh, so you’re basically forcing them to admit that they’re hiding something."
If it were just envoys, they could act tough, but if they refuse a request for investigative cooperation in the face of the kings of major powers—especially when there are suspicions of a Great Outbreak or involvement with a Dark Guild—then, as Kishua says, it would conversely prove they are hiding something...
"Exactly. At worst, we’ll have no choice but to suspect Dark Guild involvement."
"Wait a minute, didn't you say that using that kind of heavy-handed approach with the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance would cause a massive backlash?"
That’s right. The reason we hadn't used that tactic until now was the concern that it was too aggressive and would trigger friction within the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. It could even lead to internal division if we weren't careful. Why the sudden change?
"That’s true, but this time, the kings of the major powers themselves are coming out to hold these talks. It won't be a verbal promise; we’ll sign a contract, so there will be no breach of faith. And above all, we’ll state that, considering the damage from the Great Outbreak and the Dark Guild, we won't let their national honor be tarnished, and we’ll even praise them as collaborators. If they can’t cooperate after all that, the question becomes: why?"
"So, while making those concessions and holding the meetings officially, they’re still going to tell us that there’s nothing there, or rather, tell us not to investigate a place they’ve essentially abandoned? That’s practically admitting they’re up to no good to our faces. But there was talk that we’d be pushed back because every nation has its own secrets."
Indeed, every country has plenty of things they want to keep hidden. Weed is no different; we can’t exactly tell others about the various things we do using our dungeon.
"That’s true. But at this point, there’s no room for secrets. The fact that it’s become such a massive commotion is the problem."
"When you put it that way, you’re right."
"And above all, that secret place will be exposed while they’re in negotiations with us."
"..."
In other words, the secret place will no longer be a secret.
I see. That’s why the intervention of the Adventurer’s Guild is so important...
As always, it’s underhanded—or perhaps, it’s all going exactly according to plan.
The dungeon in the remote village where the disappearances occurred still has a faint sense of being used, but it’s a fact that something was going on there.
All that’s left now is to coordinate with the others and carry out our scheme.