第１８３７堀：行方不明事件の解決先 (Part1)
**Chapter 1837: The Resolution of the Disappearance Case**
**Side: Yuki**
There had been a breakthrough in the matter involving the adventurer guild branches in Usano and Aae.
Or rather, it would be fair to say we’ve effectively cornered them.
It isn’t absolute confirmation, but there’s no room left for them to hide their tracks.
I had thought I’d be waiting until the next request came in, but that wasn’t the case after all.
"So, once you’ve found the location, what then? Are you waiting for them to make a move?"
"That’s something I need to discuss with the Grand Master. It’s not inherently wrong to aim for territorial expansion. Well, war would be a headache, but even within the same country, don’t lords often squabble when their territories border each other?"
"…They do. It’s common enough for them to make self-serving claims and try to annex the other’s land."
Indeed. While our battles recently have mostly been large-scale clashes between nations, the petty infighting between internal factions that I just mentioned is a standard reality.
As for Weed, we have territory, but since our lord only holds the exclaves, such disputes are impossible.
Well, leaving Weed aside, such skirmishes between subordinates are common in other countries.
Of course, for the commoners caught in the crossfire—the people living on that land—it’s an unbearable burden, but figuring out how to manage such problems effectively is part and parcel of governance.
Though, I suppose it also falls under the umbrella of local autonomy.
"That’s why, even if you complain to the state, they’ll just play dumb and tell you not to stick your nose into something that happens everywhere. Besides, in this specific instance, they haven’t even taken action yet. They’re just gathering monsters. If we point that out, they’ll just dodge the question. So, we either wait for them to move, or..."
"Or?"
"Well, it’s possible that, due to some unforeseen trouble, the monsters might just happen to die off."
"I see. If they end up wiped out on their own, we can play the part of the ignorant bystander much better than if we were to intervene directly."
She caught my drift immediately.
Exactly. If the monsters die on their own, our involvement remains infinitesimally low.
It’s still better than having high-ranking adventurers just happen to be present in a monster-infested village.
"Well, in that case, since the other party hasn’t been officially reprimanded, they could theoretically recover their strength if given enough time."
"That is the problem. It would be troublesome if they kept doing this repeatedly."
"True, but it buys us time, and it gives us more room to conduct our investigation. I imagine Roschur and Gartz aren’t too pleased with their current actions, are they?"
"Hardly. They’ve refused cooperation due to the Dark Guild connection, and both my sister and Lowell are deeply suspicious. Actually, since we’ve already established back-channel communications, the movements of those two nations are practically an open book to us."
"I thought so. I suppose the question becomes whether we leave the prevention of future trouble to those two nations. It wouldn’t be good for the adventurer guild to be viewed with hostility because of this intervention, either."
I had been agonizing over how to intervene from the start.
If we can create a situation where there isn’t a pressing problem, there’s no need to force our way into the spotlight.
"I suppose so. It just so happens that the adventurer guild was the one to notice this time."
"That’s the long and short of it. Well, if the Grand Master has something he wants to do, he might move, but..."
"Since no actual damage has been done, there won’t be a reward for the adventurer guild. Isn’t the guild losing out here?"
"Who knows? I think they gained something, but I imagine they’ll offer some form of gratitude behind the scenes. It’s a bit late to be handing money to the Grand Master, though. I think it would be fine for us to provide rewards to Nina and the others—was it Wisie?—who were actually on the scene."
"Nina and the others are being sent as our subordinates, aren’t they? They’re investigators acting as Holy Sword Users, so they’re already receiving their salary."
"Well, they were sent out, and it’s a fact that they worked hard. It’s only right to acknowledge that."
"Yes, there’s no issue with showing appreciation. Now, regarding the Faraway Village—what’s the status of the migrants?"
Ah, that too.
The villagers caught up in the summoning kidnapping incident turned out to be from a faction that had been at odds with the current royal family.
I had thought the fact that they had disappeared would cause all sorts of problems...
"They passed through Weed for inspection, didn't they?"
"Yes. If we don't quarantine them, we could end up with a disaster if they brought in some pathogen and wiped everyone out."
We in Weed travel to various lands, so we are thorough with such quarantines—whether it’s the Doppelgangers or Steve and his group, who travel in their physical forms.
If we were to accidentally bring back an epidemic, Weed itself could be wiped out.
And the same goes for the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance.
That’s why Rurua, Lilishe, and Elju have been leading the efforts to ensure those checks are airtight.
"So, what about them? Did you find some strange pathogen?"
"No, they finished their waiting period in Weed, did a bit of sightseeing, and returned, but there are many who want to immigrate here now."
"Oh? Isn’t fleeing forbidden?"
"Well, it’s not everyone. The ones staying behind are the elderly who were cast out. The youth feel it’s wrong to be chased by the shackles of the past, so they’re saying they’ll find a way to manage on their own."
"…I see. Well, that’s a matter of the heart, isn’t it?"
"I suppose so."
The elderly say they will perish with the village.
It seems the youth are currently trying to persuade them otherwise.
"Personally, I’ve always had my doubts about how that place was handled, and since it’s useful for keeping a hold on Usano’s weaknesses, I have no problem with sheltering them here. If the elderly aren’t going to seek revenge, I don’t mind bringing them along either. Usano won’t be able to press us on the matter, anyway."
"They certainly won’t be able to press us. After all, as far as they know, we’re only requesting cooperation from Usano and Aae, and haven’t stepped foot on the actual site."
"True. There’s no way we’d violate international law and step in, after all."
We both finally shared a laugh.
"Your Majesty has certainly grown accustomed to Yuki-sama’s methods."
"I was always capable of this level of political maneuvering, you know."
"You were capable, yes, but the scale is overwhelming. Considering the risks of failure, I wouldn’t have imagined this from you in the past."
"Ah, indeed. Back when I was only leading the knight order, I wouldn’t have used such tactics—or rather, I couldn’t have."
"Well, the range of influence you could exert was too narrow. If you tried to intervene in another country with just a knight order, you’d be crushed from above."
It could even be considered a casus belli if handled poorly.
If one has a sound mind, one doesn't do such things, and above all...
"We weren't in a position to obtain that kind of information anyway."
"That’s true. Even as a captain leading a unit, you might get some information about other countries, but your focus would be closer to home."
"Exactly. At the time, the top priority was suppressing bandits and monsters within Roschur. And, of course, the corrupt nobles."
"Tch, those idiots were more troublesome than the bandits or monsters. They had silver tongues and kept getting in our way."
"Your Majesty, your tone is becoming quite rough. We’ve strayed from the topic, but in the end, does the fact that they are gathering monsters mean it’s irrational, or that it will be crushed in secret?"