第１９２４堀：ナイトマンの活躍と敵の発生源は？ (Part1)
**Chapter 1924: Nightman’s Prowess and the Source of the Enemy**
Side: Yuki
On the screen before me, Vilia—or rather, Nightman—was mowing down enemies left and right.
It was the kind of splatter-fest you could never show on Earth television. Then again, since the targets were monsters, maybe it was fine? Even so, they were humanoid. Seeing the severed heads of Orcs and Ogres flying through the air felt like it crossed a line.
Then again, some of the original tokusatsu heroes fought monsters that literally melted people, so maybe there was a precedent for this kind of thing...
No, that didn't matter right now. What was important was the situation on the ground.
"Reporting. Both the adventurer units and the lord’s army are within ten minutes of engaging the enemy."
As Kirika’s report indicated, the main force from the town of Uesa had finally arrived. Or perhaps "finally" wasn't the right word.
"That was surprisingly fast, wasn't it?"
"Yes. Arriving at the scene roughly four hours after the mobilization order was issued in town is quite impressive," Kirika replied.
"So, the delay tactics were a complete success."
"Indeed. However, had Lady Vilia—pardon me, Nightman—not been there, the thirty adventurers who preceded the main force would have likely collapsed, allowing the enemy to draw much closer to the town."
"I figured as much."
Vilia’s intervention had certainly been a game-changer. Kirika didn't say the adventurers would have been "wiped out" because she likely assumed they would have recognized the danger and fled. Though, even then, a few would have surely died. Especially that young lady who went charging in.
"Speaking of which, what about the Guild Master’s daughter?"
"She has been safely recovered. After being healed, she has regained her composure and is focusing on thinning out the Orcs, but..."
"Is there a problem?"
"It seems the Orcs are stronger than she anticipated. While not quite on the level of Ogres, they are in their late thirties. She is struggling to take them down."
"Huh. I’d like to comment on that, but I don't actually know the average level for an Orc..."
Besides, levels fluctuated wildly depending on the environment.
"It is difficult to generalize, but the Orcs in Rogari, If, and Zurabul are typically in their late twenties. Once they hit thirty, they are often considered superior variants. Finding a standard Orc in its late thirties is quite rare."
"I see. That is high, then. Is it the environment?"
"It is hard to say. Furthermore, whether the Ogres are leading them or the Orcs are simply following is unclear, but according to our knowledge, these creatures do not form large hordes unless there is a commander present, such as during a Great Stampede. Usually, they are the type to fight over territory."
"You're right. There’s definitely something going on behind the scenes."
"Something is almost certainly lurking in the shadows."
Well, sending Vilia and the others to the north had certainly paid off. No matter how you looked at it, this monster offensive was intentional. At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if there was a Demon Lord involved, much like in the southern wastes. Or more likely, a peer of mine—another Dungeon Master.
"By the way, any word on a dungeon?"
"There have been no reports from Lady Vilia’s group. Furthermore, dungeons seem to be quite rare in the central region and Oue."
"I think I heard something about that. That they aren't very common here."
Apparently, dungeons were scarce on this New Continent. Of course, "scarce" was a relative term, but having multiple dungeons in a single nation was considered a rarity. Generally, a country was lucky to have even one. And that was for major powers. Small nations couldn't even hold onto them; they’d be conquered for the resource.
After all, a dungeon was an unparalleled source of infinite resources. Any nation would want to secure one... provided they didn't know the true nature of what a dungeon actually was.
"I suppose seizing a dungeon somewhere to investigate is a necessity."
"There is much we cannot know from the outside, so eventually... however, I do not believe stepping into a dungeon right now would be a wise move."
"True. To be honest, I haven't really been paying them much mind until now."
"That is only natural. The monster attacks didn't originate from a dungeon but moved north from the southern wastes. At the same time, a faction of the Clearstream Church was invading Oue. Above all, Weed is still virtually unknown on this continent. In a land where the value of a dungeon is so high, we cannot simply waltz in."
"Yeah, you're right."
The tragedy of being a nobody. I could have entered as an adventurer, but as someone who knew about the existence of Dungeon Masters and their objectives, I wanted to avoid that if possible.
As I was pondering this, Seraria suddenly spoke up.
"So, do you personally believe there’s a Dungeon Master behind all this?"
"I can't say for sure. I can't make a definitive claim at this stage, but seeing them working in groups makes me wonder. The lot from the wastes seemed more like they were killing each other or just fleeing, so it was hard to tell, but here? There’s almost certainly a commander."
"I agree. Though we haven't seen hide nor hair of them yet."
"Personally, it would be a lot easier if the roots and the peak were all the same person."
"You've said that before. That it would be ideal if the same entity was behind the wastes, the central region, the Clearstream Church, and the north."
"If that were the case, we could just crush the head and the whole thing would settle down."
Even I knew I was being optimistic. However, considering how chaotic this land had become... I couldn't help but hope. Seraria seemed to sense my frustration, her gaze turning soft and sympathetic.
"Wiping them all out in one go would certainly be easier, but the world rarely works out that conveniently."
"I know, I know."
Things are never that simple. Even if the source were the same, killing the leader wouldn't mean the threat would instantly vanish. Much like the Dark Guild in Rogari, the remnants would just start acting on their own, creating a different kind of headache.
"But it’s also a pain if they’re all separate entities."
"Tell me about it."
Kagura and Mikos joined the conversation. I’d heard they’d been dealing with a lot of trouble from their home country lately.
"Good work, you two. I heard Princess Carrie—or rather, the other factions—have been breathing down your necks. Something about wanting to send more people over?"
"Ah, yes..."
"T-That’s right."
The two of them seemed a bit shaken, perhaps surprised that I already knew. Well, the talk was about finding "replacements" for them, after all.
"Don't worry. No one can replace you two. Though I'm sure they’re only saying that because they want a foot in the door."
Honestly, everyone thinks the same way. Do they really think any woman would do as a substitute? We already have a formal channel for political discourse through the embassy; if they want to talk, they should do it officially.
The desire to be "by my side" was really about investigating and solving the information I held regarding Arowrito’s mana circulation and depletion. I couldn't afford to let anyone who wasn't part of the inner circle in on that. We occasionally engage in illegal activities, and we can't risk having someone unreliable around.
I’ve told the leaders of the major powers on each continent that I'm investigating the mana depletion phenomenon at the request of the "shitty goddess," but I haven't given them the details. If I did, it would give them leverage over Weed.
I really can't afford to increase our numbers recklessly. That’s exactly why my wives serve the crucial role of being my liaisons.