第１９４２堀：ほかに情報がありそうな場所 (Part1)
Chapter 1942: Other Places Where Information Might Be Found
Side: Milly
"I understand the situation, but..."
I’d been summoned via call out of the blue, and once I heard the details...
"Is there really anything I can do to help? Just because the Adventurer Guilds share the same name doesn't mean they’re all connected, you know?"
Exactly. Even if they ask me about the Adventurer Guild on the New Continent, I’m completely in the dark. If anything, wouldn't Vilia and the others know more about it than I do?
*“We know that. But surely, consulting you is a better move than us trying to investigate their Adventurer Guild ourselves, right?”*
"Well, I suppose that’s true, but..."
It’s true that even if Seraria or Quar looked into the Adventurer Guilds, they probably wouldn't understand the nuances better than I would. But still...
"I have my own duties here in Weed, you know?"
I’ve been busy dealing with the issues regarding Usano and A-e, but those were strictly emergency measures. The disappearance incidents were the catalyst, but that didn't mean my regular work in Weed had vanished or decreased. In fact, during the time of the disappearances, the Adventurer Guild’s operations here were somewhat throttled, and now I’m dealing with the massive backlog from that rebound. I’m trying my best to avoid overtime, but it’s a struggle.
*“I understand that. That’s exactly why I’m consulting you. Do you know of anyone—even if it’s just a substitute—who could go to Giadana and investigate the Adventurer Guild?”*
"No, there’s no one I can send. The New Continent situation is top-secret, isn't it? You need someone exceptional for that. That’s why you have Vilia and Nina posing as adventurers, right?"
The reason we sent Vilia and her group was precisely because we couldn't trust just any adventurer with this. If a standard adventurer could handle it, we would have sent that type of personnel from the start.
*“That’s the problem. As I mentioned, the situation is incredibly murky—the roots run deep, and I feel like there’s just too much we don’t know.”*
"Well, I can understand that. When Yuki-san first mentioned investigating the history, I wondered why he was going to such lengths, but the reaction toward demi-humans there is even more extreme than on the If Continent. And to make matters worse, the cause is completely unclear."
*“They’re using the Demon Lord as a pretext, at least.”*
"That might fly in the North or South, but the Central region hasn't suffered any damage, and they haven't provided any meaningful support, have they?"
*“Exactly. Given that situation, why would they accept the expulsion of demi-humans and march south toward Ohe? I honestly don’t understand it. They’ve been meddling with other southern nations too, it seems.”*
"Yuki-san says there’s something suspicious about the South, right?"
*“Yes. I agree. They could have meddled with the North, but they haven't.”*
Looking at the current situation, the people in the Central region have, for some reason, made the southern nations—specifically Ohe—their target. Yet, the reason remains a total mystery.
"...So, you want to get your hands into the Adventurer Guild to find out why?"
*“Yes. When the state is ignorant of the facts, the only organizations that operate neutrally across borders are the Adventurer Guilds or perhaps the Merchant Guilds. If there are other associations like them, they’d be targets too.”*
"Hmm."
I get it. I really do. They’re at a dead end, so they want to initiate a new move. Vilia and the others are active in the North, but there’s doubt as to whether the northern Adventurer Guilds hold the same information, which is why they want to investigate the Central region.
"Can you give me some time? Or do you have anyone in mind who could be sent?"
*“If I had someone, I would have already introduced them to you, Milly.”*
"Right, of course. Judging by the situation, we can’t use anyone older, can we?"
*“Exactly. It would raise questions about where a person of such skill had been all this time. Plus, Giadana is currently in a state of near-isolation, so the risk of getting caught up in something dangerous is high. That’s why we didn't send Mauve and his group.”*
"So Mauve-san and the others are off the table, then."
Their skills and reliability are beyond reproach, but when it comes to other adventurers... it really does come back to Vilia and the others. The fact that they are young and easily mistaken for rookies is a unique advantage only they possess.
Then, something occurred to me—or rather, something started bothering me.
"Hey, I have a question. Is that alright?"
*“Yes, go ahead. Did you find a hint?”*
"Not a hint, exactly. But couldn't you just hold a normal discussion instead of sending adventurers in?"
*“A discussion?”*
"Yes. You have connections with the King of Giadana and the Archbishop of the Clear Church—the predecessor to the Clearstream Church—and the Adventurer Guild is suspicious of these recent movements, right?"
*“That’s correct. If things go poorly, the adventurers will be dragged into a war. The Adventurer Guild in the Kingdom of Giadana seems to have doubts about this demi-human expulsion. They have some connections to the Giadana royals, after all, and they are disciples of Archbishop Dodona.”*
"Then couldn't you pull information out of them? Or rather, isn't Archbishop Dodona the one who knows something?"
Based on everything we've heard, it’s strange that Archbishop Dodona, who is somewhat aware of the Central region’s expulsion of demi-humans, wouldn't know about the Clearstream Church. Or rather, if Giadana found peace thirty years ago after a massive subjugation campaign, there has to be something there...
When I relayed this to Seraria and Quar...
*“...You’re right, that is strange.”*
*“Now that you mention it, I remember. That’s right. They said they defeated many dragons and ‘something else’ in the Great Forest of Giadana. Thinking back on it now, that is highly suspicious.”*
*“At the time, we didn't think the situation was any different from the North.”*
"Then it wouldn't be a mistake to go and ask them again, would it?"
The Adventurer Guild and Archbishop Dodona might be holding the key information. If that’s the case, there’s only one course of action.
*“You’re right. Let’s go and ask them again. Archbishop Dodona said he didn't know, but perhaps he just doesn't understand the significance himself. If we ask the right questions, we might find the answers.”*
"Yes. I think that’s very likely. In fact, that’s usually how these things go..."
It’s often the case that the people directly involved don't grasp the meaning of what they’re seeing, while those looking from the outside see a major problem. It’s incredibly foolish, I think, but it happens all the time—you just can't see the truth when you're standing in the middle of it.