Side: Rurua
Thanks to Elju-sama, my life was saved.
...No, to be precise, the one who truly rescued me was the Master of this dungeon.
Currently, we are in a room with a strange grass floor covered in cushions called zabuton. We are sitting around a table—the full assembly of the dungeon's residents.
"Well, saving Rurua is all well and good. Now, as for her future treatment... shall I hear everyone's opinions?"
The Dungeon Master, the king of this place... Yuki, was it?
He is an existence rumored to be more legendary than even the Demon Kings or True Dragons—a living disaster. I had seen his face twice through the 'Call' skill of the Designated Protection, but this was our first time meeting in person.
To look at him, he is a perfectly ordinary young man. Yet, he is the man who saved Roshure, Gartz, and Rithea just as they were about to plunge into a world war. He is the mastermind who created a compromise for that conflict and effortlessly produced a plan to save countless lives.
That is why what he said felt so utterly incomprehensible to me.
Why is he asking others for their opinion?
"Um... Onii-san? What do you want to do?"
The speaker was likely one of the slaves he had purchased.
The rabbit-kin girl seemed to share my confusion, returning his question with a query of her own. More importantly, why was he allowing a slave to speak up like this?
"Ah, I'll give my input last. It feels a bit early for this, but the timing is actually perfect. From here on out, I'm going to make my statements regarding management last. I told you I wanted you all to run things, didn't I?"
"Yes, you said you wanted our help..."
"If I speak first, it'll be hard for you all to disagree with me, right? I want your help—and that doesn't mean just following my lead. I want to hear the opinions you truly feel."
"But won't that mean things might not go the way you want, Onii-san?"
"Ah—I think you've got the wrong idea. Ratz... no, everyone. Because I saved you, gave you food, clothing, and shelter, and because I'm the Dungeon Master, haven't you started thinking that everything I do is automatically right?"
"...Up until now, I haven't thought you were wrong."
"It's just gone well so far. That doesn't mean it'll stay that way forever. Don't misunderstand; I'm just a person. I make mistakes. That's why I need your help. Please, lend me your strength. Even just voicing an opinion has meaning. If I'm wrong, stop me—even if you have to hit me. In the worst case, stop me even if you have to kill me. I'm asking you."
With that, he bowed his head deeply before his slaves.
I could not hide my shock.
For a leader, this was unnaturally humble; it was impossible to maintain dignity this way. A nation stands because the King or the Saint—the symbol I once played—maintains an aura of majesty. I have never known a ruler without dignity. Furthermore, to bow to a mere slave...
If he does this, the slaves will grow arrogant and do as they please.
"Onii-san..."
The woman called Ratz seemed to share my thoughts. She looked bewildered by his statement. The others, too, didn't seem to know how to react.
"...I shall call you Yuki-san. Forgive me, but a nation cannot stand with your way of thinking. As the Dungeon Master, you must show the way and lead. That is the duty of a ruler..."
I tried to correct Yuki-san's misconception, but...
"Rurua, a country doesn't need a King. It needs a representative. A representative who protects, nurtures, and listens to the opinions of the people living there. It just so happens that up until now, the role of representative took the form of a King."
"That is not true! A King, a symbol! They are necessary for a nation!"
"Is that coming from the Saint who was stripped of her symbol status because of the people's backlash?"
"...! T-That's... because those around me were scheming—"
"Wasn't that the result of you not listening to opinions and failing to grasp the situation?"
"..."
"As a result, they replaced their 'symbol' with ease. Hey, you've realized it by now, haven't you? What people need isn't a decorative Saint."
...He was right. A King or a Saint simply has the loudest voice. If all your vassals turn their backs on you, you are neither a King nor a symbol.
"Royal authority, symbols... these are sacred things. The law is something to be managed by those of noble bloodlines... the aristocracy."
I argued with every point I could muster.
Yes, the law requires specific people to execute it. It is decided from birth. Unless one is pious, respects the gods, and undergoes rigorous training like I did, one can never reach that seat.
"Hah, don't make me laugh. Tell me, Rurua, and Elju—how and when were your countries founded?"
"...? The Holy Kingdom of Rithea was founded about 400 years ago. I heard the First Saint gave salvation to the weary people of the nation of Reus, overthrew them, and established Rithea."
"Roshure was founded about 300 years ago. A traveling swordsman arrived in the devastated land of Hiruni, and to save the people, he united them and overthrew the tyrant of Hiruni."
Why was he asking this?
"You said it yourselves. Your ancestors were just ordinary people. They weren't from 'royal bloodlines' or established nobility. They were outsiders who happened to arrive there."
Everything he had said up to now finally clicked in my mind.
"The people who built your countries saved people. They led them. How? Because they listened. Because they watched. Because they knew. That's why they could save and lead."
Yes, the founders of our nations were just ordinary people. That is why they understood what the people—the individuals—truly wanted.
"That's why I'll bow to these girls. They are the ones who know the slaves, the commoners, the different races, and all the rest. They see them. They hear them. I believe they are far more suited to be the symbols... the representatives of the dungeon village and town we're building here. They're much better for the job than I am. It's arrogant to claim that I am absolute or always right. I might have knowledge and abilities that surprise you, but that's all I have."
He was saying this: By creating "special existences," you lose the ability to hear the people's voices. Therefore, one should simply not create special existences. He didn't need the "specialness" of being a Dungeon Master. Ordinary people should be the representatives of a nation.
"Ah... Yuki-san, what exactly are you aiming for? That idea only makes sense if every single person has knowledge and education. It's an impossibly huge dream. You can't build a country with such naivety."
Yes, for ordinary people to be representatives, they must have the knowledge to create laws. Ordinary people do not have such education. It is impossible to give that knowledge to every citizen... That is why education is limited to the nobility. His words were a dream. A sweet, naive pipe dream.
But he countered my words effortlessly.
"Naivety, huh? Using that as an excuse shows your limits. Who would approach a country without 'naivety'? Who would gather in a country without dreams or hope? Don't use your own inability as an excuse for 'naivety'."
As I stood speechless, he continued with a smile.
"A country built on what Rurua calls 'naivety' is one where ordinary people can voice opinions on the law and many people can be involved. I'm sure there will be all sorts of trouble. But I think that country would be fun. It'll surely be a better country than what we have now. So, Ratz, give me your opinions. Or would you rather I become an absolute King?"
Having said his piece, he turned back to Ratz-san.
"Onii-san, that was quite a lecture... I see, so that's why we're going to be so busy..."
"Yeah. From now on, I'm leaving almost the entire management of the dungeon village and town to you all."
"Gyah!? You just said something terrifying so casually! We're amateurs, you know!?"
"Well, I know that. That's why I'll give my opinion or suggest corrections at the end of the meetings. Do your best, Rabbit-kin CEO."
"What is that ridiculous title!? I understand the meaning, but I don't want to!"
The other women of various races were also blinking in surprise... I see, so that is why there are no duplicate races here.
...This man is on a completely different level than I. I had always thought that I must be the one to lead the people. For that, I had fervently worshipped the gods, studied hard, and mastered magic.
Ah, that's right...
I was just an ordinary person who worked hard. I wasn't special. I just became special.
Why did I think it was impossible? ...How arrogant. It's only natural I was driven from the position of Saint.
I was the result of an ordinary person's effort. I was not special. I simply became special. Why did I conclude it was impossible for others? ...How arrogant of me. It was only natural that I was ousted from the Saint's seat.
"Yuki-san... No, Yuki-sama. It is presumptuous of me as someone you saved, but may I offer an opinion regarding my treatment?"
"Hm? '-sama'...? Ah, well. Ratz and the others are listening, so if you speak up, maybe we can move this along."
"Then, I ask that you allow me to remain here, under your protection."
The women, who had been in an uproar, immediately fell silent and stared at me.
"What kind of nonsense are you saying? Right now, there isn't even the slightest benefit to taking you in. Onii-san asked for our opinions, so I'll be direct. You're a nuisance, so please leave and go die outside."
When Ratz-san said that, the other women nodded in agreement.
"H-How could you say that!? Rurua-sama, you don't have to leave! Yuki-san, please don't do that!"
Elju-sama stepped forward to protect me.
"Elju-sama, opinions based on emotion have no meaning here. I appreciate the sentiment, but could you step back? And please, watch and listen closely. This is the world that I, Seraria-sama, Aria-sama, and the King of Roshure didn't want you to see."
I gently moved her behind me.
"Ratz and the others seem to be against protecting you. Don't expect me to say a word in your favor. Convince them yourself."
Yuki-sama calmly sipped his tea, looking completely relaxed.
...Truly, he's on another level.
"That's what I intend."
I replied. I didn't gain my position as a national representative for nothing.
"Heh, very well. Go ahead and try. But being a Saint or a high official of Rithea isn't an advantage at all, okay? Rurua-sama, you were almost assassinated. Moreover, twelve of your guards were complicit. Even if you go back to Rithea, you can't hope for a comeback. If it were me, I'd just treat you as a fake if you returned. Even if you somehow got back, you'd be surrounded by enemies, never knowing when the next assassin would strike."
Ratz-san was educated enough and sharp-witted. It was no wonder Yuki-sama bowed his head to her as a representative. However, she was naive.
"Indeed, as Ratz-san says, I am just an ordinary person. And to those who know me, I am a nuisance. It seems there is no benefit to keeping me in the dungeon. However, if I die outside, or if by some miracle I live and return to Rithea, I will give the Holy Kingdom all the information I have on this dungeon. I will have my revenge on the dungeon that refused to shelter me."
"What!?"
"Rurua-sama!?"
"If you shelter me, I vow to accept Yuki-sama's Designated Protection. I don't mind if you restrict my movements or forbid me from speaking about the dungeon. In exchange, I vow to answer everything I know about Rithea's internal affairs, military information, and policies. Ashamed as I am to say it, I sat at the top of Rithea. I believe I can be of help in the management you are about to undertake."
"N-No! T-That would be an act of betrayal against your country, Rurua-sama!?"
Elju-sama tried to stop me.
"Fumufumu. Well, Ratz, what do you think? She says she's still useful."
Yuki-sama didn't seem to feel even a breeze from my threatening remark. He didn't even try to back me up. He really intends to follow Ratz-san and the others' decision. If they say to kill me here, he will certainly do it...
"...We could just kill you here and dump your body somewhere, you know?"
"Who would carry me that far? Do you think you won't be seen? It would give them a reason to find fault with the dungeon. You saved me because you wanted to avoid that, didn't you? Besides, even if you hid me and carried me without being caught, what would happen to that town? It would give Rithea a perfect reason to denounce them."
"Then we'll kill you here and turn you into fertilizer. A Saint like you should yield plenty of DP."
"...!?"
I had made a mistake.
If they killed me here, there would be no problem at all.
I needed something... anything that would let me live...
"NO!! I absolutely will not let you kill Rurua-sama!!"
Elju-sama shouted, intimidating Ratz-san and the others.
"You useless Saintess, please stay quiet. You have no right to speak here. Do you understand?"
"I-I do! If you save Rurua-sama, I will ask my father and sisters to promise even stronger support for this place!"
"Hoh? Onii-san, have the details of the support from Roshure been finalized?"
"No, as you know, I'm a shut-in. The details will be discussed once Seraria gets back."
"Hmm... Useless Saint—no, Elju-sama. What will you do if that promise is broken?"
Ratz-san glared at Elju-sama.
Elju-sama's legs were shaking. It couldn't be helped; she had never done a negotiation like this before.
"I-In that case... I... I will behead Rurua-sama with my own hands!"
I couldn't understand those words.
That kind Elju-sama had bet my head, not her own...
"...If you had said you'd bet your own head, I would have dismissed it instantly... But I see, even if you're rotten, you're still royalty. Hmm. Increased support from Roshure, Rithean information, and even if the support doesn't increase, there's no problem as long as we kill Rurua-sama... I suppose that's a compromise for saving her. Please wait a moment; I'll talk with everyone. Just as Onii-san wanted."
As Ratz-san began talking with the others, Elju-sama's trembling body sank to the floor.
"Ah... ah... I-I am so sorry. If I hadn't said that, Rurua-sama would have..."
"No, Elju-sama. It seems you've saved my life again. I could not have convinced them on my own. Even if I end up dying because of this, I will not hold a grudge against you."
I held Elju-sama's shaking hand and thanked her.
She had grown, if only a little. Even if I die here, there is a certain meaning to it now.
Ratz-san's meeting seemed to be over. She stepped forward.
"Very well. We will shelter you. However, there will be conditions."
It seems I have managed to survive somehow...
