Side: Yuki
"Then, let's see... shall we proceed with a system that can accommodate around 400 to 500 people per week? How is it?"
"Yes, please arrange it that way. As for the selection process, we'll follow what we discussed earlier..."
"Right, Dest and I will handle the mediation."
"Yes, Dest and I will act as intermediaries."
That's pretty much how the discussion went after lunch as we finalized our future plans.
Ah, are you worried about Rithea attacking?
Nufufu, no need to worry about that.
This dungeon isn't directly connected to Rithea.
While traveling by carriage from Rithea, we took advantage of camping breaks to set up a relay-point dungeon along the way. This dungeon is designed so it can't be entered from that location. Instead, it connects via gates to my dungeon and Rithea's Grand Cathedral dungeon.
By the way, traveling from this dungeon to Rithea is unrestricted, but going the other way requires me, a representative, or a specific item to open the Gate. So, even if Rithea loses its mind and tries to invade, they'll just say "sayonara" inside the relay dungeon.
Besides, the dungeon's field effect completely seals the release of magic power and skills, so there's basically no problem at all. A Blood Minotaur—who used to work as a cleaner in the old dungeon—is acting as the leader, with an Orc Army guarding the relay point.
Apparently they get bored, so they usually spend their time farming in that dungeon. Seriously, they were so happy when I gave them tomatoes, and when I gave them seeds, they started growing them.
Meanwhile, the Orcs took a liking to cucumbers; I hope they don't start growing plates on their heads like kappas.
It's a peaceful little farm dungeon, about 4km square, containing a gate.
"Someday, we'll fill this dungeon with delicious vegetables!!" my subordinates declare with fire in their eyes... What a wonderful agricultural spirit... Aren't you guys basically carnivores? You eat veggies too? Are you omnivores!?
Oh, and the modified pill bugs are helping till the fields as well. They're doing great work here too!!
By the way, the Blood Minotaur is named "Mino-chan," and the Orc Army leader is "John."
Aslin did all the monster naming. It's not like they get stronger just because they have names, but Aslin said it was lonely for them not to have any, so I left it to her and that was the result.
Actually, every single monster subordinate now has a name from Aslin. I don't remember them. There are over 1,000 of them, after all. She remembers them well, though... Does Aslin have a talent for being a Monster Tamer?
Speaking of names, I heard from Mobu and the others that "Named Monsters" are supposed to be incredibly strong, but looking at Aslin, I realized it's the other way around. In other words, it's not "strong because they have a name," but rather "they got a name because they were strong."
Because that Blood Minotaur guy was already level 96 when I summoned him—strong enough to have a name—but he didn't. The moment Aslin said "Mino-chan," the name appeared in his status. I think names manifest once the monster itself accepts the title.
...But man, I'm bored.
"Next, regarding the funding assistance: we are accepting ten thousand people. A half-hearted amount won't suffice. Even when Seraria-sama arrived, we received 400 platinum coins as operating funds. That was for 355 people. And even that wasn't enough to prepare residential areas for everyone. Therefore, we require at least 20,000 platinum coins."
"Wait just a minute!? We can't prepare that kind of sum!! That's a tenth of the annual national budget! Such an amount..."
"Oh, Arshtelle. Just ignore the opposition. Or would you rather deal with Roshure and Gartz at the same time?"
"Seraria-sama... honestly, with an amount like that, people will absolutely argue that we should go to war rather than pay it. That isn't what you want, is it?"
"Hah, I don't really care what happens. We're looking for the bare minimum plan to keep your people from starving, and you say 'we can't' or 'it's impossible.' If that's the case, I might as well just crush Rithea from this dungeon right now. It's supposedly right under the Cathedral; shall I just seize control in one go? Arshtelle, you're misunderstanding something. All you can do here is think about how to make Rithea agree."
"..."
"If you can convince Rithea, things can proceed peacefully. If they won't accept it, then your position and Rithea itself are meaningless."
Since Seraria is the official representative, I've left the negotiations to her. I'm just listening and nodding off, but Seraria is really going for the throat. Arshtelle is resisting desperately, but status means nothing to her right now.
If the Elju incident is used as a shield, every foreign nation will become an enemy instantly. And just like Seraria said, Rithea could be toppled easily from this dungeon.
Well, practically speaking, the demand is a bit unreasonable.
I mean, they're suddenly rescuing refugees they ignored until now and transporting them to another country. Then, exporting 20,000 platinum coins for aid and support.
Arshtelle has no choice but to nod because of both the dungeon and the Elju situation, but the upper brass in Rithea who haven't seen this place firsthand probably won't be so easily convinced.
Well, time to bring in a compromise.
"...Fumufumu. Seraria. The Rithea brass probably won't be convinced right away. So, why don't we give them time to see if it's reasonable to accept our demands?"
"Wha—calling Seraria-sama by her name without honorifics!? You insolent—!"
"The insolent one is you, Arshtelle. What's the problem with a husband calling his wife by her name?"
"H-Husband!?"
Ah, right. Kiyu is over there smirking at me, and for Arshtelle, this is the first time she's meeting the "real" me.
I completely forgot.
"My apologies. I am Seraria's... fianc—"
"—Husband."
"...I serve as her husband. My name is Yuki."
"Eh? The same name as Yuki-san?"
"No, his real name is Kiyu. He's my half-brother. Since this was a serious matter, I had our strongest combatant step in. The name was for security reasons."
Yes, lies flow smoothly. Kiyu is strong in terms of status, but at best, he's in the top ten in this dungeon. We can't reveal all our cards.
"And I haven't finished my explanation. The 'time' I mentioned isn't time to convince the Rithea brass."
"...What do you mean?"
"Well, the brass won't be happy about spending a fortune to save people they've ignored until now. And even if you try to convince them, the only testimony is what Arshtelle-sama heard from Seraria."
"That is true."
"So, why not tell the opposition this: 'I have decided to negotiate with Seraria-sama. Those who oppose this may attempt to conquer the dungeon by the deadline'?"
"Heh, good idea. That way I get to slash those Rithean scumbags too."
"T-That's..."
"By doing this, the opposition will either be wiped out, or the survivors will realize how reckless it is to pick a fight with us. Then the aid is settled, personnel costs for the military are reduced... don't you think it's wonderful?"
"B-But if I'm somehow detained in Rithea, this deal is off..."
"I'll have Kiyu act as your guard, so that shouldn't be an issue. Kiyu, what was your take on Rithea's talent pool?"
"Wait!? Kiyu-san wasn't your strongest combatant!?"
"No, he is one of our strongest. But I never said we only had one person in the top class, did I?"
"Fufufu... Arshtelle. Stop trying to play games with my husband. Right now Rithea only has disadvantages, but there are plenty of gains too, right?"
"Oops, you caught me."
"What do you mean?"
"That would be Coville, who is with Rurua."
"Fueh, me?"
"No, not Coville the person chugging cookies and Cola—Coville the race."
"The Fairies!?"
Arshtelle seems to have caught on to what I'm getting at.
"Exactly. Interaction with the Fairies through Rurua. In other words, with this Gate, Fairy products can be easily obtained. Of course, you can also export items you saw here in the dungeon."
"I see... you are quite a handful. You should have just said that from the beginning..."
"I don't want you getting the wrong idea. I want to show that we are in the superior position and that we have the military power to crush you if we so choose."
"...Why?"
"Seraria said it too, but this is a place where residents live for the sake of residents. We have to prevent idiots with weird ideas from coming here and causing trouble. If negotiations pass without bloodshed, the probability of some fool who doesn't know our true strength coming for a 'visit' and causing an incident is extremely high."
"...And you believe that shedding blood will settle that?"
"It'll certainly reduce the chances more than no blood at all. There will be a warning of what happens when you don't follow our laws. Think of it as a down payment. If we do it bloodlessly, there's a high chance of lingering resentment leading to political strife in Rithea or a severance of ties. So, this is necessary to show that your judgment wasn't wrong, and to reduce the amount of blood spilled in the long run."
"And for that, soldiers must die."
"It's your job to minimize that as much as possible. Persuade them well so fewer idiots try to challenge us."
"...Understood," Arshtelle mutters bitterly.
There are a lot of things in this world you don't understand until they hit you personally, you know?
* * *
After that, the discussion mostly focused on how Arshtelle would talk to the brass.
Well, I hope the sacrifices stay low.
From my perspective, fewer examples to make means a bit of dissatisfaction, but oh well.
Now then, time to prepare some pitfalls.
Ah, right, there's a farm in that dungeon... let's pray it doesn't get trampled...
