Side: Aria Roshure (1st Princess)

"Welcome, Onee-sama."

Standing before me to welcome our arrival was my precious younger sister.

However, I found myself unable to simply rejoice in our reunion.

"Honestly, you've gone and done something outrageous."

That was all I could manage to say in return.

For better or worse, Seraria had always chosen the path of the sword. But it seems that during the recent turmoil, she found her own way and quite simply married herself off to a single man.

Our father was particularly opposed to it, going so far as to squeeze their support funding to the absolute limit, but it was entirely meaningless. In the end, just as Seraria had judged, that man—the Dungeon Master—must be considered a person of exceptional caliber.

"Outrageous? Whatever do you mean? I simply negotiated with various parties in order to develop the territory I was granted."

This girl... I pressed a hand to my forehead, digesting my sister's words.

Yes, on the surface, what Seraria did appeared to be the result of negotiation. But underneath, she was doing things that, if handled poorly, could cause a nation to collapse.

No—from a national perspective, almost anything can cause a collapse; history is often turned by the most trivial of causes. If anyone is responsible for this situation, it's not Seraria—it's Father and me, the ones standing at the top of the country...

"Still, I'm impressed that Father and Onee-sama, the two of you, were able to leave the Royal Capital. Weren't you worried someone might seize the throne while it was vacant?"

Currently, we are visiting the dungeon that Seraria holds as her territory. Officially, we are here out of concern for my sister; in truth, we are here to grasp the potential danger of this dungeon.

"That won't happen. If the throne can be lost simply by leaving the capital for a short while, then it wasn't worth much to begin with," Father declared.

"I suppose so."

"Now then, I'd like to talk at leisure... but may I ask a few questions first, Seraria?"

"What is it?"

"I am impressed that in the mere two months and some change since you arrived, you have cleared the trees and erected such solid buildings. However, looking at this, I find it hard to believe that seven thousand immigrants from Rithea are living here."

As Father said, there were only buildings resembling a small-scale village surrounding the dungeon. Where was the space to house the massive population mentioned in the letters?

"And... what is the meaning of my son-in-law failing to show his face before me?"

There was a hint of anger in that last sentence.

Father dotes on his daughters, after all... If Seraria hadn't volunteered herself, he had intended to marry the daughter of some appropriate noble to the Dungeon Master.

A royal visit is a formal affair. To fail to appear before his wife's father and sister was a level of disrespect that angered Father.

"Hah! What are you saying? Ordinarily, we are the ones who should be pressing our heads to the dirt in gratitude. Instead, you gave him a noble title, forced women upon him to act as monitors, and now you ask why he should respect the royalty or the state?"

"Guh..."

"Furthermore, you try to wring taxes out of him. Are you fools? It's lucky my husband accepted; had he been a Dungeon Master like those of legend, your clumsy response would have seen you conquered and destroyed."

"Nunu!? But we agreed the taxation would begin in five years—"

"—Are you seriously saying that? It doesn't matter how many years away it is. By rights, this place already functions as an independent state. Despite that, he considers your circumstances and remains part of Roshure in name only. Yet, the mere attitude of trying to take taxes shows a total lack of respect for my husband... You old geezer, if my husband told me to take your head, I'd strike it off right here."

A terrifying fighting spirit was radiating from Seraria.

...Is she stronger than before? But no matter how much combat she saw with the Rithea hardliners, her level shouldn't have risen so visibly in such a short time.

"B-Back then... you said... you wanted to grow up to be Father's bride..."

"DIE."

"Wait!?"

Father pushes his jokes too far. He knows full well that bringing that up sends Seraria into a rage!

CLANG!!

"Ooh!?"

Father, who had braced himself to block Seraria's sword, was lifted off his feet and sent flying sideways into a wall.

BOOM!!

S-She sent Father flying with pure arm strength!?

Father is Level 92—a high level. His sword skill is Level 5, the pinnacle of human achievement... And yet, he was sent flying by a strange sword that was still in its sheath!?

"...Stop playing dead like a child. My husband is busy with the dungeon evaluation. That is why I came out to welcome you myself."

Seraria spoke with boredom, staring at the rising cloud of dust.

"Ho, ho... it seems you've polished your skills again. But to think you'd reach this level. So, you're welcoming us 'outside'? Is this not the dungeon city?"

Father walked back toward us as if nothing had happened.

"...Sigh. Just follow me for now. It's inappropriate to talk about various matters here. My husband should be able to join us by the time we reach the conference area."

Seraria began walking toward the center of the village—the entrance to the dungeon.

"Qual, keep security tight today."

"Yes, Ma'am!! Though I doubt anyone could enter the dungeon and come out unscathed anyway."

"Don't be stupid. If you cause trouble for my husband, I'll deduct your pay."

"""Initiating security patrol!!"""

Seraria's direct subordinates saluted her command.

As always, they were exceptionally well-trained... It might just be my imagination, but it felt like they, too, had become significantly stronger in just two months.

* * *

Once we entered the dungeon, our common sense began to crumble.

The ministers, who had various complaints about this arrangement, were left speechless by the city inside the dungeon.

"I will personally give you a tour of the city. My husband should be back by the time we finish."

Seraria offered the explanation, but all of us were unable to react to the sights unfolding before our eyes.

We were led by Seraria through the dungeon city.

It was an unimaginable, logically partitioned urban space; a staggering array of luxury goods; recreational facilities designed to enrich the national treasury while being accessible to commoners. And the use of different floors to categorize facilities—even a school, a place where knowledge is normally reserved for nobles, was open to commoners to ensure a pool of educated talent.

Everything was different from the Royal Capital... To be honest, we are losing. From the way people are managed to the technological prowess and the inherent advantages of this place. There is no waste at all.

"Well, how was it? There are many things I can't explain in detail in a single day, but you are scheduled to stay for a week, so please enjoy yourselves starting tomorrow."

Seraria leads us to a conference room in a place called the "General Administration Building," seats us, and serves tea.

"But before you enjoy yourselves tomorrow, shall we hear the real purpose of your visit? You won't be able to relax until your official business is finished, after all."

"U-Umu, yes, quite right. But until Seraria's husband arrives..."

As Father began to speak, the door to the conference room opened, and the man I had seen once on a call screen walked in casually.

"Perfect timing, Dear. How is the dungeon evaluation going?"

"It's only the third day, so it's still early. At this rate, the evaluation period might even be extended."

"It can't be helped. There are at least six medium-sized dungeons, after all."

...I never thought I would see the day when Seraria would speak to a man so happily.

Father and the other ministers, knowing Seraria's temperament, were wide-eyed with shock.

"Now then, I apologize for not being able to welcome you sooner. To fulfill the duties of the Marquis granted by the King and to support the lives of my citizens, I have been working until this very moment. After all, we started with absolutely no capital."

This man... he just delivered a smooth insult. We were the ones who said we would provide no funds and leave everything to his discretion. If we complain poorly now...

"Marquis Yuki, even if you are Seraria-sama's husband, is this not a bit too disrespectful?"

One of the ministers condemned the Dungeon Master... Yuki-san.

"Indeed, and that is why I am here apologizing. It may be a lack of ability on my part, but if there is a better model, I should like to see it. If there is anyone who can take 300 slaves and 300 Platinum Coins and achieve more than this in two months, please introduce them to me. I would love to use them as a reference. Or perhaps the Minister would like to show me?"

"N-No, well..."

The minister who spoke out looked like he had swallowed a bitter bug.

That's right—no one has any leverage over him. If anything, everyone here is indebted to Yuki-san. On a national scale...

"You need not concern yourself with the greeting. I've already heard the circumstances from Seraria. Since the Grandmaster of the Adventurers Guild headquarters in Rithea is here conducting the dungeon assessment, it's only natural. In fact, is it really alright for you to leave your post?"

When Father said that, the minister who had been complaining turned pale.

Yes, the Adventurer Guild's headquarters is in Rithea, but its reach extends across the continent. No, there are rumors that the guild even exists beyond the continent, across the demon sea. It's said that no single nation can match its power. In terms of both personnel and financial resources. To say that we should ignore the guild's head is tantamount to picking a fight with the Adventurer Guild.

The head of that Guild is here. To suggest he should be ignored is equivalent to telling the Adventurer's Guild to start a war.

"That is not an issue. Today is only the third day of evaluation—it has just begun. The Grand Master is also interested in life here and has been finishing work early to enjoy himself."

"I see. Then that's fine. Now, to the main issue—do you have any explanation regarding the incident with Rithea?"

"Ah? As far as I know, the assets personally sent from Rithea to Seraria were used effectively in reconciling with the Gartz Kingdom. Is that a problem?"

"T-That's not the issue! The problem is why you arbitrarily started a war with Rithea!?"

He went straight for the sore spot.

Yes, we came here to hold them responsible for opening hostilities with the Rithea hardliners. However, under Seraria's leadership, that battle was an overwhelming victory. As a result, the hardliners lost their standing in Rithea entirely.

For angering an opponent with Seraria's irregular military power, their private assets were confiscated—or rather, given to Seraria as an apology—and transported here so that we, Roshure, could use them for reparations to Gartz.

The total value of those assets was approximately 30,000 Platinum Coins. It is a massive sum, roughly one-fifth of our annual national budget. The conflict with Gartz was ruled as the Demon King's scheme, meaning neither side was truly at fault, but both had suffered significant damage.

We were trapped in a vicious cycle where neither side wanted to pay reparations. The money Seraria provided, which we were free to use, solved this. We used it for Gartz's reparations and our own national compensation; Gartz accepted, and the tension was diffused.

"I see. So Father, Onee-sama, and the Ministers wish to let Rurua die, let the hardliners take power, and continue the state of war between the three nations?"

"""......"""

"Then, first, please go and take back the reparations given to Gartz. I gave that out of concern for the country, but I had no idea you actually desired war... As for Rithea, I shall send Rurua's head back to them and bring Roshure into a state of war immediately."

The ministers, who had intended to squeeze compensation out of this dungeon for 'endangering the state,' turned white.

Even Father and I had come hoping to encourage a bit more awareness of his status as a lord, but... it seems we were the ones lacking awareness. We never imagined that Seraria's whims could plunge the three nations into war at any moment.

"No objections? Then, to initiate the state of war, let us first execute Rurua, who is in this city."

"What do you mean? I know you protected Rurua-sama and sent her to Rithea. But Seraria, your words make it sound as if Rurua-sama is currently in this dungeon?"

"She is. As a sign of Rithea's apology and our reconciliation, Rurua was married to my husband. If I send back the head of Rurua, the proof of that harmony, the current Saintess Arshtelle will likely take action immediately."

This is bad... Extremely bad...

To think Rurua-sama had married Yuki-san. To condemn this dungeon publicly would be to proclaim that helping Rithea was a mistake. With Rurua-sama married here, this dungeon's importance to Rithea is immense; we cannot lay a finger on it..

"Do you understand now? Well then, I'll go take Rurua's head—"

"—Wait, wait, Seraria!!"

"What is it, Onee-sama?"

"We shall not hold you responsible for this incident!! So stop this talk of executing Rurua-sama!! Our country does not desire war!! Right, Father!?"

I spoke with desperate momentum, seeking Father's agreement.

"Umu, we shall declare this matter closed. However, as it was a solo action, there shall be no reward—that shall be your punishment. Everyone agreed?"

The ministers all nodded their heads frantically.

"What, only now? You've never given me a reward anyway."

Seraria said, looking thoroughly annoyed.

"...Ahem. Now then, the inspection continues tomorrow, but Seraria... no, I have one more matter to discuss with my son-in-law."

"With me? Not Seraria?"

"Umu. I was worried about how Rithea would react to this, but if Rurua-sama is already married to you, then there should be no problem."

"What are you talking about?"

"You understand that we received a vast sum from Seraria and achieved reconciliation with Gartz, yes?"

"Yes, of course."

"However, this leaves Gartz with a loss of face. No matter if Roshure opened hostilities first, it was the Demon King's plot. And yet, we were the only ones to bow our heads and pay a large sum."

"Ah, so Gartz will be perceived by other nations as a disrespectful country that gives nothing back?"

"Exactly. Therefore, we have taken custody of a princess from Gartz."

"......I have a really bad feeling about this."

"The 7th Princess. She was sent to our country as a return gift. To the outside world, it is an expression of gratitude..."

"And in truth, she's a burden they wanted to get rid of?"

"...Difficult to say, but yes. We cannot easily marry her into a minister's household.

"The 7th, huh... You'd be troubled if she learned the internal affairs of Roshure, but treating her poorly could destroy the trust with Gartz?"

"Precisely. It doesn't hurt them at all if she disappears. The 7th Princess has no standing or anything left in Gartz's home country."

"Well, she is the 7th. Her older siblings have surely taken all the positions. She really is a nuisance they're dumping."

"That is where you come in, Son-in-law!! You don't know the intricate internal affairs of Roshure, and following Seraria, you have already taken a major figure from Rithea like Rurua-sama as a wife. If you take the Princess, Gartz will be satisfied!!"

"......Hey. Don't tell me you brought her with you?"

"I did~!!"

As Father answered, Seraria lunged at him with incredible speed.

"YOU DAMN OLD MAN!! DIEEEEEE!!"

I understand Seraria's feelings, but we're in trouble if he doesn't accept. I suppose the rest is up to Yuki-san.

Ah... was this a little bit of revenge on my part?