Side: Tori
Today, I was summoned by Yuki-san and the others.
Since we were told to gather in Weed’s special conference room, I knew it had to be something serious.
It's been about a week since we captured the magic sword wielder sisters, so I assumed they had already uncovered information significant enough to warrant a meeting.
By the way, this "special conference room" has far stricter security than the one where we usually meet with the kings. Only Yuki-san's wives and the people he personally brought with him are allowed inside.
Those who step foot in here are limited to people who know Yuki-san's true identity—what he was entrusted with by the gods and what he is trying to accomplish. That's why even the kings of various countries are not qualified to be here. After all, we are dealing with the global issue of mana depletion.
Jessica-san is participating because she is an important source of information and collaborator from the New Continent.
Well, she is also under protective custody, so there's no problem. She works seriously, which makes her likable. She treats us, who are classified as demi-humans on the New Continent, like normal people.
To be honest, even we beastkin wives find those demi-humans difficult to deal with.
As Yuki-san says, there's a long history of accumulated resentment. But the moment they realize we're strong, they start proposing marriage or talking about defeating us, and in the end they even badmouth our precious husband Yuki-san. Because of that, I've knocked quite a few of them flying. Not all demi-humans are like that, but the ones who come in front of us tend to be, so it's exhausting. Riel and Kaya are also quite irritated by it.
We consulted with Seraria about it, and she said that while building a nation is possible, it would be hard to maintain unless Yuki-san is reasonably committed to the idea, so she doesn't really recommend it.
Indeed... even if we created a country with demi-humans as citizens in the current situation, they aren't unified internally, so those of us handling internal affairs and Yuki-san would have a terrible time.
On the other hand, if we were to take over another country, we'd have to protect this location with the dungeon. Defense itself is fine, but it would mean abandoning the demi-humans we just saved. Yeah, just like Yuki-san said, it would have been much easier if we had abandoned them.
Even in this situation, Yuki-san says that because we've successfully repelled the Jilva Empire multiple times in a row, the backlash from demi-humans has recently decreased... I don't really feel it myself, though. Mostly because the marriage proposals just keep coming.
Yuki-san told me, "That's just because Tori is beautiful," which made me really happy, but getting that kind of attention from random men doesn't make me happy at all. If it's Yuki-san pushing me down in the bushes and leading to that kind of thing, then I'd welcome as many as he wants.
And so, with that kind of idle talk, I was chatting with the pregnancy-waiting group until the meeting started.
"Haaah... Tori and the others have it rough too. I, being a rabbit-kin, will probably be treated the same way."
Ratz wiggled her bunny ears and gave a bitter smile, apparently imagining it from what I'd said.
It's been about three more months since she was declared three months pregnant, so Ratz's belly is now visibly large.
"Ah, even as a joke, please don't think about coming to the New Continent. If they found out you're carrying Yuki-san's child, they'd probably tell you to abort it."
"Huh? I'd beat them to death."
"Yeah, I'd beat them to death too. That's why Tori is saying not to come to such a dangerous place while you're pregnant."
"Ah, I see. Understood. I won't go to the New Continent until things calm down a bit."
"That's right. I wanted to go see how things were too, but it seems better not to in this condition."
Seraria, who had been listening nearby, shook her head with a "good grief" and also decided not to go. The others—Rurua, Derieu, Eris, and Killue—looked disappointed but agreed to stay put.
"Oh, by the way, Killue, why did you get pregnant before Sheila? You even declined the wedding ceremony for political reasons."
"That's..."
"That was actually my request." Sheila replied.
"Sheila, you did?"
"Yes. Since I came as Yuki-san's concubine, it would be improper for me to get pregnant before the legal wife, Seraria."
"Eh, but isn't Seraria the queen on the surface anyway? So it shouldn't matter, right?"
"Even so, from the Gartz side's perspective, if I were to carry Yuki-san's child first, they might demand concessions or try to increase my influence in Weed. In the worst case, they might whisper unnecessary things to my child after it's born."
Ugh, politics sure are complicated.
"That's exactly the issue. Yuki and the rest of us don't really care about distinctions like legal or concubine. But officially, I'm the principal wife."
"...And because of political circumstances, Sheila-sama shouldn't become pregnant until after Seraria-sama has given birth. That's why Sheila-sama asked me to at least have a child freely, following love where it led."
I see.
The phrase following 'love where it led' sounded wonderful.
I felt a little sorry for Sheila, having to hold herself back.
Once things calm down, we should have children with Yuki-san too.
Lots of them.
"It is good to see that all of you who went to the new continent are safe. So, is Yuki, who called us to this conference room, not here yet?"
Derieu looked around the room.
At that moment, the conference room doors opened and Yuki-san entered.
Ria carried a stack of documents, while Zargis wheeled in equipment.
"Sorry for the wait. Everyone sit down—oh, you're already seated. Ria, Jessica, hand out the documents. Zargis, help me set up over here."
""Understood.""
"Yes."
Jessica has gotten quite good at assisting Yuki-san lately. Well, she used to be Marly-san's close aide, so she's probably used to it.
While thinking about that, the documents were passed around to me.
Lately this has become normal, but in the past we never saw paper of this high quality. We certainly didn't scribble on it and throw it away, or casually use it as documents like this.
Anyway, enough reminiscing. Time to look at the materials. Work is important. As Yuki-san's wife, I can't disregard my husband's efforts.
The title read: "Structure of the Magic Sword".
"A magic sword? You mean the one that belonged to the princess-sama who was Jessica's former superior?"
"Coming from a 'princess-sama' yourself, Seraria."
"I'm a queen now."
"Right, that's true. Anyway, yes, it's the same type of sword the princess had. But this report concerns a different Magic Sword."
"Oh, right. The greedy fools from the Jilva Empire attacked, didn't they? From that battle?"
"Exactly. We secured another Magic Sword during that conflict, so this time we were able to examine it properly."
"Calling everyone here means you got quite a bit of information, right?"
"Quite a bit, yeah. Whether it's the cause or not is still something we have to figure out. For now, just read the materials."
After he said that, everyone turned their eyes back to the documents.
Basically, it's an inferior product that can't compare to the enchanted swords Naarjia-san makes, but there is one point where it far surpasses them...
"Eh?"
"Yuki, is this true?"
Everyone stopped at that exact same point, and Derieu voiced the question on everyone's mind.
That point was—
"The magic sword's mana supply source is the central magic stone... a Dungeon Core."
A Dungeon Core.
The very thing a Dungeon Master requires to operate a dungeon, and the method used to receive DP from Luna-san.
"By using a Dungeon Core to store magic, the sheer amount of magic capacity it holds is far above any sword Narjia-san has made. After all, even our Weed Dungeon Core is still continuously increasing its storage capacity to this day."
What on earth does this mean?
Using a Dungeon Core as material? Who made it, and for what purpose?
