The Way to Absolute Dungeon Administration – There Is No Reason To Meet With the Opponent! - Volume 01 Chapter 19: The Cause and What Lies Ahead

Volume 01 Chapter 19: The Cause and What Lies Ahead

Side: Elju Lau Rocheur

“This document goes here. And this one’s mixed with that, right?”

After hearing Father’s report, Yuki-san started renovating the dungeon.

Selaria-neesama went to the capital with my fake, so it’s just me, Oriel, and Yuki-san here.

“Um, Yuki-san. Why pin the blame on the Demon King? And the need to fake my death…”

“Elju-sama, that’s…”

Oriel tries to stop me, but Yuki-san answers casually while working.

“You get it, but without another target, Rocheur would be attacked by Gartz and Litea from both sides. The people’s sentiment is clearly for a war to avenge Elju. Faking your death publicly was to fully convince Litea Holy Nation. Conveniently, Lulua became the witness to your death.”

I understand the logic. But is that something people should do? That’s the feeling stirring inside me.

“Hm, if you don’t like it, propose a better plan to the King. If it causes less harm and benefits everyone, they’d gladly accept it.”

“…!!”

“If it’s just emotional dislike, then… pray for a miracle and protest to Litea Holy Nation. Pray they admit fault and bow their heads. If they could do that, they wouldn’t have tried assassination.”

He’s right, but still…!!

“Then the Demon King has nothing to do with this!! It didn’t have to be the Demon King…”

“Hm, then pin it on Lumer, another major power, or some insignificant small nation?”

“Why must human-like races fight each other!?”

“You said the Demon King was a bad choice.”

Yuki-san, nonchalant, scribbles on some unfamiliar, beautiful paper without looking at me.

“Then why pin it on the Demon King!!”

“Because I heard from Selaria, Aria, and you, Elju, that he’s caused real harm. I can’t verify it now, but if true, this makes a perfect reason for an alliance.”

“But the Demon King has nothing to do with this…!!”

“Doesn’t matter. He’s done enough evil to make this believable. Let him bear it if it saves hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of lives.”

I’m speechless.

“Sorry, I get your feelings, but I don’t understand getting mad over it.”

“Why!! So many lives were lost!! We should justly condemn Litea Holy Nation and demand an apology…”

“…Wrong, aren’t you the cause? You got carried away as a Saintess, ignored warnings, hopped around, and created a situation to be exploited. Get it?”

“Huh?”

My vision shakes… I’m the cause?

“Yuki!! How could you say that!! Elju-sama was trying to save the people!!”

“And that led to this conflict? Great job. So, Saintess-sama, compare the lives you saved to the casualties from this conflict. Which is more?”

“That’s…”

“I get Elju’s feelings, but don’t throw a tantrum over the results. Don’t play the tragic heroine. Nobody else will say it, so I will. You caused this conflict.”

My world goes dark. No, I can see, but it’s like I can’t…

“Lulua too—if you hadn’t claimed Saintess, she’d still be Litea’s Saintess. Their people wouldn’t have rioted.”

“Stop…”

“Minister Loire wouldn’t have had grand ambitions, just stayed a petty crook. Mauve and the others could’ve been happy… with family and friends.”

“No…”

“The King, Aria, and Selaria wouldn’t have been targeted for assassination.”

“Nooo!!”

“Elju-sama, calm down!! Yuki, why do this!! You promised to protect Elju-sama!!”

Yuki-san keeps working calmly… What kind of nerves does he have?

I can’t look at him.

“Nah, I just answered her question.”

“Don’t mess around!! You’re cornering Elju-sama!!”

“She’s cornering herself. It’s easy for you, Oriel, just affirming Elju and dumping all the blame on her.”

“What!? How!!”

“Isn’t it? If you’d secured her surroundings better, gathered intel, this wouldn’t have happened. Right?”

“…”

Yuki-san’s words sink in, heavy, so heavy.

“What should I have done… I can’t see the future. Being a Saintess was the most I could do for everyone.”

“Exactly, you can’t see the future. So you do what you can, desperately.”

“…”

“Then why’s Elju cowering now? Even if you caused it, nobody’s blaming you. The people pity you.”

“…What are you saying?”

“Sure, claiming Saintess caused a lot of harm. But didn’t it save lives too? Were those lives a mistake?”

“…Of course not.”

“You get it. Keep saving lives, as much as you can, for those who believed in you as a Saintess, to prove those lives weren’t a mistake.”

“…”

“Think it’s hypocritical? But stopping now is worse. Got it?”

“…Yes, but I can’t accept it.”

“That’s fine. Some choose suicide, so you’re doing better, Elju.”

Silence lingers. Oriel looks at me and sighs.

“Yuki, wasn’t there a better way to say it? Without such roundabout, cheesy lines?”

“Thinking those lines are roundabout and cheesy is the problem. I don’t see living as pretty or ugly. Words mean nothing to someone who feels nothing. They hit because the moment’s right. If Elju said, ‘Yes!! I get it!!’ here, I’d think she’s not thinking at all.”

Yuki-san sets down his pen and reaches for a cup nearby.

“So, Elju, good timing—your resolve’s somewhat set. You understand the King’s national strategy, right?”

“Yes, it’s the best way to save the most lives now.”

“…Still a bit off, but fine. Who do you think gets the worst of this?”

“The Demon King?”

“Think deeper. The kingdom’s pinning it on the Demon King, but who really suffers? The people living there.”

“…Yes, you’re right.”

“How many can maintain a decent life? How many fall into slavery?”

“Probably a lot…”

“So, what should I do? I’m a dead woman now. I can’t do anything.”

“Think! Don’t shut down! What am I planning to build in the dungeon?”

“A village or town… No way!!”

“Conveniently, the market’s flooded with slaves… I’m gonna strong-arm the King to buy a bunch. They don’t want to waste manpower on the dungeon.”

“Forced labor!?”

“…Seriously, think. Who’d run a place that causes trouble later? If I use [Designated Protection] on those slaves or free them to live here freely, what happens?”

“If they’re freed from slavery and not oppressed, wouldn’t they be happy?”

“No clue how well it’ll be received, but it’s worth a shot. Word might spread, and refugees or slave traders might come directly.”

Yuki-san pauses, looking at me.

“Village or town, whatever—part of running it goes to you, Elju. Use your bitter experience to taste your dad’s struggles.”

He hands me the paper he was writing on.

It says “Dungeon Immigration Plan.”