Legend

"So, the tentacles that were in the report... is it best to end up knocking them out?

Langa nods heavily at Dusker's words.

"As a result of gathering a lot of information, it will. Nevertheless, it is also true that the place tastes bad"

"Shouldn't we have just left it to Ray, who was fighting yesterday?

It was one of the knights who was at the meeting who tried to break into Langa's words and said so.

Ray, who has great power as an individual, and two Vihelas are fighting tentacles in underground space, and as far as the reports submitted are concerned, it is true that they were dominant.

Beyond that, if we hadn't stopped that fight as of yesterday, and left it at our disposal, we would have knocked down our tentacles, and thus we didn't have to worry ourselves.

I was a knight to tell you so, but another knight argues with it.

"That being said, at the time there was little information about the tentacles. We got information from those who captured us, and this is how we finally figured out some things. With that in mind, this one case can be called force majeure"

"And... it's Ray, right? If you want me to fight that tentacle in full underground space. It's no surprise that if you do poorly, the underground space collapses and the area is surrounded by flames."

"Right. No, there won't be a problem if it's just about that neighborhood. But if the damage was done even to the aristocratic neighborhood... considering that, I can still say that Lord Langa's judgment was appropriate"

They say Ray, and the first thing you can think of is wide-area extermination magic by flaming tornadoes.

Because some of the people here saw it directly with their own eyes during the war against the Bestian Empire, I really think so.

In fact, Ray can use a lot of magic besides wide area extermination magic, as well as plenty of fighting as an individual.

But more than that, it would naturally leave a strong impression of the sight we saw in person with our own eyes.

Some did not take part in the war for any reason - Guild's defense, etc. - but I do not question how such a fellow is doing.

Because that's all Ray's been doing.

... That evidence would be the dismantling of Giganto Turtle, which is currently taking place just on the side of the Guild.

Of course Giganto Turtle didn't defeat Ray alone, but it is nonetheless an unmistakable fact that Ray played a major role.

More than that, there is no one on this occasion who doubts Ray's strength.

Let's get back to it.

With a word from Dusker, the chatter stops.

Take a sip of the tea on the table and Dusker opens his mouth again.

"In this case, is the place still the problem? Near the aristocracy is too painful.... Ranga, can you call the tentacles that come out of that underground space elsewhere... right, if you can, away from the gilm? If they're coming out of a space rift, it seems like they can do that."

To Dusker's words, Langa shakes her neck sideways with a difficult look.

"I thought that would be difficult. No, we may be able to do that over time, but we need you to sacrifice your tentacles and take care of them until it's done."

"... how much time exactly do you need?

That's what Dusker asks after a little thought to the word time consuming.

Low, low, low voice.

That's the kind of voice that might deserve such expressions as echoing from the bottom of the earth.

Included in that voice is the strong will to be Lord of the Guild.

Langa opens her mouth as she is pushed by Dusker's voice.

"How long clearly, I can't say. Not many people have information about tentacles. I captured a man named Jarvis, the mastermind, and although this man had been entrusted with this case, he doesn't seem to know much about magical relationships."

"I guess."

The report also reads Dusker.

According to that, a man named Jarvis was with a fighter and didn't seem familiar with magic.

There may be people in the world who are familiar with magic, such as fighters, but if you didn't see them in person, a man named Jarvis doesn't look like that type.

Beyond that, even if I could hear something from Jarvis about the general circumstances, I didn't know how I could stop calling those tentacles or break my contract.

If so, there are not many means that can be taken.

"How many sinners do we currently have left?

Those who cannot understand the meaning of the words out of Dusker's mouth are not present here.

What that means is... sacrifice.

In order not to expose the tentacles, sacrifices must be made as a matter of course.

As Dusker's position, such imitations as offering the innocent to sacrifice cannot be done as a matter of course.

But... on the contrary, what happens if you are a sinner?

That would be the thing that I wouldn't even have to think about.

Sinners, if that is also a sinner who is certain to be executed rather than a misdemeanor, there is nothing wrong with that.

Seems ruthless, but given Dusker's position as Lord of the Guild, this was also natural in a sense.

And happy or unhappy...

"Thirty or so people are currently in need of execution."

Yes, Gilm is a land of periphery, but therefore very scarce materials and demonic stones were readily available, and at the same time there were many high-ranking adventurers, often meaning that sins would be heavier if nature and crime were committed.

As a result, sinners whose execution is certain are so abundant that they cannot be considered as the size of a city.

Using such criminals as sacrifices against tentacles should not be a hesitation for Dusker.... whatever's inside of it.

"Right. So, how many sacrifices do you need in a day?

"We'll look into it later and let you know as soon as possible"

"Uhm, do that"

"Dear Dusker,"

I can inadvertently call Dusker, who was talking to Langa.

Turning his gaze to those who spoke, there was the figure of one of those entrusted with internal affairs.

When he is prompted to go ahead with his gaze, the man bows his head small and opens his tease.

"If the sacrifice were to go on like this, I was wondering if one of the Cobolts would go on like this.... No, the report said that Kobolt was called in on the sacrifice issue, so if you think about it, maybe more monsters than Kobolt will come out?

"Maybe it will. But it's better than being rammed all over the city by those tentacles."

"Besides, one thing about Kobolt... is that, as this report says, Ray is building a wall to stop most of the break-ins, right? And now you're attracted to the dismantling of Giganto Turtle?"

One of the knights tells him so while reading the report.

That's what it says, though, that some of the reports go over the dirt walls and into the guilds.

"Hmm, will the presence of Ray help us so far for the Guild? … this is also helpful for us"

I'm just very happy that the dismantling of Giganto Turtle gives jobs to the jobless, but on top of that, even Giganto Turtle's meat was becoming somewhat more and more available on the market.

Some people here have known each other to participate in the dismantling of Giganto Turtle and have had their meat divided, or have bought and eaten meat sold.

In that sense, many even thanked Ray.

… Likewise, some people were annoyed by Ray's actions.

"Cobolt has no problem if it's still working out as it stands. As I said, if there were more powerful monsters out there than Kobolt... including Ray, it wouldn't be too hard to deal with the Gilm adventurer."

A lot of people agree with what Dusker said.

Some of them were against it on the inside, but if they asked if there was an alternative, it didn't exist, and I had to agree with them that they would give sacrifices and buy time.

No way I can rely on a hopeful observation that if I don't do anything like this, maybe my tentacles will disappear naturally... etc.

That's why you can't put it directly in your mouth, even if you disagree.

"Okay, Master Dusker. Do you want to let Ray know about that? I rely quite a bit on Ray in this one case, and most importantly, it was Ray who fought that tentacle in the underground space. I'm pretty sure Ray's coming to see what's going on."

For some reason, I've known Ray for a long time... that's why I know Ray's character better than it was Langa who dealt with him when Ray first came to Gilm.

It's weird to explain the proposal to sacrifice a death row inmate, and he definitely won't look good... but still, I understood Ray would understand too if I spoke.

But that would only be if we spoke honestly, and if we hid it through, or imitated it deludedly, it would stir up Ray's mistrust.

Langa asks Dusker if he wants to explain the situation to Ray because he understands it.

To Langa's words, Dusker thought for a few seconds and eventually nodded.

As far as Ray's concerned, he's just an adventurer.

That's why I wouldn't have to bother talking about important things if I were supposed to...... such a ray was special in many ways at the same time as being a one-time adventurer.

Firstly, they are with strong influential beings: Elaine, Vihella and Marina.

And they have a means of travel called a griffon, and they even have a substitute called an item box.

It was inevitable that such a presence alone would allow me to lend a hand immediately at times of need.

Nor can there ever be any chance that Ray would be hostile to Dusker by strange misunderstandings if he were to hide that he would sacrifice his death row poorly.

Dusker was confident that he had a friendly relationship with Ray, and he has a sense of even being respected of a kind.

That's why the option of not keeping in close contact with Ray does not exist.

"Do that. When a monster other than Cobolt comes out, you need to move quickly."

"What about high-ranking adventurers, other than Ray?

There is also naturally a high-ranking adventurer outside of Ray in the Guild.

Dusker turns his gaze to Langa in the words of a civilian who says what to do about contacting you.

"Ranga, how many high-ranking adventurers are involved in yesterday's forced investigation?

"When it comes to rank B or above, are there a little over twenty people or something like that?"

"... that's a lot. No, should I be happy in this case"

The mandatory investigation that took place yesterday is a request that hardly ever comes up with a commission and not even through the guild.

A handout of guards, patriotism toward Gilm... no, it's not a country, so it's local love. He was the one with the emotions of that hand, and a voice was called to the person who could move.

Beyond that, as Lordship Dusker of the Guild, you should be pleased.

"Right. There have been a lot of bad things about this one, but on the contrary, there have been good things like that."

It is also for Dusker that many loved the city of Gilm, where they lived... No, many of those on this occasion nod happily to the word.

There were a lot of headache issues in this one, but I was very pleased with the matter.

"But... right. I'm glad to hear about that, but let's just say Ray is the only one who'll let you know. Yeah, and the faces you're acting with Ray. The Wings of the Red Lotus are one of the most important forces of war when dealing with tentacles."

"Okay. So, that's it. … and is this already the time"

One of those who was in the room turns his gaze out the window.

There, it's already too late through the morning to be near noon.

I pinched a break on the way several times, but still a few people give this meeting, which has been going on since last night, a tired look.

A confident knight in health is showing more tiredness than the civilians who don't exercise much... again, I guess this is because this is the meeting.

"Hmm, right. They will each need to take a break, and they will need to give instructions to their subordinates and gather information. Once the meeting is over here, we shall resume tonight. That way, there's going to be more information than there is right now."

Dusker's words put the meeting to an end.