Chapter 111

A declaration of war does not necessarily mean an immediate outbreak of hostilities. If that were the case, the side making the declaration would hold far too much advantage.

In other words, a declaration of war is nothing more than a notice that says, “We’ll attack in X days.”

Of course, the side that already has its troops and supplies stationed nearby—in this case, Lendia—still holds the upper hand.

But this time around, it’s different. With the declaration of war, Silent will be sent in, and in that very moment, the entire nation will fall.

Normally, such an underhanded tactic to end a war would be despised as cowardly. However, because this is a situation that should be “impossible” in the first place, Lendia can make all the “excuses” it wants.

They can simply claim, “We don’t know such a person,” or “He shouldn’t be there.”

After all, anyone in the city knows Silent has been spending his time in Lindblum right up until now. No ordinary person would ever suspect something like teleporting into a dungeon.

Of course, if Golda had already publicly admitted “Silent conquered our dungeon,” that would be another matter. But Golda would never allow such words to escape its lips.

Only a handful of figures at the very core of the nation know the truth. That is why Golda cannot openly tighten security around the Great Forest of Dreamhill.

The Adventurer’s Guild in Golda’s royal capital was not completely deserted, but the lively bustle was gone.

The citizens had already begun to feel that the nation was in decline.

Those who sensed it first were the merchants, followed by the travelers and adventurers who moved from land to land.

As the merchants dwindled, prices inevitably soared. Poverty and shortages drained the nation’s vitality.

With fewer adventurers, the ability to resolve problems plummeted, public safety worsened, and more adventurers abandoned the country entirely.

One misstep led to another, chaining together into a steady collapse.

Golda’s attempt to reverse its decline with the gamble of otherworld summoning had only brought about the pitiful state it was in now.

Even so, the king would never admit it. In his mind, it was all the fault of the useless heroes, the traitorous heroes, and the collaborators who had deceived him with honeyed words. He clung to that belief without a shred of doubt.

In this sinking ship known as Golda, at the still-functioning Adventurer’s Guild, a messenger arrived to meet one of the few unusual staff who still remained.

“Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild. What brings you here today?”

The woman at the reception desk was the same who had once overseen Same’s adventurer entrance exam.

In this nearly desolate situation, the only ones still at the guild were the guild master and her. All the other clerks had already been dismissed.

“…To greet me like that, knowing who I am—it’s a bit chilling.”

“My apologies. At present, we’re not accepting any new requests…”

“I can see that for myself. The adventurers still here all look like they’re bracing themselves. They must already realize they’ll soon be conscripted.”

“…I’m sorry, what exactly are you talking about?”

The visitor cloaked in a robe was none other than Remiya.

Thanks to her unique ability, she had reached Golda in only three days—a feat possible for her alone—and had come to the guild to deliver her message.

“I’ll come find you again once your shift is over.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s against guild regulations for us to meet clients outside of working hours…”

“Then I won’t trouble you further. I’ll see you later.”

And with that, Remiya left, having delivered her words unilaterally.

The receptionist, left behind, only continued her duties, her face thoughtful.

Eventually, the day’s work ended. With so few adventurers and staff left, the guild—meant to be open twenty-four hours—closed its doors. The adventurers returned to their bases, leaving the building in silence.

Only the guild master and the receptionist remained.

“Master, an old colleague of mine visited me today. She’ll likely be here soon.”

“I–is that so!? Then… then I suppose that means I’m no longer needed…”

The guild master’s nervous reply seemed oddly submissive. Their relationship hardly resembled that of a superior and subordinate.

“That’s right. Thank you for serving as guild master all this time.”

“No, I should be thanking you. I was nothing but a failed merchant, yet you gave me this chance to do meaningful work.”

It was as though he was admitting he had never truly been fit to be master, and that this woman was his true superior.

“If the time comes, after everything ends… if this guild is ever revived, I’ll ask for your help again.”

“…Yes. If such a day comes.”

“This country will soon be engulfed in war. Depending on how things go, you may need to evacuate. I recommend packing your things when you return home.”

“I see… and you? You’ll stay here to the very end? Will you be alright…?”

“No problem. I’m stronger than I look—when I get serious.”

She laughed off the ex-master’s concern.

After seeing him off, she remained behind alone. That marked, in effect, the end of the Adventurer’s Guild of Golda.

“…It was actually pretty comfortable here, though.”

She murmured to herself in the now-empty hall.

Days that were busy, but not overwhelmingly so. A workplace with close ties between people. She had grown fond of it, even as the decline of the nation crept in, even as the city suffered poverty, hardship, and the slow exodus of its people.

But at the same time—

“So, will you sink with the nation as well?”

A voice rang out in the deserted hall.

Its owner appeared suddenly, already seated in what should have been an empty reception chair.

“Just kidding. I came here knowing it was a sinking ship. I may have some affection for it, but it’s nothing more than the fondness one feels for a broken toy.”

Affection, but not attachment. That was the kind of dry pragmatism she carried.

“I’m relieved. For a moment, I thought you might actually side with Golda.”

“I might side with the country, but I have no intention of siding with the royal family… So, when did you leave?”

“Three days ago. I came to deliver the queen’s and Burke-sama’s intentions.”

“That fast? Still as convenient as ever, huh—‘Shadow Run,’ was it? Teach me that.”

“Impossible. It’s a magic restricted to certain elven clans like mine.”

The receptionist—trading light words with Remia—seemed an old acquaintance. Remia herself looked more expressive than usual.

“So… the fact you’re here means it’s confirmed then, war?”

“Yes. In three days, on the morning of the 10th, a declaration of war bearing the queen’s signature will be delivered to the King of Golda’s bedside.”

“Whistles! That’s bold. We’ve had no information from your side at all, but it seems your queen is really furious.”

“She is. Which is why, Melissa, I need you to issue the guild’s final emergency request. You understand, don’t you?”

The receptionist’s true name was revealed: Melissa.

“Order all the adventurers still here to head for the border mountains.”

“…If I do that, won’t I be arrested for treason the moment the declaration is made? I’d have to wait for the adventurers still out in the field to return too. I wouldn’t be able to run.”

“That’s right. Until every last one accepts, you’ll need to stay here.”

“You’re cruel, Remiya… And what about you? Will you just return home after delivering the declaration? You should help me—no, you should protect me.”

The Adventurer’s Guild in Golda had always operated under the condition that “in times of emergency, registered adventurers can be conscripted.”

This wasn’t limited to the royal capital—it was the same in every city across the nation.

In other words, to Golda, the guild was nothing more than a convenient tool: an organization that handled the country’s miscellaneous tasks while also serving as a ready-made pool of manpower in times of crisis.

So why, under such unfavorable conditions, had the guild continued to operate in Golda until now?

The answer was simple: “for the freedom of the people.”

The guild did not exist for the sake of nations, but for the sake of the people who lived within them.

…That was the principle the Adventurer’s Guild had always claimed to uphold.

“Don’t joke. You could cut down a dozen of this country’s soldiers without breaking a sweat, couldn’t you? As for me, once I deliver the declaration, I’ll vanish. Yes… perhaps into this guild.”

“Hah? There aren’t enough supplies here to hole up for months, you know?”

“No, just two days at most will be enough. This war… it’s predicted to end quickly.”

Remiya believed Silent’s words, certain the war would end in mere days.

Melissa also understood well that launching an immediate attack right after a declaration of war was normally forbidden.

Which is why she asked—why would it end in only two days?

“You don’t mean… you’re planning to assassinate the king?”

“I considered it. But if we did that, we’d lose face with the other nations. Our country would be branded as cowards.”

“You’re right… not many could pull off assassinating the king. Only you. So then, how? Don’t tell me the other Thirteen Knights are already in place inside Golda?”

“No. Of the Thirteen, I’m the only one inside the country. The rest are on standby in Lindblum.”

“I see. A cover story, then. To insist you’re doing nothing underhanded. Meaning—you’ve gained some kind of hidden force… a new weapon, perhaps? The queen has.”

“Yes. With that power, this war will be ended. By the time the declaration of war is delivered, the conflict will already be underway. After all, a declaration only says, ‘We’ll cross the border and attack in X days.’ If they’re not guarding other routes, they’ll never be able to lead their nation properly in war.”

It was sophistry, yes—but also truth.

War, at its core, was nothing more than “killing without rules.”

Only because other nations were watching did countries put on airs, pretending to be noble, clinging to decorum.

But if no one found out, then anything was permitted.

“…True. Golda isn’t entirely foolish either. Lately, they’ve started deploying troops toward the Great Forest of Dreamhill, and I’ve seen suspicious figures coming and going from the castle. They’re clearly preparing for war on their end too. They might even have been planning to declare first.”

“…Deploying troops into the dungeon…? Why…?”

“No idea. But entry to the Great Forest has been completely forbidden for some time now. And we’ve received reports that the Scorched Valley dungeon has entered dormancy. You lot in Lendia cleared it already, didn’t you? Should I be saying congratulations? Well, that’s probably why preparations for war have been accelerated.”

“…Yes. The core of the Scorched Valley is already in our possession. Its dormancy should end soon.”

“Then the Great Forest… what’s really happening there?”

Remia thought it through. Perhaps Golda had realized—before the guild—that the Great Forest had been breached.

Melissa, however, clearly didn’t know. Yet if Golda was deploying troops there, it meant they suspected enemies could already strike from that direction.

“No, it’s fine. Even if they station an army there, it won’t matter in the slightest.”

Because she knew: no matter how many soldiers they gathered, none of them would amount to anything before Silent.

“Well then, I’ll leave the emergency guild request deployment to you, Melissa.”

“Yeah, yeah. In the meantime, I’ll dust off my old gear and get ready. Maybe I’ll be here when the conscription squad shows up in a rage.”

“Fufu, do your best. I can’t reveal myself, after all.”

“Haa… Once this war ends, maybe I’ll take a long vacation. Think I’ll find a decent man somewhere?”

And with that, all the pre-war preparations were complete.

War would come. Those who must die would die.

The nation would collapse, and a new order would spread in its place.

Of course, opposition would rise as well. But any country unable to suppress even that much had no right to wage war to begin with.

Thus Golda’s fate was sealed—

By the very existence it had once summoned.

“Wah!?”

One morning, as Silent was spending a brief respite before the war at home in his own form, he raised a strange cry.

A section of the yard—until recently blocked off with a large wooden fence and a sign reading “No Entry”—had been opened. And beyond it stretched a shocking new sight.

“Wh-what the heck is this…!?”

“I couldn’t turn the whole garden into a pond, right? So I asked some of the forest trees to ‘move aside’ and expanded the pond that way!”

The other day, Melt had been told to cut back after overdoing the pond-making. But the result was…

A section of the forest had been cleared, and in its place was a terraced series of ponds, almost like rice paddies.

…Incredible. This was the kind of quality you could charge admission for…! So this is natural magic…!

“Unbelievable… But won’t it start snowing soon? Shouldn’t the shrimp be preparing for winter?”

“It’s fine! I made a deeper section too! Even though it’s tiered, there’s a passage to the bottom. Once it gets cold, they’ll all hide down there.”

“…Flawless, huh. Alright, I’ll be leaving soon, so let me teach you how to fry shrimp before I go.”

“Got it! Hehe, I’m looking forward to it! Once spawning season comes, there’ll be tons of shrimp living here. We’ll be able to eat them every day!”

“Things really are back to normal, huh. Just… don’t overdo the fried food and cola while I’m gone.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. …Yes, I’ll live as usual. Eating, working, playing, and waiting for you. So you’d better come back safe, Silent.”

“Of course. Now then… let’s grab just enough for a meal and head back.”

I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. Anyway… so even in Silent’s form, I can still make fried shrimp, right?

It looks pretty terrible, but… it should work, yeah?

In the end, it worked. The two of us spent a relaxed time together, snacking on fried shrimp.

Well then… Remiya should be arriving at Golda about now, so I guess I’d better get ready too.

I headed to the sunroom and used the “Grimgram’s Heart Core.”

Just like before, options related to the dungeon appeared.

[Administrator information unknown. Temporary authority holder Grimgram authenticated.]
[Please select a management item.]

• Self-fortification
• Base enhancement
• Base relocation
• Base transfer
• Base management
• Construct temporary base
• Function restricted
• Function restricted

“Hmm… looks like some new options have shown up.”

Two items were still locked, but a new one—“Construct temporary base”—had been added.

I was curious, but first I needed to check the state of the forest and what functions were available.

“Guess I’ll start with base management…”

When I selected it, what appeared looked like a map of the entire Great Forest.

“Hey Melt, come take a look at this.”
“What is it?”

Melt came over from the next room, still giving off a savory smell as she fried more shrimp.

“What’s up? Ah, this one’s made with lots of herbs. Here, say ahh.”
“…Mmm, that’s really good…! But anyway, could you look at this map?”
“Huh? Oh, it’s a map of the forest. Wow… it turned into a complicated dungeon, but when you see it on a map it’s like this, huh?”
“So this really is that Great Forest then?”
“Yep. Let’s see… ah, this must be the Dungeon Master’s lair?”
“Yeah, probably. That’s where the manor used to be. Though it’s gone now.”
“And… my village is pretty far from there, but… here it is.”

The map displayed “Village of the Silver Foxes.”

There were other place names too, like “Shrine of the Sea’s Roar” and “Mountain of the Sea Crossing,” all of them near Melt’s homeland.

And a little ways off from her village—there was another name: “Shrine of the Wise Fox.”

“Oh, that’s my house.”
“Seriously? Your house has an actual name on the map?”
“Looks like it. I knew people called my grandmother that, though!”

So it was true… I’d heard stories, but Melt’s grandmother must have been an incredibly wise person.

And yeah, her home really was a fair distance from the village. That’s probably why she escaped being chosen as a sacrifice.

“Found it. There’s an option for ‘Area Lockdown.’ I’ll make sure people can’t get into your village or your home.”
“Thanks, I’d appreciate that. I might not be able to enter either though.”
“…Let’s see. Can’t we make exceptions…? Okay, looks like ‘natives’ and ‘administrators’ can be exempt. So you and I will be fine. Once the war’s over, we can visit, right?”
“Yeah! There’s a lot of fruit wine stored there too—we’ll have to go back and collect it!”

Yes. Let’s think about what comes after the war.

Even if painful decisions await, if there’s joy beyond that, then… I can endure it.

And so, after confirming I could safely transfer into the dungeon, I waited for the time to begin the operation.

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