The situation felt like it should naturally disperse.
“Well, moving on to the next topic, I’ll be reporting on the current operational status and consumption of the Dungeon.”
However, the discussion wasn’t limited to Suella’s return to active duty and accompanying me on this trip.
As the Human King, I oversee the areas under my management and the negotiation sector with Japan.
I couldn’t possibly neglect that important matter.
We moved to a different location to discuss work with my wives.
Normally, the atmosphere would be tense yet comfortable, but with me, Suella, Keiri, Memoria, Himik, and Evia all operating in work mode just to get through it, the air was far from pleasant.
Still, I couldn’t let personal feelings interfere at this juncture.
With that understanding, Keiri changed the subject.
She brought out the prepared documents and began distributing them to facilitate the discussion.
“The consumption is higher than I expected. I heard the reports, but… especially regarding food supplies. Is it because Instructor Kio’s strategy involves rationing?”
“It’s not just that; we’re also distributing to other generals, and the amounts are higher than anticipated. It’s within our expected range for now, but if it continues to increase at this rate, it won’t be good.”
War is a tremendous drain on resources.
The documents, presented in a way that accurately depicted this reality, were more than enough to further darken the current atmosphere.
But I couldn’t afford to sigh at this moment.
“Once the instructors’ movements stabilize, this consumption should also become more gradual. For now, we just have to ensure a steady supply of provisions. If we reduce the stockpiled amount by five percent and allocate it to distribution, we should be able to manage for the time being. Also, please increase the personnel for auditing. There are bound to be instances of embezzlement. If we allow that to happen, even with abundant logistical support in the rear, we’ll reach our limit.”
“Evia-sama and Amili-sama are assisting with that. Several nobles who were overcharging have already been arrested and sent to the front lines.”
I had to maintain my professional demeanor.
Perhaps understanding that, Suella hadn’t said anything further since then and was diligently scrutinizing the contents of the documents.
Having never experienced a real argument, this atmosphere felt incredibly uncomfortable.
Knowing the cause of this discomfort, I couldn’t even begin to search for a solution.
It was unfortunate that our unyielding points had overlapped.
“Jiro-san, I agree with reducing the stockpiled amount, but considering future implications, I think we should reduce the percentage a bit more.”
“Specifically?”
“I think three percent would be fine.”
“…Understood. I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes.”
The tense atmosphere was hard to shake.
I understood and knew I had to accept it.
I felt a desire to escape reality, wishing time would solve this. However…
“Memoria, as far as you can confirm with the Toris Trading Company, what’s the situation with price fluctuations?”
“Currently, it’s a slight upward trend. Due to the war, a shortage of goods is predicted, leading merchants to stockpile. This accelerates logistics and causes prices to rise. Since Jiro-san is providing war supplies, they’ve realized they’ll be stuck with unsold inventory if this continues, and the Toris Trading Company expects a price collapse.”
“That’s as predicted. We must avoid a situation where citizens who bought up supplies from the battlefield turn against us.”
I understood that such a move would be unacceptable.
There were days when I felt that engaging in work was the easiest thing to do.
I tried my best to feign calmness, continuing with the work-related discussions.
Simultaneously, I was trying to improve this atmosphere – what was I even doing?
I found myself lamenting the lack of a more relaxed atmosphere, which would normally accompany our usual interactions.
“Please rest assured regarding that matter; we are paying the utmost attention to food supply. Furthermore, we have succeeded in controlling the merchants’ actions to some extent by using goods flowing in from Japan as a leverage.”
Memoria and Himik were trying to act as they normally would, but a sense of stiffness remained.
Evia remained silent on this matter. Even though she was the trigger, I knew that if she intervened, it would leave lingering resentment between myself and Suella, so she refrained.
I conveyed the necessary information as her superior. That was all she did.
She simply did what was necessary for the organization.
“I see. Please continue to monitor logistics. Himik, have any suspicious individuals been reported in the vicinity?”
“Mm, at least not around me. I doubt anyone who managed to evade Evia’s surveillance would easily reveal themselves, but within the scope of what I can confirm, there are no suspicious individuals I’m aware of.”
If one is dissatisfied with this, the only option is to leave the organization. If that’s undesirable, then one must either endure or show results. We chose to stay. Therefore, this matter can only be resolved between Suella and myself.
“That’s good to hear. I apologize for asking something strange.”
“Don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t want any strange characters entering my living space either. In the current situation, we need to clearly distinguish who is an enemy and who is a friend.”
As we continued with the work discussion, the information was being absorbed properly. However, I understood that my focus was being divided by my concern for Suella.
“Currently, our faction is attracting considerable attention. While it’s true that we’re a new faction gaining notice, we’re also viewed like weathervanes, as if we could belong to any faction depending on the circumstances.”
That said, I couldn’t afford to misinterpret the current perception. Despite our faction explicitly stating our affiliation with the Demon Lord, we were being approached with all sorts of tempting offers. To put it bluntly, they were underestimating us. They likely assumed that, apart from my individual power, the rest could be easily managed. We weren’t seen as an absolute threat. In fact, there was a possibility of them drawing us into their own factions. That’s how we were being perceived.
“To be perfectly clear, we have no intention of switching factions. The end result for a faction that loses its sense of justice is dire. We will hold our ground in this faction until the other side abandons its principles. That will not change.”
“We’re also seen as a catalyst to overturn the current power structure. It’s not a bad idea to inform your subordinates of your thinking. However, don’t become overconfident. While all the generals swear a certain degree of loyalty to the Demon Lord, they don’t worship him. If they believe they are right, they will act accordingly. Never forget that.”
Frankly, that sentiment wasn’t ideal. And it was understandable that they would think that. Currently, Suella represented a vulnerability. Women, throughout history, have been treated as a weakness for men. I was no exception. If she were taken hostage, our strength would visibly diminish.
If I were to be ruthless and consider a future where I might have to abandon Suella, my heart would be twisted. To that extent, the women present here were my weak points. Perhaps it was due to these feelings that I wished for them to be in a safe place.
“I appreciate the warning. It’s difficult to gauge those situations… but ultimately, it comes down to producing results.”
“Yes, if I had said I would handle it well, I would have been crushed. And then…”
We had reached a point where that was no longer possible. Therefore, I had no choice but to steel myself. I nodded at Evia’s meaningful gaze. Her look implied that the meeting shouldn’t end this way. Faced with the current situation where I had no good solutions, this was the best I could do. Following Evia’s gaze, which seemed to ask, “What are you going to do?”, I turned my gaze to Suella.
At my gaze, Suella tensed, her body stiffening. She wouldn’t normally act like this. It was understandable given the nature of my gaze. After all, what was about to begin was a once-in-a-lifetime, foolish idea.
“Suella.”
“Yes.”
“I want to respect your opinion. However, there are limits to that.”
“I understand.”
“You understand that what we’re discussing now has crossed the line of my respect, don’t you?”
“Yes, I understand that. I comprehend your wishes and your kindness, and I want to support you by your side.”
“Am I unreliable?”
“No, you are someone who honors your promises.”
My expression was likely as blank as a mask. I had stripped away my emotions, preparing myself for the sheer foolishness of what I was about to say.
“However, you should also understand that it’s painful to be constantly protected by you. I understand you have a child to protect. This is selfish. I fear a future where you are absent. It’s the selfishness of a weak-hearted woman.”
“I see.”
Suella’s words were understandable and reasonable. The pain of waiting for someone’s safety. The act of having one’s heart chipped away by continuously waiting in a position where one can do nothing. How agonizing that must be. In fact, Suella had been waiting for a long time. Ever since that day she became pregnant, she had been waiting with a smile for my return.
However, even that had its limits. How many more times did she need to worry? If she was that worried, she would watch over me by my side. That’s what she was likely trying to say. Yes, she was absolutely right. A reason I could not help but understand. It would be wrong to simply dismiss it. I had just been cautioned by an instructor not to cause worry, yet I still hadn’t grown at all.
“Then, shall we do this until we both find satisfaction?”
This wasn’t the fighting spirit one directed at a beloved person. However, to this extent…
“I accept your challenge.”
She was not a woman to be intimidated. Suella unleashed her full aura, the覇気 of a General, which caused even Himik to instinctively take a defensive stance. In response, Suella, as if she had been waiting for those words, smoothly stood up.
“Jiro-san, you seem to be mistaken, but I am not a weak woman to be merely protected.”
“That’s right, Suella is a strong woman. But even a woman like that, a man wants to protect her. That’s a man’s heart.”
I knew she wouldn’t back down with just this, and any slight possibility had vanished. In that case, I, too, had to be resolute. I slowly stood up and faced her directly.
“I’ve caused you a lot of trouble since we started dating, but have we ever had a direct confrontation like this?”
“No, we haven’t. As far as I can recall, there’s no such memory.”
Though the atmosphere suggested it could begin at any moment, neither of us intended to start it just yet.
“Then that’s good.”
“Yes, I would like to continue our relationship like this forever.”
When it comes to fighting, we do it thoroughly. A shared understanding formed, and Suella and I simultaneously activated our magic. It was a simple teleportation magic, primarily used for…
“Before we begin, I want to say this. I love you, both before we start and after it’s over.”
“Yes, I love you too, Jiro-san. I did from that time, and I will continue to love you even after this is over.”
Equipment exchange. My clothes instantly transformed into armor, and in my right hand, I gripped my partner, the Ore Tree. Suella’s attire also changed from a suit to a robe I had never seen before, and in her hand, she held a staff and a dagger. Having exchanged declarations of love, we slowly began to walk, commencing our movement.
Today’s quote: There are lines that one cannot cross.
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