Chapter 50.2. Harvest
The future will be better than now. In the past, there was little food, but the harvest festival was enjoyable, and I want to talk about those times when we get older.
A world where my wife is by my side, and the children live without going hungry. That’s the kind of world I envision. I don’t think of it as an ideal world where everyone lives with smiles. Life before the dungeons appeared. There will always be disparities, I know it’s not all happiness.
However, I want to ensure there’s no fighting, no killing, and no dying alone in some ruins. That’s my wish. As a savior of the world.
“I’d like to have another harvest festival like this next year. I want to increase the variety even more.”
“We’ve got no choice but to do our best. I’ll do my best to help, even though I’m getting old.”
I respond with gratitude to Shingen’s words and head towards the corn harvest, thinking I might as well have something to eat.
[Of course, as your partner, I’ll do my best to help as much as I can. Our aim is world domination!]
I chuckle wryly at Shizuku’s resolute expression and determined face as she playfully raises a finger.
[No, we won’t do that. We’ll ensure safety, strategically conquer the dungeons and build multiple markets. While cultivating fields and raising livestock, we can also weave textiles. The world will gradually change for the better. If the economy thrives so much that there’s a shortage of people due to too many jobs, that would be fantastic. For now, it’s best if my company sets an example.]
[I’ll aim for a reasonable approach. Will it work out?]
[I’m counting on you to make it work, partner. I’m sure we can do it.]
[Hehe, indeed. I’ll strive for greatness. Aim for total dungeon domination!]
I give a wry smile at Shizuku’s soft grin and her determination for total domination. Then, I step into the field and start harvesting corn. Mmm, it looks delicious.
Holding an ear of corn, Shizuku looks at Sakimori heading toward the pot, surrounded by people. Despite his uninterested expression and how he interacts with the smiling people, Shizuku knows that Sakimori isn’t as indifferent as they seem.
[Reviving the world’s economy, managing the dungeons, and aiming for humanity’s resurgence… it’s a wonderful idea.]
Then, a young girl climbs up on Sakimori, and the other children also surround him. The peaceful scene is almost blindingly bright. If this scene were to spread across the entire world, it would surely be a cause for celebration for humanity.
Unlike usual, I’m a bit further from the guard, watching silently with cold eyes. Shizuku utters a solitary murmur in a chilling tone.
[However, economic revival alone isn’t enough. I doubt Sakimori-san believes that there’s never been a country that didn’t engage in such actions.]
In a dictatorial and powerful country, in a populous nation, they would be willing to sacrifice, gather many high-skill level individuals under the support of the military, and manage the dungeon alongside low-level individuals.
Logically thinking, it is possible to take the best course of action. By ignoring people’s emotions and stacking up bodies. The nation can rationally and efficiently conquer the dungeons. Many countries have achieved this.
Instead of using missiles to defeat dragons, defeat them with human strength. Crush dungeons infested with goblins using low-level skilled individuals. Use crafting skills to create many magic weapons and tools. With the arrival of good times, create enough surplus to support other countries. Prepare to declare victory over the dungeons.
Yes, they were about to make that declaration.
However, just before they declare it, a dungeon appeared that spawned monsters more powerful than dragons. Of course, that country emerged victorious. The monsters possessed regeneration abilities even stronger than dragons, along with tough skin and powerful firepower.
Dragons, which could be defeated with a few missiles, were now overwhelmed by these creatures. The strategy of defeating them without sacrificing high-level skilled individuals under support didn’t work as well.
They had to fire dozens of missiles, each worth millions of dollars, and even the high-level skilled individuals suffered some casualties before they could defeat those monsters.
Many monsters appeared, all possessing that level of strength. They emerged all over the country. Every day, billions of dollars worth of missiles were expended, billions of weapons were lost, and the high-level skilled individuals, who had been nurtured with difficulty, were slowly eroded.
In a rush, they tried to seal the dungeon entrance, use chemical weapons, and even tried to blow up the labyrinth itself. But chemical weapons that would contaminate the land didn’t just affect the monsters, concrete was crumbling like sand, and even the magically alloyed doors couldn’t withstand repeated attacks.
As the nation’s strength was gradually whittled away, a more sinister monster appeared, dealing the final blow. A new dragon, one that high-level skilled individuals couldn’t defeat, missiles couldn’t penetrate, and they had to use the last resort.
After a while, all that remained was half of the land covered in radiation, the remaining land scorched, and a population that once boasted billions reduced to a few million. The country that was supposed to declare victory over the dungeon had collapsed, leaving only ruins.
This story was just 5 years after the intended victory declaration, as recorded in historical accounts.
[Ultimately, humanity realized that they were fighting in the palm of the enemy’s hand. The defeat was inevitable. The enemy enjoyed watching the ant nest trapped in a glass case.]
Humanity, having realized this, pondered.
[We cannot win as humans. The ants in the glass case cannot escape.]
With profound light in her eyes, Shizuku stared at Sakimori.
She has this expression never seen by anyone. The only one who should have been able to see it was Sakimori, but he was distant and remained unaware.
What kind of expression she had, she wondered.
