﻿\setgamedatatitle("Risbell's Espionage 0")

\text("Risbell")
...Hmm. Both Shuka and Kiros are a total mess right now.

\endtext

\text
As I skimmed through the report, I couldn't help but mutter
that impression.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
In Shuka, the military officers' rebellion triggered a purge
of Diabolica within the army...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Meanwhile in Kiros, the influence of the Winga Church is
growing stronger...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
As a result, the treatment of Diabolica is getting even
worse...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Which means, the number of refugees fleeing to Hados is
increasing at an accelerating rate...
\endtext

\text
Other problems keep surfacing―so many that I want to just
close my eyes and ignore them.
\endtext

\text
...The problems are piling up. They're like a mountain
range, and crossing them all seems nearly impossible.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
It's great that our population is increasing, but the
problems just keep multiplying... My sleep time is getting
shredded...
\endtext

\text
Looking at the mountain of paperwork piling up on the desk,
Risbell felt her spirit about to break.
\endtext

\text
On top of that, there are rumors―though nothing concrete
yet―of some large-scale schemes underway in both countries.

\endtext

\text
In Shuka, Chancellor Tsuushin's faction is ramping up their
activities behind the scenes...
\endtext

\text
Meanwhile in Kiros, the Winga Church is said to be moving
differently from the country's upper echelons.

\endtext

\text
It's unclear which country these moves are targeting.

\endtext

\text
But right now, the Demon Lord's Army is at the center of the
conflict. There's a high chance they'll try something
against us outside of open war.
\endtext

\text
This means Caym will have to get serious about his work too.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
I'm overworked. And it's all because Caym-sama is slacking
off.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Who's slacking off?
\endtext

\text
Before I knew it, Caym was standing right beside me, peering
at the documents in my hand.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Honestly, please knock before you come in. ...Did you need
something?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
No, I leave all the politics to you... but I thought I
should at least hear about the current situation.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Ah, that's a good attitude. Well then...

\endtext

\text
And so Risbell gave a brief summary of the report she had
just read.
\endtext

\text
It couldn't have been a pleasant story for Caym either...
but he just gave a fearless grin.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
I see. So every country has its own headaches to deal with.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes. Right now, our enemy is Lusario... but both Shuka and
Kiros are watching this war closely.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
It's not what I want, but there's a high chance we'll have
to fight them eventually. I want to keep track of the
situation as much as possible. But...
\endtext

\text


\endtext

\text("Caym")
What's wrong? Is there some kind of problem?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Since the Demon Lord's Army is mostly made up of monsters,
we don't have enough people who can blend in with humans and
do intelligence work in human countries.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Can't we just hire someone?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
At worst, I considered hiring the infamous Vexation... but
there are rumors they're connected to Shuka, so I gave up on
that.
\endtext

\text
Risbell let out a sigh. It was clear she'd been trying to
handle a lot behind Caym's back.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
With our current intelligence capabilities, it's difficult
to gather enough information on both Shuka and Kiros.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
So, based on the current situation, I think we should focus
our intelligence efforts on one of those countries.

\endtext

\text
Risbell continued, staring intently at Caym.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Which one do you think is the more urgent threat to the
Demon Lord's Army...?
\endtext

\text
At that, Caym realized Risbell was seeking his decision.

\endtext

\text
As king, he should fulfill his duty and help ease Risbell's
worries.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm, let's see...
\endtext

\sel("Focus intelligence gathering on Shuka","Focus intelligence gathering on Kiros")

\text("Caym")
Then, Shuka. It's a country with a lot of our kind, so it
could get complicated.

\endtext

\text
Hearing Caym's answer, Risbell looked a little relieved.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Understood. I'll focus our spies and collaborators on Shuka.


\endtext

\text("Risbell")
We'll keep gathering information on Kiros as well, but...
there will inevitably be some gaps.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Then, Kiros. I don't like those church bastards, and I like
it even less when they act on their own.

\endtext

\text
Hearing Caym's answer, Risbell looked a little relieved.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Understood. I'll focus our spies and collaborators on Kiros.


\endtext

\text("Risbell")
We'll keep gathering information on Shuka as well, but...
there will inevitably be some gaps.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Well, it can't be helped. Let me know if there are any
updates.
\endtext

\text
As Caym finished speaking and started to leave, Risbell
called out to him.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes. Um... thank you, Caym-sama.


\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hm? Did I do something worth thanking me for?


\endtext

\text
Caym stopped and turned around.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No... To be honest, I couldn't decide this on my own.


\endtext

\text("Risbell")
I'm relieved you made the decision, Caym-sama.

\endtext

\text
Risbell gave a gentle smile. Seeing her like this, so
different from usual, made Caym's heart skip a beat.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmph, you always try to handle everything by yourself... You
should rely on others a little more.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Yes. But even if I want to rely on you, you're not around
that often, are you? Caym-sama.

\endtext

\text
Caym regretted his words, wondering if he'd just made things
worse for himself.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Ah... well, that's... I'm just busy with a lot of things
too.
\endtext

\text
Dodging Risbell's questioning with those words, Caym walked
away.
\endtext