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I decided to make an approach toward the black wolf.

It seemed to be awake, but it remained lying down, doing nothing but slowly swishing its black tail back and forth.

Strangely enough, depending on how you look at it, it seemed like it was guarding the Dungeon Core. It would be great if it would just keep guarding it for real.

So I sent a messenger golem over to it.

I could have brought it out directly from the Dummy Core, but I didn't want to carelessly provoke my opponent.

I stationed myself further outside the boss room, holding the string telephone golem in my hand.

… If the wolf attacked, the plan was for Rokuko to retrieve me so I could escape.

It would have been better if I didn't have to do this myself, but it couldn't be helped since I wanted to respond flexibly and as quickly as possible.

"Preparations are complete. You can start anytime."

It was Rokuko's voice. Within the dungeon, we could communicate through the menu's functions without needing the string telephone golem.

Though it was limited to dungeon-related personnel. I really wished we could do something about Niku and Ichika too… but now wasn't the time for that.

"Alright, let's give it a shot."

While watching the Core Room through the monitor, I moved the clay haniwa golem.

When the golem cautiously peeked into the Core Room, the black wolf smoothly stood up.

… I gave up on moving the clay haniwa golem any further into the room and decided to speak to it from there.

"… What are you?"

The wolf's ears twitched… If it could talk, it might respond, but I wonder.

"Grrrrr… Strange golem. You, what, are you?"

Ooh! It talked! This wolf speaks human language! I introduced myself.

"I am this place's master, Kehma. What are you? If you have a name, state it."

"A name, I have! I, am Rin! This, is your, home? Hand it over, quietly. If you do, I'll spare, your life."

So it's called Rin. This one sure uses a lot of pauses. But I got a sense of what it wants from that. Handing over my home means it wants a dwelling… or rather, a base?

Could it be that it came because there happened to be a cave perfect for hibernating in?

"Hey, Kehma, what has it been saying?"

"Hm?"

A transmission came from Rokuko… What do you mean what? Can't she hear it? Rokuko should be able to hear it too though…

Ah, no, wait. The translation function is doing its job. I don't know if it's wolf language or slime language, but it's translating it perfectly. That's seriously amazing.

"So yeah, we're properly able to negotiate."

"… Got it. It's called Rin, right? I'll retrieve you if the wolf attacks."

I briefly explained the situation to Rokuko and returned to negotiating with the wolf.

"What will, you do? Want to be, eaten? Kehma."

"Let me think for a moment."

"Better hurry, before, I get, hungry. Ku, ku, ku."

Was it bad at laughing, or was that just monotone? Maybe because it's a wolf.

"… You want food? What do you… what does Rin eat?"

"I eat, anything. Even golems!"

It opened its pitch-black mouth wide toward the messenger golem, threatening me with its dark-colored fangs and the inside of its mouth.

… Ah, wait, does it think I am the golem?

Well, whatever. If it's a creature that gets hungry, I might be able to win it over with food.

"You eat golems? How many do you want to eat per day? I'll feed you."

"… You'd sell out, your comrades?"

Rin said in a low voice filled with dark emotion.

That's technically true, but when you put it that way, it does sound bad.

"You could say that, but those things are just moving around on their own. Eat them if you want."

"Is that, so? You, Kehma? You're a golem, right? Aren't you, the master, of this cave?"

I see, it thinks I'm a golem. In other words, it thinks I'm the kind of person who would sell out subordinates of the same race. How rude. I'm suuuper nice to my comrades, you know.

I started to correct it, but stopped. I wanted to avoid revealing that I'm a Dungeon Master here. It's a secret Haku-san told me to protect, and it must absolutely stay secret until they become a comrade.

If this thing had a human owner and that owner showed up to take it away, it would leak from there.

That said, I should probably at least say I'm not a golem. Judging by its reaction earlier, it seems to dislike "the kind of person who sells out their own race," so if it thinks that of me, it would hinder negotiations.

So I decided to just say I'm not a golem without going into detail.

"Don't misunderstand. I am not a golem."

"Not, a golem…? … True, you look, strange. Things like you, were strong, in that room, and the one, before. Were those, your, parents?"

Even though I said I'm not a golem, the conversation wasn't quite connecting. Also, a haniwa golem family? That's a new setting.

"No, I made them."

"?! You, were the, parent!"

This is getting annoying to correct. Well, the fact that I created them isn't wrong, so I don't even know how to explain it anymore… Yeah, I'll just leave it!

"Anyway, I'm just saying I can feed you as many golems as you want. How about it?"

"… I don't really, like golems, that much. They're not, tasty."

"I-is that so? Then is there something you want to eat?"

"You!"

The conversation completely derailed!

Damn, I have no idea what it's thinking! This is beyond the level of cross-cultural miscommunication!

"… Talked, too much. Getting, hungry now. I'll eat, Kehma!"

"W-wait. Eating is fine, but why did you come here in the first place? I want to know."

"To eat, yooou! Time to eat!"

Chomp. The messenger golem was swallowed by the wolf's mouth.

At the same time, I was retrieved to the Master Room. It seems Rokuko pulled me in because the golem got eaten.

Through the monitor, I could see the string telephone golem being slurped up like noodles. Good job finishing everything without leaving any behind, I suppose.

"The golem got eaten, huh. How was it, Kehma? Did you have any useful conversation?"

"… Hmm, I'm not sure if we connected or not…"

For now, I'll try again. After giving it some time.