Team Match

"—And so, that's how it happened. We're going to be in a Dungeon Battle."

Rokuko had been away for about three days, and when she came back, she immediately started talking about a Dungeon Battle.

Also, who is this "Father" guy anyway? A god? He's definitely a god.

"… By the way, that was the first day, right? What were you doing for the other two days?"

"Hm? Well, eating, drinking, having fun, having tea… I mean, I'm 210th, you know? And I beat Core 112 — Ontentoo — who's 63rd. Ufufufufu."

This girl is really full of herself. Is 210th really that great a rank?

In any case, the important matter I need to address right now is the Dungeon Battle.

"So, why do we have to do a Dungeon Battle in Haku-san's place?"

"It's Otou-sama's will, so we have no choice but to follow it."

"… What happens if we refuse?"

"In that case, we'd be making an enemy of Haku-neesama. Absolutely not."

Ah, yeah. I don't want that either. I'd definitely die.

"… So, the rules were… a three-team battle, right?"

"Yes."

According to Rokuko, Core 6 and Core 666 are [Team Demon King], Core 5 and Cores 650-652 are [Team Dragon King], and Haku-san and us are [Team Sovereign]. It's an irregular team match.

We'll create a new dungeon and prepare only one dummy core.

If your dummy core is destroyed, you lose. This time it has to be destroyed, not just touched.

The usable DP, including the dummy core, is up to 500,000 DP.

The match starts in one month. We need to prepare the dungeon by then.

… And here's the rule that's troublesome for me.

We have to create the dungeon in the senior core's territory, using the senior core's DP, in cooperation with the senior core.

If I go all out, I'd have to reveal my hand to Haku-san. If I don't want to reveal it, I'd have to build the dungeon without using [Create Golem].

… I want to keep [Create Golem] hidden as a trump card for emergencies, but that means the way we've been building our dungeon up until now won't work.

I think 500,000 DP should be plenty, but our opponents have the same conditions. The key will be figuring out how to conserve DP while packing in as much content as possible…

Incidentally, bringing in outside items is prohibited for the senior cores, but it's allowed for the junior cores… That means getting help from Haku-san is out.

I suppose conveniently picking up magic swords and other things that Haku-san happens to throw away is also out of the question. Yeah, probably not allowed.

… Maybe I should have Rokuko spin the 1,000 DP gacha about 200 times? With her luck, we'd probably come out ahead.

"Hm? But what do we do about our dungeon during the Dungeon Battle? Leaving it alone would be too dangerous."

"About that. According to Otou-sama, he'll connect the spaces during that time. So we can come back to the dungeon every day."

"Connect spaces… like in a Dungeon Battle, huh."

As expected of this suspicious "Father" guy, casually doing such outrageous things.

"Your Tou-chan is pretty amazing. I'd like to see him once."

"Well, you might be able to see him at the start of the Dungeon Battle?"

By the way, a display showing the DP usage limit and current amount used for this Dungeon Battle had been added to the menu. Quick support.

"So, where will the spaces be connected? It'd cause a huge commotion if a gate directly to the Imperial Capital suddenly appeared in the middle of the village."

"Apparently it'll connect the inside of our dungeon—right where the arena is—to Haku-neesama's detached palace in the Imperial Capital. Once Kehma decides where to build the dungeon, they'll reconnect it there."

How thorough.

I let out a sigh. With this much already prepared for us, there's no escape. I don't intend to run, but being set up like this makes me want to.

"So, what should I do?"

"Haku-neesama will come pick us up, and then we'll go to the Imperial Capital."

"… Won't we be short on people to work here?"

"If you're worried, why not summon more?"

Right, we could do that.

I originally summoned those three girls as the first step toward that… We've accumulated quite a bit of DP, so maybe it's time to summon some dedicated dungeon operations personnel.

"Fufufu, I'm 210th, after all. I've got plenty of DP!"

"Yeah. Alright, I'll give Rei about 50,000 DP and let her summon whatever subordinates she wants…"

"… Why Rei?"

"She knows this dungeon well. Niku and Ichika can't use DP, Kinue-san is absorbed in the inn's housework, and Nerune is engrossed in her research… You could call it a process of elimination. Besides, she's the leader of those three."

"I see, so she's the most familiar with the dungeon after me."

Somehow, Rei had become the coordinator for the three girls. Part of it was because she was the first to appear, but she's also pretty good at looking after others — though Kinue-san is the best when it comes to daily life matters.

"Well, fine. Kehma, when we go to the Imperial Capital, I want to, um, go sh-shopping. W-would you come with me?"

"… Sure, I'll lend you Niku to carry your bags."

You're inviting me on a date in Haku-san's territory? You know I'd die, right?

"… I want to go with Kehma."

"Being under Haku-san's surveillance makes that a bit…"

"Aren't you being too afraid of Haku-neesama? Haku-neesama is really kind, you know?"

Sure, you might think that. That's only toward you though…!