Self-Introduction

Led by the debt-ridden Hero Wataru, the group made its way to a corner of the former Puzzle Area, a place called the [Avarice Lodge].

"Huh, there's a shop in a place like this?"

"Oh, really? … Preserved food and rental books? Heh. It's a bit pricey, but that's nice."

There was a room with the main cubicles lined up, but in front of it, within the safety zone, someone had set up shop.

"With a shop here, it doesn't even feel like a dungeon."

Wataru said with a wry smile.

Dine Trading Company—well, our village's ministry of finance, basically—set up a stall here after I casually mentioned something reminiscent of manga cafes to them. Even I was surprised that they actually did it.

I wondered if they were making any profit with customers who shouldn't really exist, but it seems they're turning a small profit by only keeping the shop open during limited hours. The main customers apparently match their timing to it.

"So you have to pay in advance and show your Adventurer Guild card to rent a book. That way you can't skip out on the bill."

"The preserved food is hard-baked bread and jerky… I haven't seen this kind of bread in a while."

Nayuta and Setsuna paid for books and food respectively. There were both storybooks and textbooks available for rental, but it looked like Nayuta went with a storybook.

"So this is the weird facility that was recently discovered."

Nerune already knew about this facility, but she'd only ever come from the back. This was her first time coming from the front.

Since we were going with the story that she really wanted to be brought here to see it, she gazed at the small rooms with feigned interest.

"Well, let's give them a try. Twelve hours is a bit long, though."

"Maybe it'll be easier to kill time if we split into pairs?"

Nayuta responded to Wataru's words with an extremely reasonable suggestion. After all, twelve hours is quite long to spend alone.

"Please wait. Our time is limited, so wouldn't it be better to have more chances in one try? There are enough rooms for everyone."

"R-right. It would be bad for me to pair up with anyone here anyway!"

"… That's true. Let's go with one person per room then."

Thanks to Nerune's intervention, we successfully separated everyone. With this, the first stage of our objective is cleared.

"I borrowed some bedding from Kehma-san, so please use them."

"Oh? How thoughtful."

"Well then, let's meet again in twelve hours."

Wataru laid out bedding in each small room, and the four of them each entered their own rooms and closed the doors.

With the hourglasses turned over, the twelve-hour timer began.

 

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About an hour had passed, but Setsuna was already bored. She decided to try sleeping and got into the bedding, but she didn't seem sleepy enough and was just rolling around.

Is it about time?

I called Rokuko over. She joined me in the Master Room within three seconds of my call.

"The true identity of those sisters will finally be revealed!"

"Maybe."

Manipulating a Golem, I prepared a letter from behind the room Setsuna was waiting in. Though the timer wasn't up yet, I dropped the letter into the item dispensing spot. It was just a piece of paper folded in half, but it made a decent sound when it landed.

It looked like Setsuna, with nothing to do during her spare time, noticed it properly.

"Nn? … It hasn't been twelve hours yet, right?"

Timidly, Setsuna picked up the letter and unfolded it.

The letter was written in the common language: "If you wish to have a conversation, press on the wall beneath the hourglass."

It seemed Setsuna understood from that, and without showing any sign of hesitation, she pressed on the wall beneath the hourglass.

The wall shifted backward with a sliding sound. After moving about twenty centimeters back, it then slid to the side on its own. This wall with the hourglass was made of Golem, so it could move by itself. It was a one-time gimmick where I operated it from here after watching Setsuna's actions.

Beyond the wall was a passage, and after a short walk, there were stairs. It was originally a staff-only passage, but I'd touched it up a bit for appearances.

"It wants me to go forward, right?"

She cautiously proceeded deeper.

Then, Setsuna arrived at a small room where I had a Golem sitting in wait. It was the Messenger Golem with the communication function that I'd made a while back.

I'd considered placing a Dummy Core there but decided against it since it would be a waste if it got destroyed by any chance.

"A… Golem?"

Setsuna tilted her head at the Golem sitting with its back against the wall. I activated the Golem and spoke to her through it.

"Yo. Nice to meet ya, I suppose?"

Hearing the thick voice that sounded like it had been run through a voice changer, Setsuna reacted with a start.

"The Golem talked!?"

"Hahaha, what's so strange about that? You came to have a conversation, right? It wouldn't work if I couldn't talk."

"Ah, un… I guess?"

Setsuna nodded with a questioning tone. She was on guard, but it seemed she did intend to have a conversation with me.

"What are you?"

"I'd like to confirm first—what do you think I am?"

"… … A Golem?"

"That's as you can see, but is that all?"

"Umm… a dungeon monster?"

"That's also correct… is that all?"

When I emphasized that last part, Setsuna thought for a moment before squeezing out her voice.

"… Are you a Dungeon Core?"

"Something like that."

It seems Setsuna concluded that the Golem was a Dungeon Core. Since it's common knowledge that Cores and bosses are one and the same, I still can't determine her identity… wait, they're called dungeon bosses, aren't they? So she is dungeon-related after all? If she'd said Dungeon Master, I could have narrowed it down further, but… ah, this is taking too long. I decided to just ask her directly.

"You can call me Uuma. So, what are you?"

"I'm Setsuna. Just a humble adventurer!"

"Let me ask again—anything else?"

"Oh, like 'and at other times, I'm…'? … A Wakoku spy!"

"That's not all, is it?"

"That's right, but my true identity is…! The child of a certain Dungeon Core!!"

Setsuna declared with an unnecessary pose. I see, so she is dungeon-related after all— wait, did she just say… child?

Hold on, can Dungeon Cores reproduce?

I looked at Rokuko. Realizing my intention, Rokuko blushed and started lightly hitting me.

That reaction—can they or can't they? Which is it?

… Would Haku-san know? Yeah, can't ask her. She'd kill me.

She did say the Emperor had the founder's bloodline, but she didn't specify that it was Haku-san's bloodline, so I don't know.

Alright, let me ask clearly here. Can Dungeon Cores have children?

"Ummm, was that a metaphor or something?"

"It's literal. As in blood relation."

"While we're at it, what's that Core's name?"

"… Umm, Core 410—I think that's how you'd say it? He was my papa."

A number I don't know. I'd thought she might be connected to Core 4 or something, but hearing about it right after Ontentoo mentioned it would have been too much of a coincidence.

By the way, she said she has a different father than Nayuta, but if her being worth 0 DP is because of this, it makes sense.

"Rokuko, do you know anything about Core 410?"

"Hmm… sorry, I don't know anything."

Right. Well, that just means he's not a particularly famous Core.

And so, though it was somewhat awkward, the self-introductions were complete. I'd already learned most of what I was wondering about, though.

Oh, I still haven't asked what her goal is. Well, since she's willing to talk with me like this, I don't think it's anything violent—let's try asking bluntly.