Like Taking an Arrow to the Knee

An encirclement and annihilation formation… or rather, I'd just surrounded them, but since there was a risk of getting charmed if I made direct contact with the Succubi, negotiating as the Village Chief would be suicidal.

So naturally, I'd have to deal with them as a Dungeon Master, someone who can negotiate indirectly through a Golem—

"Let's see… one, two, three… hm? There are only nine of you?"

"… Yes, only nine."

"Hmm."

Suira and the other Succubi had obediently come out of the shack, but there were only nine of them. There should have been eleven in total… I guess the missing ones are Michiru and the human?

I looked at the nine again. They were all wearing clothes that should be measured in string length rather than fabric yardage, with an impressive amount of exposed skin. There probably weren't any humans among them. If there were, they'd definitely be a pervert.

Well, it's more convenient without humans given the circumstances.

While keeping Niku on standby in the forest as a reserve, I addressed Suira, who was probably the Succubi's leader.

"Look, it's not like I'm looking for a fight. I just thought we should have a little talk… You'll trust me, right? It'll be better for both of us that way."

"…"

"Good, seems like you understand."

Suira was just silently glaring at me, but not trusting me would mean fighting, and if she didn't want to fight against this horde of Golems that their charm doesn't work on, she had no choice but to trust me.

But since I actually don't intend to fight, I'll just get straight to the point.

"Now then, ladies, how would you like to be employed by my dungeon?"

"Dungeon? … C-could you possibly be… a Dungeon Core?"

"Ah, you can think of me as something like that."

Suira's face cramped up. Does she have some unpleasant memories involving a Dungeon Core?

"… U-um. Is it [Cave of Desires]? You're scouting us for there?"

"That's right."

"Um, what if we refuse?"

"I won't do anything if you leave. Well, I can't say the same if you keep hanging around nearby…"

"… Let us discuss this for a moment."

"Sure."

I openly watched over Suira's group.

After waiting a while, it seemed they'd finished their discussion.

Suira looked troubled—I wonder what her answer will be?

"… If we don't have to come under your control, we're willing to do as you say."

"Oh, you know that much? That speeds things up. Fine, that works."

"Eh—"

Really?—was written all over Suira's face.

"Hm? You'll do what you're told, right?"

"We won't obey if you tell us to die, you know."

"As long as you follow our demands and don't do anything excessive, it's fine. I don't intend to give any unreasonable orders. Agreed?"

"We'll also keep secrets."

"I'll do some investigating, but if you can keep them hidden, it's the same as them not existing. I'll overlook secrets that aren't detrimental to the dungeon."

"… What are you planning?"

"Nothing much. You just need to understand that causing disturbances nearby is bad and follow that policy."

"Then why did you bring so many Golems?"

"I thought it would speed things up. And it actually did."

By bringing out this many Golems, there were no doubts that I was a Dungeon Master, and we avoided any unnecessary fighting.

And instead of a deposit, I'll give them some regular food.

"Even Succubi can get by on normal food to some extent, right? I'll leave a few days' worth of provisions here."

"… That's helpful."

… She looks surprised. Did she think I was the kind of Dungeon Master who would invite them to work without even guaranteeing their livelihood?

"I was just surprised that a Golem understands the concept of eating."

"Ah, well, I'm ultimately just an authorized representative."

I see, so that was it.

At least it looks like I won't have to worry about finding new employees for a while.

"By the way, you still have other comrades hiding, right? Would they be fine with working for the dungeon too?"

"… Um, you saw through us, huh."

"Maybe. But I didn't complain about it, did I? I was planning to just negotiate."

"Alright, I'll trust you. But, um, it's hard to say, but one of us is a human."

"Oh, a human?"

I already knew, but I pretended to hear this for the first time.

"I'd prefer not to meet with them if possible."

"… She's… already behind that door. She's, well, more or less heard everything and agrees. I'll tell her not to say anything about the dungeon."

"Understood. Please explain the policies to her. I'll be thinking about your instructions, so please rest properly until then."

And then, just as I tried to leave.

"… Please wait!"

A voice came from behind the door. Bang! The door tried to open but hit the Succubus standing in front of it.

"Oh, someone's in the way? I wonder who. Could you please move?"

"Eek!? N-no! It's dangerous!"

"Please stand down!"

Bang, bang. The person inside kept striking the door over and over.

Staggering, the Succubus held the door closed.

"No, this is where I must show my sincerity."

"Then why do you sound so happy!?"

"Because if I go out there now, something definitely amusing will happen!"

What sincerity? I'm getting a bad feeling about this.

"Ah, well, see you."

"Yes. Leave this to me—"

I tried to escape with the Golems while that Succubus held the door closed.

"Hey!? Please be reasonable! Please, please stand down, Leona-sama!"

Leo… na? My movements involuntarily stopped.

BOOM!

A loud noise rang out as the door was blown off, and the person inside came out.

And that person was a woman. A woman with black hair in a ponytail and red eyes.

"Pleased to meet you."

The woman smiling there—was Leona.

Well now.

What's the right term for this—hitting the jackpot on misfortune?