Like Taking an Arrow to the Knee

An encirclement and annihilation formation… or rather, I'd merely surrounded them, but since there was a risk of getting charmed through 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 outfits better measured in string area than fabric area, with an astounding skin-to-cloth ratio. There probably weren't any humans among them. If there were, they'd have to 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 spoke to Suira through the golem, who I figured was 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 silently glaring at me, but not trusting me meant fighting. And if she didn't want to fight this horde of Golems that [Charm] doesn't work on, she had no choice but to go along.

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 kept an eye on Suira's group while openly keeping the pressure on.

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

Suira wore a difficult expression. What would her answer 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? Suira's surprise was written all over her 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 listen to our requests and don't do anything unnecessary, that's fine. I don't intend to give any unreasonable orders. Satisfied?"

"We'll be keeping some secrets, too."

"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. I just need you to understand that stirring up trouble in the area is bad, and to follow that policy."

"You brought all these Golems for that?"

"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.

Then, as a kind of advance payment, I set out 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 really think I'd recruit them without 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.

For the time being, I told them not to worry about their employment.

"By the way, you've still got comrades hiding somewhere, right? Would they be joining the dungeon as well?"

"… Well, it seems you saw right through us."

"Maybe. But I didn't say anything about it, did I? I was only ever planning to negotiate."

"Alright, I'll trust you. But, um, this is hard to say, but… there's one human among us."

"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."

"… The thing is, she's already behind that door. She's, well, apparently been listening in and agrees. I'll make sure she doesn't say anything about the dungeon to anyone."

"Understood. Brief her on the policies for me. I'll work out your assignments, so just rest easy until then."

And then, just as I was about to leave.

"… Please wait!"

A voice came from behind the door. The person inside tried to fling it open, but bang! It slammed into the Succubus standing in front of it.

"Oh my, you're in the way. Whoever could you be? Please step aside."

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

"Please stay back!"

Bang, bang. The person inside kept ramming the door again and again.

The Succubus braced against the door, staggering under the impacts.

"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!"

So much for sincerity. I was 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.

"Wha!? Please restrain yourself! I'm begging you, please stand down, Leona-sama!"

Leo… na? My movements involuntarily stopped.

BOOM!

With a thunderous crash, the door was blown off its hinges, and the person inside stepped out.

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

"Pleased to meet you."

Smiling brightly there—was a woman named Leona.

Uh, well.

What's that term for when everything terrible lines up at once? A full count of bad luck?