The Anti-Leona Strategy Meeting

I decided to call the dungeon's executives together to hold an Anti-Leona Strategy Meeting.

The participants are me, Rokuko, Niku and Ichika, and the three monster girls. Neru the Succubus Ring is also participating from Niku's finger.

My identity has been exposed, and it feels less like a knife at my throat and more like my head's already been set in a guillotine. We've already gone well past the danger zone, but…

"Because of all that, our goal is the dungeon's survival and Leona's expulsion."

As a result of talking with Leona… I'd say she's a hedonist, or maybe someone living a long-sighted yet momentary kind of life. Either way, I don't want to be involved. At any rate, I now understand she has a thoroughly troublesome personality.

Her primary motivation is whether or not something is amusing.

"Still though, the Final Boss, huh."

"Yeah, Rokuko. That's what Leona said. But it was pretty much all lies."

Rokuko blinked in surprise when I responded to what she said while watching the recorded footage.

"Huh? Really? It looked like she was speaking with plenty of enthusiasm, though."

"It looked more like she was trying to convince herself… like she was just putting on an act. The content was well-organized and easy to understand, with no logical contradictions. Surprisingly, what she actually thinks deep down might be the exact opposite. Like maybe she wants someone to hurry up and kill her. The Final Boss is an existence that eventually gets defeated, after all."

"… Umm, really?"

"Otherwise, she wouldn't be doing such a disciplined handicap run. She'd just be taking over the world as her madness dictates."

Hmm? But if Leona is personally threatening Haku-san, the one at the top of the empire, then maybe she's already conquered the world? Well, whatever.

"By deliberately saying she 'wants to become' the Final Boss, she isn't becoming one, hasn't become one, is holding herself back… that's where Leona stands."

"How troublesome."

"Seriously."

The Final Boss isn't something you become by trying to. It's something you end up becoming. Saying you want to become one is strange from the start, and Leona seems to understand that while saying it. She appears to be carrying something, but I don't feel like prying into it. After all, she claims to aspire to be the incarnation of selfishness and self-interest, so it'd be tactless of me.

Whether it's truth or lies doesn't change the fact that she could explode at any moment. Getting her to leave as soon as possible is our best option.

"As Haku-san said, Leona probably won't kill us, so we can afford to push back a bit."

"Kehma, why do you think she won't kill us?"

"Because it 'wouldn't be interesting.' Killing us would end everything right there. Instead, she'll choose a method that leaves some hope. Because that 'would be interesting.'"

Setsuna and Nayuta defied Leona and got put through various things by the Succubi, but they were physically unharmed.

Nayuta's father or whatever is apparently still alive, too.

"Also, she absolutely keeps her promises, or rather, her contracts. No matter what happens, no matter what she does. Because that's who Leona is. At least for now, that's one of her self-imposed restrictions. So, since she's probably made some kind of contract with Haku-san, this dungeon won't be destroyed."

If Haku-san is saying "kill her if you get the chance," that's probably what it means. I can't imagine that person would give an order that puts Rokuko in danger.

And Leona likely approves of that too.

"You're amazing, Kehma. Even after listening to all that, I don't understand any of it."

"Right… I feel like something was done to me when I met her face-to-face. For some reason I can understand Leona now, and it makes me feel sick. My thoughts aren't coming together well either… Neru. Check me for abnormalities after this. You can possess me if you need to."

"Okaaay. But like, doesn't the fact that you're saying it's fine to possess you already mean something was done to you?"

"She probably has a skill that passively increases affinity, or a persuasion-type skill that makes it easier to convey your intent to others. Always active… Ichika, do you know of any skills like that?"

"Never heard of a skill like that. But if it's the kinda skill the ruling class picks up, it wouldn't be weird for it to be kept secret from commoner adventurers. If Goshujin-sama says there's a possibility, then there probably is. Isn't it in the catalog?"

"From what I've seen, no. But not every skill is listed in the catalog… Rokuko, send a letter to Haku-san to confirm."

"Got it. There'll probably be other things to report too, so I'll compile everything after the meeting."

If it's the effect of a skill that synchronizes the user's and target's consciousness, then aside from gaining a deeper understanding of Leona, there shouldn't be any adverse effects. Though in a sense, understanding how that creature thinks, even if it's just the relatively harmless surface, is dangerous in its own way.

… Haku-san's letter saying "Don't let Rokuko be seen by Leona, she'll be tainted" might have been about this.

But even so, this is a meeting to plan countermeasures against Leona. The more we understand about her, the easier it is to plan.

"Master. Regarding Leona countermeasures, how about 'doing nothing,' for instance? Specifically, making sure no incidents occur. We make her recognize this as a boring place and let her get bored of it. Wouldn't she leave on her own then?"

"Rei, you're on the right track, but… it's too late for that."

Leona has clearly shown interest in me. She was also interested in Rei during our conversation.

On top of that, Setsuna, Nayuta, and Niku are all at this dungeon. Their presence alone means she won't get bored for a while.

… I absolutely don't want Niku to meet Leona.

If the "Toy" that Setsuna mentioned is Niku, then the reason Niku has no memories of her past is probably because Leona did something. If meeting Leona breaks that seal… well, she's a slave, so I think I could still keep her under control even if they're unsealed, but I can't predict what would happen. If she told me she'd kill me to get revenge for being used as a hug pillow, that would be quite the shock.

… Or rather, if her memories as Leona's grandchild surfaced, and the Niku who got her memories back turned out to be like Leona… yeah, that would also be a shock.

"In that case, our best bet is probably to present her with something else that interests her and get her to go somewhere else."

"Could Haku-neesama do something about it?"

"That's scary in all sorts of ways. On the other hand, pushing her onto our neighbors feels wrong considering how much they've helped us."

"… What about bringing Setsuna and Nayuta onto our side, explaining the situation, and having them lure Leona somewhere else entirely?"

"Oh. That's quite a good idea, Rokuko."

As expected of my partner. She really can deliver when she tries.

"Come to think of it, what was Setsuna and Nayuta's countermeasure against Leona? They went down so easily that it clearly didn't work. Do you know, Kinue-san?"

"Yes. It seems they had procured various things that Leona dislikes… According to the recording, they were taken out before they could even bring them out."

"… Things Leona dislikes, huh. I want that information too, so it'd be faster to bring them in as allies… It's also a hassle to summon Setsuna and the others to the [Avarice Lodge] every time I want to talk to them as Uuma. So, Nerune. Tell Setsuna and the others that you're a messenger from the dungeon side. Act as the go-between. Keep everyone else's involvement vague, and decide how much to reveal based on how things go."

"Understooood."

Setsuna is apparently the child of a Dungeon Core, so it should be fine to tell her a bit about our situation.

And as for why I chose Nerune… it's because among all the staff, Nerune gets along the best with Setsuna and the others. Rei has a shift-leader vibe, Kinue-san gives off big sister energy, and Niku and Ichika are in their own league. The differences aren't huge, but Nerune is in the most approachable position. Her down-to-earth appearance probably helps too.

Also, the one least likely to slip up is actually Nerune. Rei has her careless moments…

"Now then, Niku."

"… Yes."

"Let me ask you again. What are you to me?"

"A faithful piece."

"Wrong. Niku is my hug pillow… So you don't need to be a fighter. I won't be putting you out front this time so Leona won't take you, but… even if you are taken, come back to me. As my hug pillow."

"… Yes."

Niku nodded, her face blushing slightly.

I will continue to emphasize that she is my hug pillow.

Even if Niku has some of Leona's brainwashing or conditioning, there's a high chance it would trigger in response to being a "slave" or "fighter." Even if something is planted, I'm hoping that being a "hug pillow" will remain as a loophole.

"It's okay, Niku. You're Kehma's hug pillow, right? Then you can just leave everything to Kehma."

"Yes, Rokuko-sama."

"I'll also leave everything to Kehma this time around."

… Well, that's fine. It's better not to let Rokuko and Niku come into contact with Leona anyway.

"For the time being, let's hear what Setsuna and Nayuta have to say and collect things Leona is weak against."

And so, "Operation: Eject Leona from the [Cave of Desires]" began.

Rokuko named it, so I had absolutely nothing to do with it.