The Patrolling Dungeon Master

I handed the fake B-Rank adventurer (actually D-Rank) over to the Adventurer Guild and treated everyone to pudding.

A little pocket change ended up in my wallet too, but compared to our current earnings, it was basically a rounding error.

Also, the dice that guy was using were rigged ones that only rolled fours, fives, and sixes. Apparently he swapped them in after the check, but when all the faces are a single color, you really can't tell, huh.

Anyway, I've checked the inn, so all that's left is the dungeon.

First up is [Tsuia Mountain Tunnel]. It's actually part of the main [Cave of Desires], but as far as the Adventurer Guild's management is concerned, it's treated as a separate dungeon.

Here, you pay a toll and the door opens. The pricing is based simply on weight. Because of that, the main trade goods have become things like Pavera's spices and Tsuia's wheat flour, relatively light items that sell for good prices.

The toll booths are six rooms lined up side by side in the center of the cave. If someone can't pay the toll, they either have to turn back, abandon some cargo, or sell it on the spot to other merchants.

The toll booths have shifted around a bit and even increased in number, but since no monsters appear, nobody really minds. It works in our favor, but is that really okay?

… Maybe the merchants who'd be in trouble if the cave became unusable pulled some strings?

"Alright, Ichika, you can go now. I know my way from here."

"Hm? Okay then, I'll be off."

I gave her curry bread as payment and Ichika left with a smile.

Now then, from here is the main dungeon, [Cave of Desires]. I went back to the Village Chief's room.

… To be honest, I was tired of walking. Using the menu should be enough, right? It's inside the dungeon anyway.

First, after entering the dungeon entrance, there's the stone-paved entrance floor.

There are plenty of traps: blades that pop out of doors, some flagstones that are pitfalls. The ones deeper in can be deadly if you're careless, but the ones near the entrance are gentle enough to only twist an ankle at worst.

Also, goblins appear here. That's the main feature.

It's truly a floor perfect for beginner training, and you could say this floor is why this dungeon is seen as relatively peaceful. Treasure chests with cheap items spawn at a good rate, making it a nice way for beginners to earn pocket money.

Next is the labyrinth floor. The correct route goes back and forth between what would be the second and third floors, and this is the place to earn money in our dungeon!

The reason for that is the Iron Golems that spawn here.

An Iron Golem's entire body is iron. In other words, it's iron material. And that sells for a pretty good price.

From the dungeon's perspective, Iron Golems are supplied almost infinitely through the monster spawner, so they never run out. That's why it's called a dungeon mine.

I also use this iron material to make various things. Killing allies would be one thing, but golems are raw materials, so it's a different matter entirely. Something like that.

Also, golems disguised as walls move around and slightly change the labyrinth's route.

… Come to think of it, there's also the magic sword test room. Recently, its proper use as a test room has become widely recognized.

Past the labyrinth is a room with the DP extraction facility named [Avarice Lodge] off to the side. This area can be completely passed through.

The DP gained from adventurers' stays increases the more they're confined. So [Avarice Lodge] has several small rooms lined up where you stay locked in for half a day to a full day and receive items or money in return.

In reality, we're just placing items and money from behind the scenes. Occasionally we toss in a magic sword Golem Blade as a jackpot, making it a very easy… I mean, a very profitable facility.

After bypassing [Avarice Lodge] and descending the trap-filled open-ceiling spiral staircase, you reach the Warehouse Area.

This area is guarded by experimental golems I made with [Create Golem], like the Four-Armed Golem and the Spike Mountain Golem. But basically, it's an area where magic sword Golem Blades are easy to obtain. With its orderly corridors and rooms, it really does look like a warehouse.

Adventurers have started reaching this far recently.

From here, the path splits into four. One leads to the arena and boss room. One leads to our neighboring dungeon, [Flame Cavern]. One leads to the puzzle area and the still-under-development section. And the last one leads to Succubus Village.

In the arena, my handmade Haniwa Golems lie in wait. They have various gimmicks and boast considerable strength. At the very least, I can handle any C-Rank adventurer who isn't a rank fraud.

The boss room features a fully iron-made Iron Haniwa to greet visitors.

Beyond that is the Core Room. Though what's there is just a Dummy Core. Publicly, we claim this Dummy Core marks the lowest floor, and that should make people see it as a reasonably manageable dungeon.

Also, our apprentice witch Nerune has her research lab set up as a hidden room in the Core Room's ceiling. Day and night (when she's not on her part-time shift), she researches magic tools there.

… Right now I have her researching a magic tool engine, I think? She's developing a magic tool that can produce rotary or piston motion. If you can achieve piston motion through air expansion using thermal energy, then you should be able to make a clean engine with magic tools.

Hm? You say a Golem Engine would be enough?

Well, sure, but there's meaning in having options and things others besides me can make. The magic tool engine might actually perform better. It's good to have more options.

… Also, there's just not much else to research right now.

As for the cave leading to [Flame Cavern], that's basically Feni's house. It feels about as extravagant as lending a whole floor of a building for a doghouse.

Recently, these archerfish-like things that swim through the magma have increased in number, somewhat raising the area's attack power. Nothing else especially noteworthy. Our relationship with [Flame Cavern] is good.

As for the under-development area, I recently built various variety-show-style attractions. The kind that fitness entertainers would love. And the area beyond that is still, well, under development.

Finally, there's Succubus Village, a village of the succubi I've taken in.

Currently, I just have them doing side work making kokeshi dolls, but if adventurers were to wander in, they'd get squeezed dry of everything and dumped in front of the dungeon in nothing but their underwear. Those girls go after anyone regardless of gender. I've told them not to take lives, though.

Furthermore, I've made preparations to send reinforcements if adventurers resist. Looking at the setup, it's basically a rip-off bar.

Suira acts as the representative, serving as something like the village chief of Succubus Village… I'd like to give them proper jobs instead of just side work, but I can't think of anything right now. Sorry about that.

Looking at the monitor, I saw the loli succubus Michiru carving a small kokeshi doll for her side work. She was gripping it with a serious expression, stroking it, nuzzling it against her cheek, and licking it to make adjustments… Yep, she seems very particular about the texture. That attention to detail must be the secret to why they sell so well～ (monotone)

I closed the monitor. Patrol complete.

… Time to sleep!