A Dungeon Battle, You Say...?

"A Dungeon Battle… is?"

"Dungeons invading each other—a competition, you could say. The entrances are connected via space-time magic, both sides send their forces directly into the other's dungeon, and whoever touches the Dungeon Core first wins. Simple, right?"

Setting aside the space-time magic bit, the rules certainly were simple.

However, 'the historic, long-established Imperial Capital dungeon [White Labyrinth]' versus this 'beginner-friendly, nothing-but-goblins safe dungeon [Ordinary Cave] (Dungeon Core viewing tours available)'—they were completely incomparable. The difference in caliber was too vast. Our odds of winning would be lucky to reach even a single percent.

"Oh, of course I'd hold back. My dungeon is a high-difficulty one that hasn't been cleared in over a century, and it's a super-massive dungeon with multiple derived dungeons."

Naturally, Haku-san had noticed this as well and added supplementary conditions.

"… Let's see, I'll loan you 100,000 DP as preparation funds. I'll also create a new derived dungeon under the same conditions as [Ordinary Cave] and prepare it with 100,000 DP as well. I'll install a dummy core there, so if you touch it, you win… How's that sound?"

"… DP can be loaned?"

"It can. That's precisely why a competition like Dungeon Battles could exist in the first place… Oh, and if you win, you don't have to return the 100,000 DP. I'll even transfer an additional 100,000 DP as a prize."

That seemed like quite the favorable deal for us.

"… And if Haku-san wins?"

"You'll repay the loaned 100,000 DP—with your body… Oh, I don't mean anything lewd by that, you know? You'll work as an adventurer in my dungeon. You'll work until you earn 100,000 DP to hand over to me. I swear to take responsibility for protecting 695-chan until your repayment is complete. Such favorable terms don't come along normally, so of course you'll accept, right?"

Indeed, the conditions were favorable.

I'd suddenly have 100,000 DP at my disposal, able to build the dungeon however I wanted and fortify it.

But let me remind you of something.

A single goblin costs 20 DP, but when one is killed inside a dungeon, only 2 DP is returned—that's the conversion rate. In other words, if I were to earn 100,000 DP from monsters alone, that would mean killing fifty thousand goblins, or ten of the lowest-ranked dragons at 100,000 DP each. Just how long would that take?

… No, wait. That's not even the issue. Would killing monsters inside the dungeon even count as 'handing over DP' in the first place? If anything, destroying her precious monsters might just increase my debt.

Looking at it that way, the same applied even if I only aimed for items without killing a single monster. Those items were placed there by Haku-san using her DP, so if she decided not to accept them as payment, that would be the end of it.

After all, the only ones who could truly earn DP were Dungeon Masters and Dungeon Cores.

"… Earning 100,000 DP as an adventurer would be quite difficult."

"Oh my, I didn't intend for anything like that. Then 100,000 DP worth of battle results is fine."

"… You want me to PK in place of monsters? In [White Labyrinth], where veteran adventurers gather?"

"Fufu, there are derived dungeons for rookies too, you know?"

Haku-san giggled with amusement.

I really couldn't let my guard down around this woman… well, not a woman… a Dungeon Core.

"Alright then. DP that you, as an adventurer, consume within [White Labyrinth], including its derived dungeons, will count toward repayment. How about that?"

"That's acceptable, but… what's in it for you, Haku-san?"

In that case, for example, if I found a [Scroll of Healing (100,000 DP)] in [White Labyrinth] and used it on myself, that would fulfill the requirement.

"Officially, it's an excuse about circulating mana by spending DP on adventurers. But the real benefit is… while you're working as an adventurer, I can protect Rokuko-chan with her consent, right? … Filling in the dungeon entrance so no one can get in, ensuring her safety, and looking after her in the Imperial Capital… if I just said that normally, that child wouldn't agree."

I see. If she could secure Rokuko's safety, that was benefit enough for her.

"… You will accept. Consider this a practical exam to see if you can truly become a master capable of protecting Rokuko-chan."

Not that I seemed to have any right to refuse.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

"And so, Rokuko-chan. We're going to have a Dungeon Battle."

"Eh, what's a Dungeon Battle, 89 Ane-sama?"

Starting from scratch, I see! Haku-san and I explained it to Rokuko.

"Ooh, sounds interesting."

"Well, since it's a competition, DP is wagered. I'll lend you the DP this time."

"Eh, DP can be transferred?!"

She didn't know that either? That's different from me not knowing until just now, oi.

Come to think of it, how exactly do you transfer DP…?

"Well, it's understandable that Rokuko-chan doesn't know. There hasn't been an opportunity for it. As for how to transfer DP… u-um, you need to k-kiss, you know? Like, smooch!"

"Is that so? Chloe-san."

"No, I recall that a handshake is sufficient."

When I immediately checked with the butler, the answer came right back.

"… It's Rokuko-chan's first time, and since we're transferring 100,000 DP, we need to kiss to prevent any failures or leakage. First times are prone to failure, so the most reliable method would be best…?"

What a flimsy excuse…

"A h-hundred… 100,000 DP?! I can't accept that much!"

"It's just a loan, you know? Besides, preparing for a Dungeon Battle takes about that much. Since it's a competition where both sides expend DP against each other, wouldn't it be boring if Rokuko-chan's dungeon had no DP? In other words, this is a handicap from me."

"U-uuu…"

"If we lose, we just have to return it, so it's just a loan. Don't hold back and accept it. Make sure you listen carefully to Haku-san's instructions."

"… Uuu, fine. Then I'll accept without holding back. Itadakimasu, 89 Ane-sama."

Oh, come to think of it, does saying 'don't hold back and accept it' fall under the absolute command authority? I hadn't really been conscious of it until now. As for the latter part, I'd added it on purpose to earn some goodwill.

Ah, Haku-san gave a thumbs up where Rokuko couldn't see. Does that hand sign mean the same thing in this world?

"89 Ane-sama, how do I exchange DP?"

"Close your eyes and open your mouth just a little, sticking your tongue out slightly? Yes, like that, good girl. Leave the rest to me. Well then, itadakima… I'll perform the transfer."

… She was about to say 'itadakimasu' just now, wasn't she?

Haku-san and Rokuko pressed their mouths together, their tongues touching.

Rokuko's body trembled, and Haku-san gently embraced her with her left arm while firmly pulling her head close with her right hand to keep them from separating. Perhaps because this was her first time, she kept her eyes tightly shut as Haku-san had instructed, entrusting herself completely, occasionally trembling as if something sensitive had been touched, her ears turning bright red.

Things had been progressing very slowly up to this point, but it seemed this was still just the preparation phase.

Haku-san cradled Rokuko's head with both hands and moved her mouth somehow… probably pouring in the DP.

Rokuko was startled and almost pulled her mouth away, but I caught a brief glimpse of light connecting their tongues before she was immediately held in place by both of Haku-san's arms.

And then, the DP transfer took approximately ten minutes.

When they finally separated, a thread of saliva bridged their tongues before snapping apart.

"… Puha, haah, haah…"

"Fuu…"

The two faces that separated were completely contrasting.

Rokuko breathed heavily with her eyes still closed, while Haku-san licked her lips with satisfaction.

However, both had flushed cheeks and looked entranced.

"… A little leaked out, but I gave you extra to make up for it."

"Haah, haah, th-thank, you vewy mush, 89 Ane-sama… hau."

"Ufufu, surprised by your first DP transfer? It's okay, I'll keep holding you a while longer, so rest well."

Once again, Haku-san gave a thumbs up where Rokuko couldn't see… Apparently, it meant something like 'good job' in this world too.

While Rokuko was slumped limply against Haku-san, I checked the DP.

…114,032 DP. Indeed, the DP transfer had been successful.

Since it had been around 3,500 before… oi, she's passing off an amount of DP equivalent to what we barely managed to get from wiping out those bandits as 'extra service'? Just how much does Haku-san earn?

"Oh, and Kehma-san. If you don't make any preparations and then say 'I lost, I'll return the 100,000 DP as-is'… that's obviously not allowed, you know? I won't accept repayment from the loaned DP."

… Oops, she preemptively cut me off.

If she hadn't said that, I could have pocketed the difference as pure profit.