An Opening Victory, And Then...?

(Kehma's Point of View)

Alright, looks like the first win goes to us. I'd say it was a complete stomp in our favor. I don't really get why, but everything fell into place perfectly.

Although I hadn't really taken any measures against charm, it turned out well anyway and Wataru was able to easily deal with the succubi.

I never thought they'd love the rabbits so much… I guess cuteness really is justice.

I mean, I figured the better adventurers would have some means to resist it, but for everyone to?

I'd pretty much just thrown it out there figuring Wataru could handle things even if the weaker ones went berserk, so I'm glad it worked out.

What would I have done if Wataru was charmed? No problem, one floor would've just been wiped out entirely, that's all.

Or perhaps I would have turned it into a charm showdown by having Niku turn back into Succubus Wanko again.

Also, apparently I'll be getting one of those bracelets Wataru has too. Looking forward to it.

"… I didn't have a turn."

"Yeah. Looks like it."

"Yeah, Niku. Kehma's plans are working."

Alright, defense is handled — now for the offense.

… It felt like there weren't many monsters coming over, but it seemed to be because Aidi was hunting down the gargoyles' summoners and killing them. She did say she'd be doing that beforehand though.

"I took care of what was most notable, Rokuko's Master."

"Sounds good. But isn't it standard to keep your all-important summoners in a safe area? Why'd they leave that? Are they stupid?"

"Oh? There were no true safe areas though. Where would they leave them?"

"… Are you being serious?"

I took a glance back to Mikan, the rabbit-type core standing beside me. Mikan scrubbed at his face with his paws and answered.

"… Nkyuu, the inside of the Dungeon Core is safe though?"

"Right?"

Good, I'm not in the wrong here.

"… … … Oh, right, I suppose there is a safe area within the Dungeon Core. For Rokuko's sort of strategy, that is."

"I'm pretty sure it's not just Rokuko's… but I guess the inside of a Dungeon Core isn't exactly considered safe for Demon King Faction cores?"

"Dungeon Core subspaces are obviously places to collect items and trophies."

I see, so it was an issue of how it's viewed?

It's true that there wouldn't be any safer of a place than there to store treasures. No one could get in without permission, after all.

"You wouldn't leave important items outside, right? They'd be stolen."

"Indeed. So the Demon King Faction… doesn't treat succubi as important?"

"Aren't monsters meant to be used and discarded?"

She was saying that they weren't worthy to go inside. So where would they be put, then…? For him to treat them like that despite having them learn [Summon Gargoyle] was straight up wasteful.

Maybe it's because the core's position would be found out by tracing the gargoyles back to their spawn? No, he could've just moved them from inside the core to an empty room with [Placement]… eh, oh well.

"… By the way, have any clue where about his Dungeon Core is?"

"Yeah. Probably deep in the dungeon… either the highest point of the mansion, or the basement — the underground labyrinth. If it's the underground labyrinth, that's a bit troublesome. It would be a 500 series' underground labyrinth, so I figure it would be considerably complex. I'd guess it has around ten floors."

…?

"Wait. Ten? That's all?"

"That's all? What are you on about, Rokuko's Master? It would take several days to traverse, considering its traps and structure. It'd be our loss if they conquered our side's dungeon during that, you know?"

"I see, it's so shallow that I just assumed. So it's big enough to take several days, huh? That does sound troublesome."

"Eh? Too shallow?"

Yep.

I get the feeling that Aidi and I are thinking about two different things.

"I mean, you said ten floors. That's shallow. That [White Beach] I made last year had ten floors."

"… … … Oh yeah, it did, huh? But that was a straight path and easier to finish. If it was like how we were making our dungeon, it — wait, come to think of it, Rokuko and you all made it all the way in, huh… in a day…"

"Yep. It was easy."

Rokuko answered in my stead. Yep. It really was an easy one to finish. The only hard part was that Aidi carried her Dungeon Core around, making it portable.

"… … … Rokuko. How long do you think the ten floors would take?"

"If it's Kehma… a day! It's just ten floors!"

"How reliable — as an ally, that is."

Oi, I'm pretty sure it'd take two days. Five a day.

"By the way, I've been wondering. Does the Demon King Faction not put much value in [Dungeons]?"

"… Right. We usually use some form of mansion or castle… but there are things that extend underground. I mean, isn't it hard to fight your enemies if you're too far underground?"

I see. Muscle brain syndrome strikes again.

"Aidi, could you finish the first floor for now?"

"I checked through all the rooms I could see. I found stairs going both up and down — are they showing on the map?"

"Yeah, they're on it, thanks to you. Then go light the mansion on fire. His furniture should burn nicely."

"… Huh?"

"Hmm?"

"Did I mishear you? Just now, I thought I heard you say to light a fire?"

"I did say that though?"

"… Umm, Rokuko's Master. Are you insane?"

And now Aidi's doubting my sanity.

Well, maybe it won't burn since it's a dungeon.

"I'm fine. Well, it's plain harassment, sure — but smoking the place out should serve to weaken the remaining succubi and give us an idea of where the way up is connected by looking at the flow of the smoke, yeah? Meanwhile, you'll be fine since you don't have to breathe and can rely on something other than your eyes to see."

"… Yeah, I guess you really are sane. I thought you were wanting me to burn the mansion down."

"Well that too, of course. If you can burn down the whole mansion, it should make looking for the Dungeon Core proceed much quicker by eliminating the places it could hide!"

"You truly do have a weird way of thinking, Rokuko's Master."

Let's try helping a bit by sending some gargoyles to use [Fireball].

A proper fire attack. The fire stratagem leaves the enemy in financial flames, heh — I feel just like Zhuge Liang here.

"Oh, Mikan. Please send out some grasshoppers to scout the underground areas."

"Gotchakyuu. But won't a ton of them die? Wouldn't squirrels be better?"

"Mikan, how much do they cost according to your catalog?"

"Either are 1 DP, nkyuu."

Hmm. Squirrels would be better then. Even I'd used rats on Haku-san back when I was staring out.

"Alright, start with a hundred squirrels."

"Kyuu!? A hundred!? I can't move that many!"

"That so? Oh well then. Niku, Ichika, lend him a hand. Mikan, make your menu visible and set it so those two can operate it too. Also, add more if the situation calls for it."

"G-Got it!"

There's a knack to getting used to swarm operation… Oh well, Niku and Ichika should be able to handle it.

"Kehma Kehma! Could I help?"

"Rokuko… go ahead and keep an eye on how many squirrels there are and instruct Mikan on when to add more."

"Alright! So, Mikan! Go and add another hundred right away!"

"I still haven't finished with the first hundred!?"

"We'll need them either way so hurry it up!"

"Fuoooh, all the DP I saved…"

… Well, there are ten floors, so it should work out? I'll leave it to Rokuko.

Putting on a show of being calm and composed, I settled in to watch over the Dungeon Battle.