Base (The Dungeon)

After getting some distance from town, I used [Storage] to put away our camping gear and we ran up the mountain trail nearly empty-handed.

Ichika was the only one without the Cloth Golem's assistance, but as expected of a former C-Rank adventurer, she kept up with us just fine.

Along the way, when it started getting dark, Ichika offered some sound advice: "Shouldn't we set up camp soon?" I ignored her, pulled out a light magic tool I'd prepared beforehand, and kept going with our visibility secured.

By the time we arrived at the [Ordinary Cave], the sun had completely set.

"Niku, time!?"

"Eh, how long it took!? U-umm… six hours and thirty-two minutes!"

Niku checked the golem clock she pulled from her pocket and answered precisely. I'd meant to catch her off guard, but she gave me a straight answer. Actually, she'd been keeping track of the time the whole way? Impressive.

"Losing half our speed after dark really hurt us. If only we'd had bicycles… no, those would actually be worse on a mountain trail… Hmm? I guess there's no reason the vehicle has to be a bicycle specifically."

"Go～shu～jiiin-sa～ma～. I'm huuungry, can we set up camp?"

Oops, better to go inside first. Come to think of it, did I even tell Ichika about our destination?

"No need to set up camp. We've already arrived at our destination."

"… This is Goshujin-sama's base? I thought it'd be a village or somethin'…"

Now that I've brought her here, how should I explain this? … This is our home! Or something?

"… This is our home."

"It's just a cave."

Right. The exterior hasn't changed at all since the bandits were here.

… If we're going to turn this into an inn, we'll need to change a lot of things. Should I make the exterior look nicer if we want the dungeon to attract customers?

"Whatever, let's just head in."

Using the light magic tool to illuminate our path, I led Niku and Ichika into the cave. Partway through the passage, stone floor tiles had been laid down, and [Torches for Dungeon Lighting (50 DP)] illuminated the interior.

(Incidentally, these [Torches for Dungeon Lighting] are mysterious torches that somehow keep burning as long as they aren't moved from where they're installed. They probably use mana as fuel.)

"Wha—!? This is a dungeon!"

"It's a dungeon, yes?"

"What about your base!?"

"This is my base?"

"It's a dungeon!"

"That's right, it's a dungeon… Ah, watch out for the pitfall there."

"Whoa, seriously! That's dangerous!"

When I opened the menu to check the map, Ichika was being treated as an intruder.

Huh? That's odd. Ichika's my slave too, so why… ah, right. In my head, I'd categorized Niku as a hug pillow.

Both Niku and I have gotten completely used to it by now, so I sleep with Niku as my hug pillow without any indecent thoughts.

Humans aren't suited to being hug pillows… there was a time when I thought that too. At first, there were plenty of drawbacks and problems due to unfamiliarity, but once we got past all that, she became quite a comfortable hug pillow… Summer might be hot, though.

It's still fairly cool right now, but apparently it's going to warm up from here. What should I do about that…

"Haah, and me a scout, not even noticin' pitfalls like these… Also, how do ya walk through here so easily? Impressive as always, Niku-senpai."

"I have every pitfall in this dungeon memorized. Fufun."

She looked so proud of herself. Well, she is the one who made them after all.

"All of them, huh… Wait, but isn't this the [Ordinary Cave]? I heard about it at the guild, but… isn't it pretty different?"

"Well, the guild's information is old. That was from over a month ago."

"Heeh, so now it's… as we can see. Must've been a transition phase."

A transition phase refers to the rapid growth of a dungeon, as described in [Introduction to Dungeonology].

According to Haku-san's addendum, that term is just used to cover up the effects of Dungeon Battles, though.

"You're quite knowledgeable."

"Well, information is important, after all. I heard it from a guy who was studyin' dungeonology a while back."

"I'll be counting on you from now on, seriously."

"Leave it to me! … Oh wait, speakin' of which, Goshujin-sama? I was bought as a chore slave, right? Do chores include stuff like bein' a meat shield for dungeon raids?"

"It doesn't. What I want Ichika to do is work at the inn, not help out as an adventurer… ah, don't touch that, spears will come out."

"Whoa, wait up, Goshujin-sama! Kuh, this really is his base… ya couldn't move through here so easily without knowin' the layout."

"Goshujin-sama doesn't lie."

Niku walked smoothly ahead of Ichika. She'd perfectly memorized all the trap positions.

… It suddenly occurred to me. Couldn't I have just used Dungeon Core castling to enter from the goblin room?

Or rather, if I'd asked Rokuko, she could have retrieved us straight to the Core Room.

Ugh, my head's not working right.

"Heey, Rokuko. Can you hear me? If you can, retrieve me."

"Rokuko? Is that Goshujin-sama's comrade? Where are they?"

The moment Ichika asked, my vision was enveloped in light. I felt a slight floating sensation, my vision blurred, and before I knew it, I was in a white room.

Yes, the Master Room. Looks like Rokuko retrieved us.

Of course, Niku and Ichika came along too… Ichika was still showing as an intruder on my map, though.

"Welcome home, Kehma!"

I turned toward the voice to find the blonde loli-type Dungeon Core, Rokuko, standing with her arms crossed in a triumphant pose, beaming.

"I'm back. Feels like it's been ages since I've seen your face, Rokuko."

"Really? It's only been a day or two, hasn't it?"

What a casual response.

Since Rokuko is a Dungeon Core, she has a long lifespan, so her sense of time is probably different from a human like me. Haku-san did say she'd been alive for over a hundred years.

"So, Kehma. That's the new slave, right?"

"Yeah. Her name's Ichika. Get along with her, would you?"

"Okaaay, nice to meet you. I'm the Dungeon Core, Rokuko."

"Wa-wait a sec, my head can't keep up… A Dungeon Core? This cute Ojou-sama isn't human?"

Ichika pressed her temples.

"A humanoid boss monster-integrated Core, is that it…? I've never heard of… wait, no…?"

She was desperately trying to make sense of this using whatever knowledge she had, but the information her common sense was based on was wrong to begin with. Can't be helped.

Unable to watch any longer, I called out to her.

"Hey, Ichika."

"Hey! Could it be that Goshujin-sama… is the Demon King!?"

How did she arrive at that conclusion?