Dolche-san's Visit

The Goblins that appeared on the first floor of [Cave of Desires] were weak.

Although they could become a threat when they ganged up, the Goblins in this beginner-friendly dungeon wouldn't put much effort into coordinating with each other. One might find three of them together on the first floor at most.

They're so weak that they couldn't even break an apple in half with their bare hands.

Well, I'd probably also have to strain my arm muscles a good bit to just barely break an apple without the help of Golem Assist. I have fond memories of sharing the broken apple with Gobsuke using my trembling hands. From then on, I decided to at least make a cut with a knife before trying to break it.

Anyway, the goblins that appear in the dungeon are incredibly weak.

Goblins outside the dungeon can be quite troublesome when they swarm you since there's no limit to how many can coordinate together.

"It's fine like this, isn't it? If they're too strong, it wouldn't be beginner-friendly."

"I guess."

I was lying around in my room talking to Rokuko about how weak our goblins are when she responded to me like that.

Despite being a goblin fanatic, she has a cool and accurate judgment.

… No, rather, it might be a sharp analysis precisely because she's a goblin fanatic? Like [This is exactly how goblins should be] or something?

"So, what's gotten into you to bring this up all of a sudden?"

"Nothing, I just realized that we haven't been doing any dungeon renovations lately…"

"Ah, you're right. We haven't touched it at all since we returned from the Demonlands."

"… How about mixing a new monster in? Like ghosts perhaps…?"

"Ah, that's a possibility… Wait, who's that?"

When I looked up at the sound of a voice that was neither mine nor Rokuko's, I saw a ghost.

… It was Dolche-san, Haku's subordinate.

Dressed in a white robe reminiscent of a certain RPG's white mage, Dolche-san straightened her posture and turned to Rokuko.

"It's been a while, Rokuko Ojou-sama. I have come here on Haku-sama's orders."

"… That's fine, but could you not just come into my room without permission?"

"Yes, you have my deepest apologies. Haku-sama instructed me to [keep an eye on things, especially with a surprise attack at the start]… so I took great care to sneak in without appearing on the map."

Eh—you can avoid appearing on the map? Scary. That'd be a big problem if it happened during a Dungeon Battle.

"Oh—umm, Dolche-san, how did you do that?"

"I descended vertically from the sky. Well… I'm a Wraith, yes? I may not look transparent, but I'm still a ghost. I can become transparent and disappear, but I can't pass through the roof, so I used a short-range [Teleport]."

It was a method unique to ghosts. If they were high in the sky and outside the dungeon's territory, it's understandable that they wouldn't appear on the map. The concept of airspace violation doesn't apply unless you extend the dungeon's territory upward.

As for the roof, since it's part of the dungeon, even ghost-types couldn't pass through it. So she ignored that and used [Teleport]. It only takes a relatively small amount of MP to teleport a few meters, but it's a feat that can't be done without being a ghost-type that can phase through objects.

"Come on, how long have you been here?"

"I arrived just a moment ago. I'll be sure to report Rokuko Ojou-sama's charming appearance, okay?"

"It's a bit embarrassing for how lovey-dovey I am with Kehma to be seen. Geeze, Ane-sama…"

Dolche-san responded to Rokuko in a reliable attitude.

… This difference must be due to whether it's for work or not. Yeah.

But that was close. There's a possibility I would have been instantly killed if she had seen me admiring Rokuko's legs the other day or when I used [Super Transformation] to be admired by her. Dolche-san seemed like she could use instant death magic or curses.

I know that instant death level curses exist because Leona had been under one before.

"Well, at any rate Dolche-san, welcome…? You'll be okay handling assassins, right?"

"Don't worry… Now that I'm here, assassins won't be able to hide anywhere near this area."

"Doesn't constantly switching your attitude tire you out?"

"… Not really? I'm just showing respect to those I respect. You're Haku-sama's sister, you know?"

That's good, then.

… She really hasn't seen Rokuko and me being lovey-dovey, right? Right?

"I'll show you to the suite. Follow me."

"Yes, Rokuko Ojou-sama… Oh, before that, I have a message for Kehma."

"Hmm?"

"Haku-sama says, [Please take good care of Rokuko-chan… You understand me, yes?] … What's your reply?"

"… Yes, I understand."

And that's how we had a new assassin—err, bodyguard—dispatched to our dungeon.

Dolche-san, now in human form, followed Rokuko to the suite… I want to believe that she won't purposely let any assassins slip by, but I should heighten my own vigilance as well.

… It might be a good idea to try increasing the number of ghost-type monsters as Dolche-san suggested. They might serve as protection from Dolche-san… No, there's no way that makeshift ghosts would even stand a chance against a top-tier character like Dolche-san, one of Haku-san's party members.

Maybe I should just stay deep inside the dungeon after all…? She apparently can't pass through the walls of a dungeon she doesn't belong to… but I feel like I could still be easily defeated.