For the Time Being

I finished exchanging information with Haku-san. Let's give further instructions for Narikin and them to investigate.

[With all that, I'd like you to continue investigating the source of the magic potions. How's the progress going?]

"Yes, Master. It seems that the potions are being transported from the town of Kuromaku."

"Kuromaku… huh, interesting."

I'd heard the name of the town before, but according to Narikin's information gathering, Kuromaku meant something like [Great Mastermind], [Blackout Curtain], or [Someone who supports and thrives in the shadows].

… So it's just a [Blackout Curtain], right?

Well, I don't think they'd give it such an obvious name if it were really the [Great Mastermind]…

[Toy, do you know if Leona's had any involvement with Kuromaku?]

"Well, I was working in Daido, so I can't be sure… However, if it's a magic potion from Chaotic Pharmaceuticals, there's a possibility that Leona-sama made it."

[It seems likely that it's being produced in a dungeon, but meeting Leona in person would be a bad idea, huh…]

"That's true, we don't have any prospects of winning yet."

There was also the risk of Toy finding out that she was being deceived.

While thinking about that, NaanaToy opens her mouth to speak.

"Ah, but… according to the information they collected, the supply period is long, focused, and stable. If Leona-sama made it, it's hard to imagine that it would be supplied with such stability. As you suspected, Master, isn't it more likely that a dungeon is involved?"

[Come to think of it, that makes sense.]

She was traveling around and was the essence of whimsy. It's hard to imagine her providing a stable supply.

Considering that Leona had registered the medicine she made in the catalog, it was more likely to assume that there was a Dungeon Core in this Holy Kingdom that was buying Leona's medicine.

… That said, it wasn't impossible that this was all a front set up by Leona… let's deal with that when the time comes.

[Alright then, Narikin, move to Kuromaku and gather information from now on.]

"Understood."

Also, I should caution them on Toy just in case.

"Narikin, speaking of which, don't give Toy any important tasks, alright? Toy, don't forget that your body is under our control. Haku-san's subordinates are watching too."

"Yes, understood."

"Oh my, it seems I'm not trusted by Master… I'm relieved. I thought I was the only one worried. The others are too defenseless."

NaanaToy shrugged her shoulders with a sigh.

"… Narikin, Rokufa, while Toy is sort of our ally, but also half an enemy. Stay cautious, alright?"

"Yes!"

"Understood, Master."

After making sure that the two subordinates had bowed and responded, I released the possession.

 

 

"… Ah, did you wake up, Kehma?"

When I woke up in the Master Room's bed as usual, Rokuko was sleeping beside me… and clinging to me tightly.

"… Hey, Rokuko?"

"What is it?"

"Didn't Haku-san come yesterday to keep a check on us?"

"She won't come again for a while since she came just yesterday. More importantly, I have something to talk with you about."

It seemed she has no intention of letting go of me. Rokuko could be quite stubborn at times, so I decided to listen to what she had to say.

"Remember when we heard about catalog registration from Haku-neesama? I was wondering if there was a more clever way to use it."

"Did you come up with an application for it?"

"Well, that's the thing, I haven't. Even if we tried to mass-produce something, the materials we could obtain here are basically all dungeon-made, right? One of the conditions is that it can't be made from dungeon materials, which is tough."

Indeed. For example, the iron used in in our area was all from Iron Golems, meaning dungeon-made.

"When you put it that way, non-dungeon materials are more valuable."

"That leaves us with only things like wood, leather, or soil. A massage chair might work, though."

"That's not impossible to make."

The massage chair was made out of wood, leather, and upholstery obtained using DP. If we could substitute the upholstery with non-dungeon materials, it seemed feasible.

"… But there's no guarantee that the materials weren't obtained from another dungeon."

"Ah… I wonder if it'd be alright so long as it doesn't come from our own dungeon?"

"If we could get Ontentoo to help that would solve the problem, but would Tou-sama make such a ruling?"

"Yeah, that's probably not going to happen."

With that in mind, we'd need to source our materials carefully.

We might even need to gather materials ourselves.

"Well, the massage chair is a no-go since I told Haku-san it's just from our catalog and sold it to her like that. If it suddenly appeared in the catalog now, our lie would be exposed."

"True, I forgot about that… Things really don't go our way, huh?"

While saying that, Rokuko continued to use me as a hug pillow and clung to me tightly.

"… Is that all you wanted to discuss?"

"Nnn, just a little more."

Saying that, Rokuko rubbed her body against me like a cat.

"Alright, I'll get back to work. The park construction is going well!"

"S-sure."

Rokuko seemed satisfied a moment later and left the bed.

"… Should I go back to sleep?"

I thought about it and pulled the cover over me, but it took a while to fall asleep as I was somehow conscious of Rokuko's lingering warmth.