And then came our report.

I came to report to Haku-san. As usual, it was a tea party on the sandy beach. We'd brought Soto along this time.

I didn't really want to bring her along since I didn't know what she might do… but she was behaving for now. I hope she wouldn't demand Haku-san's stockings again. You can't do that, okay?

"So, there was a suspicious facility in Kuromaku, and inside there was a black Dungeon Core and a massive magical tool, which probably has a divine artifact as its power source."

"I see."

Since Haku-san knew about the [Super Transformation], I explained that we were able to examine what kind of magical tool it actually was to some extent.

I gave up on a complete analysis, but when I tried inserting one of the [Divine Beddings] I had on hand into the central room—what seemed to be the power reactor—the magical tool activated. This suggests that the divine light was almost certainly produced by a tool made by the gods.

If only there was a [Divine Underwear] or a [Divine Nightcap] there… But then again, there's a possibility that it could be a divine artifact other than part of the [Divine Bedding].

Although there still wasn't enough information to actually create something, I reported my conjecture about what the place was meant for, along with the facility's shape and the results captured by our monitors. Haku-san had been covering the long-distance monitoring fees for it after all.

"A man-made hero, that's an interesting hypothesis. And the result would be the managed dungeon, then?"

"Yes. If it had been the power of the Light God, it might have been able to create a hero, but with the power of the Dark God from the [Divine Bedding], I think it would become a Dungeon Core instead."

"… If it's a failed man-made hero, then there's a high probability that Leona is involved."

"Yes. It could also be possible with Toy."

"Hmm."

Haku-san took a sip of her tea before continuing.

"It's a convincing hypothesis. Kehma-san, let us handle the follow-up regarding that facility from here. Now, about your reward—"

"No, I'd like to do it myself since it's such a good chance… I mean, I want the divine artifact too and I figured I'd steal it while also annoying the Holy Kingdom and Leona."

"Hmm… Well, that's fine. In that case, I'll ask you to take care of the demolition work for that facility. If you fail, I'll take over, but let's see what you can do."

"Yes. If I fail, I'll leave it to you."

"Please gather more information if you can."

"If I can, sure."

When I put the [Divine Bedding] into the magical tool and tried to activate it, I also figured out how to take it out. Now it's just a matter of how much damage can be done to them.

It's unfortunate for the people working at that facility in the Holy Kingdom, but I guess I'll just have to destroy it in a grand way. Yeah. Let's try destrowing that black Dungeon Core first.

"Wait a minute, Kehma. You're forgetting something important."

"Hm? What's up, Rokuko?"

"Our reward. Onee-sama, if this plan succeeds, can we ask you to deal with the people who sent assassins to us in the Holy Kingdom? Within a month of the success report."

…! Speaking of which, we originally sent Narikin's group to the Holy Kingdom to deal with the assassins sent to us… I had completely forgotten about it since we had a daughter.

"I understand, Rokuko-chan. I've already looked into it and I'll take care of it properly here. Is that okay with you, Kehma-san?"

"… Yes, thank you, Haku-san."

"We'll even be able to return Onee-sama's subordinates who have been swapping out their stays in Golen!"

"Oh, Rokuko-chan. How about you just leave them as a guard force in the village? Besides, working in Golen is quite popular. There's a hot spring and the food is delicious. I actually want to go there myself, but…"

Haku-san glanced at her butler, Chloe-san, who was standing behind her in a butler uniform.

"My Lady, you have duties as the Mother of the Nation and the Grand Master of the Adventurer's Guild, so it would be troublesome if you were away for a long time."

"And that's how just how it is."

"If you withdraw your subordinates, maybe you could manage to visit incognito about once a month. Chloe is excellent, so she should be able to adjust that much, right?"

"… Yes, I can do it. I've been busier lately because the work of the dispatched people has been falling onto me, but if they come back, there would be no problem in making that happen. Besides, if we can make it over to you by way of Soto-sama's dungeon, it won't be a big burden."

Certainly, if Rokuko and Soto fully cooperated, commuting from the inn to the capital would be no problem at all. Rokuko would be able to move from [White Beach] to Golen and the rest could moved with Haku-san's dungeon function.

However, entering Soto's dungeon also meant entering my [Storage]… Well, let's ignore that. I'm a taxi driver, and the [Storage] dungeon is a car. Rokuko's like a ferry that carries me along with my car.

"In that case… I guess it's fine to withdraw them."

"I've been a little lonely lately because Onee-sama hasn't been coming to the inn."

"Chloe, arrange it quickly. I'll pay the success reward in advance."

"Yes, I understand."

Hmm, isn't an advance payment of a success reward just a prepayment?

I didn't bother to point it out. However, now we have no choice but to succeed…

At this point, Rokuko sent me a message through [Telepathy].

[… I asked Chloe to keep Onee-sama from the village to keep you from feeling cramped, Kehma, but compared to always having surveillance around, a once a month visit is better even if it's Onee-sama, right?]

[Hey Rokuko!? Was the Four Heavenly Monarchs staying at Golen your doing!?]

It was an astounding fact. To think that she would do such a thing against Haku-san… and her trusted subordinates…!?

[Surely the assassins weren't something you staged, right?]

[I didn't go that far. The assassins who targeted you and Rei were real.]

[Is that so?]

[Besides, it doesn't make any difference whether Onee-sama comes or not if there's constant surveillance. That dang Chloe tricked me too, saying that she understood like that! Haku-neesama must have told her to keep the pressure on!]

Even as she spoke through [Telepathy], Rokuko maintained a bright smile. Should I be happy that she's gotten so good at hiding her true feelings?

And if that's the case, Chloe-san pulled off a devilish feat of fulfilling Haku-san's wishes while granting Rokuko's demands, yet leaving both with complaints… She was a Succubus, after all. She was a type of demon and there was even the possibility that she advanced her work by arranging for Rokuko to meet Haku-san in dreams to alleviate her dissatisfaction. Fearsome.

Anyway, our next goal was to destroy that strange facility.

We received additional rewards from Haku-san as information fees and began devising a strategy to achieve that goal.