The Naming Ceremony

All three newcomers had reached the point where they could handle reception duties.

As promised, I figured it was time to give them names.

I decided to call the three of them to the dungeon's boss room and name them there.

I mean, I could've just gone "Here are your new names" at the inn and been done with it, but apparently this is something really important for monsters. I'm the kind of Dungeon Master who reads the room, you know.

Presentation is important.

If I hold this naming ceremony with enough fanfare, they'll surely pledge even greater loyalty.

So I decided to renovate the drab stone boss room a little.

First, the throne. Since I'd rarely actually sit on it, I prioritized looks over comfort and made a stone throne with a sense of gravitas. I raised the area around it by about two steps so I could look down on intruders even while sitting. It wouldn't look out of place even if a Demon King sat there. And since the material is just stone and nothing fancy, it wouldn't look too outlandish with me sitting on it either.

Next, a stone carpet stretching straight from the entrance to the throne… Well, since the floor was already stone, I just rearranged it to look sort of like one… Yeah, if you're generous, the only difference is in the pattern, but it's starting to look kind of like a temple, maybe? Even if the whole thing is grey.

I made the raised section into steps.

Having come this far, I might as well fix up the walls and add some pillars too. They're completely unnecessary, just pure decoration. The Parthenon-style pillars look… how should I put it… the part? I think they look the part. Probably.

Finally, I made statues of golems holding weapons, growing them from the walls. These weapons are actually Golem Blades too, so they're functional.

Phew… My creative urge welled up and I got a bit carried away.

"I was wondering what you were up to since Kehma hasn't slept in a while… This is really cool!"

"When Rokuko's the one saying it, my confidence starts to waver…"

"Huh?! Why?! That should give you more confidence!"

"Because you have that weird hobby of loving goblins. So there's a chance your standard for 'cool' is based on goblins…"

"Talk about slander! I think dragons and stuff are cool too, you know?"

Oh, dragons. Dragons are definitely cool. I've seen a real Red Dragon too, so maybe I should try making a dragon golem sometime. I'd love to have it breathe fire if possible.

… Aah, but it'd definitely be weak compared to the real thing. The best material I can work with right now is just iron. Thinking about that kills my motivation. But well, it might be good practice for when I can use better materials in the future.

The current boss is the Iron Haniwa Golem I just finished the other day… so let's make the next boss an Iron Dragon Golem.

"Oh, anyway, shall we call them in? Everyone, get into position!"

"Once the golems are ready, I'll call Niku and Ichika too."

And so, with the golems lined up, we proceeded with the naming ceremony for the newcomers.

 

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The dungeon [Cave of Desires].

At the entrance, the first above-ground floor called the [Entrance] has traps, goblins, and a few treasure chests.

The first and second underground floors form the [Multi-Floor Labyrinth Area], where golems wander and there's also a magic sword test room.

Once you get through the labyrinth, it's an upward climb. You ascend back to the second above-ground floor.

The second above-ground floor is the [Puzzle Area], where wisdom and knowledge are tested… No intruders have made it past this point yet.

After clearing the [Puzzle Area], there's an [Open-Ceiling Spiral Staircase] that descends from the second above-ground floor to the third underground floor.

The third underground floor is the [Golem Warehouse Area], where unique golems patrol, like the first-generation boss, the Normal Haniwa Golem, and various experimental prototype golems. There are even treasure chests containing magic sword Golem Blades down here.

Beyond all of that lies the fourth underground floor… the [Boss Room Area].

(Going forward, I plan to add more floors from the fifth underground floor downward, expanding the dungeon toward Tsuia's town.)

At this moment, the [Boss Room] was quite lively.

… That said, apart from the armed golems lined up neatly, it was just me the Dungeon Master, Rokuko the Dungeon Core, and the slaves Niku and Ichika. Oh, and our pet phoenix, Feni.

Rokuko was wearing a sleek white dress that showed off her figure nicely. It was modeled after Haku-san's dress and was one of Rokuko's favorites. The white phoenix perched on her shoulder matched it well.

Niku and Ichika were wearing their maid outfits. Not their everyday ones, but practically brand new.

In other words, everyone was in formal attire.

Of course, I was dressed appropriately too.

A red mantle over silver-shining full plate armor. The vine relief made from flattened gold coins was a nice accent… In reality, it's iron armor with just the surface plated. Also, frankly, it's so heavy I can't move on my own. I can move because it's armor golem-assisted, but one bad stumble and serious injury is guaranteed.

I sat on the throne.

Rokuko stood right beside me, with Niku and Ichika standing on either side of the aisle one step below.

Armed golems stood in orderly rows on both sides of the stone path leading from the door to the throne, holding their swords aloft.

The image was [An Audience with the King]. Well, a Dungeon Master is kind of like a dungeon's king, so it's not wrong.

I used [Deployment] to place the three newcomers in front of the door. All preparations were complete.

I'd told them beforehand that we'd be holding a naming ceremony, but I hadn't mentioned we'd prepare this elaborately. Kukuku, I can't wait to see what faces they make.

"Enter!"

At my call, the boss room doors—heavy iron double doors with vine reliefs—were opened by the golems.

The three girls who had been waiting in front of the doors saw the interior and were surprised for just a moment before entering with serious expressions… Ho, not bad at all.

"Stop there and kneel."

With Alpha the vampire in the center, flanked by Beta the silky and Gamma the apprentice witch on either side, they knelt.

"I will now conduct the naming ceremony."

I put strength into my gut and spoke in as powerful and imperious a voice as I could manage. This was getting fun.

By the way, since the naming ceremony doesn't actually exist as a formal ritual, there's no proper etiquette for it. It's all about [winging it to look authentic].

"Ye who have carried out my commands shall, as per our agreement, be bestowed with names."

With assistance from the full plate armor golem, I slowly stood and drew the sword at my waist.

A sword made from a potion bottle, its blade completely transparent. The way it reflected a faint blue light made it look quite mystical… Offensive power? If I hit something with it, the sword would probably shatter. It's ceremonial, purely ceremonial.

"Alpha, raise thy head."

"Yes sir!"

Alpha raised her head as instructed… Erm, her new name is…

"Unto thee, I bestow the name Rei."

"Yes sir! I am deeply honored!"

I actually said 'unto thee.' Ha ha ha. Well, might as well keep going with this vibe.

The origin of the name is that her attack power is zero. Easy to remember.

… Yeah, she's really happy about it, but, um, sorry? For this totally random naming.

Okay, next.

"Beta, raise thy head."

"Yes."

Her movements were more gentle than Alpha's, no, Rei's now. Graceful, perhaps, is the word.

"Unto thee, I bestow the name Kinue."

"I humbly accept."

The name's origin is Silky -> silk -> kinu -> Kinue… yeah.

I considered Okinu-san, but Kinue seemed more like a normal name here, so Kinue it was… I have no idea what to name the next silky.

Last one.

"Gamma, raise thy head."

"Okay～"

Ah, yeah. More relaxed than Beta, now Kinue… no, this one's more laid-back. Definitely.

"Unto thee, I bestow the name Nerune."

"Thank you very much, Shishou～"

The name is because she's a witch.

… Huh? Why Nerune for a witch? Well, you know, you've got that image of them stirring stuff around in a cauldron, right? Kneading it until the color changes? Right? Right? Exactly.

Also, I'm not your master yet.

Well, I gave them all pretty random names, but since the origins are from another world, nobody will figure it out unless I say something.

In fact, they might even be happy about it like Rokuko was, knowing the names have otherworldly origins.

That concluded the naming ceremony. All that was left was for me to deliver the closing remarks in a loud voice, at which point the golems would applaud.

Now then, the closing words are important, what should I say…

"Ah, hey Kehma. We're done now, right? Alright! Rei, Kinue, Nerune. Do your best for the dungeon from now on!"

At that moment, clatter-clatter-clatter-clatter-clatter! The golems' hard hands erupted into a storm of applause.

Damn you Rokuko, she stole the best part!