Information From Haku-san

Several days after the tragic incident of the aristocrat's murder in the dungeon (apparently the culprits confessed after interrogation), Haku-san came to visit again.

Is this person maybe… bored? That's what I was thinking, but it seemed she had actual business this time.

Rokuko and I were called to a room together, and I headed over with cream soda in hand.

"A hero is coming here soon."

That was shocking information.

"Eh, a hero? … Seriously?"

"What would be the point of lying? Well, I understand how you feel."

"Huh? Isn't it usually [God's Vanguard], not [Hero], Haku-neesama?"

"Rokuko-chan is so clever. Yes, since he's already been through brainwashing education, he's my pawn now. I don't think you need to worry too much."

With that, I let out a small sigh of relief. I heard something about brainwashing, but let's not dwell on that.

"There was a fool who performed the hero summoning ritual without permission in my country… He was just a minor aristocrat, but thanks to that, my plans to visit Rokuko-chan got thrown off. I had his assets seized and the family head executed."

Um, the asset seizure and execution weren't because your plans to visit Rokuko got thrown off, but because he did the hero summoning on his own… right? Right?

Also, can hero summoning really be done that easily?

"Normally it's not something that can be done so easily—it requires quite a steep price… In terms of DP, it would be around 50 billion."

This time, apparently a special item called [God's Tear] was used that could nullify that price.

According to her, the item itself doesn't have much value—it's something that lets God pay the cost of hero summoning. Basically, a hero exchange voucher.

"Why did that aristocrat summon a hero?"

"He probably wanted the glory. He happened to own land bordering the Demon King's territory and was constantly being bothered by it, so if he could throw a hero at the Demon King and defeat him… that was probably his thinking."

Demon King. There it is, the quintessential fantasy element.

"By the way, the Demon King's true identity is Dungeon Core Number 6. The dungeon's name is [Demon King's Castle]—a castle-type dungeon."

So the Demon King is also a Dungeon Core. I heard something like that a while back, but it was true? … Wait, didn't she say that one was already defeated?

"That was probably Number 66. A Dungeon Core of the same type as Number 6, one of the Demon King's followers. There are several other followers too… You could call it the Demon King faction."

So Dungeon Cores have factions… We're probably part of Haku-san's faction, then. Well, we've received a lot of DP from her, so I have no complaints.

"Well, anyway, getting back on topic—that's why a God's Vanguard… a hero was summoned."

"'Was summoned,' that phrasing is a bit concerning. When was he summoned?"

"Good catch. Three years ago—he's apparently been training in that territory. He was being educated following the [Hero Training Manual] that I created as a provisional measure, but… if he was going to go that far, he could have properly reported and applied, had me present for it, and avoided punishment entirely. Instead, it seems he thought it would be a great achievement if he reported it after defeating the Demon King."

The family heads up to two generations ago were reasonable, but humans really do go downhill when generations change, Haku-san grumbled.

I'm not thinking about how old she is. If I thought about it, she'd probably kill me, so I'm not thinking about it.

By the way, Haku-san's carefully crafted [Hero Training Manual] is a manual for teaching God's Vanguards about [Dungeons That Must Not Be Destroyed] and [Dungeons That Can Be Destroyed]—a very convenient (for Haku-san) way to implant knowledge.

Oh, and of course, dungeons like our former [Ordinary Cave] are in the don't-destroy category, as is the current [Cave of Desires] since the Adventurer Guild is making full use of it. Haku-san's [White Labyrinth], which serves as the Empire's foundation, goes without saying.

"… Oh, come to think of it, we currently have about six intruders captured and confined. Would that make us a [Dungeon That Can Be Destroyed]?"

"If it's exposed, yes. But you're taking proper countermeasures, right? Then there's no problem."

It's a prison, but it's completely isolated. The strength is lower, but it's in a place you can't enter without using the dungeon's [Deployment] function, so ordinary intruders would never reach the prison.

… Even though their strength should have dropped considerably, according to Rei, they now have bodies that can never speak or escape again, so it's fine… apparently there's no problem. I didn't ask for details.

Yeah, as long as we're not exposed, it's fine. I rejected the idea before because we lacked the personnel and know-how, but human ranches really are useful facilities. I know it's a complete turnabout, but just six people bringing in 1,300 DP per day is insanely profitable.

Let's make sure we can bury them at any time. Like an evidence-destruction self-destruct switch.

"So, that hero heard about the playing cards and how to play them that came from this dungeon. He said, 'Maybe there's some connection to my original world?' According to Kehma-san's plan, he's been lured in."

"… Ah, so that's how it is."

I see, a dungeon that mysteriously drops items from another world that a hero brought—that would definitely be suspicious.

… It seems like I've become some amazing strategist in Haku-san's mind, but that wasn't part of my plan at all. It was just a simple mistake. Sorry. For now, let me hide my inner turmoil and act like "Of course, fufufu."

"Well, I don't know what you're planning to do with the hero, but the hero coming this time, Nishimi, is my pawn, so… hide the things about Dungeon Cores as written in [Introduction to Dungeonology], deal with him appropriately, and send him back alive, would you?"

"Can't be helped. Understood."

"Fufu, I don't dislike obedient children… Alright, if there's something you want, I might be able to arrange something?"

Then please accept this garter belt and stockings as a gift and wear them—I want to say that, but I should probably stop.

… Oi, Rokuko, why are you glaring? I'm not going to say it, I said I'm not going to say it.

"Then DP, please. I want to modify the dungeon a bit for capturing the hero alive."

"Then as thanks in advance for listening to my request, I'll give you 200,000 DP."

Casually giving us over 100 days' worth of our current income… what a terrifying person. Just a few days ago, that would have been 400 days' worth.

On top of that, she never forgets the lodging fee and tip for Rokuko. Haku-san's depths are truly unfathomable…