The abilities of someone who seems like a hero are appearing again.
However, they didn’t fall into the crucial traps.
If it had been just once or twice, it could be excused, but they’ve repeated their intrusions so many times that I’ve lost count.
Even so, I don’t feel any sense of urgency because, at present, there’s virtually no damage to speak of.
In fact, their priority in my mind has dropped so low that I’ve begun to think, “It’d be nice if they actually triggered a trap.”
“Ah, they’ve gone back again. Do they even have the motivation?”
“What are they even coming here for? They’re not mining. They’re not mapping uncharted areas. To me, it just looks like a bunch of young people going on dates.”
“Dates? Of all places, why here?”
Are they a group of cave enthusiasts?
It wouldn’t be strange if they had such a hobby, and if that’s the case, I could grudgingly accept it.
“What do you mean, ‘of all places’? This is a bright and friendly workplace with a great atmosphere!”
To be fair, that’s surprisingly accurate, so I didn’t know how to respond.
For a demon king’s army, the work environment is surprisingly accommodating—except for Rigma.
“I-I didn’t mean to criticize this place, honestly!”
Caught off guard by Fiona-sama’s words, Pilkaya stammered unusually.
She probably didn’t expect such a response since she wasn’t trying to tease anyone this time.
“Well, as long as you understand.”
“Okay~! The underground demon realm is the best!”
That’s definitely teasing.
Still, the outcome isn’t what she was aiming for.
After all, Fiona-sama nodded with satisfaction at Pilkaya’s words.
Well, as long as she didn’t get upset, I won’t say anything.
Back to the topic at hand: these reincarnated hero-wannabes have changed significantly since I first saw them.
They’re reincarnated individuals capable of challenging a dungeon with just three people.
Unlike the first reincarnates I met, these ones showed no trace of power and simply retreated, which made them downright eerie.
However, they’ve since visited the dungeon numerous times and left without any notable achievements.
I became suspicious, wondering if there was some hidden purpose. Their reasons for retreating didn’t add up.
They’d say things like, “I twisted my ankle, so let’s head back,” “I’m tired of walking, so let’s call it a day,” or “I’m feeling off today, so let’s leave.”
…These three. Could it be that they’re not serious about this at all?
“If there’s one thing that bothers me, it’s how they avoid most of the traps.”
“Is it some kind of ability, like Tokito’s choices? Or maybe something like Kunimatsu’s appraisal for detecting traps?”
I initially thought that might be the case too, but it doesn’t seem so.
Tokito and Kunimatsu, being able to detect traps, would stop and proceed with extreme caution.
Tokito aside, Kunimatsu would even turn back when he lost focus due to that caution.
But these people don’t seem like that.
They do proceed cautiously, but it’s a sloppy kind of caution, often missing things.
It feels more like they’re just pretending to be careful.
“Probably, it’s unrelated to those abilities. They almost got caught by blatantly obvious falling rocks.”
“Indeed. While the dwarves don’t get caught anymore, those humans were nearly crushed just a step away.”
“And then they immediately turned back. I really can’t figure out what they’re trying to do.”
The dwarves already avoid triggering noticeable rockfalls.
Thanks to the halflings, they now only fall into more subtle traps.
And since trap information is shared among dungeon visitors, almost no one gets caught by those rocks anymore.
Yet this so-called hero group seems to proceed without any such information, wandering aimlessly before retreating.
“…Rey-dono, let me correct myself. They may give off the vibe of heroes, but their actions are anything but heroic.”
Having observed them closely, Ripianem suddenly said this.
Her slightly disappointed tone hinted at her dismay that they weren’t what she had hoped for.
“They’re drunk on themselves.”
Surely, she’s not talking about alcohol here.
Drunk on themselves—does that mean they’re intoxicated by their own circumstances?
“Drunk… on their situation?”
“Yes. They likely possess traces of a hero’s power, and as reincarnates, they have a mission. They’re infatuated with the idea of themselves as these chosen ones.”
“So it’s less about accomplishing the mission and more about enjoying the idea of themselves striving for it?”
“Or perhaps, they’re infatuated with each other. In any case, they seem neither serious about challenging the dungeon nor intent on opposing the Demon King-sama.”
Somehow, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest.
I see. Now that it’s been pointed out, that explanation fits perfectly.
They come to the dungeon repeatedly to convince themselves they’re making an effort to defeat Fiona-sama.
They retreat quickly because they don’t want to risk their lives facing even minor dangers.
[Status]
Takemi Kazama
Magic: 25 / Strength: 30 / Technique: 24 / Stamina: 38 / Agility: 36
Arata Sera
Magic: 39 / Strength: 5 / Technique: 29 / Stamina: 20 / Agility: 18
Tomoka Hara
Magic: 30 / Strength: 7 / Technique: 37 / Stamina: 19 / Agility: 21
Their stats haven’t changed at all since then.
In other words, unlike Kunimatsu, they have no intention of leveling up or genuinely trying to conquer the dungeon.
“I see. It seems Ripianem is right.”
Their so-called hero power is likely real.
If Ripianem and Fiona-sama believe it, there’s no doubt about it.
Now I think I have an idea of what this hero power is.
“The male reincarnate, though reckless, has never suffered a fatal mistake.”
“Falling rocks triggered just ahead of them. Bear traps caused only minor scratches. Saws merely tore their clothing.”
Primilla listed the past incidents one after another.
It’s bizarre. With how careless they are, they’ve barely been injured.
“A saw should have cut them clean in half if their clothes got caught. They’re just ridiculously lucky, aren’t they?”
“They’ve never even triggered the capture cage. Given how careless they are, it’s strange they haven’t been caught.”
Rigma and Pilkaya’s observations are spot on.
So, there’s only one conclusion.
“As a hero’s power, they might have the ability to avoid the worst possible outcomes.”
It’s basically a kind of protagonist’s plot armor.
As heroes, the world bends slightly in their favor.
That’s why they can retreat unscathed where ordinary people would have died or been captured multiple times over.
“…So they’re just lucky?”
Ripianem’s disappointment is understandable.
She probably prefers the thrill of battling strong opponents like Ruf.
Luck may be a form of strength, but relying solely on it to face powerful foes feels… off.
“If they were seriously trying to defeat Fiona-sama, they could’ve been quite the nuisance.”
It’s hard to say how far they would’ve gotten, but if the world favors them as heroes, they could potentially be a natural enemy to Fiona-sama, the Demon King.
For now, they’re merely drunk on their own sense of self. But what if they someday truly commit to opposing us?
Even if they currently think they’re serious, if something triggered them to become genuinely fearsome enemies…
They could become scarier than Kunimatsu. Scarier than game protagonists.
Such a possibility exists.
“…Should we finish them off next time?”
It might be best to eliminate them before it’s too late.
“Rey, if their power is luck, we should capture them.”
“Eh…?”
“If we can recruit them, we might be able to create endless revival potions!”
“…I’ll consider it.”
I feel my tension dissipating.
For now, I’ll increase the number of traps to capture them.
If they’re truly just drunk on their own self-image, they might obediently follow us after being caught, assuming the role of tragic protagonists.
I was honestly contemplating killing them seriously, but… Fiona-sama, as usual, keeps things lighthearted.
