“Ah, so you’re a half-Spaniard, half-American, huh?”
“Yeah, though now I’m a pure-blooded halfling.”
Still, being called a “half” something is oddly amusing.
Thanks to the boss’s introduction, I was assigned to a shop in a dungeon where I used to sneak in while working for dwarves.
There were three people there: one man and two women. Originally Japanese, they were now human—Takemi, Arata, and Tomoka.
“I think your decision was the right one.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
After all, we were told to take down that Big Boss.
Sorry to Zino, but even with his long lifespan, I can’t imagine him pulling it off.
These guys may be Japanese, but they seem to have a good sense of self-preservation.
“Rey-san appreciates our efforts.”
“Huh?”
I feel like we’re talking about completely different things.
Weren’t we discussing the overwhelming power of the Demon King’s army?
“Takemi, have you fought the boss or the Big Boss?”
“You mean Rey-san and the Demon Lord? Well… no, and I doubt we’d stand a chance.”
Good. At least they understand that much.
He’s going to be my colleague from now on. If he doesn’t know his place and tries to defy the boss, dragging us all down with him, that’s the last thing I need.
“But Takemi is a hero. If he works hard, he might eventually beat the Demon Lord.”
“Yes, if he keeps leveling up, he should surpass the Demon Lord someday.”
Wait a minute… you guys met the Big Boss, didn’t you?
And you still think that? Is this just Japanese optimism, or are they unique in that way?
Either way, we’re reincarnates in the Demon Lord’s army. I don’t want to get caught up in any reckless actions and take the blame for it.
“No, I don’t think we can win.”
Just as I was about to warn them, even if it meant coming across as a cocky newcomer, Takemi calmly told his two girlfriends:
“But, I mean, a hero, a saint, and a sage? If the Goddess reincarnated us with such power, doesn’t that mean we were chosen for this?”
“Who knows? Maybe the Goddess just handed out powers randomly.”
Who knows indeed…
I was given a lockpicking ability, which fits my habits as a thief. Maybe the powers are somewhat tailored to the person.
Still, a hero, saint, and sage… Could it be that these three have incredible potential?
Not that I wasn’t already planning on it, but it wouldn’t hurt to stay on good terms with them.
“Even so, Takemi is still a hero.”
“Yeah, but maybe we weren’t trying hard enough. Maybe we should’ve gone at it recklessly, like Kunimatsu did.”
“Then, should we start leveling up now—?”
“That’s why I’m going to work hard in this shop, learning stonecraft from Karl -san.”
Huh… Not to be rude, but I thought he was just another carefree Japanese guy.
But Takemi might actually have a solid grasp of his situation and be planning his next moves carefully.
“Okay, brother. Then teach the newbie the ropes first.”
Well, it’s true that meeting these guys puts me at ease.
If the Big Boss was the type to force reincarnates and other non-demons into harsh labor, we wouldn’t be standing around chatting like this.
He might actually value competence over race.
If so, I’ll play it smart and survive.
“Of course. By the way…”
“Hm? What is it?”
“What kind of power do you have, Lopez?”
…He’s seriously asking me.
I thought abilities were something you kept to yourself, but these guys openly discuss them.
Well, fair’s fair. Mine isn’t anything grand, so I might as well share as part of building camaraderie.
“I can unlock things.”
“Unlock… like opening any lock?”
“Yeah, that’s part of it, but the scope seems to be a bit broader.”
Thinking it’d be quicker to show them, I picked up a rock lying at my feet, inserted a “key,” and unlocked it.
The rock split in two, like a door opening.
“That’s about the extent of my petty ability.”
“Petty? That’s an incredible power! If you used it on us, we’d be done for in an instant.”
“It doesn’t work on living things. Plants and trees are off-limits too. Magic, fire, and electricity are also unaffected. There are so many restrictions, it’s frustrating.”
All I can do is open locks or maybe chip away at rock faces.
I’m no hero destined to save the world. I’m not like Zino or Takemi.
“That…”
“Hm?”
“You should be careful not to damage the dungeon’s walls or ceilings.”
“…Of course. Thanks for the warning, brother.”
Yeah, I get it.
I already know that my power doesn’t work under the boss’s domain.
On top of that, Pilkaya’s boss made it crystal clear: the dungeon is the Big Boss’s and the boss’s property.
If I damage it with my power, I’ll be toast in an instant.
Why would I do something so pointless?
◇
“Seems like we might get along just fine.”
“Maybe…”
Lopez broke into our herb garden.
Kazama and his group invaded the dungeon to take down Fiona-sama.
Tokito and Okui were dragged here against their will and surrendered.
They’re all different kinds of reincarnates, but for now, they’re working diligently and don’t seem hostile.
I can tell Lopez doesn’t bear us any ill will, and he’ll likely work hard too.
Which is why… regret? Frustration?
Even I’m not sure what I’m feeling.
I’ve killed reincarnates.
They tried to kill us, saying we deserved it.
If they’d been like our current reincarnates—willing to talk—would things have been different?
No, that’s not it.
Even the reincarnates here only submitted because of force.
In the end, does it all come down to showing power before you can even have a conversation?
“Take this!”
“…Fiona-sama, what are you doing?”
I felt a light impact on my forehead.
It seems I’d been flicked.
Thankfully, Fiona-sama’s strength, which is about 80 times that of a Ripianem , was held back.
Good thing she’s a demon who can control her strength…
“You are my subordinate.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Then everything you’ve done has been under my orders.”
“No, that’s not—”
“Understood?”
“…Yes.”
“Whatever happens, I will always be on your side.”
It seems Fiona could read my thoughts entirely…
Damn it. I decided to live as a demon, so why am I still hesitating like this?
I’ve already made up my mind—my role is to renovate the dungeon for the demons and handle intruders.
“I see! The Demon King means to say that Rey-dono’s achievements are ultimately his own as the Demon King!”
“That’s not what I’m saying at all!?”
“Demon King-sama, you must properly recognize contributions.”
“I already do!?”
Ripianem’s obliviousness aside, Pilkaya looks more serious than usual.
As expected from the corporate drone spirit—she can’t tolerate anyone, even others, being underappreciated.
But that’s not the issue here, so don’t worry.
The Demon King does acknowledge and think about us.
“Lopez. Sorry, but could you come over here?”
The boss called me.
I had no idea why, but it didn’t seem like I was about to be scolded.
In that case, I should stand tall. A timid subordinate would just be a burden to the boss.
“Is this a treasure chest?”
“Yeah. I want you to use your unlocking ability to open it.”
“That’s fine, but… hey, boss, this chest doesn’t even look locked to begin with.”
It could just be opened by hand.
“True, but I still want you to open it with your unlocking ability.”
“It’ll break, though.”
“No problem.”
If he says so, I won’t argue.
I already warned him it might break, so there shouldn’t be any consequences if the boss’s property is destroyed.
Besides, it’s the boss’s request—Pilkaya’s husband wouldn’t act unreasonably about it.
“Unlock.”
“Wow. As expected, that’s quite a power.”
“Hearing you say that doesn’t feel bad.”
He might be kinder to his own people. Compliments like that don’t match the aura of someone who instills a fear of death.
Or maybe he’s just ruthless to his enemies. I’ve seen plenty of people like that before my reincarnation.
“And the contents are… yeah, just as I thought.”
The contents of the treasure chest. I’ve collected a few as a halfling in the dungeon.
So I can’t deny I’m curious about what’s inside.
Sensing my interest, the boss showed me the contents.
…Oh, come on. That’s an incredibly valuable potion.
At first glance, it looks like a jewel, but that’s just the container. The real treasure is the silvery liquid inside.
An elixir. It rarely appears on the market and, when it does, it’s traded at astronomical prices.
It’s said to cure all negative conditions, which makes its value understandable.
“…I see.”
“!?”
As the door opened, the Big Boss appeared from the back.
That’s fine—this is his domain, so he can go wherever he likes.
The problem is the clearly dissatisfied expression on his face.
Did I mess something up? I feel like I’m going to die—my hands are drenched in sweat.
“Thanks, Lopez. You were a big help.”
“Uh, sure. Boss.”
“Sorry for calling you out suddenly. You can go back now.”
I bowed my head in gratitude and left as if fleeing.
It was probably the boss covering for me.
He must have shielded me from the Big Boss’s displeasure.
…Phew. Defying them is utterly unthinkable. Right, Zino? Are you really planning to fight those two?
“You shouldn’t do that. You startled Lopez.”
“Sorry. Haa… Ahh, if only there were ceilings!”
“Don’t be upset. You’ll just feel worse if you’re tired.”
“Ugh… Then, Rey, you should comfort me!”
“Yeah, yeah…”
Fiona-sama had been eager, believing the contents of the treasure chest would be something amazing because of my unlocking ability…
The result was an elixir.
A liquid with a color resembling Rigma’s relative, which she’s already obtained several times as a “miss.”
At one point, she had even tried to pester Rigma into doing something about it.
This time, too, she barged into the room looking disgruntled, disappointed with the same result.
Lopez was taken aback, so it was definitely the right call to have him leave before Fiona-sama could drag him into her fuss.
“Pet me.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
It’s unlikely we’ll find reincarnators with the kind of power Fiona-sama wants as allies anytime soon.
Is this turning into not just treasure chest gacha but also reincarnator gacha?
In that case, I wonder what kind of value I’d have.
