“How ridiculous. Is this supposed to be a dungeon? Isn’t it just a town created by the dwarves for the sake of publicity?”
“However, it’s true that a large number of traps have been discovered.”
“It might be the dwarves’ own staged performance.”
Due to the demon lord’s exhaustion from battling the hero, dungeons have become a source of income for some.
In fact, even the goblin dungeon that appeared in our area regularly spawns decent items and monsters, so it’s seen more as a useful facility than a threat.
I’ve used it a few times, and for those with a certain level of strength, it provides just the right kind of combat training.
Just beating up surrendering, defenseless demons isn’t enough for real-world experience, so it’s a valuable place for me as well.
“The dungeons created by the demon lord are no longer a threat.”
Rather, they are merely places useful to humanity.
It’s foolish. Instead of desperately trying to push humanity to its limits, the demon lord has inadvertently helped us.
Such a fool is the one behind the demon lord’s identity.
“If that’s the case, they might be using the dungeon as a ruse to lure in outsiders looking for valuable items.”
That’s underhanded.
Most likely, the discovery was made at an untouched mining site.
By calling it a dungeon, they attract people who aren’t interested in mining but are after monster hunting or valuable items.
And as planned, people gathered, and even though it’s on a small scale, a town was formed within the dwarves’ territory.
“If it’s an unexplored dungeon, I’ll have it conquered today.”
“Jeremi-sama, we’ve prepared a meal, but… are you sure this is alright? It’s just a lunch box sold at a shop.”
“I don’t mind. It’s better than a portable meal.”
Of course, I’m not so naive as to expect an extravagant feast in a place like this.
Besides, I’m curious. Apparently, there’s a shop run by someone eccentric enough to sell highly praised lunch boxes within a dungeon.
It may not be enough to satisfy me, but it’s worth seeing how good it really is.
“Delicious!!”
…What is this? It’s amazing. It’s too good.
Is it the quality of the ingredients? Or the chef’s skill? I can’t tell. The royal cooks wouldn’t stand a chance against this.
Even the guards can’t resist the taste and are eating with single-minded focus.
I see, the dwarves aren’t just good for fighting. They’ve secretly honed this hidden talent over time.
“I’m going to hire the person who made this.”
“I agree.”
Since there’s a shop at the entrance, I’ll hire the cook who made this meal while we’re at it for dungeon exploration.
When I enter the shop, I find a single halfling man.
“What’s this? I heard this shop was especially busy, but are you the only one here?”
“Well, the customers have been thinning out at this time. So, did you forget to buy something, Your Highness?”
Even though he’s of a different race, he knows me.
His dismissive attitude annoys me, but he’s just an inferior race.
It’s pointless to expect much from such a foolish species that isn’t even part of my own country.
“Let me meet the cook who made this lunch.”
“Ah, that’s a problem. The lunch boxes are all sold out, you see. It’s been one of our best sellers recently.”
“I’m not asking to buy more. I want to hire the person who made them.”
“Well, that’s… haha…”
“I’ll even give you a broker’s fee.”
“That would be appreciated, but… the person has requested to remain anonymous.”
Tch, useless.
It’s probably the dwarves trying to hide their identity out of fear of losing the cook.
First, I should focus on clearing this dungeon.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“No.”
I say this to the grinning halfling and head toward the deeper part of the dungeon with the guards.
They said the traps are still active, but who knows which ones are real and which ones the dwarves have set up.
Either way, we need to be careful as we proceed.
I have a map.
But there’s a possibility that they’re trying to harm other races with traps.
I can’t fully trust this map either.
I suppose we should proceed cautiously and deal with it based on what we see in the dungeon.
“I expect great things from you, all of you.”
I don’t like their unenthusiastic attitude, but their abilities are real.
In the worst case, I’ll just return after hindering the dwarves’ development.
◇
“You can come out now.”
“Sorry, Lopez. It could be problematic if they recognize our faces.”
“You’re Prince Jeremi, right? Why come all the way here?”
“Could it be… that you’re here to take us back?!”
When I first received word from Pilkaya, I thought that might be the case.
But it seems their real goal is to conquer this trap-filled dungeon.
I heard they were asking who made the lunch box while they were at it, so perhaps they were planning to recruit Magirema.
Well, I can’t really complain. Magirema’s lunch boxes are delicious.
“What should we do, Boss? Do we take them down here?”
“No, I think it’s about time we let them conquer this place.”
The mining sites have been created in large numbers, and they are gradually restoring the stones.
So, the dwarves will likely continue visiting this place.
Though it’s not my achievement, the place has developed almost like a town, and there are even people coming here to visit the shops instead of just the dungeon itself.
Magirema’s lunch boxes, which have recently joined in, have played a part in that, but this place has already become a gathering spot regardless of whether it’s conquered or not.
I want to make sure people gather here for dungeon exploration. But I think we no longer need to do that.
In fact, it would be better to show that it’s not dangerous from here on out.
“Boss, you’re a demon, right… Are you okay not taking hostile action against humanity?”
“Balance is important.”
“That’s right, Lopez. Rey isn’t a demon who indiscriminately kills humanity.”
…But, is that true?
It feels like I kill indiscriminately, so I don’t think I can live up to that trust.
“Well… This time, I’ll let them conquer it, so just go with it.”
“…What can we do?”
“People like Kazama Kazama might have their faces known. Sorry, but this time, I want you to take care of the shop like before, Lopez.”
“Okay. That much is a piece of cake.”
Of course, for that to happen, I need to know in advance when Prince Jeremi is coming.
“Pilkaya, I’m counting on you.”
“Because I’m so competent! Me!”
Well, the plan is decided, and we’ve got reliable allies.
Now, we just need to calmly conquer the dungeon and then have them leave.
I doubt it can be fully conquered just this time, but if they’re satisfied after two or three tries, that would be great…
“Rey-sama, if you need anything, I’ll help too.”
“I don’t plan to fight this time, so maybe next time…”
“Things never go as planned…”
Sorry about that.
I’m sure there will come a time when I’ll need Lipianem’s strength, so please bear with it for now.
◇
“Kunimatsu-sama! It’s terrible!”
“What’s wrong, Sergeant?”
I was planning to visit Zino since our hunting grounds would be unavailable for a while, but…
Something about the sergeant’s frantic demeanor is unsettling.
“J-Jeremi, the Second Prince!”
“Jeremi?”
Could it be that he caused some trouble in the dwarf’s kingdom?
Knowing that prince, it’s entirely possible.
“Jeremi, the Second Prince… has passed away.”
“Huh…?”
It seems like I won’t be going to Zino’s place after all…
