When I summoned it to the deepest part, Torquetam was somewhat wary.
I knew what this was. I got it. It thought it was going to be scolded.
But I wasn't actually angry.
I may be the dungeon ruler, but the person responsible for this dungeon is Isiwara.
If she's fine with it, there's nothing for me to say.
Well, actually, there is one thing.
It would help if they could at least send word, even just a single message.
But it's not like we have phones or anything.
Is there even anything that could send messages? I'd want one.
Maybe I should ask the witch and the Hyrne about it.
I asked whether the two of them had known about it.
But Isiwara and Mires tilted their heads.
"We didn't hear about it."
"W-w-we didn't hear about it either..."
Huh?
"We received permission from Ennea."
"She happily agreed."
"Mm... she replied... while sleeping..."
"Honestly, I was worried whether that was okay."
"……Ah, right. By the way, she was asleep."
My words drew faint, wry smiles from the Torquetam crew.
"I know we haven't opened yet, but what about the guild staff?"
Pakira tilted her head slightly and voiced her complaint.
"Seiran said she'd handle that on her end."
"Oh, come to think of it, they were going on about hiring and whatnot."
"The witch was involved in that too, y'know."
"Huh, a witch?"
It was the first I'd heard of it, but somehow it made sense.
Well, if a witch was involved, things would probably be fine.
"Still, we'd like some way to get in touch with you."
"That's true."
"Nn… to get in touch… …something… I have…"
"So there's stuff that'd be handy for that kind of thing?"
"Riv. You have something like that?"
A smartphone, maybe? Probably a smartphone.
"Nn… at Etrenze… I have one…"
"Etrenze?"
Somehow that didn't sound like a smartphone.
"Nn… if you want… I can go get it now…"
"Can I come along too?"
"I'm interested too."
"I'll stay behind."
"I'd like to see that giant dungeon core too, if I may."
"I-If Master says so, then... M-M-MASTER?!"
Wait, you just noticed?
"Hm? Isn't that Alexander?"
"Oh my, it's Alexander!"
"Long time no see!"
"There's a land catfish here!"
"It's been a while, and a pleasure to meet you all. The name's Alexander. Born in Ipomea=Nir. Former first-class delver, leader of the Raven Saga, and the first-ever Dungeon Master. These days I'm just a lowly old land catfish, but I hope you'll keep me in mind."
Oh, he's just like Futen from my past life memories.
The Raven Saga was a first-class delver party that the witch belonged to, if I remember right.
"I'm Ishibara — the will of Heizen's dungeon."
"I've heard about you from Milece's letter. A dungeon will that can actually communicate — I'd been hoping to meet you."
"Oh, M-Master, I d-d-didn't know you were coming!"
Oh my, that Milece is being a bit forward.
Alexander said.
"I finished up work early, and I just couldn't sit still."
"I-I-I understand the feeling... I was s-s-s-so shocked..."
"My apologies for being so discourteous."
Alexander bowed his head with a polite nod.
A land catfish doing that was pretty surreal. Reporting, contacting, consulting — it really was important after all.
"…Hm. Alexander. There is something I wish to ask of you."
"What might that be, then?"
"Do you remember the dungeon in the Elftopia forest?"
"Of course I remember it, yes. It was the very dungeon where I and the Sword Dog once responded to an anomaly, you see. Yugud's spirit tree was a terrible loss."
Alexander lowered his head as though weighed down with regret.
"However, because you all defeated that dungeon anomaly, the Elftopia of today and a new Yugud's spirit tree now exist. The will of the Elftopia dungeon was grateful, you know."
"…Is that so… That makes me happy…"
Alexander gave Isibara a courteous bow.
What a nice story.
The Sword Dog — that had to be the "Blade of the Sword," the first-class delver.
Isibara. Milece. Alexander. Lupinus would stay behind.
Pakira, Riv, Bidd, and I would head to Etrange.
To get to Etrange, we had to leave the dungeon and head to my uncle's hideout.
He'd be waiting in the air above the hideout, of course hidden in stealth mode.
We left the dungeon and walked through the streets of Heizen.
"Well now. Walking around with this group feels rather refreshing, doesn't it?"
"It sure does."
"Hmm… rare… bunch…"
"Yeah, isn't it."
It really was unusual for this particular group to be out walking together.
"Lately, Wof, you've been looking awful busy."
"That's right. Are you actually eating and sleeping properly?"
Bid leaned in with a curious look.
"I'm fine, really. I am eating and sleeping."
"Hmm… but for thirteen… don't see it… that corporate-slave vibe…"
"No, no, I don't work at a company."
"Still, though. I'm worried."
Pakira fixed me with a steady stare, her jade-green eyes locked right on me.
Well, she had a point. Lately my days had been dominated by dungeon creation, with all sorts of things on top of that.
There was still plenty to do before the dungeon opened.
And I also had to keep searching for the Wind's Death King.
Still, the worries that had been nagging at me — the Phantom Unit, the remnants of the Jinryu — those had all been dealt with, so that was a relief.
"Come to think of it, what about the bodyguard job for Seilan?"
"If that's what you mean, tomorrow I and Lupinus are going to stand guard."
"The deadline is technically still there. But now that the Jinryu matter is settled, it doesn't really feel like a serious bodyguard job anymore."
"Hmm… nice… guard… weather."
"But with Lupinus around, it should be fine. You saw it too, didn't you? Her shield. Or should I say, Calm's shield? That should be more than enough."
I did see that she was using it properly.
"Though Calm's a bit of a nag, y'know."
"Mm... don't take it off there... the underclothes... don't just toss them aside... so noisy."
"Right? Like, put your clothes away properly and stuff."
"Isn't that exactly what Calm says?"
Calm really seems like she's having a hard time of it.
"Thank you, Wof."
"Pakira. For what?"
"Lupinus got stronger because of you."
"It wasn't just me — Haiyan helped too."
"That's true."
Pakira smiled softly. But... they really do look alike.
No matter how you look at it, Yomido only looks like a 2P color variant of Pakira.
Without incident, we arrived at my uncle's hideout.
It feels like Hyzen's security has gotten better since the Jinryu remnant was dealt with.
When we entered the hideout, Anna Kreutzen was cleaning.
After greeting her, I headed to the rooftop. Etranger was hovering in the air.
When I focused my thoughts, the hatch opened.
Riv and Bidd got in, and I suddenly remembered something out of the blue.
"Pakira. Um, here."
What I pulled out of my pouch was the letter Halus had entrusted me with.
"Hm. What's this? A letter...?"
"Er, it's a letter that Halus asked me to deliver to you..."
"Halus, you say...? Didn't you just meet him recently?"
Pakira accepted the letter without a moment's hesitation.
Her casual reaction made me feel unspeakably guilty.
That letter had been sitting with me for quite some time now—over a month.
"W-well, you see, things got busy with one thing and another, and I completely forgot to give it to you."
It was honestly a relief that I'd suddenly remembered at this moment. No, it wasn't a relief at all.
I really should have handed it over when we reunited at the Heizen Great Forest.
"Oh my. A letter from that boy. How kind of you to look after it. Thank you."
"Wait, what?! No, there's nothing to thank me for—this letter has been with me for over a month... I completely forgot to deliver it. I'm truly sorry."
I attempted a Soils Under Occara.
But Pakira looked a little puzzled, then broke into a gentle smile.
"See, that's what I keep telling you. You're working too hard."
She flicked me lightly on the forehead, then spun around on her heel.
Her two white tails—one long, one short—swayed gently.
"Now then, shall we go?"
"Y-yes."
It was like gazing upon a goddess.