A thoughtless remark had landed me in a terrible situation.
There was no way I'd know how to create a dungeon.
"...Right. I'll go consult the witch."
When in trouble, go to the witch. I changed my plans and headed back.
I entered the Skier Coffin Ele in the warehouse and went up to the second floor.
"Witch, I've got a huge problem!"
When I opened the door, I caught sight of Nekia smoothly rolling up her top.
Beneath it was bare skin. Her full, heavy brown breasts swayed and came straight into view.
"S-sorry!"
I frantically shut the door.
But the door was immediately opened again. It was the witch.
"Oh my, young Wof. What's the matter?"
"Um, well..."
"Hmm hmm. Well, come on in. She's dressed now."
"Y-yes."
When I entered the room, Nekia was properly dressed.
"Wof. What happened?"
"Ah, well..."
Feeling a bit awkward, I told her about what had just happened.
"Oh my, oh my. Dungeon creation. Now that's an interesting development."
The witch was grinning from ear to ear.
Yeah. With this, the witch was fully on board.
"A… dungeon?"
"Um, so there's the Junkyard, and then floors, and mazes, and monsters come out, and there are Relics…"
Hm. This was hard to explain.
"Are you perhaps talking about a labyrinth?"
Neckia said quietly. She caught on fast.
A labyrinth. So that's what they called it in ancient times.
"Yes, that's right."
"And Wof-kun is going to build one?"
"…Y-yes, that's about the size of it… Oh, and witch — has anyone ever created a dungeon before, by any chance?"
I clung to the hope that maybe there was a precedent.
"Mhm, mhm. Of course. Throughout history, in every culture, there have always been attempts like that."
"I knew it."
"But but, not a single one ever succeeded. What about you, Neckia?"
"No. I've never heard of anyone succeeding in creating one."
"…So it's impossible after all. Just as I thought."
That figures. Of course dungeon creation would be impossible.
But then the witch flashed a mean, sly little grin.
"Well now, well now, I wonder about that."
"Huh?"
"Oh my, oh my, I'm not saying you'd build one from scratch. The dungeon's own will would fully cooperate with you. That said, even I've never actually created a dungeon."
"You're right, yeah…"
"After all, I've heard that the Labyrinth is a trial given by God. Even someone as capable as you, Wof, would find it terribly difficult to create one."
Is it just difficult? Not impossible?
Also, a trial given by God—that's a first for me.
"But but, here's the thing, young Wof. Just because I don't know doesn't mean nobody else does. Fortunately, both Kon and you know a great deal about dungeons… and you're acquainted with a certain land catfish."
"Oh, you mean—"
"Yes, yes. A former First-Rank delver turned dungeon master. He should still be working behind the scenes somewhere in a dungeon."
Alexander, huh.
Right. If it's him, he definitely knows his way around dungeons.
"But I don't know where he is right now."
And if he's off delving somewhere, you're completely out of luck.
But the witch wore a look of absolute composure.
"Hehehehe, don't you worry. Leave the contact method to Kon."
"Oh, as expected of the witch. Th-thank you very much."
"More importantly, more importantly—there's someone you need to get on board before anything else."
"Me?"
Nechia naturally chimed in.
After the witch and I looked at her...
"Hmm, hmm. That cooperation certainly is a factor, I suppose."
"Yes, of course. I am the queen, after all."
Somehow, thinking about Nechia, I found myself wondering what had happened to the original Relics.
No, more than that—
"Those two great families, you mean?"
The Zenzera family. And the Gouro family.
The current rulers of Hyzein. We can't exactly ignore them.
But... who's going to talk to them?
I—that's out of the question.
Especially with crabs.
Beruku Dining Hall. Kitchen.
Me, me. What am I supposed to do.
Luma's curse has been lifted. Nothing left to worry about.
"...So what am I supposed to do from here on out?"
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know what I ought to do from now on."
"...?"
"Make food."
"I know that much."
"If I make dinner, I'm gonna confess to Luma, desu."
"I know that much too… Wait, what did you say?"
I turned toward the maid who was peeling potatoes beside me without pause.
A black horn growing from her forehead. Clearly not Fawn.
Apparently her race was called a Minosaur or something.
I didn't really get it, but I understood that she was Wof's maid.
Same deal as Anna Creutzenn, who was checking ingredients alongside Rel's little sister Samarnia.
The difference was that Anna Creutzenn had blue skin, while Sharudina had white skin.
Both of them seemed to treat maid work as their entire life's calling, always in uniform and hard at it.
But why on earth did Sharudina always carry a cutlass on her hip?
"So make dinner and confess to Luma, desu."
"N-n-no, why does that follow?"
"Because Hoss likes Luma, desu."
It took a moment for that to sink in.
"Huh? No, I—"
"Be honest. You should confess, desu."
"I-I'm, uh, going to go buy some tomatoes!"
I bolted in a panic. Out of the dining hall in a hurry and running.
What the hell! What the hell!? Me confessing to Luma—what is that even supposed to mean!?
"Hoss."
I stopped. A woman was coming straight toward me.
Black hair flowing loosely down to her waist, and white sheep horns.
Brown skin, lightly dressed with a blue apron, and a sheep's tail with a white tip swaying behind her.
A beastman. Sheep race.
Tall, and with that bare-shouldered outfit, she had a body that looked like it could just overflow with juice.
But she was thinner and more wasted than usual — well, that couldn't be helped.
The beauty mark below the right corner of her lips still had that strange allure, unchanged as ever.
Luma stopped and gazed at me with her slightly glistening pale green eyes.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
"I was curious about the shop after all."
"I've got the preparations under control."
"Yeah. I know. Because it's Hoss, I trust you and I believe in you."
She smiled softly.
"......then..."
"I wanted to see Hoss."
"What was that?"
It was too quiet to hear.
"More to the point, are you out shopping, Hoss?"
"They didn't have tomatoes."
"Then let's go together."
Well, That's Fine, I Guess
Luma lined up beside me and stood there.
A gentle scent wafted over, and I felt kind of embarrassed.
"Walking side by side like this. It's been a while, huh."
"...Has it?"
"Yeah."
"I guess so."
Luma smiled softly.
The same smile as back then.
After that, we headed to the market while making idle small talk.
"You've made good friends."
"Yeah."
"I'm glad. Hoss is a solid person."
"I..."
There was something I needed to properly apologize to Luma for.
"Hey, do you remember? The mixed meat soup."
"Of course I haven't forgotten. I still make it."
Luma picked up a tomato.
A tomato that still had a bit of greenness to it. It looked firm.
"Tomatoes are better when they're not too red. A little sour is best. Just saying."
"Of course I do. Remember it well, I do."
I pick up a tomato too.
Slightly firm and tangy. Yeah, these are worth buying.
I buy everything they have. Then I wander through the market.
"So, how's the offal at Hydrangea?"
"Different from Heizen. The organs are richer, I do."
Must be a regional thing.
Or maybe it's a dungeon thing.
The quality of monster meat varies wildly depending on the location.
"Then wouldn't it be a pain to get rid of the gamey taste?"
"You get used to it. And in return, you get a richness and depth that Heizen doesn't have, I do."
In other words, Heizen's is on the thin side, then.
Come to think of it, that might be because it's a surface-type dungeon.
Luma picks up a few vegetables and murmurs.
"I'd like to try it someday."
"Then I'll make it for you, I do."
"Really?"
She looks up, face suddenly brightening.
What's gotten into her, I wonder.
"What I mean is, Hydrangea's offal, we've got plenty stored away in the 'Skia Coffin El' pantry. I'll make it for you right away, I do."
That pantry is absolutely loaded with ingredients.
"............"
"What's wrong?"
Luma snickered softly.
"Nothing. Then please, make it for me."
"Leave it to me."
Yep. That's the Luma I know.
Good. I'm really glad Luma's feeling like herself again.
"Hey, about Hoss… the person he was seeing—oh, there wasn't one, was there… I think I asked before."
"Right. He's been single this whole time. The three of us guys were delvers, you know."
"Since then?"
"You forgot already? I've always been hopeless around the opposite sex."
"Hopeless?"
Luma looked at me like she was hearing this for the first time.
What can you do.
"I'm a dwarf, and being the way I am, I don't have much confidence in my looks."
Even when it bothered me, I never told anyone.
My appearance. I'd gone and blurted it out.
"Your looks? You've been worrying about *that*?"
"'That'? I'm a guy, you know. There are things I worry about. Anyway, Luma, you're gorgeous, so you wouldn't get it."
"But Hoss is good-looking, so..."
Wha—? Wh-what!?
"Hmm? Hey, Hoss. You just called me pretty."
"Luma—quit teasing me like that, alright?"
I said it with a scowl, turned away, and started walking a bit faster.
Luma called out "wait up" and hurried after me.
But I couldn't respond or even lift my head.
I was blushing. So embarrassing.
——————————————————————————————
Hey, everyone. How are you doing? Are you well?
It's been pretty cold lately, hasn't it?
I've been struggling with this season's temperatures too.
To celebrate winter truly setting in, thank you as always for your continued readership.
To those of you who've read up to here, found it fun, and are looking forward to more—
Especially those of you rooting for Wof! Mineha! Pakira! Knife! Hoss! Narcissus! The Witch! Nequia! Navel!
Bidd! Knife's Goddess! Megadia! Anna Kreuzen! Someone from Torquetam and Thunder Fang!
Someone from the First-Rank Delvers! And everyone else! And everyone else... (inorganic objects included)!!! If you've been cheering any of them on—
please do follow and/or star—it truly motivates me. Heh heh heh heh heh.
If any of you just thought "Come to think of it, I haven't followed or starred yet," go ahead and click—I'd be delighted.
Your follows and star ratings are the greatest source of writing energy, motivation, and everything else for me.
It's true. It really lifts my spirits. It's truly encouraging!
So please, I'm counting on you!!!!!!!