The Saintess Return Home

I thought that she might come over to talk immediately after she revived, but it wasnt like that. Instead, the saintess took a short rest first before coming over to visit me, the village chief.

It is extremely unfortunate, but I wasnt able to resolve the issue I would still be able to stay if my country hadnt ordered me to return, though

Well, it cant be helped can it? I saw you heading into the dungeon every day, so thank you.

I am happy to hear that unfortunately, I dont have any more time, so I must leave here.

Id love if you didnt come back again though honestly. But your DP income no, considering the hassle, please dont come back.

Well then, Euma-senpai, see you again.

Euma-senpai? Whos that?

No, it was my mistake. Inside the dungeon, there was a golem that talked with a similar voice to Village Chief-samas.

Yep, you used it just now didnt you? Your skill that sees through lies. But Im not lying.

Hmm, a talking golem? Ive went far in, it might be mimicking my voice?

Really now? By the way, it introduced itself as Euma, one of the dungeons bosses. It appeared to be cooperating with bosswith the demon. Do you know anything about it?

Unfortunately, theres nothing that I can tell you.

Really?

Yeah, really.

Its a secret, so I cant talk about it [To the Saintess]! Its the truth.

If she asked me [Are you keeping a secret?], I had planned on responding with [Well, despite how things look I am an adventurer after all], but she didnt particularly keep digging.

Well then, Village Chief-sama, see you again.

Yeah. If an opportunity comes up Ah, would you like to take pastries with you as a souvenir? Ive come into the possession of something called cream puff. I have five of them for a gold each, would you like then?

And so, the saintess returned to the Holy Kingdom together with the cream puffs.

Does she have enough for traveling expenses? Its a secret that Im a bit worried over that despite being her enemy.

*

Oh! Kehma, look! Were able to summon monsters again!

Yeah, same with walls, passages, and rooms.

An hour after the saintess had left, [Treaty]s effects quietly faded. Confirming that the armor, items, traps, and monster things all looked like theyd work in the DP catalog, I took the chance to move the dungeon core to Rokukos room.

Id put it into the dungeon because the saintess was staying in the inn, but I didnt think it was even possible to seal off the dungeon cores functions. To be exact, I want to say that we werent able to use our emergency escapecastling.

And there are some more functions in the menu. You can project your voice into the dungeon and establish sortie points!

Wish we couldve gotten those a bit sooner.

The things we can do in this dungeon are slowly increasing. Its kind of like the feeling of getting a bonus for clearing the [Treaty] or the dungeon leveling up. At any rate, we can probably make the dungeon wider and deeper.

If theres something like a reward system, I wonder if we should try out doing a few more extreme things? Like adding floors all the way up to the hundredth. Itd cost 500,000 DP just by adding staircase room though.

Rins still here, but I can finally get some good sleep.

Kehma really does love sleep.

Humans have three major desires, its their instincts. Well, Im off to sleep. Not going to do anything but sleep. Going to sleep for around three days straight. Ill probably eat and go to the bathroom some time midway though. I dont think therell be any reasons for it, but dont wake me unless you need to.

Yes yes, I wont! Good night, Kehma.

Seen off by Rokuko, I headed for my room in the village chiefs mansion.

I then had a golem prepare a futon for me. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell asleep.

*

Three days later.

I finally woke up and decided to head over to Rokukos room for the first time in a while.

Mmm, that was a great rest. I slept like a log! I woke up nicely too, maybe Ill even do some work?

Then, inside Rokukos room, Haku-san was smiling with her whole face while petting Rokuko. She had Rokukos head on her lap.

Good morning, Kehma-san?

Still with her cheerful smile, Haku-san greeted me.

Ahyes. Good morning to you too Haku-san umm, when did you arrive?

I came around midday yesterday? I waited for Kehma-san to wake up before I left, yet you left me waiting. Interesting.

Oooooi!? I know I said to not wake me up, but wake me up if Haku-san comes! I just kept sleeping from the backlash of being so busy recently!

Not leaving from my room except for using the restroom backfired! I only ever refilled the futons stuffing with DP and cleaned my teeth with [Cleanup]!

And now my minds pretty jarred.

But Haku Ane-sama, I said that Kehma would be sleeping because he was so focused on working recently you know? He got up after three days so its alright!

Aah, un, thats right, Rokuko-chan. Ill pardon the matter of having me wait since Rokuko-chan says so.

T-thank you very much.

And so, I want you to tell me about various things today. I havent been able to see Rokuko-chan since I have been busy lately. Really, war is bothersome. It is profitable, though.

Aah, Im seeing Haku-san as a big shot again, talking about war.

Also, I heard that talk about war before, but its really happening?

The DP I earn lowers when soldiers die, looking at it from the demon kings armys perspective, their primary goal is to whittle down the empires earnings. Though they should understand that something of this degree isnt enough to shaking our footing, it is vexing that it is occurring so close to ranking season.

Ah, she did say something about the demon king also being a dungeon core now that I think of it.

Umm, whats this ranking thing?

Oh my, you didnt know? Once a year, there is an assembly of dungeon cores. The DP for each is announced in a ranking. I believe I was seventh place overall last year?

Come to think of it, I feel like Rokuko said something like that a long time ago.

Rather, seventh place? That means therere six people above Haku-san!? Err, not people, theyre dungeon cores. [1]

Well, sixth place was the demon kings armys commander-in-chief, Core No. 6. His alias is [Great Demon King]. Its alright since he hasnt particularly done anything himself, but small fry from his faction continually get in the way.

It sounds troublesome in various ways.

Yes. You could take over some of it if youd like?

Id love to hold back from that with everything I have.

Ah, our conversation fell a little off topic, hasnt it? I would like to hear about the matter that just occurred. I have already more or less heard about it from my pawns, though.

Haku-sans pawns?

Yes. I shouldnt say it, but the bars master, Wozuma, and that adventurer with talent as a carpenter, Koo-san. Are you acquainted with them?

Wozuma and Koo-san, huh? Both of them are part of the management for this village, I mean, isnt one of them even the village sub-chief? For even Koo-san to be Haku-sans pawn, her range is wide no, to start with, this person stands at the peak of the adventurer guild. The number of pawns connected to such an inhuman person definitely wouldnt be low.

Even though I called them pawns, they are both still humans otherwise unrelated to dungeons. Dont tell them anything about DP or dungeon masters.

Ah, yes.

And so, according to Wozuma and Koo-sans reports, the village chief appears to be a splendidly direct one?

Im only pressing work onto others.

Hmmm, well if thats the case then its fine. Wozuma was originally an official that worked in my castle, so it wouldnt be a mistake to leave domestic affairs to him.

I heard something good. Lets send all of the troublesome stuff, hes definitely some super elite if he worked in the empires castle.

So, I wanted to ask about various things since I havent been able to come over due to being so busy is that alright?

Y-yes. What do you want to talk about?

I would like to hear about that black wolf and the saintess but first, what is this about you giving Rokuko-chan a ring?

I instinctively prostrated on the ground.

Footnotes:

This isnt meant to be offensive. Just the counter used for the number is reserved for humans in Japanese. The pun is lost somewhere in translation. Any suggestions to make something similar work?