Dungeon Battle Strategy Meeting

I think its about time to get started on making the dungeon.

I was able to see various things around the capital with the feeling of a tourist.

Now I just have to decide on a place and hollow out a dungeon.

Because of that, I decided to have a meeting to determine the dungeons location. Rokuko fell a sleep a few seconds into the meeting since she was tired from playing though. Her sleeping face looks happy, what a free girl.

Haku-san was pardoning her and wrapped a blanket around her. I think shes spoiling her a bit much though. Isnt this a discussion about Rokukos dungeon?

So, Kehma-san. Where are you wanting the dungeon to be?

Im thinking of making it here.

I pointed to a place on the map.

The sea.

Kehma-san, are you jesting?

Her smile disappeared, replaced with blood thirst. Oh crap.

No, Im serious, really! Im not kidding around!

Please explain then. Us high-ranking cores have received the rights and obligation to hear explanations regarding strategy as [Advising our juniors] from Otou-sama.

Y-yea! I will begin explaining my strategy for this battle!

I could feel Haku-san leaking anger and expectations as she started speaking more politely to me. It was probably intentional, but still, its super scary.

Theres a gimmick Ive been thinking about for the Dungeon Battle. Its an undersea dungeon.

Assuming that I made a dungeon at the bottom of the sea, itll be a sea, so naturally, itd be impossible to breathe.

Impossible to capture? Its just a dungeon that anyone can enter. It just has a bit of water everywhere.

Like when we captured [Flame Cavern] with the water flea strategy itll be kind of like that, but as itd obviously be hard to actively search around with water fleas, Ill just substitute them out for some small fish. Ill summon a massive amount of sardines, unleashing a tsunami in our enemys dungeon.

This is a hand that can only be used with the sea. This wouldnt be enough to expose my hand. I explored Haku-sans dungeons using rats in large numbers, so she already knows about it too.

Itd be awesome if I could use sharks to destroy the enemys dungeon core.

Well, it might be ineffective against the inanimate-type Core 666, but it should at least be effective against that three-way deadlock trio. If I do that, it should be alright for me to just focus on countermeasures for Core 666. [1]

With that, I will narrow down the opponents I need to focus on in the Dungeon Battle to be solely Core 666.

I see. That is a suitable reason, at least well, Kehma-san, what do you intend to make for the undersea dungeon? Working underwater, let alone so deep will 500,000 suffice?

I thought that the 500,000 would be enough, maybe not?

Besides, there is the minimum condition of having [Aisles] and [Rooms] that humans can survive in, so they cannot be made in water. Even if they were possible to make, I think that it would turn into something like a bubble dome. Moreover, it would require an inefficient amount of DP to maintain the walls.

So there was something like that? Rather, from how shes talking it sounds like something like that exists.

A bubble dome huh. Sounds like The Palace of the Dragon King. [2]

You could, perhaps, keep the dungeon walls shaped properly while they are collapsing and being repaired at high speeds. They wouldnt appear too shoddy that way. Even so, I cannot approve of making a dungeon on the ocean floor.

Im convinced. Lets choose a different spot.

As expected of my experienced senior, she has an experienced opinion Ah. Exchanging information like this is probably what this [Father] guy intended huh. Well, it wouldve been great if there werent a drawback to it though.

Ill pick here then.

I pointed to the beach this time.

Hoh, there? Do you have a reason?

Its simple. If I cant make it in water, cant I just sink it into water after I make it?

I know that I can fill it with water after Ive made it Ive even done it.

When I said that, Haku-san made a face that looked like she just got a headache.

Just where did you get that idea

Is it no good?

No, its possible. It really is. However, to sink a dungeon you made yourself, its practically unheard of. rather, wouldnt it be impossible to live in?

Hmm? Whys she talking about now?

Why are you talking about living? Arent dungeons places to kill your enemies? Even more so as this dungeon is just for the sake of a Dungeon Battle. Even then, I have [Cave of Desires] for a home.

Ah, thats right, you do have that. Kehma-san is a human, so you havent thought about something like living in the dungeon, have you? This would become something like Rokuko-chans holiday house if you win, you know? Wouldnt you dislike it if your holiday house were submerged under water?

Haku-chan took a quick glance at Rokuko. Still though, Rokuko hasnt even said anything since the meeting started. Shes just been sleeping while sitting on that chair.

However, she hasnt given a dissenting opinion to her holiday house being submerged, so should I take that as an OK?

Haku-san. Theres a saying in a famous story from my hometown.

A saying from another world? What is it?

I coughed to clear my throat.

Victory is all that matters in the end!! [3]

The joke shouldnt be able to pass on to people from another world, but the nuance should be able to.

And so, the sleeping Rokuko woke up with a jolt.

Fueh!? W-wha, I-I definitely wasnt sleeping!

Hey. Youre still drooling and youre trying to say that?

Well in short, the most important thing is winning, respecting honor and courtesy comes after that. Win any way possible.

The saying explains Kehma-sans thinking quite well, doesnt it? Certainly, there is no such thing cowardice in a Dungeon Battle.

Eh, what? Whats going on? Kehma, tell me!

I just explained it. You were sleeping though.

And so I once again explained to Rokuko about my plans to submerge the dungeon.

Oh, thats alright.

Alright? Rokuko-chan, your holiday house would be underwater. Are you really sure?

Eh? Dont we just need to drain it after the Dungeon Battle? Right, Kehma?

Oh, Rokuko gave a sound argument. That way, she could use it as both.

Was she thinking about it while she was asleep? Who does that remind me of?

Well, Kehma can do what he wants. Ill just fix it up after.

Yep, Ill leave it to you, partner.

Leave it to me, partner. Fufufun.

She started saying some pretty reliable stuff at some point.

By the way, you wouldnt be able to fix anything up if we lose. Itll just get confiscated. In a sense, shes just believing in my ability to win right?

I seem to somehow lost my ability to think flexibly, apparently haaah

Its just because Ive been with Kehma the whole time! Its experience, experience.

Should I be pleased by Rokuko-chans growth or should I be lamenting over her being tainted by Kehma-sans way of thinking

Haku-san was seriously suffering over something that could only be a good thing.

After that, we hammered out the underwater dungeon plan with things like the dungeon monster selection, working on it all while getting Haku-sans council. She pointed out a lot of small things I wouldnt have noticed on certain ways to cope against enemies, as expected of Haku-san. My admiration for her was renewed.

Looks like Ill be able to win without needing to use my trump card, the special golems.

Our opponents have Core 5 and Core 6 with them.

I was thinking about that, but Haku-san gave me a warning. Right, just like our team, theirs had veterans as well. I cant relax.

After that bountiful meeting, I decided to start constructing the dungeon tomorrow.

Eh, Rokuko? You fell asleep again.

Well, whatever. Youll fix it all up after I do what I like better be ready!

Footnotes:

Ill put the footnote from chapter 163, when I first explained three-way deadlock here: The three-way deadlock is a reference to The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiyathe story that influenced a major portion of the Naruto anime. There was a reference Id missed in the Dungeon Core Assembly chapters. Return

Underwater palace surrounded by an air dome. Return

Reference to Jojos Bizarre Adventure. I decided against going with directly using their translation as it felt rather Engrish. Heres the page in question: V12 Ch105