The Trap

The day after the dungeon battle, I met with Ontentoo again.

It was to talk about how to deal with the aftereffects of the fight. Looks like he wasnt able to talk to Redra yesterday until he eventually calmed her down.

Hahaha, as expected of Kehma, that was a golem? Outwitting us with that crystal golem, it was the first time Id seen one that small. You completely fooled me.

He didnt seem to worry about his loss as he laughed it off.

Well dont you think it was unfair?

What, theres no reason to be upset over something I didnt notice, right, Kehma?

Well, yeah. I just figured the only hope we had of winning against a dragon, particularly yours, was a surprise attack.

Kukuku, you could have killed Redra there, so thanks, Kehma. Even though youre related to that betrayer No. 89, Im fine being your ally. No. 695s too I guess.

Though it was hard to tell with his lizard face, Ontentoo grinned.

So then looks like its time to teleport According to the promise, the way for your cave is yours.

Hmm?

Wait, wasnt the deal half of Tsuia Mountain?

Ah? You that was if your touched the dungeon core on the lowest floor you know?

Right, and I touched it with the crystal golem yeah?

When I said that, Ontentoo responded

Whatre you saying? Dont you know that our lowest floor is the fifty-first floor?

with that.

I touched the dungeon core on the other side of the boss room. On the fiftieth floor.

And on the lowest floor, the fifty-first floor there was only the treasure warehouse, no dungeon core.

In other words, there was no way to win from the beginning.

Oi, Ontentoo.

Hahaha! No reason to be upset over something you didnt notice, right, Kehma?

And now Ontentoo purposely repeated his words from a bit ago.

Right, so then the trade from yesterday was like that?

Supposing that even if I came up with a way to win after this, the dungeon battle will have already ended with a time out. Its fine to just end it early, I want go sleep.

Well now were even, kukuku.

This guy, even though I thought he was just a simple salamander, hes pretty capable.

Lets just chalk this one up as a tie Yeah, looks like well have good relations in the future.

By the way, why would it take 500,000 DP to clear the way in your dungeon? To begin with itd just be releasing it right? At most, wouldnt it barely take 1 DP?

Ah. That huh, Tsuia Mountains center, or should I say its core? Doesnt matter. It wouldnt be a volcano anymore if it got smashed. So, itd take 450,000 DP to rebuild it in another location. Remaking the passages and things like that hah, thats a lot cheaper.

Cant it be moved? Left, right, up or down. Anything would work.

When I said that, Ontentoos eyes opened wide.

Oooh!? I didnt think of that!!

Oi, capable or stupid, this guys definitely Stupimander.

*

Well, because of that stuff, the tunnel that went through Tsuia Mountain was now open.

I call it the Tsuia Mountain Penetrating Tunnel I mean, thats what it is. Its a straight tunnel, but it takes several hours on foot to travel through since its so long. Most importantly, thats incredibly fast since it would take several days if they didnt use the tunnel, rather than several hours.

In additional, itd probably be better to set off in the morning after resting for the night at Tsuia Mountains inn.

Since it was also done cheaply, I also got a promise for them to help hatch the phoenix egg. It really is good thing to have good relations with your neighbors.

A phoenix hatching from the breath of a red dragon really is amusing. She barely used her breath at the end of the dungeon battle after all. It wasnt enough to hatch it. It looks like it should hatch with a bit more though.

So I set that up with them.

When I went through the tunnel that went through Tsuia Mountain and came to the other side, I could see the sea. I could even faintly smell the scent of the tides drifting through the air. The atmosphere was different, I guess.

There was a tall hill nearby, so I looked down from there. I saw that there was a port city down there.

I guess thats Pavuera if Im not mistaken? Looks like thats Ichikas hometown.

Fish. I wonder if they have the same kind of experience in this world? Right, lets make a sashimi special for todays dinner to celebrate the tunnels opening. [1]

Maybe itd be good for Ichika to also visit her hometown for a bit? I dont know what would be said since shes a slave now though.

Wow the scenery heres good~

Rokuko, whod appeared next to me at some point, said that as the wind blew through her blonde hair.

It is Is this the first time youve seen the ocean, Rokuko?

Un. Ive heard people talk about it before, but the dungeon core meeting doesnt care about those kind of things.

I still dont really know what the dungeon core meeting is that well, but other than that shes been staying in that small cave this whole time. Alone for such a long time Well, she has us now though.

Maybe I should expand her world some more after this When the dungeon is a bit more on track, it might be a good idea to take Rokuko to the human village for a little while.

You got outwitted this time.

Gu well, yeah, we did I never thought Ontentoo would use that kind of a plan.

You completely underestimated that guy~. I was surprised too, I thought Kehma would win for sure.

Even after showing our trump card, we still couldnt achieve the total victory. Though we were able to win with the fifth floor rule, it still feels like a defeat for me.

But, even though we didnt get half of Tsuia Mountain, this much was plenty. Kehma can manage one way or another, right?

Thats right. We dont really need to fuss over the mountain.

I said it before, but its fine if we just extend into the fields and ignore the mountain.

We have the path now.

The path, yeah lets think about seriously taking a toll for using the tunnel. Should I take it depending on how much their stuff weighs when they enter the tunnel?

Ill make a spring with a golem thatll be good for now.

Our dungeon is even more amazing now with this tunnel right?

Yeah, no matter what happens, well have easy income from it after all!

Were going to open this tunnel to the public. Our dungeon has finally obtained source of easy money.

Easy money. Aaah, that sounds so good. So far, Ive built a hotel by using the dungeons operations one way or another, then worked at it. And I had to work by designing the dungeon and its monster and item arrangements and things like that.

Meanwhile, Ill be able to spend time sleeping without having to do anything by using this tunnel as an income source. Ill occasionally count the toll fees.

I dont really know what ejee monee is, but it sounds amazing!

Yeah, its amazing. Very amazing!

Viva easy money! Goodbye work, hello life of getting money without working.

Footnotes:

Lazy sashimi wikipedia link.