Chapter 323

Haku-san’s Request

After the tea party, the situation naturally followed into talking about that [Request].

Rokuko was present as well… that is, she was sitting on Haku-san’s lap.

And probably because of that—no,?definitely?because of that—Haku-san was smiling pretty widely.

… Well, Haku-san started looking a bit sullen after Rokuko hugged me right in front of her, so she was sitting on her lap to cheer her up.

But eh, what’s important right now is that request thing. It’ll definitely be something annoying.

“So, Ane-sama. What did you want to ask?”

“My request is, well, concerning a Dungeon Battle.”

See? Called it. And a Dungeon Battle at that… super annoying.

“… Ummm. You want to have a battle with us again, Haku-san?”

“Eh, we’re going to fight against Haku Ane-sama again? If you want revenge, weKehmaweKehma?accept your challenge!”

“Oh, that’s not what I mean. I don’t want to fight you, Rokuko-chan. To be more exact, it’s more that you won’t need to do anything at all this time, Rokuko-chan.”

Haku-san lovingly stroked her hand through Rokuko’s hair.

“I would like to ask for Kehma-san’s assistance… as an adviser—no, I suppose producer would be more correct.”

“Producer?”

Upon hearing a word that hadn’t come from this world, I parroted the word back out of reflex.¹

To be honest, I didn’t exactly know what work that entailed. At the very least, it didn’t feel like the kind of job that was just tapping some terminal at predetermined times.

“A dungeon was recently found in the grasslands between this empire and the Demonlands… I first thought nothing about it, but it turned out to be a 600 seriesNewest Lot600 seriesNewest Lot?dungeon.”

“600 series, so they’re the same lot as me.”

“And?”

“Well, the dungeon’s core asked us for aid. To save it from someone from the Demonlands from killing it, that is.”

“… Eh? Asked you?”

I spoke, not realizing what I said until it was too late.

“Is there some issue with them asking me?”

“Umm, I mean, [Flame Cavern]’s core called you a traitor, so…”

“Oh, that, yes. Somehow or other, it appears that the dungeon was judged to have entered my faction by this Demonlands hooligan and has already been challenged to a Dungeon Battle.”

The Demonlands, huh? Speaking of Demonlands cores, the only one that came to mind was Core No. 666, Aidi.

She self-proclaimed herself as Rokuko’s best friend (but basically bitter enemy) though.

“Come to think of it, Aidi always talked about duel this duel that. I wonder if all Demonlands cores are like that?”

Rokuko tilted her head to the side.

“Right? They are all barbarians that would sooner fight than greet someone. So although the loser won’t lose their lives, there will be a rule for absolute obedience to the winner.”

So greeting someone turns into a battle to be a slave or not? The f*ck.

“… Umm, does that mean the core who asked for help wasn’t already in your faction, Ane-sama?”

“They should have been in the Beast King’s faction since they’re a beast-type core, but it seems as though they haven’t been able to contact them at all… And even though they contacted me, I can’t help since it’s in such a bad location for me.”

Oooh, well it is hard to get in contact with people here…

On top of that, it being directly between the Demonlands and this empire was beyond bad. If the Beast King faction took part in it, it could easily devolve into war.

“Which is why I am requesting for you to please help me with this.”

“Is there a possibility that they will double-cross us for the Demonlands?”

“There is the possibility of them being a spy! Who for though?”

“They aren’t. I know that they aren’t lying. They have a saying in that country: [Be weak and die. Or maybe die].”

… Isn’t that a pretty messed up saying? But actually, I guess it just means you either improve yourself to live another day or definitely die right then. Still though, you dying in the end is definite…

Moreover, the Demonlands has an annual tournament where their cores demonstrate their own might or something. If they expose themselves as being unfit… I guess they’d be treated as you might think?

“By the way, this core is a rabbit type. You could even say they have no strength at all.”

“… So it’s unlikely they belong to the Demonlands, then.”

A rabbit in that country of demons would straight up be food for the slaughter.

“Well, it doesn’t matter much to my empire even if that core dies. It wasn’t something I cared much about to start with, so I won’t lose anything. Nothing would change for me.”

“… Then why are you talking about having us help?”

“If it’s you, Kehma-san, I feel like you could frustrate those Demonlands guys to an?amusing?point. Even if you don’t win, you might bring the big picture to a draw. I believe you could produce an interesting conclusion from this situation.”

Oh. I see. So that’s why I’m a producer rather than an advisor?

… It could just be Translation Function-san having some fun though.

“Rabbit-type… Ane-sama, could it perhaps be No. 629?”

“It is. Oh, if they teased you, we can drop this whole matter. Maybe Kehma-san could put an end to them?”

“Oh, no, actually… No. 629 talked with me normally.”

“Let’s help them, then. For that, I’ll leave it to you, Kehma-san.”

It looked like the core was on good terms with Rokuko. No. 629, you just saved yourself.

“… So, the reward?”

“I’ve already paid you in advance. I gave you permission to hug Rokuko-chan.”

“Oh—yes.”

“I will revoke the permission if you lose.”

“Kehma, do your best! I’ll help!”

Haku-san grinned.

“… By the way, I was wanting to return to my dungeon first, would I have time to make it there after that though? It took a few days just getting here…”

“That won’t be an issue. You’ll be able to return to [Cave of Desires] instantly after first going to [White Beach]. I will simply tell Wataru and them that I sent you all back through my [Teleport].”

Oh, I guess that works? I forgot that that was my original plan.

By the way, since [Teleport] takes magical power proportional to the number of people sent and the total distance, even Haku-san would have to take a day or two of rest if she sent us all the way from here to [Cave of Desires] through [Teleport].

Which is why the magical power needed to send us straight to [Cave of Desires] would be a bit much, but sending us to [White Beach] wasn’t a problem. Actually, that’s where we were send for our previous Dungeon Battle.

“Actually, perhaps we could take this chance for you to learn [Teleport] as well, Kehma-san? I wouldn’t mind trading you a [Teleport] scroll for three massage chairs.”

Oooh, that’s quite a bargain. It’s normally a few dozen million DP to purchase a [Teleport] scroll, so getting one with three massage chairs is a steal!

“That would be great… wait, come to think of it, Haku-san, you use [Teleport] by yourself, but didn’t you say something about that being a magic skill meant to be used by a group of casters?”

“You should be able to manage it, Kehma-san. As a hero, your magical power capacity is nothing to trifle with. At the very least, I can guarantee you should be able to take one other person with you to something around as far away as [White Beach] is from the capital.”

I got a guarantee from Haku-san… still though, isn’t she doing this to make it so she’ll be able to make it easier for Rokuko to come here to the capital?

Also, if my supposed crazy magical power capacity is only enough to make it that far, just how much does Haku-san have?

“Ane-sama, what about me?”

“You, well… mm, that’s still a bit doubtful. Maybe in another century? But at your current growth, perhaps in the next decade… no, maybe even in the next several years?”

It’s a bit of a hasty generalization on my part, but she was basically saying that one’s magical power limit increased for as long as one lived. So that’s why Haku-san was able to [Teleport] all of her party… (except for Misha)

“… Alright! Kehma! Let’s learn [Teleport] and go on a date in the capital!”

“Eh—… gu, kuh….! … Rokuko-chan, how about going on a date with me? How does that sound?”

“Of course, Ane-sama. I want to go on a date with you too!”

“Rokuko-chan…!”

Yep, Rokuko really was leading her around by the nose. Not purposefully though. Haku-san’s face kept switching from one emotion to the other, but I’d never point that out.

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