Ihoujin, Dungeon ni Moguru

Translator: Solo

Thus,

「Excuse me, Demon King-sama. I’m bringing a Brave over for a bit tomorrow to defeat you」

『Huh?』

At my declaration, everyone present put a question mark at the end of their voices.

By the way, Ea was boiling the udon and Makina was serving the curry. Similar to a cocktail-style meal, about 30 goblins were eating curry udon with forks.

Even now, there was a line for refills. The Demon King was also lining up politely.

It was a surreal but peaceful scene.

「Is that really the Demon King? And there are so many goblins………」

Rana, who had come with me, was surprised upon seeing this scene.

「Onee-chan, do you want some too? It’s delicious. If you’re eating, then line up, okay?」

「Oh, okay」

Told by her sister, Rana also lined up. She drew a lot of attention from the surrounding goblins.

「What’s going on, foreigner~? Talking about a Brave all of a sudden……」

Gashuraku-san came over holding a bowl of curry udon. That was a great help as I couldn’t tell the difference between individuals of the goblin race.

「I’ll tell you the gist of the story. Is there somewhere quiet where we can talk?」

「No~, here is fine~」

「Oh, okay」

If it’s fine, then I suppose I’ll talk here.

「Demon King-sama~, the foreigner has something to talk to you about~」

『Can it wait until I’ve gotten my refill?』

「I'll give you this~」

『Okay~』

The Demon King came over from the middle of the line. She accepted the bowl of curry udon from Gashuraku-san and sat down like a maiden on the plain. She started eating the udon.

In various ways, it was a devastating scene.

「So, what’s going on~?」

Gashuraku-san also sat down next to the Demon King. It would be rude to stand around, so I sat down too.

「Earlier, an adventurer named Frey?Dis?Gastolfo, who called herself a Brave, came to my camp. Her business was to request for our cooperation in subjugating the Demon King. Right now, she’s sleeping like a beast after eating her fill though」 𝘧𝓇𝗲𝑒we𝙗noѵ𝑒l.𝐜o𝘮

「Oh, is it that season already~?」

So the Braves were a seasonal thing, huh?

The Demon King was slurping the udon loudly.

「The barrier that I destroyed, when can it be repaired?」 ƒ𝗿e𝘦𝚠𝗲𝚋n𝚘ν𝙚𝗹.𝑐o𝙢

「It's already fixed~」

「Huh, then the Brave can’t come near here?」

「This barrier, you see~, is one that manipulates perception. It won't work if it’s seen through even once~. You were able to come here normally as well, right~? In addition………………」

Gashuraku-san glanced at the Demon King.

『It’s fine, Gashuraku, tell them. In consideration of the udon, let’s reveal the truth to them』

「Because it uses the blood of the Demon King as the medium, I guess it has no effects on her relatives~」

Is she a relative after all?

『I don't know that Brave called Frey though. I believe she’s probably a descendant of either my elder or younger sisters』

「I see」

Something like having a Demon King appear in the Braves’ lineage, of course they would seal her in secret then. No, or maybe the descendants of Gastolfo became Braves because a Demon King appeared among their relatives?

「Is she strong~?」

「That’s, umm」

I beckoned to Rana, who was holding a bowl of curry udon. She sat down next to me.

「Dear, please lend me your cloak. Because my robe will get dirty」

「Here you go」

I took off my poncho and put it around Rana’s neck.

She smiled cheerfully.

「This is my wife, Rauaryuna?Raua?Heures」

「As my husband introduced, I’m Rauaryuna, Demon King-sama. I’ve been disowned by the Heures family, so it’s just Rauaryuna. Because it’s an audience on short notice, please forgive my breach of etiquette for not being able to prepare anything」

『Wow, big...……I'm jealous』

For some reason, the Demon King was gnashing her teeth in a sinister manner.

Rana sent me a look asking for help that said『Huh, what should I do?』.

「Well, Rana. These people basically aren’t concerned about things like etiquette. More importantly, can you tell us about Frey?」

「Okay, dear」

The gnashing of the Demon King’s teeth became louder.

Rana spoke, really without caring about it. She was a woman with a lot of pluck.

「Frey?Dis?Gastolfo is a ”guide of the final flame”, which has been conferred to only thirteen people since the founding of the Hohens School」

「Guide of the final flame?」

I interrupted her abruptly and asked.

「It’s said that if five of them are present in the same era, even the world will be burned down. It’s a title linked to superstition that was left behind by the Great Flame Magician Rob. In addition, I also hold that title」

Rana had a smug look on her face.

Hey, three more of them and the world will be destroyed, you know?!

『If it’s a magician's title, then I also hold the title of guide of the setting sun』

For some reason, the Demon King was competing with Rana.

「Guide of the setting sun, yes, it’s an old title, but it’s a title signifying the demise of a country, isn’t it? ………Fufu」

Rana mocked her calmly.

Whenever it comes to magic, she becomes a different person, or rather, her pride that that's the only thing she won't lose in comes out in full force. Perhaps that’s why she can seem just a little arrogant.

「Then, Rana」

「Yes, dear………slurp」

Rana started slurping the udon. Actually, she had been glancing repeatedly at it from a while ago, so it seemed that she had reached her limit.

Not to be outdone, the Demon King also ate her udon.

「If Frey goes all out, how serious is her destructive power?」

「That’s, slurp. Then………munch. Slurppp……… Tortoise’s, slurp. Half, slurppp, of the plain………」

Okay~, we’re not standing on ceremony here, but don’t talk while eating~.

『I...…….see. Troubling………can’t let………burn down……slurp, slurp』

The Demon King, who should have no vocal cords or esophagus, spoke as if she was talking while eating. Or rather, she appeared to understand what Rana was saying.

Even after that, they talked intermittently as they ate.

Gashuraku-san and I stared at the two ill-mannered people with eyes like a Tibetan sand fox’s1.

I wonder if magicians that are above a certain level of strength all have parts about them that are similar in some way? was the lesson that I had learned.

About five minutes later.

「I’ll put it together, alright~?」

Gashuraku-san consolidated the fragmented information from the two of them.

You had been able to understand these people, huh?

「The magic of the Brave called Frey can turn half of the plain into a burnt field if she goes all out~, right? It’s unknown whether she can defeat Demon King-sama or not~, but if they fight now, the curse that’s being cleansed by the shikabana will be scattered along with the ashes, so it’ll cause collateral damage~, right? Even if Demon King-sama escapes into the depths of the dungeon, other Braves will show up. That’s troubling~, isn’t it?」

『But to think that such a powerful magician is born among the descendants of Gastolfo. I'm also a little happy』

「Demon King-sama, you resemble Frey, I see」

『But causing cursed ash to be produced is bad. Supposing it’s cleansed over time, it’ll take at least 100 years. In the meantime, who knows what kind of impact it will have on the ecosystem? If a normal Hemu touches it, a new――』

Rana’s sarcasm was passed over brilliantly by the Demon King.

「Demon King-sama~, leave the study and consideration of that for later~. In other words, it’s bad if this area gets destroyed by the Brave~. But Demon King-sama can’t leave this place~. What should we do~?」

Gashuraku-san poked me with his finger.

「I mean, foreigner~, do you really intend to subjugate Demon King-sama~?」

「No way~」

「That’s what I thought~」

Hahahaha, I laughed together with Gashuraku-san.

I get along well with this person, it seems. It feels like we understand each other at a fundamental level? There’s a feeling like we can have a dialogue? I don’t understand why though. I also get along well with Geto-san, who is a fishman, so I wonder if I’m close to non-human in various ways.

「Hmm」

After looking over the consolidated information, I quickly made a plan in my head.

Well, alright, I think that it’ll work.

「In other words, we have to fool the Brave into believing that the Demon King is subjugated or sealed without destroying the area around this ruined dungeon. I believe that will be enough」

『Hmmm~, isn't that difficult? I don't think that the Brave is stupid either』

The Demon King’s worries were reasonable.

I’m not able to reliably judge people that I only met today, but……

「No, it’ll work. I’m a follower of Misuranika, the god of misdeeds. Deception and schemes are my forte. I’ll definitely fool the Brave and protect the peace of this plain, Demon King-sama’s life and the livelihood of the goblins. Leave it to me」

Well, it’s the third time.

I'm used to it.