Side: Yuki (Real Name: Kazuya Torino)
"Wow, look at them swarm. There are so many I can't even count them all."
I'm monitoring the dungeon interior via the screen.
Currently, nearly a thousand soldiers clad in sturdy armor are pouring into my dungeon one after another.
"U-Um, Yuki-san? What are you going to do? Those men are the elite of our country, primarily the Royal Guard... I hate to say it, but..."
Elju speaks up from behind me, looking apologetic.
"Do you actually understand the situation we're in!? If this continues, you're going to be killed!! Both me and Elju too!!"
Seraria was furious, seemingly incensed by my lack of reaction.
So this was Elju's sister, huh... She was, how to put it... quite the character.
For one, she's got a drill on one side of her head—no, is it a curl? Whatever, let's just call it a drill.
The only resemblance between the sisters was the silver hair color, maybe?
"Are you listening!? Even if it's our fault they followed us, we're helpless like this!"
Exactly.
The reason Roshure's soldiers are at this dungeon now is because these girls fled here.
Honestly, being tailed like that—it's such a cliché... To make matters worse, word has it that a "Dungeon Master" is disguised as Elju.
Yeah... we've been completely set up.
"Well... if they advance any further, we'll have no choice but to fight back. Fine. 'Dungeon Master,' go ahead and issue a surrender recommendation."
"Huh? What are you saying? You're the Dungeon Master, aren't you?"
"Yeah, to anyone who knows the truth. But if I step out there, it'll just cause more confusion. If we're seeking a reconciliation, wouldn't it be better if Elju steps up and proves Seraria is safe?"
"Ehhh!? You want me to pretend to be the Dungeon Master!?"
* * *
Side: Seraria Nou Roshure
"You... you're not seriously planning to use Elju as a scapegoat and make her pretend to be the Dungeon Master, are you?"
That's what I concluded from his earlier words.
This man... Elju trusts him, but something about him feels suspicious.
He's probably telling the truth about being a Dungeon Master, but there's just something shady about him.
"Chii-anesama!?"
"Elju, be quiet. If what I said is what you're thinking... then I'll respond accordingly."
"Oh? And how would you do that, Seraria? With my ‘Designated Protection' skill, you can't attack me—hell, you can't even poison me."
"If anything happens to Elju, I'll go straight to the enemy and tell them the Dungeon Core is still active."
I pointed to the Dungeon Core sitting on the pedestal by the throne.
Elju told me the Core is linked to him; if it's destroyed, he can't survive.
"...The one leading them is that minister who set you up, you know. The moment you step outside, you might be killed."
"I don't care. If Elju isn't here, this world means nothing. I'll definitely kill you and Loire both."
Silence fell for a moment.
Then he suddenly burst out laughing.
"Pfft—ahahahahaha!! ...Sorry, sorry. Yeah, right. That's what I told Elju, wasn't it? That part was a lie."
"...What?"
"...Eh?"
While I was confused, he pulled out two familiar objects from his pocket.
Dungeon Cores...?
"Well, it's not all a lie. You do need a core to maintain a dungeon. But I never said I didn't have backups. And I never said I wasn't allowed to leave the dungeon either. In fact, I've already made an escape route."
"Whaaaaaat!?"
"Eeeeeeh!?"
He just casually said something unheard of—
A Dungeon Master abandoning his own dungeon...
"Well, I haven't decided to run yet, though."
* * *
Side: Qual Esti (Captain of Seraria's Direct Royal Guard Unit, Roshure Army)
Currently, under His Majesty's decree, we are at a dungeon suspected to be the enemy's base. Our mission: rescue Seraria-sama and subjugate the Dungeon Master who is impersonating Elju-sama.
According to reports, the fake Elju-sama snuck into the royal castle, poisoned the tea, and attempted to murder Seraria-sama... A roundabout method.
However, the higher-ups concluded:
"The Dungeon Master has not yet accumulated enough power and is attempting to seize the nation through underhanded means."
This conclusion was drawn because the imposter fled into this "dungeon" with Seraria-sama.
Honestly, I wasn't convinced by this judgment.
Seraria-sama had previously told me there were suspicious elements within the country—and we had begun investigating. The investigation began around the time of the incident where Elju-sama was said to have ordered the suppression of a village.
I had met Elju-sama several times through Seraria-sama. She was a person with a gentle, loving spirit worthy of her title of Saint. I myself had sensed something suspicious about those rumors.
Then, Elju-sama's carriage was attacked and she went missing. Seraria-sama immediately ordered a search... but the attack happened deep within our borders, a place that would take fifteen days to reach on foot from here. We identified the wreckage as hers, but that location wasn't anywhere near a battlefield like this one.
And now, Seraria-sama's poisoning and abduction...
"...Wait."
A thought struck me.
"If they poisoned her, why would they go to the trouble of taking her with them?"
I muttered.
And why was this mission called "Rescue Princess Seraria"? If she was poisoned, shouldn't we assume she's dead?
"No... they were certain she was alive... because they knew the 'imposter' was actually the real Elju-sama."
Exactly. Elju-sama's body was never found.
The commotion started because Minister Loiar witnessed the "poisoning" scene and raised an alarm, claiming, "Elju-sama would never do such a thing!" Everyone who witnessed the scene was one of his cronies...
...So Loire is the most suspicious one here.
However, Elju-sama fled into a dungeon, which only supports the "imposter" theory... No, even if she hadn't, he likely intended to handle her quietly and report it as a done deal.
At this point, Elju-sama is being treated as a weak Dungeon Master imposter. If I act carelessly, I'll be treated as an enemy too.
So, what to do... Should I take the lead and try to protect Seraria-sama and Elju-sama?
As I pondered this, the dungeon interior brightened, and flat images of Elju-sama and Seraria-sama appeared in the air.
* * *
Side: Elju Lau Roshure
"U-Um, I am Elju Lau Roshure."
I was nervous about this unfamiliar act.
This "monitor" thing could apparently transmit my voice and image the other side. Yuki-san is always just watching it, so I thought it was only for seeing.
But now isn't the time for that. I have to clear the misunderstanding.
"Please listen—The poisoning of Seraria-anesama was a misunderstanding. As you can see, Seraria-anesama is safe!"
"Well done, Elju. Everyone! I, Seraria Nou Roshure, am safe and unharmed, as you can see! And I guarantee that this Elju is the real one! This incident is a despicable plot to get rid of both me and Elju!"
The soldiers visible on the monitor wavered... but then:
『Don't be fooled!! She's lying!! Seraria-sama is being controlled!! There's no reason to spare someone you tried to poison!! That impostor must be threatening her to save herself!!"』
One soldier shouted, and the others began to join in.
『That's right! If you're not an imposter, why won't you show yourself!? Why did you run into a dungeon in the first place!?』
『Exactly! If you're innocent, you shouldn't have to run! You cowardly fake!』
『That Seraria-sama might be fake too! The real one would never sit quietly as a prisoner!』
『D-Don't tell me... the real Seraria-sama is already...!?』
Beside me, a vein is popping on Chii-anesama's forehead... She looked scary.
"It's the truth!! But due to circumstances, I cannot appear before the soldiers. Please, I ask you to withdraw your troops. If you advance any further, I... I won't be able to hold back."
I spoke out, hoping they would retreat... but:
『Now you've shown your true colors! You're hiding at the bottom of a dungeon and saying you won't hold back!? We haven't encountered a single monster in this dungeon yet! That means you're powerless! You're weak!』
『We won't be swayed by such words! Prepare yourselves!』
Then, a man stepped forward toward the monitor, and the surrounding crowd fell silent.
『Elju-sama, Seraria-sama—I have heard your warnings. However, I have no way to verify that you are truly the princesses. Therefore, I shall follow His Majesty's decree: I will secure you both first, and then make a judgment.』
The man was the Captain of the Roshure Royal Guard... Ares Lester.
Level 122... A living legend.
* * *
Side: Oriel
Finally, about 1,000 men, centered around the Royal Guard, began their raid on the dungeon.
"Ugh, honestly! That man is so thick-headed!"
"Chii-anesama, please calm down."
"Well, I suppose it can't be helped... So, what's your plan? This dungeon only has three floors—it's practically newborn!! They'll reach us in no time!! We need to escape, now!!"
Seraria-sama snapped at Yuki.
But Yuki ignored her completely, silently staring at the map.
"Oriel! You say something too! If we stay here, we won't be able to escape in time! There's no reason to stay here!"
"You're... right. Yuki, I know you're attached to this dungeon, but if we stay, we'll lose our chance to get away. So..."
Yuki cut me off with a hand gesture.
"Take a look."
He pointed toward the monitors. They showed the advancing soldiers.
"What is—!??"
The hallway had vanished. Roughly 200 soldiers were falling into a bottomless pit.
As I stared at the scene in shock, he spoke, sounding almost disappointed.
"Man... I even put up a sign saying 'Maximum 6 people per entry' from this point on."
And then, about 200 markers vanished from the Map...
