A Conversation With Haku

Hey, Shun here!

Anime worlds are really amazing. I mean, the general looks of the people of this world is really high.

I mean, really really high!

My Shizuka-nee and Miu is a perfect example. Back on my past Earth, they'd be considered as world class beauties.

I wonder if this is also the case with fantasy worlds?

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(Shun's POV)

"…So you are saying that you want to back us up in our goal of opening up business?"

"That is the case, yes. In fact, after hearing your business idea from Rokuko, about building up this [Capsule Hotel], I also want to do this venture with you… This is a completely fresh and great idea."

"And? What do we get from partnering up with you?" I said as I glanced at the slightly agitated cross-dressing girl. Looks like she didn't like the tone of how I'm speaking to her mistress.

Well, excuse me for that. I'm trying to seem like we are not to be underestimated here.

"Sorry about that. This is my succubus friend, Chloe. She is also an A-rank adventurer like me." Chloe bowed after being introduced. That butler outfit wasn't just for show.

So she is a cross-dressing beauty, huh? I guess not all monsters are mindless beasts.

But isn't that chest a little… you know, lackluster, for a succubus? I'd be way more convinced if someone told me Haku was a succubus.

But either way, a pure-hearted and chaste succubus feels a lot more realistic to me than a pure-hearted and chaste prostitute. In this fantasy world, at least.

"Anyway, as I was saying, we want to partner up with you in this business venture. Regarding what you can get from us if you help us build such an inn, you can decide on whether you want the payment to be in gold coins or DP."

"We can talk about that once I built the prototype building. Anyway, what's the catch here? I think you have something in mind before we go through that whole capsule inn business partnership, right?" I said that only to probe her. I have the feeling that she have some business with me.

Also, she seems to bare some kind of animosity towards me and only me. I wonder why that is?

Based on some animes I've watched, did some idiotic Summoned Hero became her Dungeon Master and ordered her to do some unspeakable things with him or something? Based on her carefully hidden killing intent, I'd guess that this theory is most likely 70% correct.

When she heard my question, Haku smiled, as if saying that she saw that question coming from a mile away. Well, she was right.

I needed to be extremely cautious of everyone right now since I don't know them. Also, Haku and Chloe seems to be quite the strong individuals so I need to be extra careful.

"That's right, Shun. However, first, may I ask you a question?"

"Sure. What's up?" The smile vanished from Haku's face, replaced by a serious expression.

"…Are you a Soldier of God?"

I felt a chill run down my spine. A Soldier of God… No idea what that means. Some god talked to me while I was being summoned here, but I didn't become his soldier or anything.

What does being a Soldier of God even entail? I certainly never agreed in doing anything for that God of Light.

"I did meet someone who claimed to be a god. But, we never talked about me doing something for him."

"I see." As if satisfied by my answer, Haku resumed smiling. I could almost feel the atmosphere warming back up.

"Forgive me, but I used magic to determine whether or not you were lying. You seem to be telling the truth, thankfully. I was worried about you ever since Number 695 told me that she had summoned you from another world."

I certainly felt the fluctuations of magic power. Also, I never saw a [Lie Detecting Magic Scroll] inside the DP Catalog. But either way, I have something more important to ask about.

"…Sorry, but what exactly is a Soldier of God?"

"They are people who, after being summoned here from another world, destroy dungeons at the behest of God—a god, in any case. I defeated one of them before, and they told me that dungeons must be destroyed as they interfere with the flow of mana. They are known as 'Heroes' in this world."

Oh… Then I might be a Soldier of God, I think? Not really planning on doing anything like that, though.

Not unless some Dungeon Cores or Dungeon Master try to mess with me. I wouldn't mind destroying them if that is the case.

"Now then. I would like to have a conversation alone with you, Shun. Do you mind? Ah, you can wait here with Chloe, Number 695."

"O-Okay!"

"Understood, my lady. Come with me, Princess."

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I followed Haku as she distanced herself from Rokuko and Chloe. Of course, Ikumei and Zenko stayed behind too.

I noticed it just now after she stood up but her Vietnamese style áo dài dress hugged her body perfectly, showing off all her curves. I gotta say, she may he a grade higher than Shizuka-nee in terms of looks.

Well, I guess that could be attributed to her being a fully grown Dungeon Core? Come to think of it, Shizuka-nee, Mutsuko-san, and Satania-san being extremely gorgeous ladies is more of an anomaly than Haku being the way she is.

"Now then…" Haku turned to look at me after we had walked a fair distance.

The fact that she looked beautiful just turning around really helped me understand why Rokuko looked up to her so much. Maybe this is why Rokuko tries so hard to act like a refined lady.

"Would you please relinquish your position as Dungeon Master?"

"I'm afraid I can't do that!" This is my quest, after all. Also, I've grown quite fond of Rokuko after staying with her for over half a month.

"Sincerely though, what have you been doing to my cute little Number 695? How dare you defile her as you have. If you won't quit being a Dungeon Master, then please at least relinquish your Absolute Authority over her and then kill yourself immediately."

Oi… Isn't that basically just me quitting being a Dungeon Master?

"…I'm not really sure what you're talking about. I've relinquished my Absolute Authority on Rokuko the very same day I became her Dungeon Master."

I think I could finally understand why she taught Rokuko those strategies. I gotta say, she really dotes on Rokuko so much.

"Oh my. Did you really give up your authority just like that?"

I mean, of course I did. In the first place, I think the Absolute Authority system is pretty messed up so I immediately got rid of it when I understood what it implicates.

Getting to order someone around without them having a say on it would become something akin to a poison for me later on if I didn't get rid of it. I'm no slave driver.

Sorry, but I don't have that kind of fetish. But I think it's some weird people's wet dream though?

Even though I already clarified that, Haku seems to still be unconvinced.

"I imagine you've already ordered Number 695 to do lewd things with you, yes? And then you ordered her to forget all those inconvenient memories… Ngh! You're just doing whatever you want with her! You humans are all the same!"

"Huh!? What are you even talking about? I would never do something like that without her consent. Wait until we go back to them and ask Rokuko herself."

"Hmph, I wonder about that. Your species treat we Dungeon Cores like toys, giving us orders like 'Slowly fall in love with me over time' and 'Marry me!' I didn't even realize what was going on until he died… I can't trust you humans at all. I thought I taught that to Number 695, but she still…!"

Oh… I guess those words came from an abundance of life experience. She might not have meant to actually say that out loud.

"…As I've said, don't have any interest in non-consensual stuff. Go and ask her if I did something like that to her."

"Very well. I will ask it to her later… Wait. Wait just a moment. In other words, you are interested in her as long as it doesn't involve your Absolute Authority? Just what do you intend to do to Number 695?!"

"You have a pretty wild imagination, huh?!" She was just making up false accusations as she went along.

"I'm pretty much sold on this idea but I want to ask it to you just to be sure. Haku. Are you Rokuko's enemy?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. In what world would I ever be Number 695's enemy?"

Yep, I got what you're saying but I'll ask more questions just to be extra sure.

"…Why did you teach those battle strategies to Rokuko?"

"Those battle strategies? I'm afraid that I taught her so many things, I don't know precisely what you're referring to."

I decided to take things step by step and ask one specific question at a time to ensure I knew what was going on.

"Okay, first of all. Why did you teach her to summon goblins specifically?"

"Goblins are the most efficient monster for a dungeon as small as hers to summon. Even if she were to summon a strong monster, she wouldn't be able to maintain it for long. Smaller monsters don't require much food, either."

Makes sense. Goblins are pretty efficient in that front.

"Why did you teach her to summon monsters all at once using as much DP as possible?"

"There is undeniable strength in numbers. A strong foe can be beaten by many weak allies. Additionally, there is not a single Dungeon Core alive who would prioritize DP over survival in a dangerous situation."

That's true. There's no point in saving your resources for later if there won't be a later.

"Why did you teach her that building rooms was a waste of DP and that monsters should be prioritized?"

"Rooms can't defeat invaders, can they? Victory can only be obtained by summoning monsters to defeat invaders."

She's absolutely spot on in that front as well. No matter how many rooms you have, you need some kind of offensive strategy to ultimately win.

"I understand where you're coming from now. However, that still doesn't answer the point that I've been meaning to ask. How, and why did you make Rokuko appear as a harmless dungeon to everyone?"

That's right. The condition was that Rokuko had to be a dungeon managed by humans.

In any other situation, invaders would destroy the Dungeon Core as soon as they defeated the goblins. After all, the [Ordinary Cave] had in fact been just an ordinary cave with a core lying defenseless in its only room.

After hearing about her apparent power over the empire and her ranking, I thought that she have more than enough power to pull this stunt off.

"Oh my, you've figured it out, have you? Well, the answer is simple enough. I personally created both the Laverio Empire and the Adventurer's Guild. Rokuko was established as a safe dungeon because I willed it."

I know that already. She didn't really mean to hide it, anyway. Also, she's quite the big fish in the sea. By that, I mean both among humans and Dungeon Cores alike.

"Oh my, you don't seem very surprised."

"I already noticed it because of your aura, how you carry yourself, how Chloe acts, and the hidden nuances behind your words. Also, you didn't really intend to hide your identity, right?"

"Well, no. I didn't." Haku smiled and laughed a little, visibly pleased.

As expected some someone with power over an entire Empire and the Adventurer's Guild.

"Back to that point. Why did you try to ensure that the [Ordinary Cave] would stay weak and small forever?"

"Because Number 695 is cuter that way… and I want to protect her. That's why I panicked quite a bit when I heard that she had been occupied by bandits."

"…You want to protect her? Why?"

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※~To be continued~※

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Author's Remarks:

※ Kinda long chapter but… who cares?