A newly formed dungeon in a forest inside one of the monster nests of the Demon Continent. This was the reborn Divine Empire Sydnia. However, there were human citizens there. The priests who were once Sydnia’s citizens were already beings that passed over the category of people.
The cathedral that appeared in the forest, however, was no more than the entrance of a dungeon.
◇
「It’s a relief the Queen understood.」 「Akane-sama, here is your tea.」 「Oh my, thank you Lulu.」
We returned to the base, and I talked to Akane and the girls about the request from Queen Fraal.
「What have you guys been doing?」 「Laeva was making potions in Volton. Laeva also finished delivering the goods to the Papeck Company.」 「Thank you, Laeva.」 「I have been exterminating monsters around the base with Kaede-chan. Right, Kaede-chan?」 「Yup, Master, I beat lots of monsters!」 「Ah, Lulu and I come once in a while too.」 「Yes, we leveled up too nya.」 「You worked hard huh, Lulu-chan.」
「Hold up, I said I also went, you know.」 「Ah, you also did your best, Akane. Umm, good job.」
Akane puffed her cheeks and pouted when I only praised Lulu-chan, and I hurriedly pacified her. Seeing this, Kaede charged her body and clung onto me, telling me to praise her, praise her.
『Kruu』 『Uon』 『Gaa』
Then the Thunder Eagle Gloam, Luna Wolf Ferryl, and the large wild-cat type monster Serval Seru were brought along from the Sanctuary. Gloam flew to Sophia’s side, then Sophia held an arm out and started spoiling it.
「Have you been good, Gloam?」 『Kruu』 「It’s fine, it did its best subjugating monsters together with my Ferryl.」
Akane proudly stated so as she cuddled Ferryl.
「Laeva’s Seru-chan also did its best.」 『Gnyaaa』
When Laeva said so, Seru-chan also raised its head as if to say “That’s right”. Akane and Laeva had apparently trained their respective tamed familiars.
「These days, the area close to the Sanctuary have fewer monsters, so this was the perfect time to raise the level of these kids.」 「Akane, Ferryl is the boss of the Shadow Wolves, so won’t there be a problem if it’s here all the time?」 「It’s fine. A sub boss was appointed.」 「Is that so? Well, it’s good if that’s the case. Then I may as well borrow Ferryl’s wide area searching capabilities.」 「We’ll find the Evil Spirit’s whereabouts before long if we leave it to Ferryl.」 「Takumi-sama, Gloam’s searching range from the sky is wider.」 「That’s not the case.」
For some reason, Sophia was burning with desire to oppose Akane’s Ferryl. The two started a boasting battle between their familiars, and even Laeva participated, so the gathering went to nothing. Tired of it, Maria recommended a bath.
「Takumi-sama, will you have a bath?」 「Yup, I’ll do that.」 「Master, Kaede too, Kaede too!」 「Okay, let’s go.」 「Then I’ll go too.」
「Lulu will join nya.」
There was a large bath made in the base that wouldn’t lose even to the ones in the Sanctuary and Volton mansions. Since there’s more than enough space even if everyone went in, there had been times that I’ve gone in with Sophia, Maria, and Marnie too. We headed there as a group, but it seems the familiar bragging battle of the trio was at its climax so they were excluded.
Afterwards, realizing that we came out of the bath, Sophia felt really down.
◇ Shadows of people surrounded a table in a room deep inside the dungeon. No, it would be more accurate to say that there were no people there.
There were five figures present: Pope Warvaal of the former Divine Empire Sydnia, Head Mage Homer, Sydnia Holy Knight Leader Packard, Prime Minister Musudan, and the Imperial Princess Elizabeth.
「……Yamato’s sacrifice was not in vain.」
Those that once were Homer and Packard nodded at Warvaal’s muttering. Yes, once were…………
Among those that were gathered here, the only one whose form had not changed was that of Imperial Princess Elizabeth. Beings whose skin color had turned red, those that turned blue, those that grew horns…… they were no longer human. Inside their bodies, there were magic stones close to their hearts, which work to maintain their bodies.
With exception to Elizabeth, they were already bundled up with monsters.
「I believe the regulation of monster soldiers would still take a little while.」 「Fumu, they were originally monsters with low intellect, after all. Hasten the research, Homer.」 「Ha! Certainly.」 「Akira’s tuning is doing well.」 「Umu, do not break him, Packard.」 「By your will.」 「Your Majesty, the depth of the floors, as well as the expanse of the dungeon still have some ways to go. At present, it has barely grown 5 floors.」 「Musudan, increase the offerings and stimulate its growth.」 「I shall obey.」
Elizabeth spoke to Warvaal after watching each person make their report.
「Father, I believe we should cease overflowing the forest with monsters before our organization is in order. Several countries are already moving to investigate the unnatural increase of monsters.」 「Fumu, ……Musudan, perfect timing. Use them as offerings. This place must not be discovered just yet.」 「Then I shall do just that.」
A dungeon country, the country of monsters had been created in the Demon Continent without anyone in it realizing.