第２１３掘：事情聴取 (Part1)
**Dungeon 213: Interrogation**
**Interrogation**
**Side: Steve**
While the world is in celebration mode over the birth of the Boss’s children with Seraria-neesan and Rurua-neesan, we, the executives of the Monster Army, are busy managing a dungeon on a different continent.
Isn't it rare to find diligent monsters? Especially goblins.
"So, uh, what was your name again?"
"……Peace."
"Peace, huh."
I am currently interrogating a slightly powerful, mysterious Dullahan whom we captured when the Boss panicked, immediately left the dungeon management to the dungeon itself, and retreated after observing the situation during the great war with the Enaria army.
It’s been five days since the children were born. Why did the interrogation take this long?
On the first day, we monitored the Enaria army... or rather, we held a banquet waiting for the Boss’s children to be born.
On the second day, we held a banquet to celebrate the birth... no, the Enaria army began a full-scale exploration into the deep parts of the dungeon, so we had to strengthen security.
On the third day, after two consecutive nights of banquets, I was too exhausted from staring at the monitors and fell into a deep sleep... no, I was further strengthening the surveillance of the Enaria army.
On the fourth day, I woke up from my deep sleep and realized the food supplies for the banquets were running low... so I petitioned the higher-ups for supplies and received them via a shopping trip to Weed.
Amidst such grueling work, we heard from our subordinates that the captured Dullahan had woken up, and thus, we began the interrogation.
Yes, the main reason the interrogation was delayed for nearly five days was that the Boss panicked and accidentally used too much force, knocking the Dullahan unconscious. It’s not like we were slacking off.
Anyway, after that sequence of events, we finally began investigating this mysterious Dullahan.
By the way, the Enaria army of about 120,000 is progressing through the dungeon smoothly. To ensure they don't lose hope of escaping, we intentionally placed stairs leading upward, so they are exploring toward the surface instead of falling into despair. In reality, the structure is designed so that going "up" actually brings them closer to the deepest level where we are. Since their food supplies should be running low soon, their speed of invasion ought to increase.
Thinking about such things, I wrote down the information I gathered during the interrogation.
Even though this Dullahan is somewhat strong, they are at a level no different from a standard goblin soldier. Even if they are strong as an individual, the difference in equipment and combat experience is so vast that this Dullahan would undoubtedly lose. In fact, when they regained consciousness, they tried to rampage, but were easily subdued by the goblin guards.
"So, why did you attack the Boss... the humans?"
"That is to defeat the humans. To annihilate them. You are dungeon monsters, are you not? You should understand."
"Hm? If you’re a dungeon monster, does that mean you’re one of us?"
"That is correct. You may not know, but I was the proxy for the Dungeon Master who managed the dungeon in this land. I did not know you had grown this strong on your own, but this is convenient. Those humans seemed to have left me without delivering the finishing blow, but that was their undoing. Now, I shall gather the forces of this dungeon and annihilate the humans who walk the earth as if they own it!!"
Uh, hmm? Isn't something off? I stopped my pen and thought about what was wrong.
"What are you agonizing over? Do you not know what must be done? Indeed, first, we shall flatten the enemy army currently in this dungeon, earn a massive amount of DP, and invade the outside!! Now is the time to fulfill the long-cherished wish of avenging my late master!!"
"Ah, no, our Boss isn't dead. Actually, if you know a way to kill that guy, I’d love for you to tell me."
"What!? The Master is alive!!"
"No, you've got the wrong person."
Right, I felt something was off. I don't know this Dullahan, and there’s no one who would speak to me so casually. Well, John and my subordinates speak casually, but... you know, I can just tell.
"A different person? Does this mean a new Dungeon Master was sent by the gods?"
"Ah, that’s... both correct and incorrect, I suppose..."
It’s true that we were summoned by a useless goddess named Luna, but it feels like something is different. The idea that a Dungeon Master was summoned for the sake of this land also feels like the wrong direction. It’s more like we were dumped with the cleanup duty...
"I see... a new Dungeon Master..."
Based on what I’ve heard, this Dullahan seems to be a loyal retainer of the previous Dungeon Master. If that’s the case, wouldn't they be useful for gathering information? Could I use this to improve my treatment as a middle manager?
Hmm, regardless, if I just release them into the dungeon, they’ll likely wipe out the Enaria army, and if I let them go outside, they’ll just rampage randomly. I should keep them close.
"I understand your circumstances. So you were a subordinate of the predecessor... you’ve had it rough."
"...Aye. It is shameful that I lost my master. Since then, I have slept in this land, waiting for my magical power to recover."
"I see. And you were revived by the magical power when we deployed the dungeon around here."
"That is likely the case. At times, I also have questions I wish to ask. Would that be acceptable?"
"Hm? If you want to talk to our Boss, he’s a bit tied up, so it won’t be possible for a few days."
"Ah, I would wish for that as well, but this is a different matter. How many years have I been asleep?"
I don't know that. In the first place, the word "dungeon" has changed to "ruins," so I think a considerable amount of time has passed.
"We just arrived here ourselves, so we lack that kind of information. If you’re willing, I’d like your cooperation. What do you say?"
"Very well. In any case, I need your cooperation to understand the situation outside. I also owe a debt to the new Dungeon Master for saving me. I shall gladly cooperate."
Ah, that Dungeon Master is the one who blew you away, you know?
"And, may I ask why the Dungeon Master is tied up?"
"Ah, it’s nothing to hide. His child with his wife was born."
"Oh!! A child to carry on the next generation!! Then the dungeon is secure. He thinks well of the future. Is that why he is only monitoring the invading enemy army for now?"
"That's right."