第２８４堀：初心を思い出す (Part1)
**Dungeon Floor 284: Remembering Our Roots**
**Side: Yuki**
Well then, let’s start with the conclusion.
**■ Report on the Final Holy Sword User**
The final Holy Sword User, Alfin, and her subordinate monster, the Ground Zero Dragon known as Grad, have been brought under the dungeon’s umbrella.
After Labyris and Shera followed Aslin and Firia, they engaged in a calm discussion. Once Labyris revealed herself as the current Dungeon Master and explained our philosophy, and after showing them Weed, the situation was immediately designated for protection. Grad, for his part, chose to join the dungeon’s ranks of his own volition.
There were concerns about the danger of showing someone around the inside of Weed, but we utilized the "Skill-Magic Sealing Passage" I had constructed for such occasions. Incidentally, this was a facility prepared after Deryu’s initial assault. It was actually a suggestion from Deryu herself—who had attacked us due to a misunderstanding—that perhaps showing people Weed would calm them down if they were hostile due to a similar misconception.
Naturally, to ensure we could suppress them instantly if things went south, Steve—well, his contribution is a separate matter, but John and Britt were the ones providing the tour. Actually, there is a strong argument that Steve’s presence was the deciding factor, but I will record the details of that later.
Now, let’s organize the events from the very beginning.
The whole affair began when the final Holy Sword User, Alfin, set an ambush between the Lancer Magic Academy and the August Kingdom, intending to annihilate us after we had captured all the other Holy Sword Users save for one. At the time, we were in the middle of planning operations to facilitate our movements across various nations, with the Duel Festival in between.
According to the consensus of our dungeon group, the actions of the last remaining Holy Sword User could be categorized into three possibilities:
1. Avoiding a direct confrontation with us to attack other nations.
2. Feeling she couldn't win and choosing to hide immediately.
3. Attacking the academy to strike us all down at once.
However, Riel threw a wrench into these theories. Since we were bound to clash eventually, she suggested the enemy might try to crush our greatest strength with their own:
4. Launching a surprise attack on us in a location where we couldn't be interfered with, aiming for total annihilation.
Since this scenario posed the highest level of danger to us, we immediately prioritized confirming the flight paths of Dragon Knight Amanda and her wyverns, and accelerated our search efforts.
The following morning, around 5:00 AM, we confirmed the presence of the Holy Sword User. We also identified what appeared to be the enemy’s greatest asset: a massive monster. We immediately woke everyone except the children and held an emergency meeting.
We classified the monster summoned by the Holy Sword User as a top-tier entity, one we had no prior data on. Based on its appearance, we deduced it was likely a juvenile and tentatively named it the "Ground Zero Dragon"—hereafter referred to as Ground Zero. It stood 30 meters tall with a wingspan of 120 meters, a size rivaling a certain "King of Monsters." Since even the juvenile form was confirmed to breathe heat rays, I ordered the mobilization of our modern weapons unit from Weed to inspect their gear and prepare for deployment. I realized that swords and magic would be useless against this Ground Zero.
At that point, the option of "talking it out" was rejected for the following reasons:
* **Negotiation via the mercenary group:** Our identities are likely already known, so it wouldn't be a true negotiation; it would likely result in them striking first, causing massive damage.
* **Sending a different envoy:** This was also rejected because the enemy would likely see through it, knowing they are our allies, and attack. We are the only ones who know of the Holy Sword Users and are actively hostile toward them; in other words, we are the only ones who want to negotiate.
* **Taking other Holy Sword Users as hostages:** If the enemy stopped, that would be fine, but if they didn't, the hostages might be killed along with us. Furthermore, taking hostages would sour the enemy’s feelings toward us to the absolute minimum, making any future surrender potentially fatal.
Yes, when you think about it, negotiation was impossible from the start. The situation was too disadvantageous for us. Therefore, we decided on a strategy: measure the opponent’s abilities, lure them into a trap to restrict their movements, and hopefully force a dialogue. I recall telling Taiki-kun that at least there was room for negotiation, which made this better than dealing with the "King of Monsters." That creature is more like a natural phenomenon that transcends good and evil.
To observe the enemy’s abilities visually, Steve and his elite goblin squad were tasked with scouting, disguised as local goblins. Naturally, they wore loincloths. Some suggested using "Appraisal" since they were entering the dungeon, but we judged that if the enemy sensed the appraisal, they might perceive it as a hostile act and go on a rampage. Thus, visual scouting by Steve and his team was deemed the safest route.
As planned, the trap—simulating a collapse of the underground lake—was a success. However, an irregularity occurred: Aslin and Firia infiltrated the operation site. I immediately sent Steve to stop them, but he couldn't persuade them; they claimed they had gone there to provide rescue support for Ground Zero.
Knowing the risks, we shifted our strategy toward negotiation since we had already successfully contained the enemy. Perhaps it was luck, but the Holy Sword User didn't seem to know who the children were. She mistook them for fellow tamers and gladly accepted their medical aid. For some reason, she ended up crying on Steve’s shoulder, and then Labyris and Shera joined the fray. Afterward, they visited Weed and decided to pledge their allegiance to the dungeon.
Incidentally, I have kept the fact that we have the other Holy Sword Users captured a secret for now. Alfin herself does not know that the mercenary group and the Dungeon Master are the same organization. I plan to discuss the Holy Sword User situation once she has settled in.
Now, the current debate concerns Aslin and Firia’s unauthorized entry into the operation site. Under normal circumstances, infiltrating a mission site is punishable, regardless of who does it. However, this operation was secret, known only to core dungeon members, and the site was not fully locked down. While Aslin and Firia are core members and should technically be punished, the circumstances were different.
They were asleep, so I didn't wake them and left a note instead. I informed Kirue, who was at home, and Kirika, who was conducting intelligence activities in the city, of this. But misunderstandings happen when they are meant to happen. Aslin and Firia thought they had overslept, rushed out of their room, and in the process, the note fell off the table. I really should have used a paperweight.
Because of that, they set out with the simple goal of "chasing after us." After getting breakfast from Kirue, they left the kitchen saying they were "heading to where we are." Kirue, assuming they had read the note, thought they were heading to the conference room instead of the academy. In reality, following the original plan, they went to the academy using Doppelgangers. On the way, they met Amanda, heard we were in a meeting, and—not wanting to be a nuisance—decided to go for a walk around the academy city instead.