第１０２６堀：発見とはあらゆるところにある (Part1)
Chapter 1026: Discovery Is Everywhere
Side: Comet
"Hmm, hmm."
"Hey, Comet. I’ve told you before—no work or games while eating."
"Ah, sorry, sorry."
I apologized honestly since Hifi was scolding me.
I had just been so curious that I couldn't help but read the dungeon information I’d received at the meeting earlier.
"Comet-dono, was there something that caught your interest?"
"Nah. I haven't found anything like that yet."
I closed the screen as I said that, focusing on my meal.
It’s pasta today.
Mmm, the Japanese-style sauce is delicious.
"So, it seems you were looking at work data. Was that the material for the dungeon Yuki-san was talking about?"
"Yep, that’s the one. Data from the one we finished seizing just a few hours ago. The report on the investigation results is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, so for our part, it’s just a matter of analyzing the data for all 63 floors."
"63 floors? That’s quite a large dungeon."
"It is. In terms of scale, it’s a pretty significant dungeon. It would be considered mid-tier even here in Weed."
"…Even with that size, it’s only mid-tier in Weed?"
Hifi looked at me as if to say, "That’s ridiculous."
Well, the dungeons we used to make were at most 30 floors deep.
After all, research was our top priority.
"Ah, Hifi, you aren't interested in dungeon management, so you wouldn't know. Weed’s maximum depth is 255 floors."
"255!?"
And on top of that, it’s a monster labyrinth spanning two kilometers in every direction.
"And it’s not like it ends when you reach the 255th floor; if you carelessly go down the stairs, it loops you back to the 240th floor."
"A loop!?"
Hifi was surprised, just as I expected.
Honestly, I feel the same way.
I mean, it’s a standard mechanic in RPG dungeons, but to actually implement it in a real dungeon? That’s truly devilish.
"That’s right. Unless you take specific actions, you can’t reach the core room on the 255th floor."
"…Is it even possible to clear that? And for that matter, I’m surprised Luna-sama allowed such an absurd dungeon."
"Well, it’s a common gimmick. In games, at least."
It’s a staple in things like *The Tower of Druaga* or *Dragon Quest*.
"Games, you say…"
"But there are hints scattered about, so if you use your head, you can clear it."
Though, that’s only if you can read and decipher all the hints scattered up to the 255th floor.
"Well, if Luna-sama has permitted it, I have nothing to say on the matter. So, how is the analysis of that 63-floor dungeon going?"
"Hmm, it’s not particularly interesting, to be honest."
"Not interesting?"
As I watched Hifi tilt her head at my words, I picked up the pasta with chopsticks instead of a fork.
Mmm. Delicious.
Yeah, I’m a chopsticks person.
Forks aren't bad, but I prefer chopsticks.
Right, back to Hifi’s question.
"Yeah, it’s completely uninteresting. It’s like... not the Japanese-style pasta you made for me today, but just plain, old-fashioned salted boiled pasta every single day."
And without any sauce, at that. If someone served me that for three days straight, I’d run away from home.
"What do you mean? I sort of understand the nuance, but... isn't a boring dungeon good for catching enemies off guard?"
"Ah, if you put it very, very kindly, you could say that. But that’s not it. It’s just lacking in ingenuity."
"Ingenuity?"
"Each floor is basically the same. The maze is slightly different, but other than that, the floors just get deeper. The traps don't change much between floors either; the only thing that changes is that the monsters get stronger. Well, I guess it might be attractive to adventurers purely looking for drop items?"
"I see. Not interesting. You mean the ideas are weak, or rather, impoverished?"
"Exactly."
"Err, it feels like the dungeon you're comparing it to is just too different—or rather, too vicious—but I suppose that is the opinion of Comet, the former Dungeon Master."
"Yup. Well, if I had to give it a rating, it’s a 'model' dungeon. But it lacks creativity. It needs more flavor. So, it doesn't get a gold star. At best, it gets a 'pass'."
If I were to evaluate it as a Dungeon Master, it’s a triangle.
"Then, it seems there isn't much information to be gained."
"Well, I wasn't expecting much to begin with. Besides, thanks to Irwin, it’s becoming highly likely that the Dungeon Master of this place has no connection to the Highn Empire—in fact, they don't even seem to realize the situation."
"Is that so? Have you become certain?"
"Well, it’s not absolute yet, but it’s what you’d call circumstantial evidence. Look, Yuki said it himself: if the opponent had the same capabilities as Weed, there’s no way they wouldn't be moving in this situation."
"Yes. Indeed, they wouldn't just hand over information. But you did say earlier that there was a possibility they left it behind on purpose to gather our information?"
"Yeah, that possibility still exists. But I’ve realized it’s incredibly low."
"Why is that?"
"First off, they don't have the same management system as Weed. Did we have things like 'Dig Here, Doggy' or dungeon creation tools back in the day?"
"No. Now that you mention it, we didn't."
"Exactly. We didn't have such convenient systems. Luna-san created them, but the prototype was a computer from Earth. And Yuki added things like warning devices out of necessity. So, how would an opponent who has been completely out of touch until now get their hands on this insanely convenient system?"
When I explained that to Hifi, she nodded.
"Indeed, it seems impossible for the opponent to have military strength equivalent to Weed."
"Right? And like I’ve been saying, if they had an information network like Weed’s, it would be strange for them to do nothing even after the Zuraburu Great Empire has done this much. Are they on guard because the West can't create dungeons? Even if they can't create dungeons, they’ve had plenty of opportunities to send out monsters, and the fact that the situation is the way it is now is proof that the premise is wrong."
Well, that’s probably true.
Even if there were a Dungeon Master on Yuki’s level, even if they couldn't make it in time to teleport, they’d at least put a self-destruct mechanism in the dungeon.
Leaving information behind and handing it over to the enemy is a foolish strategy.
"So, it’s just a 'for now' verification of information?"
"That’s it. If I really had to think about this seriously, I wouldn't be here right now."
I’m sure they’re all huddled in the conference room right now, groaning while having a strategy meeting.
"In the end, we ended up talking about work while eating."
"Oh, I’m sorry."
"No, it’s fine. It shows me that Hifi is just as concerned about the situation in the Highn Empire as I am."