第１５７６堀：突入裸族 (Part2)
"So, even though there’s no visible light source, the interior of the dungeon is somehow illuminated... It’s almost brazen how they’ve set this up. Are they not even trying to hide it? Well, there’s no point in overthinking it."
The interior, at least, seems well-constructed. It’s a mausoleum, fashioned from pristine white stone. There isn't a speck of dust to be found. So, the claim that this was a graveyard was true after all. Even so, the security is nowhere near as tight as I had braced for. I’ve been advancing with extreme caution, yet I haven't discovered a single trap worthy of the name. At this rate, it’s practically an open invitation for tomb raiders.
Just as I was wondering why they’d be so careless...
"Follow-up unit entering."
"Acknowledged. No hostile forces or traps detected so far."
It seems five minutes have passed while we were scouting, and the fully armed reinforcements are moving in. I don’t know if the enemy simply dismissed us as nothing more than a band of goblins, but they’ve made a fatal error. Because...
"Deploying Dungeon Core. Commencing dungeon subjugation."
The reinforcements are beginning the takeover. Once it reaches this point, there’s no stopping it. Well, it would be a different story if we couldn't actually seize control, but for now, we just keep pushing forward. Given the intel we’ve gathered, I doubt they have the capacity to stop us.
"Complete. Dungeon subjugation successful."
As I thought. Then again, this usually takes much longer. Isn't this a bit strange?
"Repeating: Subjugation of all twenty floors complete. Control of enemy monsters has been seized. All individuals within have been successfully isolated in their respective rooms. Data sharing to prevent suicide is complete. Please confirm."
Twenty floors? That’s pathetic. It was my honest impression. Even a standard dungeon usually has thirty floors as a baseline. Most of the dungeons we operate as businesses in Weed exceed fifty, and some even go beyond a hundred.
While I pondered this, I ordered my subordinates to maintain a perimeter and began reviewing the data.
"...Whoa. You’ve got to be kidding me."
The words slipped out before I could stop them. And just like that, I understood why the subjugation had been so swift. Each level consists of a floor and a room, but there’s only one path for an intruder to take. Flanking that path are hidden rooms on both sides, each packed with monsters. It’s a design meant to ensure the enemy is surrounded and annihilated. Every single time.
Yes, every single one. The routes vary slightly, but that’s the pattern all the way down to the nineteenth floor. There are treasure chests placed here and there, so it seems there are clear rewards, but... they really didn't put any thought into this, did they?
I mean, the monsters used for the pincer attacks do get stronger the deeper you go, so the intent to slaughter anyone who dares to step inside is clear enough, but... *sigh*. Well, that’s neither here nor there. I suspect the lack of floor depth is exactly why the takeover was so fast. They likely poured their entire budget into the monsters meant to kill intruders. The creatures deployed here are a cut above those we saw in Suurus.
Ah, though it does make me feel a bit sad to call the upper floors' inhabitants "goblins" and such. Still, I was surprised.
"In a way, it’s rational."
"Indeed. If the goal is to lure the enemy deep inside and ensure their demise, this is the correct approach. The greater their greed, the less chance they have of escaping."
Kirika, having reviewed the data herself, offered her commentary.
"What’s the situation?"
"No movement from the old Vinoshia royal capital."
"That means if we keep these guys pinned down, there won’t be any movement from the capital, or at the very least, it will be delayed."
"Correct. I am monitoring, but there are no signs of messengers leaving those mountains as of yet."
"Then we’ll get serious about the suppression."
"Understood."
I cut the connection.
"Disengaging mimicry. Full equipment, everyone. We’re heading into the depths."
"Understood!"
And so, we pressed deeper into the dungeon. Now, the real work begins. I can’t afford to mess this up. Goblins are, by nature, a nudist tribe. That much is true. It’s simply our natural style.