[Defending the Dungeon! #5]
The path from the entrance of the dungeon to the middle is a straight line. From there, a fork appears: the left path leads to the corridor where the children's barracks are located, while the right leads to the corridor housing the master bedroom.
For now, I’ve blocked the path to the barracks. I used dirt and Sharan’s root-growth magic to create a wall. It looks completely natural. Consequently, the intruders will naturally turn toward the right, where we are waiting.
Once they come this way:
"They’ll fall right into the trap."
One of them will be neutralized after stepping on the ankle-snare trap. At the same time, as I let out a battle cry, the Pixies will begin their concentrated fire, and the Fairies will scatter their powder. The Imps? They’ll handle setting the entrance ablaze on their own.
Then, they’ll be caught between a rock and a hard place. There’s no way a group that has been hit by both a trap and a surprise attack can escape. Even if they were professional soldiers, this group is a mix of adventurers and nuns. A female knight might be able to break through, but...
"Vanessa is supposed to be righteous, right?"
Reika told me that Vanessa, the female knight of the barony, has a righteous personality. It seems she also has ties to the convent. In a situation like this, if she came with the nuns and they were attacked? The probability of her trying to protect them is high.
If that happens, it’s over. The Fairies have already scattered their powder.
"If they come in without knowing, they’re guaranteed to fall."
If they had even the slightest bit of information about us, this operation would fail. But they don’t know about us yet. Then, we win.
"All troops, to your positions."
"Keruk."
The sound of movement echoed as my soldiers formed their battle formation. The Goblins created a phalanx, and the Pixies stood behind them. The tiny Fairies moved into holes I had pre-drilled into the ceiling of the dungeon corridor.
And then.
The humans entered the dungeon.
I pressed my back against the corner and began eavesdropping. I forced my heart, which felt like it was about to burst, to calm down and focused all my strength on my hearing.
Tap.
Now.
Six humans were standing in front of the dungeon, talking.
"Wow. This is fascinating. Tree roots are wrapping around the inside of the cave. Could this be a cave made by monsters?"
A thin, feminine voice. A nun?
"Hmm... Well. This is my first time seeing something like this, too. A shape like this... I don’t think monsters could create something like this..."
A man, presumably an adventurer, replied.
"Then does that mean it formed naturally?"
"Yes. That’s likely. Perhaps a burrow dug by monsters was left abandoned for a long time, and the roots grew down along the walls. That’s my theory."
"A burrow dug by monsters. What kind of monsters?"
The woman’s voice was quite authoritative. Could it be the female knight, Vanessa? Definitely. Just hearing her voice made me think she was a strong woman. She wouldn’t be some hulking muscle-woman, would she?
Anyway, they were currently questioning the shape of the dungeon. Since the roots were covering the ceiling and walls... it would look quite unique.
A shape that would stimulate curiosity.
"Judging by the size, it doesn’t seem like Goblins... Hobgoblins? Satyrs? I suspect it’s a monster like that."
Completely wrong.
"No problem. Let’s check it out."
"Ah, but Vanessa."
"What is it?"
"There are no traces around the dungeon. If it were Hobgoblins or Satyrs, there would be signs... It’s a bit too clean. There are even weeds growing."
I had already cleared away the traces, and I had asked Sharan to grow weeds to camouflage the area.
They were completely deceived.
"Speak clearly. Are you saying it’s an empty cave?"
"I think so. It might have been abandoned."
"That’s good. If it’s empty, our work will be easier."
They’ve decided to come in! Yes!
"I’ve heard that monsters who build bases in caves collect the bones of their prey. It wouldn’t hurt to check even an abandoned cave. Let’s go."
"Ah, ahhh!"
"Hmm?"
"Vanessa. Th-that thing you just said...!"
"..."
"Was it about Reika...?"
The nun asked Vanessa, looking anxious. Since the topic of bones had come up, there was only one reason. Vanessa thought Reika was dead.
"That remains to be seen."
"...Sob."
"So, we must check."
Vanessa comforted the nun in a slightly gentler voice. It seems the nun’s heart is a bit weak.
"Don’t worry too much. There’s no way Reika is dead."
Following Vanessa, another nun tried to reassure her weak-hearted companion.
"She probably just ran away from home secretly like she always does. Reika is a delinquent, isn’t she? She’ll come back."
"B-but they said she went missing with the adventurers she went with!"
"That’s..."
Even after being comforted, she still looked anxious.
"..."
Looking at them, they seemed like genuinely good people.
And I have to do terrible things to these people.
"Let’s be quiet for now. Exploration comes first. Let’s enter."
I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind. I only think about survival and growth. There is no need to worry about others.
"Ah, yes. Understood."
The adventurer replied.
And so, they all entered my dungeon.
Welcome to the death dungeon.
"Vanessa. Is there any chance this is a bandit’s lair..."
"Foolish talk. There’s no way there are bandits in a place like this. Is there a village nearby to plunder? Merchants don’t travel this way either."
"That’s..."
"It would be more convincing to say it’s a temporary base for smugglers."
"Smugglers... though they wouldn’t be a match for you, Vanessa."
"Obviously. Move."
Thump, thump.
Thump, thump.
The sound of footsteps gets closer.
Now, they should be reaching the Fairy trap. And it’s time for the Imps to move, but they’ll handle it well. I trust the Imps. Thinking that, I carefully returned to my spot.
"..."
I have to start the moment they turn the corner.
The moment one of them hits the trap.
Pour everything into it.
That’s all I think about.
"...!"
"...!"
The Goblins tensed up, and the Pixies covered their mouths. I quietly gave the order. Load the Wind Cutters.
Swoosh.
The Pixies loaded their Wind Cutters so they could fire at any moment. The faces of the mischievous Pixies turned serious, and soon, anger surfaced. They felt rage as the humans drew near.
"Wh-what if a monster jumps out...?"
"Vanessa is here, so what are you worried about? Don’t worry."
The voices of the nuns.
Thump, thump.
The footsteps getting closer and closer.
"Vanessa. The path turns."
"Is there a problem?"
"No. There isn’t. Then I’ll take the lead, so please follow."
"Understood."
Thump.
The adventurer leading the way.
Thump, thump.
And the footsteps following him.
Whoosh.
At the same time, the adventurer came into my view. He’s holding a lamp. Naturally, the light doesn’t reach where I am. I already know that from testing it.
"Hmm... It’s dark because the path turns."
Since the light from outside doesn’t enter from the point where the path turns, it gets darker.
"Be careful."
The moment Vanessa’s voice was heard.
Thud.
"Huh?"
The adventurer.
Whoaaaaa!
"Ughhhhhhh!!!"
He stepped on the trap and fell!
"What’s going on—"
"Pixie squad!!! Fire at will!!!!"
"What!"
The moment he fell, I triggered the fire command! I have to overwhelm them! I have to strike while they’re flustered!
"Just shoot as you were trained! First row, fire!!!"
Unleash our violence upon these humans who know nothing!!!
Boom!
The second and third rows of Pixies flew low.
"Dieeee!"
"Die!"
"Die, you humans!"
"Keruuuuuuuk!!!"
Swoosh!
Swoooooosh!
The Pixies fired their Wind Cutters. It happened the moment the adventurer hit the trap. The lines of Wind Cutters flew in order from the first row.
Thwack!
Thwaaaaack!
They embedded themselves into the torsos of the standing adventurers.
"Ugh!"
"Khaaaack!"
The cloth armor the adventurers are wearing can’t stop them. The ones who were hit collapsed. There’s no need to worry about the one who stepped on the ankle trap and sat down. He’s already incapacitated.
"Kyaaaack! What on earth is happening! N-no! Healing! I have to heal them!"
"Ugh...!"
The power of the three-stage fire is immense. One of the nuns in the back was also hit by a Wind Cutter in the torso and collapsed.
The only ones standing were:
"What on earth is going on!"
"Vanessa!"
Just the two of them: Vanessa and the nun she was protecting. When the Wind Cutter flew toward them, Vanessa quickly swung her sword to deflect it, protecting one nun. That was the end of it, though.
"...!"
Success.
Everything succeeded.
The moment I shouted the fire command, the Imps must have already set the fire, and the Fairies must be scattering the hypnotic powder in the corridor.
Our victory.
"Goblin phalanx unit! Advance! Pixies! Second volley, fire!"
Clack, clack, clack.
I ordered the Goblins to advance and the Pixies to fire again! The enemies are in a state of shock from the sudden surprise attack! I have to overwhelm them now to win!
"What! What is that formation! The Goblins...!"
Vanessa, seeing the advancing Goblins, shouted in astonishment.
"Sister Irene! Hide behind me!"
"Vanessa! Liza! Liza has collapsed!"
"Didn’t I tell you to hide!"
Swoosh!
The Wind Cutters flew again.
"This!"
Swish!
Vanessa swung her sword to deflect the Wind Cutters. Of course, she couldn’t deflect them all.
"Ugh?!"
One shot grazed Sister Irene’s shoulder.
"No... No! Kyaaaack!"
"Sister Irene!"
The nun turned her back and ran away. She abandoned the fallen adventurers. She even abandoned her fellow nun. Of course, the entrance must already be burning. The Fairies’ hypnotic powder must be scattering as well.
"Vanessa...! Please save me! Ugh!"
"Vanessa!"
"Khaaaack...!"
The fallen adventurers cried out for help, and Sister Liza groaned.
The only one left is the female knight, Vanessa.
Clack, clack, clack.
The Goblins advancing every moment, and...
"Pixies. Prepare the third volley."
The Pixies, revealing their hatred, loaded their magic.
"Ugh...!"
Vanessa’s expression twisted.
Looking at her like this, she was a very beautiful woman.
Long, lustrous black hair. Her bangs were cut neatly in a straight line. Her hair matched her red eyes perfectly. Reika is a beautiful woman, but Vanessa’s beauty was also outstanding.
Though hidden by her clothes, her figure seemed excellent as well.
Her attire. Over clothes that looked like a leather coat, she wore steel breastplates and pauldrons. And she was wearing gauntlets and greaves. Her only weapon was a single sword. Why is this? It’s a tense situation, yet such information is slipping into my head.
I guess I really am an Incubus.
"Retreat for now!"
Vanessa, judging quickly, threw away her sword and hoisted the fallen Sister Liza onto her back. Is she thinking of abandoning the adventurers?
Of course.
"Cough! Cough...! Va, Vanessa!"
She can’t escape.
"The entrance is on fire! Cough!"
"What?!"
Sister Irene appeared in front of the fleeing Vanessa.
"The Imps did their job well."
"Kill all the humans!"
"Shaaa!"
"Keruuuuuk!"
Serineu and Sharan. And the Goblins shouted. These guys also sensed victory.
Feeling that.
"Human! Are you trying to run away!"
I shouted.
"Who are you...!"