CH 235

Ryoku and I entered the boss room. It was occupied by a huge demon, looking like an ogre.

“Hello,” I greeted it but received no reply.

“Are you the type that can’t talk?”

“…I don’t feel any necessity to talk with you,” the ogre retorted.

I brightly objected, “Given that this world and the other world is full of pointless things, it’s better to not mind the small stuff. I’d like to ask you several things, so please answer if you can.”

“I don’t feel any necessity to answer you.”

“Don’t mind it. This world is overflowing with unnecessary things. At this point, it won’t matter even if another ten or twenty unnecessary things are added to it.”

『Whoa, I truly respect you, after all』, Sword told me through the wireless communicator.

The ogre reacted with a twitch to that. I held up the smart watch and showed it to the ogre.

“This? It’s a multipurpose watch I made by using my magic pointlessly. It’s called “smart watch” in a certain world. When it comes to necessity, you can live your life without it, but it’s convenient to have. …Now then, just earlier my friend got deliberately caught in the trap and is now heading this way after defeating the monster over there. About that trap…for some reason several traps stopped working once that particular trap was triggered. Is this a reward?”

“…Yes.”

The ogre answered! And this time properly!

“I see. Okay, so it’s a reward after all, huh? In that case, the one who defeated the monster in there, will arrive here. It appears to be a direct path, so they can only come here, but will it change the content of the treasure chest, if they do arrive here?”

“Yes.”

The ogre is honest! But, is that alright? Won’t Sir Dungeon Core scold him?

“Alright. …Does that possibly also apply if a group of adventurers comes here and defeats you after one or several of their members got caught in that trap?”

“It’s as you say.”

Wow!

Sword entered the room.

“…I have a question, too. Around ten years ago, I came here, got caught in that trap while my comrades came directly to this room and fought against you. Did my comrades look like they knew ’bout this setup?”

The ogre stared at Sword with a tense face.

“…I remember you. You were strong. Your skills were still unpolished, but even so, you gave me the impression that you might obtain a strength going far beyond my own.”

Heee! Sword, you’re quite popular on top of leaving behind impressions, eh?

“But, I don’t recall anyone other than you. The only one seeming strong was you. You were the sole person who got caught in the trap and overcame all of it.”

Oh? In other words, adventurers knowing about this seem to exist as well, and it sounds like some folks deliberately trigger the trap by preparing sacrifices or triggering the trap before coming to this room and challenging the boss. And the ogre talking so readily about it must mean it’s relatively well-known.

“I see. So he’s saying it’s fairly often for parties, who hear about this, to break through the trap together with everyone, or trigger the trap by sacrificing someone while the other members come directly to him for a fight?”

When I mumbled to myself, the ogre provided some additional information, “That’s right. But, there’s a penalty if you challenge me directly without getting caught in the trap.”

Hoh.

Sword became pale and looked at me.

“Will I know about that penalty if I fight you?”

“You will.”

“Hey wait, Indra. Stop it. I’ll fight him,” Sword put a damper on the excitement welling up in me.

“Bah! I was just getting thrilled about this!”

“No, that’s out of the question.”

Sword stopped me with a stern look.

“I’ll check it out.”

“No!

Boooooooooooooo!

I got sulky and shouted at Sword, “Then we’ll never be able to verify anything! Watch me fighting him at a leisure, and confirm the difference to the mid-boss you fought yourself! This is the right way to go about this…”

“No!”

Sword yelled at me, causing me to become startled.

When I stiffened up, Sword cast his eyes down.

“…I…don’t want…to let you die,” he muttered with his face downcast and on the verge of tears.

….How unfair! If he acts like this, it’s tough for me to selfishly insist on my own whim, isn’t it!?

“W-What do you think about this?” I passed the ball to the ogre.

Even though it was of no concern for him, the ogre became all flustered.

“Why would you ask me!?”

“I’m fairly strong! Back then, Sword might have been strong, but the current Sword is much stronger! And my strength is equal to his! If we have a light duel, it’ll work out one way or the other, right!?”

Once I appealed to him, the ogre became troubled. …He’s definitely a boss with overflowing humanity.

“…If you defeat the one in the trap and come here, I can only use half of my strength as a handicap. On the other hand, those who arrive here at ease after having sacrificed their comrades will have 90% of their strength stolen as handicap. Moreover, if they get injured by me, those injuries won’t heal as long as they don’t defeat me or stay in the dungeon.”

“”……””

That’s no big deal at all.

“Sword, I’m going to defeat him, got it? You dislike tormenting handicapped opponents, don’t you?”

“Yep, I’m no different from you in this regard!” He smoothly answered.

“Then please allow me to take you on. …Also, thank you very much. I didn’t expect that you would answer us so willingly. Since we won’t disclose anything of what was said here, please don’t blame this person, Sir Dungeon Core. I only questioned him in order to clear up the regret of my partner who was betrayed by his past lover.”

When I said so, the ogre became ghastly pale.”

“…I’m going to be scolded?”

“It’ll be okay! I’m sure Sir Dungeon Core is a broad-minded person! The other Dungeon Cores and dungeon bosses kept a lot concealed, but you answered me readily! We’ll also repay your kind heart and sincerity. I’ll defeat you while using all of my strength. Ah, I’m okay with the normal loot in the treasure chest. After all, you were nice enough to answer our questions this time.” I said to Sir Dungeon Core