CH 6

A few hours after I started stroking the wolves, a translucent screen popped up before me accompanied by a deafening alarm noise, revealing the inside of the airlock, where the dungeon entrance was located, and ten or so people equipped with what appeared to be military gear.

“Oh, at last. Now let’s see your performance… hmm?”

On the screen, several people are having a dispute.

When I pick up the audio to clarify why they are quarreling, the source of the conflict seems to be the limitation on the number of people.

On top of that, they seem to be experimenting with explosives to determine whether the airlock could be destroyed or not.

“Well, the restriction on the number of people is evidently a set-up, and unlike the barriers, they may be thinking that the walls of my dungeon can be destructed… It’s impossible though.”

Incidentally, my dungeon has an open ceiling, which at first glance suggested that it is accessible from the top, but it is rigged to blast them to the ground outside near the airlock if anyone attempted to gain entry via the top. In fact, several people have already been blown out.

“Damn, how the hell can there be not even a scratch on it?”

My subordinate swears after witnessing the lack of even a scratch on the wall, which should ordinarily be perforated by a large number of explosives.

“I can understand how you feel, but you need to settle down.”

“Captain…”

“Call him Alpha 1 when we’re on maneuvers, Alpha 3.”

“A-ah. I’m sorry, Alpha 2.”

“I guess the only way to investigate the interior is to go along with what the other party has in mind., Alpha 1.”

“I agree with Alpha 4. Alpha 1.”

“I agree too (Alpha 5). How about you, Alpha 6?”

“Well… I agree.”

“Okay.”

At present, we consisted of roughly 30 members, who are divided into five groups of six. Assuming that the number of people in the group would be restricted, we would have to face the challenge with this group structure, and it would presumably be Alpha Squad, under my direct command, that would charge in, with the other groups serving as back-up.

Of course, I have informed my superiors of the number restriction. However, the higher-ups seemed to regard it as more hazardous to leave the unknown alone.

“There is no alternative.”

I’ve made the decision.

“The Alpha squad will go in. The rest of the team will assume backup roles.”

“Captain…”

“Call me Alpha 1. Alpha 3, our objective this time is exploration only. Therefore, there will be no necessity to confront the ruler or hostile entities. The Alpha squad will withdraw to the entrance when the conditions for retreating have been met. Should the following unit be able to enter without waiting for an hour, do not do it. That would mean a commensurate danger is lurking.”

“Understood!”

All the squads apart from the Alpha squad head outside.

“I’m sorry. You guys. I’m afraid you’re going to be the ones who get the short end of the stick.”

“It’s fine, Alpha 1.”

“If we recognize it’s a trap, we just need to be on our guard.”

“Well, I guess that’s true.”

“…”

“I’m absolutely not planning on dying.”

“Isn’t that a given?”

The last person leaves, and the door closes behind them. After that, the door leading to the interior gradually opened, carrying a dense fog into the room.

“Now, from this point on, you must not waste any time talking. Keep an eye out!”

“Yes!”

The screen captures six people exiting the rest area for the interior of the dungeon.

“Well then, from here on out, unless they come in contact with a monster, I won’t learn any information about it either… Help-kun, you got a minute?”

“How may I be of assistance?”

When I gesture to the six people on the screen, of whom only the tops of their heads are visible, I raise a question to Help-kun.

“With the opening of the dungeon, these guys obtained skills, but are they aware that they possess skills themselves?”

“If it’s an ever-present skill, I don’t know, but if it’s a discretionary skill, I would assume they’re not aware of it at first.”

“What’s your basis?”

“We don’t offer tutorials or anything like that to people outside in the world. By my master’s estimation, it would take a day for someone to accidentally stumble upon it. And it takes a week for the word to spread to those around them. Afterwards, it will require a month to spread to those in the world who are well-informed. To spread to all the people in the world will take about a year. This is what my master said. But of course, this is simply a prediction, so the actual spread could be somewhat swifter.”

“I see.”

That would guarantee I would be safe this time, leaving only the matter of how to prevent them from fleeing.

Do your best, monsters of my creation.