Come to the Dungeon Farm*3
It seems the washed-up adventurer thugs—the ones practically stalking Edere—have come to Panis Village.
There’s no time to hear the full details. But what matters is whether everyone is safe.
“And the villagers!?”
“They’re… right now, they’re being evacuated here…”
“Well done! Good! I’ll take them in!”
Alright. In that case, it’ll be fine. Good, good.
… Mishisia probably feels guilty about this. She must think she’s troubling me. Well, I can kind of understand that feeling.
But for me… well, at this point, we’ve been working together on farming for about a month. They’re good people. They cook food, make clothes, sometimes even pray to me, pet me, hug me… well, putting the last part aside, the point is, I fully intend to help them.
“Is it really alright? … Thank you, Asuma-sama! Then, I’ll take up the rear!”
“O-okay! But please, be careful!”
“Leave it to me! I’m good with a bow, after all!”
I saw Mishisia leap from branch to branch like a bird, then…
“… Alright. Time to prepare defenses.”
I began making preparations to protect the villagers.
And so—
“Alright, evacuation, evacuation! Hey, you slimes over there, you too!”
I guided the arriving villagers one after another, leading them into the cave. I brought the slimes inside as well. I mean, during a typhoon, you’re supposed to bring in dogs, cats, and potted plants, right? Well, slimes should count as one of those three.
… Now then.
“Asuma-sama… what is this…?”
“Ah, explanations later. For now, just shelter here. It’s alright. Once everyone’s inside, I’ll seal the entrance so the thugs can’t get in.”
It’s only natural that the village elder would look bewildered. Because right ahead, where I was urging people to take shelter… there was a room that hadn’t existed just moments ago.
… I built a brand-new chamber inside the cave, big enough for all the villagers to fit in. And I did it in seconds. Truly, dungeon power is something else.
I planned to seal the entrance to that room after this. But completely trapping them would be dangerous in case of emergencies, so I connected an exit leading into the labyrinth deep inside the cave. For light and ventilation, I also set up a few hidden skylights camouflaged with brush. That should do it.
Thus, I steadily evacuated the villagers into the new room. Sick children were carried on people’s backs, retired soldiers with injuries leaned on others for support… Somehow, everyone managed to arrive safely.
“Ah, Asuma-sama!”
Finally, Edere arrived. Her face looked like she was about to cry.
“Asuma-sama… I’m sorry, it’s all my fault this happened…”
Ahh… this woman has it rough. Just because she’s beautiful. Her husband passed away in the war, she’s struggling to run Panis Village all on her own… and then this.
“I don’t mind at all. I don’t think the other villagers blame you either.”
So at the very least, I returned her words with a smile. I don’t want innocent people to feel miserable.
“The inside of the mountain may be narrow and dark, but it’s only for a little while longer…”
“… Thank you, kind god.”
Tears in her eyes, Edere said that, then, as other villagers called out “Edere-san! This way!”, she hurried into the cave.
Good. Now all that’s left is Mishisia…
“… She must have gone out to fight, to buy time for the villagers, right?”
… I’m worried. Extremely worried.
She said she wasn’t good with magic, but… just how skilled is she with a bow?
Even if they’re “washed-up,” they’re still adventurers. Fighting is their livelihood… though honestly, I still don’t even fully understand what an “adventurer” means in this world…
… Will Mishisia be alright?
I waited at the cave entrance, determined to seal the villagers’ room the moment she returned.
… But Mishisia didn’t come. She still didn’t come.
As I grew more restless, some villagers tried to pull me away, saying, “Asuma-sama, you should take shelter too!” But I refused, saying, “I am the god of this dungeon.” Obviously, I couldn’t just hide away myself.
… So I sent the villagers back into the chamber and continued waiting for her—
Whoosh! An arrow flew past.
“Uwaaoo!”
A stupid sound slipped out of me, but when I saw the arrow sticking into the ground, I quickly realized—there was a letter tied to it.
I hurriedly opened it…
“Seal it immediately!”
Reading those words, I didn’t hesitate. I sealed the entrance to the villagers’ chamber.
And just a few seconds later—
I heard shouting. And then—
“Asuma-sama! Sorry! I led them here!”
Out of arrows, Mishisia came running in, on the verge of tears!
And behind her—thugs, obviously thugs—came stomping after her! Waaah!
“Well done! I’m so glad you’re safe! Hurry, this way!!”
“Asuma-samaaa! I’m sorryyy!!”
So, I dashed into the cave together with a half-crying Mishisia. The washed-up adventurers chased us in, but once they were inside… it was my territory.
In this dungeon, I had overwhelming home-field advantage. That’s why—
“Not so fast… you’re not getting away!”
… But then, my arm was grabbed.
I had let my guard down. No, please, let me explain. I’m in an elementary-school-sized body! I moved as if I still had my college-aged body, but nope, not at all! Okay, excuse over!
“Let go! Let go of Asuma-sama!”
Seeing me get caught, Mishisia tried to help—but she was seized as well. Even if she’s good with a bow, once she’s overpowered with brute strength, there’s nothing she can do. Same for me.
“Hey, this one’s an elf, isn’t she? Then… she’ll fetch a good price, won’t she?”
… Obviously, we couldn’t stay like this.
I was in danger myself, but Mishisia was even worse—her obvious “elf value” made her a prime target.
So no matter what, I had to get us out of this situation.
The options available to me were “Decomposition, “Absorption” or “Reconstruction.” But what to erase, and what to rebuild?
If I started rapidly decomposing the ground beneath us, we might break into one of the dungeon’s passages. Then, hoping we fall, I could prepare water for Mishisia and me to land in…?
Or maybe I could reconstruct a cage and drop it on these guys’ heads…?
Wait—could I maybe just absorb them directly? These washed-up adventurers themselves?
Nope. Couldn’t!
Yeah, makes sense. Even I know it’d be too broken if I could just absorb living beings.
While I was at it, I tried targeting their weapons and armor—but those couldn’t be absorbed either. Maybe because I don’t own them?
… And then, on top of that—
“Why isn’t it coming out!?”
“What the hell’s this brat yelling about?”
Even when I tried to summon a cage above them—it wouldn’t work!
Even when I tried to sprout bamboo-like shoots to trip them up—that didn’t work either!
… Apparently, within this dungeon… around areas where other people are present, I can’t reconstruct objects. That seems to be the rule.
No, no, no, that’s absurd! There was never a rule like that before! I’ve done construction plenty of times in the villagers’ presence! Why is this happening now!?
Is it some kind of flag? Like, it only applies when there are enemies nearby!? I don’t get it! Who could’ve predicted something like this!?
… But now isn’t the time to complain.
What matters is escaping this situation, somehow… somehow dragging them further into the cave.
Inside, I’d have the advantage. There are cracks and passages only I can fit through. Some tunnels Mishisia can pass but they can’t.
Plus, I’ve set up traps beforehand. So if I can just lure them in…
“Hehehe. Hey, let’s sell this brat too.”
“An elf woman and a kid, huh? Not a bad haul.”
They laughed crudely while holding us captive.
And hearing that, I remembered.
Oh right—I’m in an elementary schooler’s body right now.
“It hurts…”
So, I started crying. Look at that. The finest performance from a college student trapped in a child’s body.
I sniffled pathetically, and the thugs looked at me with annoyed faces like, “Ugh, what a hassle.” Fair enough. I’d feel the same in their shoes.
But I’ll take it a step further!
“Please don’t bully me anymore… I’ll give you the dungeon’s treasure…”
“… Treasure?”
See? They reacted.
“What treasure?”
“Yeah… I’ll give it to you, so let go of the big sister…”
Still sobbing, I mumbled vague childlike words, stalling for time while keeping their attention.
“If you’ve got it, hand it over already!”
“Don’t bully me! Don’t bully meee!”
They kicked me, so I curled up on the ground… Mishisia was glaring furiously, but just wait. Just a little longer.
“It’s over there… over there…”
Sniffling, I pointed toward the cave entrance.
Now—please take the bait!
What do you think about this chapter?
