Episode 36: All the cast members are assembled!

After listening to the explanation of the expert, I carried a large amount of offerings from the hardware store.
　According to Doppy, it is a much higher being than a doppelganger, so it would be better to prepare a lot of offerings.

"I don't really understand the taste of demons, so I prepared a variety of things, but will it really be okay? "
"This is excellent!　With this, even the Lord of the Demon world might come! "
"I wonder if the Demon King would be a good choice……"

　Actually, I think it's better to have power when governing a territory, right?
　When this place prospers, there will be situations where it would be better to have power, but even so, the Demon King is just going too far. I may not be able to handle it and cause an accident, so honestly, I'd be satisfied with something like a hobgoblin assistant. Honestly.

"Well then, I'd like to summon Doppy's recommended denizen of the demon world."

　In front of the magic array, there were piles of sweets, alcohol, medicine, bicycles, power tools, and a rotary tiller.
　Because they are neatly arranged, it looks like a suspicious ritual. No, it is actually a suspicious ritual, though……
　It may be religiously inappropriate, but Fiona hasn't said anything, so it should be fine.
　Well, I don't practice their religion, so I don't know anything about it.

"My name is Maho Saeki!　Answer my call and appear, Seir!"

　When I shouted that, the magic array lit up and the offerings disappeared with a swishing sound one by one.
　Hmm, I'm not sure, but I guess they're carefully examining each one.
　A short time after the last offering was gone, the magic array glowed particularly brightly.
　What appeared after that was――

"…………"
"……………………"
"…………"
"…………Uhh."

　There stood a blond-haired, blue-eyed princely figure riding a white horse with wings (Pegasus?).
　I never imagined that such an unrealistically handsome guy would show up, but he just stood there with a stern expression, not saying a word.
　What's wrong with this world where there are Dopplers that look like shadow people and pets turn into talking monsters?

　Just as I was thinking that, he took out a white flipboard from somewhere and began writing something with his fingertips.

『We have come in response to your request. We are Seir, the Omnipresent. Best regards.』
"Uh?　Japanese?　How come you can write in Japanese? "
　What was written on the flipboard was entirely in Japanese. For some reason the writing was a bit roundish.
"Maho, it looks like our common language to me."
"Eh?"
『This is a “board for conveying words.” It is displayed in characters that can be read by everyone who sees it.』

　Just speak――I can't deny that I thought so, but there must be some reason for it.
　Having grown up in modern Japan, I'm not the type of person who can casually ask such questions. Fiona also looks like she really wants to say something, but she's holding back.
　As long as we can communicate, writing is fine.
　The real question is whether this person is capable of doing physical labor.

"Um, I called you because I needed some help with some heavy lifting. Can you do that?　Things like cutting wood, transporting people, and setting up boxes in designated locations."
『Simple.』

　Seir responds while riding the pure white Pegasus (right?).
　He always has a straight face, but sometimes he looks a little smug, so it's hard to tell. It's a mystery.

"What are you, Seir?　A demon?　A monster? "
『Deities who are the embodiment of evil. One of them.』

　Seir writes on the board smoothly and gives concise answers.
　Brushing his bangs back with a smug look on his face. Is this smug look the default for this guy?
　Rather, get off that horse.

"A god who is the embodiment of evil... that means a demon god, right?"

　Well, in a world like this, there must be something like gods.
　Doppy said he was a higher-ranking person, and that may be true.
　What is a god?　There are also issues with the definition, and to be honest, I don't really understand it, but even if I did, it wouldn't matter. Let's accept the current reality.
　……I feel like my senses are starting to become distorted.

"Do you know this, Fiona?　The demon gods."
"…………This is bad, Maho……This is serious……"

　Fiona, who was standing next to me, looked pale.

"What's the matter? Suddenly, you see someone who looks like Prince Charming level 100 and you almost faint?"

　She doesn't seem to have much immunity to boys.
　Uh?　Me?
　Hahaha, when a man of this caliber appears, it's dangerous to even recognize him as a man.
　In fact, they are a different species.
　If anything, I feel a sense of absurd humor……

"『Deities who are the embodiment of evil.』 aren't just the same as the evil gods……? If someone finds out about this……"
"Oh, you mean it's religiously inappropriate. Well, no one will notice, right? I plan to have him do some behind-the-scenes work."
"Then……it……should be fine……right? "
"Fiona. At this point, we're all in this together! "

　The religion of this world――is it some kind of temple?　
That said, I don't know how powerful they are, and there could be some kind of super device that I can't even imagine, and we could be facing a situation where 『The evil god has appeared! Send the extermination squad immediately!』 is happening in real time. But if that happens, we can just use them to earn some money in the dungeon.
　Let's just say we didn't know.
　Who would believe that we summoned them from the lowest layer?

"Oh, there's one issue. Are you strong, Seir?　Can you defeat the monsters and make it to the top?　This place is a labyrinth-like dungeon, and it's quite a distance to the surface."
『Teleportation is possible.』(TLN: written as instant movement.)
"Instant movement……?　Are you saying you're really fast? "
『Teleportation.』 (TLN: Now written as teleportation.)
"Seriously? "

　Well, sure, in a fantasy world, it's common to have magic that allows you to warp from town to town, but you wouldn't expect someone who can actually use it to become your ally, right?
　I don't really know what he's thinking, and Fiona seems really scared of him, but if Doppler's explanation is correct, there's almost no chance that he's hostile.

"Can you teleport with other people?"
『Can.』
"Then Seir, bring Doppy with you. We'll have you two work together for a while."
『Who is Doppy? 』
"That's my Doppler, who looks just like me. You're colleagues, so get along well."
『Acknowledged.』

　While holding up the flipboard, Seir glances at Doppy.
　His cold gaze, devoid of emotion, seemed to look down on those below him. Well, Doppy himself said that Seir was much higher in rank than him, so I guess there must be some kind of ranking system in the demon world.

　I don't expect them to drink with me or party, but I do want them to be friendly as colleagues.
　Doppy should be fine, but this Seir guy is a little hard to read.
　After all, he's a real demon……

　◇◆◆◆◇

　We're back to the first layer.
　Seir says that he has some kind of contract with me that allows him to know my location no matter where I am.
　We used the transfer monument to get to the first floor, but I wonder how it will work.

"Hey……Maho. Is this really okay……?"
"What is?　Are you talking about Seir's teleportation? "
"No, not that! I'm talking about that magic array!　Arent that doppler and that Seir……monsters……?"

　Fiona looks frightened. Perhaps she senses something sinister that I, as an Earthling, cannot perceive.

"It's probably gonna be okay. Doppy said so too. He said he would lend me his strength in return for the gift. In the first place, it's meaningless to compare their values with ours. Well, it might be necessary to be careful about not killing humans, though. Especially Seir."

　Since Doppy is basically going to look like me, there's no need to teach him common sense.
　However, Seir looks like a noble prince, but he is a real demon.
　There is a possibility of getting into unexpected trouble.
　That said, if you're going to run a dungeon, all the monsters are just like employees who are there to be defeated. If we can't even manage this much, there's no point in even talking.
　It would be difficult with monsters like savages who can't communicate, but Seir can communicate with his mysterious flipboard.
　As we were talking, Seir appeared on the first floor.
　He's holding Doppy, who has transformed into me, under his arm.
　It was really an instantaneous movement.
　Seir threw Doppy aside, got off his horse, and stood in front of the transfer monument.

『This magical device.』
"What about the transfer monument? "
『It seems to function in much the same way as my teleportation.』
"So it's got magical powers dwelling within?. Then you're like this magical device, right?"

　Does that mean their magic can be analyzed and used? Well, it's probably impossible for a beginner like me to feel magic, but what about those two young magicians I met the other day? Is it possible?

『But my magic is vastly superior! 』

　Seir brushed his hair back and struck a pose.
　It's a movement that can only be seen in slapstick comedy on Earth, and it leaves me with an indescribable feeling.
　I can't tell if this is serious or a joke.
　I'm just trying to hold back my laughter, but Fiona is turning blue in the face. How am I supposed to interpret this?!
　In any case, is the transfer monument using magic from the demon world? Or rather, magic itself was something that was used by borrowing the power of a god or something like that, wasn't it?

"Well, it seems like the dungeon itself just suddenly appears, so it's probably something related to the demon world."
『Certainly, the air in the lower layers may be similar to the world I was in.』

　Indeed, even I can tell that the air is different between the first floor and the basement.
　It's difficult to explain, but the lower layers feel heavy and dense.
　It's hard to explain because there's nothing that makes it difficult to move, but there's something demonic about it…… Maybe the concentration of magic in the air is different.

"With Seir's ability, we could send anyone to the lowest level."
『Possible. I'm the best at it.』

　Well, I don't plan on putting other humans at the bottom layer for now, but it's good to have more options. Even if it's not for the lowest level, it's great that you can use it to simply bring lost people back to the surface.

"Okay, the members who are here now are going to be the core of this dungeon's operations. Everyone, let's all do our part and make this the best dungeon in the world!"

　Let's assign roles here.

　Executive Director: Me
　Assistant and Land Management Director: Fiona
　Dungeon Management Supervisor: Doppy
　Dungeon Management Assistant: Seir
　Dungeon mascots: Pochi, Tama, and Kaiser

『Feedback!　Opinion! 』

　When I announced the division of roles, Seir quickly wrote something on the flipboard.

"What's the matter, Seir?"
『Am I beneath a Doppler?』
"Yeah, why? "
『Unfair!　Unacceptable! 』

　Fuumu?　I guess there really is a hierarchy in the demon world.

"Seir. Doppy is acting as me, so please treat him as if he were me. Since you are the one who will actually be doing the work, you will essentially be responsible for all of the operational management. You have a big responsibility, so do your best."
『If it's Lady Maho's order, there's nothing we can do……』

　You don't seem very convinced, but Doppy is actually a copy of me, so he should have the same capabilities and situational judgment as me. That's why I don't have to give detailed instructions, and they understand me, so they are well suited to be in charge.
　Seir, who can teleport, is too competent as a member of the operational unit.
　There is no one better suited to placing the treasure chests in their designated location.
　If we had transported them normally, we would have had to defeat the monsters while moving, and there were so many of them that it wasn't very realistic. At worst, I thought I could just put them there sometimes, but with Seir's ability, it's no problem to add them every day.

"What is our 『dungeon mascot』 title, woof? "

　Pochi, Tama, and Kaiser tilt their heads and ask.
　It's certainly a vague role.

"Your job is to be the face of the business. Everyone loves large animals, after all."
"W-Won't they be scared, nyan? "
"It's okay if they know you're not dangerous. Big animals are cute, and once you realize they're your friends, there's nothing more reliable than them."

　Pochi, Tama, and Kaiser are actually huge and cute, so they will surely be popular with children.
　If this were a pet belonging to someone unrelated to the domain lord, it might be taken away or cause trouble, but since we're on the domain lord's side, it's fine. Long live authority!

"Then, let's aim for two weeks from now for the actual launch!　Let's do our best in preparation for then!"
" " "Yeah!" " "

　And so, in a way that was different from what I had imagined, the members gathered, and our plan to rebuild the dungeon town began.

　Let's do this!

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