Epilogue 2

There was a grand ivory villa located within the Laverio Empire’s capital city. Inside said villa was a garden and that was where Dungeon Core 89, also known as Haku Laverio, was spending her lazy evening. She sat on an ivory chair in front of an ivory table, both spotless despite their location outside. There was a butler serving black tea with a mithril tea set. The scene could be described as that of a dignified painting.

Haku took a sip from her cup of perfectly warm tea. A wonderful flavor spread through her mouth, befitting that of the Holy Kingdom’s highest quality tea. That kingdom’s Church of Light was quite the thorn in her side, but they had an obsession with luxury goods that paid off.

...With her sip completed, Haku placed the cup back on the table, then looked at the cross-dressing beauty kneeling in front of her — Core 219.

“So? How did it go?”

“Ma’am! As you requested, Lady Haku, I lured Keima Goren into my dungeon! And then he escaped, brilliantly!”

Haku sighed. Core 219 always spoke in such an overdramatic tone that she felt like a player on the stage whenever she was near her. Though the fault ultimately laid with her. About two hundred years ago she had brought Core 219 to an imperial play, which struck such a deep chord with her that she ended up permanently influenced by a drive for drama.

“How was Keima, by the way? Did he fall for your charms, by chance?”

“Nay, my lady. Moreso than that, I felt LOVE! Between he and his male companion!”

Haku tilted her head.

“...His male companion? Wait just a moment. Keima and a man? Who is this man you refer to?”

“He is the man I exploited to kidnap Keima. However! He was in LOVE with Keima Goren! Subsequently, as they advanced through my dungeon together, Keima gradually opened his heart to him in turn...” Haku was so confused she tilted her head in the other direction.

“Core 219, do you recall the order I gave you?”

“Every word! Form a bond of friendship with Keima Goren, for as of yet unstated future purposes!”

“...Haaah. Then why did you kidnap him?”

“I thought it an opportunity to act out a dramatic meeting of romantic fate. There was a convenient tool lying around, so I had him bring Keima Goren to me. I attempted to have the man eliminated afterward, but... they fought together and overcame all obstacles! They grew closer with every battle! Yes, indeed, there was love between them! Possibly.”

Haku decided to ignore all Core 219’s dramatic flair and focus on the facts. If simplified, Core 219 was saying that she used a passing male to kidnap Keima, and then they fell in love within her dungeon. That seemed ridiculous, but if true, would that not mean she had accomplished her initial goal of interfering with his relationship with Rokuko?

“Additionally, while contacting him I established a goal, and attempted to befriend him through means of working together toward that goal. However, this failed. The goal itself was impossible, but I assigned Keima Goren a task so simple anyone should have been able to complete it. Strange.”

“What goal?”

“That is... Rebellion against you, my lady! A goal so impossible by nature that centuries of work would bring me no closer to success! I asked him to serve as a hostage so that I might threaten you with his life.” Keima would obviously never agree to help with that, thought Haku. But something seemed off to her.

“It feels as if you are hiding something from me.”

“Indeed! You are absolutely correct. I am stunned, yet not surprised, by your keen senses, my lady! But tragically, due to a {Treaty} contract with Keima Goren, I cannot report everything to you! Please forgive me, my lady.” Core 219 respectfully bowed her head.

Due to her constant dramatic acting, it was hard to tell to what degree she was being sincere. Haku had shown her that play to culture her a little, but it had brought her nothing but trouble. To this day she regretted showing Core 219 that play.

“...Very well. You may leave.”

“Understood!”

In any case, Keima and Core 219 making a contract with each other meant they had at least gotten close to some degree. That was close enough to a success for now. Her one worry was that every time Core 219 spoke the name Keima Goren, there was a familiar... gentle look in her eyes. She knew the look well, but she couldn’t quite remember what it indicated.

“Incidentally, my lady. I would like to turn this event into a play. May I have your permission to do so?”

“...You may, but as always, do not forget to remove Dungeon Core details and change proper nouns.” Despite thinking that the play might end up unpopular due to the male romance (?), Haku gave her permission since Core 219’s scripts were extremely popular and, if performed by pretty enough actors, everything would probably be fine.

“Indeed, of course! Now, farewell! May we meet again!” With a flutter of her mantle, Core 219 {Teleported} back to her dungeon. With her departure, Chloe silently poured a fresh glass of tea for Haku.

“.........” Haku took another sip and collected her thoughts on Core 219. She had aimed to make contact with Keima through a dramatic first meeting. Judging by her report, she had accomplished this goal of hers quite effectively.

“Did she exploit my orders to start something of her own...? Hm, I wonder what she might be planning.” In any case, the rebellion was likely more sincere than it first appeared. There was no doubt she intended to rebel if the right opportunity arose. No doubt at all.

...Core 219 of Tsia, located right beside Goren Town and Rokuko. Perhaps it would have been better to let them remain independent without ever engineering a meeting. Haku made a mental note to pay close attention to future developments between them.

Incidentally, the play Core 219 penned — titled “The Man and the Beast” — was a hit throughout the imperial capital.