- The Dwarves -

A new day dawns on the dungeon. For the most part, a peaceful lull is maintained within. Akari clings to Shion since she woke.

“A-Akari!” she cries, “I’m ok!”

“Mu!” Akari whines, “I’ll protect you, Shion!”

“T-Taro tell her!” Shion pleads, “I can’t move!”

“Ahaha..” He laughs,

Looking away Taro returns to thinking about strategies that’ll protect the dungeon. The encounter with Asmodeus’s domain makes him think about how small Shion’s is in comparison. However they can’t very well hire humans to construct a larger dungeon for their kind to die in.

“Knock it off, Akari.” Taro asks, “Shion’s got things to do.”

“MMm! Fine!” Akari puffs up her cheeks,

“What the?!” Shion complains, “How come she only listens to you?!”

“Haha…” Taro laughs,

“Ahh! My cute Akari’s already in her rebellious phase… boohoo…” Shion cries,

“I’m not rebellious! In that case, I’ll show you all my love for you now!!” Akari glomps Shion again!”

“Ahh~!” Shion yelps and the cycle renews all over again.

…

Later the group gathers to discuss future plans.

“We need to expand.” Taro explains, “I was thinking about this for a while but, it was evident from visiting other dungeons that this one is quite small.”

Shion held her hands in her lap, trying to look preoccupied. He continues.

“Fortunately that was a boon of its own. That way it doesn’t attract too much attention either. It’s apparent though; we can’t do this on our own. We saw how fast the marsh village expanded.”

“What?” Akari asks, “You want to enlist humans to help?”

“Not quite.” Taro corrects, “Not humans, but a species with an irresistible addiction to treasure.”

“Hm?” Shion hums tilting her head.

“One with a penchant for digging, and should've arrived at the nearest chapel not too long ago.” Taro grins.

The group continues plans to see the dwarves while Shion clenches her fists in her lap. She musters up the courage to say something.

“I want to come to the village too!” she demands,

“Shion?” Akari says startled, “You can’t!”

“I’m in a mind with Akari here. It’s too dangerous.” Taro adds,

“I’ve made up my mind,” she says, “Now I want to be useful to you guys as well!”

Akari and Taro look at each other.

…

“Wow! Amazing!” Shion says wide eyed as she spins around, looking at various facets of the village.

“S-Shion…” Taro says meekly, “Please try not to draw too much attention to us…”

Though it wasn’t helping, it may not have mattered too much. Shion and Akari both took halves of the “human-ing potions”. Shion was already beautiful as she is, so when she took to a human appearance she was no less attractive and unfortunately drew eyes to all that passed.

“Look mom! A princess!” a child cries

“Hush! Don’t point!” the mother reprimands,

“Tch.” a shady man clicks his tongue, “Kids already eh? What a shame…”

(“Who’s a kid?!”) Taro thinks,

“Who’s a kid!?!” Akari vocalizes Taro’s thoughts and yells at the stranger,

“Now, now!” Taro tries to hold Akari back,

After some time, they continue seaching.

“Now… Where’s the chapel?” Taro looks around.,

Shion, seeing this as a chance to help, approaches an old couple.

“*Ahem, pardon me… ” she starts, “ Could you know where I may locate a chapel?”

“Ara!~” the old woman swoons, “She even speaks like a princess,”

“Ahaha…” Shion quietly laughs,

“E-Erm just up the hill over there,” the old man points while blushing,

“Dear!” the old woman reprimands her husband,

“What?! You’re red in the face too!” he shoots back,

They continue to bicker as the three approach the church. Taro opens the two large doors as they enter.

There nuns run ragged doing tasks in disarray. The pews were splayed haphazardly and papers scatter to the wind.

A nun with disheveled hair and her habit is off kilter on her unkempt uniform was sitting by the entrance having a smoke break. It’s a striking sight.

“Wh-What happened here?” Taro inquires to the off duty nun,

“Hm?” she gives a look of disdain at him and puts out her pipe. “Looking to use the church’s services?... We’re full.”

“Full?” He asks, “In such a small village?”

She pinches the bridge of her nose in an anguished look.

“These… dwarves… revived here recently.” the nun continues, “They threw a big fuss and are now attempting to make this their new mine. We’ve tried to evict them but that only ended with them barricading themselves in the living quarters.”

“It’s not enough that we’re swamped as is with the crystal activating all of a sudden, it revives people naked and shatters these girls' innocence! Now we've got these brutes trying to stage a coup in a section of the church!”

“T-That’s awful!” Shion cries, “The culprits to these crimes must be held responsible!”

(“…I think that's us…”) Taro thinks to himself,

The nun relights her pipe.

“Can you tell us where they are?” Taro asks,

She wordlessly thumbs to a direction as she lays back in her chair.

“Can’t make it any worse I guess…” she cynically says,

…

The crew approached the barricaded doors to the dorms. It was made up of mattresses, shelves and various furniture. It doesn’t look very sturdy.

Taro looks at Akari, she nods.

Without a second thought, Akari smashes the makeshift barrier in just a moment. The three enter. Suddenly a naked dwarf descends off a chandelier to attack the party with a brass implement in his hands.

Being the tallest, Shion reactively catches the dwarf by the neck. Akari and Taro became shocked at the sudden act.

“Ack!” the dwarf chokes, “Men! Intruders!”

It was the dusty eyed leader of the group. Two other nude dwarfs came out from their hiding places.

“Gah!” a dwarf shouts, “It's that kappa and oni!”

Shion, who didn’t get a good look at the dwarf in her grip, sees him more clearly. She drops him in disgust.

“Eugh!” she cringes,

“Typical surface dwellers!” the leader barks holding his throat, “Always looking down on us!”

“That’s kinda how elevation works,” Akari snarks,

“Akari!” Shion admonishes, “Be nice!”

The other dwarves prepare themselves for battle with their curtain holders and make shift weapons.

“You monsters feel like you haven’t humiliated us enough?!” the leader continues, “ C’mon! We’ll show you how hardy dwarves can be!”

“Wait! Wait! Wait!” Taro speaks up, “We’re here to ask for help!”

“Yeah!” Akari adds, “We don’t want to fight!”

“We want nothing from you!” an angry dwarf shouts, “We just want to mine! You guys took everything from us!”

“Did you guys come by the dungeon since? We left your corpses and all your stuff there!” Taro retorts,

The dwarves look at each other befuddled.

“Bah!” the leader shouts, “You could’ve just been trying to trap us -!”

Shion steps forward. The dwarf braces himself, and the Dungeon Lord kneels to meet his eyeline.

“We have harmed you, you’re correct in hating us.” she begins, “We apologize.”

He looks away blushing.

“We need help.” Shion continues, “Not for free of course.”

“Pshaw! What c-could you even offer?...” the dwarf stammers,

“Riches, we will pay you and your friends for your services.” she answers,

“Don’t listen to her -!” one of the other dwarves shouts,

“And a mountain to mine.” Shion adds, the line seemingly shuts down the other dwarf rather quickly.

“I… I don’t know…” The leader, still uncertain, thinks to himself.

Shion tilts her head and pleads.

“...Please?” she asks coyly.

……

The dwarves walk single file out the chapel doors. One nods to a nun who becomes irritated. Akari, Taro and Shion walk out in tow as well. The smoking nun was in amazement at what happened. Suddenly she reaches out and grabs Shion’s wrist.

“!” Shion was taken aback.

“You!... I know you…? I think?” the nun says,

“I-I’m sorry I think you’re mistaken,” Shion replies confused and wrestles her arm free,

“You.. may be correct… Sorry…” she apologizes,

The group marches back towards the dungeon.

“What was that about?” Akari asks,

“I’m not sure…” Shion says,

“Probably just got you mistaken for someone else,” Taro adds,

“Yeah…”

The group finally makes it to the dungeon, the dwarves suit up. Come next light, Operation Dungeon Improvement is underway!