Chapter 24: Resolving the Problem and Badmouthing the Hero
After the second was cut up, I sent another one, hoping to see the movements of the rampaging hero. The real reason why I sent another one was to see how the army of soldiers will move, also, because the surveillance won't reach the army even if I added new ones.
When the third golem reached the entrance, what displayed on the screen were soldiers trying to stop the hero. They were trying to persuade the hero to stop killing, or destroying the dungeon master proxies.
Just when I thought the hero would stop, the screen turned black again.
"This is getting annoying."
It is clear that the soldiers dislike raiding my dungeon, as seen with their persuading pleas earlier, but that still didn't reach the hero's ears. Before the third golem was destroyed, I saw the hero brush off the hand of one of the soldiers' trying to stop him.
If I want this to go well, might as well knock him unconscious, but I don't want to bring Deus Ex Machina out in front. It just might instill fear in the hearts of the soldiers, which will bring me farther to my goal.
"What should I use…? Tranquilizer? I don't think it will work against that hero."
Because he is covering his body in armor, except for his head, it will be hard to get a dart in. And if I get the amount wrong, the hero might die and it's a one-way ticket to having my dungeon set on the highest priority to be subjugated.
If I use [Create Entity], I might be able to create an itme that can restrain his movements just until I can finish with the negotiations.
"Okay, [Create Entity]!"
Bright light enveloped my hands and spread throughout the room. When the light subsided, my hands felt something long and rough. It had brown color but glows a violet-colored aura.
Item name: Coercitio
Item Grade: Legendary
Rope made by the gods to bind the wicked evil of the Demon Lord in the past. Can restrain anyone while also giving the victim hellish pain until the rope is removed. Also restricts the usage of magic and abilities, and lowers the victim's physical abilties to a tenth of their power.
… I just made a very scary item. I don't want this to be used on me.
But with this, I can stop the hero from trying to destroy another one of my proxies'. I made two golems with [Create Entity], one being a proxy, while the other one to restrain the hero using this rope.
"Please let this work…"
I see them off and hoped for the best outcome.
***
~ Soldier Commander POV ~
THIS DAMN BRAT DID IT AGAIN!!!
While I was cursing the hero in my mind, I desperately tried to calm him down. Of course, I wasn't alone in my actions.
"H-Hero-sama, please calm down."
"T-That's right, the dungeon master isn't strong enough to reach the feet of hero-sama!"
While forcefully praising the hero, my subordinates and the other commanders desperately tried to calm the hero down.
"…"
But looking at his eyes made me realize that it is impossible to calm him down now. The only way to do that is to bring him the head of the dungeon master, or forcefully restrain him. The latter option is the most dangerous. Even is we were able to restrain him, the king of this country won't take it lightly and take this offence as treason. The lightest punishment we could get off was execution with only ourselves, but the worst was having your whole family executed, along with the children who were still innocent.
Desperately trying to find a way out of this situation, I saw another proxy coming out of the dungeon. This time, he was coming out with another one beside him. It looked like a golem and in its hand, was a rope with a violet aura.
"YOU DAMN BASTARDS…! DIE!!! GYAAAAAHHH!!!!"
All of the soldiers were dumbfounded before the scene that happened next. The hero lunged towards the two, but was stopped by the golem holding the rope. His feet left the ground with a punch to his chin. After that, the rope, as if it had a life of its own, coiled around the hero's body, restraining him from moving.
"GYAAHH!!! IT HURTS!!!! STOP!!! ENOUGH!!! YOU DAMN BASTARDS!!! AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
After the rope coiled around his body, the hero's pitiful wails and screams echoed through the area. Well, looks like my respect to the hero, which was already rock bottom just went underground.
While the pitiful hero was screaming in agony, the proxy, along with the golem approached us and opened his mouth.
"Now that the hindrance is gone, what do you say about negotiating about my dungeon?"
His voice clearly resounded through the area, while a smile formed on his face. Since we wouldn't go anywhere if we just kept on staring at each other, I responded with a greeting.
"Good day to you, dungeon master. My name is Kelm Corn, commander of the first battalion. Forgive us for coming up to your house in large numbers without a notice."
"It's fine. Anyway, let me get straight to the point. Why would you want to subjugate my dungeon? No adventurers died inside my dungeon up until now. And if I'm not mistaken, this should greatly benefit the populace as maybe for you, this dungeon is like a gold mine with zero percent casualties."
He doesn't want any chitchat huh? But for most of the points, he's right. The town became prosperous once the information about this dungeon spread. And there was also a rumour where the dungeon master was kind to the divers, except for the criminals.
"Actually,---"
I hesitated. If I let it out now where the hero can hear, I'm sure when he reports it directly to the king, me and my family's heads will fly into a basket.
"Hmm? Ahh, I get it."
Noticing my hesitation, the proxy made a sign of understanding. After that, he went towards the golem and gave him an instruction. The golem went towards the screaming hero and unbound him. After that, the golem knocked him out by a punch straight to the face.
"Well then, now that the problem is resolved, would you like to tell me the reason why you came knocking at my door with these numbers?"
Seeing that he made the hero pass out in an instant, fear rose up my body, my hands trembled ever so slightly, and cold sweat poured down my cheeks.
"Y-Yes, the hero used his influence to forcefully mobilze the part of the soldiers stationed in the city of Granc to come and subjugate your dungeon. He stated that if we don't follow his orders, our families' heads' will fly."
Seeing the proxy make a face full of surprise, I somehow think that the dungeon master is really kind.
***
~ Daichi POV ~
What the hell… Just what kind of hero would declare that kind of order and consequence? The citizens must already hold a lot of disatisfaction towards the hero and the country proactively backing him. I hope when Shironeko sees this side of the hero, I hope she doesn't crumple down into the floor while weeping since she idolizes heroes so much. Even the animes she watched mostly were about heroes fighting evil.
"Well, now that the hero is unconscious, why don't you take him back and report that during the raid, he was knocked unconscious by a strong enemy and you issued a retreat to save the hero's life and your subordinates?"
I wonder if that scenario would work, but sadly, he quickly shot it down.
"Impossible. That would work in the short term, but when he reports to the king, the king just might mobilize the royal knights just to subjugate the dungeon. Also, the king might fear the strength of this dungeon because your dungeon is situated in the heart of the kingdom."
Seriously? What the heck is with the kingdom's top? Does he really dislike losing power? Well, anyone would hate to lose power in this world.
"Is the kingdom experiencing high taxes?"
"I don't know why a dungeon master would know about taxes, but yes. Every year, the commoners pay tax twice, one during the harvest season and the other after winter. Also, the tax is about 70% the yield of farmers and income of the commoners."
What the hell is with that high tax!? Isn't that just a one way ticket to ruin!?
"One other thing, the tax is based on the premise of subjugating the demon king, even if the demon king hasn't attacked in two decades."
Yep, typical greedy king, the next thing would be what? Summoning otherworlders to be heroes along with corrupt hero over here?
"Hmm… I understand, are you heading back now?"
"Sad to say but no, if we were to retreat right now, once the hero wakes up, it's going to be a disaster."
This damn hero. I really want to kill him right now. In this world, I need to get used to the common sense in this world, along with the understanding of how life is viewed. But if I kill this hero, the king might take this as a dungeon rampaging and may declare it a threat to the kingdom.
What should I do? Oh I know!!
"Let me meet the king of this country."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone