"Mm! Only one last procedure left. The inspection will be over soon."
⟨I shall comply with utmost diligence!⟩
The creature was standing at rigid attention.
I projected a hologram into the air and pretended to manipulate it as I spoke.
"Could you spread your arms out? I need to check your physical specs precisely."
⟨Understood!⟩
With all six hands neatly folded together, it had the air of something that would obey any command given to it.
The Treasure Keeper followed the instructions without a word of complaint.
Its arms spread wide open to either side.
*I really hope it stays that way…*
*Like a tardigrade…*
I alternated my gaze between its body and the nonexistent report, busily miming the act of writing something down.
"Okay! Physical examination complete!"
Then I opened my inventory and scattered gold coins worth roughly ten thousand at its feet.
"Thanks for following orders so well. This is a bonus!"
⟨Oh! Thank you, Inspector! I shall count the gold coins once you have departed!⟩
Ah.
This was a problem.
*…So it won't use the wave now, will it?*
But it was still within the expected range.
Nothing to be done. I had no choice but to move into the more direct third phase.
I spoke as smoothly as water flowing downstream.
"Right! Now that the physical exam is done, all that's left is the ability test. Go ahead and use your detection ability."
I didn't even look at it.
I tossed the words out in passing.
As if it were nothing.
As if it were a perfectly routine procedure.
But.
This is what it said.
⟨Inspector… I beg your pardon, but I do not believe I should expend any more keys…⟩
"…"
Blocked.
I pressed on undeterred.
"Hmm? Are you saying you won't comply with the inspection?"
At that, the creature faltered.
It was visibly flustered.
"…"
Silence stretched between us.
What would happen if I pushed it any harder here?
That would be a last resort.
"Alright… You don't want to, is that it? I'll just leave it blank for now."
I tried persuasion first.
"But I've confirmed up to this point that your detection ability is remarkable. I was planning to file a positive report to my superiors. What a shame."
I dangled the bait.
"If your evaluation comes out well… you might even get reassigned somewhere better! You could finally leave this floor 100 you've been rotting away on for five hundred years!"
I thought it might show some interest.
After all, it had been trapped here the whole time.
⟨…I beg your pardon, Inspector, but I have no interest in leaving this place. I am exceedingly fond of this golden space.⟩
Its arms were drawing inward.
It seemed entirely uninterested.
I was genuinely surprised.
"But you've been locked up here working since five hundred years ago—aren't you tired? Don't you have any curiosity about the outside?"
⟨Not a single bit!⟩
*Was it a workaholic…?*
I put on a solemn expression and nodded slowly.
"Congratulations. You just passed the next test?"
⟨Pardon…?⟩
"Actually, what I just said was a question to verify your loyalty."
I closed the hologram panel with one hand in a suitably dramatic flourish and continued.
"If you had shown even the slightest desire to leave floor 100, I was going to revoke your guardian status on the spot."
⟨…⟩
"Your loyalty has now been conclusively verified!"
I rattled that off.
At that, the creature's shoulders jolted.
⟨Aah…!⟩
All six hands pressed flat against the floor as it bowed at the waist.
⟨Indeed! This Treasure Keeper harbors no selfish desires whatsoever beyond guarding this Golden Treasury in accordance with the Demon King's command!⟩
"Right, excellent. Another reward. Take it. This time it's a hundred thousand gold!"
*Shhhhhk—!*
I opened my inventory and showered more coins over the pile already on the floor.
⟨Oh! To think you would go this far for me—I am truly grateful, Inspector!⟩
The creature was overjoyed.
"…"
But again, it still wasn't counting them.
I gave it ten times as much, too. I didn't let a single trace of disappointment show as I changed the subject.
"You really love gold coins, don't you?"
⟨I do indeed!⟩
"So you have no complaints because you get to work somewhere with so many gold coins?"
⟨But of course. I am simply grateful for your consideration!⟩
The creature kept nodding its head as it answered.
Its hands were folded politely.
…Watching it like that, a strange feeling began to creep up on me.
*What on earth does this thing live for?*
Five hundred years.
This creature had been stuffed alone in this sealed golden room for five hundred years.
And for four hundred of those years, it had been training by itself, waiting for invaders who never came.
Needless to say, it had no Gallery.
I asked.
"Is there anything you want? I can grant most things within my authority as an inspector, so go ahead and say it."
⟨No! I am perfectly content as things are!⟩
"Come on, how can you go through life without wanting a single thing? Just speak freely."
⟨I truly mean it! I have no complaints whatsoever, nor anything I desire!⟩
"Really nothing?"
⟨Yes! Nothing!⟩
My stubbornness kicked in.
When someone clams up this hard, it only makes you want to dig deeper.
"I need to inspect your assigned area and file a report, and if I leave the grievances section completely blank, my superiors are going to question my inspection skills. Just tell me one thing, even something trivial."
When I said that, the creature fidgeted and smoothed its wild, tangled hair.
⟨I… truly…⟩
"Say it."
The massive body gave a start.
All six arms drifted aimlessly through the air, and then a voice came out, small and shrinking.
⟨W-well, there is one thing… but it is nothing at all. Guarding this place is an honor to me…⟩
So there was one thing.
What could it possibly be?
"What is that one thing? Tell me."
⟨It is…⟩
The creature kept stalling.
It didn't seem inclined to say it.
It appeared to be a side effect of my overuse of the *'Actually, that was a test!'* line.
"……"
That was when it happened.
A rapid brainstorm of Gallery ideas flashed through my mind.
The most inspired idea among them.
It surfaced.
It surfaced.
"Should I guess?"
⟨Pardon…?⟩
I stepped one pace forward and stared directly at its face.
"You've been bored all this time, haven't you?"
⟨…!⟩
In that instant.
The creature suddenly curled its toes inward.
Then the long, wild hair covering its face began to grow wet, starting from the crown of its head.
*Drip. Drip.*
Before long, an unidentified liquid was falling from the tips of its damp hair.
I was bewildered and asked.
"You… what's wrong?"
⟨Hic… sniff…⟩
The moment I asked, the monster's shoulders began to tremble, and then a grief-stricken sob burst out of nowhere.
"Uh…"
It was crying.
⟨How is it that you understand my heart so well…!⟩
The enormous creature covered its wet face with all six hands.
⟨Inspector… I, I…!⟩
⟨For the past five hundred years, I have been so terribly lonely…! To endure those centuries alone in this place, doing nothing but training and guarding… and for you to be the one to recognize it first… hic, hic!⟩
Teardrops fell without pause, soaking the pile of gold coins.
It was truly sobbing with heartbreak.
*Just how lonely were you…*
I'd guessed right, but it was still a bit absurd.
I soothed the creature in a gentle voice.
"You've worked hard. Five hundred years alone—it's cold to only give gold coins as a reward. I'll play with you."
⟨You'll… play with me?⟩
"Yep!"
When I said that, the wetness at the top of the Treasure Keeper's head began to clear.
It seemed enormously happy at the prospect of being able to play with someone.
I added a little more dopamine.
"If you win a game, I'll give you money too. How does ten thousand gold sound?"
⟨You would give me ten thousand gold!⟩
*Thud!*
It was so excited that the enormous body jumped once in place.
As expected.
Something it liked plus something it wanted—it couldn't help but go wild.
The Treasure Keeper, now enormously eager, said:
⟨Is there nothing I must wager?⟩
"Nothing like that. We're just playing."
When I said that, the creature kept showering me with thanks again.
By this point, it was almost as if it were worshipping me as a god.
⟨What shall we play?⟩
When it asked that in its excited state—
I made the first suggestion.
This was the moment I'd been waiting for.
"How about hide-and-seek?"
⟨What is that? I am ignorant of such things…⟩
Of course it wouldn't know.
"Hide-and-seek is…"
I explained all the rules of hide-and-seek in full.
But at that, the creature's body suddenly went completely rigid.
"…?"
It was deeply unnatural.
The excitement seemed to drain away in an instant.
Even though it had been so worked up just a moment before.
Was it perhaps too childish and boring a game for it?
In particular, when I mentioned *hiding inside the pile of gold coins*, its shoulders visibly flinched.
"……"
*Oh.*
I think I understood.
I spoke, having caught on.
"Ah, of course I won't touch that."
There was only one reason it would dislike hide-and-seek.
In this space.
There was something the creature was hiding.
I made that prediction and waited for its next words.
It felt like the longest moment yet.
Soon the Treasure Keeper spoke.
⟨Ah, of course you already know of the locks! I worried needlessly and have been rude. Please forgive me.⟩
*Bullseye.*
I had to forcibly suppress the twitch pulling at the corner of my mouth.
I had found the real way to make it spend its keys.