It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

* * *

The lord of Solemio, Valeon Terramor, was the current head of the baronial family that had long protected Solemio Castle.

However, originally, he was destined to end his life as a junior baron. Because he was the second son, not the first son of the previous family head.

In other words, he was able to inherit the baronial family like this simply because his older brother died early from illness.

[The lord? He's an excellent person. He always respects his subordinates. Huh? Um...]

[He's not without ambition, but I'd say he's the type to adapt to reality.]

The overall evaluation of him, who had been running the castle for 8 years already, was generally good.

After a person no one expected returned to the family, he succeeded in managing it better than expected.

This was despite having no record of receiving separate heir or administrative officer training, only having a record of acting as a wandering knight in his youth.

However, even for him, today was a first.

"You say you're the administrative officer of Solux...? This is different from my memory. Is she really the administrative officer?"

"Even if I don't insist on it, there's natural evidence, so that should be enough, Lord."

She was a beauty that he couldn't have missed if she had been around here, no matter how much he thought about it.

And no matter how much he racked his memory, hers was a face not among the ones he knew.

So his point was valid, but when the woman claimed it so nonchalantly, he found himself doubting himself without realizing it.

"Yes, that's right, Lord. If you look, there should be documents I've submitted for approval."

"There was a name Charlie among the recently deceased administrators. There's also a report that a magician who was in seclusion on-site temporarily took over his duties."

"Is that really true?"

Valeon, who was flipping through the documents in front of him at the administrators' words, soon nodded after checking the documents handed over by another administrator.

Not knowing in his dreams that these were documents manipulated by Libertas and subordinate administrators.

After all, when you see everyone except yourself speaking in unison with contradictory words, it's natural to become confused even about memories you think are certain.

"It's true. Why don't I have any memory of seeing you?"

"Probably because it was during the Copzerin expedition, so you didn't see it."

"Ah, is that so? Well, since I'm the only one who doesn't remember, your words must be right. I apologize, Magician."

It's common to treat magicians with high abilities or adventurers who have built up that much fame as equal to lower nobility even if they don't have a title.

Of course, this only applies to those who have reached the level of elite or above, and below that, there are no exceptions.

It's a redefinition of status considering the influence that superhumans and the guilds they've gathered have had on the continent.

'Now that I look at it, it's an unusual atmosphere. Somehow, it feels eerie.'

Moreover, the other party's atmosphere was clearly not that of an ordinary person, so the baron considered that she must be someone at least in the same position as himself.

"It's alright. I'm not unaware of the hard work of administrators and nobles who maintain the country."

Such judgment of Valeon was further strengthened by the naturally antiquated speech style that came from the other party and the atmosphere that seemed to take it for granted.

'No matter how I look at it, she's not an ordinary person.'

His judgment was not wrong, in fact. She certainly wasn't an ordinary 'person'.

However, he couldn't know which parts of his judgment were right and which were wrong, so the only question he could ask was this:

"I know this might be an impolite question, but could I know where you're from?"

"I come from a land that's the most pleasant to live in, but will become uninhabitable for humans."

The continent where Libertas is located was a land with almost no cold regions.

When looking at records of all climates from the southern to the northern end of the continent, there was no land cooler than temperate climate.

In such a land, saying it's the most pleasant to live in meant either the northernmost or southernmost part of the continent.

However, two of them were realistically too far, and one was dangerous.

'So in fact, it's true that the cool temperature inside the dungeon is the most pleasant temperature.'

"My, you've experienced a tragedy."

'She must be a noble who lost her land to the demon realm.'

It was natural for the baron to misunderstand like this.

Also, in this world, 'nobles who lost their territory due to demon realm erosion' was a common case.

Even if the country occasionally reclaimed territory eroded by the demon realm, they didn't always return it to the original lord.

Rather, there were numerous cases where they used that as an excuse to return them to a safer but insignificant territory.

"It's a common thing in today's world."

Not knowing that what Rita said actually meant 'humans will never become the mainstream in this area', it was the most reasonable inference.

'Wait. Then, doesn't this mean a high-quality talent has rolled in by itself?'

Nobles in charge of the boundary with the demon realm are mostly competent.

In the first place, if they weren't competent, they couldn't be entrusted with land where wars with monsters never cease.

This is an environment that urges awakening to family members even if they're not the head of the family, and even if they were incompetent at first, it was inevitable that those exposed to this endless test would become competent or find their usefulness.

'Moreover... that atmosphere. It's a noble bloodline at a glance. For a wanderer, an alliance with a local noble wouldn't be bad.'

To this ability that was certainly believed to possess, add an atmosphere and beauty so noble that it's apparent at a glance.

It was also natural for him, who didn't know her true identity, to have desires beyond his station.

'First, bring her into the territory, gradually become close, then adopt her as a daughter, and if I can make her catch the king's eye...'

"I hear you're currently working as an administrative officer managing the ironwood village."

"That's correct."

"However, you seem to be of a status that shouldn't be working in such a place. Would you perhaps be interested in working in this castle?"

It's just that the direction was not lust, but ambition.

He was in his late 30s, which was still considered young among nobles, but he already had a wife and even two concubines.

In this situation, bringing another woman into the family was a burden.

Realistically, and in terms of status within the family.

"Lord? But this person is..."

"I'll give you the position of my court magician. How about it?"

The baron urgently continued speaking, ignoring the retainer who was trying to say something quickly.

Because of this, he didn't realize that the retainer had actually stopped acting due to the gesture of the woman in front of him, not himself.

"I don't know how to behave when you welcome an unknown magician like this. I'll gladly accept."

It wouldn't have been bad to continue staying in Solemio as an administrator, but it also seemed good to use the desire that the human in front of her was showing towards her.

What she wanted was control of the city.

'At least it doesn't seem to be lust, so I can stay in the castle for a while. It won't take long anyway.'

In any case, the lord in front of her was either to be removed or used.

Although the lord had rested long enough to have fat instead of muscle on his belly, he was at the elite level in his basic realm, so he couldn't be the target of the 'machinations' she performed in the castle at night.

"If we continue to leave such talent unnamed, my title as a noble would cry. Then, I'll prepare a room in the inner castle, so from today, live there. If there's anything you want, just say it."

"Thank you."

Anyway, at Libertas's answer, the lord immediately gestured to his servant with a bright face and continued his next words.

Also, an administrator who wanted to look good to her immediately asked the lord.

"Lord. What should we do with the guards who came with her?"

"No need to ask. Prepare space in the guest rooms."

It was an ideal situation for Libertas.

Enough to bow her head out of courtesy and smile.

Although the face of the lord who was acting as if he had already obtained everything wasn't that handsome.

But it wasn't ugly either if you thought of it as the face of someone who would soon offer everything to her.

"I'm truly grateful that you're considering even my subordinates. I look forward to working with you, Lord."

"Likewise, I look forward to working with you, Court Magician."

Even 'Nobility' didn't prevent smiling at someone who would soon become a subject.

* * *

My first duty as the court magician was not to assess the magical needs within the castle, but to greet Grelda, the lord's wife.

As soon as I heard this first instruction, I completed my understanding of his intention.

'He wants to make me part of his family somehow.'

-He's presumptuous. If you just say the word, I'll retrieve the life we've left behind, Master.

'Don't make it difficult. Didn't you almost make me laugh out loud?'

-I apologize.

I couldn't help but smile at Evangeline's words spoken from within the shadows.

Fortunately, at that time, it was also the moment when the lord's wife was making a joke.

"If I had known he would bring in so many concubines, I would have certainly demanded more shares of the property when I got married."

"You're not someone who cares about property, are you?"

"Well, that's true! I'm here like this, but I'm the daughter of a count family. But considering my value..."

A woman who can't forget her life in her home, the Guiles County, even after marrying into a local noble family in the south.

Nevertheless, she had an appropriate sense of duty and self-esteem as a noble, so while slightly looking down on her husband, she didn't miss what she had to do, which was truly...

'Human.'

The fourth daughter of the former Count Guiles, and the legal wife of Baron Valeon Terramor of Solemio, was such a woman.

"Sigh. And to think he's turning his eyes to others while having me..."

I could see the concubines quietly withering away beside her, but I ignored them.

It seems that the baron is somewhat managing himself, as he has apparently finished arranging the succession for all the children born from his relationships with them.

'I heard he said he would distribute property but not give territory.'

Due to the village's special nature, the territory of Solemio Barony was relatively large for its title.

All of that territory was to be inherited by the children born from Valeon's legal wife in the future.

It was unexpected that the heir was on the female side, but if both were girls, there's no helping it.

In this world, positions are determined by strength, not by gender.

"Mother. I heard you called for us."

"Mother."

"Come in, my children. Come here and greet the magician."

Just then, the two women I was thinking about entered the room. Although one was a young girl.

Perhaps they took after their mother more than their father, as both had hair color closer to their mother's dirty blonde than the lord's. It was golden brown either way.

"Then, is this person..."

"Yes. This is the magician who will be living in the inner castle from today."

My gaze went to the young child who was briefly imitating a polite tone with a lisp, then quickly turned to look at the eldest daughter.

At first, I wasn't interested, but there was an element that caught my attention.

"Your beautiful and cute lady..."

"Thank you for the compliment, Magician. The older one is Amelia, and the younger one is Julianne."

"I'm Amelia, Court Magician."

"I'm Julianne. Nice to meet you!"

"I'm pleased to meet you too, Miss Amelia, Miss Julianne."

Two noble ladies looked at me.

In their eyes, one emotion was felt simultaneously: a manufactured feeling of reverence.

There was some sincerity, but it was a demeanor that clearly showed they were nobles.

It's a conduct that strongly exudes the scent of education.

Local nobles shouldn't be entirely disregarded.

"And... oh my."

"What is it, Magician?"

"Madam, your daughter possesses a rare talent."

"Is that true?"

Especially in the case of the eldest daughter, there was something noticeable as a magician.

It needed to be observed carefully.

That was a talent that could grow into a power antagonistic to demons.

'Since I've come in here, it won't be able to grow that way.'

Whether it becomes the lord himself or his child.

Anyway, they will soon belong to me, so the flower of that talent will come to hold a different light.

'Or, it might just wither.'

Of course, if that happens, she will no longer be my concern.

I have others I need to cherish more, and materials I need to pay more attention to.