It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

* * *

"The magician is so pretty. Right, big sis?"

"Yeah."

While agreeing with her sister's words, Amelia was inwardly feeling uneasy.

It was because the atmosphere she felt from the magician woman she just met was unsettling.

'Somehow... it gave me goosebumps.'

She didn't know, but this was the instinct of a magician who had manifested a 'purification' type characteristic.

It wasn't only clergy who could manifest characteristics that purify pollution or evil.

Among elemental practitioners, some with special talents could also manifest 'purification' characteristics, and she was one of the magicians who carried that seed.

This was a special talent that, if recognized in time, could have grown excellently while interacting with clergy.

'...I think I should invite a priest.'

If you feel ominous, it's natural to call a priest to check.

While commoners would have to ask passing priests, nobles could pay extra to request a quick visit.

Amelia, who was usually frugal, had enough wealth for that.

It was an excellent judgment for a rural noble who hadn't experienced war.

"I should stop by the information guild in town. Prepare for me."

Only, she was unaware that she was already in someone else's grasp.

* * *

"A priest..."

Amelia's actions were very quick.

Too much for a girl in her early teens, and an excellent quality even as a noble's child.

If she properly manifested her talent as a magician later, that quality would have grown brilliantly, soaking in light.

However, there was no need to feel sorry.

I too could become an excellent sun and water for her.

Even if the nature is a bit different.

"Have them called."

So I nodded.

To have Amelia's request reach a nearby temple.

"Is that alright?"

"Wouldn't it be good to have one in our pocket?"

Even if a priest comes at the request of such a rural noble, it's unlikely that someone of a very high level would come.

Unless there happens to be a high-ranking priest nearby.

And even if such a high-ranking priest appeared, it would be a threat that could be handled sufficiently if they were few in number.

"Indeed. It seems the light of wisdom you possess, Master, will shine upon all the land."

"No need for excessive words. You may withdraw now."

"Next time, I'll come with better news."

As the Cerebrum Skull, planted in the local information guild, disappeared, I looked down at the city through the inner castle window.

-Hoo! Ha!

From afar, the sound of soldiers training could be heard.

Somehow, the lack of strength in their shouts suggested it was merely obligatory training, but...

Even that seemed excellent considering that some territories don't even do that much.

"Hehehe!"

"Hey! Bring it here!"

Nearby, two children were causing a commotion, running around at close distance.

Judging by their neat attire, they must be at least close to nobility or from wealthy families.

"..."

"Mom... I'm hungry..."

Behind a nearby alley, there was a woman and a child just staring endlessly at those children.

Dressed in rags, they probably don't know that they're lucky just to be alive.

They can't know that there are dozens of events in this world that can drop families in poor circumstances.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing in particular."

As I was looking around the territory like this, I felt a presence kneeling down next to the window.

When I raised my hand, I naturally felt the touch of someone grasping my hand and kissing my fingertips and the back of my hand.

"Whether demons or humans. It's enough if they remain in the grasp of a wise ruler. Master."

Then, she draws out some of my stray thoughts I hadn't even spoken and comforts me.

Things that were just unorganized, flowing thoughts before she spoke, and at the same time potential anxieties.

"Is that so?"

They began to stimulate my depths only after hearing her words.

"That's right. All they need is a life without war. They'll get used to it soon."

"But won't the land where I am become the source of war?"

"When we start a war, there will already be no enemies in this vicinity, right?"

I nod at Evangeline's words.

What I'm trying to achieve through this current undercover operation is a wide area.

An area wide enough that even when the presence spreads after reaching a higher rank, even if someone within detects it, they won't report it to the human royal palace or the Holy See.

So when I start a war, it will be after I've already built up the capacity of a small country.

At the same time, I could guess what she didn't say.

"They're already accustomed to peace."

"That's right."

"So I just need to let them enjoy what they already have."

"There's no doubt about it."

"But there's no need to just leave the masses alone. I should give Sonia a task."

Whether it's warm sunbathing or falling asleep in a dark blanket.

That is peace.

Although they might feel some anxiety at first, as I defeat external enemies and organize internally, they'll get used to a daily life not different from before.

What I need to do is to lower the 'victim's resistance' in their hearts until they get used to my rule.

Of course, the same goes for the 'predator's hostility' on the opposite side.

"Then. Indeed, only the nobles and adventurers remain to be conquered."

"When will we start?"

"First, I need to tighten my grip on these families."

"Yes. I'll prepare to subdue the knights."

"Do so."

The countdown to dominate human territory has already begun.

The castle administrators who haven't cultivated any special powers have already become demons 'voluntarily'.

To save their families and maintain their own lives.

'It was easier than I thought.'

Since what I wanted from them was not their original talents but only their intellectual functions, it doesn't matter if I just transform them into other forms that can use human skin and intelligence.

It's much easier to gain loyalty that way, and when converted to monsters, the cost can be significantly reduced.

'It's better to keep the lord's family human.'

The baron himself doesn't matter much, but the baron's wife is the daughter of the count who rules all the nearby territories... to be precise, the former count.

This was a status that prevented me from deciding her use yet.

'If she's to be used as a hostage against the count, she should be kept human to have higher value.'

Her children, too, should be kept human for the same reason to have a wider range of utilization.

Of course, I'll have to flexibly choose different methods depending on the situation.

'For that.'

I'll have to play house for a few days.

The first task the baron gave me as his court magician was to manifest the talent his daughter possessed.

"Hello, miss! Take this!"

"What is it, mister?"

"It's the most delicious apple from this harvest! Eat it as a snack!"

'Will you choose selfishness, or altruism?'

In my eyes, I saw the image of the territory's heir receiving smiles from everyone passing by.

I was looking forward to her choice.

* * *

"Miss Amelia. You were here first."

"Hello, teacher. I was preparing."

A smile appeared on Amelia's face as she raised her head at the voice, exactly as she had learned from her mother.

An artificial smile, but not out of line with etiquette.

The kind of smile that a noble who values etiquette would have applauded, saying she was well-taught, but one that she would rarely have use for if she only lived in the countryside.

The so-called 'noble smile'.

While wearing such a smile, Amelia thought that her smile couldn't match that of the woman in front of her.

'She certainly seems to be a noble, but...'

The smile on the lips of the person set to be her first magic teacher looked truly harmless.

Just looking at her face, if she were evil, it would seem like everything in this world was evil.

'But.'

Instead, the atmosphere she felt at their first meeting was still there.

The atmosphere that felt like seeing something alien, and a strange fear that continued while looking at her.

This made Amelia want to avoid her, but an unproven hypothesis couldn't be a reason to refuse the lesson.

'If I refuse this lesson due to simple anxiety, father might say I'm being too pampered and childish...'

Ability is a high-class asset, and it's a world where it's difficult to easily obtain education from senior ability users.

Therefore, this was something that couldn't be refused with the prestige of a mere rural noble, and refusing might risk turning a magician into an enemy.

If it was an opportunity to gain this at the cost of 'salary that would have to be paid anyway', even more so.

'Let's wait until the priest arrives.'

Therefore, Amelia's judgment was rational.

At least within the given information.

"Then, before we start the first lesson."

"Yes."

Whether knowing or not about Amelia's gaze and thoughts.

The noble magician with an antique atmosphere who revealed her name as 'Mist' immediately began the task entrusted to her.

"Let's first hear what Amelia has learned."

"Ah, yes. First... 「Invisibility」, 「Fireball」, 「Creation of Purification Water」..."

At first, Amelia opened her mouth confidently.

But after that, she lost confidence with each thing she mentioned learning.

Because the benevolent face of the other person gradually darkened.

"Hmm..."

"Did I do something wrong?"

Still, she could hold up this far.

Although she wasn't formally affiliated with the Magicians' Guild, what she had learned so far was acquired one by one with recommendations from regular magicians.

She didn't yet know that the problem was that those recommenders were individuals, not formal teachers.

"I can't be sure yet. First, let's find out what Amelia's talent really is. Here."

"This is...?"

"It's a measuring device used only within the guild."

Solemio was relatively rich in magical manpower compared to its location.

Although they were all research-oriented, not combat magicians.

"As I thought."

"The result...?"

"The magicians showed you goodwill, but they didn't tell you the fundamental things."

"Is that so?"

"Would you like to look here?"

"Ah, yes..."

As such, she initially doubted the authenticity of the 'measuring device' itself.

She hadn't seen such a thing when she visited the guild magicians.

The new magic teacher had something suspicious about her, and it was natural for her to trust the guild magicians she had been friendly with since childhood more.

"The corners of this square show which qualities you belong to. Here, 'Exterio' and 'Celestia' are shining. This means that the coordinates that form the basis of your magic power belong to 'otherworld' and 'soul'..."

But after hearing the detailed and coherent explanation that the teacher continued with, Amelia had to accept.

'The talent test I received from the guild magician when I was young, and everything I've learned, weren't all good...'

That what she had learned was wrong.

It wasn't a lie made up on the spot or a plausible forgery, no matter how many times she heard it.

Amelia, who had experienced the regular measurements of the magic guild, felt some betrayal, but.

'There's no way that things obtained through individual goodwill could have been a formal education process. I was foolish.'

After thinking for a moment, she also succeeded in washing away that sense of betrayal.

She wasn't stupid enough to mistake goodwill for something she should naturally receive.

She believed so.

"So the field you need to learn is... purification and light. Depending on your preference, you can keep either fire or water."

"That's somewhat fortunate."

"Even if it was mostly what was easy for them to teach, they must have taught you what was easy for you to learn."

"Ah..."

Hearing her words full of kindness and gentleness, Amelia realized that her small sense of betrayal had been noticed and blushed.

'Wait...'

And soon, realizing the reaction she had shown, she felt her heart hardening in another way.

As if enchanted by something, her composed heart was loosening up before she knew it.

Despite being sufficiently tense, feeling some atmosphere possessed by the magician in front of her.

"Now then, let's start locating your coordinates. The more clearly you know where you are, and what's around you, the more accurately you'll be able to learn."

"Ah, yes."

However, even though she had felt this once, Amelia found it increasingly difficult to compose her loosening heart.

The first education where on one hand she felt comfort from the teacher's presence, and on the other hand, her wariness was ringing alarm bells.

'Please come quickly... Priest...!'

The clearest action she could take now was just prayer.