It’s Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

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Anyone who has fantasies about a fantasy world has probably imagined the banquets that take place there.

Be it a boisterous, macho drinking party thrown by a band of Vikings or mercenaries right after a hunt.

Or perhaps a dinner buffet spread out with all kinds of feasts existing in this world, allowing everyone to choose their favorite dishes.

Or, more quaintly, an elegant tea party held by noblewomen.

However, without a doubt, the most frequent image that comes to mind is the ball, which is an absolute staple in romantic fantasies.

– It feels rejuvenating to see all of you, who are active in various sectors of society, here with this old body.

The silver-haired nobleman currently on the platform is the host of this party, having retired but still holding significant influence in the politics of the Kaisen Kingdom because he has many disciples.

Even now, having stepped down from his positions as head and lord, he still wields influence greater than a head and actively brings talented individuals into the kingdom from the sidelines.

In his old age, he raises both reputation and achievements, serving his family and being loyal to the country… quite an admirable way for a noble to conduct himself, I must say.

Thanks to him, I have also gained this opportunity.

– This is a place where I hope you will showcase your talents and find worthy companions suited to those talents. Enjoy the banquet comfortably, and I hope you are keen-eyed in finding good people.

– Let us show our gratitude to His Excellency with applause and cheers!

Wow—!!

I find myself at the party alongside Sonia, the young lady who came from the countryside, my maid Maria, and Xue in her capacity as a guard.

Clapping my hands along with the others, I looked around.

I wanted to match the various signals that have been stimulating my nerves since earlier with what I could see.

Phew.

Ah. Even now.

One person caught my eye, someone who seems to have gained a certain level of fame among the attendees, one of the swordsmen who had just been drawing attention moments ago.

My new ‘sensation’ was emanating from him.

To be precise, it was from his talent.

Phew. Phew.

“It feels a bit uncomfortable to not know where this ability is from.”

I’m deducing that this sensation, which indicates the value of human resources, has actually been an ability I possessed long before.

An intuitive capacity to gauge a person’s worth.

When I previously encountered Grin Deu Roll, the head of Mammon Trading Company, I could sense his impeccable etiquette and a hint of strength.

Just like how I felt a greater desire for possession when identifying people with high ‘sacrifice value’ through Sonia, Leonis, and the like.

If I think about it carefully, it’s likely I’ve had it all along.

『Trait – … Nobility, Alpha Tester, …』

I don’t know the exact origin.

It’s an ability not clearly defined in either of the traits.

I hypothesize it’s probably influenced by ‘Nobility,’ but it could also be a function of ‘Alpha Tester.’

Nonetheless, what’s important is that I can recognize it, and after my magical power and strength have increased, I can feel it even better now.

I wonder if I can use this insight into people effectively, but it’s definitely better than having nothing at all. Much better.

Phew. Zing.

Right now, that sensation is being felt all around, and it’s getting a bit tiring.

If it hadn’t been for an on/off setting, I think I would’ve been completely exhausted.

Fortunately, I’m barely feeling any ‘desire for possession’ at the moment.

That’s a real relief.

In a place packed with so many talented individuals, if I were to feel a desire for possession towards all of them, I would have felt like a lecher.

The sensitivity of the sensation seems to have improved my ability to discern the value of the target while simultaneously decreasing my ‘desire for possession’…

“Lady? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m fine.”

… Or perhaps it could be because I’m already surrounded by exceptional talent right beside me.

Compared to the numerous talents here, the sensations I gather from Leonis, Sonia, Maria, and Xue are clearly superior.

That’s quite satisfying.

If this is indeed an ability to ascertain the talents or worth of others, doesn’t it mean that my people are ultimately better than these ordinary talents?

“There are so many people here; maybe you’re feeling that way because of it. I’ll look for a place to rest.”

“Well, you’re not wrong, but I don’t think this commotion is bad at the moment. I’m okay. Maria.”

“Yes. Please let me know whenever you need anything.”

… Hmm.

Maria’s thorough adherence to the respectful manner of speaking due to her ‘education’ feels a bit awkward, but surprisingly, it suits her well.

Perhaps it’s because Maria is also a beauty.

“Hey. Lady. Do you have time today?”

“I’m sorry. I have prior engagements.”

“Really? That’s too bad. Still…”

“Hmph.”

It seems Alexis isn’t having a great day today.

With a face that, according to legends, should have been dead, he looks just as handsome as ever, but he appears oblivious to the fact that his essential attitude isn’t working here.

Even though it was said that there’s no need for etiquette for now…

“What was that? Just now it felt a bit eerie…”

Seeing that he has no intention to conform, it’s quite irritating. I think I need to order Eve for some extra time.

“Leonis! Good to see you again today!”

“Your Grace.”

“Your Grace? Just call me young master. Come here and let me introduce you to my friends!”

Nearby, I saw Leonis engaging in conversation with some young noblemen.

It seems that as a grand disciple of a magical guild branch, he can converse comfortably with young barons and the like.

“Ah, that…”

“Do you have any plans?”

“No, none at all. Let’s go.”

“Look over there, lady. The chandelier is so beautiful…!”

“Yeah. It is.”

Leonis appears to be conflicted, wanting to spend time with Sonia while glancing over here, but I found it amusing that Sonia is completely absorbed in exploring the banquet hall with curiosity, not even registering Leonis’s presence.

I suppose I need to step up my game.

“The unpleasant smells are overwhelming…”

Xue has been suffering somewhat due to her sensitive senses since earlier.

Even as a noble, they are ultimately nobles of a medieval fantasy world. The heavy scents of their perfumes and the type of body odor that cannot easily be concealed must not be pleasant to her sensitive olfactory senses.

“The smell of lustful beasts is driving me insane. I want to clear them all out… especially those looking at the ladies…”

“… That side?”

“Yup…”

Well, it’s true that the unpleasant smells are a factor. Pheromones do have a scent.

Listening to her growl, it sounds less like “I want to clear them out” and more like “I want to kill them” or “I want to beat them up,” but she seems to be showing quite a bit of restraint by not expressing it so directly.

I gently patted her head and asked the question.

“Does your head hurt?”

“I’m fine. I can endure it as long as the lady is here…”

Suu…

“Yeah. Charging.”

“I see.”

Since entering the banquet hall, she has often approached me to take a deep breath, sometimes sticking close to my neck, giving me a strange feeling.

Xue tends to lack boundaries regarding the time and place.

It’s not particularly unpleasant, and if it’s to ease her discomfort, that’s even better…

“Still, let’s be careful of the people’s eyes.”

“Okay…”

But I can’t just let it go, can I?

– Oh my.

– They seem very… close.

– The young ones these days…

And thus, with attention drawn toward us.

What on earth are those noblewomen imagining as they blush and whisper happily? Their ears seem to be too good, as I can clearly hear their chatter while pretending not to.

“Wow…”

And why is Sonia blushing and looking over here too?

Seeing her face turning red as she avoids my gaze and starts fanning herself is strange; it appears she has something to hide.

What on earth is she thinking?

Phew. Sigh.

“I’m already getting tired.”

To the point where the expectations I had are turning into disillusionment, I already began to feel weary of the party and the people.

The primary reason for this negative feeling stems from me amplifying my sensations as much as possible to gather all the ‘gazes’ and ‘conversations’ around me, alongside the new talent detection, as a result.

Maybe I should disguise myself next time and change my appearance entirely, to draw less attention.

Or perhaps…

“Was it a mistake to bring Xue as my guard?”

No, that’s not it. Why am I thinking such things just because I’m slightly irritated?

It wouldn’t do to not bring her since gathering attention slightly isn’t a reason to not bring her. After all, her capabilities as a guard are vital, and she’s among the top two in that regard.

“…”

“This feels a bit embarrassing to say out loud.”

It’s also partly because I genuinely wanted her to be with me.

Right now, I’m just briefly annoyed by the flood of sensations as new stimuli, causing my thoughts to spiral negatively.

– This lady, I believe she’s the next-generation talent at the nearby magical guild…

– I would like to endorse you for this…

– The Count is a hypocrite. He supports people in front of them but actually…

We’ve now moved up to the second floor, where we can see people clearly and hear their conversations well.

The superior physical abilities of the Dungeon Lord enable her to distinguish and hear the various conversations among the crowd, positioning her precisely in the heart of where discussions are concentrated.

– He will pay the price.

Glancing sideways at a woman with reddish-brown hair who appears to be a noble spilling the tea on matters of concern, I redirected my focus back toward the initial conversation I intended to hear.

‘That’s an unusual remark…’

I might be leaving this place within a few days, and it doesn’t seem necessary to get involved in their matters unnecessarily. If there’s no gossip here, I’ll need to move to another party right away.

So, I hope I can glean the rumors I seek from here quickly…

For instance, something like this.

– At the upcoming black market auction in the west…

“Lady?”

“Wait a moment, Xue.”

As I suddenly halted and tuned my ears, I calmed Xue, who appeared puzzled, then concentrated my focus.

The voice was coming from a vicinity near the first floor terrace. It sounded like a woman from outside speaking with three men.

Suddenly, the magical sensation changed, filtering out all other conversations as my hearing zeroed in on them.

– … I’ve heard there’s an interesting item coming up this time.

Shortly after, their conversation started coming through in detail.

As I shifted my focus away from receiving all the surrounding dialogues, the headache and annoyance had vanished long ago.

– An interesting item, you say?

– If it’s coming from you, it must be trustworthy.

– Go on, tell me more.

All appeared to be young nobles, and the one sharing the information was the woman.

They seemed aware that they were discussing something secret, trying to keep their voices low, but unless they employed magic, they couldn’t escape the superior hearing of the Dungeon Lord.

– That’s…

To summarize their extended discussion, it looks like a black market is opening in the city of Sonataph, bordering the Kiezen Principality to the northwest of the Kaisen Kingdom.

The items up for auction in the black market are rare, and there’s a scheduled item that one wouldn’t generally see out in the auction house.

And that item is…

– A Dungeon Core?

‘Bingo.’

That Dungeon Core, which I had been searching for, is likely the one belonging to Serika.

– Wait. That wouldn’t be…

– Hey, is it safe?

– Haha. You’ve heard my information more than once, no?

Thus, it seems the men reacted in shock, suspecting the source of the item, whereas the woman appeared quite pleased with herself.

– Of course, it’s all been laundered. The Dungeon Lord has been slain, and only the core remains.

Listening further to her remarks, I found her claims quite assured.

The Dungeon Lord’s core, which hasn’t had much growth in this world, was said to be comparable to ‘high-quality magical stones’ that are ‘traded on a regular basis.’

‘If it were a core below ‘average,’ there wouldn’t be any reason for her to appear so smug about it.’

She likely knows the fact that Serika was successfully defeated, but appears unaware of the potential dangers that may still lurk.

‘If I were a noble from the kingdom or Copgerin, I definitely would not forgive the one who stole that core.’

To kill off a Dungeon Lord that could have been captured relatively easier, considerable military and economic damage had to be sustained.

This isn’t a typical act of rebellion; it almost qualifies as treason.

‘Is this a form of complacency regarding safety, I wonder?’

Since it’s close to common sense to keep a Dungeon Lord ‘managed,’ the risks tied to its byproducts are consequently underestimated.

Talking freely about such clandestine items in this banquet hall seems to indicate that.

They probably think their casual conversation will be lost amid the ruckus, but they’re failing to consider those like me who have keen hearing.

“I didn’t expect to be able to hear this already. What lucky timing.”

“Uh?”

“I’ve found what I wanted.”

“Congratulations…”

– Bam!

“Thank you.”

I had assumed it would take longer to hook a couple of nobles interested in curios, build a rapport, and then extract related information, but instead, it seemed like taking a slow approach would have led to missing the crucial intel altogether.

Information about already sold items is impossible to acquire unless one coincidentally learns of the buyer.

– The auction is set for a month from now, is it?

– I need to hurry.

I shifted my gaze to the nobles who had shared their valuable insights, focusing on the woman still wearing a boastful smirk among the men.

According to their conversation, this woman is known as a collector of rare items; however, judging by her actions, it appears she has connections to the black market.

In that case, she’d be the singularly most necessary person for me among the countless others present in this banquet hall.

– Krrr…

‘Watch over her, and let me know when she exits.’

Feeling something transparent resembling a spider emerge from my sleeve, I commanded it to ‘observe.’

“Everyone, shall we toast?”

“Yeah…”

“Sounds good.”

I accepted drinks from the banquet’s maids and toasted with my companions.

Now, all that remains is to wait for her to exit while enjoying the banquet.

The party is still merely in its early stages.