It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

* * *

“This is the place.”

“It’s a place that’s hard to find even if you know the location.”

“It’s very suitable as a hideout.”

The name of the village where the Claimel family was said to be hiding was Mozakar, about five days by carriage north of Copzerin.

It was fortunate for me.

Because Sonyataf was about two days away by carriage from here.

It’s the city where the black market auction, which was my original destination, is held.

‘It’s better to allow plenty of time.’

Since Hailey had informed me that the black market opening date itself had been pushed back due to what happened in Copzerin, there was no problem time-wise.

Still, there’s no need to live too tightly, right?

If asked which takes priority between ‘revenge for my dungeon members’ and ‘retrieving Serica’s core’, I would choose the former and act accordingly, but it would be good to achieve both if possible.

‘It would be good if I can handle it carefully.’

I examined the geography of the village.

The location of this place is near the entrance of a mountain. As can be guessed from its location, this village was a place that combined slash-and-burn farming and mining.

However, the output of that mine is not very large, and Eleanor told me the reason for this as well.

“Our family bought the mine. Since it was a mine where everything that could be dug out by people had already been dug out, it wasn’t difficult as we were planning to put in criminals and slaves soon.”

“Where would the manpower come from?”

“There was a dungeon inside the mine.”

“I see.”

A core and Dungeon Lord that had settled in what had become almost an abandoned mine.

It seems the Claimel family is also using the dungeon inside the mine that the adventurers’ guild had already suppressed and was using for training.

It might sound strange that fanatics who worship demons are buying and using a demon Dungeon Lord.

However, if you know that the object of worship for these fanatics is the demons of the demon realm, not fallen Dungeon Lords on the ground, your perception might change. If they have power, they are objects of respect, but a Lord who has lost power is just a slave.

It’s also not strange since humans put a price even on their own kind or blood relatives.

‘The race is werebeast… It’s worth meeting for now.’

“It seems you were thinking of building an army.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

It seems they were planning to extract labor and soldiers from this Lord. If risk management is thorough, it’s a fairly good method.

It’s a good situation.

Whether I dominate this Dungeon Lord or just absorb the core. I can decide after meeting them.

Personally, I hope it’s someone worth saving.

“Welcome, you two. I deeply thank you for saving my niece.”

“Thank you for the welcome. Family head.”

Eleanor and I, along with Xue and Talhan who moved with us, received a big welcome from the Claimel family.

The family members were, as she had said, four of Eleanor’s family who were the main family, five from her uncle’s family who were said to be the ‘first contacts’, and six elderly and two young people from the branch family.

The faces of the elderly were unnaturally taut, and there were no minors… especially no children to be seen.

‘Do they intend to marry nobles even if they die as old bachelors? Still, there are quite a lot.’

They seem to be a type of fallen nobles with strong pride.

A fallen noble family maintaining typical aristocratism, with the elderly regaining youth by receiving power from demons. Still, this is a large number of people to maintain for fallen nobles.

They probably gathered family members by giving them hope with demonic power.

Otherwise, why would branch nobles stick to the main family that has lost both wealth and power?

This is also good for me.

Since their cooperation with demons hasn’t been long, not many family members have strong powers.

Whether as materials or soldiers, the more the better, isn’t it?

“It’s just time for dinner. Would you like to join us?”

“Thank you for the invitation. I happen to have some good spices, how about we have them together?”

“Oh. What is it?”

“It’s something from the homeland of the great ones, given by one of them. It must be good for us too.”

“Ohhh…!”

The family head, who had been letting out polite exclamations at my words, started to exclaim sincerely, spreading his face after hearing what I said next.

For demon fanatics, the homeland of the great ones means the demon realm.

Perhaps because they had already heard the story from Eleanor, the family members didn’t doubt my story at all and rather took the spices I handed over while sending praises almost like worship.

‘The meal itself will be delicious.’

Of course, with this, their fate was already decided.

* * *

On the evening after Libertas and Eleanor arrived at the Claimel family.

“To the honor of our esteemed guests and our family-!!”

-Cheers!!

The Claimel family’s dinner began in a harmonious atmosphere.

Eleanor found it strange.

She couldn’t even remember when was the last time a family meal was conducted in an atmosphere that wasn’t strict or gloomy.

“Thank you once again. For saving our precious niece.”

“Not at all. It must have been the care of the great ones.”

Of course, at the center of this warm atmosphere was Libertas, the Dungeon Lord whom they knew as ‘Angelita, a mysterious strong person and fanatic sister’.

With a noble smile on her lips, she consistently treated them with courtesy.

“I’m embarrassed we don’t have much to offer.”

“It’s more than enough. You are people who know how to maintain dignity and face while being modest. Eleanor, who was educated by you, couldn’t have grown up ordinarily. She will surely become an extraordinary person.”

“That can’t be! But I’m happy to hear you say so!”

“With talent and luck, Eleanor will surely be able to become a great warrior in the future. She might even become a standard-bearer for one of the great ones.”

She led the atmosphere elegantly and skillfully.

Like a real lady from a high noble family.

The elders of the Claimel family couldn’t come to their senses under her lead.

Although the current Claimel family has quite a few members, most of them are elderly who can’t forget the ‘past glory’, so the meal usually becomes a time to reminisce about the past.

“Hahaha! Hearing the kind words of such an esteemed person feels like honey in my ears!”

“You have good insight!”

“Hahahaha!”

But now they were busy laughing and chattering all the time.

As if intoxicated by the feeling of regaining past glory.

If they had understood that Libertas’s words were a mockery saying ‘you’ve lost all wealth and power but can’t forget the past, so you’re just indulging in luxury for guest reception, no wonder the child turned out like that’, they wouldn’t have laughed like this.

“This friend already passed out? Seemed to be drinking faster than usual…”

“Ah, I’m sleepy. Just need to go to the bathroom for a moment…”

Thanks to them being so distracted by her, they didn’t realize that some of them were falling asleep one by one quickly.

By the time a few young people barely realized it, enough time had passed that even those who succeeded in realizing it fell asleep.

“What, is this…!”

‘What is… happening?’

Eleanor couldn’t understand the suddenly changed situation.

Until a moment ago, everyone was happily having dinner, but when she came to her senses, everyone was asleep.

Her uncle, who seemed to have realized something and stood up from his seat, was staggering without even being able to draw the short sword hanging at his waist, and she herself was too drowsy to properly come to her senses.

“As expected, is it because you have the highest rank that you’re enduring well? But that’s all.”

The only ones enduring were the family head and Eleanor, the official heir.

However, no matter how much they tried, strength wouldn’t come out from within them.

Not only that.

“You… bitch…!!”

“Mind your language properly. Old man.”

Thud!

The sight of the family head losing all strength in his body, unable to resist even Talhan’s ordinary punch without any particular force.

Although she had never experienced it, she knew there was only one case like this.

“Magic, coagulation… ugh… why us…? Sister…?”

“Were you… the kingdom’s pawns…?”

To the questions of the two, Libertas, who had erased the calm smile she had been wearing before, gave no answer.

She just made her eyes glow ominously.

“…”

When Eleanor, who had fainted like that, woke up again.

Her world had already changed.

* * *

“Ugh…”

When Eleanor opened her eyes again, she couldn’t help but be startled while trembling.

There was a person’s ‘head’ right in front of her eyes.

Moreover, it was of someone very familiar to her.

A gray-haired middle-aged man with his eyes closed, his face contorted as if he had been in great pain when he died.

“Un…cle…?”

Its identity was the head of the Claimel family and her uncle.

He was the one who had boasted to his family about regaining the strength of his youth through demon power, but in the end, he died without even being able to wield that power due to some Dungeon Lord’s trick.

“Did you sleep well? Eleanor.”

“You…!”

A woman greeting with a calm voice while placing her hand on top of his head.

Flames rose in Eleanor’s eyes as she recognized her as the ‘sister’ who had saved her and escorted her home.