It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

-Crack!

“…Hey.”

The ominous aura I felt from behind suddenly grew stronger, and I sensed two presences stepping half a step closer on either side.

It was Xue and Eve, without even needing to turn my head to look.

“Lady. I want to teach that one some manners. Is that okay?”

-Crack crack.

Hmm.

Should I commend her for asking my permission when she’s clearly extremely angry at a glance?

Or should I be displeased that she’s asking about her own intentions based on her emotions before I’ve even decided whether to accept or not?

Either way, it’s troublesome that they both just look cute.

In the meantime, it was certainly praiseworthy that they didn’t step out from right behind me.

“Lady. Even hitting her head once seems fine. She seems a bit out of her mind.”

And why are you like that too, Scarlet?

“…”

Even amidst such subtle hostility… or rather irritation directed from around, Yuran was firmly fixing her gaze only on me, true to her name.

It was as if she didn’t care what happened to her surroundings.

“Alright. Ran. Do as you wish.”

“Really?!”

“Lady?!”

As I nodded to that, her anxious face immediately brightened and she approached me.

The joy filling her face only grew as time passed. She really likes it a lot.

“Here.”

I feel a bit sorry.

While everyone was surprised and only she was happy, I held out my hand to her.

“Huh…?”

At that, Ran’s eyes died with a bewildered face. I can guess what she expected, but I had no reason to go that far in indulging her.

Above all, it’s our first meeting.

“Isn’t a kiss of oath on the back of my hand sufficient?”

“Ah…”

Still with slightly dead eyes, she nodded her head a couple times and then looked down at the back of my hand.

Though that appearance was even a bit heartbreaking, my stance wouldn’t change.

At least not yet.

“This is the kiss you wanted, Ran.”

“Ah, ah… Ah, yes!”

Chu.

Still, she came to her senses when pressed.

It seems that even she, who is more proactive than the other two, shares the thought that my decision is more important than her own satisfaction.

It’s fortunate, if anything.

“…As expected. I believed in you…”

-Tack.

Xue and Eve.

You’ve already been caught, you know. Pretending not to know at this point.

While thinking that inwardly, I grabbed the chin of the one who was looking like she was about to lick beyond kissing the back of my hand, and scratched her chin once.

-Grrrrr…

Though their species classifications are completely different, she seems to like similar things to what Xue likes, perhaps because she’s also a canid.

“Bring it.”

Screech…!

When I directed behind me, several warriors who came down together brought the cart loaded with the corpses of the Claimel family branch.

Seeing that, Ran’s eyes began to sparkle.

“Could it be…! Is this a gift?”

“I’m giving it to you. Use it as you see fit, whether reviving them as demons or using them as nutrients.”

“Thank you, my lady!”

Dungeons ultimately need to eat humans to grow quickly. That’s not limited to just magic power absorbed into the dungeon, but also refers to ‘experience points’.

Although their physical rank has fallen somewhat due to long neglect of training, several bodies of humans with high-rank power. For a dungeon that hasn’t been able to level up for a long time, this would be like rain on dry land.

There couldn’t be a better housewarming gift for a dungeon.

Flutter!

She immediately took out a talisman from her bosom, expanded it widely, and covered the corpses.

That was probably her ‘inventory’, or subspace.

The sight of the nobles’ corpses disappearing in an instant affirmed my guess.

“You’re not dealing with them right away?”

“I thought it might not be a very pretty sight to show in front of my lady. It’s Ran’s heart wanting to show only beautiful things to my lord.”

“If that’s the case. I won’t force you.”

Anyway, what’s given is given. As long as she doesn’t lose practicality by being bound to that principle, it doesn’t matter.

Like not eating what she needs to eat when she’s about to die…

As long as she doesn’t do that, she’s free to do whatever.

‘「Dungeon Lord Information」.’

Now that I know her name and have made a contract, it’s time to properly learn about her.

『Name – Yuran』

『Title/Individual Name – Imiko (Average Grade Kumiho)』

I’m not expecting her condition to be very good since she couldn’t grow properly, but I need to know what to adjust and how, don’t I?

『Attributes – Health 16 Technique 27 Durability 12 Magic Power 32 Resistance 22』

『Characteristics – Kumi Cheonho, Yosaeng Yeonhwa, Specialization: Fire Sorcery, Specialization: Pharmacy, Secret Techniques, Member of Necropolis (Inactive)』

‘Better than I thought…’

“Not bad.”

“Yes?”

I couldn’t help but be surprised at the unexpected situation, as I was thinking that.

Her condition was really better than expected.

Both the attributes she possessed, and her characteristics.

『Member of Necropolis (Inactive) – This soldier is receiving your special blessing. (Reason for inactivation: Dungeon Lord)』

『Kumi Cheonho

■ Fox Spirit of Kumiho

■ Specialization: Fox Spirit Sorcery

■ Alchemy (Fox)

■ Millennial Fox Spirit Essence

A complex characteristic combining the above four characteristics. Its true nature is hidden now.』

Even if the inactive ‘Member of Necropolis’ is because she’s a Dungeon Lord…

That 「Kumi Cheonho」 characteristic, though it’s a legendary characteristic now, looking at the description, it was certainly a characteristic that would become ‘mythical’.

It’s the first since my Alpha Tester.

Although there were many parts she couldn’t use yet since she still has ‘two tails’, those parts would be unlocked as she grows later, so it was still a characteristic with a very high ceiling.

‘「Dungeon Information」.’

『Maid ‘Yuran’s’ Dungeon Lv. 1』

『Continent Fame – 192 (Guild managers are aware)』

『Demon Realm Fame – 1 (None)』

『Core Activity – 122/124』

‘She really managed it tightly.’

The secret could be understood as soon as I opened the dungeon information.

Seeing the core activity adjusted to the extent that I could vaguely guess how meticulously she had examined her own condition and controlled her growth rate, even without a status window.

Seeing that, I felt like I had somewhat approached her essence.

Really…

“You deceived humans well, Ran.”

“Ah… This humble one, Ran, truly tried hard to survive until meeting you, my lady.”

“Yes. I can see that effort.”

“Fuhuhu.”

The survival struggle story Ran told afterwards was as follows.

The food humans usually give to Dungeon Lords is beasts. And what they want to make with those beasts is zombies.

However, humans don’t want to go deep into the mine. They only want the harvest, and they know there’s not likely to be much harvest now.

That’s the part Ran focused on.

“So?”

“I created a secret room and gathered jiangshi there, gradually changing their appearance and showing only a few to deceive that the number of individuals had increased.”

“I see.”

This seems to be the reason why she didn’t bother to unify the jiangshi’s clothes.

To show they were ‘different individuals’, there needed to be individuality between individuals. She probably piled up clothes in that hidden place.

The room hiding the jiangshi was initially a ‘deactivated’ room without magical elements applied, so there was concern about being discovered because the passage into the room couldn’t be excluded…

She created that room itself deep in the mine to reduce the risk, and later when magic power gathered, she made it into a room that could be entered and exited only by spatial movement without a passage.

“That’s how I waited for an opportunity while eating the beasts humans kept bringing, or sometimes catching ignorant goblins that appeared in the underground without fear.”

“And then I came.”

“Although I didn’t see the result, how could I regret your arrival, my lady? Just enduring until then has fulfilled its value.”

Since the guild visits a dungeon only after successfully repelling the ‘first human attack’, it seems she worked hard alone without the guild’s support.

She survived admirably in a much worse situation than me like that.

“If you hadn’t been discovered like this, you might really have found me on your own. You did well. Really.”

“Fuhuhu. This Ran is filled with ocean-like glory.”

Both she and I know that time wouldn’t have been just 1-2 months, but we didn’t say such things.

There’s no need to say bad things when she’s already out of that situation.

“Then, the jiangshi attacking at first was… because you created demons beyond the core’s control power.”

Among her demons, there were several formal-grade beasts, not just apprentice-grade.

Those were probably her trump cards for ‘reversal’. She might have planned to raise them to high-rank or above when the time was right after raising magic power like this, to use as hidden weapons.

And driving out uncontrollable monsters to use as shields.

“Though embarrassing, that is correct.”

Yuran covered her mouth with her long sleeve and blushed.

Hmm. The sense of dissonance gets stronger each time.

It’s certain this isn’t her usual personality, but it’s because of the intuition that doesn’t say this is ‘insincere’ either.

Although I can’t perfectly detect emotions like those transmitted from summons, I can certainly tell whether the other person is being sincere.

“I’ll tell you this.”

“Yes?”

So I couldn’t help but point it out once.

“I trust you won’t always wear a mask when dealing with me, Yuran.”

“Oh my.”

Whoosh…

Then, that atmosphere was revealed from her with her eye corners completely raised.

Her two golden eyes shining brilliantly with gold and purple magic power mixed in.

The intense desire that couldn’t be hidden added to the seductive atmosphere she had shown earlier when requesting a kiss from me.

…Yes. This is her true nature.

“I swear to my lady. There is no mask in all of Ran’s actions towards my lady. Everything is sincere.”

“I see. If that’s the case.”

Looking at that appearance, although she only had two tails yet, I felt as if all nine were already swaying behind her back.

* * *

“Eleanor.”

“Yes!”

“There’s a separate eldest son of the family head, but you said you were the heir. Is that right?”

“That’s right. …No, that’s correct!”

There’s energy in her answer.

If she watched the whole process, she would have grasped that I’m a Dungeon Lord, and a dangerous person who’s active outside the dungeon by whatever means.

As a demon fanatic, she would have recognized that this is originally a position to be respected, and now a demon that needs to be ‘served’.

“I’m going to close this mine and conceal the dungeon’s existence, so tell the guild that the dungeon was subjugated as needed.”

“What should I say as the reason…?”

“I thought there was no need to think that far for you.”

“Ah…”

“Say we urgently needed magic stones and had no choice.”

When I said that to her as she covered her mouth in embarrassment, she quickly understood and bowed.

Dungeon cores are resources that can replace high-density magic stones. And this dungeon is recognized as a completely initial dungeon.

If magic stones were really urgently needed, this excuse would be quite plausible.

…She doesn’t seem like the type to think much, so I’ll have to point out everything.

“Also mention that your family is relocating. Don’t say it outright, but subtly hint at it.”

“Understood.”

“Ran. Please watch how she does. It’s for your dungeon.”

“Don’t worry. I will make sure this foolish human doesn’t do anything lacking.”

Ran answered happily with light in her eyes.

She seems cautious and smart, so she’ll probably be able to handle whatever Eleanor does.

“Don’t resist. It’s to make sure you properly carry out my lady’s orders.”

“Ugh…!”

“I said don’t resist. Ran has to use one more talisman.”

…Or so I thought, but she immediately stuck a talisman on Eleanor’s forehead.

“Ah…”

The first one just burned up and disappeared, and when she stuck the second one, the light disappeared from Eleanor’s eyes.

You can tell at a glance. It’s like hypnosis.

Hmm. …I see.

She’s quite sinister.

‘I can see why Xue dislikes her.’

She seems to dislike meddling from behind.

She never showed dislike towards me, but she was reluctant to wait behind even usually.

“When that’s done, divide the nobles and send half to my dungeon. I’ll send my subordinates who were guarding the entrance, so you can have them escort them.”

“Understood, my lady.”

“Leave Eleanor here. There might be trouble if we send her first.”

“I will make sure that doesn’t happen.”

On the other hand, it should be said that she suits me. Because she has a personality that pursues profit in a state where safety and security are guaranteed as much as possible.

Like now.

“Scarlet. We’ll need to request the Elder Gremlins to close and develop this mine. Tell them the payment for the request will be 20% of the precious metal ores produced during mine development.”

“I’ll prepare the request form and the person in charge and bring them!”

“I’m counting on you.”

From what I heard from Ran, who has already explored deep into the mine, it seems this mountain doesn’t just have iron ore buried.

Though not diamonds like the ‘yu’ in her name, there’s a fair amount of rubies buried, which are no less valuable in this world.

A considerable amount has already been mined.

The value of gems in this world is largely determined not only by their inherent beauty but also by ‘magic power’, and while rubies are treated as less valuable than diamonds in terms of the gem’s own value, they have slightly better magic power yield.

Since I confirmed that precious metals aren’t of much value to her, it shouldn’t matter if I take the mining rights.

“…”

Looking at her empty neck, I do feel like decorating it with something.

It’s an unusually white and slender neck, so it catches my eye every time I look.

“Eve. Please assess the dungeon’s current status and bring it to me. We need to check the warehouse. There’s probably almost nothing there now…”

-Tack!

“I am ashamed.”

“Xue. Could you contact Serica? We need to have her bring the core fragments.”

“Okay…”

As I wrapped up the work in Ran’s dungeon like that, I prepared for the next.

The last task of this outing is retrieving Serica’s core, which is thought to be in Sonyataf.

The outing that felt so long was coming to an end.

‘I hope nothing happens this time.’

I truly hope so.

One unexpected loss is enough.