It’s Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

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– 1 –

“That’s quite impressive.”

Libertus knew all too well Sonia’s cowardly expectations.

Her insight had been growing stronger and stronger.

“Who…?”

“Sonia.”

How often do those accustomed to leaning on others react with indignation when that support is suddenly removed?

Yet, even though Sonia’s arbitrary expectations were betrayed, she succeeded in prioritizing self-reflection.

Unlike Elias.

“Well… she is relatively steadfast… it’s hard to stand alone from what I’ve heard…”

That was something truly worthy of praise.

“Elenore…”

However, Sonia, who was unaware that Rita and Xue were sharing praises about her, could only continue to feel awkward.

How to treat this suddenly arisen ‘noble’ who was a ‘slave.’

The nobles she knew were either prideful and arrogant fools or truly admirable individuals armed with a sense of duty.

They were hard to understand, classified into just these two types.

“Please call me by my name, Miss.”

“Huh? But…”

Thus, when Elenore was the one to say such a thing first, Sonia couldn’t help but be surprised.

According to her understanding, nobles were beings who couldn’t speak such words.

“Or you can just call me ‘you’ or ‘slave.'”

“There’s no way I’d do that.”

“That would be the right thing to do.”

At Sonia’s discomfort, Elenore shook her head.

She understood.

When one takes the position of serving someone, one ought to know how to behave as a subordinate.

That knowledge was something she had acquired through the trajectory of her life.

Even if she believed she ought to take on the position of a ruler and act accordingly, she was still a fallen noble who had never truly been in the position of a ruler.

Elenore had been in such a status since she could remember, but she had never genuinely stood above someone.

“Right now, I am merely a slave. You may think of me as a human-shaped object and use me as you wish.”

“That’s not possible.”

“…You are quite kind, Miss. As a subordinate, that brings joy, but you must do it.”

Her life had generally involved interacting with people of equal or higher social standing.

Distant relatives were not low enough in status to be dealt with as servants or subordinates.

Apart from her younger brother Al, everyone else in her family were older relatives. Even her uncle’s children had to be treated that way.

They were acknowledged for their power until they became the successor of their family.

The reason she maintained her position as an arrogant upper class was simply because she had been educated that way; she had never truly experienced such a position, making her no different from a fake noble.

Thus, there was less resistance to Libertus’s pressure than one might expect.

“If you don’t, the Master will get very upset. His words to me, ‘Know your place,’ have that meaning.”

“What does that mean…?”

“It means that if I offend you in any way, cause harm, or act inappropriately, you… will appropriately ‘dispose’ of me.”

Due to her ambiguous position, Elenore could accurately grasp Libertus’s intentions.

Though she may not have understood the circumstances, her family had drilled into her the concept of ‘appropriate behavior based on social rank.’

“Ah…”

“So please take action regarding the only… solace I am currently allowed. Please tell me what I must do. I will follow as much as I can, despite being inexperienced.”

Although Elenore may not have fully accepted that she was now in a position deserving of contempt, she knew it in theory.

And she understood that Sonia was not someone who could casually look down on others.

That was a stroke of luck for both.

Sonia could learn how to conduct herself through Elenore.

Elenore wouldn’t have to face a shock from being forced to accept her position by her superior before coming to terms with reality.

They had been granted ample time and space to adapt.

“Is the talk over? Let’s go.”

Only after the conversation was settled.

Maria and Sonia were able to help Elenore reunite with her family.

“Mother, Sister, Al…”

“Y-you… is everything okay?”

“What on earth happened?”

“First, I’m fine. If we wait, we’ll be let out soon. The Dungeon Lord said so, so we just need to follow what he says.”

“In that case…”

Meeting her biological family and cousins, Elenore focused on reassuring them.

If they succumbed to unfounded anxiety and did not obey the Dungeon Lord’s words, someone might die, and her efforts would end up being for naught.

Especially her uncle’s family, having lost their head, were in a state of despair, making such care even more crucial.

“Father… Father is…”

“Pull yourself together. If you don’t get your act together, Auntie might be seriously hurt too.”

“Are you okay? What should we do from now on?”

“First, we need to stay here. Fortunately, the Lord of this place is relatively mild. If we just listen well, we won’t get hurt.”

Her cousins, too, were of a generation that had not experienced what a ‘real noble life’ was like.

They were essentially people no different from commoners, having learned noble conduct merely from their family.

Elenore thought that was rather fortunate.

Had they been able to freely command servants or slaves, that might be different.

But since they hadn’t, they did not fully comprehend what it meant to be in such a position.

At the same time, they had a vague understanding of what one ought to do when becoming a subordinate.

That way of life would save them.

“That’s a relief, but…”

“If we’re lucky, we might even get a chance to truly meet other ‘great ones.'”

“That’s… true.”

Moreover, their family were fanatics.

It was natural for them to regard the Demon Clan as their superiors.

That fact was helpful to them.

For Elenore and her family to accept this reality without fear.

The reason their family became fanatics in the first place was because they indirectly met a ‘great being’ with the help of another ‘sibling.’

They had never actually met a true ‘great one’ or a being with the potential to become great.

That knowledge was more than sufficient to allow them to hope now.

“Well, it seems that being great was truly… fitting for him.”

“I’ve heard the dungeon itself was created not long ago. But if he mastered such cunning and conduct…”

“He was a disturbingly noble individual…”

Thanks to that fact and the dignity with which Libertus encountered them, Elenore was able to manage her family splendidly, with Sonia and Maria’s assistance.

“Everyone looks okay.”

“Really? Phew…”

Thus, at long last.

Elenore was able to let out a sigh of relief.

“Oh, and you must speak casually with me, Miss.”

“I’m still not used to it…”

“It’s unreasonable to expect such a thing of Sonia in a short time. For now, it’s better to be satisfied with this.”

In a way, this too could be seen as an example of someone tied up loosening their bonds.

Elenore, who had almost ruined her family’s life due to harboring resentment against Libertus and Sonia, was now managing her family excellently.

– 2 –

To give the three some time, shortly after emerging from the Underground Prison.

“A guest?”

– Tap.

A skeleton approached me while I was inspecting the remaining areas of the dungeon that I had not yet surveyed.

The place this soldier was in charge of had now become the existing entrance designated for ‘guests.’

After burying the mountain and making it so only a few could pass through, it was a place that no longer required much vigilance.

It brought news that a guest had arrived.

“Who is it? No one informed me in advance.”

– Clack.

“Who? Is that true?”

– Tap!

It was inevitable that I gazed at the skeleton with questioning eyes.

After all, the news he brought was unexpected.

But since a guest had indeed arrived, and that guest came with positive tidings, I couldn’t just neglect them at the door.

My gaze turned to Xue.

“Xue. Please take them to the reception room. I’ll go on ahead.”

“Okay… I’ll return shortly.”

Ordinarily, I would send a ‘disciple’ or ‘maid,’ but all the people in the dungeon were gathered in one place at that moment.

It wouldn’t do to send a brain-dead worker or a bound spellcaster who couldn’t even speak to guide a guest…

Thus, sending Xue was the only unavoidable choice.

She understood this as well, nodding her head before quickly disappearing down the corridor.

“I… a lowly one without knowledge of etiquette from the wild… meet the Queen of the Dungeon.”

“Welcome. Please do not mind the etiquette. To us, such human customs are of no importance.”

“Such great consideration… truly… thank you. However… we are well aware of human etiquette as well.”

“I know. It’s just that I’m saying don’t feel pressured.”

A short while later.

Upon arriving at the newly furnished reception room on the first floor, not the second, I smiled at the person who had arrived.

A Wood Spirit, an Ent.

Though we hadn’t formally exchanged intentions, he was a member of the faction that had extended me goodwill.

“Here.”

“Oh… Thank you, warrior of the dungeon… I didn’t expect such consideration…”

“That’s only natural. Our Master never neglects guests.”

The tea prepared for the envoy was, in fact, honey infused with magic.

Other ‘plant’ ingredients would likely be difficult for them to drink, hence the extra consideration.

He was incredibly pleased, and Xue seemed even happier at his praise.

“I didn’t expect you to send an envoy first.”

In that pleasant atmosphere, the meeting began.

“Our… Queen has long desired to interact with the Queen of the Dungeon…Upon hearing that you have returned to the dungeon, she hoped to convey that sentiment with this gift and me.”

“That’s a kind thing to say.”

“Here… this is a gift from the Queen… I hope you will receive it with joy.”

Upon hearing my response, the envoy immediately bowed his large body and presented me with items extracted from himself.

Three staffs made of wood, decorated with several skulls and feathers.

Those items had an unrefined appearance, making them seem rather unsuitable as gifts…

“Is this the staff of a Green Skin sorcerer? What’s the reason for giving this to me?”

Knowing what it was, I couldn’t help but wonder what that gift signified.

“There are beasts that our Queen has successfully dominated in a clearing just outside the dungeon… The proof of subduing them is this staff, and those who hold this staff will be commanded by the presence of beings under the spell and curse to follow… This is… a gift from our Queen…”

“Indeed.”

This gift signified three things.

One was that they regarded me as special enough to put in such effort to present me with something unique.

The second was their strength and the influence of the faction that would generously give away a portion of their tamed wild monsters.

Lastly, it indicated that the one giving the gift was thoroughly aware of my situation and had been keeping an eye on my dungeon.

They knew that there was a shortage of monsters near my dungeon and were aware of the consequences.

Thus, I could say they appealed to me regarding information, operational capabilities, and military might, along with their goodwill.

“Please convey my gratitude. I’ve accepted it joyfully.”

“You have my word… Your Majesty.”

The timing was perfect. And the demeanor of someone greatly valuing my goodwill.

On top of that was the presence of another ‘queen’ who guaranteed that goodwill.

It would be considered an immense rudeness to refuse a gift of such significance.

The envoy, having bowed deeply, then opened his mouth regarding the next matter.

“Additionally, our Queen eagerly anticipates the opportunity to meet the Queen of the Dungeon… She requested that I obtain a time when the meeting can be held… So please consider.”

Of course, there was no need to prolong this any further.

They were the number one priority on my list of tasks to resolve.

However, it was not absolutely necessary to inform them of an exact time.

After all, it was they who were waiting, and I was quite confident that, even just based on the current situation, I maintained the upper hand.

There was no need to take a negative stance either.

“Tell them not to worry about that either. Just wait, and I will go shortly.”

“The grace of Your Majesty is truly immense… Then… I will convey that to our Queen.”

With that, the envoy, an Ent, bowed his head and prepared to leave.

“Wait a moment.”

Had I not stopped him.

“What… is it?”

With gentle, yet cautious eyes, the Ent asked me.

In truth, that attitude had persisted since he first arrived.

It was a clear indication of how frightful ‘Dungeon Lords,’ who are often fickle yet powerful, can be to ordinary beings.

“It’s nothing significant, so there’s no need to be tense. I just wanted to know what your Queen likes.”

“Ah… If that is the case…”

It was merely my curiosity about the entity that had sent goodwill and gifts my way.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have needed to ask, but I did it to maintain decorum and etiquette.

The envoy would add that I had expressed interest in her once he returned, serving as a kind of lip service.

This, of course, would be a courtesy that any intelligent being, regardless of the difference between humans and monsters, would appreciate.

“I suppose… she enjoys honey.”

“That makes sense. Now, go on. It was nice meeting you.”

“It was an honor for me as well.”

After all, the identity of the queen the Ent served was the Alraune Queen.

Now was the time to engage in discussions that had been postponed with the neighbors.