It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

* * *

“It’s really admirable.”

Libertas couldn’t have missed Sonia’s expectations, which could be called cowardly.

Her insight was growing stronger by the day.

“Who…?”

“Sonia.”

How often do those accustomed to relying on others turn against that pillar when it’s removed?

However, Sonia succeeded in prioritizing self-reflection even though her arbitrary expectations were betrayed.

Unlike Elias.

“Hmm… She is a relatively solid person… According to what I’ve heard, it would be difficult for her to stand on her own…”

That was certainly praiseworthy.

“Miss Eleanor.”

However, unaware that Rita and Xue were exchanging such praise about her, Sonia was just continuously perplexed.

About how to treat the former noble who suddenly became a ‘slave’.

The nobles Sonia knew were either immature fools wrapped in pride and arrogance, or truly wonderful people armed with a sense of duty.

It was a difficult-to-understand species classified into just these two types.

“Please call me by my name, Miss.”

“What? But…”

Therefore, when Eleanor spoke first like this, Sonia couldn’t help but be surprised.

In her common sense, nobles were creatures incapable of saying such things.

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

“I would never do that.”

“That’s the right thing to do.”

To Sonia’s reluctance, Eleanor shook her head.

She knew.

How to behave as a subordinate when in a position of serving someone.

That knowledge was gained from the trajectory of her life.

Although she believed she should be in a position to rule and tried to take the appropriate attitude, she was still a fallen noble who had never even been a ruler.

Eleanor had been of such status since as far back as she could remember, and had never truly stood above anyone.

“Now I’m nothing more than a slave. Miss, you should think of me as an object in human form and use me accordingly.”

“How could that be possible?”

“…You are kind, Miss. It’s a joy for a subordinate, but you must do so.”

Her life usually involved dealing only with people of equal or higher status than herself.

The branch family members weren’t low enough in rank to be treated appropriately as servants or subordinates.

Everyone else, except for her younger brother Al, was all family elders. Even her uncle’s children had to be treated that way.

Until she was recognized for her power and became the family heir.

The reason she maintained the position of an arrogant superior was simply because she was educated that way, but she was no different from a fake noble who had never properly experienced such a position in reality.

So there was less resistance to Libertas’s pressure than expected.

“If you don’t, the Master will be very angry. That’s what the Master meant by telling me to ‘know your place’.”

“What do you mean…?”

“It means that if I show even the slightest disrespect to Miss Sonia, harm her, or act inappropriately for my status, I will be… appropriately ‘disposed of’.”

Thanks to such an ambiguous position, she could accurately grasp Libertas’s intentions.

If nothing else, regarding ‘appropriate behavior according to social status’, it was because it was instilled in her almost like brainwashing by her family.

“Ah…”

“So please take care of the only… comfort allowed to me now. And please tell me what I need to do. I’m inexperienced, but I’ll follow as best I can.”

While Eleanor might not have properly accepted that she was now in a position to be despised, she knew it intellectually.

And the fact that Sonia was not a person who could look down on others carelessly.

This was fortunate for both of them.

Sonia could learn about how to behave through Eleanor.

And Eleanor wouldn’t have to be forcibly put in her place and shocked by a superior before accepting reality.

In a sense, sufficient time and leeway were given for the two to adapt.

“Are you done talking? Let’s go.”

Only after the conversation was settled like this.

Maria and Sonia could help Eleanor reunite with her family.

“Mother, sister, Al…”

“Sis… ter. Are you okay?”

“What’s going on here?”

“For now, it’s okay. Everyone, if we wait, we’ll be able to get out soon. The Dungeon Lord said so, so we just need to follow whatever they say.”

“If that’s the case…”

Eleanor, meeting her immediate family and cousins, focused on reassuring them first.

If they didn’t follow the Dungeon Lord’s words due to unnecessary anxiety, someone might die, and the value of her sacrificing her power would also diminish.

Especially for her uncle’s family who had lost their head of household, such care was more important as they were in despair.

“Father… Father…”

“Pull yourself together. If you don’t keep your wits about you, Aunt might get seriously hurt too.”

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

“For now, we have to stay here. Fortunately, the Lord of this place is relatively moderate. If we just listen well, we won’t get hurt.”

Her cousins, like her, were a generation that had never experienced the ‘real noble life’.

They were humans no different from commoners who had only learned noble behavior from the family.

Eleanor thought that was rather fortunate.

Unless they had freely used servants or slaves.

Otherwise, they didn’t clearly understand that they had become that position.

And yet, they understood fragmentarily what to do when becoming a lower status.

That life would save them.

“That’s fortunate, but…”

“And if we’re lucky, it might be a chance for us to truly receive other ‘great beings’ as well.”

“That’s… true.”

Moreover, their family were fanatics.

People who naturally thought of demons as superiors.

That fact helped them.

In Eleanor and her family accepting this reality without bitterness.

In the first place, the occasion for their family to become fanatics was indirectly meeting a ‘great being’ with the help of other ‘brothers and sisters’.

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

That fact was enough to make them hopeful now.

“Indeed. That person really… seemed worthy of becoming great.”

“From what I hear, it seems the dungeon itself hasn’t been around for long. But if she has mastered such deception and behavior…”

“She was chillingly noble…”

Thanks to that fact and the actual dignity of Libertas they encountered, Eleanor, with the help of Sonia and Maria, was able to wonderfully settle her family.

“Everyone seems to be okay.”

“Is that so? Phew…”

Finally, like that.

Eleanor could breathe a sigh of relief.

“Oh right, you should speak casually, Miss.”

“I’m not used to it yet…”

“That’s too much to ask of Sonia in such a short time. It’s better to be satisfied with this for now.”

In a way, this too might be an example of the one who tied untying.

Eleanor, who almost ruined her family’s lives by incurring the resentment of Libertas and Sonia, has now excellently soothed that family again.

* * *

A little while after leaving the underground prison, giving time to the three people.

“A guest?”

-Clack.

A skeleton approached me while I was inspecting the remaining parts of the dungeon I hadn’t checked yet.

The area this soldier was in charge of was the original entrance that had now become the ‘guest entrance’.

After collapsing the mountain and burying it, then reopening it just enough for a few people to pass through, it was now a place that almost needed no guarding.

He brought news that a guest had come there.

“Who is it? There was no one who gave prior notice.”

-Clatter.

“Who? Is that really true?”

-Clack! 

It was unavoidable for me to look at the skeleton with questioning eyes.

The news he brought was that unexpected.

But since a guest has arrived, and that guest is bringing positive news, we can’t receive them outside the door.

My gaze turned to Xue.

“Xue. Please bring them to the reception room. I’ll go ahead and wait.”

“Okay… I’ll be right back.”

Originally, I should send a ‘disciple’ or ‘maid’, but right now everyone in the dungeon is gathered in one place for a meeting.

I can’t send a brain-damaged worker or a sealed spirit mage who can’t move or speak for guest guidance…

Sending Xue is an inevitable choice.

She understands this too, nodding her head before disappearing into the corridor with quick steps.

“A lowly one… who has not learned etiquette in the wild… comes to see the Queen of the Dungeon.”

“Welcome. Don’t mind the formalities. What importance do mere human ceremonies have to us?”

“Such great consideration… truly… thank you. But… we also… know human-style etiquette well.”

“I know. This is a place that has much contact with humans. I’m just saying don’t be bound by it.”

A little while later.

I smiled at the arrival as I reached the newly furnished reception room on the 1st floor, not the 2nd.

A tree fairy, an Ent.

Although I had never directly shared intentions with them, they were members of a force that had shown goodwill towards me.

“Here.”

“Oh… thank you. Warrior of the dungeon… I didn’t expect such… consideration.”

“It’s only natural. Our master never neglects guests.”

The tea for the envoy wasn’t actually tea, but honey infused with magic power.

It was a result of consideration, as they would probably find it difficult to drink tea made from other ‘plant’ ingredients.

He was extremely pleased, and Xue was even more delighted at his praise.

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

The reception began in such a good atmosphere.

“Our… Queen has always desired exchange with the Dungeon Queen… Upon hearing news of your return to the dungeon…, with an earnest desire to convey that feeling… she sent me with these gifts.”

“That’s very kind.”

“Here… are the gifts sent by the Queen… I hope you will receive them gladly.”

After hearing my answer, the envoy immediately bowed his large body and offered the items taken from his body to me.

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

They looked unsophisticated and seemed unsuitable as gifts, but…

“These are Greenskin shaman staffs. Why are you giving these to me?”

As someone who knew what they were, I couldn’t help but be curious about what these gifts meant.

“Outside the dungeon, in a clearing a little distance away… there are monsters that our Queen has successfully dominated… These staffs are proof of subjugating them, beings that have been suggested and cursed to follow orders when the holder of this staff commands… This is… our Queen’s gift…”

“I see.”

This gift meant three things.

One was that they valued me specially enough to go through such trouble to give me such special items.

Another was that they were appealing their own, or their force’s, superior military power by willingly handing over some of these wild monsters they had subjugated.

Lastly, it meant that the gift-giver had been watching my dungeon closely enough to be familiar with my circumstances.

They know that there’s a lack of monsters near my dungeon, and they know what consequences that might bring.

It can be seen as simultaneously appealing their information power, strategic ability, military strength, and goodwill towards me.

“Tell them I’m very grateful. That I accepted it with great pleasure.”

“I understand… Your Majesty.”

Appropriate timing. And the attitude of the recipient who greatly appreciates their goodwill.

In addition, there’s another ‘Queen’ who guaranteed that goodwill.

It would be a great discourtesy not to accept such a gift.

The envoy, who bowed deeply at that, immediately opened his mouth about the next matter.

“Also, our Queen is looking forward to a time when she can meet with the Dungeon Queen… She told me to receive a time for a meeting to take place…, so please consider it.”

Of course, there’s no need to delay this any longer.

Dealing with them is one of my highest priority tasks right now.

However, there’s no need to give an exact time.

After all, they’re the ones waiting, and even just looking at the current situation, it’s clear that I have the upper hand in strength.

Of course, there’s no need to be negative either.

“Tell her there’s no need to worry about that either. If she waits, I will come soon.”

“Your Majesty’s grace is immense… Then…, I will convey that to our Queen.”

The Ent who came as an envoy bowed his head like that and was about to leave.

“Wait.”

If I hadn’t stopped him.

“What… is the matter?”

The Ent asked me with a gentle but tense look.

In fact, this attitude had continued throughout since coming here.

It’s a clear example of how terrifying a typically capricious and powerful ‘Dungeon Lord’ can be to ordinary beings.

“It’s nothing to be tense about. I just wanted to know what your Queen likes.”

“Ah… if it’s that…”

Curiosity about the subject who sent me goodwill and gifts.

Actually, there’s no need to ask this, but it’s a question asked purely for the sake of form and courtesy.

When the Ent returns as an envoy, he will add the lip service that I was curious about her.

This is a courtesy that would please anyone with intelligence, regardless of the difference between humans and monsters.

“As expected… she will like honey.”

“I see. You may go now. It was nice to meet you.”

“It was… an honor for me as well.”

Well, the identity of the Queen the Ent serves is the Alraune Queen after all.

The time has come to have the postponed meeting with our neighbors.