It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

* * *

In fact, there was a reason for the Alraune Queen to send someone to me first to inquire about news like this.

Well, it’s already been a month since I sent a positive response last time.

After capturing Eleanor, the culprit of the terrorism that occurred after confirming rumors while enjoying the ball in Copzerin.

Stopping by Mozakar where the Claimel family was hiding and Yuran was lurking.

Going to Sonyataf where the auction was held, and even being briefly tied up by Elias there.

On the way back, creating ‘dungeon entrances’ all over Heisen, and hunting nearby monsters while moving.

“It was truly a packed month.”

“It seems so. Seeing someone who shouldn’t feel fatigue looking tired.”

Fortunately, on the way back, I saved about a week of travel time.

I quickly crossed over using the ‘war gate’, which is originally used when war breaks out between dungeons, connecting dungeon to dungeon.

If not for that, the promise with the queens might have really become ‘let’s meet sometime’.

“Although I periodically sent news, I was worried. Libertas.”

“I’m sorry, Kamaya. But it was absolutely necessary, and continuous events kept happening.”

As a result, when the Harpy Queen Kamaya, whom I met again, said this, I could only apologize.

It’s because we’ve formed a somewhat ‘intimate’ relationship that I can even make excuses.

In fact, even this meeting now is something I came to after thinking of it while meeting with the Alraune Queen’s envoy, so I feel ashamed.

If not for that, our reunion might have been delayed even further.

“Of course, things in the world don’t always go as planned. But anyway, the other queens were quite disappointed. They couldn’t understand the situation of a Dungeon Lord going out.”

“I should apologize. Although it was unavoidable.”

When I said that, Kamaya’s eyes widened for a moment before she smiled.

When she suddenly widened those eyes with her large body, her clear white sclera stood out before disappearing.

Not understanding why, I met her eyes, and she soon explained why she was surprised.

“Even though I know in my head that you’re different from other Dungeon Lords, I soon fall prey to stereotypes. Thinking, ‘That Dungeon Lord, apologizing!'”

It was an understandable reason.

At the same time, it was also a reason to show a somewhat disappointed reaction.

I haven’t shown her my true self completely yet.

Although I’ve shown a colder appearance compared to other Dungeon Lords, I’ve also shown a somewhat arrogant side.

So this level should be appropriate.

“That’s rude. I think I’ve shown a consistent image since we first met.”

“Even knowing that, prejudices about Dungeon Lords are like that. I apologize.”

Kamaya, who was roughly scratching her coarse red hair at my words, spoke politely.

Looking at her build, she seemed to have the size and spirit to suggest drinking instead of apologizing, so her sincerity was conveyed so abundantly that I nodded inadvertently.

Of course, I don’t leave the characteristics of my body as they are without an appropriate reason.

“Since I proposed a meeting and was late, Kamaya must have had a hard time too. Let’s consider it even.”

“That’s not right. It was just a responsibility I was willing to take. Well… as a meaning of that apology, I’ll have my daughter accompany and guide you for the reception for Libertas’s apology.”

Nevertheless, after thinking for a moment, Kamaya finally made a proposal that would benefit me.

Of course, while it benefits me, it was also a proposal that would benefit her.

“How cunning. That’s introducing your successor to me and the other queens, isn’t it?”

“You caught me.”

Kamaya nodded quickly with a hearty laugh.

Although that appearance is a bit annoying…

I couldn’t really press her since she had the merit of taking care of the queens while I couldn’t come.

It was also a truly helpful proposal.

“Alright. I’ll accept. But is it okay for her to go around with me? She was quite hiding her face.”

I was a bit worried since I had already met her before.

Unlike the jovial Queen Kamaya, Serha showed a very shy appearance when I saw her last time.

“It’ll be fine. She has met with the queens once accompanying as a successor… and look over there.”

“Ah.”

“She was waiting, hoping to see you.”

Where Kamaya pointed, her daughter Serha was peeking out with her pink hair, observing us.

Her small, cute face that she had put out, pretending to secretly observe in her own way, was slightly red, still looking adorable.

“Serha. Come here. If you’ve come, you should greet.”

“Ye… Yes!”

Serha, who answered with a high-pitched voice, came half-flying here with quick steps.

Then, she bowed her body and greeted me.

“U-um, Serha, daughter of Mother Kamaya, greets the Dungeon Queen! … Hngh!”

Ah, she bit her tongue.

“Pfft!”

Hearing a sudden sound, I looked to the side and saw Kamaya already biting her lips, trying hard to suppress her laughter from bursting out.

“I greet youuu… Phew.”

Looking back to the front, fortunately, Serha had quickly regained her composure, but continued her words with a face still red with embarrassment.

While glaring intensely at her mother beside me.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fineee…”

“Let me see. I can use simple healing magic.”

“Eh, ah…”

I approached her and briefly examined inside her mouth, but as she said, it wasn’t a big injury.

I finished treating it by simply injecting magic power by lightly touching her cheek.

It was a simple application of magic power to reduce pain, not even requiring a spell.

“Wow! It doesn’t hurt!”

“Right?”

Serha held her cheek and sparkled her eyes with delight.

At her pure appearance, a smile naturally formed on my lips as well.

“You’re amazing! You didn’t even use magic!”

“It’s just a little trick. So, I heard you’ll be guiding me, is that right?”

“Yes! I volunteered!”

Now that’s an unexpected statement.

Then, it means it was planned from the beginning, doesn’t it?

“Ahem.”

Looking at Kamaya, she was awkwardly clearing her throat and avoiding my gaze.

As expected, it was planned from the beginning.

The apology was just an excuse.

Let’s make a note of this.

“Ah…”

Serha seemed to have realized it too, as she was covering her mouth with wide eyes.

It was an expression clearly showing the emotion of ‘What if my mistake becomes a fault?’

“I’m sorry… I really wanted to accompany you.”

“It’s alright. I won’t say anything about this.”

Patting her head, I thought.

‘While pure cuteness like Serica’s is good, this kind of cunning cuteness isn’t bad either.’

…That’s what I thought.

Well, I can’t help but notice that wisdom keeps sparkling deep in her eyes, and even while flustered, she keeps observing my reactions with unwavering eyes.

The cunning of a being who knows she’s cute and that it’s easy to receive favor is a weapon.

A powerful weapon in fields where charm works deeply.

There’s no reason to be wary of the intelligence of a child who knows and uses her weapon well.

It’s not like that blade is pointed at me anyway.

“Hehe.”

Besides, at least the goodwill towards me seems genuine.

“I look forward to working with you, Serha.”

“Yes!”

I looked forward to this short outing with her.

* * *

In fact, this was the first time Serha had ventured outside without Kamaya.

However, the reason wasn’t because she was weak.

It’s just because she was small in size despite already being an adult.

Monsters often underestimate her and think of her as prey, so when she goes out alone, there were frequent small battles.

‘Finally! A journey without my own kind!’

Serha, being smart compared to others of her age but who had a small build instead, was always dissatisfied with feeling protected, but this time she finally set out on a journey free from the protection of her kind.

As a result, her heart was beating quite fast, and there was also a presence beside her now that made that beating heart even louder.

‘Wow, wow… She’s really pretty.’

It was the Dungeon Lord, Lady Libertas.

A woman who always exudes a calm atmosphere, with long black hair reaching down to her legs, wearing a black dress no less dark than that black hair.

The purple eyes set in her face sparkle like jewels and emit light whenever she thinks of something, and her small, closed lips shine beautifully with a natural red light.

Also, when she occasionally looks at her, she even smiles gently, making it feel like sunlight is breaking and decorating above.

‘Can I become like that too…!’

Although the ideal type for harpies is usually a warrior with strong muscles like her mother, this was an appearance that was impossible to resist admiring.

Anyway, since she was small, she wasn’t expecting to become imposing as a warrior.

“So these are those orcs.”

The first ones they encountered as they set out on their journey were the orc tribes that the Alraune Queen had sent to Libertas.

“Are you going to subordinate them to the dungeon as they are? If so, you can mediate the contract through that staff…”

As soon as she saw them, something flashed in Serha’s mind.

It was about a ‘test’ that could satisfy her curiosity about Libertas.

“No, there’s no need for that. I’m thinking of scattering them around appropriately and letting them live on their own.”

“Is there really a need to do that? They could be used as immediate combat power…”

‘This child is trying to test me.’

Libertas had already noticed her intention from Serha’s first question.

Questions with subtle testing intentions can inevitably arouse hostility in those who recognize them, even if it doesn’t matter to those who don’t notice.

Therefore, she became worried that the successor of the force that would follow her might get into trouble.

Even mythologically, there are quite a few cases of those who suffered misfortune for not being careful with their words.

Like the master weaver who became the origin of a spider-human race.

“If there aren’t appropriate monsters living nearby, people will know there’s a dungeon here. Do you need to ask something you already know?”

Although her eyes were hiding her intentions, her gentle voice contained a clear warning.

A declaration that ‘I am not someone for you to test’.

However, the hostility contained in it was not strong, also including worry and warning that ‘you’ll be in trouble if you don’t restrain yourself properly’.

‘She noticed!’

“Ah, you knew… I’m sorry!”

Recognizing this, Serha quickly apologized and bowed her waist and head.

“Alright.”

Serha soon followed the presence that patted her head and moved away with quick steps and wing flaps.

While doing so, her eyes shone.

‘I wonder if her pride was hurt. She’s careful because I look young.’

‘As expected, she’s wise and patient!’

While Libertas was checking if she might have hurt her feelings.

Serha’s fondness for her deepened even more.

She was really ideal as a representative of a cooperating force, and personally, she was also a very likable person.

“To the lake in the north, the stream in the east, and below the mountain south of my dungeon. Lead them to each place.”

Libertas distributed the three staffs to the skeletons respectively, and had them lead the orc tribes.

These orcs, made more violent and cunning by the Alraune Queen’s magic power, will naturally capture humans approaching the surroundings and offer some of them to the dungeon.

That would naturally become a resource for the dungeon.

“Let’s go. Won’t you tell me what you know about the Alraune Queen?”

“Ah, yes!”

After briefly organizing her thoughts at Libertas’s question, Serha soon blurted out one word with a troubled face.

“Beauty-obsessed…”

“Hm?”

It was a word that Rita couldn’t help but find strange.

As the Dungeon Lord looked at Serha with eyes full of questions, she continued her explanation, still looking troubled.

“Alraunes really like handsome or pretty people. They’ve even caught such humans just to talk and then let them go.”

“Then…”

“That’s probably the reason why the Alraune Queen keeps showing goodwill towards you, Lady.”

“…”

That was really good information, but at the same time, it was difficult for Libertas to use.

‘This won’t be easy.’

As already mentioned.

Both she and her body…

Dislike using charm as a strategy.