It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

* * *

The conversation with Nirvana continued all night, and I was only released the next morning. If she hadn’t taken a few hours of sleep, we might have really stayed up all night.

She was quite… no, extremely talkative.

“I hope we can see each other again next time.”

“We’ll probably see each other often from now on.”

After all, the best way for two groups to become close is ultimately for the leaders to become close.

To do that, frequent exchanges would be good… but honestly, it wasn’t welcome right now.

There’s also the reason that exchanges can sometimes lead to falling out, but more precisely, it was because Nirvana wasn’t a very good partner for exchanges.

“You could stay tonight too. Are you really just going to leave?”

“Yes, I’m really leaving.”

“How disappointing…”

She flirted so much.

I wonder if Serha’s assessment that Alraunes are beauty-obsessed was true.

“A night with you seems like it would be enjoyable. Come visit later if you change your mind, Libertas. Personally.”

“That won’t happen, Nirvana.”

“How firm. That makes you look even cuter. Fufu.”

I didn’t want to get any closer because her attitude clearly felt like she just liked my face, not that she really liked me.

Of course, considering future agreements and such, I’ll have to keep her close…

But it’s really not welcome.

“Well then, until next time.”

“Until next time.”

As I walked away, leaving her waving her hand behind, Serha flew over only after I had reached a place a bit far away.

Her arms were full of fruits, and her body was covered in the smell of fruit and dew.

It seems she prepared breakfast. How diligent.

“Seeing how long your conversation was, it seems it went well?”

“Yes, it went well. We made an agreement between the dungeon and the swamp.”

Seeing that she doesn’t seem burdened even though the amount is large, as expected, like when I saw her holding a spear before, it seems she hasn’t lost her mother’s blood.

She’s just small in size.

‘I wonder if her father’s side was small. Surely she wasn’t a sparrow harpy?’

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you.”

“Ah! Would you like to try this? It’s the most delicious fruit in this area.”

While having a conversation with these unnecessary thoughts, she handed me one that looked particularly small among them.

It looks like a raspberry, but enlarged.

The outside isn’t very pretty. It’s a shape that people with trypophobia would really hate.

However, unlike its appearance, when I tried eating it, it had no juice and was extremely sweet, but it was a kind of sweetness without repulsion.

“You’re right. It’s extremely sweet.”

“Right? Hehe.”

Although I prefer apples or grapes with more sourness, this wasn’t bad either.

Maybe my taste has changed since my body became female.

It wasn’t an unpleasant change. It’s not a big deal either.

“Where’s the next closest place?”

“This queen set the meeting place quite far from her base. It seems she didn’t want to show her base.”

“Being cautious might be good.”

While the Alraune Queen felt affection for me and approached from the beginning, the other queens were not like that.

Even Kamaya and Serha, who can be said to be quite friendly now, initially maintained a cautious stance.

She just invited me to her base because she was bolder than the other queens.

It was right to think that the other two queens I haven’t met yet would be at that level or worse.

“She’s so cautious that she doesn’t even have a successor. I hear she doesn’t even choose a husband.”

“Is that so…?”

However, this seems to be the result of her own personality being applied to some extent.

One of the important things for a ruler is a successor, but she hasn’t even decided on that successor.

It was natural to think that there must be some reason for a ruler of ordinary living beings, not a Dungeon Lord completely integrated with the dungeon and core, to act like that.

Especially for a species that bears many offspring like her.

“So where’s the location?”

“It’s at a lake when you go northwest from Your Majesty’s dungeon. She said to meet there.”

“I see. Let’s go.”

After briefly recalling the vicinity of the dungeon and the species of the queen I’m about to meet, I quickly nodded.

Although not as much as Alraunes, she also needs moisture.

Especially to properly exert the abilities she would have…

‘Of course, the lakeside would be the most reassuring.’

As long as they still don’t trust me, I could cutely overlook that level of fussiness.

However, if they resist even after being given sufficient credit and trust, then appropriate measures would be needed at that time.

“I wonder how she’ll act this time.”

My gaze turned towards the direction where the sun sets.

Where the sky is still dark because the sun hasn’t fully risen yet.

Under the mountain below that.

The third queen I’m about to meet would be there.

* * *

“…”

Xue was lost in thought while looking at the back of her master’s head walking ahead.

It was because of two conflicts she currently harbored.

‘…Should I tell her?’

The first of these was whether it would be good to tell her master about being cautious of the queens.

The wild monster leaders who are now cooperating with her master are all cooperating with Libertas because they have their own desires.

If they become unable to fulfill those desires, there was a high possibility that they would immediately betray the dungeon and cut ties.

‘Even that warrior queen Kamaya is no different in this regard…’

So it was forbidden to trust those queens…

However, if Libertas distances herself from them because of her caution, that betrayal might come even faster.

‘My head hurts… If Eve or Yuran were here, I could just focus on action and leave the thinking to them.’

Even while pressing her head hard, Xue didn’t stop thinking.

Despite greatly disliking deep thinking, the reason Xue is agonizing like this is ultimately because this is her master’s business.

‘Still. I don’t want to lose her in vain ever again.’

How many times had she regretted that if she had just thought a little more and moved more nimbly, there would have been no need to lose her master?

So she too had to keep pondering.

At the very least, to actively share opinions with her other companions.

‘And… I need to regain it quickly.’

This was the second concern.

This time, although she absorbed the power of Eleanor, an elite berserker, and reached the entry level of elite in all ‘attribute’ specs related to the body, she still falls short of the wild monster queens who are at least mature elites.

The same goes for her master.

‘Master is still probably ‘advanced’. Although in terms of sheer power, she’s similar to the wild queens…’

Xue’s face darkened as she evaluated her master’s strength according to the classification her master had talked about.

It might have been excessive arrogance considering that ‘seduction’ is Alraune’s main magic, but Xue didn’t think so.

Because there are many opponents to face in the future.

‘The kingdom is close.’

As we start to dominate nearby countries, we can’t perfectly hide our presence from each country’s royal family forever.

And each royal family has forces that they haven’t sent to the border with the demon realm.

Whether publicly or hidden.

‘And far away, even those demon realms.’

And the Archdukes of the demon realms on the ground were also a problem.

Although the strongest power among the forces held by the demon realm archdukes was themselves, they would also have summons with ‘high-grade’ or ‘royal guard’ or ‘monarch’ level power.

‘The higher the grade… the less difference there is between the power of summons and Dungeon Lords.’

Of course, Dungeon Lords are still more powerful even above that, but if just two high-grade summons gather, they can easily buy time against a Dungeon Lord.

This was ultimately the reason why Libertas thinks she needs to strongly raise the power of the dungeon these days.

In the end, if the dungeon and the dungeon’s summons don’t become stronger, the Lord can’t survive either.

And currently, the strongest in the dungeon are Eve and Xue, the two of them.

It was natural to feel responsibility for that.

‘Should I rather go back now…?’

For a moment, Xue’s eyes filled with killing intent.

If it’s now, she could fill her ‘madness’ by hunting nearby monsters, and with that power, she could cut the Alraune Queen’s neck in an instant.

Although she’s a warrior, she could act like an assassin in emergencies.

‘If I absorb her like that, I can ultimately replenish the dungeon’s fundamental military power.’

And from the body of the lotus queen killed like that, ‘something’ would surely come out.

In other words, she could strengthen herself by using a potentially treacherous collaborator as a sacrifice.

Although it’s just a matter of possibility.

“Xue?”

It was then that her master’s voice was heard.

“Yes…?”

After instantly blowing away all killing intent and thoughts at the voice calling her, Xue approached her master.

Of course, her tail was wagging quite largely.

“Did you call me…?”

“Yes. I called several times.”

“Sorry… I was a bit complicated for a moment…”

Libertas, who was staring at Xue’s face as she approached, raised her hand, and Xue naturally lowered her waist and head to the height matching her hand.

The curtain of shadows naturally falling around them blocked the sound.

The next words she said penetratingly grasped Xue’s concerns.

“We’re doing well, Xue. It’s okay not to rush.”

“How did you know…?”

Xue wasn’t surprised by her insight.

She knows that she can’t hide herself very well from her, and she’s already used to such behavior from Libertas.

Even without speaking, sometimes just showing a hint of worry.

Her master would accurately penetrate her thoughts.

“How could I not know your thoughts?”

“Yeah… Master is master after all. I know too…”

“Huhu. Thank you for trusting me.”

This was the reason why she didn’t feel competitive or impatient even though her emotions wouldn’t be transmitted because she’s not a summon, and even though Evangeline, who can convey her emotions directly, is beside her.

“Nirvana has power accumulated over a long time, and you’ve already become this strong. Don’t be impatient. I’ll make you strong soon, so you just hone your skills.”

“Okay… Oh, and don’t trust the queens too much…”

“I know.”

Another concern impulsively revealed.

Her master again did not betray her expectations.

“But since Xue is being so cautious of them, I can rather put my worries aside.”

At the same time, she made her realize another point by pointing it out.

“Why…?”

“If you focus your eyes too much on one place, you miss other points. Since you’re being cautious of them, I can focus more on other things. You’re lightening my burden.”

“Is that… so?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

The emotion welling up in her chest.

The feeling of not wanting to end just by clinging.

Her master’s acknowledgment made her heart flutter and also made her struggle.

‘Not yet.’

Xue succeeded in suppressing that feeling.

Of course, there was a reason for this behavior unlike her.

‘Evangeline.’

Yuran is rushing in urgently, but Evangeline is still calm.

There must be a reason why she, who appears outwardly smooth and loyal but actually has a sly side, is standing half a step away.

The promise is already half broken, but there’s also the point that it would be shameless if she rushed in first.

“Huhu. You’re suddenly being naughty.”

“Sorry…”

“No. I like it because it’s cute.”

So Xue endured by pressing her lips to the palm of the hand that was stroking her cheek.

Even with just that, the impatience filling her chest was considerably erased.

‘Wow, wow… What’s with this atmosphere…’

Meanwhile, Serha was watching this master-servant scene while hiding nearby.

The snow-white wolf beastkin who changed from a bowing posture to a kneeling posture, kissing towards her master’s palm.

Her appearance was indescribably reverent, as if approaching something sacred.

‘Not only the Lord, but her summons are also extraordinary… As expected, deciding to cooperate was the right choice.’

The appearance of a summon with loyalty approaching madness or faith. This was a sight never before seen from Dungeon Lords until now.

The evaluation of a person who can draw out such devotion from summons had to change as well.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay…”

“Ah, yes!”

Three women, each with different thoughts.

The lake at the foot of the mountain where the next queen to meet was located was drawing closer before them.