It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

* * *

‘It’s a familiar species.’

The species of spiders that I had only thought of as ‘Blue Tarantulas’ when looking at the subordinates could be properly recognized only after seeing their king up close.

‘Was it because they had bodies too simplified for combat, or are they really a different species?’

Well, the spiders on the battlefield were taking quite ‘simplified’ forms.

Black carapace with black or brown hair. Blue points here and there.

You could barely recognize that they were of the tarantula lineage.

Also, although I saw the king this time, I was far away and he was spewing so much smoke and dust that there was no chance to see him properly.

‘But to see that species here, and in the form of a spider person at that.’

At the suddenly arising fragment of memory, I briefly recalled old memories.

I even felt inwardly glad.

Blue carapace with beautiful blue hair, and white patterns.

Except that the pattern resembled that often found on a tiger’s forehead, this spider’s appearance was familiar to me too.

Among the few acquaintances I had, there was one who liked to raise spiders, arthropods, insects, and so on.

[Why did you get this? Huh? A gift? Of course I’m happy!]

[You can’t touch it now. It’s sensitive, so it gets stressed easily.]

The name of that species was ‘Gooty Sapphire Ornamental’.

I had gifted it a few years ago, and after that, he had been raising it quite preciously.

I remember that on Earth it was an endangered species, so of course it was difficult to find in nature, and even to trade individuals bred by individuals required procedures that weren’t simple.

Before I came here, as individuals put effort into breeding them, they probably became much more common and their value decreased, but they would still have been not cheap.

‘Of course, no one would buy one with a human upper body attached like this.’

Unless they had really peculiar tastes, or were rich people obsessed with rarities.

I looked up at his upper body once again with displeasure.

‘It still looks strange.’

“Your gaze is disrespectful.”

“That must be your imagination. What reason would I have for that?”

The object of that peculiar taste was looking down at me with quite a disrespectful gaze.

Still, it’s not like he wanted to be born that way, so I shouldn’t persecute him for that.

“I don’t know. They say all Dungeon Kings or Queens are eccentrics.”

“So you’re saying that in front of me?”

“Haha! You don’t seem to be as much as the rumors say. I know a bit about Dungeon Lords.”

Following behind the spider king who let out a hearty laugh, I saw his quarters.

There was not a single trace of anything human-like there.

Just a natural cave and rapidly growing baby spiders, a few spiders bringing food to feed those baby spiders, and some natural insulation materials laid on the floor to warm the eggs.

Among that food were ant monsters and ant people as well.

In other words, it was the opposite of the ant queen’s cave.

“Is it awkward because it’s different from the appearance of other monster leaders in this area?”

“Not at all. Isn’t this the most natural appearance?”

“That’s right! What good would come from clumsily imitating human things when we’re monsters!”

Unexpectedly, the appearance of this place seemed to be the result of something like the spider king’s philosophy.

It seems he wasn’t entirely without thoughts.

“Sit. Since you have a human form, isn’t it uncomfortable to stand?”

“I didn’t know you knew how to be considerate.”

The action of bringing something like a cushion and offering a seat.

I really didn’t think I’d see this from him, so I looked at him with surprised eyes, and he frowned and spoke gruffly.

“Hey, you’re underestimating me too much. I’m a being with proper intelligence, you know.”

Regardless of what he was doing, I touched the straw cushion once with my finger to solidify the shadow.

I hardened the darkness into the shape of a chair.

“Oh… How refined.”

“From now on, bring at least a chair.”

“Hmph. Human things…”

The spider king frowned but then opened his eyes wide in surprise.

It seemed he could use dark magic too, but he didn’t know it could be used like this.

It’s natural since the level of mastery is different.

While sitting on that chair, I answered his initial words. An answer to the statement that ‘I underestimate him too much’.

“Anyway, it doesn’t seem like I saw you using that thing called a brain on the battlefield.”

“Ah, you saw that?”

The Arachne King’s eyes sank coldly.

I thought his self-esteem might have died somewhat since he couldn’t gain the upper hand in the fight with the ant queen…

But it seems that wasn’t the case.

“Those are just weaklings.”

He raised his fist, flexed his arm to show off his bulging muscles, and spoke while glaring at me strongly.

It was, so to speak, a time for self-PR.

“Those. The ant queen and her minions were content with their situation, and even after becoming the rulers of this land, they couldn’t unite the monsters. They’re not suitable to be rulers.”

“Tell me more.”

When I urged him by moving my chin, he put on a fierce smile.

It seemed he had quite a lot to say.

“I’ve been watching for quite a long time since coming to this area, but they’re not unable to do it, they’re just not doing it! They have power but don’t use it! We should gather the strength of this entire area and eventually strike at humans, that’s the way for us monsters to live!”

And I sympathized with some of those words.

This world is a place where monsters’ right to survival is constantly threatened. Even if they’re monsters, if they have intelligence, they’re in a situation where they need to constantly ponder and review their way of survival.

However, in the ant queen’s nest, there were only ants and an abnormality that couldn’t establish a proper vision.

“Other monsters are the same! They just hide and watch our movements! They should actively stick to the strong side to solidify the situation, or stick to the weak side to aim for stronger power!”

I had wondered why there were no other monsters in the ant queen’s nest and no traces were visible even though I could feel the presence of other monsters in this area, so they were hiding after all.

“Is that so? They’re weak creatures.”

“That’s right!! They’re not even monsters. They’re just beasts!!”

With just my small agreement, the spider king raised his spirits even more and spoke passionately.

The subject of his argument had somehow returned to the ant queen.

“In the end, because the one with power as the representative of the region is like that, the monsters of this entire region maintain such a pathetic state! Eventually, the representative threatens all our survival! That’s why I rose up!”

“Are you saying you’re different?”

“I am different! At least I won’t be dying so helplessly! Under human cultivation, while missing opportunities to create a larger force!”

He was really quite a fiery person.

However, even so, I could see that this fellow had his own will and vision of sorts.

“Those with power have the duty to wield it and the responsibility to rule!”

Although there are some thoughts that I don’t like here and there…

As long as there’s a direction he wants to move in, he might be better than the ant queen.

At least as a leader.

“Therefore, Dungeon Queen. As one with power, take me under your wing! I will become the king of this region and help you and your dungeon!”

He seems to have the ability to recognize that his own power is insufficient.

This is a more important ability than you might think.

If you can’t properly recognize the strengths and weaknesses of friends and enemies, you often get swept away and die by threats that could have been overcome.

If I just count the points I’ve seen so far, it was a passing grade.

“I’ve heard your argument well.”

Although I haven’t verified his loyalty yet, there will be plenty of time as there won’t be any instances of this spider force overwhelming me or my forces in the future.

Before that, the compulsion of the contract will bind him, so I might not need to worry too much.

“Then?”

“If I take you under my wing, it would be good for you to learn more manners in the future.”

“…I’m not happy about it, but if I can have the power of a dungeon behind me!”

“You’re too honest again. Alright. You can probably fix that gradually.”

“Khaha…! You won’t regret it! Well then! Come in!”

As soon as he heard that the contract would be promised, the king gestured towards one side and shouted loudly.

Did he prepare something?

If it was something like a welcome party, I was wondering how to refuse food prepared by spiders, when at that moment.

Rustle rustle…

Clatter clatter!

From the place the Arachne King pointed to, dozens of presences were felt.

The sound of footsteps that were walking in a straight line but not those of an army, disorderly footsteps.

A little later, when the owners of those sounds revealed themselves, I couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

“…Who are these?”

What appeared were spider people who could be recognized at a glance as having some kind of relationship with the Arachne King.

Blue bodies and blue hair, white patterns, human upper bodies, and fourteen appendages.

They resembled the man in front of me so much that it was impossible not to know.

However, unlike the king who maintained a consistently dignified and cheerful image, they were full of dark auras.

-Clack.

Swoosh.

I saw Eve and Xue standing slightly ahead of me, on guard.

It’s natural for the guards to move as members who haven’t yet become complete allies are added to the place where leaders meet.

The Arachne King didn’t mind that and answered my question.

“Wouldn’t you need appropriate tribute to offer as a token of the promise?”

I had a feeling.

A bad feeling that the story I was about to hear would definitely not be pleasant.

“…Tribute?”

“I heard that those who rule dungeons become more powerful the more they turn strong ones into their dungeon’s kin. Am I right?”

“That’s true, but.”

When I readily agreed, the king smiled broadly and spoke while waving his hand towards his kin.

With words that confirmed my premonition.

“These will be the tribute for your dungeon. You can recreate them as your subordinates, or eat them if you like.”

My expression naturally frowned, not stopped by ‘nobility’.

This was the first time.

Meeting someone who would first offer as sacrifices those who seemed to have a not insignificant relationship at first glance.

“No matter how I look at it, they seem to look like they resemble you.”

“That’s right. These are my children.”

Only then could I properly see the emotion causing the dark aura emanating from the king’s children.

Until now, I hadn’t quickly recognized it because I thought there was no way they could be feeling such emotions.

Fear and powerlessness.

That was the identity of the emotion commonly spread among the Arachnes that appeared.

…And that was also something very familiar to me.

“Children… you say.”

My insides are boiling.

It felt like magma had been put inside me.

“Wouldn’t my own bloodline be the most powerful essence of magic that can be recreated from what I have? Choose up to half! I’ll give you anything!”

“Ha…”

All children in the world resemble their parents.

Moreover, the more they abhor that parent, or the more it’s an element the parent dislikes, the more they resemble it.

As much as they dislike, or as much as they abhor. Because they focus more on that element.

Also, humans are creatures who, even after putting a lid on what they dislike, still have to open it and watch that abhorrent aspect to feel at ease.

To rationalize the thought ‘Ah, it’s right to avoid/remove this because it’s so abhorrent’.

The more you take it out to look at, the more you come to resemble it.

Just like the saying ‘The abyss also gazes into you’.

To me, it seemed like it was ambiguously walking the line between ‘affection’ and ‘possession’, but in reality, it was sharply tilted towards ‘possession’.

[I told you to show a proper appearance outside, you useless thing! What’s with that outfit, huh! Are you determined to embarrass me!]

So, that’s how my father’s emotion towards his family was.

A man who did business when he was young, failed in that business, soon turned to gambling, and after being deceived by a con artist and going bankrupt, finally touched the family’s assets and broke down my mother.

Even after I put him in prison, he made me struggle for a long time to end the madness that was created.

[How can you be human offspring like this!!]

[Since you’re a dog, I, the child of that dog, must be a son of a bitch.]

[What!!]

Because of that, I, the son of that son of a bitch, can’t separate possessiveness and love.

I became unable to.

And as a result of barely emptying out all the rotten things he and he excreted and becoming alone.

I became a person who needs to have anything I want to possess.

[Let’s break up.]

[It would be better if you don’t approach.]

So on Earth, I tried to empty all of my things.

[It’s better for you to meet a good man than a guy like me.]

[What? ■■. Is it right to break up like this…]

[That man seemed nice. Why don’t you keep seeing him.]

Click.

It was obvious that if I loved someone and things went wrong, I would become a murderer or a stalker.

[Your talent is really outstanding. Would you like to work with me once?]

[A gift should have arrived by now.]

[A gift? What is it? I’m looking forward to it. …Hee, heehee…!!]

[You loved your lover too much. I believe you know what will happen if you contact her more.]

If I became attached to wealth or power, I would have been a person who would sink deeper.

“These are my children. They’re the best tribute to give to a Dungeon Lord.”

And in the same vein, there’s something I abhor the most.

“Do you love your children?”

It’s gaslighting that progresses in one situation.

“Aren’t they the best assets that could become my successors in the future! Or they could become the best nutrients! Of course I love them!”

“I see. That’s regrettable.”

It’s when parents shamelessly manipulate with the word ‘love’ while considering their children as possessions.

So how much do I hate it…?

Crack! Crunch!

…This much.

“…Keuhek!!”

In front of my eyes, the Arachne King’s head flew off.

By the hand of someone other than me.