It’s Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

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The Audience Room now contained only the Baron family.

The knights and attendants of the Baron had long been expelled by those ‘human-shaped’ beings.

Thus, Gerald gazed up at the woman seated on the throne, feeling as if he were the last person left in the world.

“What on earth is this…”

A groan-like sound escaped his lips.

At first glance, she appeared to be a mere small woman.

She looked far too petite to occupy such a massive throne.

However, the moment he met her intense gaze, he thought instead—

‘She’s enormous…!’

He felt the throne was far too small.

Having met many high nobles ruling the castles near the royal capital, he had never encountered such an overwhelming presence.

‘What kind of eyes are those…! It’s definitely a Demon Clan member!’

Facing her gaze straight on, Gerald felt a chill run down his spine.

It was the reverence a minister should possess when meeting the king.

The awe of confronting something colossal.

And a despair that arose from being at odds with something one could not resist.

His muscles relaxed, his back soaked in cold sweat, and a warning was sent to him.

In the form of ‘fear.’

“I’m sorry, my Master!”

“P-please! Forgive us!”

Thus, the wife, who decided that the children’s rudeness required an apology, and the husband, who instinctively felt something was wrong, both acted almost simultaneously.

The intelligence and instincts of those who had long collaborated with the underworld produced the same outcome.

Do not resist the being before you.

“You two are truly meant for each other.”

Her response was filled with an innocent joy and gentleness that, when looked at closely, felt almost naïve.

‘Death has… come and gone…!’

Gerald felt his back dampen further under the ‘massive presence’ pressing down on him.

It felt akin to meeting a gigantic beast in the wilderness that glanced down upon him for just a moment before losing interest and departing.

It was like the breath of a beast akin to a dragon brushing past him.

‘She hasn’t lost her temper. But…’

Hailey, who had brought Libertus here to some extent, had already noticed.

If something unfortunate were to happen to their great Master, she was all too aware of how furious her close aides would be.

And that their Master would usually allow that anger to fester.

If they did not receive their Master’s forgiveness, nothing would protect them from the wrath of those wild subordinates.

“Lift your head. Hailey. I wouldn’t harm your child over something like this. Today will be a special day for you.”

“Thank you! Master! Thank you!”

Upon hearing the command to lift her head, Hailey immediately raised it at a moderate pace while quickly scanning the surroundings.

Currently near Libertus were the ‘Black Fox’ and ‘White Wolf.’

‘They’re not here.’

Realizing that the most fearsome ‘General’ was absent, Hailey let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

Though the rampages of the other two were also frightening, they were nothing compared to the General.

Involving herself in all matters inside and outside the dungeon, she was by no means inferior in power compared to the other two.

Moreover, Hailey understood.

[As long as you do well… there won’t be any problems. Fortunately, it seems you too wish to do well. Let’s get along. As seniors and juniors. Let’s not have any reason to kill each other.]

While always masquerading as carefree and smiling, there lay a blade more cruel than any beneath the mask of that seemingly righteous blonde woman.

“Bring your children over. Both of you.”

“F-father?”

“Mother…!”

Stephane, who had already sensed the oddity of the situation, and Rosemary, who knew that no matter how innocent, the situation was not good, turned their gazes towards their parents.

The reactions of the two were far more opposite than those of their children.

“P-please! Punish me instead!”

In terror, Gerald once again buried his head into the ground.

“Come over here. Stevie. Rosi.”

With a joyful smile, Hailey reached out her hands towards her children.

“Jerry, stand up. Today is the day I’m receiving a reward from the Master. There’s nothing to harm the three of you.”

“Leia… my lady…! Please…!”

Not daring to say ‘snap out of it’ for fear of stoking her anger, Gerald merely ground his teeth and trailed off.

Hailey knew what he was trying to say, as she simply did not see him as a problem.

“It’s alright. Jerry. We are going to receive a blessing today.”

Leaving Stephane, who remained frozen in place, Hailey carefully took the hand of the cautiously approaching Rosemary and moved toward Libertus.

“What are we receiving…? Mother.”

“It’s up to the will of the great one. But it will surely be something better than anything you could think of.”

Hailey and Rosemary approached before the throne, kneeling carefully, bowing their heads once before looking up at her.

The daughter awkwardly imitated her mother, but it was enough to express their respect.

After Libertus’s gaze briefly settled on her husband and son, it descended upon them.

“It might be alright to grant a reward only to the two of them first. Hailey.”

“I believe they will soon understand as well. My lord and master.”

“It would be your joy to receive the four of us together, wouldn’t it?”

Upon her words, Hailey bowed her head even deeper, overwhelmed with emotion.

Tears were already welling and falling from her eyes.

Her master’s grace was indeed her jubilation.

“If you go so far as to consider me, it will undoubtedly bring me endless joy…!”

“Indeed.”

Nodding gently, Libertus took Xue’s hand and rose, guiding Hailey and Rosemary as she approached the Baron and his son.

Then she asked,

“Did they call you a traitor, boy?”

Though it was a question posed with the utmost gentleness.

“Th-that…!”

Thud…! Thud…! Thud…!!!

The pressure she exerted was already bleaching Stephan’s face white.

It was an intense presence that did not affect those who were not hostile towards her but instead pressed down upon the child.

“Master, you must restrain your power.”

“Oh dear, I must have been negligent.”

Observing the child carefully, Libertus realized it thanks to Xue’s words and began to diminish her presence.

It approached them as though the beast that had been filling the air was suddenly shrinking in size.

“Hurk – cough, cough! I-I’m sorry…!”

“P-please… save me… save me…!”

Once her presence had diminished, Gerald and Stephan were able to catch their breaths, which they had completely forgotten.

Seeing this, it was no wonder that Rosemary felt something strange.

“Mother, it seems the Master is tormenting Father and Brother…!”

“Not at all, Rosi. They are simply not prepared to accept the great being. They are making a mistake.”

“Ah…!”

Such a conversation between the two women, which sounded peaceful and even joyful, only deepened the despair on the faces of the two men.

“If you do not know, learning is enough. If you knew it was wrong, even more so.”

Knowing that despair was in the air, Libertus smiled gently.

She gently patted the head of her son Stephan, maintaining eye contact with his father, Gerald.

“First, I must show you one thing. Grace.”

“… Yes.”

“Who… is this?”

Seeing the approach of a certain individual summoned by Libertus, Gerald was taken aback in shock.

Standing next to an undeniably Demon Clan member was a Cleric.

“As you can see, a Cleric. He’s cooperating with me.”

“This is Grace, a cleric who assists Lady Libertus. Baron Henth.”

The Baron quickly understood that this was not the whole story.

With a pale complexion marked by dark circles under his eyes, a face and gaze filled with fear, and a body that shuddered while curled up.

It was clear that he wasn’t cooperating voluntarily.

“Grace. I ask for a blessing for Hailey.”

“Yes, my lady.”

However, regardless of any form or intention, the Cleric was listening to Libertus’s command.

That alone was sufficient to shatter the traditional perception of ‘divinity.’

Normally, clerics would opt for death rather than bow to a Demon.

“Master?”

“There won’t be any harm, Hailey.”

“Of course. It is your work, after all. I will accept it gladly.”

Hailey knelt in prayer towards Libertus, receiving the blessing from Grace.

Seeing that the one who was welcomed into holiness was praying towards a Demon produced a sense of confusion in Gerald.

Especially since there was absolutely no backlash against Hailey as a result of that blessing.

“As you can see, Hailey received no strength from me, nor am I controlling her.”

Though if loyalty meant relinquishing one’s own decision-making, then it would be true to say Libertus was indeed controlling her.

However, Gerald and Stephan merely stared vacantly at their wife and mother, who were smiling brightly without a hint of abnormality.

“This can’t be…!”

“Father, this is, this is…”

Their understanding was thoroughly shattered.

The notion that a Demon could never surpass divinity.

The stereotype that divinity existed solely for justice.

“Look.”

Once Grace was dismissed from the room, Libertus approached them and articulated every word carefully.

“The religion you know about heaven does not encompass absolute goodness or absolute truth.”

Clack.

“You can see there is still a divine being bestowing divine power upon some of the corrupt clerics.”

Clack.

“So, what is the difference between Demon and Divine? It is simply that divinity already holds dominion over that heaven and continent, whereas Demon does not.”

As she spoke, the sound of her boots accentuated her words.

Even though her physical capability would allow her to move without sound in heels, those sounds endowed a bizarre power that brought comfort to the listeners.

Clack.

“This is merely a difference of justification and the power used. And the true owners of your land are you, not those clerics or sacred nations, nor your kings.”

Clack.

“Even if I were to take away your autonomy from them, I would not exploit you.”

Clack.

“I am the owner who cherishes the value of my possessions. And I am a Lord who gains power by receiving your service. I could also become a king who delights in giving attention to my vassals.”

Clack.

“You should gladly donate what is yours, deeply filled with joy. I will accept it gladly and guard you, allowing you to rise to a higher existence.”

Clack.

“Now then. Tell me what you wish to do.”

Clap. Clap.

The Baron kneeled in his spot, and his son followed him out of sheer reflex.

Not only that, but they too, as their wife and mother had done, placed their arms and heads to the ground, offering the utmost deference to the high being before them.

“What a joyful day it is.”

Libertus smiled.

As a means to further solidify the loyalty of her vassals.

She had even gained her family in the process.

“Look, Hailey. They wish to serve me.”

Looking down at them, Libertus turned her gaze to Hailey, whose face was flushed with joy, and spoke solely to her.

The simple activation of her dark power allowed for a private conversation between just the two of them within the open space.

“Your family will soon realize that serving the Master is true joy.”

“Well, that would be fortunate. But for now, know that this is my gift for you today.”

“This is Hailey Shume. I couldn’t be any happier…!”

Once more bowing her head, Hailey met Libertus’s gaze as she approached on her knees.

While stroking her head and smiling, Libertus soon began discussing the duties she would assign along with the rewards.

“There are things you must do. I will transform you into something special for him.”

“Whatever it may be! I will gladly follow!”

“Very well…”

That answer was imbued with the zeal of a fanatic, as though she would obey even if told to crawl through filth.

“Your dedication truly gives me joy.”

It was only natural that Libertus, sensing her emotions, felt even more delighted.

Thus, the gift she had prepared was successfully delivered.

“The joy of my Master is my joy.”

“I will do my utmost moving forward.”

“I apologize for my rude words…!”

“I’m so glad to serve you, beautiful Master!”

In the midst of everyone’s joy.