It’s Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

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– 1 –

“Did the witch go to the magical realm?”

“Really? Why?”

“I don’t know. But at least she can sleep peacefully.”

Amid the whispers of the crowd filling the streets, there was a mix of anticipation and relief.

As rumors spread that Arpina was heading to the Magical Duke to explain herself about Abelrus, the crowd erupted in cheers.

One of the fears that had troubled them for so long had vanished.

Of course, at that very moment, the worst possible situation was unfolding for Arpina.

She was in a more desperate situation than when she was caught by the strongest adventurer in the world.

“Damn… there’s not a single suitable target for reincarnation in this vast magical realm…!”

This was the real reason she had been trapped in the land of monsters for five years after being defeated, not by a duke, but by his subordinates.

Although reincarnation magic could also be attempted on monsters, the problem was that no one resonated with her within the entire magical realm.

Occasionally, even the beings discovered didn’t meet her particular ‘taste.’

“Your abilities are quite… interesting.”

That hesitation was where the problem began.

While trying to find the ‘perfect target’ during her captivity, she inadvertently caught the eye of the Magical Duke Dantalion.

“Perhaps you could become my new key.”

The secretive Duke Dantalion.

A demon noble masked in silver, yet one could guess his overwhelming beauty from just the jawline revealed beneath the mask.

“Your talent for manipulating humans comes from another world. Moreover, the fact that you resonate with me means… that I can make those powers you’ve stolen mine.”

A cold smile slowly spread from beneath the duke’s mask as he gazed at her.

“I’m looking forward to your ‘taste.’”

He intended to raise her and then devour her.

Ironically, a predator who had lived by preying on others now found herself in a position of becoming prey.

An unprecedented terror enveloped her entire being.

‘I need to get out of here quickly…!’

That was why she hastily accepted the Marquis’s offer.

No matter what, she wanted to use reincarnation magic from the outside to escape in a new body.

However, what she didn’t know before the contract was that a contract with a demon clan could not be shaken off even with reincarnation magic.

– 2 –

Everything was entering its final stages.

First, the matter regarding the ‘Owl.’

– We have captured all of their tails.

Talhan politely bowed while reporting through the communication device.

– We didn’t even know what we were doing in the back while chasing down the traitor and the cause of the chaos.

“Did you groom the feathers well?”

– Of course.

A sinister smile formed on his lips while answering my question.

– Raven feathers suited better than expected.

The cause of the chaos referred to none other than the Dream Witch Arpina.

Among the informants who were busy pursuing her, several humans who had transformed into mimic-type monsters like my Cerebrum Skull and Hailey had blended in.

Thanks to the enhancement of sacrifices from the dungeon and indirect support through Hailey, they would gradually rise to higher ranks.

The moment even one of them becomes an executive is the moment the information merchants in this area fall under my control.

– We have decided to host a banquet with them, Master.

Next was the matter concerning the lords along the Poile River, which Ekidna was in charge of.

Ekidna, her lamias, and the aquatic monsters, including the Lizardmen, played a crucial role in maintaining the peace of this river.

The monsters that cried about being betrayed by the Lamia Queen had already been chased away to either the wide riverbank or the sea by her hand.

“Are you sure about your relationship with those monsters?”

– The relationship they speak of is nothing but a thin, fragile thread.

Ekidna’s cold voice echoed through the crystal ball.

– If I were to find myself in trouble, it would be them coming up to the lake. You needn’t worry.

I nodded at her response.

There was only firmness in Ekidna’s words, so there was no need for further concern.

However, I wanted to leave her with this.

“I understand. But if you really had close ones among them, you could bring them along.”

– I appreciate your consideration, Master.

In any case, she was currently treated almost on equal footing with the mercenary leaders along the riverbank.

The status of the military group she led was rising rapidly.

It was an astonishing achievement considering it had only been a week.

Some human adventurers and soldiers who were inspired by her had even joined her, so it wasn’t hard to guess her influence.

“How do you plan to maintain control over them?”

– For a while, I will focus on my duties as a righteous monster group.

“You seem to enjoy this.”

– Though it can’t compare to the honor of serving at your side…

A clear derision seeped through her voice.

– It has been entertaining to see humans’ perceptions towards monsters gradually changing.

The light in Ekidna’s eyes darkened as it reflected through the crystal ball.

The contrast between what people near the Poile River knew of her and her true appearance was striking.

I heard that the people living nearby, who favored superstition, were creating myths about the white snake.
I couldn’t help but wonder what their reaction would be if they saw her.

“Yes. Just enjoy yourself for a while. We’ll meet again at the banquet.”

– Yes, Master. I will wait with longing.

The third matter was regarding the territorial war between Damalon and Mathefit that occurred in the southwest.

No, it should now be considered a triad with Elena’s affairs, involving Kaisen, Zenota, and Norn.

According to Lan’s report upon returning to the dungeon in the afternoon, she seems to have captured three villages and a castle in just one day.

‘They will likely respond from Zenota soon.’

Regardless of victory or defeat, it was a favorable situation for both Elena and me.

Of course, it would be even better if she claimed victory, but at least there wouldn’t be a chance of defeat.

“This is Viola.”

“Where… where am I…? Where’s my sister…?”

Viola, the daughter of Count Dorian Aisaaf, whom I directly made the cause of the war, was now in my hands.

I had dispelled the hypnosis that had been cast on her upon her arrival this morning.

She didn’t possess enough value or talent to warrant keeping her.

And that decision was to be made now.

“Even if she were to return now, the war wouldn’t end.”

“What do you mean… What do you mean war?”

I could hear the tremble in the child’s voice as she focused her gaze on me, but I ignored her.

“You’re talking about the territorial war, right? Huh? What happened… Ugh!”

– You are not permitted to speak. Human.

A skeleton clumsily covered her mouth, and I reflected on my thoughts while watching her, now silenced.

The war between the territories in the southwest was slowly showing signs of escalating into a war between nations.

Villages near the borders were being evacuated, national forces were concentrating, and recently, news even came that the Empire’s troops had crossed into the Arilite Principality’s borders.

“Then send her back. Wipe her memory.”

The decision was swift and without hesitation.

“She’s of no value now.”

The war was unfolding much faster than expected.

This meant that it was unnecessary to orchestrate any plots to provoke Count Aisaaf using this child.

In the meantime, the young lady with no proper memories of the cause of this situation would never be able to stop this war.

Even if she were to regain her memories through some means, rousing the other two forces would only further intensify the conflict.

It wasn’t necessary, and she wasn’t such a wicked child either.

I had no intention of deliberately staining my hands with innocent blood in this situation.

“Master.”

It was Sonia who stopped my decision.
Her voice carried emotions that were rare to hear.

“Is it alright if I take her?”

“Why?”

“I want to understand the fundamental thoughts of the nobles. About our enemies.”

Handing the noble girl over to her seemed like a good thing. However, the emotions filling Sonia’s eyes obstructed that option.

That was an emotion I couldn’t disregard.

It was something I was familiar with as well.

“Come here.”

I gestured to my student, and after a moment of hesitation, she came closer and knelt before the throne.

Her shoulders trembled slightly due to some heat.

It wasn’t excitement or zeal; it was the warmth of hostility.

“Sonia, their policies are merely a backdrop.”

“But Master.”

Sonia’s voice grew agitated.

What was contained within that was a sense of betrayal following the hostility.

“If they hadn’t established the rule of ‘making naive adventurers into fodder for the dungeon or having them manage dungeons’…”

I could feel her lingering words that she had no reason to suffer misfortune herself.

What she mentioned had become the background that determined the fates of her and her childhood friends, just like this ‘war etiquette.’

Those with the continent’s power and the nobles had ensured that adventurers sent to the early dungeons were strictly ‘novice adventurers.’

Unless it was to rear their own offspring or the like.

And they referred to that rule as ‘the appropriate method to grow dungeons and devour them or to manage the number of novice adventurers.’

“Your adventures were your will, and your deaths and injuries were my will.”

But I hoped she wouldn’t harbor resentment toward them.

Holding grudges against an indeterminate number or a specific class would only bring her negative influences.

“Rather, blame me. Not the world.”

“How… how could I do that?”

Sonia’s voice shook with sorrow.

“The growing truth of this world is disgusting, and Master…”

The disciple who both hated and pitied her teacher couldn’t bring herself to say the last words.

It seemed she thought that uttering those words would be blasphemous.

I continued while gently patting her hair, which was still styled by me.

Sonia’s shoulders twitched slightly at my touch filtering through her black hair.

Emotions began to calm down gradually.

“I hope you don’t continue to burn yourself out.”

“But Master…”

“Only oneself holds the right to burn their own life. It’s a sad privilege.”

Once a person burns themselves out, what is left behind is rarely something ordinary.

What revives from ashes of anger and hatred is not a phoenix or a god but a demon or a monster.

I hoped Sonia wouldn’t follow in my footsteps.

“… You have kept yourself well while dealing with me. You can do this.”

“That’s too much faith…”

In the end, Sonia lowered her head and did not oppose further.

Tears she could no longer hold back fell to the floor from her eyes.

I gestured towards Viola to put her back into a state of hypnosis, and soon I watched the skeletons escort her away from the place.

As the sound of the girl’s footsteps faded and Sonia wiped her tears, I brought up the final matter.

“What is her current location?”

It was about the main enemy approaching me.

“It seems she has crossed the northern mountains.”

Eve answered my question.

She had brought some individuals who couldn’t forget their heyday among the mercenaries of Damalon or the retired soldiers of Mathefit to me.

She was dependable, delivering more than what was requested.

“Amelia has discovered some soldiers whose souls were drained and some monsters north of the castle.”

I instinctively tensed my brows.

For an ordinary human, it was the kind of information that would wrinkle the face in disgust.

Amelia, the lord of Solemio, was the first human lord under me, and her citizens were no different from my own.

“This is still unsettling.”

Hearing my words, Evangeline showed a somewhat uncomfortable expression, and I looked at her with a puzzled gaze.

It was common for them to appear gloomy when I held negative emotions, but this felt slightly different.

“… Can’t you rethink the strategy?”

Of course.

The reason for her expression was not about my feelings but about my thoughts.

“Master…”

Eve clutched my hand, rubbing it against her cheek as she questioned.

The hot, sincere, and affectionate gaze was something difficult to face, but I didn’t shy away.

I could feel the trembling in her fingertips as she made lines with her sword, without an ounce of waste.

“This is the best course of action, Eve. It’s a sure way to subdue her.”

It didn’t require many words to persuade her.

Just like how I was weak against them, they were weak against me as well.

A soft sigh escaped from Eve’s lips as she closed her eyes.

“… I understand. I will do my best.”

“Good.”

Eve was set to play the largest role in my primary strategy.

It was her responsibility to create a trap that Arpina wouldn’t notice.

Currently, the other forces gathered in my dungeon were intentionally held back for use in my second and third strategies.

Therefore, if I couldn’t take action when necessary, Eve could truly die.

If the second option also fails afterward, it would really be a big deal.

It would result in numerous casualties, including me and her, without any good outcome.

“Since it’s your Master’s plan, it can’t fail. Don’t worry.”

Yet there was no fear in her eyes.

Only a strong belief that “this will surely happen.”

The voice imbued with that conviction sounded almost like it was revealing the truth of the world.

“Yes.”

I too nodded, steeling my resolve.

To this end, I rapidly raised my abilities recently. At least to avoid a situation where I would be instantly powerless against Arpina.

Now, to conduct the final checks for this plan, my close aides would verify something tonight.

My soul and heart.

Red light seeped through the dungeon’s magical window, casting long shadows on the floor.

‘Now, only one step remains.’

The time to meet the final phase was approaching.