It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

* * *

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Libertas."

The 'senior necromancer' Xue called was a woman with an obviously very tall stature at first glance.

Even though she was slightly bending her knees to match my height, I still had to lift my head slightly to look up at her.

Gray skin, elegant light blue hair with purple eyes, a pretty eye patch with flowers drawn on it, and a slender figure.

Large horns protruding from the side and back of her head above long, pointed ears.

And those eyes flowing with undisguisable magic power, seductively applying black eye makeup.

'At least a high-level ability user...'

My eyes narrowed involuntarily.

Although I couldn't know exactly what level she had reached, I instinctively felt that she was stronger than me.

If she were specialized in combat and decided to be hostile or try to subdue me, she would be a dangerous person.

But there must be a reason why Xue allowed her to get this close to me so easily.

"I'm Mur Felix. Though my skills are nothing special, I hold a baronial title in the demon realm."

"I just saw Talaran yesterday. Now I'm seeing another demon. Nice to meet you. As you know, I'm Dungeon Lord Libertas."

Demon. Among them, a 'Delf'.

A minority ethnic group specialized in magic and spirit arts among the demons, the mainstream race of the demon realm.

In the language of the continent, they're also called 'Infrashade', 'The Deeper Shadow', and are sometimes considered like High Elves among Dark Elves.

In fact, their appearance is very similar to Dark Elves, and there's a reason for that.

Actually, they are hybrids of Dark Elves and demons who eventually succeeded in settling as a race.

'Though it's not known on the continent...'

Originally just hybrids, they repeatedly crossbred with various Dark Elves and demons, eventually becoming a single race.

The Delf, reborn as a race in this way, became the only race among demons that can handle spirit arts.

In other words, they're the only race among demons that can become spirit users on a racial scale.

"So you've seen him. I know him too."

"He was an excellent warrior, enough to be obvious just by looking."

"How about me?"

"You seem that way too. I'm very much looking forward to the result of our meeting today."

"I'm honored. I'll try not to disappoint your expectations."

"Good... This way."

Seated in the reception room, my disciple Sonia and Xue, as the introducer, also joined us.

And there, Mur opened the conversation with a story that piqued my interest.

"Actually, I've been really looking forward to meeting Lady Libertas all this time."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I felt like throwing away the research tasks I had received in advance."

"..."

At her words, which seemed somewhat exaggerated but didn't feel like a lie, I remained silent for a moment. She alternately looked at me and Xue with a gentle smile and then.

Before Xue could stop her, she blurted it out.

"Wait. That..."

"I really wanted to meet the person that rebellious Lin Xue obediently follows."

"Rebellious?"

Before Xue, who sensed what was coming, could protest, it caught my interest.

I had heard similar nuances from the guild before, but they hadn't told me the full details.

"Yes. You might be surprised if you knew how violently this werewolf acts when things go wrong."

In fact, I already knew about this.

After all, it shows no matter how much she tries to hide it.

But I also want to know about the Xue that other people know, not just me.

"Master..."

"That's interesting."

Xue seemed to want to stop me inwardly, but as soon as my words fell, she gave up and sank deep into the sofa.

Although her dissatisfaction was evident, her gesture showed no intention of reversing my decision.

Mur, who looked at her appearance with interest, began to tell me various stories she knew.

"Once there was a guard request, but because she didn't like what the client was doing..."

"How dare he try to make me his concubine..."

"Another time, the client was a magician, and because she liked the materials he had, she arbitrarily..."

"I needed it to get stronger... He wouldn't give it to me even when I offered to buy it."

"And..."

Listening in detail, including Xue's interjections in between, most of her actions had their own important reasons.

She just ignored most of the formalities and etiquette in carrying them out.

This was a story I couldn't hear in detail from the Mammon Guild.

Initially, they were in a position of 'selling' Xue to me, so they wouldn't tell me things that might be viewed negatively.

Also, among them were things I needed to hear.

"That first story. Tell me in detail."

"Master...?"

I buried Xue's head, who had somehow approached and clung to me, into my shoulder to block her objection, then gestured towards Mur.

This was more important than the main topic we needed to discuss with her today.

"There was someone who tried to make Xue his concubine?"

Much. More.

"Uh... yes. Um. Do I really have to tell this story?"

Mur's expression said 'I know I've unknowingly stepped on a landmine, but can't you let it slide?', but.

"I must hear it."

I firmly shook my head.

She remained silent for a moment even in front of my continued glaring gaze, then slowly opened her mouth. While maintaining a troubled expression.

"...As far as I know, his name is Harpas. He's one who uses the name of destruction under the Archduke of Pride, and one of the three marquises."

Indeed, he was someone with a reputation that could sweep me away right now if I expressed even a hint of hostility.

But that doesn't mean I have any intention of letting it slide or backing down.

"Harpas. I'll have to remember that."

Since it's a past event, some leniency might be possible.

The problem will be when we meet next time.

If we ever meet again.

'If he desires Xue again and acts rudely in front of me...'

I intend to show him what happens to those who set their eyes on a woman I favor, even if he's a marquis.

At the very least, I won't be satisfied unless I gouge out his eyeballs and tongue.

"Master... That person is."

"Don't worry about that. I'm not thinking of... doing anything too unreasonable."

My words implying that I would confront him even if it meant being unreasonable if necessary.

At this, Xue made a worried expression while subtly blushing.

"And Mur. You don't have to worry either, I won't say that you told me."

"Oh my. That's something I hadn't thought of. Thank you, Lady. But..."

It was a different expression from her usual languid poker face or battlefield cruelty, so when I touched her cheek, the redness gradually deepened.

Mur must have felt Xue's breathing becoming slightly rougher, as she looked at me.

"...Should I leave for a moment?"

"Don't tease. ...I'll bring more refreshments."

After that, Xue left her seat.

Even though there was still plenty of food left to eat with the tea, and normally this was something the noble fanatics would do.

Anyway, I found out what I needed to know.

"Let's get back to the original topic."

"Ah, yes."

Mur's eyes looked at me with a strange light as I regained my cool composure, but I had no intention of continuing this conversation.

The more we talk about it, the more unpleasant it becomes.

"I heard from Xue that you could help with the magic I want to develop."

"Oh. Of course, I heard about that too. That you want communication with summons."

"Yes. But meeting you in person, I think it might be possible because you're a Delf."

Delfs, like Dark Elves or Elves, all have the qualities of a spirit user.

It's natural since their original form is Dark Elf.

At the same time, she was also a necromancer.

It wasn't difficult to guess that with the combination of these two talents, her ability to communicate with spiritual beings would be more developed than any other being.

But she denied my speculation.

"Your words aren't wrong. But I can communicate quite smoothly not only with spirits but also with skeletons and zombies that I summon."

"Really...?"

"Yes. This was in the realm of effort, not my talent. I'm confident it will be helpful."

"Hmm."

I nodded and first drained the slightly cooled tea, then handed her the documents that were beside me.

"This is...?"

"Contract documents. You'll need compensation if I'll receive knowledge, won't you?"

"Oh... What if I'm not helpful?"

It seems that in the demon realm, contracts don't often precede work.

There are also many cases where they first act together to verify if the person really has the ability.

During that time, it's often unpaid.

The fact that the gremlins who constructed my dungeon took a particularly favorable stance towards me wasn't unrelated to this.

It seems like a society with lifespans vastly longer than humans and revolving around the strong created such a culture...

"Don't worry about that."

I have no reason to follow that.

Labor needs compensation. Even if that laborer is my slave.

Of course.

"Once we contract, I'll get whatever benefit I can from you."

But that labor must be 'effective'.

But whether it's helpful to me or not, if results don't come because they 'can't do it', that can't be helped.

However, I can't give compensation to those who 'don't' produce results.

"That sounds a bit scary..."

"You'll do well, so it shouldn't matter."

"It sounds like you're saying there are those who don't do well."

"Yes... Even among my subordinates."

This applied to those who had already joined as my subordinates.

For example, a certain man who would be in Copzerin now.

* * *

"Hello."

"Welcome... Oh."

Alexis, who greeted the person who said his 'master' had sent to help him, opened his eyes wide in surprise.

Flowing, dull white hair and dignified black armor covered in scars all over the body.

A long two-handed sword slung on the back, and several other weapons hanging at the waist.

Although she gave off the impression of a veteran knight who seemed to have rolled on battlefields for decades at a glance, the appearance revealed under the hood was beautiful and young.

Literally a sobering appearance.

"I didn't expect such a beautiful person to come..."

"Beauty can sometimes be a weapon too."

"Ah, you know that. I use that weapon well too. Ah, let's not stand here, please come in."

A knight with overwhelming beauty and atmosphere that can't help but surprise the beholder.

Thinking that Lady Libertas must have risen even higher while he was away from the dungeon, Alexis let her in.

'Smell of alcohol...'

Meanwhile, the black knight, Evangeline, frowned as she entered Alexis's personal room.

It was overflowing with a smell that could only be thought of as stale.

The smell of alcohol, commonly called the smell of a widower, mixed with the smell of sexual intercourse and garbage that hadn't been cleaned up in time.

At least it was certain that the maid wasn't doing her job properly.

Even though it's still a baron's house.

"I was surprised to hear that support was coming suddenly."

"The master is concerned about the delay in your achievements."

"But a noble's title must be raised carefully. You don't know how many people are watching me now. As a newly rising noble."

Evangeline nodded.

Alexis's words made sense.

Only the cause he presented was a lie.

"I hear rumors that you slept with the Countess of Copzerin are rampant."

In fact, she already knew all the circumstances.

His actions, revealed under Ran's surveillance, were close to the embodiment of debauchery and dissipation.

She had come here to let him know the price of those actions.

Right after the 'war' ended.

"Ah, has that already become a rumor? Well..."

Alexis scratched his head embarrassedly and laughed, as if he didn't understand the true meaning of this situation at all.

Swoosh.

However, his body had already moved towards the sword at his side.