It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

Now only the baronial family remained in the audience chamber.

The baron's knights and servants had long been expelled by other 'things in human form'.

Thus, Gerald looked up at the woman on the throne with a feeling as if he had been left alone in the world.

"What on earth is this..."

A voice like a groan flowed from his mouth.

To the outward appearance, just a small woman.

A woman who looks too diminutive to occupy the huge throne.

But the moment he met the pair of gazes directed at him.

'It's huge...!'

He rather thought that throne was too small.

Although he had met many high nobles while ruling the fortress near the royal capital, he had never experienced such an overwhelming aura.

'What eyes...! It's a demon. Definitely a demon!'

Gerald, facing that gaze head-on, felt as if his whole body was freezing cold.

It was the reverence a retainer should feel when meeting the king.

The sense of awe of one facing something enormous.

And the despair of one who has become hostile to something that cannot be resisted.

As his muscles weakened and his back became soaked with cold sweat, it sent him a warning.

In the form of 'fear'.

"I'm sorry, Master!"

"P-Please! Forgive us!"

Thus, the wife who judged that she should beg forgiveness for her child's rudeness, and the husband who instinctively felt that something was wrong.

The actions of the two were almost simultaneous.

The intellect and instinct of those who had long worked in cooperation with the underworld drew the same conclusion.

That they must not defy the one before them.

"You two seem to be truly made for each other."

The response to that was full of pure joy and gentleness that might seem naive at first glance, but.

'Death... just came and went...!'

Gerald felt his back becoming even more soaked by the 'enormous presence' that seemed to press down on his back and head.

It was like the presence of a huge monster that met him in the wilderness, looked down at him for a moment, then lost interest and left just like that.

The feeling of a beast-like dragon's breath brushing past his neck.

'She wasn't angered. But...'

It was the same for Hailey.

Having served Libertas to some extent, she had already noticed.

How angry the close aides around her become when something unpleasant happens to the great master.

That the master usually approves of the anger of those close aides.

If they didn't receive the master's forgiveness, there would be nothing to protect them from the anger of those violent close aides.

"Raise your head, Hailey. I wouldn't harm your children over something like this, would I? Today will be a special day for you."

"Thank you! Master! Thank you!"

Immediately upon hearing the order to raise her head.

Hailey raised her head neither too quickly nor too slowly while quickly scanning her surroundings.

Those near Libertas now were the 'black fox' and the 'white wolf'.

'She's not here.'

Realizing that the scariest 'chief administrator' was not among them, Hailey inwardly sighed in relief.

Although the rampage of the other two would be scary too, it wasn't as much as the chief administrator.

Because she was involved in all matters inside and outside the dungeon, yet her own combat power was not only not inferior to the other two but even surpassed them in some aspects.

Also, Hailey knew.

[If you do well... there won't be any problems. Fortunately, you seem to want to do well too. Let's get along well together. As seniors and juniors. So we don't have to kill each other.]

That although she always pretends to be relaxed and smiling, beneath the mask of that seemingly righteous blonde woman lies a blade more cruel than anyone else's.

"Bring your children here, you two."

"F-Father?"

"Mother...!"

The gazes of Stefan, who had long realized something was wrong with the situation, and Rosemary, who knew this situation wasn't good no matter how innocent she was, turned to their parents.

The reactions of the two were much more contrasting than their children's.

"... Please! Please punish me instead!"

Gerald, stricken with fear, once again buried his head on the ground, while.

"Come here, Stevie. Rosie."

Hailey, smiling with joy, stretched out both hands towards her children.

"Gerry, stand up too. Today is the day I receive a reward from the master. There's nothing that will harm the three of you."

"Leya... wife...! Please...!"

Unable to say 'come to your senses' for fear of arousing anger, Gerald just gritted his teeth and trailed off.

Hailey knew what he was trying to say.

She just didn't see him as a problem.

"It's okay, Gerry. We'll receive grace today."

Leaving Stefan who remained in place without approaching, Hailey approached Libertas while holding the hand of Rosemary who had carefully come closer.

"What are we receiving...? Mother."

"It depends on the great one's will, dear. But it will be better than anything you can imagine."

Hailey and Rosemary approached the throne like that, carefully knelt down, bowed their heads once, and then looked up at her.

The daughter just clumsily imitated her mother, but it was enough to say she had shown respect.

Libertas's eyes turned briefly to the husband and son, then settled on them.

"I'm not sure if it's alright to give a reward to just the two of you first, Hailey."

"I believe the two of them will understand soon, O one who is the master of my body and heart."

"Wouldn't it be your joy for all four to receive it together?"

At those words from her master, Hailey bowed her head even deeper with overwhelming emotion.

Tears were already falling in drops from her two eyes.

The master's benevolence was her ecstasy.

"If you consider us to such an extent, there's no doubt that all joys will be with me...!"

"I see."

Libertas, nodding gently, took Xue's hand and stood up from her seat, approaching the baron and his son while leading Hailey and Rosemary.

Then she asked.

"Did you call her a traitor, human child?"

It was such a gentle question, but.

"Th-That..."

Thump...! Thump...! Thump...!!!

The pressure felt from her was already turning Stefan's face pale white.

The intense presence, not felt by those who didn't antagonize her, was bearing down on the child.

"Master. You need to suppress your power."

"Oh my. I was inconsiderate."

Libertas, who had been closely observing the child, realized this at Xue's words and soon showed herself reducing her presence.

To the two of them, it felt like a beast that had been approaching while filling the air was reducing its body size.

"Huk- cough, cough! I-I'm sorry...!"

"P-Please spare me... please spare me...!"

Only after that presence diminished could Gerald and Stefan regain their forgotten breath.

It was natural for Rosemary to find this strange.

"Mother. It seems the master is tormenting brother and father...!"

"No, Rosie. The two of them aren't ready to accept the great one. They're doing wrong."

"Ah...!"

Such a calm and even joyful conversation between mother and daughter further colored the faces of the two men with despair.

"If you don't know, you just need to learn. Even more so if you knew it was wrong."

Knowing but pretending not to know such despair, Libertas smiled gently.

While gently stroking the head of the bowing son Stefan, she met eyes with his father Gerald.

"I should show you one thing first. Grace."

"...Yes."

"This... person?"

Seeing the appearance of a person approaching at Libertas's call, Gerald was greatly surprised.

Because of a priest standing beside someone with an atmosphere and presence that could only be described as a demon no matter how you looked at it.

"As you can see. A priest. Cooperating with me."

"I am Grace, a priest cooperating with Sister Libertas. Baron, Your Honor."

The baron could quickly tell that wasn't all.

The pale complexion with dark circles, the face and eyes full of fear, and the body trembling while shrinking.

No matter how you looked at it, it didn't seem like voluntary cooperation.

"Grace. Please give a blessing to Hailey."

"Yes, Sister."

However, in whatever form, whatever feelings they had.

The priest was following Libertas's instructions, and.

That was enough to shatter the existing perception of 'holiness'.

Common sense dictated that priests should normally choose death rather than bow to evil.

"Master?"

"There will be no harm, Hailey."

"Of course. Because it's something you're doing, Master. I'll gladly receive it."

Hailey received Grace's blessing while kneeling in a praying posture towards Libertas.

Watching this dizzying sight of someone receiving holiness praying towards evil, Gerald felt confused.

Even more so because no resistance occurred in Hailey as a result of that blessing.

"As you can see. Hailey hasn't received power from me, nor am I controlling her."

Of course, if loyalty means entrusting one's decision-making power, it would be correct to say that she was controlling her, Libertas smiled while saying.

However, the two father and son just averted their gaze while looking at their wife and mother who was smiling happily without any abnormality.

"How can this be...!"

"Father. This, this is..."

Their common sense had been greatly destroyed.

The common sense that evil can never surpass holiness.

The fixed idea that holiness is only used for justice.

"Look."

Libertas, who had sent Grace out of the room, approached them and calmly engraved each word.

"The religion about the heavens you know never includes absolute good, or absolute truth."

Tak.

"You can see this from the fact that even though some priests have fallen, there are still gods who bestow holy power upon them."

Tak.

"Then what is the difference between demonic power and holy power? It's just that holy power already occupies that heaven and continent. And demonic power does not."

Between her words, the sound of boots deliberately made mixes in.

Her physical abilities allow her to make no sound while walking even in heels, but that sound of hers had a strange power to give comfort to those who hear it.

Tak.

"This is merely a difference in justification, a difference in the power used. And the master of your land is you, not those priests or holy countries, or your king."

Tak.

"Even if I take your initiative from them, I will not exploit you."

Tak.

"I am an owner who knows the preciousness of my possessions. And a monarch who gains strength by receiving your service. And I can be a king who delights in bestowing my attention on my subjects."

Tak.

"You shall offer yours with deep joy in your hearts. I will gladly receive it and protect you, and make you rise to higher beings."

Tak.

"Now. Tell me what you want to do."

Tak. Tak.

The baron knelt on the spot, and his son followed him in a daze.

Not only that, but they put their arms and heads on the ground like their wife and mother had done, paying respects to an extremely high being.

"It's a joyous day."

Libertas smiled.

As a means to make her subordinate's loyalty even firmer.

She had even gained her family members.

"Look, Hailey. They want to serve me."

Libertas, looking down at them, turned to Hailey whose face was dyed with ecstasy and spoke only to her.

A simply raised power of darkness made a private conversation possible in the open space.

"My family will soon know that serving you, Master, is truly a joy."

"That would be fortunate. But right now, know that this is my gift for you."

"I, Hailey Shum, am overjoyed beyond measure...!"

Hailey bowed again, then approached on her knees while meeting her gaze.

Libertas, smiling while stroking her head, soon spoke about the mission she would give along with the reward.

"There's something you need to do for me. I will change you into special beings for that."

"Whatever it is! I will gladly follow!"

"I see..."

That answer was a fanatical loyalty that seemed like it would follow even if told to lick the floor or crawl through filth.

"Your devotion like that truly makes me happy."

It was natural for Libertas to be even happier feeling such emotions from her.

Thus, the gift she had prepared was successfully delivered.

"Your joy is my joy, Master."

"We will do our best from now on."

"I will apologize for my slip of the tongue...!"

"I'm happy to serve such a beautiful master!"

In everyone's joy.