It’s Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

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– 1 –

The Leonis I saw after a few days looked extremely haggard.

He was already a thin man, but now it seemed I could suspect that some of the magical overexertion Sonia once had might have transferred to him.

There were whispers about him hardly eating, so I was somewhat concerned.

‘Since nothing came up in the sacrifice information…’

It means he’s not mentally dead or completely subdued. It’s just that ‘Sonia’s betrayal’ was a shock to him.

“You…”

As if proving that, his eyes looking at me gradually came to life and began to glisten with emotion.

Hatred.

It boiled up in a density I could only describe as pitch black.

“You… No, you monstrous bastard…”

Even his curses came out as if he was unfamiliar with them, having rolled the words in his mouth several times before finally managing to spit them out. This suggested he probably hadn’t lived a rough life after all.

However, while his way of expressing that was quite simple, his hatred was exceedingly clear, sharp as if it were a blade laid bare.

If Scarlett saw this, she might have said, ‘At this state, I could sell him for a good price.’

Of course, I wouldn’t. After all, there was a contract.

“I can’t believe you’ve ended up like this in just a few days. Sonia must have been very sad watching you.”

Clang!

“How dare you speak that name…!!”

“Is there any reason to hesitate in referring to my disciple and attendant?”

“This…!! This traitor…!!!”

The boiling hatred was an emotion capable of changing a person in just a few days.

The evidence of that was right before my eyes.

He was no longer a fragile scholar; he looked like a feral dog that hadn’t eaten for several days.

Clang!

“I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you…!”

Bound in chains that restrained both his neck and upper body, fixed in the hands of a skeleton, he looked ready to spring at me at any moment, stamping the ground repeatedly with fury.

Veins popped in his eyes, turning the whites red.

Just moments ago, he had broken a toe and had another nail ripped out, yet he seemed oblivious to it, consumed by fierce hatred.

It truly felt like I was witnessing the beginning of madness that would tumble down if pushed just a little.

If one could feel nothing there, then one couldn’t be called human. That expression stemmed from a “love” for a woman.

Even now, despite having turned into something not quite human, I was feeling moved by it.

Jealous, even.

“How strange. Don’t you act as if you wished for Sonia to die?”

As long as he remained my enemy, it was unlikely such feelings would ever escape my lips.

Instead, I could tighten the reins to prevent him from becoming too crazed by love.

“Look at her now. Where does it look like she is in pain?”

Sonia was right there in the very spot where Leonis had been summoned.

Perhaps curious if I was doing her any harm, she sought my permission, and without any hesitance on my part, I allowed her.

With eyes painted in sadness and fear, she looked as if she were nailed to the spot, yet at the same time, her beauty seemed to bloom more with each passing day, not once tearing her gaze away from us.

But Leonis, it seemed, could not bear to look at her, tightly closing his eyes and grinding his teeth.

“Even if she’s alive, hasn’t her path as a mage been completely cut off! Besides, you plan to turn her into a monster!”

“Is that so? Why do you think that?”

“The Dungeon Lord’s contract is only with monsters…!”

“Ah, I see. It seems you were unaware. Our contract can also be made with humans.”

“What do you mean…?”

What is needed for the Dungeon Lord’s contract is simply the submission of a human; there is no need for the degradation of humanity.

Once the contract is made, the individual becomes unable to live without a Dungeon Core or the power of the Demon Clan, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they cannot still be considered “human.”

“A human mage. Even if they can’t live without a Dungeon Core, can you really say they’re not human if their cognitive functions remain human and their body doesn’t transform?”

“Then what about those found in the dungeon until now…?”

“They can’t live otherwise.”

The only way a human bound to a demon can survive, barring exceptional cases, is to prove their worth.

That worth is typically ‘strength.’

Therefore, humans associated with dungeons often pursue strength, even if it means shattering their own appearance. Even so, they aren’t denied the pleasures of human life.

Strength equates to their property.

Those with abundant resources can still live decently, even if they cease to be entirely human.

“However, I have no intention of altering her. Unless she desires it, that is. Even if she marries a human later, I wouldn’t oppose that.”

Upon hearing this, the intensity of Leonis’s hatred lessened for a moment, replaced by a bewildered expression. As a mage, he was still a human who needed reason even in his self-consuming rage.

Just like he had tried to reason with the humans beating him.

“B-but still, you severed her ties…!”

“I won’t say there wasn’t coercion, but ultimately, it was her choice.”

“You killed her friend…!”

“True. If I want to keep her by my side, I must apologize for it.”

That seemed to render his subsequent words fragmented.

Still filled with unresolved hatred, he stumbled upon the truth his ignorance left unchallenged.

Upon hearing my last statement, the mage turned to look at Sonia with a blank expression.

“The Dungeon Lord… apologizes… to a human?”

Nod.

“It’s a lie…!”

It was indeed true that I had apologized to her, and she, with her genuine disposition, nodded in affirmation.

I confirmed it without hesitation.

“What remains is you. If you keep your mouth shut, then perhaps she could regain her life as a human.”

“Is that so…?”

Leonis sank to his seat, looking utterly deflated.

His long-held notions and belief systems had been shattered, and at the same time, he had accepted that it wasn’t a lie.

That old understanding of the ‘Dungeon Lord, conceited in the eyes of humans’ had now become a mere cliché.

“You’d need time to think. Let’s allow today to pass.”

At that point, I decided to give Sonia and Leonis some space.

I was confident the process wouldn’t always go as I envisioned, but I believed the outcome would align with my hopes.

“… Thank you.”

“Step aside.”

Unaware of my thoughts, Sonia’s gratitude made me wave my hand dismissively, and she approached Leonis to help him.

Though she hadn’t fully recovered to a point where she could support an adult, she ultimately needed the skeleton’s assistance.

“Bring Maria and Daniel.”

Now only two remained.

Those bound by an enmity that could never coexist beneath the same sky, and someone who might soon find themselves in a similar situation.

– 2 –

“So it was because of me. No, perhaps it’s our fault?”

“Huh?”

As I was being escorted and monitored by the skeletons, Leonis’s unexpected words slipped out of his mouth.

When Sonia looked at him in surprise, the mage, with great effort, lifted his head and spilled out the words that remained in his mouth.

“The reason you made that contract with that monster.”

“…”

“Well, that makes sense.”

As if he had found an answer in the silence, Leonis once again let his head hang low, defeated.

He had already come to terms with it.

‘Did he love her…? Without really believing it, he ended up putting her in this situation…’

He realized he had become a burden to Sonia.

Watching him, Sonia couldn’t find an appropriate word to comfort him, so she simply continued to hold him as they began the return journey.

“Lady Sonia?”

As they were heading back to the room, they came across some people.

They looked like a pair of men and women but were precisely swapped in gender, with more enforcers watching them compared to the skeletons.

It was Maria and Daniel.

“Daniel.”

“Leonis is still the same, I see.”

“…”

The man wore a wry smile as he observed the states of Leonis and Sonia.

Sonia could tell.

She saw some glint of resolve shimmering in his eyes.

Something resembling her own decision.

[Your fate is not for you to decide.]

At that moment, the words from Angelita, or rather, Dungeon Lord Libertus, flashed through Sonia’s mind.

“Lady Sonia? Why so suddenly…”

“Huh? Ah…”

Caught off guard by his words, she realized she was gripping Daniel’s arm.

Surprised, she initially tried to pull her hand away, but she changed her mind and held onto it once more.

– Clack.

– Clunk.

As Sonia held onto him, the skeletons escorting them smoothly took charge of Maria and Leonis, walking ahead.

Only the two of them and the guards remained at that spot.

“I didn’t realize I was this popular. Lady Sonia, falling for me too.”

“Don’t say that.”

Daniel attempted to brush it off as a joke. However, Sonia didn’t release him; instead, she expressed her will to hold on.

Until then, Daniel’s smile hadn’t wavered.

“What do you think I can do?”

“Anything at all.”

“Lady Sonia.”

Sonia’s grip on Daniel’s arm was so easily broken.

Even though she mustered as much strength as she could.

Having not been free from the curse of magical powers for long, her body was so frail that Daniel, who usually didn’t care about others’ gazes, could hardly help but worry about her arm breaking.

It was a relief to see her health was returning lately.

“Even if someone claims to love you, there are women who would throw away their lives for a man they don’t yet love. Are you aiming to be that awful man who can’t even risk his life for a girl who likes him?”

Although he hadn’t said anything, Sonia was surprised by how he seemed to grasp everything about her situation.

Yet, her expression quickly regained its composure.

“With Maria no longer with us, you’re the only one left.”

“I’m left with Maria too. She’s like my light. Lady Sonia.”

Words that felt like a confession, which should only be made at the most perfect moment to a beloved.

But Daniel’s confession was only filled with bitterness, and the subject wasn’t even in a state to hear it.

In that moment, both the involved party and sympathizer couldn’t hide their bittersweet expressions.

“After all, Lady Maria and that Dungeon Lord can no longer coexist under the same sky. Therefore… their lives must be risked.”

“… Your views are not the same as humans. We cannot know what could happen to you.”

“Still, as long as Lady Maria can be saved.”

“Even if that life is worse than death?”

“Even so.”

The resolve prepared for death, or perhaps a life worse than that.

The impression of a jerk had entirely vanished, leaving only a single man before me.

A man who wished to protect the person he loves.

“How selfish.”

“You were the same. You didn’t even discuss things with Leonis before acting, did you?”

“… That’s true. I wasn’t in a position to criticize Daniel.”

As the two emotional victims shared a brief bittersweet smile, they soon revealed sincere smiles.

“I wish you success, Daniel.”

“Lady Sonia, I hope everything goes well for you too. And just call me Daniel. No need for formalities.”

“You too.”

With that, they parted ways.

Though only a brief connection, they shared a strong bond of camaraderie and exchanged light farewells, perhaps knowing they might not meet again.

– 3 –

“Yes. Let’s proceed that way.”

“Huh…?”

However, unlike the solemn exchanges and weighty vows of those victims, his suggestion was accepted very easily.

As if he had been waiting for it.

“The condition of the contract is simple. Daniel Smith will become my ‘subordinate.’ In return, I will keep the life of Maria Olas intact. Even if it means living a life that cannot achieve anything, if that’s acceptable, then no matter what happens.”

“No matter what…? You mean?”

“Exactly. No matter what. Even if… such a thing happens.”

That thing occurred the instant Dungeon Lord Libertus nodded.

“Uuuurgh!!”

“Maria!!”

From the moment Daniel uttered the word ‘contract,’ Maria Olas, who had been noticeably agitated, bent down, gasping for breath.

With a sudden surge of determination, she leaped up and attempted to strike the shackles binding her hands towards Rita.

Clang!

Her attempt was effortlessly crushed. Right beneath Eve’s sword, who stood beside her.

With the sword smashing the shackles down, Eve immediately stepped on them, restraining Maria and attempting to take her head off.

“It’s alright, Eve.”

– Crack!

Evangeline, spewing blue light and black magical steam from her mouth and eyes with rage, expelled hostility.

Yet she calmed down immediately at Rita’s simple command, waiting for her orders right where she stood. It was unbelievable how quickly she regained her composure from such intense fury.

“Lady Maria, why…?”

“Are you telling me to just stand by and watch you mortgage your life?! Why…! Why…!! Why are you taking responsibility for something that happened because of dumb me!”

“Don’t you see, Maria?”

The answer didn’t come from Daniel; it came from Rita.

Stepping forward to where Maria lay, completely sprawled on the floor with shackles and hands beneath her, Rita didn’t wear a smile but spoke in a tone as gentle as one might use to comfort a child.

“Love is just like that.”

“What would a monster like you know…!!”

“It’s what renders people the most foolish and stupid. Yet at the same time, it can also be the most noble or the most brilliant. That’s what love truly is.”

Libertus wore a rare smile.

Facing Daniel and Maria as they stared up at him in confusion, making comments that a Dungeon Lord shouldn’t grasp.

“I shall praise your foolish yet splendid love, Daniel Smith. You will be my army’s envoy for a while. I will arrange for Maria to be available to meet you whenever you wish.”

“Thank… you…”

“Don’t do that…! Stop it!! Daniel!!”

“I love you, my light. Maria.”

“Stop it!!!”

As Maria cried out in despair.

Daniel Smith became the second human of the dungeon.

“I expect your dedication.”

It was the moment Libertus secured another being to serve as the eyes of the dungeon.

– 4 –

Evangeline, who was escorting Maria to her master, glanced back and forth between Sonia and Maria.

‘Your choices have changed a bit.’

This must be what the Master had mentioned before as the ‘Butterfly Effect.’

A tale he had spoken lightly, remarking that if something from the past were to change, the results could spiral out of control.

‘Well, I suppose it’ll be fine.’

However, Evangeline did not let herself get too worried.

While it was certainly plausible to think that trying to reverse the course of an era by individual strength could lead to an unrelenting swell, what if it was a group trying to shift that current?

‘In the end, we will protect the Master.’

Evangeline’s faith was based on that.

Though she had been the first to meet the Master and was the one who should be protecting him, others would eventually join.

Until then, she would simply keep her sword in hand and remain by the Master’s side.