It’s Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

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– 1 –

“Thank you, Sonia.”

“You’re welcome. Good night.”

With Sonia’s night watch coming to an end, I was just about to retire to bed.

Knock knock –

“Master?”

Just as I was about to start a conversation with Evangeline, who had come to see me before I fell asleep.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“It seems to be urgent.”

The crystal ball in my private room was glowing, and seeing that, I decided to delay my sleep a bit.

It wasn’t an emergency, but it was indeed a message that needed to be conveyed quickly.

“Sonia, you can go and rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Alright then.”

The report that Talhan brought was about a criminal who was likely to be my enemy or an obstacle.

“I’ve heard that name before—Dream Witch Arpina.”

“You probably heard it from a fairy tale or a proverb.”

“A fairy tale? … You’re right.”

Listening to Evangeline’s words, I thought for a moment, and then it suddenly came to me.

The Dream Witch, Arpina Mailtron.

She was a notorious killer active in the northern part of the continent, once known as the epitome of ‘witch.’

Recently, she was regarded as the protagonist of the saying, “If you cry too much at night, the witch will come and take you away,” so her notoriety is understandable.

– In reality, the number of people she killed isn’t that many…

“So, those she targeted were famous powerhouses from the northern continent?”

“That’s correct. Some of them were even misattributed as her victims.”

She had killed strong beings, and thus, her status rose with each of them.

Arpina was initially known as an enigmatic assassin who could strip a corpse of all its magical power and strength.

However, due to her arrogance, she lost the secrecy that was her most lethal weapon.

– If ‘Noble Abelrus’ hadn’t confronted her, she would still be assassinating many powerful beings.

“I suppose so.”

In attempting to kill one of the strongest beings on the continent, she ended up being captured by him instead.

And one of the greatest human adventurers on the continent, ‘Noble Abelrus,’ publicly announced her identity to everyone on the continent.

“A woman who steals memories and abilities from the dreams of her victims and turns them into her own…”

Thanks to that revealed ability, she was able to finally earn a proper nickname.

‘Dream Witch.’

This moniker implies that she appears in the dreams of the deceased, tormenting them.

Before that, she was referred to as Nightmare, Oblivion, Dream Mist, Black Fog, etc. Coincidentally, the nicknames people created hit the mark about her true identity.

“I wonder why she’s coming to the central region.”

– There could be various reasons. She might want to distance herself from the magical realm in the north where she was caught… Or maybe she wishes to challenge Abelrus again, who exposed her identity.

Talhan mentioned several reasons, but I had a feeling that none of them were true.

My ‘instinct’ was whispering to me.

“It’s Dantalion. Master.”

Evangeline said to me.

Her words instantly crystallized my intuition, and I began to outline the highest possibilities in my mind.

“Dantalion released her, didn’t he?”

– Yes, that’s right.

“Then it’s as Eve said. The two who died before me among the former barons were all Dantalion’s subordinates.”

– So… is it a matter of vengeance?

I shook my head.

While a higher Dungeon Lord might care for a subordinate, it is likely only an expression of valuing useful assets.

And usually, beings with intellect do not cherish items they have no attachment to.

“It’s probably not vengeance.”

– Then…

But if the one who released her is Duke Dantalion, or one of his subordinates, then it makes sense to think that Arpina’s target is us, or me.

“Thinking that way makes it easier to prepare a response.”

“You’re right.”

– That makes sense…

“Talhan. Check if there’s any information connecting me to Kaisen, and keep an eye on the Cerebrum Skulls. While we won’t pull out any personnel, we should use human subordinates more actively.”

At this point, the Cerebrum Skulls were working as key figures in the various branches of the Information Guild in southern Kaisen.

In effect, half of the information network in the southern continent was under my control.

If Arpina Mailtron came down here and was able to escape such a network, there would only be two cases.

“Furthermore, increase surveillance on ‘Gray Eye.'”

One possibility is that the only rival group of the Information Guild, ‘Gray Eye,’ received a commission and is hiding her.

– The Information Guild is already on guard against them, so if there are signs of something being hidden, we’ll find out quickly.

“Right.”

In this case, enhancing surveillance through the Information Guild would help prevent that to some extent.

Information agents are recognized by their kind.

“And Eve.”

“Should I call Queen Orea?”

“Please do.”

And the other possibility is if she moves without revealing her presence in the human world.

“If she operates only in the wilderness, only a chance encounter with an adventurer would expose her.”

But eyes are everywhere.

If there’s a place without eyes, then simply make them ‘exist everywhere.’

The strongest power of the ants lies in their ability to control and their numbers.

“The last possibility is that she hides or alters her appearance to infiltrate…”

However, I decided to discard that possibility.

If a high-level ability user intends to hide themselves, there are few methods to detect them, not to mention she has her own stories.

After being seen by Abelrus, she managed to escape from him.

“She saved a child who recognized her as that ‘witch.'”

– Isn’t that a distortion, or a story she spread herself? High-level ability users often want to mythologize themselves…

“Either way, it signifies the same.”

If it was a distortion, there would have been a story where she got her money back somehow.

Even if it was something she spread herself, there would have been a reason to circulate rumors about herself.

“A ‘child who recognized her face,’ and the act of ‘spreading rumors’—both hint at some desire of hers.”

The desire to be acknowledged.

In summary, a strong desire for recognition.

I shouldn’t assume too confidently, but if she has such a desire…

“She might not even intend to conceal her actions at all.”

– … Now that I think about it.

In Talhan’s subsequent report, there were traces of her activities after she burst forth from the northern magical realm.

Despite visiting many major cities, she didn’t attempt to hide her face at all.

– Is she not afraid of the kingdoms coming to capture her?

“Quite the opposite. She’s confident that whether they come to capture her or not, she can escape.”

She was a woman who had already succeeded in fleeing even from ‘Noble Abelrus,’ one of the strongest on the continent.

Considering that he was alone, it was evident how difficult that was, and she had reason to carry a ‘sense of pride’ about it.

“At least she would have enough confidence that the ability users in the inland can’t capture her.”

– That’s true…

Moreover, this also meant that she was becoming a new headache for me.

“… If that woman clashes with us, our dungeon’s existence will definitely be revealed.”

She was the kind of woman who would flamboyantly announce her return.

Thus, many on the continent would be focusing on the movements of that vile woman.

If she were to suddenly disappear or cause a big fight, it would definitely be known to many.

“I need to consider a way to lure her out.”

“Yes… And also how to hide our own movements.”

To be honest…

– “More annoying than it is scary.”

She was enough to provoke such feelings in me.

– 2 –

“So, what was the reason for your visit?”

The faint light flowing in through the magically created window lit up her hair, causing it to shine subtly.

Her golden hair gleamed brilliantly just from receiving the light of that nighttime glow.

“It was nothing much. I just wanted to confirm the list of mercenary groups to recruit and inform you of my return.”

“Indeed.”

In Evangeline’s report, the important part wasn’t the first point.

It was the latter.

If it was something she was handling, it was generally trustworthy.

In fact, she had always done well and was honest about what she couldn’t do.

The realms she couldn’t manage were extremely narrow and shallow, but still…

“No, this might not be shallow; rather, it might be high.”

As I observed the way her eyes sparkled ever more brightly with her magic, I found myself momentarily tilting my head in thought.

She had always been dazzlingly reliable, so whatever she couldn’t do had to be of quite a high level.

“Come here.”

“Yes.”

Not in black, but in a blue shirt.

The shirt, symbolizing her bright aspects, beautifully enveloped her splendid curves.

As she came closer and embraced me, I first felt her firm body through the shirt.

Hah…

Her breath tickled my ear and flowed down onto my neck.

There was no scent of perfume, but I felt a refreshing natural fragrance.

Strangely enough, my heart, pumping magic rather than blood, started racing a bit harder.

‘…Warm.’

I could feel her body temperature.

It was cooler than that of a human, but clearly a warmth.

It was just a brief separation of a few days, but Evangeline always wanted to hold such moments before departing.

She claimed that she needed to ‘charge the Master’s essence.’

“… Hm.”

Recalling her serious and resolute face when she said that made a smile escape my lips.

As I laughed, her hair brushed against my cheek and neck, tickling me.

It was a sweet sensation.

“What are you thinking about?”

Her voice resonated low and smooth.

“Thinking you’re a bit of a weirdo.”

“The very person you’re speaking of is Evangeline, whom you like.”

Her lips curled up slightly, forming a smile.

“You’re probably the one who likes me.”

Exchanging playful banter, we continued the calm, long embrace.

Though I couldn’t hear the sound of her heart, her warmth and voice were enough.

As we embraced and shared warmth, at some point, we pulled back our faces to look at each other.

The blue magic within her eyes sparkled like starlight.

I…

“Isn’t this enough?”

With an inexplicable sense of regret, I gently pushed her away.

“How disappointing.”

“What?”

Evangeline openly expressed her disappointment while licking her lips as if savoring something.

Her attitude was so transparent in what she wanted that a bewildered smile broke out.

“There will be no progress until everyone gathers, right?”

It was something I had said the day I became confident in their secret.

Evangeline simply smiled at that, but she couldn’t hide that her cheeks turned slightly red.

“You never mentioned that you’d approach from your side. None of us did.”

It was a bright voice, yet at the same time, it revealed her insidious psyche.

“If I approach, then it seems like I’m saying I wouldn’t refuse.”

“How could I refuse what you want, Master? It’s impossible for all of us.”

The affection in her gaze was fixed upon me.

I feigned turning my head away and jokingly said.

“What if I stomp on you below my feet?”

It was merely a playful question.

So, when she answered me with a serious face, I couldn’t help but be flustered.

“I sincerely wish you would.”

Her voice carried both boldness and earnestness.

“… Go away. You’re being ridiculous.”

“Haha. Good night.”

She glanced back at me once more by the door.

Following her, her unique blue watery magic trailed, creating a fantastic scene for a brief moment.

“I’ll go out right now and come back quickly, Master.”

After finishing her report about a brief outing, the place she left behind was intertwined with traces of her blue magic and moonlight.

Click.

The door closed.

“Hah…”

I felt the warmth I had felt fade gradually.

Rustle.

Feeling a longing to hold onto that pleasant, chilly warmth, I tried to pull the blanket closer, but…

Of course, there was a limit.

“When everyone gathers…”

I wondered if I could hold out until then.

Seeing them adore such a clumsily existing being like me.

With those alluring women who continuously shook me right by my side.

‘Wanting to be stomped on.’

“Heh.”

A hollow laugh escaped.

Speaking of which, when she was a skeleton, she often chose to lie in my path when she wanted to deter my outings.

I had a rational suspicion that it contained two true feelings: the wish to be stomped and the desire to prevent me from going out.

Her expressing that truth looked as dark and dangerous as her black self.

‘When I return… what will I say?’

I didn’t need sleep, but somehow I felt I would oversleep today.

If she were to appear in my dreams.

The most dangerous ‘Dream Witch’ to me right now was not an enemy, but Evangeline herself.