It’s Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

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– 1 –

She made a decision.

That she alone would remain, and at the very least, protect the safety of her precious people.

Even if it meant sacrificing her own life.

[Thud!]

[What is this nonsense, Zain.]

She could still not forget the flash of that blade striking her right in front of her.

Although Libertus managed to stop it, she couldn’t shake off the image of that monster, which had ruthlessly decided to deliver violence upon her.

[Devour them all.]

And the sight of the adventurers and mages who were sleeping without knowing her death.

In the end, she was a being who could cause mass slaughter if ‘necessary.’

Just like all monsters do.

‘I have to let them out. If possible, all three of them.’

At that moment, she made her resolution.

She couldn’t leave her loved ones among these monsters.

Standing before the blades and fangs could be her family, not herself.

“You have to go now. Mother. Father.”

“Amelia, what’s going on?”

So Amelia was running down the corridor with the former lord and lady of the castle.

The destination they were heading to was a secret passage unknown to those who hadn’t lived long in this inner castle.

Amelia intended to send her parents out from Solemio to another territory and have them be protected by other nobles.

“Hurry! It’s just now, when there are no knights or monsters.”

After Libertus evacuated the castle walls’ troops to reduce the number of witnesses to the magic circle.

Amelia successfully stationed the knights who had turned traitor and become demons at the walls.

It turned out that the arguments about needing replacements for the troops that had been withdrawn from the walls were quite persuasive.

‘Who knew so many knights would betray us…!’

She knew that these knights of rural nobility had little sense of duty as knights, merely being powerful vassals.

She just never thought such a situation would actually come.

No matter how incomprehensible the enemy was, only three knights remained human.

‘No, it’s a relief that any are left.’

Still, she chose to think that way.

Otherwise, it would only become too miserable.

“Right. Let’s go. Where is Yurianne?”

“I entrusted her to a reliable person.”

Thus, among the knights who remained human, two were sent off to find Yurianne.

In the middle of the night, where had her sister gone? She wasn’t in her own room at all.

‘I need to find her quickly.’

However, her sister Yurianne’s whereabouts were ultimately just a ‘choice’ in this escape.

Though she felt tearful, it was indeed the truth.

“Instead of doing this, let’s go find Yurianne together. We can’t go alone.”

“No, Father. This is something only the two of you must do. I’ll protect Yurianne somehow, so you have to go out and inform them of that existence.”

The most important thing was that a noble with authority escaped and informed the Count’s territory and, further, the Royal Capital of this situation.

She could even hand herself over as the last hostage to Libertus, whom she felt seemed to like her.

Perhaps there was a high probability of experiencing pain and suffering, but that was the best option.

“… Okay. I understand. We’ll do as you say.”

“I… I don’t know. Is this right?”

Fortunately, her father, Lord Valeon, was doing reasonably well in maintaining his composure, but her mother, Grelda, still seemed to be in confusion.

She had already encountered Libertus and deeply felt the presence that radiated from the use of his magic.

“That person… no, that existence. That magic… it was truly tremendous. And here we are locked up, yet nothing happens inside the castle. That means… she must be watching us already…!”

“It’s okay, Mother. The people I trusted Yurianne to are really reliable. And you both can leave.”

Gradually calming under Amelia’s desperate reassurances, Grelda still continued with her anxious refrain, “She’s watching… watching.”

As she maintained eye contact with Grelda and spoke unflinchingly, Amelia’s heart wasn’t completely free of doubt.

‘I have to believe.’

She merely held on to that resolution tightly.

Moreover, the knights she entrusted with the task remained human even while their comrades chose the path of monsters and stayed loyal even while being detained with their families.

Without trusting such individuals, she wouldn’t even have considered proceeding with the plan.

At the same time, there was another matter.

[All those who obstruct your operation have been eliminated. It may even be something to be thankful for.]

Libertus had said so, and indeed, there were casualties among the servants and knights.

Upon investigation, it turned out that all the deceased were indeed those who had committed misconduct.

Therefore.

[It’s only natural to take time processing valuable gems.]

The knights who survived without dying must have shown something that could catch Libertus’s eye.

[Courage, a sense of duty, the resolution to choose. I greatly admire you.]

And from what had been observed until then.

This eccentric Dungeon Lord had an obsession with the courage and kindness that people displayed.

‘Perhaps the reason I’m still alive, even though I caught notice of her existence, is because of that.’

Amelia could have fled when she realized Libertus’s ideals.

Many of the nobles could abandon their families to survive, and she knew indeed that was common.

‘But I chose to protect my family. I showed that I would negotiate with him. That I would sacrifice my soul as collateral for her…’

[Good. A kind and diligent child like you coming into my grasp is delightful.]

To such a ‘non-ordinary human form,’ whatever that demon or monster was, she received praises unlike those she had rarely heard in her life.

However, Amelia didn’t know all the values that Libertus felt for her.

[Miss! Take this!]

[Thank you!]

Amelia’s worth also lay in the casual greetings and exchanges she shared with the common folk of the streets, despite being a noble.

Since she had grown up that way since childhood, she hadn’t fully grasped her value yet.

‘So, she still feels my worth, and this moment when the contract isn’t fully established is my only chance.’

Yet she wasn’t wrong in her judgment.

“Welcome. Amelia.”

“Sister!”

When faced with the threat of losing something, or after losing it.

People tend to become desperate.

When desperate, it’s easy to choose an urgent option.

[This… This can’t be happening.]

[Your father… It’s because he didn’t have faith that it came to this. Isn’t that right…?]

[Brother. Help me… okay?]

I understood that well.

“Why are you… with Yurianne…!”

“Because this child is smart and a good one. Amelia.”

As I placed my hand on the head of the child positioned perfectly for a pat, I met Amelia’s gaze.

“I knew… it would be like this.”

“We have to move, Amelia. There’s no turning back now!”

Behind her, Grelda had already collapsed, and even as Valeon drew his sword to urge calmness, she stepped forward toward me.

Still unsettled and with eyes shaking all around, she affirmed something.

“What do you intend to do with that child?”

“I’ll raise her well. She’s a budding one.”

In that state, I revealed the ears hidden beneath the child’s hair.

Two round ears poking up above the hair, not beside Yurianne’s head.

Amelia covered her mouth with both hands.

“What have you done…!”

“The qualities a warrior should possess will grow rapidly once she becomes a Were Beast. Plus, isn’t she cute?”

Grelda and her children could be used as hostages against the ruling Count Gules, but it wasn’t necessary to use all three as hostages.

What mattered to a noble was power and territory.

Among these, the most important was Grelda herself, and having just one child was enough for the Gules family to reclaim rights over this territory later on.

“Is that even a proper thing to say…! We said we wouldn’t touch the family!”

“Only if you hadn’t done such a thing.”

I gestured toward her parents.

“Ah. Yur, Yurianne…”

“It can’t be…!”

Grelda stood frozen, shocked by the sight of her sister, and Valeon dropped his sword to the ground.

Those were the hostages she intended to release.

It was a verbal contract at best, but in the end, it was she who broke it first.

Creak

“…!”

Amelia showed her dismay as she hung her hands down toward the floor.

To aid in her decision, I decided to show one more thing.

“Yurianne. Bring your sister over here.”

“Yes! Let’s go, Sister!”

With a gentle push on the back of the child, Yurianne bounced over to her sister and led her to me.

“Wait. Yurianne… Yurianne! Let go of that hand…!”

“It’s okay, Sister. The Lord said he would take good care of you.”

“Yurianne…!”

Not a typical power for a child, but enough strength as a Were Bear was beyond Amelia’s ability to resist.

Had I not previously informed the child about her strength, I might have crushed her sister’s hand.

I wish my efforts were acknowledged.

Though there was no time for that now.

“Return Valeon and Grelda to the room. We need to manage their meals, attire, and outings next.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Yurianne. Please escort your parents.”

At my command, the bear-child paused for a moment, fixing her gaze on me without moving.

With eyes holding a wisdom far beyond her age.

“Lord! You must not trouble my sister.”

“Didn’t we already make a promise?”

“There are many liars out there. You’re one of them.”

“I’ve never broken my promise first.”

“Liar.”

With a pout on her lips, Yurianne vanished alongside her parents.

Only then did I meet Amelia’s eyes.

“…”

Now her eyes were filled only with helplessness, having lost all courage and independence.

All emptied, waiting for someone to fill them up again.