It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

* * *

The very afternoon of the day our enemies declared war on us.

『To the esteemed Lady Libertas,

...

Hoping for a quick reply.

Lord Melzeros.』

"All those who call themselves barons are high-rank Dungeon Lords, currently unaffiliated, but after thorough investigation, it's confirmed that they belong to Archduke Dantalion and Archduke Astaroth."

The one who immediately investigated and informed us about these enemies was Scarlet, the succubus from the Mammon Guild.

Considering her original authority and the guild's position, this was a slight overreach and also an investment.

I couldn't help but express my gratitude.

"Thank you, Scarlet."

"It's nothing. For Lady, this Scarlet would even jump into the battlefield wielding a sword...!"

"There you go with the divine talk again."

"I'm half serious though..."

After stopping her with a word as she spoke dramatically with one hand on her chest, I examined the documents she brought.

As she said, the three Dungeon Lords identified as Melzeros and two others are all high-rank.

'Melzeros, Zarkra, Quirisia.'

Dungeon Lords of monsters, greenskins, and werebeasts respectively.

They probably don't know exactly where they stand without clear system help like me, but they should be at least mid-level high-rank Dungeon Lords.

'Dantalion and Astaroth.'

I can guess why their subordinates have come to check on me, or to kill me.

If Dantalion in the north removes or blocks me, who might cause trouble in the center of the continent, he can suppress the growth rate of Agareth in the south and Eligoth in the east before he comes down himself.

Astaroth in the East Sea needs to block Eligoth's growth to expand the demon realm.

'In other words.'

It means that Eligoth or Agareth, whom those two archdukes want to check, might be in a position to help me...

But there was no contact from that side.

This means one thing.

"At least the archdukes didn't move directly."

"That's right."

"Why is that?"

"Because if they had, the other side would have moved too, Miss Scarlet."

As Evangeline answered Scarlet, if it were a movement directly ordered by those at the archduke level, it wouldn't happen on such a small scale.

And those who are hostile wouldn't turn a blind eye.

So it was right to view this as either an autonomous movement by those barons, or excessive loyalty from subordinate Dungeon Lords who call themselves marquises.

'No, that must be it.'

『Demon Realm Fame - 1,098 (Newcomer backed by an influential family)』

In the first place, I'm not big enough for an archduke to move.

Even if I've started to make a name for myself in the demon realm, I'm still treated as a newcomer or barely beyond that.

"Indeed...! Lady is brilliant!"

"Yes. Thank you."

For me, this could be considered a good situation.

They don't know about my situation on the ground, that the queens of wild monsters have joined me.

And those queens are monsters with power reaching elite rank, and their subordinates have power equivalent to well-trained dungeon summons.

It's right to think that two of them can sufficiently deal with one high-rank Dungeon Lord, so in terms of combat power, we're at an equal level.

At least within the prior information.

"We won't need to draw out much of their power."

"That is correct."

Ran agreed with my muttering.

"There's no need to hide everything, but."

"There's no need to reveal everything either."

As I spoke while making eye contact with her, she immediately answered in perfect understanding.

As she said, we decided to keep about half of the queens themselves and their elite possessions hidden.

To prepare for more critical situations in the future.

"They are secret weapons..."

"They'll be sharp blades for the enemies who come rushing in thinking there are few elite-rank summons."

As Xue and Eve said, it's enough if the queens' forces are at the level of 'support from ordinary allies'.

Besides, it's not like my forces are lacking...

'It's just the right difficulty for the first war.'

There's no need for that in the first place.

A map obtained from the Mammon Guild, marking the locations of the three Dungeon Lords' dungeons.

I didn't hide the smile that naturally formed as I confirmed the red dots marked on it.

There was a hint there.

"I need to go hunt monsters."

"Hmm..."

"I'll prepare."

One week until the war.

There's no need to believe that the enemies will honestly wait a week, but if we think they'll exercise patience as they've observed formalities.

'At most four to five days.'

It was the deadline for maximizing my dungeon's combat power as much as possible.

"Scarlet. I have a favor to ask."

"Yes?"

"Take this."

"A letter... isn't it? Could it be..."

"Don't think strange things."

And during that time, I intended to win this war in advance.

* * *

The time invested in training was about three days.

But now, after removing all human and external Dungeon Lord influence in this area.

"Excellent."

The efficiency of 'sacrifice collection' conducted by releasing all monsters in the dungeon in a state where there were no humans or other monsters to interfere with hunting was better than expected.

While I focused only on other preparations, the results were sufficient to strengthen my subordinates just with the sacrifices they hunted directly.

Right in front of my eyes now was that result.

『Name - Mire』

『Attributes - Health 35 Technique 43 Durability 38 Magic Power 44 Resistance 27』

『Name - Axe』

『Attributes - Health 56 Technique 39 Durability 34 Magic Power 23 Resistance 30』

Excluding Evangeline, these two, who could be called my oldest soldiers, have already reached a mature high rank in terms of simple specs.

It's not unreasonable for them to achieve elite-rank specs if there's a trigger or if they focus a little.

"You've really worked hard."

-Clack!

-Thwack!

Although I couldn't pay much attention, it's the result of steady enhancement using sacrifices and their own training.

Moreover, there was something newly manifested as a result of moving with one officer each attached to these two.

『Characteristic - ... Field Commander ...』

This was a command characteristic that is effective even when commanding monsters different from their own kind.

Although it doesn't match what Evangeline has, it means these kids have started to have tactical knowledge.

"Really excellent. You're doing well."

-Rattle.

-Clatter.

Indeed, this kind of growth is much more pleasing than anything else.

"You are my joy."

Shuck!!

Not just these two, but the first-generation skeletons who were bandits or low-rank adventurers when alive were the same.

All of them are now doing more than their share as warriors, archers, and so on.

"My lord. Don't just look there, look here too..."

"I'm sorry, Ran. Of course, you're excellent too."

"Fuhuhu..."

『Name - Yuran』

『Title/Individual Name - Three-Tailed Fox』

『Attributes - Health 34 Technique 47 Durability 29 Magic Power 56 Resistance 41』

Ran's current actual ability strictly corresponds to an elite-rank monster, but in terms of rank, she corresponds to high rank.

As a Dungeon Lord requiring high specs, it can't be helped.

『Characteristic - ...Special Grade Specialization: Fire Sorcery...』

Instead, she intensively raised the grade of fire sorcery, which has better offensive power than her current main characteristic 「Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit」.

"I need to increase the number of tails soon..."

'Thousand Fox', considered a fox divine beast. Among them, a race called 'Demon Thousand Fox' that has degenerated into a yokai.

Ran's power, as a member of this race, is intuitively represented by the number of tails.

Because of this, she usually kept just one tail in everyday life. It would be troublesome if enemies could see the number of tails.

"Don't think too hastily. Isn't it a sufficiently fast speed?"

"Fufu. When my lord comforts me like this. This servant doesn't know where to put herself."

"So. That's fortunate."

But now she was in such a good mood that that state was undone and three tails were swaying.

While thinking it's amazing that she becomes like that just from one of my words, I didn't feel bad about it.

Kyaaaa-!!

『Name - Sonia Mediv』

『Occupation and Rank - Elite Curse Mage』

Turning my head at the sound similar to a scream, I saw the figure of my first disciple experimenting with the manipulation of a newly learned curse.

『Attributes - Health 31 Technique 46 Durability 40 Magic Power 60 Resistance 50』

In Sonia's case, since her magic power amount was already sufficient, we grew her in the direction of increasing stability.

It was amazing how well her magic power grew, probably because she herself was so attuned to magic.

Even though we only used sacrifices of types that are mindlessly strong or have hard bodies, like trolls or wild rock spirits.

『Characteristic - Special Grade Specialization: Curse...』

Also, her main ability, curse, rose to special grade thanks to diligent learning and training.

"Have there been any strange points lately?"

"... It feels strange because my power suddenly became too strong."

"I guess that would be the case."

Even if she feels strange, that might be better.

If she had continued using magic in her original state, minor injuries would have accumulated on her body.

Although it wouldn't be a life-threatening magic overload, it wouldn't have been helpful during combat.

"Master. What if I become muscular at this rate...?"

"That won't happen, Sonia."

The strengthening of physical abilities caused by magic acting on the body doesn't cause changes to the body.

Of course, it's different if there's such a characteristic, but generally.

"Ah. That's right..."

I ruffled the hair of Sonia, who felt her body was too strange because she had never been healthy in her life, and she made eye contact with an awkward smile.

It was fortunate that she seemed relieved.

Thud!

"I've returned, Master."

"Good work, Eve."

Just then, Evangeline entered while grabbing an ogre by the scruff of its neck.

She had killed and brought an ogre with a huge body that seemed to be at least an adult, without a single scratch, despite being of the same rank.

It was an excellent achievement even if the opponent was a wild monster.

『Name - Evangeline』

『Alias, Title - Hero, The One Who Tips the Scales』

『Attributes - Health 59(54) Technique 69(63) Durability 45(40) Magic Power 60(55) Resistance 42(37)』

In Eve's case, there wasn't a dramatic rise in specs.

In fact, it hasn't been long since she rose to elite rank.

Actually, this level is enough to have no major problems when fighting high-rank level Dungeon Lords, and considering her characteristics, domination is possible in some cases.

Nevertheless, she is now stronger and more capable than before...

『Characteristics - ...Imperial Guard Knight Sword Technique, ... High-Grade Specialization: Fire Magic, High-Grade Specialization: Water Flow Magic, ...』

『Imperial Guard Knight Sword Technique - When defending with a sword, add 40% of Technique to Durability and Resistance for calculation.』

This was because she secured several additional characteristics instead of raising attributes.

As if proving that she's not a knight but a hero, she learned two elemental magics, and even a sword technique characteristic from who knows where.

"Aren't you being too greedy?"

"It's alright, Master. I'm only learning what I can digest."

"Ah, I see..."

"You can trust me as much as you want, Master."

When I just nodded my head having nothing to say since she said so herself, Eve grasped my hand and kissed the back of it several times while saying that.

Her skinship has become particularly frequent these days.

Eve's growth was steep enough that I didn't need to control it, so of course I trusted her, but...

"Of course. I trust you."

Feeling a bit sad that she seems to be growing too much on her own without me, I just said that, and.

"Yes!"

When she rejoiced so greatly and smiled as if she had gained the whole world, I felt rather embarrassed.

『Name - Lin Xue』

『Title/Individual Name - Blood Demon Wolf』

And, lastly.

"Phew..."

"How do you feel, Xue?"

Looking at my first mercenary, her head was all red, probably because she had just finished changing.

That appearance is the same as when 「Madness」 was fully charged before, but she's not rampaging madly.

She's in a very calm state, smiling at me.

"Very... good."

"It looks that way."

Although there are many monsters that can be caught, elite-rank monsters are not very common even in this area.

Using the ogre Eve caught as a sacrifice, I raised Xue to elite rank.

Although all the high-rank summon slots in the dungeon are full, she's treated as a mercenary for now, so she's not within the scope of this restriction.

Of course, if she were an ordinary mercenary, there wouldn't be such growth using sacrifices...

But she's not an ordinary mercenary.

『Attributes - Health 62 Technique 46 Durability 56(51) Magic Power 59 Resistance 60(54)』

『Characteristics - Blood Madness Refinement, Loyalty, Fresh Blood Charge, Magic Power Rampage, Member of Necropolis』

Among Xue's characteristics, the main characteristic 「Madness: Blood」 changed to 「Blood Madness Refinement」, and 「Blade of Blood」 changed to 「Fresh Blood Charge」.

In the case of Blood Madness Refinement, although the grade was still legendary, it wasn't just a change in name.

『Blood Madness Refinement

■ Blood Frenzy

■ Blood-Thirsty Demon Heart

■ Symbol of Life

■ Blood Wolf Fang

A complex characteristic combining the above four characteristics.』

Among the detailed characteristics, the part that was the center of combat, 「Madness」, changed to 「Blood Frenzy」, and 「Blood-Thirsty Beast」 changed to 「Blood-Thirsty Demon Heart」.

I had suspected it because her name was in the continental style, but it's quite meaningful that the characteristics follow that as well.

"Evangeline... let's fight again."

"Here? It's better to stop. If you and I fight now, everything will be destroyed, and Master will dislike that."

"Ah..."

"Let's set a time and place later."

Watching her calm down at Eve's words as she couldn't control the power surging in her body.

'Preparation for the factors is complete.'

I looked forward to the coming battle.

This was at the point when the day I expected my enemies to actually invade was approaching in two days.