It's Dangerous Outside the Dungeon, Master

Anyone with fantasies about a fantasy world would have imagined the banquets held in that world.

A rowdy and macho drinking party that Vikings or mercenary groups hold right after a hunt.

A dinner buffet where all kinds of feasts from around the world are laid out, and you can choose the food you want to eat.

More modestly, things like tea parties where noble ladies gather.

However, what probably comes to mind most often is the ball that always appears in romance fantasies.

-Seeing all of you who are active in various fields of society here, even this old body feels like it’s getting younger.

The gray-haired noble now standing on the platform seems to be the host of this party. Although retired now, he apparently has several disciples in the political world of the Kingdom of Heisen.

Thanks to that, even now, after stepping down from both family head and lord positions, he has more influence than a family head and is actively performing the task of bringing in talents from private sectors and affiliating them with the kingdom.

It could be said to be an excellent way of life as a noble, contributing to his family and being loyal to the country by raising fame and achievements simultaneously in his old age.

Thanks to that, I also got this opportunity, which is good.

-This place is prepared with the hope that you will show off your talents and find colleagues suitable with your abilities. I hope you enjoy the banquet comfortably and find good people with keen observation.

-Please give applause and cheers as a sign of gratitude to His Excellency!

Waaaah-!

I am in the state of having entered the party hall as a young lady who came up from the countryside, Sonia and Maria as my maids, and Xue as a guard.

Clapping along with the people, I looked around.

It was to compare all sorts of signals that have been stimulating my nerves from before with what I can see with my eyes.

Pit.

Ah. Even now.

The person who caught my eye seems to be one of those who have already gained some fame among people, one of the swordsmen who was attracting people’s attention a little while ago.

My new ‘sense’ was being felt from him.

More precisely, from his talent.

Tak. Tak.

‘It’s a bit uncomfortable not knowing where this ability came from.’

This sense, which I guess is feeling the value of human assets because it’s being felt by most of those people who have been saying ‘have talent’ from before, is actually an ability that existed before.

The ability to intuitively measure a person’s value.

Like when I saw Grim du Rol, the department head of the Mammon Guild before, feeling that his etiquette was perfect and part of his strength.

Or, when looking at Sonia, Leonis, and others, feeling a greater desire for possession when confirmed to have ‘high value as a sacrifice’ when grasped through ‘Sacrifice Appraisal’.

Thinking about it carefully, I probably had it from the beginning.

『Characteristic – … Nobility, Alpha Tester, …』

I’m not sure of the exact origin.

It’s an ability not explicitly stated in either of these two characteristics.

I guess it’s probably due to ‘Nobility,’ but it could also be an ability of ‘Alpha Tester’.

Anyway, what’s important is that I can recognize it and that I feel it better after my magic power and strength increase.

I’m not sure how well I can use this insight into people now…

But it’s better than not having it. Much better.

Tak. Zzzzt.

Now that sense is being felt from all directions, which is a flaw in that it’s somewhat tiring.

It would have been really tiring if it couldn’t be turned on and off.

Fortunately, I hardly feel any ‘desire for possession’ now.

Really fortunate.

In a place with so many talented people like this, if I felt a desire to possess all those people, wouldn’t I feel like a pervert to myself?

As the sense itself became more sensitive, the ability to recognize the value of the subject improved while the ‘desire for possession’ decreased at the same time.

“Young lady? Are you not feeling well?”

“I’m fine.”

…Or it could be because I already have top-class talents by my side.

When compared to the numerous talents here, the sense felt from most of them was inferior to what I felt from Leonis, Sonia, Maria, and Xue.

That was satisfying.

If this is indeed an ability to grasp the talent or value of the subject, doesn’t it mean that my people are ultimately better than the abundant talents out there?

“It might be because there are too many people. I’ll look for a place to rest.”

“That’s not wrong, but I think even this commotion isn’t bad right now. It’s alright. Maria.”

“Yes. Please let me know anytime if you need anything.”

…Hmm.

It’s awkward that Maria consistently uses honorifics, perhaps because the ‘education’ took too well, but her appearance suits it better than I thought.

Is it because Maria is beautiful too?

“Hey. Young lady. Do you have time today?”

“I’m sorry. I have a prior engagement.”

“Is that so? That’s a shame. But still…”

“Hmph.”

Alexis doesn’t seem to be doing well today.

His appearance couldn’t be left as it was since he’s known to be dead in the world, so although it was changed, he still has handsome features, but he doesn’t seem to realize that his essential attitude doesn’t work here.

Even though I said, there’s no need to use etiquette yet…

Seeing that he’s not thinking of getting into the habit, it’s a bit irritating. I should order additional time from Eve.

“What was that? Something chilling just now…”

“Leonis! I see you again today!”

“Young master.”

“What’s with ‘young master’? Just call me young lord. Come over here. Let me introduce you to my friends!”

Not far away, I could see Leonis talking with noble youths who approached him.

It seems that as the top disciple of a magic guild branch, he’s of a status that can converse comfortably with the sons of baronet families.

“Ah, that…”

“Do you perhaps have another appointment?”

“No, it’s not that. Let’s go.”

“Look, young lady. The chandelier is so pretty…!”

“Yes. It is.”

It was amusing to see Leonis seemingly conflicted, looking over here as if he wanted to spend time with Sonia, but Sonia wasn’t even thinking of looking that way and was looking around the banquet hall with eyes full of curiosity.

He needs to work harder.

“There are many unpleasant smells…”

Xue had been suffering somewhat due to her sensitive senses from before.

Even if they’re nobles, they’re still nobles of a medieval fantasy world. The strong perfume smells, and body odors that absolutely won’t go away normally must not be a good feeling for her with her sensitive sense of smell.

“I’m going crazy because of the smell of animals in heat. I want to clear them all away… especially those looking at Lady…”

“…That side?”

“Yes…”

Well, it seems it’s right that it’s because of unpleasant smells. Pheromones have a smell too.

Hearing her growling tone, it seems that ‘want to clear away’ is actually closer to emotions like ‘want to kill’ or ‘want to beat up’, but she’s exercising patience well, not expressing it that way.

So I patted her head and asked.

“Doesn’t your head hurt?”

“It’s okay. I can endure because Lady is beside me…”

Suuu…

“Yes. It’s recharging.”

“I see.”

Since entering the party hall, she has often approached me and taken deep breaths, and sometimes, she clings close to my nape like this, making my feelings strange.

Xue doesn’t really distinguish time and place.

It’s not particularly unpleasant, and it’s even more okay if I think it’s to reduce her pain a bit, but…

“Still, let’s be careful of people’s gazes.”

“Okay…”

Still, I can’t just leave it, can I?

-Oh my.

-They seem very… close.

-Young people these days…

Like this, it gathers gazes.

What on earth are those noble ladies imagining and blushing happily like that? Because my ears are too good, I can hear all their whispers pretending not to like it while actually enjoying it.

“Wow…”

And why are you doing that too, Sonia?

As I was looking at Sonia, who was blushing and looking this way, she started fanning herself while avoiding my gaze.

No matter how I look at it, that looks like she’s feeling guilty about something.

What on earth were you thinking?

Pit. Pachit.

‘I’m already tired.’

Contrary to what I had inwardly expected, I was already tired of the party and people.

The main reason for this negative emotion is the ‘gazes’ and ‘conversations’ I’m amplifying and drawing in as much as possible right now, and the new talent detection sense that comes with it.

Next time, should I change my appearance completely while disguised? To attract less attention.

Or…

‘Was it a mistake to bring Xue as a guard?’

No, that’s not it. What am I thinking just because I’m a bit annoyed?

I can’t not bring her just because it attracts a bit of attention. After all, for a magician’s ability as a guard, ‘reliability’ is the most important, and she’s one of the two best in that aspect.

“…”

‘This is a bit embarrassing to say out loud, but.’

More than anything else, I brought her because I wanted to be with her.

Right now, I’m just momentarily annoyed by the new stimulation of sensory overflow, so my thoughts are flowing negatively.

-Speaking of this young lady, she’s recently a next-generation talent of the nearby magic guild…

-I’d like to support her…

-The Count is a hypocrite. He supports people in front, but actually…

We had come to the second floor, where people’s appearances can be seen clearly and conversations can be heard clearly.

The Dungeon Lord’s superior physical abilities grant auditory and perceptual abilities that can distinguish the conversations of those numerous people, so we’ve positioned ourselves where conversations are most concentrated.

-He will pay the price.

As I glanced at a noble-looking woman with reddish-gold hair who was spewing out concerning words, I turned my attention to where I originally wanted to listen.

‘It sounds ominous, but…’

I’ll be leaving this place in a few days anyway, and there’s no need to get involved in their affairs unnecessarily. If there are no rumors here, I’ll have to move to another party right away.

So I hope I can find the rumors I want here quickly…

For example, something like this.

-At the Western black market auction…

“Lady?”

“Just a moment, Xue.”

As I suddenly stopped moving and listened, I calmed Xue, who was wondering and then concentrated on my nerves.

The voices came from near the terrace on the first floor. It was from one woman and three men who seemed to have come from outside.

A magical change in sensation where all other conversations are completely blocked from the nerves spread all around and hearing is focused there.

-…I heard rumors that an interesting item will come out this time.

Right after that, their conversation started to be heard in detail.

It had been a long time since the headache and irritation all disappeared when I turned off the nerves I had been using to receive all the surrounding conversations.

-An interesting item?

-Your story is trustworthy.

-Tell us quickly.

They all looked like young nobles, and it was the woman who was telling the information.

They seemed to know it was secret talk, too, so they were lowering their voices as much as possible, but unless they used magic, they couldn’t escape a Dungeon Lord’s hearing.

-Well…

Their story was long, so to summarize the main points, it seems a black market is being held this time in Sonyataf, a city bordering the small kingdom of Kiza in the northwest of the Kingdom of Heisen.

The items handled in the black market are rare as well, but an item that can’t be seen in auction houses these days is scheduled to come out, and that item is…

-A dungeon core?

‘Bingo.’

It was the dungeon core I was looking for, probably expected to be Serica’s.

-Wait. Could that be…

-Hey. Is it safe?

-Hoho. You’ve heard my information more than once or twice, haven’t you?

So the men also seemed to guess the item’s origin and reacted with shock, but the woman was quite proud.

-Of course, it’s been thoroughly laundered. The Dungeon Lord was suppressed, and only the core was left cleanly.

Listening to what she said additionally, it seems certain.

She said that in this world, the core of a Dungeon Lord that hasn’t grown much corresponds to a ‘high-grade magic stone’ that is ‘routinely’ traded.

For a dungeon core of ‘average grade’ or below, there’s no reason to be so proud like that.

She’s probably acting like that, knowing Serica was successfully suppressed, but she doesn’t seem to know it can still be dangerous.

‘If I were a noble of the kingdom or Copzerin, I don’t think I’d ever forgive the guy who stole that core.’

They had to endure greater military and economic damage to kill a Dungeon Lord that could have been caught more easily.

This should be seen not as a general deviation but as an act of betrayal or treason.

‘Is this also close to a kind of safety insensitivity?’

As it’s close to common sense to have Dungeon Lords under ‘management’, they also tend to underestimate the danger of their byproducts relatively.

Even now, talking about secret items at a banquet hall like this.

They seem to think their words will be hidden in the commotion and have this conversation as usual, but isn’t it an action that doesn’t consider beings with good ears like me?

“I didn’t think I’d be able to hear already. Lucky.”

“Hm?”

“I found what I wanted.”

“Congratulations…”

-Tack!

“Thank you.”

I thought I’d have to catch two or three nobles interested in rare items, spend a long time getting close, and then get related information, but rather, if I had gone slowly like that, I might not have gotten the information at all.

I wouldn’t be able to get information about an item that’s already been sold unless I happen to find out who the buyer is.

-The auction is already in a month?

-We need to hurry.

I turned my gaze to look at the nobles who gave me good information.

More precisely, to the woman still smiling proudly among the men.

They said that woman is known as a collector of rare items, but looking at what she’s doing, her true identity seems to be related to the black market.

If so, she is now the one person I need most among the many people in this banquet hall.

-Kirrrrr…

‘Watch her, and let me know when she leaves.’

Feeling something transparent, like a spider slipping out from inside my sleeve, I engraved the order of ‘surveillance’ on it.

“Everyone, shall we have a drink?”

“Okay…”

“Sure.”

I received drinks from the maids in the banquet hall and toasted with my companions.

All that was left now was to enjoy the banquet while waiting for that woman to leave.

The banquet was still only in its early stages.