My Dungeon Life: Rise of the Slave Harem

"Dungeons… can be a useful." I tried to keep my word vague.

Lord Vandeer let out a laugh, slapping his knee. "I also think that dungeons are an incredibly useful tool."

I resisted the urge to clench my fist, making sure my face gave nothing away. I also tried to avoid holding such words against him. After all, there might have been a time when I called dungeons a tool or a resource and agreed with him, but that was before the dungeon had taken on the soul of my daughter. Eliza was neither a tool nor a resource. What kind of father would I be if I treated her and her kind that way? I understood that my entire way of seeing dungeons would have to change, but only a little. After all, if my daughter was a human, that wouldn't mean I wouldn't kill another human if they proved to be a danger to me or my family.

"So, Jespain used dungeons to help support your infrastructure?" I asked as if I just had this revelation.

Lady Seeired had already confirmed this, but I decided to play dumb while I was talking to this man.

He nodded. "The Imperial Cloud Meadow had always seen dungeons as some kind of burden on the world, a great evil. The emperor spent too long listening to the church, and now it's not even clear who is in power anymore. I heard that the church has also infiltrated your country, but that it's broken apart and is less threatening now."

"The church is threatening?" I blinked.

I had once thought the church might be a problem too. When I had first encountered Carmine and we had battled that clockwork dragon, I had thought that the church might have nefarious purposes. They were intrinsically against the dungeons and miasma creatures and sought to purify the world. Their hypocrisy became apparent when one realized just how humanity came to this world, and what the religion was originally designed to do. They had allowed humanity to continue as invaders. We came from a dungeon and were once the so-called demons of this world. Now, there was a new group of demons, although if they had another name, I hadn't heard it.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Not for us." He chuckled. "The Abyss and Dioshin have created a perfect barrier to keep the church from infiltrating outlands."

I froze slightly, my smile turning a bit awkward. "Ah, you do know I've brought people from the church here. Mary and Anne were invited…"

"I'm well aware of those two. They are more a curiosity for our youth. From the moment Dioshin decided to allow Aberis to travel across their land, I was expecting the church to arrive as well. If I denied them access, it would only cause a group of people to become fascinated with them. Instead, we invite them and offer them every curtesy, and the ridiculousness of their religion will speak for itself."

He let out another laugh, his eyes looking at a certain corner where Mary was surrounded by a group of noblemen who seem enraptured in everything she was saying. Well, at least enraptured in something, or possibly a pair of something. Meanwhile, a slightly bitter Anne was speaking with several of the younger ladies, including those who had been trying to pursue me earlier. It wasn't that I necessarily disagreed with what he said, but how he said it showed just how arrogant and full of himself he was. I already found myself not liking him.

"Alright then, what about me?" I asked, not feeling like beating around the bush. "What are you looking for from me?"

"That… is a very interesting question." He nooked a finger, and a few men moved into the hallway, a few seconds later coming back with a woman.

She was led into the room, but as soon as she saw me, she jumped. I felt a small amount of familiarity, but it took me a second. It was the magician who worked under King Roth. She had usurped First and become the new First, but her plans failed and she was left the ground in the dirt. Now, she was standing right in front of me.

"So, rumor has it you have a fairy fountain." Lord Vandeer's smile grew.