Reincarnated as a Dungeon Master, I Became Unstoppable by Doting on My Monsters—My Gorgeous Monsters Have Started to Conquer the World on Their Own! - Chapter 23: Aftermath

I was at a loss, witnessing the bizarre scene before me.

Egrentine and Rogina’s giant monsters carried countless D-rank monster corpses, then poured into the core one after another.

The spectacle appeared like a gruesome ritual and a mechanical task akin to waste disposal.

The dumped bodies were all dangerous monsters who had actively attacked us. Among them were several that had become my trauma.

…Apparently, this situation was born from my request to Margarita and Rosarosa to make the dungeon safe.

The two of them decided that to create safety, they needed to hunt down several aggressive monsters and took action.

Until now, they had strictly adhered to my rule of not killing any living creatures, but this new order apparently led them to ignore that conflicting rule.

…It feels like when you’re programming, some hastily entered code gets applied across the entire site, leading to a panic.

Furthermore, the reason I was troubled wasn’t just because of the corpses.

“O King, we Mistsharks shall serve you.”

They were a monster that lived in the forest housing “Ragnel’s Labyrinth”… the Baudritta Forest.

And yet, these creatures were now prostrating themselves before me, whom they’d never met.

“These are E-rank monsters who were living in this forest, and it seems they would like to continue living here,” Margarita said. Her bark-covered face lacked expressions, but her voice was filled with joy.

Whether she was happy about subduing enemies before her or that her subordinates had increased, I didn’t know.

The Mistsharks, with bodies formed from the mist, were arguably the most fabulous creatures in the forest. However, being E-rank, they would be weaker than the other monsters in this dungeon.

One after another, clans of monsters pledging their allegiance to me had been coming and going, introducing themselves.

“…I don’t think they need my permission to live in this forest,” I said.

At that moment, Rosarosa, who had joined the operation midway, climbed up my leg.

…She could speak loud enough for me to hear from a distance, but she prefers speaking up close and personal.

“But but! To fulfill your order of ‘building social relationships,’ I think establishing a master-servant relationship first is way better. If we create an equal treaty, we’ll get betrayed.”

We’ve been fighting until a moment ago—well, we haven’t killed anyone. However, it’s understandable that it would be difficult for parties in a hostile relationship to suddenly become friends.

However…

“I think master-servant relationships can also be breeding grounds for betrayal. If we let our guard down and invite them in, they could stab us in the back.”

“…So, should we kill them? I’ve been keeping insurance with ‘Poison Talk.’ If I don’t regularly administer the antidote, all those who pledged loyalty today should die.”

Hearing that proposal, the pitiful Mistshark in front of me trembled.

“No, I mean… can’t we maintain our safety without resorting to killing or threatening?”

Rosarosa’s cold voice directed at the forest’s monsters was something I had never heard before.

“I don’t think that’s possible. If we show any weaknesses, they’ll come for our lives. These are that kind of creatures. If we establish a master-servant relationship, they might eventually understand how amazing you are and truly pledge their lives. At that time, we can build social relationships.”

Is that what they call social relationships?

Not sure if their judgment was proper, I briefly glanced at Jacqueline. She was nodding.

…If someone is as knowledgeable about monster society as she says, it must be correct.

Well, it’s okay. There’s no hardship in having them as subordinates. Margarita wanted to mobilize troops, and Clarymond was eager for new dungeon monsters, so they would likely make good use of them.

With that thought, Jacqueline started to wheel her chair closer.

“Though you were reluctant, Wito-sama, as a Dungeon Master, you must tolerate a certain level of killing.”

…Jacqueline seems to wish for our dungeon to become strong quickly for her purposes. That’s probably why she tends to defend members like Margarita and Rosarosa, who lead the forest hunting.

I have no plans to reprimand the two for taking aggressive action. The fault is partially mine for issuing commands without thinking too deeply about them.

Besides, it’s not like I’m saying all this for my moral compass.

“To be honest, I don’t mind. I don’t care about killing monsters. Unlike the cow I killed ten years ago, these are more important to me now.”

“…Is that so?”

Jacqueline seemed surprised. She still seems to think of me as a good person.

Sure, I have reservations about hunting animals that can understand language, and I don’t know what would happen if we encountered humanoid enemies like Jacqueline.

But I’m not so saintly as to sympathize even with those who have repeatedly tried to kill me.

Understanding their language only made it clear how much they’ve been killing us for fun.

“Yes. Our kind master is considering our feelings.” 

Margarita answered on my behalf.

At the same time, as if the discussion was already over, Rosarosa started driving the forest creatures out of the dungeon.

“Since we were young, we’ve been taught by our master how killing one’s kind can affect both mind and body. We’ve heard plenty of stories about how those who murdered Earth are haunted by it to the end.”

At those words, Jacqueline frowned. Maybe it struck a chord with her.

Margarita seems to remember my teachings well. Yes, I was afraid they might kill their monster kin when they were less intelligent and end up haunted by the guilt.

…But maybe it’s time to stop worrying about that.

According to Jacqueline, their intelligence has now reached a C, which is about average for humans. My C-level intelligence is a rarity, it seems.

…I don’t know if my hypothesis that ‘intelligence status corresponds to mental age in humans’ is correct.

Margarita lowered her head and took a deep breath.

“I am truly sorry for causing you worry. I never thought that our lord would desire slaughter for security.”

Margarita bowed deeply. Not just now, but since we finished hunting the Halk spiders, she had been acting apologetically and bowing her head.

“But… here and now, I wish to explain to you, Master, the reason behind our actions. Do you remember your promise, Master?”

Margarita’s eyes were filled with tears. I didn’t know what made her sad, but I had to find out, so I continued the conversation.

“Ah, you mean the promise that you’ll be completely free once your intelligence reaches C. You can even terminate the contract if you wish to leave the dungeon.”

…As of now, I am merely their guardian.

If they grow wise and strong and wish to venture into the outside world, I do not intend to stop them.

However, rather than being pleased by my offer, Margarita fell to her knees and clung to me.

“Oh, please don’t say such a thing, Master. My contract with you is the very reason for my existence.”

And so she told me. It’s something that everyone often says to me, so every time, I make sure to respond appropriately.

“For me, too, raising all of you is my primary reason for living.”

This unchanging truth has remained so for ten years, and if I were to lose them now, aside from obeying the orders of Goddess Navalbi, I would lose all other reasons to live.

“Ah, thank you! Knowing my lowly existence can be useful to you allows me to tolerate my life! But…”

Margarita swallowed hard and began to speak hesitatingly.

“That’s right. In Master’s thinking, reaching an intelligence level of C means one can finally take responsibility for one’s actions, right? Could you first upgrade the status of Rosarosa and me?”

Such as that.

Thinking back, this was the first time Margarita had asked for a status upgrade.

And this request meant that having reached adulthood, she had something she wanted to tell me.

“Wait a minute! Such a promise!”

Jacqueline tried to intervene. From her perspective, it would be unfair if they left after she had been patient all this time.

…However, if I can’t set them free, then this dungeon has no reason to exist in the first place.

“I apologize. If they choose to leave, I will take responsibility.”

I said that and bowed my head to Jacqueline, thinking I had been speaking nothing but insincere things all along.

Then, while trying not to think about what comes next but still imbuing my touch with a guardian’s genuine feelings of blessing, I reached the core and poured my energy into it.