The Way to Absolute Dungeon Administration – There Is No Reason To Meet With the Opponent! - Volume 01 Chapter 05: The World Is Full of People Like This

Volume 01 Chapter 05: The World Is Full of People Like This

T/N: The first block of Elju’s POV is canonically in the future, “Yuki-san” here is the MC, you’ll know why he’s called Yuki by Elju in Chapter 7. 

Side: Elju Lau Rocheur

I was born as the third princess of the Rocheur Kingdom, a nation vying for supremacy on this continent. That meant I bore the heavy responsibility of guiding its people.

From the moment I could reason, I was taught that Rocheur was the one and only nation capable of bringing peace to this continent, upholding absolute justice. Under Rocheur’s protection, the people could live in peace and security.

I never questioned this. Whenever I appeared in the castle town, everyone greeted me with smiles, shouting, “Long live Princess Elju!!” So, I began to feel that I had to do something for these people.

A powerless princess going to the front lines of battle was unthinkable. I, who could do nothing, had no place there. I consulted my father and elder sister, but they said, “If we get hurt, the people will grieve,” and refused to allow it.

So, I spent my days searching for what I could do. My elder sister and chii-neesama, perhaps knowing my ambitions were impossible, only said, “Elju, that heart alone can save others,” or “What are you talking about? There’s nothing you can do.”

One day, perhaps unable to stand watching me any longer, my attendant Oriel spoke up.

“With all due respect, I offer a suggestion. If His Majesty’s words are true, then instead of standing on the front lines, would it not be acceptable to provide healing?”

Oriel’s words were a revelation to me.

“You’re… right. My perspective was too narrow. Standing on the front lines isn’t the only way to serve the nation or its people. Oriel, thank you. Could you find me a teacher for healing magic? Normally, I should go myself and bow my head, but as a princess, moving carelessly would unsettle my father, sister, and the people.”

“As Elju-sama wishes.”

While learning healing magic alongside Oriel, a miracle occurred.

It happened while I was treating the injured with the healing magic I had learned, as usual, with Oriel by my side. Suddenly, a warm light enveloped me… and Lilishu-sama, one of the three goddesses of Arrowlit, the Goddess of Compassion, descended.

“Elju Lau Rocheur. I have been watching your actions. Your tireless efforts to find a way to serve your nation and ensure the peace of its people.”

I knelt on the spot.

“F-Forgive my presumption, but my hands still let countless lives slip away. I am unworthy of such words from Lilishu-sama… Please, bless those striving to live now, not me.”

Even hearing my impudent words, Lilishu-sama never stopped smiling.

“Your words reassure me. With that heart, you will not stray from the path, even with my blessing, and you will save lives that should not be lost. Now, accept it.”

The light enveloped me, granting me [Healing Saintess] and [Excellent Magical Talent].

Hearing this story, Yuki-san was, for the time being, acting all skeptical. According to him: “It’s too cliché to be interesting… Plus, this pattern’s bound to flop. I mean, there’s already a princess who’s flopped right here.”

Absolutely spot-on, and I’m utterly embarrassed.

Having received a blessing in front of the people, I came to be called “Saintess-sama!!” and worked even harder for the nation and its people.

But that didn’t last long. We forgot that our nation was at war with others.

I don’t know the details, but I was requested to visit a village in an enemy nation.

“That village is oppressed and exploited by an incompetent lord, and the people are desperate for salvation. We will go ahead, secure, and liberate the village. Princess… no, Saintess-sama, please come once it’s safe to treat the villagers.”

To honor Lilishu-sama’s will, I headed to the village without a shred of doubt. But the village was ravaged, burned to the ground, with not a single person left alive.

“Someone!! Answer me!! Anyone!!”

As I tried to rush forward, Oriel held me back.

“Elju-sama, calm down! Where’s the advance team!?”

Oriel’s words prompted the team to scatter and search. Soon, a man who seemed to be the advance team’s leader stepped forward and reported.

“As per Saintess-sama’s orders, we’ve completed the annihilation of the villagers who resisted fiercely. As planned, this place can serve as a relay point. Truly, your wisdom reflects His Majesty’s bloodline. I’m in awe.”

His voice, gleeful as he bowed, sounded to me…

“W-What…? What does this mean… Oriel…?”

This merciless scene was my order? I couldn’t comprehend it.

With a bitter expression, Oriel took me to a tent and explained.

“Elju-sama, I’m sorry. It seems we were used as a banner to justify attacking this village.”

Oriel’s words slowly sank into me.

“If I hadn’t come here… this village… these people…”

My eyes fell on a doll lying at my feet.

…It was stained bright red.

“Oh… Ohhh… AHHHHHH!!”

“Elju-sama, please calm down!! Elju-sama!!”

A month later, our army used that village as a base to invade and conquer an enemy town.

What “Excellent Healing Saintess”? All I’ve done is scatter blood.

Side: Mauve

“Nooo!! Stop!!”

Before my eyes was a girl, her body slashed with a knife and being violated.

Of course, I was the one violating her… It wasn’t fun at all.

My daughter was around her age… Ugh, those gloomy thoughts crept in.

“Guh!?”

I swung the knife down on her.

I stabbed her over and over.

“Dad… Mom…”

Her eyes widened, then stopped moving.

“Yo, looks like you didn’t enjoy that either.”

Standing beside me, covered in blood, was Raya. At his feet lay another girl, lifeless.

“How about you, Curse?”

“Eeeek!! Stop!!”

Screams echoed, but Curse, expressionless, blasted a fireball into a woman’s face.

“Gaaahhh!!”

It was a sound no human, let alone a woman, should make.

In mere seconds, the screams stopped, leaving only the stench of burning flesh.

“I feel nothing.”

Curse said only that before sitting on a nearby chair.

The three of us are now attacking a town under Rocheur’s control, indulging in “fun” afterward. Not that it’s fun at all.

“Former hero, huh? A perfect skill for us now.”

We were casually eating.

“Yeah, it lets us go all out.”

Raya responded to my words.

“Skill or no skill, it doesn’t matter. I’ll torment the Saintess, break her, deny everything, expose her, and tear her apart.”

Curse no longer even says something as simple as “kill.”

Why are we acting so deranged?

Simple.

We’re just paying back what was done to us.

Childish reasoning? I know. But my wife and daughter’s regrets, my unbearable feelings… it’s all a mess.

I was a regular adventurer, blessed with good friends, a wife, and a daughter. One day, monsters attacked the town in a horde, and we faced certain death.

Before I knew it, I was the town’s hero. That’s when I met my wife, and we had our daughter. My treasure. More precious than any gem or metal.

I told my buddy Raya I hoped he’d find happiness too, and he shot back.

“Sorry, but I’ve already got someone promised.”

We go way back, so it’s probably that girl from his village. Bit of an age gap, but as long as Raya and she are happy, I don’t care.

“And you, picking a partner must be tough.”

I called out to the mage we often teamed up with in this town. Tough to pick? Easy. He’s the lord’s son, so what’s he doing adventuring?

“Then I’ll take your daughter.”

He said that, so I got pissed and yelled, “Beat me first!!” and caused a scene at the tavern. …It was fun.

One day, we heard Rocheur was advancing on Raya’s lover’s village, led by the Saintess, so we thought it was for relief.

Even as an enemy nation, the Saintess’s devotion was well-known. But Raya was too restless, so we got Curse to pull strings for a quest.

Investigate Rocheur’s movements in the village.

And that’s when things started breaking. The village was just ashes… nothing but corpses.

I had no words for Raya as he carried her body.

“I’m fine, Mauve, Curse.”

Crying while saying that? No one’s buying it…

We reported this to the lord, but got no satisfactory response.

The Saintess was known as a paragon of sincere devotion, even in enemy lands.

Saying she led a village’s annihilation without solid proof would turn everyone against us.

A month later, using that village as a relay point, Rocheur’s army attacked our town. We couldn’t read their moves, so our response was slow.

The town was wiped out, leaving only a few survivors.

Only then did our big shots acknowledge the Saintess was a banner for attack, and they started aggressively striking Rocheur.

Too late for me.

Raya and Curse’s eyes are clouded. No turning back—my treasure’s gone for good.

So, morals and ethics? Gone. We’re no better than thieves. No, thieves at least keep what’s useful. We destroy everything.

“So, where’s the Saintess…?”

As I looked up at the sky, a familiar flag passed by on a carriage.

Side: Elju Lau Rocheur

After that village’s annihilation, the conflict worsened. We took a major town, but then the enemy launched fierce counterattacks. Both sides burned villages and towns.

Blood washing blood… There’s no doubt I pulled the trigger.

Oriel says otherwise, but I can’t shake the image of that village.

“…Smoke.”

This should be our territory. But that flag… Has the enemy reached us?

“Coachman, I’m sorry, but this place seems dangerous. Hurry through—”

Before Oriel could finish, the carriage suddenly flipped.

“Ugh…”

My whole body hurt. I looked up to see Oriel, face twisted in pain, shielding me with her embrace.

“Elju-sama… You’re not… okay, are you? I’m sorry.”

Oriel’s leg was bent unnaturally.

“Oriel!! I’ll treat you right away…”

But before I could, I was rolling on the ground.

“Guh… Gah…”

A voice I couldn’t believe was mine came out.

“Elju-sama…!!”

“Hey, Elju-sama, huh…”

“Oh.”

“So this is the Saintess.”

And so, I was made a slave… No, it’s only natural.

Side: Oriel

I failed to protect Elju-sama…

Now, we’re enslaved by three mercenaries, enduring daily abuse…

“It hurts!!”

Elju-sama’s voice echoes. I must protect her, even at the cost of my life.

“Stop…”

I crawl toward Elju-sama, dragging myself along the ground. One leg was broken when we were captured, another broken by these mercenaries, and one arm too…

“Ghh…!!”

Elju-sama’s cries ring out. If I can just reach her.

“Hey, Raya.”

“Yeah.”

The man called Raya carelessly grabs my broken leg and drags me…

“Argh…!!”

The pain blurs my vision.

As I endure, Raya seems to sense something.

“This magic flow… a dungeon? Got an idea, attendant.”

Raya’s empty eyes turn to me as he speaks flatly.

“Hey, Mauve, there’s a dungeon nearby.”

“What’re we doing? Oi, you got blood on me, filthy Saintess.”

The man called Mauve swings a fist at Elju-sama’s cheek.

“…”

Elju-sama can no longer even scream.

Raya glances at her and continues flatly.

“Make her a goblin’s bride, and she’ll know the joy of being a woman, right?”

“AHHHH!!”

My vision turns red. To treat Elju-sama so cruelly and then strip her of even the barest human dignity, these monsters…!!

“Shut up, worm.”

The moment I heard that, a blow to my head sent me into dark oblivion.

Side: Kazuya Torino, the Protagonist, Yo?

Hm?

Watching the monitor, I was puzzled by the enemies’ strange actions.

The adventurers didn’t use the slaves as shields; they just threw them at G-Team’s squad.

“Come on, they’re females! Hurry up and take ‘em!”

I heard that through the monitor.

Oh, I get it. Thinking about it, it’s obvious. Slaves’ stats can be forcibly viewed by their masters. So, these three adventurers know the slaves are a princess and her attendant.

Yet they neither hand them over to the enemy nation nor return them to Rocheur. That means it’s personal grudge…

Man, what a drama. Blood-soaked, huh?

Sorry, but I’ve got no interest in a dramatic or tragic ending.

Even if there’s a cinematic backstory, I’ve got my own goals to survive.

“Order: Continue the strategy as is. Take ‘em out.”

I give the command.

In the end, “the world is full of people like this,” right?