The Way to Absolute Dungeon Administration – There Is No Reason To Meet With the Opponent! - Volume 01 Chapter 09: Anger, Hatred, Tears, Apologies, and Reconciliation… As Planned

Volume 01 Chapter 09: Anger, Hatred, Tears, Apologies, and Reconciliation… As Planned

Side: Kazuya Torino, Alias Yuki

Over the past three days, I’ve been gathering information from Elju and Oriel while chatting to build rapport.

That day, we were already deep in casual conversation, sipping tea in a pretty relaxed atmosphere.

“Yuki-san, I have a request.”

Elju looks at me.

“What is it?”

“Would you let us leave this place… There’s something we must do.”

“…You’re really going through with it, huh?”

“Yes. To prevent tragedies like the one with Mauve-san and the others, as a princess and a member of the human-like races living here, I must stop this conflict!!”

Over these three days, Elju and Oriel revealed they’re a princess and her attendant from Rocheur Kingdom. They demanded the harshest punishment—execution—for Mauve and his group, who treated them cruelly.

I understood their reasoning, but killing the men without hearing their side would be inconvenient for me. Honestly, keeping high-status people like Elju around is less practical than using agile adventurers like those men.

So, I said, “I want to hear their side too, so hold off.” But they pinned me down, saying:

“Talking to beasts like them? A soft-hearted guy like you will get killed!!”

Says the one who tried to get violent, Oriel.

“Oriel is right! There’s nothing to hear from such cowardly, abusive, degrading humans!!”

Elju was just as adamant. Their hatred for the men matched my expectations, so I proceeded with the next step as planned.

“Then, can you wait at a distance? That way, you can step in if things go south. It’d be awkward to have you there while I talk to them.”

Offering that compromise, they hesitated but eventually agreed with, “Understood.”

In truth, Mauve and his group seemed drained of life. Not biologically weak, but like they’d finished everything, with a “I burned out… completely [blank]” vibe.

From Elju and Oriel, I’d learned about the ongoing conflict between Rocheur Kingdom and Gartz Kingdom. Elju was used as a pretext for invasion, leading to villages and towns being burned. Gartz retaliated, and it’s now a quagmire.

Based on that, I had a hunch. Mauve and his group were likely victims of this war too.

Otherwise, why capture a princess and make her a slave?

When I identified myself as the Dungeon Master, Mauve and his group looked briefly surprised but quickly returned to blank expressions, asking lifelessly:

“Those slaves… the princess… is she alive?”

“Yeah.”

“I see…”

“Hey, why did you make the princess a slave? Taking her to Gartz could’ve gotten you money and fame.”

After a pause, Mauve spoke.

“…She was the enemy of my wife, daughter, friends, village, and town…”

He muttered, squeezing out the words, tears streaming down his face.

Shock spread across Elju and Oriel’s faces as they listened.

“More than money or fame, I lost my most precious treasures…”

“I see…”

“I became a mercenary in rage, helping burn Rocheur’s towns.”

“Yeah…”

“I did to women what was done to my wife and daughter—violated and killed them.”

“…”

“Then we captured the princess, planning the cruelest death I knew…”

“But I stopped you?”

“No, thanks to you, I cooled my head. In the end, nothing comes back… It’s empty. I knew this wouldn’t make my wife or daughter happy. They’d be mad. ‘Why’d you do that, Dad?!’”

Mauve laughs weakly, and Raya and Curse look troubled.

“So, you’re here because the princess asked you to, right?”

“Pretty much.”

“Then we won’t resist. Make it quick. I don’t want to anger my wife and daughter anymore.”

The three bow their heads.

“Hold on, don’t rush. Elju, you heard?”

“…Yes.”

Elju, eyes red, steps forward, supported by Oriel.

“What, the princess is the executioner? You’ve got some flair.”

Mauve smirks slightly, regaining a bit of energy.

Elju, without demanding a weapon, kneels and presses her forehead to the ground.

“I-I’m so… sorry… I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Sobbing and choking, she repeats, “I’m sorry.”

“Huh? Wait, what’s going on!? Hey, do you know something!?”

Mauve looks at me in panic.

I relay what Elju told me, adding, “I don’t know if they’re telling the truth.”

After hearing it, Mauve looks at Elju, still bowing to the ground, and slumps his shoulders along with Raya and Curse.

“So the Saintess thing was true, huh.”

“Yeah.”

“Looks like it.”

“Hey, Princess, lift your head. I’m not someone you should bow to. I’m just a beast who went wild from a misunderstanding.”

“But… if not for me, your towns and villages…”

“They were targeted long before. Whether you were involved or not, it’d have been the same. And we did the same to your towns…”

“Right, Princess. We believe your words. Our sins are probably deeper.”

“…We just rampaged in anger.”

Here, Elju and Mauve’s group reconcile.

Elju resolves to stop this conflict.

“I swear never to speak of this dungeon. To repay your kindness, as a princess, I’ll protect this dungeon.”

She stares at me with unwavering eyes.

No, please spread the word! I need to run this dungeon!

“I don’t mind adding a [Designated Protection] restriction to prevent speaking about the dungeon!!”

“Uh, I trust you, Elju, so no need for that.”

“Then we can leave and return to our country!!”

“Calm down. One condition. Agree to it, and I’ll lift the movement restriction. I’ll keep the defense part of [Designated Protection], but it only works in the dungeon, so don’t rely on it.”

“Yes, thank you. What’s the condition?”

“Take Mauve and the others with you. They’ll be good escorts, and I need them to buy some things in town.”

“Understood. That’s reassuring. Right, Oriel?”

“Yes, they’re quite skilled. Perfect as escorts.”

I explained my situation to Mauve’s group (with some lies mixed in).

“If you’re gonna get scolded by your family even after death, why not make some funny stories first?”

When I said that, all three laughed, agreed, and easily accepted [Designated Protection].

Now, I hope things settle quietly…

Yeah, no way that’ll happen!!

After seeing the five off in a flurry, I focus on using the accumulated DP to strengthen the dungeon.