The Way to Absolute Dungeon Administration – There Is No Reason To Meet With the Opponent! - Volume 01 Chapter 13: See the Whole Picture

Volume 01 Chapter 13: See the Whole Picture

Side: Selaria Nau Rocheur

“Well, now we just wait for them to calm down. If we demand surrender now, they’re still too spirited and will resist.”

Yuki stretches, acting like his work’s done.

I hate to admit it, but of the roughly 1,500 soldiers invading the dungeon, about 340 died in pitfalls…?

The rest are isolated inside, cut off from supplies or rescue.

They can move forward, but only in groups of six, facing traps that are practically ambushes.

Retreating’s impossible too—the long corridor they came through is now a pitfall, leaving them trapped.

And we haven’t taken a single loss.

Using only traps, he’s toying with Rocheur Kingdom’s elite, mostly royal guards.

Anyone can see it. This is one person defeating 1,500.

But if you ask if this is a Dungeon Master’s power, I’d have to tilt my head.

He just trapped them in pitfalls. Yet, he trapped an army.

Is this what Yuki meant by fighting with “gunshis” or “sanbous”?

As he said, it’s a battle using your head.

No matter how strong or high-level you are, it’s useless here.

But a question nags at me. Why push for their surrender?

He’s trapped the army this easily. The ground under those soldiers must be rigged with pitfalls.

There’s no way Yuki would take such a soft approach.

“Hey… Yuki, why are you pushing for surrender? From your actions, you predicted this, right? Their footing… it’s a pitfall, isn’t it?”

“Oh, you called me by name for the first time. Yeah, as you say, their lives are in my hands with a single thought.”

Yuki admits it casually. But I can’t read his true intentions… Killing them would mean no need to deal with survivors. Is he considering our feelings?

“I don’t want you to suffer. Those soldiers were just fooled by that minister you mentioned, right?”

Yuki looks at me seriously.

“Yuki-san…”

Elju’s face is red, her eyes teary…

“That’s a lie. Total lie!! Someone as cunning as you wouldn’t let this happen in the first place. You said it earlier, right? Hundred battles, hundred wins… ‘Always choose the path with the least damage.’ Even I get that, so you’ve got another goal, don’t you?”

Exactly. If his policy is “the least damage,” hiding us was a bad move.

Even if he didn’t know the situation, he could’ve just kicked us out.

There’s no need to take such a risk… or so it seems.

Honestly, it was a shot in the dark, a gut feeling.

To go this far, he must be planning something beyond my imagination.

“You’re right, Selaria. There’s another goal.”

“What is it?”

“You think I’d just tell you? Figure it out yourself.”

“I’m asking because I don’t know!!”

It’s frustrating. So frustrating.

I can’t understand him at all. But we’re helpless without Yuki’s aid now.

“Tell us your plan. We have no choice but to rely on you.”

“…Fine, it’s a bit long since it involves your situation.”

“Go on, we’ve got time.”

“Well, if those soldiers surrender now, we’ll be busy dealing with them.”

“Just talk already!!”

“Chii-neesama, calm down!!”

Elju holds me back. Without her, I’d have punched him.

Yuki looks at me, annoyed.

“How to explain… I’ll give the big picture, so save questions for the end.”

“Fine.”

“For me, it’s a plan that works no matter what. My main goal is to get my dungeon’s operation recognized, even if not publicly, by helping you two.”

Right. Elju said Yuki somehow became a Dungeon Master. He doesn’t know this place or its customs.

Helping Elju was a coincidence, but he wouldn’t miss this chance.

“So, I planned to send Elju back to Rocheur to smooth things over. But you were chased by soldiers, and after hiding you, a ton more showed up. Releasing you would’ve gotten you killed. But conveniently, Elju’s been labeled the Dungeon Master.

If she acts as my proxy and convinces the remaining soldiers, we could gain Rocheur’s elite as allies. Killing them all would leave Elju with fewer supporters. Then, we convince the surrendered soldiers to clean up the capital, and I can live safely.”

“I see. If we return to the capital safely, I promise to help you.”

“Oh, thanks. It’s better to get your agreement now than spring it later.”

“But didn’t you think we might try to take you down?”

“I said it works either way. I also wanted to test the dungeon’s operations. If you turned enemy, I’d handle you like these soldiers… or more efficiently. Thanks to them, I’ve learned a lot.”

“I see, it really works either way… You’re terrifying. But why make Elju the Dungeon Master? Why not show yourself?”

“Simple. A random Dungeon Master saying ‘it’s safe’ versus Elju saying ‘I’ve tamed the dungeon with my Saintess power’—which is more acceptable to the people? Or the higher-ups?”

“Definitely the latter. The former’s possible, but it’s riskier. Using Elju is safer for both you and us.”

Truly, it works no matter what… He’s even using the misunderstanding that Elju’s the Dungeon Master.

He’d be a terrifying enemy, but as an ally, he’s reliable.

If I opposed him, I doubt I could conquer this dungeon.

“But even if we turn these soldiers to our side, there’ll be trouble in the capital. We need a way to deal with Loire, or we’re stuck.”

Right. We can’t safely return to the capital without handling Loire, who put us in this mess. Even if we return, he’ll probably call us monsters and try to eliminate us.

“Oh, that’s probably fine already.”

“What do you mean?”

“I got a message from Mauve and the others.”

Mauve? Oh, those guys who enslaved Elju. Even if Elju forgave them, I won’t. I’ll punch them at least a hundred times.

“Hey, Yuki. Like you said, the king and princesses got assassinated.”

““EHHHH!?””

“Whoa, the princesses are there?”

“Yeah, so speak clearly and tell the truth.”

“Sorry, sorry. The assassination was stopped, thanks to us and a collaborator.”

“Oh, a collaborator, huh?”

“So, as planned, we told the king everything. A message has been sent to the soldiers there, saying the king and princesses were assassinated, so they need to return urgently. They’ll pull back in a few days.”

That’s what Yuki and the others are talking about… but…

“EXPLAIN!!”

My scream isn’t crazy at all.