The Way to Absolute Dungeon Administration – There Is No Reason To Meet With the Opponent! - Volume 01 Chapter 25: Good Morning, and Explanations

Volume 01 Chapter 25: Good Morning, and Explanations

My body feels heavy… I went to bed yesterday, but my head’s foggy.

I can’t move. Is this that famous sleep paralysis?

There’s a pressure on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

Looking around, the sun’s already up.

Sleep paralysis at this hour? I manage to move my hand and lift the blanket, revealing…

“…Zzz, zzz.”

Labiris, sleeping on top of me.

Oh, right. I’m in another world, running a dungeon.

Building an inn and sleeping here made me think I was on a trip, haunted by some ghost.

“Mmph… zzz.”

I carefully slide Labiris off my chest to avoid waking her.

I get it now—a zashiki-warashi vibe.

It’d be creepy at night, but right now, it’s kinda heartwarming.

Anyway, breakfast… I’ll take the easy route. Generate it with DP—Dungeon Points.

Gotta explain dungeon operations soon and get them to brainstorm for the future.

“Hey, Mauve, wake up. Can’t serve food yet.”

“…Huh? Oh, morning already?”

“How long were you partying?”

Mauve finally stirs after a kick.

Raya and Curse are already up, folding their futons.

“Morning tea’s damn good.”

“Yeah, green tea really calms you down once you get used to it.”

They’re sipping tea leisurely by the window.

“So, where’s breakfast?”

Mauve looks at me.

“First, fold your futon. Gotta call the women too.”

“Fine, fine. By the way, you still not introducing the Princess?”

“Not yet. Explanations aren’t enough. It’d be chaos. Milly might try to kill Elju.”

Right. The women don’t know Elju’s alive yet.

I think it’s best to tell them about Elju after building some trust.

Milly, being from the same homeland as Mauve and the others, probably sees Elju as an enemy.

“Got it. I won’t butt in. Let’s clean up.”

Mauve starts folding his futon.

I’ll wake the women… but first, the kid trio. Leaving them alone too long feels wrong.

“…You’ve got some nerve showing up after abandoning us.”

“No idea what you’re talking about.”

As expected, Labiris is glaring at me from the futon.

Asrin and Filia are rubbing their eyes, still half-asleep.

“Alright, let’s show you the inn’s luxury. First, we’ll wake the other women.”

I scoop up Asrin and Filia and leave the room with Labiris.

They’re a bit heavy, but they’re cute, so it’s fine.

Is this what being a parent feels like?

“…I’m still sleepy. So…”

“Another time. I don’t have a third arm.”

“…Fine. It’s a promise.”

“What’s with the sad face? Alright, hop on my shoulders. Balance yourself.”

Labiris looked so lonely, I offered a piggyback.

I wouldn’t do this for Asrin or Filia—they might fall.

“…Thanks.”

Labiris climbs onto my shoulders, resting her hands on my head.

Her two melons bump against my head too.

“Big and heavy…”

We reach the next room.

“Hey, anyone awake? Open the door!”

“Sure, Onii-san. We’re up~”

Ratsu opens the door, but…

“…What, in the middle of parenting?”

“I won’t deny it.”

“No denying, huh? Thanks for all the hard work. Breakfast time?”

“Yeah, but first, I want you all to enjoy the inn’s special luxury.”

“Man, everyone already thinks this place is way too luxurious. Me included. What could be more luxurious than this?”

As I talk with Ratsu, Eris and Milly approach.

“Planning another weird luxury?”

“Yeah, I can already feel myself getting used to luxury in half a day. I’m starting to look forward to whatever Yuki-san says next.”

Eris and Milly look at me like they’re already done for.

“Heh heh heh… Everyone, head to the open-air bath!! That’s the ultimate luxury of this place!!”

Right, an inn with an open-air bath. The luxury? You can bathe anytime!!

Morning, noon, night!!

“Think of it as a wake-up call. Put your clothes in the baskets like yesterday. Fresh ones are in there too.”

“…What can I say? Bathing all day long! And as a wake-up call? Changing clothes already!? Onii-san, what are you planning, ruining us like this~”

“I said yesterday, this is normal here. If you want to keep this lifestyle, we need to run the dungeon well. If you work hard, you can maintain it. So, think of this bath as a way to refresh and switch gears.”

“…I’ve got a lot to say, but I’ll follow Onii-san quietly. This kind of luxury might be a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

Ratsu says, leading the others out.

“So, what about you, Onii-san? Joining us?”

“Nah, I’ll pass. Can you watch these three? I’m hitting the men’s bath to relax.”

I try to hand the kids to Ratsu, but…

“…I’m going to the men’s bath too.”

“I wanna stay with you.”

“Me too!!”

Asrin and Filia cling to me. They’re awake now, apparently.

Labiris is gripping my head so hard her melons are squishing.

“…Sorry, Onii-san. Looks like I can’t watch them unless I’m your wife.”

“Ugh, fine. After the bath, meet at the banquet hall from last night. We’ll talk after breakfast.”

“Got it~”

I part ways with Ratsu’s group and head to the men’s bath.

“So, remember how it works from yesterday?”

“I-I’m fine!”

“Um, not really.”

“My chest’s heavy, so help me again.”

One’s okay, but the others… well, it’s all new to them. They’ll learn slowly.

Honestly, is Labiris doing this on purpose? Should I take it as her being clingy?

I’m one step closer to enlightenment.

Holding those two melons and staying calm takes insane mental strength.

After that, breakfast goes smoothly, and it’s time to explain their roles and the dungeon.

“Everyone got tea?”

Long talks need drinks.

Everyone’s seated on cushions around a long table, looking at me.

The kid trio? One’s on my lap, the others on either side. I’m totally a guardian now.

“Alright, I want to explain dungeon operations… but first, Ratsu and the others had questions yesterday, so let’s clear those up before my explanation.”

“Yeah~ Clearing questions first makes it easier to follow. So, Onii-san, you mentioned having a homeland, right?”

“Hm. Explaining that might clear things up. First, hear how I became a Dungeon Master.”

“Got it~ Please go ahead.”

So, I give a mostly truthful explanation with some fibs, same as what I told the Princess and her group.

• • Woke up as a Dungeon Master.

• • My homeland’s somewhere else—not on this continent. Calling it “somewhere” keeps it vague without lying about another world.

• • I was running the dungeon for self-defense.

• • Meeting Mauve and the others helped me set a direction, which is why I had Ratsu and the others brought here.

• • I’m earning DP—Dungeon Points—to build a village or town in the dungeon.

At this point, Ratsu, Eris, Milly (picked by Mauve and Curse for their smarts), and Tori are following. Labiris, surprisingly, gets it too. Asrin’s barely keeping up, while Filia, Riel, and Kaya look like their brains are smoking.

“Man… Onii-san, you’ve had it rough. Just waking up like that…”

Ratsu seems unsure what to say.

Well, it was more like getting kidnapped by that dumb goddess.

“If you can control the dungeon at will, it’s the ultimate stronghold. Building a village or town inside? That’s incredible.”

Eris is impressed, piecing it together from the dungeon skills I hinted at. Sharp as expected.

“Have past Dungeon Masters been like Yuki-san? We’ve always destroyed dungeons as soon as they appeared…”

Milly’s thinking back on past dungeons, reflecting on my situation.

“If I were in Onii-san’s shoes, suddenly dragged here and attacked… I’d fortify the dungeon and invade outside for my safety. No way I’d bother talking in a place where my common sense doesn’t apply.”

Ratsu’s imagining herself in my position. Her answer’s pretty much the standard dungeon-running playbook.

“Well, meeting Mauve and the others was my luck. I’m trying to earn DP without killing, hoping to get back home. In the process, I want to make good use of the dungeon.”

“Oh, speaking of Dungeon Points, how do you earn them? I heard some ominous words earlier.”

“There are grim methods, but also others. Just listen.”

I explain how to earn DP—Dungeon Points—simply.

• • DP is earned when creatures born outside the dungeon die or stay inside for a set time.

• • DP amount: Death yields HP + MP = DP. If alive, 1/100 of total MP per hour, rounded to 1 DP if less than 1. Magic used by outsiders converts to DP but less efficiently.

• • Note: Creatures under [Designated Protection] don’t generate DP.

“Got it. If I died, about 800 DP? By the way, Onii-san, it’s hard to gauge 1 DP’s value. How much did this inn cost?”

I write an expense breakdown on copy paper. They’re shocked by the paper’s quality.

Inn with Open-Air Bath: 2,000 DP, Annual Maintenance: 100 DP

• • Open-Air Bath: 500 DP (Auto-Cleaning Function)

• • Rooms: 300 DP (Includes Banquet Hall, Toilets)

• • Courtyard Equipment: 400 DP (Auto-Maintenance Function)

• • Kitchen Equipment: 300 DP (Includes Food, Auto-Refilling Fridge)

• • Furnishings: 300 DP (Futons, Tables, etc.; Refilling Supply Box)

• • Cleaning Equipment: 200 DP (Washing Machine, Trash Bin; Bin Disintegrates Inanimate Objects)

Additional Expenses: 560 DP

• • Yesterday/Today’s Meals: 300 DP (10 DP per person per meal)

• • Yukatas: 260 DP (10 DP per yukata)

“Hmm, hard to say. Onii-san, do you know how much it cost to build this dungeon?”

I hand over a table I made before.

Dungeon Setup Cost: 1,380 DP

• • Land (2 km²): 200 DP (100 DP per km², Annual Maintenance 10 DP per km²)

• • Depth (1 km): 100 DP (100 DP per km, Annual Maintenance 10 DP per km)

• • Dungeon Formation: 300 DP (100 DP per floor)

• • Dungeon Customization: 150 DP (50 DP per floor, Terrain Changes)

• • Trap Production: 150 DP (Manufacturing Only, Varies by Trap)

• • Trap Customization: 30 DP (Placement, 10 DP per floor)

• • Monster Summoning: 300 DP (Details Later)

• • Personal Room Furniture: 150 DP (Via Mail-Order System)

Total: 1,380 DP, Remaining: 120 DP, 90 DP after Maintenance

“…Seems like essential dungeon operations keep DP costs low.”

“It’s tricky~ Killing’s easier than keeping people alive, in a way. Luxury items are costly, huh? By the way, Onii-san, you haven’t said how much DP you have, but meals and yukatas were extra expenses?”

Eris studies the table, deep in thought.

Ratsu seems to see why other Dungeon Masters weren’t as friendly. Keeping people doesn’t guarantee DP. Killing’s simpler.

If you only keep people you like, you save DP. Building a village or town like I’m doing takes guts.

“But maintenance costs… Being a Dungeon Master’s tough. Oh, Yuki-san, how much DP did you start with? And what monsters did you summon?”

“Started with 1,500 DP. Could only summon goblins and slimes.”

Milly’s question makes Ratsu go pale.

“What kind of harsh setup is that? Three floors, defended by just goblins and slimes… Even I could break through. How’d you survive, Onii-san?”

“But it explains why shallow dungeon floors have weak enemies. It’s to lure people in for DP.”

“Yeah~ Now I get why strong-monster dungeons don’t invade outside. They’re earning DP stably there.”

Milly and Ratsu nod, convinced.

Eris, having organized her thoughts, looks at me.

“I understand your story, Yuki-san. So, what specifically should we do? Plan building layouts?”

“No, I’m planning to delegate some Dungeon Master authority to you all, so you can reshape the dungeon as you like.”

Ratsu jumps at my response to Eris.

“Wait!? You can delegate authority!?”

“Not fully. But if I die, a deputy can keep the dungeon running.”

“Oh, like insurance.”

“Exactly. Also, don’t forget to protect the Dungeon Core. If it’s taken, the dungeon shuts down.”

“Sounds like a hassle… Killing really is easier.”

“Sorry, I’m set on having people live here. Please, help me out.”

I bow to everyone.

For the future, having people live here is the easier path. I won’t budge on this.

“…Ugh, can’t say no when Onii-san puts it like that. I, Ratsu, will help. What about everyone else?”

Ratsu looks at the others.

“You don’t have to join dungeon operations. You can just live here as residents. I won’t kick anyone out, no matter what.”

I say this because forcing help could cause issues later.

“I want to help Yuki-san.”

Eris replies like it’s no big deal.

“Can’t ignore a Dungeon Master this friendly.”

Milly’s statement.

“I’ll follow Yuki-sama!!”

“I’ll help too!!”

“…I’ll cooperate.”

Tori, Riel, and Kaya, the beastman group, agree.

“I’ll help Yuki-san!!”

“Me too!!”

“…I’ll help. Even if I said no, I’d help anyway.”

The kid trio agrees too.

“Hmm, Onii-san’s harem’s coming along nicely. By the way, this dungeon’s been up for about a month, right?”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“No, just… you’re planning a village or town, but was it okay to spend 2,000 DP on this inn? You started with 1,500 DP, so you must’ve used all the DP you earned this month… I’m worried. Since we’re under [Designated Protection], we can’t contribute DP…”

Ratsu’s concerned about being a freeloader.

No need to worry. Those idiot soldiers from before turned into plenty of DP.

“Nah, DP’s fine. Still got 490,000 left.”

Everyone goes silent.

“How do you have that much DP!? How many hundreds—no, thousands—did you kill!? In one month!? What happened!? Tell us!!”

Guess it’s time to explain the past and introduce Elju…