The Way to Absolute Dungeon Administration – There Is No Reason To Meet With the Opponent! - Volume 01 Chapter 28: My Beloved Lord

Volume 01 Chapter 28: My Beloved Lord

Well, all that’s left today is eating dinner… What to do?

Renovating the dungeon’s pointless without discussing it with everyone.

Increasing my monster forces would be more efficient after reshaping the dungeon.

“Guess I’ll think about traps?”

I mutter in my room.

“…Traps? For the dungeon?”

Labiris, perched on my lap as usual, looks up at me.op

Her long purple hair’s in twin tails, a doll-like girl with sharp eyes.

Unlike Asrin, she’s got a big chest. Let’s call it two melons. Watermelons are a bit too much.

I mentioned before, but she’s probably under 140 cm. Should I measure everyone’s height soon?

Not in a creepy way. For health reasons.

“Yeah, we’re planning the dungeon with everyone tomorrow. Tinkering now would just mean changing it later. So, traps are about all I can work on now.”

“I’ll think too.”

“Cool, let’s brainstorm together.”

“I’ll come up with jaw-dropping traps.”

“Nah, they’re for protecting the dungeon. Focus on that. Doesn’t have to kill, but reducing the enemy’s strength or morale is key.”

“…That’s tough.”

We jot down trap ideas on copy paper as they come.

“By the way, Labiris, you can write, huh? Can Asrin and the others?”

“…No, not many can write. It’s not needed for everyday life.”

So literacy’s low here… Or is Japan’s literacy rate just insane?

Still, it’s probably lower than Earth’s modern average.

Guess we’ll need a school eventually.

It’s a grand plan, but I’m immortal. Plenty of time.

“Hey, what about this?”

“Whoa, you thought of that? Labiris, were you born into some fancy family?”

“…I don’t want to talk about the past. But trust me, I’m with you, Yuki.”

“Sorry. I’m not prying. Don’t worry.”

I pat her head, and she squints happily.

“Hey, Labiris. Why do you trust me so much? Honestly, it feels too soon for that kind of faith.”

I just kept my promise to her. But I can’t guarantee I’ll always keep it.

“You kept your promise. I believe you won’t treat us badly going forward.”

“Oh, that [Eye of Truth] skill? Can you really read hearts?”

“…Not everyone’s. They have to truly trust me. And I need to be close with them.”

“The world’s not that convenient, huh?”

“…You’re not scared? My father, mother, even my grandpa—once they knew I could read hearts, they shut me out…”

Classic trope, huh? Don’t do shady stuff if you don’t want your heart read.

Being unable to hide anything is scary… maybe. I can’t say, since I’m not a parent. Kids haven’t been my thing.

Getting your thoughts exposed 24/7 must suck. I don’t get it, but still.

“Well, little me thought it’d make my parents and everyone happy. It didn’t.”

You’re still plenty small.

“…Rude.”

She stands on my lap, putting her full weight on me. Even if she’s tiny, the momentum’s rough.

“But is it okay to say that? Isn’t that why you ended up a slave? Didn’t you say you didn’t want to talk about the past?”

“…I didn’t. I just explained my skill. Right?”

“True. I just made assumptions. Doesn’t mean they’re correct.”

I stop my pen and glance at the two napping in the room.

“They’re sleeping soundly.”

“…Yeah, I never thought I’d see them like that. Thanks.”

“I’m just using you guys for my goals.”

I never hid that. I declared it upfront.

Forcing cooperation would be a bad move long-term.

“…Heh.”

Labiris looks at me and laughs, which is rare.

“What? I said something pretty cold, didn’t I?”

“…Yeah. Cold but kind. Warm. Weird, right? Cold yet warm?”

“You’re the one saying it.”

“…This might be tactless, but you don’t seem to realize, so I’ll say it. If you were truly cold, you’d ditch us somewhere irrelevant without a word. Our complaints wouldn’t change your plans.

But you take the time to explain to everyone, to me. Cold yet warm—how else do you describe it?”

“It’s my personal sincerity. I’m binding you guys to my will, after all.”

“…It’s all in how you phrase it. We’re getting unbelievable peace and happiness, yet you, Yuki, feel guilty. It’s like you want us to say we don’t want to help.”

Labiris stares at me.

Sigh, she sees through me.

“If you can read hearts, you’ve got a sense of the problems coming. And with your smarts, you can guess, right?”

“…To an extent. Even a kid would know countless races living together here is a big problem.”

“Honestly… I don’t want to drag you in, but someone’s getting dragged in. Still, talking to you guys like this…”

Using them as pawns for my plans hurts my Japanese heart.

Up to now, it’s been killing for defense.

I can stomach that, even if I did the deed myself.

But moving forward, I’ll have to offer living sacrifices for my goals.

No doubt, this dungeon will be attacked, or we’ll strike out.

And the ones on the front lines will likely be Labiris and the others.

I know. I can’t help but know. I’ll use them for my purposes. In the worst case, I’ll let them die.

I’m furious at myself for thinking this.

…Maybe I should let them live in peace?

If I take the front, they won’t face danger.

As I’m thinking, Labiris slaps my cheek.

“…Huh? Assault? What’s up with the skill?”

“Oh, I see. Actions for your sake are allowed. Probably can’t do lethal stuff, though.”

Makes sense. Otherwise, [Designated Protection] would block training. Some situations call for a slap to snap someone out.

“…Drop those thoughts. They’re insulting. We’re not fledglings. We’ll choose to follow you.”

Labiris glares at me. Say something dumb, and another slap’s coming.

I know it’s arrogant, but still.

My death versus theirs—honestly, it’s a toss-up.

If I weren’t the Dungeon Master, I’d lean toward them completely.

“…Sigh. I’m glad you’re the Dungeon Master. Saying such soft things. If we met normally, you’d probably tuck us away somewhere safe, clueless.”

…Yeah, sounds like me.

As I’m thinking, Labiris hops off my lap and gives a graceful bow.

Yukata or not, none of them had time to put on underwear.

“…You can’t stay serious to the end, huh, Yuki?”

“Sorry.”

Was it on my face?

Labiris bows again, gracefully, and declares.

“…My beloved lord, I, Labiris, swear to stand by you until the end—through joy and sorrow, as your sword, your shield, and your beloved.”

Her voice is clear and resolute, unusual for her.

“…Man, that makes my worst self-destruct move unusable.”

“…If self-destruct means suicide, that’s the worst. I’d go with you, along with Ratsu.”

“That declaration was one-sided, right?”

“Yup, totally. A marriage without mutual consent isn’t a thing.”

“…So, I’ve got no say in this.”

“Exactly. If you accept, I can make the marriage vow right here.”

“…Uh, sorry. Hold off a bit. Where I’m from, going for a girl like you gets you punished. I’m still resisting.”

Labiris makes a bored face, climbs back onto my lap, and sits.

“…I hate your homeland’s laws. …Fine, we’ll take it slow.”

“Go easy on me.”

And so, we go back to brainstorming traps together.