The Way to Absolute Dungeon Administration – There Is No Reason To Meet With the Opponent!

Volume 02 Chapter 24: The Tyrannical Demon King and the Slime

Side: Yuki

Right now, Lulua and the others have reached the target village and are waiting for the new Saintess to arrive.

Cars are so convenient, aren’t they?

As for me, I’ve been tied up with dungeon business lately, working with everyone to address issues highlighted by the Fairy Tribe.

Heh heh heh… It’s starting to feel like I’m back in modern Japan, slogging through a job.

Today’s schedule is the fourth stage of training: a tour of dungeon facilities and job site visits.

But since we have fewer people, we finished the job site visits yesterday.

During those, we had them do some practical work too.

As expected, Naruja-san’s impressive—she crafted nearly 20 iron swords using an unfamiliar forge, just from my verbal explanations and a textbook.

Materials like iron and alloys are available from infinite storage boxes I set up.

She didn’t touch the tamahagane or alloys, probably unsure how to handle them, but when I joined and showed her swords and modern knives, her eyes lit up.

When I shared forging techniques I looked up online, she seemed mostly satisfied and said she’d try them today.

That aside, there’s one issue.

Yesterday, during our meeting, Filia fell asleep.

No big deal in itself.

After all, despite her small frame, she swung that damn heavy hammer and finished a sword.

The sword’s balance and center of gravity were all over the place, but for a first attempt, it’s more than good enough.

Falling asleep from exhaustion is natural.

But for some reason, when Filia woke up this morning, she was bawling her eyes out.

It was a rare level of crying.

“Nii-sama, I’m so sowwy!! I wanted to make you feel good, but I fell asleep!!”

Oh, I get it. The sweet trio of kids takes turns giving me shoulder massages every night.

I’m really grateful for it, but Filia was exhausted. It couldn’t be helped.

I tried to comfort her, but…

“I couldn’t lick you!!”

Lick? Did she want to eat ice cream or something?

While I was puzzling over it, Labiris and Asrin helped calm her down, which was a relief.

I swore to myself to give her ice cream before bed tonight.

Alright, let’s tackle today!

The training facility’s daily schedule is: wake up at 8 a.m., breakfast, then start explanations and work at 9 a.m.

It’s 8:30 a.m. now. Everyone should be gathered in Training Room A, so I’d better head over.

But on my way, a problem suddenly arises.

The intruder alarm blares.

…Tch, what a pain.

I immediately gather everyone to discuss.

“So, Ratsu-san told me it’s an intruder alarm? In this dungeon?”

Naruja-san asks, tilting her head skeptically.

Milly and Tori are in Training Room A, teaching as usual.

“Yeah. To be precise, our detection range picked up a… well, not necessarily an enemy, but a humanoid creature approaching. It hasn’t entered the dungeon yet. Any reports from the animals under your control?”

I ask for everyone’s input.

Besides building the dungeon town, we’ve been training the past few days by transferring control of my tamed monsters to everyone for combat and reconnaissance practice.

They haven’t had much time to get used to it, so they’re not fully proficient yet.

“From my end, birds scouting from the air confirm a humanoid creature heading straight for the dungeon.”

“My squirrels reported something moving directly toward the dungeon too.”

“…I heard the same. It’s definitely coming this way.”

“…Hic, hic.”

Huh, Asrin’s crying?

What’s wrong?

“Yuki, the tanuki under Asrin’s control was killed. My animals reported it,” Labiris explains.

Ouch. Asrin adored that tanuki.

Did the intruder eat it or something?

“Nii-sama!! L-Look at this!?”

As I’m thinking, Filia shows me her Call screen.

On it is a woman—too developed to be a girl, but too youthful to be an adult.

“Ahem, ahem. Can you hear me, Dungeon Master? I noticed beasts watching me from a distance, and now I see—this magic is yours, isn’t it? You’re watching, right? A new dungeon’s been built, or so the rumors say, but if you’re only using beasts like these, it’s pretty underwhelming. Well, I’m just passing time. Struggle all you want, okay? See you inside your dungeon.”

The screen cuts off abruptly.

Probably the animal linked to the Call was killed.

“…Filia’s animal was killed too,” Labiris states calmly.

Filia looks pained but isn’t crying.

I’ll comfort her properly later.

“Alright, does anyone know this person? Figuring out our animals are under our control isn’t something just anyone can do…”

I pose the question to everyone, and Elju mutters with a pale face:

“…Blood Princess.”

“Elju-sama, no way!?”

Oriel overreacts to Elju’s words.

What’s this Blood Princess?

Everyone, hearing Elju, stares intently at their Call screens showing their scouting teams.

What’s going on?

“…I don’t want to believe it, but Onii-san, I agree with Elju-sama. We shouldn’t underestimate this opponent,” Riel says, flustered.

“She’s the Blood Princess, I think! She’s wearing a black dress!!”

A black dress? Some kind of trademark?

“…Catching our animals so easily, I think it’s the Blood Princess too,” Kaya agrees.

“Hey, what’s this Blood Princess? A nickname or something?”

“Of course you wouldn’t know, Onii-san. But we don’t have time to explain here. First, let’s move the Fairy Tribe in Training Room A to the evacuation point, calling it an evacuation drill,” Riel suggests.

“That dangerous, huh?”

“Yes. I trust your strength, Onii-san, but honestly, the Blood Princess’s reputation is terrifying from all the rumors.”

Everyone unanimously agrees to evacuate the Fairy Tribe without further discussion.

We reach the training room, explain to Milly and Tori, and their faces pale as they start the evacuation drill. Is this Blood Princess that scary?

“Eris, you’re the most knowledgeable about this stuff. Can you tell me what you know?”

I ask, relying on her Elven knowledge.

“Just a bit. Yuki-san, there are two beings called Demon Kings on this continent. One of them is the Blood Princess.”

Whoa, hold up. The biggest dungeon events so far were Mauve’s group, Rocheur soldiers, and Litea knights—three incidents, tops.

A Demon King out of nowhere? Isn’t that skipping a few event tiers?

Oh, there were those self-proclaimed Four Heavenly Kings.

Are they related?

“No, the self-proclaimed Four Heavenly Kings aren’t connected. The Blood Princess wanders the continent alone, destroying towns, villages, or even countries on a whim. Her title as a Demon King is the Tyrannical Demon King. The name Blood Princess comes from her dress. Blood turns black over time, right? Her dress is said to have been white originally, but…”

“It’s stained black with blood she never washed off?”

“Yes.”

Come on, at least make it a red dress for the aesthetic.

“Yuki-san, the evacuation’s done!! Hurry and evacuate too!!”

Milly rushes over, shouting.

“No, the Demon King called me out specifically. If I escape with you, it’ll cause trouble. Stay with the evacuated Fairy Tribe and stand by. If I die, abandon this dungeon for now. You all have Dungeon Cores, right? Use them to build a new dungeon.”

“Wait, Onii-san!? You’re going to fight!?”

Ratsu charges at me, as if I said something outrageous.

“Calm down. I’ll hole up in the dungeon’s deepest part and escape if it gets dicey. If I don’t think I can fight, I’ll focus on stalling so you can all escape safely. I’m not planning to die.”

“…He’s not lying,” Labiris says, holding my hand to confirm my intent.

“…Fine. But if it gets dangerous, you better escape. I’m not becoming a widow this soon…”

“Don’t worry. Leave it to me and go.”

Reluctantly, everyone heads to the evacuation point.

…Wait, did I just set a death flag?

Whoa, hold on. Given the situation, that line just slipped out.

No choice—please, let that death flag be null and void.

I’ve got to break it somehow!!

Thinking this, I teleport to the dungeon’s deepest part.

On the way, an alarm sounds—the Blood Princess has entered the dungeon.

She’s on the first floor, a map designed to buy time.

For now, I deploy the Goblin Army and Slime Army to the second floor’s defense line.

Let’s check the Blood Princess’s stats:

Name: Deriyu Le Cosser

Race: Human

Status: Lone Demon King

Gender: Female

Occupation: Demon King, Blood Princess

Age: 235 years

Level: 412

HP: 12,020

MP: 9,200

STR (Strength): 5,740

DEF (Defense): 4,400 + 3,000 (Blood Dress)

INT (Intelligence): 2,920

AGI (Agility): 6,032

LUK (Luck): 20 + 100 (Heirloom Earring)

Unique Skills:

- Demon King’s Intimidation (reduces abilities of opponents at or below her level)

- Demon King’s Magic (stops aging, auto-recovery, deploys magical barriers, enhances physical abilities)

- Demon King’s Fist (doubles attack power without weapons, increases agility)

- Demon King’s Intuition (detects enemies, senses hostility, improves judgment, accelerates thinking)

- Flower of Growth (gains higher experience share even when allies defeat enemies) Normal Skills:

- Royal Etiquette (makes people think, “Wow, she’s from a refined background,” per Luna)

- Fire Magic LV3

- Water Magic LV3

- Wind Magic LV3

- Cosser Swordsmanship LV4

- Cosser Shield Arts LV2

- Cosser Martial Arts LV5

- Arithmetic LV3

Okay, sticking “Demon King” in front of every skill name doesn’t make it cooler, you know?

Also, that Royal Etiquette description—Luna, you’re a goddess, but this is too sloppy. Then again, you were pretty casual when you sent me here.

Luna’s been saying she’s improving how stats are displayed, but can’t she make the descriptions less… colloquial? They’re accurate, sure, but too informal.

Still, she’s a Demon King alright.

Level 412—about twice Kiyu’s level. Yup, total cheat.

So, there’s an actual “Demon King” occupation. Elju said no one’s ever confirmed a Demon King on a status screen before, so is this a first in history?

While I’m musing over this nonsense, she clears the 5km first floor in just two minutes.

Let’s see… that’s 150 km/h. Holy crap, she’s a monster.

Alright, let’s see how much we can do at the second floor’s defense line. Should be fun.

For now, I’ll possess a doppelgänger shadow at the scene and try talking to her directly.

Side: Deriyu Le Cosser

I no longer know how many years I’ve lived.

I haven’t checked my status since that day.

One day, my kingdom was swept away by human greed—caught in a war and destroyed.

How tragic. Thanks to my unique skill, Flower of Growth, the experience points from the soldiers who died in battle, the citizens caught in the crossfire, the royal guards, infants, women, men… all flowed into me.

Ironically, the enemy nation, having massacred my people, couldn’t kill me after I leveled up and grew stronger in an instant.

When I came to, all the enemy soldiers who attacked were crushed by my fists.

The pure white dress Father gave me was completely stained with blood.

Afterward, no matter how I washed it, the blood wouldn’t come out. I messed up. I didn’t know the proper way to wash it.

The maids who cared for me so diligently were gone.

Is this the burden I must carry?

In the end, unable to fully wash out the blood, I decided to wear the dress as is.

Despite being soaked in blood, it felt the same as before.

The people of my kingdom’s towns and villages were all slaughtered, and the stench of decay hung in the air.

If left like that, it could’ve caused undead outbreaks or disease.

So, with my newfound magical power, I burned everything to ashes.

I stained the enemy nation that did this to my kingdom with blood and burned it down too.

Having lost my home, I left the kingdom in just the clothes on my back.

For some reason, my body no longer needed food or drink to survive.

After that, I helped oppressed people, defeated bandits, crushed dungeons managed by catastrophic Dungeon Masters, and destroyed foolish nations.

Before I knew it, they started calling me a Demon King.

What a laugh. A human like me, called a Demon King…

But that doesn’t matter.

If I can reduce the tragedies of that day even slightly, I’ll swing my fists to my heart’s content.

I heard rumors of a war between Rocheur and Gartz.

How foolish. It’s probably just territorial disputes or the work of greedy schemers.

A nation that overlooks such matters is guilty itself.

The best solution is to replace the heads of the nation’s leaders.

With that in mind, I headed to Rocheur, but by then, the conflict had settled.

Oh? Some self-cleansing still exists? Maybe this nation isn’t entirely hopeless.

While wandering Rocheur, I heard a strange story.

They say Saintess Elju-sama took control of a dungeon but died shortly after.

What a ridiculous tale. Only a Dungeon Master can control a dungeon.

Even a Saintess couldn’t seize one.

Well, I suppose only someone like me, who’s killed a Dungeon Master directly, would know that.

So, there are still pests in this nation.

Fine. I was running out of goals. Let’s hope this is good entertainment.

That’s how I ended up at this dungeon, declaring war through the beasts scouting me.

But what is this dungeon?

This is supposed to be the first floor, but it’s a vast grassland stretching to the walls with a single path.

No monsters, nothing.

I see a staircase ahead, so I fly toward it with magic, clearing the first floor in one go.

“What’s the point of making a sky inside a dungeon?”

The question slips out of my mouth.

This is weird. This dungeon is too weird.

“Guhya!?”

The moment I reach the second floor, I crash ungracefully to the ground.

It’s been a while since I made such an odd sound.

What’s going on? I can’t fly? No, I can’t release magic?

I recall a trap like this in one of the many dungeons I’ve conquered.

This kind of trap seals only magic that’s released externally.

It seems like a great trap, but it also prevents the dungeon’s monsters from releasing magic.

A double-edged sword, then.

But I can just enhance my physical abilities without magic…

What…?

I can’t use skills either!?

No, that’s not it. I haven’t forgotten how to use fists or swords.

Is this a trap that seals acquired skills?

No, it’s skills that involve external release that are nullified…

Calming down, I enhance my physical abilities using non-release skills.

“First time meeting, huh? Should I call you Blood Princess?”

As I’m testing things, a woman—no, a monster—approaches with a slime.

“Hmph. Blood Princess is a nickname. I have a proper name: Deriyu Le Cosser.”

“My apologies. May I call you Deriyu-dono, then?”

“Hah! How rude. When someone has a family name, it’s proper to use it!”

I try to exude overwhelming intimidation with my skill, but it doesn’t work.

Damn it. Release-type skills, magical or otherwise, are sealed.

“Shut up, kid. You barge into someone’s home and talk about manners? Are you an idiot?”

“!?”

What’s this unpleasant feeling?

This monster, looking like a Saintess, is a doppelgänger—probably the Dungeon Master’s shadow.

I figured the real one’s deep in the throne room, just scoping things out, but what’s with this intimidation?

“Well, unlike you, I have some manners. I’ll even add ‘-dono’ to your name. So, Deriyu-dono, could you kindly leave? Or is this not a fight but a visit? If so, we’re not open to the public yet, so please come back later.”

“What’s this about public access? You mean when you invade this nation?”

“No, you’re mistaken. Haven’t you heard the rumors from Rocheur? This is a dungeon officially recognized by Rocheur.”

“Don’t spout nonsense. Claiming to control a dungeon is absurd. Only a Dungeon Master can do that, and I know that because I’ve killed one. Don’t underestimate me!!”

With that, I close the distance and swing my fist.

Even with magic and skills sealed, the level gap should be insurmountable.

I planned to crush this monster and move on, but…

“What!?”

The slime beside her stops my fist.

How!? A mere slime stopping my fist!?

“Geez, you’re the one who attacked first. I didn’t want to do this—it’s such a hassle.”

“Impossible! A slime, even a special variant, shouldn’t be able to… This can’t be!?”

The slime starts wrapping around my body.

Why can’t I move!? No way. It should be under the same magic and skill restrictions!!

It shouldn’t be able to pull tricks like this. Or is it stronger than me!?

“You look confused, kid. I don’t know what you’ve been through, but don’t be shocked by this. The world’s bigger than you think. Anyway, can you survive without breathing?”

“What!?”

Suddenly, the slime covers my face.

Trying to suffocate me!?

The core! If I crush the slime’s core!!

I grope for the core, but the slime’s fluid makes it impossible to grab!?

“Wow, staying calm enough to search for the core in that state? Keep trying.”

The Dungeon Master’s shadow acts impressed but shows no real interest, pulling out a book to read.

How dare it mock me!!

I’ll blast this slime away with a surge of magic!!

I focus to boost my magic, but it doesn’t activate.

…Damn it, release-type magic is sealed!?

“Sigh, I’m getting bored. If you can’t break through this, you won’t stand a chance against the defense lines ahead—you’d be crushed before getting close. Let’s wrap this up. I’m busy. Do it.”

“Piki!!”

Following the Dungeon Master’s voice, the slime lets out a cry.

The next moment, my arm moves against my will. What’s happening!?

“Let me teach you something. You’ve felt firsthand that release-type abilities are sealed. So, where are you right now?”

“!!?”

Inside the slime’s body!?

So, this is under the slime’s control, where it can use its skills!?

“Correct. Night-night.”

Those were the last words I heard before my own fist knocked me unconscious.

Side: Ratsu

As expected, I suppose.

We were watching the events unfold, utterly stunned.

The Demon King’s stats, shared by Onii-san, were so overwhelming that escape seemed the only option.

“Yes, too bad. Night-night.”

With those words, the Blood Princess punched herself and passed out.

“O-Onii-san, incredible! Not just repelling her, but capturing her…!”

On the screen, the Blood Princess is tossed into the special cell holding the self-proclaimed Four Heavenly Kings.

“Nah, she flew over the pitfall trap, and her insane stats meant the physical-debuff trap barely worked, so I left it to the slime. Went better than expected.”

“Better than expected? It was perfect! By the way, that slime’s level must be ridiculous, right?”

“Nah, level 82. Its stats are less than a tenth of the Demon King’s.”

“Huh? That’s high, sure, but still not enough to stop the Blood Princess…”

“Heh heh, brace yourself for its name—Surakichi!!”

…Never heard of it.

“Uh, is Surakichi some big deal in your homeland?”

“…Yeah, you wouldn’t get it. In my homeland, it’s the legendary, strongest slime!!”

“A level 82 legendary slime?”

“…I’ll show you its stats.”

Did I say something wrong?

Name: Surakichi

Race: Slime Tribe

Status: Legendary Slime (special status due to name, Luna’s whim), Dungeon Master’s Subordinate

Gender: Unknown

Occupation: Legendary Slime (special occupation due to name, Luna’s whim), Slime Army Leader

Age: 0 years

Level: 82

HP: 1,304

MP: 3,200

STR (Strength): 980

DEF (Defense): 2,230

INT (Intelligence): 3,920

AGI (Agility): 632

LUK (Luck): 45

Unique Skills:

- Legendary Slime (Scorching ◯, Dracu◯ Body Transformation, ability to shift into known slime types, doubles slime skills)

- Slime Body LV5 (reduces physical, magical, and skill attacks to 1/50th, doubled to 1/100th with unique skill)

- Dissolving Body (can activate at will)

- Body Elasticity and Free Shaping (can form tentacles, etc.)

- Debilitation (lowers stats of creatures absorbed into its body)

- Spirit (allows almost anything, with usage limits)

- Dungeon Master’s Subordinate Buff (status boost) Normal Skills: Omitting details, but enhanced versions of previous skills, Lightning Magic (◯-bolt type), Full Magic Release (basically Ma◯◯)

“Pfft!? What is this!? Her doubled strength is 11,480, but reduced to 1/100th, that’s 114.8, and Surakichi’s defense is 2,230… It completely nullifies her attack!”

I realize I’m calling Surakichi “-san” like Onii-san.

I mean, what even is this level!?

Sure, outside this dungeon, the Blood Princess could fly or attack from a distance and probably win, but here, Surakichi-san’s stronger than a Demon King…

I need to warn everyone not to mess with Surakichi-san, even more than outside monsters.