14. The Generous Dungeon Master Sponsor... Is Getting Captured? What the Hell─
"What the hell does that mean?"
One of the explorers voiced the question that was on my mind.
"Well, listen up. It's not confirmed, but there's a rumor that a Dungeon Master is among the new Dimensional Transferees, so the Management Office is pulling lists."
"Whoa... Even after Joodak warned everyone, something's actually happening in the real world..."
...The Management Office is looking for me? I'd worried about this, but now that it was actually coming at me, panic set in.
'Nooo... don't find me...'
"From the start, those special tickets popping up out of nowhere scream that one of the newbies is using their ability to make them. It's a solid guess."
"...So what happens to the Dungeon Tickets?"
"Well... who knows? It'll probably depend on how the Management Office handles the Dungeon Master... But their ability is a huge help to the Shelter's situation, so I doubt they'll treat them too harshly. Worst case, maybe the Management Office starts selling the tickets directly... Prices might go up a bit then."
...
I figured they wouldn't do anything too bad to me, just like that explorer said... But in the worst case, I could end up imprisoned, turned into a ticket-shitting machine. More precisely, Kkomangi would!!
Of course, they'd recognize my importance and might not imprison me. Instead, every move I made would be watched, and I'd have escorts wherever I went...
No, wait. What if I suddenly dropped dead? They might lock me up after all. And assign people to monitor me every day.
To make sure I don't do anything stupid!!!
Locked up for life, my private life spied on by someone...
That...
That...!!
"N-Nooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Eek!!"
Luna, who had snuck up to set food on the table, jumped at my sudden freakout.
"O-Oppa, are you okay? What's wrong?"
"Luna, what am I gonna dooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!"
Luna hadn't heard any of the context, but she calmed me down first, poured me some water, and gently rubbed my back.
"It's okay... it's okay..."
She must've been more startled than me, yet here she was worrying about me first... What a sweet, considerate girl.
But if I got locked in the Management Office basement cranking out tickets, I might never come to Luna's shop again...
"...Luna, I might never be able to come here again..."
Clang─
"......"
Luna dropped the metal tray she was holding.
I couldn't see her face because of the veil, but she stood there frozen, like she'd hit pause.
*
I barely remember how I got home.
Luna said something in the middle, I think? No clue...
She seemed pretty urgent...
'Well, yeah. If a regular says they won't come anymore, that's bad news for the owner.'
What should I do about this...?
For now, I decided to consult the one person I could trust most in this mess.
Eh...? He'll handle it? Did Joodak bro have some plan?
"Ah... he left."
What now...? His reactions are too fun; I pranked him without thinking.
"Didn't think he'd actually bail..."
It was an emergency, and I pulled that prank anyway. Yeah, my bad, but...
"Joodak bro's reactions are too delicious!!!"
And he hadn't even used the ticket I gave him!!! I'd been checking the resort dungeon every 30 minutes just to see his face!!
Tsk... At least he seemed to have a plan... But he didn't explain, and I have no idea what to do next.
All I could do was trust Joodak.
Anxiety kept surging, but I pushed it down.
"...Time to scroll the gallery."
*
"Haa... What the hell am I supposed to do with this guy?"
A stunning beauty in a deeply plunging dress pressed a hand to her forehead. She pinched the bridge of her nose to soothe the throbbing headache.
This was the first Dungeon Master weirdo she'd seen in centuries. She knew Dimensional Transferees were quirky from experience, but this one was a whole new level.
'Feels like I'm the one getting played...'
"Tower Master, are you ready?" Aisha's voice from outside the door. Time to head out. Annoying, but necessary.
"No, this is the first time in ages I've worn clothes. It's killing me. Let's get it over with."
Tower Master Evangeline Mystia de Nightis stepped out, her light purple hair swaying.
"At least you're not in little girl form this time? You should show off this dignified look more often..."
"Bigger body means less rolling room on the bed." Smaller meant more surface area to tumble. A kid's body could roll way more than an adult's, obviously.
"Haa... What an absurd reason." Ignoring Aisha's pitying look, Evangeline walked ahead.
"Anyway, let's hurry and finish. I wanna rest." It'd been five years since she'd appeared publicly.
*
Karon Revana, the Management Office staffer who'd handled Baek Soo-chan, was compiling a list of recent Dimensional Transferees. She detailed their abilities in reports.
Not much to compile—just three reports. Her Shelter had only three newbies in the last three months. Others were probably similar.
Flip─ Karon turned a page.
"Baek Soo-chan..."
The most recent transferee here, her charge. Ability: special slime familiar, combat unknown. He'd said not to expect much fighting from him...
Low combat power actually raised suspicions. That slime looked super unique—yet no real power?
Transferee abilities were special. The slime screamed unique, but something felt off... Years at the office had exposed her to many; Soo-chan's felt lacking.
"Safe to assume he's hiding something..."
Prime suspect right now.
With the Dungeon Ticket fuss, higher-ups were desperate for the Dungeon Master. In this dying world, their value was obvious.
Find the Dungeon Master...
"Again...?"
Not for wholesome protection. They'd use "safeguarding" as cover to exploit for their gain.
'Like they have before.'
Case in point: a healer surpassing holy magic, extending dying lifespans. Elites coveted it, offered deals to monopolize.
Good terms, so voluntary... but not always. Rumors of kidnappings and imprisonments.
Non-combat types were most vulnerable.
Pre-apocalypse community posts begged for rescue, like ghost stories come true.
Lure with offers or force it.
"Dozens privatized like that..."
Just... regrettable. Their powers could've shifted the war with monsters.
Maybe Karon was overthinking; low chance it was for Shelter order.
'Really...?'
Even in ruin, some chased selfish gains with dumb choices. If they'd been wise, the world wouldn't have fallen.
From tracking the Dungeon Master's moves, Karon judged they weren't selfish.
But if greedsters nabbed them, cheap tickets would end.
Greedy leaders always fucked things up.
But what could she do? In her position, she followed orders to keep her job.
Shuffle─ Karon finished with a bitter smile.
She was no different. Knew it, couldn't change it.
"Wonder how it'll go..."
Thud crash─! A staffer tumbled in frantically.
"S-Sunbae!! They say scrap all current ops!!! Announcement to halt all Dungeon Master searches!!!"
"...Suddenly?"
"Big shots everywhere saying hands off the Dungeon Master!!!!"