Sticky's Betrayal
I'd met the betrayer—Sticky—just thirty minutes earlier.
The hot spring where we'd arranged to meet had already finished all its construction work, so there was no one around now. Folks like Yeomje only used it at night anyway, so no one would show up.
I'd picked the hot spring as the meeting spot out of consideration, so we could relax with a soak after wrapping up the deal.
A shimmer of light gathered at the entrance to the hot spring, forming a woman's silhouette. Thankfully, it didn't look like some netkama disguised as a girl like Sticky—she seemed like the real deal.
And just like that, I finally met her in person for the first time.
I tried to greet her first, but something felt off, and the words stuck in my throat.
“……”
“……”
Was she feeling the same? We just stared at each other for a while.
Only one problem: neither of us was showing our faces.
We were both wearing masks. Hers was the kind you'd see at a masquerade ball, covering her eyes. Mine wasn't a clown mask—it was the one I'd used in the dungeon before.
Even with just her lower face visible past the mask, I could tell she was stunningly beautiful. The subtle elegance in her movements and that faintly condescending glint in her eyes screamed high nobility.
“You're Dunbung, right? Taller than I expected.”
“Sticky, you're bustier than I thought.”
Wait, that came out wrong. I'd meant to say it buddy-like, but nerves turned it into straight-up sexual harassment.
“Ahahahaha! You're the first to say something like that to me! I've heard plenty of compliments on my looks, but to spout such vulgarity right to my face... It sends shivers straight to my thighs!”
C-crazy...
I'm a bit nuts myself, but this woman seems even more unhinged.
“A-anyway... standing around like this is awkward. Wanna tour the new dungeon I made?”
“Sounds good! Lead the way!”
So I showed her around the hot spring dungeon that was about to open.
“Hoo... A hot spring this massive is a first for me. And building it in a crystal cave, no less...”
“It's mostly Yeomje's idea. He's obsessed with hot springs.”
“I see. But executing it is another matter entirely. Hmm, and the most unbelievable part is this elixir bath. So that's why you've been gathering elixirs.”
She dipped her hand in the bath and pulled it out as she spoke.
“...The effects fade fast once you step away from the bath. And hmm... In my estimation, this bath's potency is at best half that of the original elixirs.”
“Half? Only?”
First I'd heard of that. And she figured it out just from dipping her hand in?
“Indeed. Don't let my appearance fool you—I'm one of the empire's top alchemists. My specialty isn't pill refinement, so my knowledge isn't the deepest. Even so, I can assure you: this bath can't exceed half the original's power. I guarantee it.”
“Huh... Never compared it to the originals, so I didn't know. I figured it matched them fully.”
“No need for disappointment, Dunbung. Elixirs are one-time consumables, but this bath lasts forever, right? Use it steadily, and it'll outperform swallowing elixirs.”
She explained further: most elixirs come as pills, the best form for preserving and absorbing spiritual energy. Normally, dissolving them in water dissipates most effects into the air...
“But making the bath function like an elixir means the spring water constantly infuses spiritual energy. That's an utterly ridiculous ability—keep that in mind.”
As she said it, glancing my way, her eyes held the proud satisfaction of someone whose ally had earned high praise.
“Anyway... Time to hand over what I prepared? And how about we show our faces? We're friends now—no need for masks anymore. They're getting stuffy.”
“...Sure, why not.”
Yeomje and the dwarf brothers already knew my face. Sticky had been a huge help with dungeon ops.
I took off my mask, but...
“Hey, why haven't you taken yours off?!”
“Hoo... Quite the looker...”
She was still wearing hers.
“Wait, Dunbung. I have an extra gift. Close your eyes! I'll show my face too.”
I closed them, and something cold wrapped around my neck.
Click.
“You're mine now.”
“...?”
“Serve me eternally, and I'll treasure you.”
Opening my eyes, a woman with the exact face from that old gallery photo—the princess—had collared me like a dog.
Her hand that fastened it slowly rose to stroke my cheek.
“Don't you get it? Dungeon Master, you're my property now. That collar's an ancient artifact from the imperial treasury. You can't harm me or defy my commands anymore.”
“...You tricked me?”
“Surprised? You're so naively straightforward, Dunbung. I thought you were acting at first, but you're this careless...”
She slipped off her shoes and sat with her bare feet in the hot spring.
“Hmm... But I should explain a bit. We're friends, after all. Mind some personal talk? No, no need to answer—you have no choice anyway.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Iris de Lumina Arcadia
She'd captured the Dungeon Master more easily than expected.
...So careless. But with the Magic Tower Master protecting him, better safe than sorry.
Dunbung looked glum, tugging at her heartstrings. Still, she had to have him.
“Hmm... Did you know I had many siblings? As a Dimensional Transferee, you're probably clueless about history. The world's a mess now.”
Iris began her tale, and the Dungeon Master listened silently.
No resistance—the collar's working fine.
“I had many brothers, but the imperial succession struggle killed them all. Officially accidents or illness, but really my eldest brother, the crown prince.”
Iris glanced at the Dungeon Master and swished her legs in the spring.
“Not interested? Anyway, even the crown prince died by my hand. Luck, really—the monster war hit when it was my turn. Though with the world like this, maybe not so lucky.”
Whether he listened or not, Princess Iris kept spilling her guts, unburdening feelings she'd never shared.
“Officially, he fell in the monster war, but I delivered the fatal blow. Had to—otherwise it'd be my turn next.”
Iris stood from the spring, approached the Dungeon Master till their breaths mingled, and caressed his face.
“You'll serve the empire eternally under me. With your talent, you could even be my consort. You're easy on the eyes, and you won't bore me. Reclaim the surface, and no vassals will object.”
As Iris clung to him, her lips nearing, he finally spoke.
“Was approaching me planned from the start?”
Her red eyes gleamed wickedly, curving into a lewd smile.
“A trap from the beginning. Didn't notice the tracking spell on the T-1019 I gifted you that first chat? It failed for some reason... Thought you'd caught on and countered, but pure coincidence.”
“……”
“Hah, anyway, snagging you this easily... I fooled Joodak and the other Padaks perfectly—no help coming.”
The silently listening Dungeon Master spoke.
“You should take this off, Sticky. Last warning as a friend.”
Iris dismissed it as bluff.
Her intel pegged his combat skills at novice mage level, tops.
Heard he studied a bit of magic from Yeomje... Adorable, Dunbung.
Iris took his hand, leading him to the spring.
“Think positive. I truly see you as a friend. I'll care for you till you're used up. Collar uncomfortable? Don't worry—it'll sink into your skin, invisible and unbreakable.”
She pulled paper from her subspace bracelet, sticking it on his body.
“One safeguard isn't enough. No worries—no harm to you. Just... my insurance.”
Iris splashed spring water on the papers. The curse runes etched into his skin, then vanished.
“How's it feel? You're fully mine now. I'll raise you well—entrust everything to me. I won't curb your freedom much. Dungeon ops? Easier with my support. But all for the empire's gain.”
Iris pushed the Dungeon Master into the spring, joined him, and cradled his head, stroking it.
“Post-shelter, the empire's just a name... As last of the bloodline, I must revive it. With your power, I'll seize shelter dominance and imperial prestige. Dungeon Master... my sweet Dunbung.”
“One last question. All this was to deceive me?”
He lifted his head from her bosom, gazing as he asked. Iris replied with affectionate eyes.
“Yes, falling for it so easily—you're a lovable fool. I'll use you to make the empire rule the world again.”
“...Good. Then no tentacle fetish... I thought I was screwed fitting your tastes... Guess I was just played...”
Even now, he seemed genuinely relieved.
“No, tentacles are my taste.”
“...Figures. But Sticky... if you were gonna betray me, you should've done it sooner.”
“What do you—?”
The Dungeon Master brushed off her arms, slipped free—and casually unclasped the artifact collar. Even the curse runes emerged from his skin.
“Wha...?”
“Traitors need a spanking, right?”
Realizing the dire shift, Iris leaped from the spring, summoning tentacle puppets from her bracelet to attack.
“Bind him!!”
Subdue first, figure it out later... If he tells Joodak, I'm done!!
Incredibly, her tentacles shot out at giant slime variant phase-4 speeds, but...
With one gesture from the Dungeon Master, they compressed into meat orbs.
“...I-impossible!! Those were upper-layer monster corpses!!!”
Thud.
Iris backed away, but a wall rose behind her. He approached slowly.
Terror crossed her face for the first time. Sensing her end, she collapsed.
“Ah, aaah... No... The empire's... last bloodline, here...”
The Dungeon Master stared into space with melancholic eyes.
“Sorry, Elise... I promised not to use it again...”
“Uh... huh...?”
“Last time.”
He grabbed her ankles, hoisting her up.
His right foot planted on her.
“Wh-what are you doing?! Defiling me!?”
“Motorcycle, max output.”
The princess's screams echoed through the hot spring.