Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Becoming the Dungeon Master! #5
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Extreme terror gripped my entire body.
"Gotta run... fast...!"
That Dryad wasn't just some lewd woman! She was the raving predator I'd expected! Ripping goblins apart like that—what the hell, was she a bear?!
If that thing hit me, I'd be turned to paste...!
"Urk!"
My legs gave out completely.
So I crawled across the ground, belly flat to the dirt. No matter what, I had to survive. I couldn't die here.
Move, damn legs...!
How could my body be this pathetic! Paralyzed by fear, unable even to use my own legs! I hated myself so much I felt like losing my mind!
"Grahhh...!"
Only escape.
Escape was all I could think about.
Even if I ended up caught and killed, I'd survive one more second. One more second. I'd thrash and flail nonstop, crawl one more centimeter farther before dying.
That's what I was thinking as I crawled like a madman.
—...
For a split second, I thought I was dead.
"Huh?"
It was just too quiet around me.
—...
I strained my ears as I crawled.
No sounds at all. Not even the chirp of a single insect. A space of utter silence.
What the hell was going on?
Over there, the Dryad should've been ripping goblins to shreds like crazy. But no tearing flesh, no goblin screams—nothing.
It felt like I'd gone deaf.
Yet I could hear my own crawling just fine.
"..."
—Gulp.
I swallowed hard.
This couldn't be... one of those "don't look back or she's right there" patterns, could it? Goddamn it. But I steeled myself.
Slowly.
Very slowly, I turned around.
I had to check what was happening.
And then.
"Wha...!"
I saw it.
"Shaa... shaa... shaa..."
The Dryad, slumped on the ground.
The rampaging beast was now sitting there in a W, head bowed, panting heavily. What the... hell? To put it crudely, she looked like she'd stamped the ground with her privates.
"What the heck are you doing?"
Marking her territory?
Or some victory ritual?
Around her, seven goblin corpses lay shredded to hell, guts and blood splattered everywhere. Like Snow White and the seven dwarfs, victim edition. No survivors, obviously. Any that lived would've fled into holes or run off.
The vivid nail marks carved into their flesh stood out plain as day.
And the Dryad sat right in the middle.
"...!"
I got it!
She's exhausted!
"Shaa... shaa..."
The Dryad was utterly spent, sweat pouring off her like a fountain as she gasped for breath!
Perfect!
That explained it!
Her tiny frame had unleashed explosive power, and now the backlash hit. Those slashes were savage and powerful! Chasing me wasn't enough—she'd spammed that big move seven times and even used vine control magic. No wonder she was wiped!
Her stamina wasn't infinite... Weak compared to her strength! She must rely on luring prey into letting their guard down.
—Fwhoosh!
That realization melted away the fear crushing my heart and body. My legs felt light again.
"Last man standing."
I rose to my feet.
Power surged through my legs!
Time to haul ass!
"Shaa... shaa..."
The Dryad didn't even notice me stand. She just kept panting, head down.
This was my chance to escape safely. Jackpot. In the wild, a top predator collapsing like that meant quick retaliation from others. She wouldn't chase anymore.
So.
The moment I turned to bolt.
—Ting.
A spark of insight pierced my brain.
"Monster Domination."
This skill.
It works best on monsters in terrible shape... or completely exhausted.
So.
On this worn-out Dryad right now.
Wouldn't it work?
"..."
—Gulp.
What happens if it succeeds...? This sexy, barely-clad bombshell with the killer curves becomes my slave? The thought bubbled up. No, screw that—I'm not thinking weird shit like that. That insane combat power. What if that power became mine?
I, Qlus, am a Demon King and commander.
Judging coldly.
Always prioritizing utility.
"Too risky."
She's stronger than me.
Exhausted or not, no guarantee the skill would take.
"But if not now."
I might never see a stronger monster slumped like this again.
Risky, but.
When you gotta go bold, go bold.
That's the commander's way!
"Time for a test."
Golden opportunity.
She's wiped, I can run. I know her running speed's slower than mine. Trap? I'll cover with skill if needed.
—Step.
Decision made, I approached the Dryad cautiously.
"Shaa... shaa... shaa..."
Sweat poured off her like rain, breaths ragged. She looked beat.
—Step.
Even grabbing her from behind got no reaction. Like she didn't know I was there. Unheard of in the wild—animals guard their backs fiercely.
She's totally spent.
Wait... her back's so white and smooth...?
And that slender neckline...
—Shake!
I shook off the thought and activated the skill.
"Monster Domination."
"Shaa...?"
The Dryad glanced back slightly. Quick! I jabbed my finger into her shoulder, injecting the skill!
—Sssslip.
The black orb sank into her body. She just stared at me with a tired face.
—Fwhoosh!
I backstepped away.
"Hoo...!"
Success? Failure? Whatever—if fail, run! Deployment was perfect.
—Thump thump!
—Thump thump!
My heart pounded like mad.
And then.
"Sh, shaaa...? Shaa?"
The Dryad twitched, like she felt something.
—Jerk!
"Sh, shaat?!"
Her body spasmed hard!
—Hop!
She leaped up on the spot, flailing in confusion as she checked her body.
"Sh, shaa? Shaa? Shaaa?"
Like inspecting wounds or status, but who knows. Then she slowly turned to me.
"Sh, shaaa...? Shaa?"
She gestured something... Did it work? Or fail? Test with a command.
"D-Dryad? Sit. Sit down."
"Shaaa?"
She tilted her head, uncomprehending. Shit, failure then! Even Buril the retard knows "sit"!
—Fwhoosh!
I spun and bolted!
"Shaa?! Sh, shaaaaaa!"
A voice calling from behind! Glanced back—she wasn't chasing, just standing confused, arms outstretched toward me!
"Did it fucking work or what! See ya, sis! Don't follow!"
Escape first!
I kicked off without looking back!
Pretty Dryad, goodbye forever!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the end, I came back empty-handed that day, too busy running.
"Hoo...! Sorry, guys! No food today!"
"Keruk..."
"Krruk..."
My minions ended up starving all day, pathetically crammed in the cramped beet, waiting hungrily for me. Poor bastards.
Maybe that's why.
Today, even beetles tasted good.
"Krruk krruk."
We ate the beetles Im Sung dragged in and foraged fruits. That's when I learned I could survive on beetles.
Damn Dryad bitch.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day.
Checked the goblin den—yep, all corpses gone. Just some gruesome scraps left.
"Figures."
No way bodies last in the wild.
The den they used was useless too. Cramped as hell inside, nothing worth salvaging.
"Too bad."
No Dryad, naturally.
What happened to her? Snapped out and went home? Monster Domination has recovery effects. If healed, she left. Hope she went far.
"Let's head elsewhere, Buril."
"Keruk."
I stuck with just Buril, patrolling known paths for safe hunts. With him, hunting worked. Up early, hid the rest in the beet, hunted till lunch, ate together, then dungeon work.
Idyllic days like that.
Had to save time, and more mouths meant trouble, so no recruiting during hunts.
Stable routine continued until one day.
"Keruk? Ke, keruk?! Kerrrrrruk!"
"What?"
Mid-construction, Buril suddenly chucked his log aside and yanked at my clothes.
"Kerrrrruk! Keruk! Keruk keruk!"
"Krrurrrruk!"
"Gyusat!"
Im Sung and the Reg-il gang started freaking out too. Instinct screamed danger.
"Inside, now. Prep to back me up."
I herded them into the dungeon, stood at the entrance with spear aimed forward.
"Who the hell's there!"
Whoever's invading my dungeon, kill me first before my minions!
"Keruk! Kerrruk!"
Buril pointed frantically, terrified!
I looked.
—Peek.
From the bushes ahead, oh fuck, the Dryad's head poked out!!!!
"Gasp! Dryad!"
"Shaa!"
She spotted me and grinned wide!
You crazy bastard, happy to find food?!