Chapter 19

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 19

Chapter Title: Goodwill (2)

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Hobgoblins dealt with.

More of them than last time, so I was kinda hoping for something tougher, but nope. Still easy mode.

If I called it stingy, 3M Hamster would probably start bawling and threaten suicide, right?

I'll just keep that thought to myself.

The real issue was this woman who barged in before the hobgoblins.

"I didn't mean to intrude on purpose! I swear! It's a long story, but I'm a sheriff here to catch criminals. Yeah, so my job is busting bad guys, but I've never once thought of Dungeon Masters as bad people. N-no, quite the opposite—I think you're all amazing! Anyway, I heard a criminal was in the Rowzinrat Mountains, so I came with my colleagues, but we got jumped by monsters while fleeing... and I accidentally stumbled on your dungeon entrance. It was pure coincidence! I'm truly sorry for daring to set foot in a Dungeon Master's domain as a rookie sheriff! I'm reflecting on it, so please, just spare my life!"

Did she win a debate competition or something?

Compared to her trembling earlier, she rattled off her defense clean and quick, no fluff.

Damn, she talks well.

"Hmm."

At least to my eyes, she looked harmless enough.

I logged into the Dungeon Gallery.

Gotta check what the vets think.

"Yeah?"

"Yes..."

"Why didn't you leave the dungeon right away?"

"Monsters everywhere outside! Sorry for interrupting! I swear I had no ill intentions!"

This pathetic sheriff's name was Restia.

System-wise, she was an intruder, but now she's treated as a dungeon subordinate.

One of the Dungeon Master powers is the hiring function that turns outsiders into subordinates—and it even lets you check their status.

Restia's level was a whopping 5.

In simple terms, she had enough combat ability to put up a good fight against a hobgoblin.

The vets said even if I were asleep and she ambushed me, I'd win easily.

A gap in power she could never bridge.

Anyway.

"Please spare me..."

What can I say? I'd never been in the dominant position in my life before. Felt weird.

Is this how a mid-sized company boss feels watching someone grovel desperately?

I did have her life in my hands, sure.

"No more 'please spare me, sorry, my bad.' Forbidden from now on."

"O-okay!"

"Stand up first. You're making me anxious just looking at you."

Brown-nosing only works on bullies.

For a normie like me, it backfired.

I asked Restia as she scrambled to her feet.

"You wanna leave the dungeon right now?"

"Y-yes! That'd be great..."

"But like you said, outside's crawling with monsters?"

"......"

Restia bowed her head.

"Sigh."

I let out a sigh.

I did save her, but I wasn't signing up to be her babysitter.

I don't eat, don't drink, just sleep and I'm fine—but subordinates are different.

Didn't Newbie say it at first? Subordinates need food, poop cleanup, walks, playtime to avoid stress.

That's why Dungeon Masters who picked human-themed dungeons with high ambitions all croaked, he explained so kindly.

Same with this woman.

She needs water and food to survive.

Sure, there's jerky left by the dark wizards.

I could spend points on other food and water.

But do I have to go that far?

Already scraping by on points after dungeon expansions.

From her state, I could see a future of babysitting till the monsters cleared out.

"Hm."

I crossed my arms, pondering.

Any way around this?

A moment later.

"Ah."

Good idea.

This way, we help each other.

"Follow me."

"Yes!"

We headed outside the dungeon.

"????"

"Good, subordinates can exit too."

Restia stared at me in utter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠confusion.

First time seeing a Dungeon Master leave?

Yeah, probably.

"Got a job for you. Can you handle it?"

"Wh-what kind of..."

"From now on, lure the goblins, trolls, hobgoblins around here into the dungeon. Can you?"

"What do you even..."

"Yes or no only."

Restia nodded.

"Do well, and you'll get ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠top-shelf food and water. FYI, running midway is pointless. Don't forget this is Rowzinrat Mountains. I can track your location. See? I'm outside the dungeon."

"O-of course. N-never even thought of running..."

If Restia plays bait well.

I clear nearby enemies, earn points, and pay her with food and water.

Best of all worlds: skin the fox, catch the shrimp, eat the pheasant and its eggs.

"Heh heh."

Dungeon Master acquires bait.

Look at those hobgoblins who barged into Dreamland without fear, eyes turned human.

No clue where or how they conspired, but now they avoid my dungeon.

"They're done for."

Dumbasses always follow instinct over reason.

If Restia shakes her hips, goblins or trolls will follow like hobgoblins, right?

In my games, the 300-gold thot was always the hottest.

Won't last forever, but.

"Point farming time."

Goodwill comes back around, huh.

Literally.

Three months passed since then.

The subordinate labor contract was a huge success.

Thought she'd cry every day coming in, but surprisingly not.

Ogre incident midway, but it was dumb—died in the maze.

Restia worked harder than expected.

Thanks to her, I pocketed a whopping 200,000 points.

Her level hit 40.

4-star subordinates at 80—still a ways off.

Anyway.

Bait op no longer worked.

Area was dead quiet now.

Time to release Restia.

"Time to say goodbye."

"Thank you so much until now, Dungeon Master..."

We got closer than at first.

But never opened up fully.

She was a normal human.

I was a former normal human Dungeon Master.

Some distance there.

Even long time together wouldn't make me buddy-buddy like with Gallery users.

"You."

"Yes."

"You worked hard. Live easy outside—no more suffering."

As a parting gift, I gave her the worn gold necklace from the manticore wave loot.

Restia took it with a complicated expression.

Happy? Burdened?

"Let's not meet again."

"...I, no, never mind."

With that, Restia left the dungeon.

We go our ways, live happily ever after.

Would've been a nice happy ending.

One person wasn't thrilled about the whole thing.

Ant Queen.

The vets all respected my choice.

Even Chew Dog Love, who hated it at first.

But one kept a sour view to the end.

Ant Queen.

She's the type who sees the world in black and white.

Anyone outside the dungeon? Enemy.

That's her baseline mindset.

She didn't like me sparing Restia.

When I fed and housed her under the labor contract, she seriously advised me to end it quick and kill her.

Is this the same Ant Queen who posts minion pics and stirs shit?

I get it.

If you don't want loose ends, her way's right.

But.

I get it logically.

Just doesn't sit right with me—what can ya do.

When I wouldn't budge.

Ant Queen proposed a bet.

No gain for either side, really.

But I knew she meant well.

So I accepted.

It'd resolve the conflict quick.

Didn't wanna sour things with a vet helping me.

Whatever the result, we'd both accept it.

I told Restia I could track her.

Not a lie.

But not the full truth.

Core room surveillance camera.

Still showing Restia.

Perk of the anomaly theme.

I crossed my arms and watched idly.

No intruders anyway—alternating between Gallery and this.

Restia walked the quiet mountains.

Walked and walked.

......

She encounters a human.

The human she met didn't look ordinary.

Blue glow in his eyes.

Blessed.

Like Dungeon Masters, they see status windows.

As weird as anomalies—revive at temples even after death.

Anyway.

From eavesdropping, seems he came for the manticore and missing sheriffs.

Didn't seem exaggerated.

First time vets got this serious.

Honestly.

If I said I wasn't scared, I'd be lying.

Still.

I just posted live updates to the Gallery and watched the screen.

Restia.

Presented the worn gold necklace I'd gifted her as proof.

......

After that, they talked more.

Then Blessed and Restia vanished from the mountains.

The thread went quiet for a bit.

Goodwill comes around.

Not usually one for romantic sayings.

But the proof was right there.

This time, I'd naively believe it.

Anyway.

I quickly pinged Ant Queen.

I won.

No complaints now, right?