Chapter 34

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 34

Chapter Title: Hide and Seek

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"Huh?"

Yuben momentarily lost his composure.

What the hell am I seeing right now?

"......"

Leaving the traps and minions behind.

The Dungeon Master himself coming out to greet the intruders at the entrance?

The man in the white gown strolled leisurely toward them.

He seemed armed with just a single knife. Had he lost his mind?

'What the fuck is this guy doing?'

Yuben signaled the soldier and drew his weapon.

He had no idea what the guy was thinking, but this was an opportunity.

If he killed the Dungeon Master, Dreamland would be his.

The goal was right in front of him without any extra hassle.

A newborn dungeon's master should be easy to take down.

That's what Yuben thought.

'This'll make things so much easier... Huh?'

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The fight didn't go as expected.

Half right, half wrong.

The Dungeon Master of this newborn dungeon looked like someone unfamiliar with combat.

But his raw physical stats were purely superior to Yuben and the soldier.

Even if he lived a decadent life now.

Yuben had real combat experience and elite training.

He knew how to fight opponents faster and stronger than himself.

"What kind of insolent bastard is this?"

He could somehow respond to the Dungeon Master's strikes.

Whenever the opponent landed a solid hit, Yuben made him pay accordingly.

"Gahk...!!"

The regular soldier was different.

His throat pierced by the Dungeon Master's knife, he collapsed spurting blood on the spot.

Wasn't this supposed to be a newborn dungeon?

Hadn't it only been around for half a year?

Questions swirled in his head.

What the fuck kind of situation was this?

Yuben's condition wasn't great either.

His leg had been deeply stabbed mid-fight.

He locked eyes with the blood-soaked Dungeon Master.

Both clearly injured. Damn it.

"......"

Yuben assessed the situation.

"S-Sis, I'm scared..."

"It's okay. It's okay. It'll be fine..."

The slave kids were useless in combat.

He'd brought ones that were easy to control, regardless of skill.

In other words.

They were weaklings anyone could kill on a whim.

Trembling in fear, unable to even control their own bodies.

They wouldn't help.

'No sign of them even when the knights came...'

He hadn't forgotten the Dungeon Master's existence.

He just thought he could overpower him if they met.

It wasn't arrogance.

History books made it clear.

Even ordinary farmers had conquered newborn dungeons. Wasn't it natural to think a half-year-old master was weak?

With such vicious traps.

He'd assumed the master was at a level he could handle easily.

'This dungeon is fucking insane. Makes me want it even more.'

Yuben burned with fighting spirit as he pulled out a healing potion.

It wasn't unbeatable.

The Dungeon Master had superior physicals, but combat wasn't all about that.

In the disadvantaged 2:1, the Master had taken worse injuries.

The moment he resolved to recover and take his head.

The Dungeon Master pulled out a healing potion too.

The engraving on the vial suggested Branded Elves made it.

Had their downfall been because of Dreamland?

'Ridiculous.'

Healing potions were mage-made.

They boosted regeneration speed dramatically.

But not like dark faction black magic—instant full heals.

The Master's potion was probably higher grade.

His body was regenerating fast.

Even his clothes reforming—maybe regeneration was innate.

'Exceeds expectations, shatters them again. Fuck.'

They clashed once more.

Yuben's sword pierced the Master's thigh.

The Master's dagger skewered Yuben's shoulder blade.

'Doesn't feel pain?'

Never seen anyone fight so brutally.

No fear of death. That guy.

The Master's face was blank.

No emotion beyond killing intent toward him.

Yuben swallowed hard.

This path led to mutual death.

Healing potions only once a day.

He had to escape before irreversible wounds.

Even if he killed the Master.

If he died, it meant nothing.

"Fine. You win, you bastard."

"......"

This time, take solace in gathering data.

He kicked the Master's gut, creating distance.

'Next time, hire reliable escorts... I roughly know your level now.'

Yuben tore the escape scroll without hesitation.

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Heidi blinked.

The lord had escaped with a scroll, the soldier out cold on the spot.

That bloodied man was probably the Dungeon Master.

He gave off the same vibe as this dungeon.

The lord and soldier defeated.

What about us?

The kids trembled in fear.

Heidi too.

No choices from the start.

Dragged here, or now.

Just hold the kids and await the end.

"......"

Heidi squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the Master's move.

Then.

"What're you doing? Less than an hour passed—you can leave."

The Dungeon Master's cynical voice rang out.

Heidi stared up blankly.

Not killing them?

"We can leave...?"

"Dungeon lets you exit without scroll for half a day after entry."

"So you're letting us live...? B-But we're intruders..."

The Master patted Heidi's head.

"A kid without a single knife calling themselves an intruder..."

"......"

"Not enough of a gentleman to take you to your parents. Hurry up and go."

The Master was kind to the kids.

He said.

Keep everything here secret—talk and you'd be in trouble, not him.

No home? Find Sheriff Restia in South Kingdom somehow.

Thought they'd die for sure—like a dream.

First adult ever nice to them.

"Th-Thank you."

The Master waved.

Heidi glanced back as they left.

He rummaged the soldier's belongings.

Muttered something incomprehensible: 'No escape scroll. Good I brought Julius's.'

Also.

A massive sluggish slime appeared, swallowed the soldier's body, and vanished.

Heidi turned away.

"S-Sis, can we really just leave like this...?"

"Yeah. We can. Let's hurry."

Felt a flash behind for a moment.

Probably imagination?

"Escape scrolls are such a pain—if only I could just send them from the entrance..."

Yuben staggered through the dark forest.

Damn Dungeon Master had wrecked his body—speed just wouldn't come.

Healing potion limits were clear.

Be grateful it stopped the bleeding.

"Should've thought of more scenarios before entering. Even if, I wasn't a dungeon raider—too hasty..."

Honestly, it hurt.

Already used two escape scrolls.

Two left now.

Couldn't buy more.

Already paid a fortune.

"Gotta find a horse. Return to the territory, replan manpower..."

No choice.

But gains? Small, but progress.

Can't fill up on first bite.

Start over.

Growing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pains.

After, stronger than before.

Certain.

Think when aiming for lord.

Most discarded sibling killed all to reach here.

Hoo.

Mind calmed a bit.

Dungeon Master or whoever.

Go to the end, I win.

Yuben hurried his steps.

"Hide tight. I see your hair."

But.

What the hell was that voice?

Hallucination?

Maybe exhaustion-induced.

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"Hide tight. I see your hair."

No. Not imagination.

Voice drawing closer.

Sounded like calling him.

What? Who? Why?

Yuben felt chills.

Stopped walking.

Familiar voice sparked odd thought.

But. Use detection magic first.

All beings have mana.

Detection reveals identity, assuming no jamming.

Stay calm.

Could be normal person.

Cast detection magic.

Yuben's face hardened.

Nothing detected.

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'No. Escaped the dungeon! Escaped! If dungeon things could exit, I'd know, Blesseds would know, world would!'

Screamed inwardly to refocus.

Bit his lip.

Voice owner couldn't be Dungeon Master.

Records confirmed.

Not just records.

Newspapers he read, history books for lordship.

No stories of dungeon things exiting.

"Hide tight. I see your hair."

Should be.

Definitely.

Why this creepy voice closing in?

Dark forest, nothing visible.

Dense woods swallowed moonlight.

Yuben felt his breath tremble.

Couldn't control body, like swallowed by cold.

Voice nearer.

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"Hide tight. I see your hair."

Yuben saw.

Hiding in bushes, clear view.

Blood-painted white gown.

Lifeless eyes full of murder.

Human but not human vibe.

Dreamland's Dungeon Master prowling nearby.

Unlike his wrecked self, fully regenerated.

No scars or wounds.

Meet him now, life over.

Doesn't know position yet.

Must evade somehow.

Last chance.

Can't flee injured.

Hide till voice stops.

Bleeding stopped—lucky.

"Ah!"

Found it!

That dark cave—perfect to hide.

Crunch crunch.

Crunch crunch.

Yuben staggered forward.

Truly peaceful-looking cave—surely paradise.

But.

Paradise always has prior guests.

"......"

Unfortunately, the occupant was a beast beyond reason.

Huge heavy body, but emaciated flesh.

Starved long time.

"Uwaaaaaah───!"

"Hide tight. I see your hair."

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"Ah, found you."

I stopped inside the cave.

Yuben being eaten by starving bear.

Not alive, so no pain.

In case other friends nearby.

Might flee on horse, herded to opposite entrance.

Didn't expect walking into bear den himself.

"Grrr..."

Bear paused meal, growled at me.

Eat plenty.

"This complicates things. Wanted to ask something."

Stepped out, scratched head.

Good didn't raise stats.

As said before, even soft-hearted newbie-minded Dungeon Master.

Merciless to malicious intruders.

This bastard even tried shoving clueless kids into anomalies.

Not a judge.

But conscienceless thugs no good alive.

Well, dead anyway.

Anyway.

Weaker ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than Julius yet tried dungeon rice-stealing with slaves?

No way.

Not letting that happen.

Not some idiot.

Last time knights and soldiers, repelled.

Now different.

Knights stronger sure, but doable vs two.

Diligent memo-taker.

Can't reveal hand easy.

Uploaded post.

Need notify this wave over too.

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I turned back to the dungeon.

Wonder who'll come next now the lord's dead.

Feeling ominous.