"Eh? Did you just say 'Dungeon Master'?"
Milly's face twitched as she stared at me. At the same time, she cast a strange, wary glance toward Labyris.
"An appraisal-type skill user!?"
Eris also raised her voice in surprise.
"...!?"
Labyris winced at the reaction, huddling her shoulders.
Looking closely, I noticed bruises scattered across her body. Was there a connection?
"Ah, wait a minute. Me being a Dungeon Master isn't going to cause you any harm right now; I'll explain that later. More importantly, is having an appraisal skill really that bad?"
I looked toward Kurse, who seemed just as stunned—he had been staring at Labyris until I spoke up.
"Ah, sorry. It's natural you wouldn't know, Yuki," Kurse replied. "Appraisal skills allow someone to peek at a person's status and details. High-level ones can even see through lies. But the problem is... whether the person claims the skill is telling the truth."
"I see. So it becomes a question of whether they actually have the skill or not?"
"Yeah. People can conspire with comrades to fabricate 'truths.' And even if the skill is real, like with Labyris, there's a problem."
"She becomes a nuisance... is that it?"
"Exactly. If someone can truly see the truth, their value is immeasurable, but they are also a threat. After all, if your entire status is visible, you can't have secrets. In adventurer guilds and towns, they use crystal balls for judgment, but those only show Occupation and Level. Items that reveal more than that don't exist—and won't be made."
"But even just knowing everyone's job and level in a town is quite something."
"Kings and rulers have always felt that much disclosure is enough. Revealing more causes too many problems. That's why owners of skills like Labyris's are often treated as 'peeping toms' or worse. It's a miracle she's remained safe this long."
"But even just knowing everyone's job and level in a town is quite something."
"Kings and rulers have always felt that much disclosure is enough. Revealing more causes too many problems. That's why owners of skills like Labyris's are often treated as 'peeping toms' or worse. It's a miracle she's remained safe this long."
"...These people were kind to me... Especially Aslin; she wasn't scared even after learning about my skill... I will protect my friends, no matter what."
"Labyris-chan!! A-Ah, I'm sorry!! Please don't hit Labyris-chan!! Don't bully her!!"
The usually quiet Aslin suddenly lunged forward, hugging Labyris protectively. It seemed Aslin had a surprisingly strong core.
"I don't personally have an issue with it. What about the rest of you?"
I asked, looking around.
"The three of us don't have any complaints. If anything, I'm impressed. You're gonna grow up to be a fine woman, Labyris."
Mobu laughed—the "L*li-Out" himself.
"Pardon my earlier reaction. We've gotten along with Labyris all throughout the journey here. I wouldn't dream of harming her over this now,"
Eris said, affirming Labyris and retracting her initial shock.
"I think she'll be very useful for us in the future. And of course, I know Labyris is a good girl." Milly added.
"Hehe, so Labyris had an appraisal skill all along? Hey, if you go into business with me, we'll make a fortune, you know?" Ratz spoke up playfully.
"I don't have a problem at all!! I think Labyris-chan is cute!!" Tori chirped.
"Labyris is fine with me, too!! I'll vouch for her!!" Riel declared.
"...Labyris isn't a bad person." Kaya added softly.
Filia looked a bit confused, but gave the most innocent answer:
"Um, an appraisal skill? Does that make Labyris-chan a bad girl? I don't really get it, but we're friends, right?"
"...You can do whatever you want with me, but please don't lay a hand on the others... I beg of you." Labyris pleaded, looking at me.
"Labyris-chan!!"
I see. Because I'm an unknown entity to her, she's trying to shield everyone else. She's a good kid, but how do I convince her?
"...In that case, I'll do as I please."
"!? Stop!! Please!!" Aslin clung to my leg.
But that didn't stop me. A light enveloped Labyris's body.
"Labyris-chan!!"
"...Aslin."
What kind of emotional drama is this? Why am I being framed as the villain? I told you, I'm not a l*lic*n.
"There. That should have cleared up the bruises and wounds on your body."
What I had used was recovery magic—a high-level Extra Heal.
"...Eh?"
"Labyris-chan, the bruises all over your body are gone!! I'm so glad!! Waaaaah!!"
Aslin buried her face in Labyris's chest... Is one side the size of Aslin's head? Isn't that heavy?
"Anyway, I have no ill intent toward you. If I did, I would have acted long ago. Now, the reason the 'real' me isn't out here is because I'm the Dungeon Master."
"...What does that mean?" Labyris asked, patting Aslin's head while staring at me.
"Milly, Ratz... those of you who know a bit about dungeons can probably guess, right?"
"So that's what it is. Labyris, I think he was testing whether he could trust us, which is why he used a double."
Eris looked convinced as she told Labyris.
"...Why?"
"Simple." Milly continued. "If he really is the Dungeon Master, then if he dies, the dungeon is as good as dead. The Core and the Master are linked."
Well, that's not entirely accurate in my case, but now isn't the time to nitpick.
"I see~ You're quite the clever one, Onii-san~ So, what's the verdict? Are we trustworthy?"
Ratz looks impressed.
"Yeah, I think I can trust you. But lastly, I'll have you released from your slave contracts and placed under Designated Protection."
"...Designated Protection? ...And that's how you'll trust us, Yuki?"
Labyris looked at me as if searching for the truth. Everyone else waited for my words.
I gave a brief explanation of the conditions and rules of Designated Protection.
"Hee~ what a convenient skill. I want it too. Anyway, back on topic. If Onii-san's story is true, then you should definitely use that skill. I trust you, Onii-san."
Ratz agreed without issue, and the others followed suit.
Finally...
"...Fine. I'll trust Yuki. But promise me—once you apply that skill, come out and appear before us properly."
Labyris added that condition.
"Deal. Then let's begin."
With that, I applied Designated Protection to all nine of them.
Unlike that one time with Oriel, there were no mistakes. Thank goodness.
"The slave collar... really came off."
"...It's really true."
Eris and Milly looked at their own necks in disbelief.
"Amazing, Onii-san. This looks like it's going to be fun~"
"Thank you so much!! I'll give my all for the dungeon village!!"
"Me too!!"
"...Thank you."
Ratz, Tori, Riel, and Kaya expressed their gratitude and enthusiasm. Aslin, Filia, and Labyris were simply happy to be free.
"I'm so glad, Labyris-chan!! The collar is gone!!"
"I'm happy too!!"
"...Yeah. If everyone is happy, I'm happy too."
Aslin, Filia, and Labyris were joyfully celebrating.
"Alright then. Let's try this again. Nice to meet you. As you've guessed, I'm the Dungeon Master here. Looking forward to working with you."
I pulled back the Doppelganger and stepped forward in my true form.
"Whoa, Oniisan, you're wearing unusual clothes! Where are you from?"
As expected from someone who used to be a merchant — Ratz is very observant.
"Please wait a moment," Eris interjected. "I understand Yuki-san isn't a threat, but... how are we going to build a village with just this many people? Are there more reinforcements coming? Are we sleeping outside in the dungeon fields tonight?"
Eris asked a very reasonable question.
"Eris is right. First, I want to explain that part properly, so Ratz, could you wait a bit?"
"Sorry, sorry. Shelters comes first, right~?"
I activated my "Dig Here, Woof woof." (creation) ability. Spending DP, I summoned one of the pre-planned buildings—a structure designed for this many people to live comfortably.
I had earned about 500,000 DP from that earlier knight order that so foolishly charged in. In the end, about 400 of them died inside the dungeon. Each gave about 1000 DP. Much appreciated.
"""!!!"""
"Whoa... you really are amazing, Onii-san. So this is a Dungeon Master skill~ I see, you don't really need extra hands with this, do you?"
Only Ratz could comment on the building appearing out of thin air. The others were just wide-eyed with shock.
"For now, come inside. Oh—and take off your shoes at the entrance. Where I used to live, that was common sense."Heh, you come from a strange place~ ...Wait, do Dungeon Masters even have birthplaces?"
"I'll explain that once we're inside.""
"Heh, you come from a strange place~ ...Eh? Do Dungeon Masters even have birthplaces?"
I ushered everyone into the building.
The structure I made with DP was a Ryokan (Japanese inn). Naturally, it included an open-air bath. It cost a hefty 2,000 DP, but as a Japanese man, there are some things I simply cannot compromise on.
"Before we talk, let's wash off the travel sweat. Follow me."
"Wash off? At a well?"
Eris looked around the unfamiliar Japanese-style hallway as she followed.
"Do you know what a bath is?"
"Only royalty and nobles use those, right...? Wait, do you actually have a bath here!?"
Milly looked at me in surprise.
"Yeah. But it's even better than a regular bath. It's an Onsen—an open-air bath!"
"Open-air bath? If Onii-san says it's that good, it must be something special~"
Ratz followed with pure excitement. She's definitely the curious type.
"Man, it's been a while! A bath!! First time since I met Yuki, and it's the best!!"
"Yeah. Yuki, do you have any alcohol? Sake would be good."
"An open-air bath? As Yuki said, this must be something above a normal bath."
These three—Mobu and company—had only discovered the glory of bathing after meeting me. Of course, they'd also started the habit of drinking while in the tub. Truly refined of them.
"We're here. Mobu and the others, the men's bath is there. Eris and the rest, the women's bath is here. I'll explain, so you guys go ahead. The yukata are inside. Alcohol is in a place you can see. Raiya, Kurse, can you look after them?"
"Wahoo!! Bath time!!"
"Got it. I'll have a decent amount of alcohol, then."
"I'll try to keep things under control, but Yuki's culture is quite luxurious for me. I'll take it easy for a bit."
With that, the three disappeared behind the men's bath curtain.
"Alright everyone, this way. I'll explain how it works, so follow me."
I led the female members into the women's bath area.
"Whoa~ It's all so amazing, but I have no idea how to use any of this..."
"I-It's incredible..."
"So this is an open-air bath..."
Ratz, Eris, and Milly looked at the bath as if they were exhausted just from being surprised.
"First, use one of these baskets for your clothes. There's a yukata inside each one. You wear it like this."
I demonstrated by throwing one over my clothes.
"Your clothes will be washed, so wear the yukata after bathing. Towels are included. Small one for washing, big one for drying."
"...There's even soap!?"
Kaya gasped. Oh, right. Even soap is a luxury in this world.
"...Do you know what shampoo and conditioner are?"
"Sorry, Onii-san. No clue at all~"
Ratz scratched her head and laughed.
For some reason, she was already standing there stark naked with a towel in one hand.
Actually, it wasn't just Ratz. Every single one of them had stripped naked and gathered around me.
"Hey, I am a man. You are women. Don't wander around naked like that."
"But~ we don't know how to use it. Wouldn't it be faster if you just hopped in with us and showed us?"
"That's not the point. You aren't slaves anymore; you have human rights. I didn't put you under Designated Protection just to do that sort of thing."
"Yeah, yeah, we know you're kind, Onii-san~ But usually, we'd just be taken and turned into sex slaves anyway. Consider this our thanks and a lesson in how to bathe. Let's go in together."
With that, Eris and Milly flanked me on both sides.
"Would you prefer to be stripped by force, or undress yourself?"
"We don't know how to use it. So, please give up."
"...I get it. I'll undress myself. Just wait a sec..."
And so, having resigned myself to my fate, I entered the women's bath with them.
"If Onii-san is up for it, I'm perfectly okay with it, you know~"
