How to Survive as a Dungeon Manager in Another World

Episode 18 – Misunderstanding

The Ring of Ifrasia.

One of the scant few artifacts existing in this world.

The Ancient Elves discovered two fundamental essences within the World Tree.

The source of Light reaching upwards, Sephirot.

And the roots of Chaos growing downwards, Qliphoth.

The High Elves forged the Ring of Ifrasia to balance these two forces.

For the wearer to absorb the Chaos of Qliphoth and sublimate it into the Light of Sephirot.

That was the ring’s essence.

And Rudine’s Heavenly Star of Slaughter.

It was a splinter of Chaos broken off from Qliphoth.

The Heavenly Star of Slaughter, exuding an aura of death, was a vestige of forgotten Chaos.

Precisely why the Ring of Ifrasia was needed.

Because it was the sole artifact capable of absorbing the remnants of Chaos and purifying them into Psyche.

To summarize.

‘A human charger, so to speak.’

The ring absorbs Rudine’s Heavenly Star of Slaughter and converts it into Psyche.

Rudine desires the control of her Heavenly Star, and I crave the replenishment of my depleted Psyche.

The reason we were necessary for each other.

Of course, it only absorbed energy, offering no true cure, but as a means of control, it would suffice.

‘Just wear it, then?’

I stared at the ring resting on my palm.

The slender band, crafted from a branch of the World Tree, emanated a soft, azure glow.

Slowly, I slipped the ring onto my finger.

A peculiar vibration pulsed through my fingertips, spreading throughout my entire being.

It felt like resonating with something, a ringing deep within.

I clenched and unclenched my fist, assessing my condition.

Outwardly, there was no discernible change, but my depleted mental energy was slowly being replenished.

At this rate, I should return to normal in a single day.

“Good.”

Indeed, the efforts made to reach this place were not wasted on such an object.

As a rare treasure essential for using runes, it was quite the haul.

Though it came with the condition of having to stick close to Ludine.

The fact that I wouldn’t have to bother roaming around, absorbing other runes, was already a triumph.

‘Time to head back soon, I suppose.’

Having spent several days camping while traveling here, that day was steadily approaching.

A day that no public official could avoid…

The day for evaluating the current state of the region under my jurisdiction, the results of my work, and reporting the progress made thus far.

With this matter concluded,

all that remained was to return to the office.

“Let’s go back.”

“…Okay.”

Walking behind Luke, Ludine recalled what had transpired moments ago.

Especially his figure, performing that ritual of unknown nature.

A decaying, twisted giant tree exuding an ominous energy.

Even if she didn’t know what it was, she knew it was no ordinary tree.

‘…Something’s strange.’

Luke, who had annihilated a Calamity-class demon beast in the blink of an eye.

It wasn’t so much a battle as a one-sided rout.

Truly, a strength beyond reckoning.

I couldn’t even fathom the powers he commanded.

Everything about him defied identification.

Impossible to grasp, and nothing about him was ordinary.

At first, I merely trailed him out of curiosity.

He was the first man to ever try to save me, after all.

Just a pointless whim, I thought, but he knew about the madness I’d hidden my whole life. And he’d brought me here, vowing to help me control it.

Even here, it was the same.

The way he navigated this place, as though he knew every contour, every dip and rise, was simply bewildering.

I hadn’t given much thought to his impulsive actions before, but as time passed, a peculiar feeling began to stir within me.

‘…Just what is he?’

…Honestly, I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

Take that ritual from earlier, for example.

He mumbled words I didn’t understand, and then the mural glowed, and an unrecognizable voice burrowed into my ear, resonating in my skull.

[ *Pilgrim bearing the burden of Ifrasia. May the grace of life be upon you, liege of the great Ma.* ]

The content of it all was equally incomprehensible.

The only part I could even remotely understand…

‘…Liege of the Ma.’

That strange voice echoing in my head had clearly addressed Luke as such.

Liege of the Ma… well, that’s certainly a boastful title.

As far as she knew, there was only one being to whom such a title was permitted.

‘The Dragon Clan?’

The Dragon Clan.

A noble race, inheritors of a forgotten god’s will.

…Really? I seem to recall hearing that they sometimes took human form and mingled with us.

What if that eerie energy he wielded, unlike any magic I’d ever seen, was actually Dragon mana, and those cryptic incantations were… Draconic commands? No, even then, weren’t the Dragon Clan extinct? Maybe a hybrid?

“……”

“……”

How long did we walk like that?

Having reached the cliff where they’d descended, as if plummeting, he abruptly turned back, having only looked forward until then.

“Rudine.”

“…Yes.”

“Get on.”

“……”

Rudine blinked a few times, then obediently climbed onto his back.

A mountain path, nestled on the border between the Empire and the Principality of Winfred.

Starting from the borders of the Earl of Carlisle’s domain and connecting to Blackmoor, the Empire’s most notorious Demon Realm, it was the only road available.

Two men, jostled within a roughly shaking carriage, engaged in light conversation.

“The road is in quite a state.”

“It wasn’t intended for people to travel through in the first place. You understand, surely.”

A lean man chuckled dryly at the wrinkled man’s words.

This man was none other than Kraton, the Director-General of the Department of Internal Affairs – a pillar of the Empire.

And the one with whom such a Kraton was cautiously conversing was…

“Tch, what is the point of managing a Demon Realm like this…”

Arda Merdail.

A high-ranking minister of the Empire.

“It’s a region where a great many people go missing, after all.”

“No sane human would willingly wander into a Demon Realm.”

“Ha ha, quite right. But what can we do? So many reports come in that the upper echelons are pulling their hair out, you see.”

“Good heavens. What will sending a mere official accomplish…”

The wrinkled man clicked his tongue and muttered.

“Surely, we simply do as we always do, do we not?”

And it was so.

Assess the current state and work performance of the managed region, receive reports on the progress made so far.

“Indeed. It’s unlikely a Demon Realm of this scale is being managed properly…”

“Then wouldn’t that be a good excuse to remove him and dispatch the Special Operations Unit?”

“Heh heh, excellent idea. We have ample justification, as it happens.”

“Once this matter is concluded, I will attempt to make contact with the Special Operations Unit Commander. He will likely not pass up such an opportunity.”

Special Operations Commander Derek Baldwin.

That he had his eyes on Blackmore was a tale no member of the Imperial Family could be ignorant of.

His obsession with Blackmore was that renowned.

But the appearance of Luke Richter changed the situation.

Some unheard-of fellow was appointed as the manager, and now, he was making a name for himself in the assassination of the Shadow Society Head.

He was already pulling strings to snatch the fellow away, but thanks to the name he made for himself, even that became difficult.

If he thoroughly investigated Richter’s work performance this time, surely something would turn up.

Using that as an excuse to chase him away, the situation would tilt in his favor once more.

“We have arrived.”

The coachman opened the carriage door.

The two men alighted, following their already-arrived escorts down the path.

But then.

“The path is clean.”

The path, which had been a mess just moments ago, was neatly groomed past the entrance.

Easy enough to walk on without any trouble.

And furthermore.

“…A guidepost?”

A guidepost was planted along the way.

As if this place was a famous attraction, it was guiding the way at every fork.

And what’s more.

“What are these signs…”

All sorts of bizarre signs were planted along the path at regular intervals.

The contents were equally strange.

From nonsensical messages about not being alone, to warnings about the appearance of demonic beasts, deflating wordplay, and even taunting phrases about whether you could catch the beasts.

“Extraordinary.”

“Indeed, it is.”

They continued walking for quite some time.

“…Wait a moment.”

The escort leading the way stopped.

Following the escort’s gaze, they saw some men standing far in the distance.

“There are people here?”

This place is a Demon Realm.

Not a place where ordinary folk wander.

“Who are they?”

“I don’t know. Their aura is…unsettling.”

“They’re not ordinary, then?”

“No, at the very least, they are Masters or higher.”

Masters or higher.

Strong enough to be counted on one hand, even within the Imperial Family.

And there’s not just one, but several of them.

Just what are such powerful individuals doing gathering in a Demon Realm like this?

Lost in such bewilderment…

“Have you come seeking Lord Luke?”

Before they knew it, the individuals had approached…

“W-well, yes…”

“You are from the Imperial Family, then.”

“…Indeed.”

They inquired about the purpose of their visit and then…

“Follow us.”

“???”

…began to lead the way.

“Who exactly are you people?”

“…We are subordinates.”

“Subordinates of whom?”

“…We follow Lord Luke.”

They were operatives belonging to the Arkan Lord Council’s executive agency.

However, the Lord himself had issued an order five years ago for them to serve Luke Richter, and instructed them to treat him as they would the Lord, so they grit their teeth and gave that answer.

But those who were asking, of course, had no idea of this background.

“…Hmph.”

They were plunged into further confusion.

Even so, terribly.