*Susan*

Core had changed the dungeon greatly, the first floor now consisted of six total rooms. The entrance, four halls, and the core room itself. In between those was a maze of corridors full of dead ends and traps. However, most of the dungeon was empty of monsters. Core had said that he would fill it as time went on, and he was making plans for a boss room. After which he had promised to make a place for me on the second floor.

Honestly, I was more surprised that Core expressly told me that he was a ‘he.’ It does make talking to and about him easier though.

“So this area does not belong to any kingdom?”

I was used to talking to Core through his minions now, Core essentially was the dungeon after all and his minions rarely left their posts, so the minion who served as his voice box would change as I moved through the place. This did have some awkward implications though, but I would think about that later.

“No Lord Core,” I didn’t know all that much about politics, but my parents had taught me a great deal about geography. A holdover from their years as adventurers and mercenaries. “This area is in between several great powers, but none of them can actually take and hold the area.”

“My Lord says that is interesting indeed,” I did know this minion was called Specy and that he guarded the entrance. I have to say, the idea that the powerful dungeon core wielding such magnificent dark power created a powerful skeleton warrior with incredible powers- and named it Specy. “My Lord requests information about those countries.”

“Well to the south are the elves,” I thought back to when my parents took me to visit the Elvish Empire. Cities made of gigantic trees molded with magic into castles and beautiful works of art, it was amazing. “and to the east is the Amero Republic, a human country. North, through the mountains is the Mortal Empire, a human theocracy and also the Dwarvish Deepkingdom under the mountains themselves.”

“And west of here?”

“The Legera Alliance,” where I was born. “It is a kingdom with many species all living together.”

I do have some questions of my own too, “So if you are not an ancestor of mine Lord Core, who were you?”

“My Lord responded with…” Specy stopped, I was surprised. I have never seen these undead at a loss for words.

“My Lord I could not say- But… If my Lord insists…”

Specy was having a conversation with the Core, apparently that answer would be more interesting than I thought.

“My Lord says he was essentially no one, simply a normal human for the world and the region of that world he was in.”

There is a lot to unpack in that statement, and I don’t really think I have the capacity to have that kind of discussion after all the recent shocks I have had… I guess I will leave it for now, there is always later.

“Well, leaving that aside… Is there anything I can do to help?” I owe the dungeon my life after all.

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“My Lord would appreciate your help, but he wonders if you will be ok with helping him.”

“I don’t think Lord Core will ask me to do anything I would have a problem with…” I hope.

A few hours later I was outside the dungeon accompanied by several spirits. Lord Core had asked me to lead his minions in their hunts, because after experimentation he was able to order them to obey me and they would do so outside of the dungeon. According to the Core, he could not control them directly outside the dungeon- so he would hand it over to me.

I had eight spirits behind me, and keeping them in line was a pain in the ass. They listened to me, but they had a short attention span and seemed to forget the things I say not that long after I say them!

“Ugh, if he wants me to do this again he had better give me some smarter minions!”

“Susan?” A voice called out from the side and I am not proud that I screamed out in surprise.

*Hailey*

Poor Susan! Sometimes I forget that as a Ranger I have passive stealth in the wilderness, but I had heard that she was dead- I am so relieved to see my friend that I can’t believe it… But what are those things behind her?

“No, don’t attack,” Susan was saying to the things, some kind of spirit by the looks of it, “she is a friend of mine.”

“Since when did you become a necromancer?” My friend was a bard after all!

“I am not- what are you doing here Hailey?”

That hurt… Wasn’t she glad to see me? Then again, I don’t know what had happened to her mother, father, and sister. The deaths of those three had sent shockwaves through the border community, and Susan herself was presumed dead.

“The guild master put out a request for a dungeon subjugation,” I reply honestly, my friend was going through some tough times after all. “And I heard that you had fled out this way, so I had hoped I would run into you as well.”

And I had, my Luck stat always came through in a pinch!

“A dungeon subjugation…” Susa frowned, “Hailey you guys need to turn back, the dungeon isn’t dangerous if you leave it alone.”

I am missing a lot of context here I think, but I can piece some things together.

“Susan- those spirits are from the dungeon, aren’t they?”

She doesn’t reply, which is as good as a yes. There are not a whole lot of reasons that dungeon monsters would listen to a person. Unless Susan had the extremely rare Dungeon Master class the only other two options were that the dungeon had agreed or that the dungeon had subjugated Susan herself! But this was supposed to be a young dungeon… It shouldn’t be so smart yet, and if it is… Undead dungeons are not known for their kindness towards other people, even their descendants.

The spirits don’t look very strong, but if Susan is possessed she will fight with them against me and I don’t have very many good options against incorporeal creatures. So I guess I will fall back to the team and inform them that this was no a rescue mission.

“Hailey, I can see what you are thinking,” Susan spoke out suddenly. “I am not possessed, I agreed to help the dungeon in payment for it saving my life and giving me a place to stay.”

I can’t take that at face value, she could have agreed under duress to be a puppet after all. It changes nothing.

“I will see you soon, friend.” I whisper and slip away by activating the “forest stalker” skill. I have to report to back, and I will rescue my friend!

*Susan*

Shit, she ran away. I had forgotten about the guild’s request, and they would think I was possessed to. I am fairly sure that I am not, though I do sometimes worry that I am and just don’t know it. I guess there is nothing to do but return- maybe I can talk to them before they attempt to attack the dungeon. Undoubtedly, Core already knows this… He was probably watching through his minion’s eyes.

“Follow me,” I order the spirits and they fall in line behind me. I am rather annoyed that I was not able to fulfill the Core’s mission though. I wished that I had been able to help, I was actually looking forward to having a place of my own- and I certainly don’t want the dungeon to die!