Lair

Chapter 027 - Back In The Village

By Skalsar

>She really lost..<, Lant whispered.

The moment he had seen the woman, his thoughts were bound to her.

And just like that, she was gone again.

Not quite gone, but taken by the dungeon.

Which means as good as dead in this case.

The lord, Rego, Lant, Mardo, Lily, and an old man who was dressed like a scholar were holding a meeting. Were the old man seems to be the advisor for the lord.

Rego had told Lant and Mardo about what happened because he trusted them.

Lord Odas trusted Rego, he therefore allowed it.

>She fought bravely.

But they all do..<, the old man said.

Not that it would change anything.

The real problem with dungeons is that it's considered another realm.

Fighting in the realms of the deities was just fine.

Bravery could win you that if the deities are in your favor.

Fighting in a realm outside their reach was something entirely else.

Suddenly you had to follow the rules of that realm.

>A [Hero] level 100 could have fought that monster and still lost with a sting from one [Drone].<

The same was true for creatures creeping from that realm, as it turned out.

>I know. I mean.. I didn't even know her.

There is nothing you could have done.

I just.. It's shocking to lose a [Hero] after nearly being overrun by orcs.<

That was the truth, too.

Humanity at it's finest.

Being sad not for the dead, but for the situation that arises with it.

>Still, seing that monster and hearing it talk was quite.. surprising.<, the lord spoke.

Rego nodded.

They never heard of something like a [Broodmother] before.

Mardo was sighing.

>Isn't it even more shocking that a [Dungeon Lord] could leave his dungeon just like that?<

But nobody wanted to answer him.

It was a weird feeling for Rego and Odas, sure.

But at least they knew [Dungeon Lords].

>I don't think you should call him monster, he is just a kid.<, Lily said and earned worried views.

Lily had returned to her father, that was wonderfull in its own.

But she was.. disturbingly weird when talking.

As if there wasn't the least amount of common sense in her.

The lord didn't know what to say to her or about all this.

>I'm happy that you are finally speaking, but you still go on with that nonsense.

Didn't I tell you, that friend of yours is different?<, he tried to explain to her again.

>He calls it voice.<, she answered.

>What does he call voice?<, Rego asked and tilted his head.

>Speaking.<, she said.

>They don't speak, you know?

They communicate with their minds.

He said that humans are stupid for being only able to use voice and still believe they are the most intelligent among the races.<

Seems like she blabbered out of boredom.

>Wait. What?<, Lant was not following.

>Do you want to say.. That mon.. That kid, talked to you with his mind and explained stuff?<

>No.<

>Ha, ok. Thought I heard wrong.<

>I'm a human, humans are too stupid. He explained using voice.<

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Lant looked bewildered.

>Did.. <, Mardo tried to say something but stopped himself, shaking his head.

They still couldn't believe that what they thought to be mindless killing machines that only devour, were sentinent beings that were talking about just defending their home.

>All this is ridiculous.<, the lords advisor exclaimed.

He looked at Lily and then at the lord again.

Whispering to him now.

>You really tell the truth, right?

Lily didn't speak for all her life and spends about a week in a dungeon and suddenly starts talking?

Not only that, she tells us, she knows more than us about those monsters because she asked nicely?

I studied dungeons for years now, and only know the things everyone knows.

And yet you really want my advice about establishing trade with a monster?<

>With the dungeons inhabitants. But yes.

And maybe you should have tried asking too.

Maybe we all should have.<

The old man turned back to the others again.

>Alright.

Let's say what the girl told us is true.

The monsters in the dungeon are sentinent and want to trade with us.<

He took a deep breath.

>If we were to talk about it, the king would send in more [Heroes], the churches might send [Paladins] and other lords might send assassins after Odas to gain control over this dungeon.<

>And what is the best outcome that might happen?<, Lant asked.

>That was the best outcome.. Trading directly without the need to conquer the hive, would make [Mafay Village] very powerfull. The [Capital] wouldn't allow that.<, Odas answered.

>The worst would be that the moment we talk about it, a swarm of monsters surfaces in order to devour everything in this territory.<, the old man explained.

>But we might try to increase our forces behind the scenes, without anyone knowing, right?<

>Possibly, but that might draw attention from other lords and kings.<

>They might think we want to invade someone.<

>Shit..<

Everyone was trying to get their thoughts together, but the situation was hard on them.

Never did anyone say something about communicating with a dungeon.

And here they were thinking about establishing trade.

>Tell me Lily, what do you think the chances are that we can be friends with your friend, too?<

It was Mardo who finally asked Lily for her opinion.

But Lily looked irritated.

>How should I know?<

The lord seemed worried.

He couldn't just get any help from outside and nobody had been in such a position before.

The ones in this room were the only ones he could depend on right now.

>Alright. This might become my biggest mistake.. but I will enter negotiations with the mon.. inhabitants of the dungeon. We will have to find out what they want from us and what we can get from them. Maybe this will turn out into something great. Maybe it will be our end.

But whatever it will be, I will see it through.<, Odas finally decided and dismissed the others.

This would be all for the day.

Later they would speak to the monster and talk about what to trade.