Chapter 88 A Day in the Life of a Dungeon Master ~Let’s Head to the Light Capital!!~
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Sigh…”
”What’s with the sigh?”
El noticed Kanata letting out a heavy breath and tilted her head.
”Nah, just thinking I might’ve screwed up a bit.”
Kanata sighed again, eyes glued to the monitor.
”Screwed up how?”
”Yeah, I kinda told them we might be able to head home already, even though nothing’s set in stone. Now they’re all convinced it’s a done deal. And we’ve still got that whole Rubia Dukedom mess hanging over us.”
”I see… So what’re you gonna do about going back?”
”Do about it?”
”To your original world, I mean.”
”I’m not going back. Hell, I *can’t* go back.”
Kanata’s position now was Dungeon Master.
In exchange for all the perks that came with hanging around the dungeon’s turf, he couldn’t stray too far from its area.
If he did wander off, he’d have to haul ass back within a set timeframe—or the dungeon would crumble, and so would he.
Worse, if monsters were still inside when it collapsed, they’d soak up all the built-up miasma, turn into supercharged freaks, and spill out onto the surface. The infamous “Stampede,” in other words.
So if Kanata tried returning to Japan? Sure, a quick visit might fly, but sticking around permanently? No dice.
He’d drop dead before long, and it’d unleash hell on this world.
He had zero regrets about Japan anyway. Putting Alice, El, and the other girls here at risk? Not his style. So what was the point?
The one loose end nagging at him was his stepsister, Maika.
According to Tsubasa, she was obsessed with him or something.
Kanata barely remembered her, so it didn’t hit home… *Eh, whatever. I’ll just dump it on Tsubasa.*
”Don’t worry about me. More importantly, I gotta fix this vibe.”
If he dropped a “Sorry, folks, we ain’t going anywhere” bomb after all that hype? Forget riots—it’d be pandemonium.
”Yeah… Dumping it on Tsubasa it is.”
Kanata nodded to himself.
When in doubt, lean on Tsubasa. That was his golden rule.
*Not that she’s thrilled about being the eternal dumping ground.*
Lately, everyone was joking that Kanata and Tsubasa’s dynamic was like a comedic duo from a popular anime: the blue raccoon robot from the future and the hopeless-glasses-wearing slacker dude. Pitiful, really—or so Maya put it. Sayaka just gave a wry smile when she heard.
…
”Anyway, you’re in charge from here.”
Kanata summoned Tsubasa and dumped the news on her, one-sided as always.
”Sigh… Fine, whatever at this point. But what’re *you* gonna be up to, Kanata?”
”Me? Thinking I’ll head to the Light Capital.”
The Light Capital… the other name for Rubia Dukedom’s capital, Rubinaria.
Home to the grand cathedral of the Rubina Faith, which worshipped the Goddess of Light and Mercy, Rubina. Devotees called it the “Rubina Light Capital” or just “Light Capital.”
These days, even non-believers stuck with Light Capital—proof that the Saint outshone the Duke himself in popularity.
”Why the Light Capital, though?”
”Well, it’s a key spot for figuring out this whole return thing, right? No matter how it shakes out, better to stockpile intel now.”
Kanata tossed out a half-decent excuse.
”Hmm, sounds thoughtful… So, what’s the real reason?”
”I wanna catch a glimpse of that famous Saint. And maybe snag a pure shrine maiden while I’m at it…”
”Guilty as charged!”
*Whoa—damn, she got me to spill.* Tsubasa was scary good at that.
”Anyway, jokes aside, I figure getting a real feel for Rubia Dukedom is key if we want a peaceful resolution.”
Tsubasa eyed him suspiciously through his words, then let out a resigned sigh.
”Got it. I’ll handle smoothing things over with Melmarc and Flora, plus kickstarting development on the Aaren Plains as Double Wing territory. That work?”
”Yeah. For the demonkin stuff, we’ll play it by ear based on their moves. Leave it to Rin and the high elves, or Annamira’s crew. Just ping me when reports come in.”
”Right, right. As for my side, though—I’m short-staffed. Mind if I borrow a few?”
”Already on it. Leticia and Misia can cover Flora Kingdom. Toss Maya and Miyako in as backup. Mercuria? Tsukamoto and Kudo will handle it solo—they always do. Have Morita and Nozaki keep ’em from going overboard. For the Aaren Plains, Setsugekka’s trio and Shizuka have been on it forever, so hand it off to them. You and Sayaka can just… you know, enjoy some quality time.”
Kanata rattled off the hero assignments like it was nothing.
He’d been mulling the lineup even before she asked.
”W-We aren’t *that* cozy! Not like *you*, Kanata!”
Tsubasa flushed beet red and yelled.
*Heh heh heh… Got her good.*
Watching her squirm, Kanata wondered when he’d lost that fresh, flustered spark himself. *Man, when did I turn into such a jaded mess?*
”Kanataaa. You’re not seriously thinking of going solo again, are you?”
El hopped onto his head.
”Pretty much. You never know what’ll pop up, so I can only bring folks who can handle themselves. But like I said, everyone’s swamped, and we’re stretched thin.”
”What about the demonkin girls? Or Alice?”
”Heading to Rubina Faith HQ with demonkin? If their cover slips, we’re toast. And Alice… parading her around true believers? Recipe for disaster.”
Alice was a devout sister—a shrine maiden some even called a saint… of the Harvest Goddess Milpharse.
The Rubina Faith revered Goddess Rubina, just one among many.
But over time, the faith twisted. Rubina got bumped up to the one true god.
At its core, maybe not—but the rank-and-file fanatics? They didn’t tolerate other religions, stirring up all sorts of trouble.
So if Light Capital folks clocked Alice as non-believer? Who knows what’d go down.
And Alice? Milpharse’s favorite. The goddess practically showered her with blessings… sometimes descending into her body.
If that happened smack in Rubina’s cathedral? *Yeah, hard pass.*
Best steer clear of holy wars.
”Hmm, so basically, if push comes to shove, you’d crown Alice cult leader and wipe out Rubina Faith from the roots?”
”That’s not what I said!”
*Alice as a cult queen? Hell no! I’d be under eternal watch—*no more* girl-hunting!*
*That nightmare future? Yeah, veto.* To dodge it, Alice was benched this time.
”I’ll bring Faris along. She’ll keep a low profile, stay quiet—no trouble.”
Kanata talked El and the others into it, then set off for Rubia Dukedom.
* * *
*Look, I swear, she was supposed to behave.*
I did my best to dodge trouble…
Steer clear of the drama…
So why the hell…
In the dim gloom of a dungeon cell, Kanata’s fading thoughts swirled like smoke in his hazy mind.
Notes:
• Rubia Dukedom – A small nation between Mercuria and Flora, first cited in Chapter 38 during Kanata, Elriese, and Alusia’s dungeon-strategy talk. It hosts one ruin-linked Dungeon targeted because Kanata—following Elriese’s advice and Kuu-chan’s records—seeks control of Dungeons (direct cause) to gain their power (underlying cause); Kanata plans to pressure swift surrender; connection: future conquest; no known direct relationships; defining trait: strategically sandwiched.
• Alice – A 12-year-old human Saint first appearing after Kanata rescues her as a wandering miko blessed by Goddess Milpharse. She joins his group as a healer using holy, light, water, and earth magic. El and Kanata guide her; no known family ties. She’s gentle, devout, and accepts others without fear.
• Maika – Daughter of Yuuto and Karen, Kanata’s half-sister, mentioned postscript as a rich, yandere girl with a crush on Kanata. From a powerful family, she’s possessive and willful.
• Tsubasa – A classmate, and a gift holder of Creator. He has an androgynous charm, popular yet approachable, bonds with Taichi’s group. The only son of the Ninari Conglomerate family.
• May – Blonde, soft-eyed shrine girl. ch14–15. Gentle and pleading (“Please… just let us go…”), timid but loyal, relies on Mina’s strength. Came with Mina to save Sara, but was disarmed and bound by Kanata as his captive maid.
• Maya – Cheerful brown-haired girl, naturally charming and social, Kanata’s classmate and morning conversation neighbor.
• Saya – Orphanage sister of Maya and Miyako, later adopted into the wealthy Kitahara family for a political marriage. Holds rare Gift Princess Knight (Valkyrie): versatile fighter-leader with light magic, stronger than Morita’s Commander. Quiet in Class A but bound by childhood oath to protect Maya and Miyako. Torn between duty as Kitahara heir and hidden first love for Kanata.
• Sayaka – Athletic blonde with sharp presence, expert in multiple martial arts, Kanata’s lunch-time sparring partner and admired distant figure.
• Aaren Plain – Grassland east of Florence, flanked by Mercuria (south), Alefgard (north), and Alfheim (west). Trade artery for food, steel, and elven goods; lifeline in peace, choke point in blockade. Reminder: Florence’s survival hinges on this crossroads.
• Double Wing – Human faction formed during Tsubasa’s rebellion at Aran Fortress to break from Alfheim after failed diplomacy and rising Demonkin threat.
• Mel – Former first princess of Mercuria Kingdom.
• Annamira – The noble princess-squad leader of the Miller family. Drawn into the human–ogre war, a conflict where nobles were bound by duty and commoners drafted as expendable tools, she was captured in battle and delivered into Kanata’s dungeon, where her compassion for even commoners marked her first meeting with him.
• Flora Kingdom – A small demi-human majority realm, politically fragile and reliant on trade, undone when Leticia’s capture and contract ceded it to Kanata. Reminder: the kingdom that fell with its regent’s collar.
• Kudo – A classmate and a Swordsman gift holder, slices through enemies with precision in training battles.
• Leticia – Princess-regent of Florence, captured in failed bandit talks and collared into slavery, later bound to Kanata by contract that gave him her kingdom. Reminder: the princess who lost both crown and freedom to a collar.
• Misia – Leticia’s loyal maid, captured alongside Leticia and enduring torment to shield her mistress, later drawn into Kanata’s control as well. Reminder: the maid who suffered first to protect her princess.
• Miyako – Quiet library girl with golden hair, intelligent and book-savvy, occasional silent companion to Kanata.
• Morita – Kazuo’s Family Name.
• Nozaki – Sumire’s Family Name. A Healer.
• Setsugekka – Trio of Yukishiro Kotono, Tsukikage Maria, and Hanasaki Haruka.
• Shizuka – Classmate, wielder of Sniper, nicknamed “Shizu-tan.” Neglected, raised herself after father’s death and mother’s abandonment. Nearly assaulted in another world, broke her stoicism with first real plea for help. Saved by Kanata, now torn between distrust and fragile hope. Reminder: hardened loner, only cracks under extreme pressure.
• Tsukamoto – Joujirou’s Family Name. The Defense of class who wield Guardian’s Shield.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply