I scratched my head. Did another human enter my Dungeon? Or did one of my mobs accidentally kill one of the human soldiers in my Dungeon?

“Domino, can you check up on the Human area?” Domino nodded as she lazily swept her hand through the air while still napping on my stomach, materializing a holographic window showing the interior of the small shack that I designated as the sleeping quarters of the humans and demi-humans.

For convenience’s sake, I’ll call the Forest area where the humans and demi-humans reside the Human area.

What I saw on the screen made me immediately get up from my hammock, simultaneously throwing Domino to the ground with a thud.

“… Oops, sorry.” I scratched my head upon realizing what my actions resulted in with Domino still napping on my stomach.

“… Papa… Meanie…” She said with her normal monotone voice, her expressionlessness look still plastered on her face. On top of her head, and scattered throughout her body, were a few blades of grass stuck firmly.

I dropped down from my hammock and patted her head, while removing the stuck blades of grass on her body.

“Hey, want to follow me to meet the huma—Actually, that’s probably a bad idea…” I quickly stopped that train of question since I knew that Domino hated every kind of life not from the Dungeon.

Come to think of it, maybe if I give her total control of my Dungeon, maybe she would kill or enslave every non-Dungeon member currently residing within my Dungeon.

Yeah, not something I would want to happen. They have their uses too, you know.

Such as meat shields. What? Just because I am caring for them now, doesn’t mean I care for them like I would my own flesh and blood.

I digressed from those thoughts and patted Domino’s head once more.

“Stay here and manage my Dungeon like a good little girl, alright?” I asked while stroking her silky, periwinkle hair. “I’ll give you a reward once I know the threats to my Dungeon have ceased, okay?”

“Yes… Papa… best Papa…” Domino expressionlessly cheered as she leaned in to my hand while purring. Let it be known that even without clear facial expressions, Domino could still express herself fluently with her actions.

Retracting my hand back, I see Domino shuffling about towards her hammock, her tiny footsteps completely audible through the grass. I chuckle at the display, imagining some kind of onomatopoeia such as *pita-pita* every time she takes a step.

Turning around, I created another passageway leading to the Human area. Thankfully, Gong, who was still with them during their walk towards the Human area, was nearby, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to stop Merethyl from killing another human soldier.

Not that they didn’t deserve it, they deserve everything coming their way and more, but it was such a waste of resources. Even that tiny amount of DP would have been beneficial in the long run.

‘I need to punish that elf.’ Humming in thought, I remind myself to create a punishment equal to the… Well, not really a crime, but a transgression towards my rule.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][]

“Well then, I’m glad to see you’re awake, Merethyl.” My voice caused her to perk her ears up, then slowly shiver in nervousness.

“Y-yes… It’s good t-to see you… Sir Jionni…” Her stuttered words made me chuckle in amusement.

I was currently in the shack after a good 2-minute walk (climb) through the passageway reserved for Dungeon Masters and their helpers. Merethyl was sitting on the bed where her sister was currently unconscious while she solemnly stroked her face and the stump of her right leg.

“A shame what happened to your sister,” I say while I take a seat on the bed right next to her, “A loss of a limb is a very scarring experience.”

“…” Merethyl remained silent as she absentmindedly kept on stroking the amputated limb with tears in her eyes.

“…” I sighed in sympathy. I was never known to be an emotional and caring person, as seen by my previous life always being used by either my parents, or someone else, but I know when someone is hurting and needs support.

(“Hey, you alright?”)

(“Go away…”)

(“… It’s okay… I won’t hurt you…”)

(“…”)

A brief episode of memories where I was comforting a girl my age after she was bullied by some seniors because of some things I don’t know, and this situation was a bit similar to that, but a hundred times worse.

“Look, I’ll get straight to the point.” She still stayed silent, but judging by her ears perking up slightly after my words meant that she was listening. “Work for me, and I promise you I’ll find a way to reattach her leg.”

This caused her to stop stroking the right leg of her sister for a moment and focus her gaze on mine.

“… You promise…?” Her words held an unbidden hope within them, tears silently cascading down her cheeks as she stared at me silently.

“I may be a monster, but you know what Bentley said to me before I accepted his deal to go with you on monster hunting?” She stayed completely still as she waited for my next words. “It was that I might be more human than some humans.”

She went back to silently stroking the face and amputated limb of her sister.

We stayed in silence for what seemed to be an eternity, when, in reality, it was only a few minutes.

“… All right…” The silence was broken when Merethyl looked to me once more, determination seeping out of her body. “I’ll work for you, but when the time comes, please, heal my sister.”

“Heh, very well.” I chuckled as I got back up on my legs. “But some ground rules first; One, Mariona does not leave my Dungeon under any circumstance. Two, you will do everything I say, minus some things such as sexual things and whatnot; And three, if I find out that you betrayed me, then your sister’s life is forfeit. Do you agree?”

“Yes.” She replied quickly, and with such force that I had to respect her dedication to her sister.

“Very well then.” I smiled, then smirked maliciously the next moment. “By the way, I have yet to decide your punishment for killing that human soldier, which I know you’ll agree, to be a waste of life.”

Merethyl was about to oppose my words, but clamped up once she heard the last parts.

“But still, resource is resource, and he could be useful in the future.” I said while I stroked my chin in thought.

‘Was he going to be useful? Sadly, I think I would’ve killed him once his usefulness ran out, but eh, more pressure means more chances for Merethyl to obey me.’

“Anyway, just remember that I’ll be giving your punishment in due time. Until next time.”

I didn’t give her anymore time to react to my words as I quickly stride out of the small shack with a grin on my face.

‘That’s one elf secured.. I’ll need to gather some more DP to get that potion which can reattach limbs.’