"Now Amalia, before we depart I want to confirm a few things."

Amalia looked at Rozalin with a wooden face, lacking any emotion.

"This is the correct way, yes? Do my letters look funny to you? How is the legibility?"

"Like I said, it's okay."

"Just 'okay'?"

"Yeah. Your accent marks look weird. Kind of like how I used to write when I was little."

With a mental 'Tch!' the Slime continued to go about her business.

"Writing without fingers is bothersome. It's like trying to use your mouth or feet," Rozalin grumbled, "Anyway, this should suffice. Make sure to keep bundled up in those clothes and bring the face mask when we leave."

Rozalin's gaze scanned up and down Amalia a few times. The girl had been clad in dark clothes meant for camouflage and hiding at night.

"Bring some dried meat from the stock and wrap it up for yourself. I don't know how long this will take. Make sure to wear your ankle braces. The last thing I need is for you to get a sprain while we're running away."

There was a long pause and a great sigh from Rozalin. The Slime rolled across the table, jumped off, and went over to one of the storage chests. Rustling around could be heard. She returned after a moment. A satchel hit the table with a *klang!*

"Use this. Go get fitted for a helmet and mail coif. Try to make sure it extends to your neck."

Amalia's eyes widened as she squeaked, "B-But Rozalin, metal armor is expensive! That's wasteful!"

"Ugh. Please, do not remind me," the Slime groaned, as if someone were squeezing her soul instead of her coin purse.

Rozalin crawled and hopped back up the table.

"Pardon my word choice, but use your head here. If there are any opponents capable of ranged attacks and your brain goes splat, what do you expect me to do about it?"

"I-..." Amalia hesitated. She didn't have a response to this.

"I taught you healing magic and instructed you to stay on the first floor of this Dungeon for a reason. You're competent enough in a melee that I don't have to worry too much about you. That changes further down. I don't have preparations for the next floor, and I certainly don't have any for an unknown enemy force. Humans in an open field likely have bows and slings. Those hurt."

There was still a nagging feeling in Amalia's heart. She hated being a burden. She hated still not being strong enough. So the thought of reducing the savings the two of them gathered stung. Rozalin always talked about experiments and future business ideas. The girl knew that money was important.

"—Now stop getting strange ideas and get going," Rozalin chided, "You're my employee, so this is just an investment. Money can always be made again. Do you realize how inconvenienced I'd be if you died?"

The beastkin girl's lips stretched into a thin line, one corner of her mouth curled upward slightly.

"Besides, isn't this the perfect excuse to see that smith's son that you're so fond of? Roland, was it?"

The upward curl on Amalia's lips froze and vanished.

"W-What!? N-No! It's not like that!"

Rozalin laughed, "Ohh Roland~ Canst thou sharpen mine blade? Quickly! My sheath longs for—err, ... Actually, nevermind. I'll keep that joke to myself."

Amalia fumed and awkwardly attempted to explain, while Rozalin reflected on how troublesome it was to adjust her manner of speech towards a younger audience. That introspection didn't last long.

"Anyway, I've things to prepare so I'm leaving. Come back when you're done. Goodbye!" Rozalin chimed, abruptly catapulting herself towards a crack in the wall, slipping away into her personal room.

"Roz! It really isn't like that!" yelled the beastkin girl over the Link.

"Sorry, you're—*psshht*—breaking up. Must be the—*psshht*—Dungeon walls."

"That doesn't make any sense!" Amalia yelled, still red in the face.

"Go do what I said. I'll meet you later. Stop whining."

With a stomp of her foot and a few embarrassed gestures, Amalia set off soon after.

Rozalin went a completely different direction, down further into the rock and soil. It was barely perceptible, but the Mana in the ground thickened ever so slightly. Tunnel after tunnel was dug out, stretching into a small corridor.

Waiting at the end of the corridor was a room. And within that room was a small shrine. That shrine was encased with a metal gate of man-made origins. The Brita coat of arms was stamped on a few areas and signs were posted outside the gate, should one examine it closely. Within that shrine was a pedestal, and upon that pedestal sat exactly one Dungeon Core.

Rozalin slinked the down stone wall and sat near the carved pedestal, where the Core was bound by numerous magical chains. Glyphs and seals lined the interior. These bindings made it difficult for the Core to gather Mana from its reaches. All were part of the government 'guidance' wherein a Dungeon Core was coerced or forced into a desirable state.

For this Core, 'desirable' meant 'do not grow any larger'. Brita apparently disliked the thought of a Dungeon growing too powerful or expansive near Eigach and their eastern border.

"Greetings, Precious."

Rozalin cringed at the name that had inadvertently stuck during her first conversation with this Core. Ever since then, she'd been extremely careful not to joke with the thing. Puns, idioms, and figures of speech were all strictly banned henceforth.

"Hello, Round One. What is business today?"

The voice that came forth was gender-neutral, bordering on feminine. There was a slight echo and distortion quality to it, like someone was speaking underwater or perhaps through a wall. Its manner of speaking was also a bit choppy.

The method of communication was similar to the Link Amalia and Rozalin shared, yet entirely different at the same time. It was more invasive and stressful, as if someone was attempting to peek into her brain while also being forced to gaze into some dark and chaotic abyss. If talked to for too long, this Core gave Rozalin a slime-ache and queasy feeling.

"I'm bringing you payment. The mushrooms and herb cave you created at my request is working out well. As thanks, I've condensed a few additional Mana crystals."

A slime tendril reached out. Three small lumps of rock no bigger than a thimble were ejected from Rozalin's flesh. They looked similar to pearls; except slightly translucent, roughly shaped, and with a dull glow in the dark. They landed upon the ground, where they would be 'eaten' slowly.

Upon delivery of the crystals, the Core made a strange imitation of excited laughter.

"Hyihihyihihi-!"

This went on for long enough to make Rozalin slightly uncomfortable. Though capable of a form of speech, this Core possessed an 'intellect' and common sense that was ... hard to adjust to at times.

Interrupting it while it was eating or enjoying something was ill-advised. It was similar to a child in many ways.

Rozalin could mentally feel its excitement die down finally. It was safe to continue.

"If you can make some more of that 'magic rock'—the Mana deflecting kind—I will have more payment. In addition, I will be leaving for a short time. I should return within two days."

It went silent for a moment. This happened often.

"How much needed?"

Rozalin gestured by forming a small rectangle with her body mass. The crystalline material was worth a considerable sum and she needed nearly 10 pounds of the stuff. Secretly, she hoped she wasn't being too demanding. There was still much she didn't understand about this Core. While it seemed pleased with their deals, the mechanism behind how it could spontaneously create monsters and other objects was still fuzzy.

Silence again.

"Will grow. Three days. Humans not active, take longer. Say something about danger, not want to die. Busy with 'crops'."

'Ah, a decline in adventurers and mercs. Makes sense, it is nearly Spring. Farm work must be starting,' Rozalin thought to herself.

The Slime didn't go outside much, a fact that hadn't changed compared to Earth. Still, she realized at least that the weather was getting warmer. Winter's grip had gone slack.

The Dungeon itself seemed capable of eavesdropping on conversations to some degree. Amalia and herself were essentially immune to this, but that surveillance still worried the Slime. While she didn't have any ill plans toward the Core, she worried about this strenuous business relationship they'd established. Breaking that relationship off would be immensely unfavorable.

Rozalin had spent over a month after she and Amalia arrived here developing a tunnel system and scouting the 'wildlife'. Initially it was a way to hide from humans and threats, but it quickly turned into a transportation system. There were even chunks of metal Rozalin had embedded in the tunnels to inject Mana into and act as Domain anchors so she could scout them. This way, humans and monsters alike could be observed safely.

It also made tracking Amalia easier, among numerous other benefits. Though a few bugs and critters occasionally got into the tunnels. Sometimes an abrupt fright to poke your head into a giant earthworm or rat, but they dissolved easily enough. Free, disgusting protein. Mm-mm.

"The humans will be tending their fields to produce food. They will return. I shall think of some additional ways to bring more in for you to siphon off."

So she said, but Rozalin had no idea currently. Though she'd certainly wrack her brain over it. Dungeons absorbed ambient Mana, and people gave off Mana. Just having people inside the Dungeon was a small boon. And that meant Rozalin could request more things from the Dungeon in trade.

A pause, "Yes. More humans good. Round One wise. Was able to consume two more. Caught both with the plan you gave. Nasty, delicious things."

Rozalin mentally sighed. Humans really were silly to fall for such an obvious trick.

To think, two people had fallen for a 'wooden chest' trap. Greed really does overpower common sense, it seems. Should she feel bad? Or was this just Darwinism at work?

When the Core had asked why humans didn't fall for its traps, Rozalin had absent-mindedly answered and thrown several thoughts at it. The Core had used floor traps and a few simple mechanisms that triggered pointy things. And so Rozalin pointed out that humans would be on the lookout for those by now. She thought it obvious, but apparently this common sense eluded the Core.

Rozalin felt bitter at having not bargained for more rewards for her 'valuable' information. People dying was also a bit unfortunate but this is a Dungeon, after all.

"I'm glad it was successful. Has anything happened since we last spoke?"

"No."

There was more silence. Rozalin waited for a moment, just in case the Core decided to provide more input, though she knew better by now.

"I see. ... Well, I must depart. Remember the 'magic rocks'. And do not forget our agreement. I understand that you can't control all the creatures inside of your area of influence, but you mustn't attempt to harm my warrior."

"Yes, it is stored in memory. Order decreed. Some listen and others do not. Too strong, harder to influence. Not smart, do not understand order. Vexing."

"That's fine. I just ask that you do your best. Carry on as we've discussed before. I will visit in three days with more payment."

A slight giddiness began to cloud Rozalin's mind—'emotional bleed' from the Core. It was a simple entity in many ways. She had gleaned much information on Dungeons from it, along with any manner of other bits and pieces. Creating the 'payment' involved injecting large amounts of Mana into a specially created mineral of Rozalin's own design. One she'd picked up during her excavations. She'd dubbed it simply as 'Manatite'.

The Dungeon craved enriched Manatite, and Rozalin craved information and things of monetary value. It was a sound partnership.

With nothing else important to discuss, Rozalin went back the way she came. It was a shame their home had been invaded now instead of a few weeks in the future. The Slime was confident in her ability to create additional security measures and possibly even evolve by then. More weapons too, most likely.

A sliver of doubt crept into the squishy woman's heart, but she quickly waved it away. It would be nice if more information was available, but retreating every time there was a slight threat wasn't feasible. Even in a straight up fight, Rozalin had discovered that short of piercing attacks and magic, there wasn't much the average human could do against her. Perhaps if she were surrounded or grappled somehow, but even then she had measures.

So the question essentially boiled down to, how likely was it a bunch of thugs and thieves had significant magic prowess? It was doubtful, but the thought of sneaking around a bandit camp still made Rozalin nervous. She knew rationally the chances of anything happening were low. At worst, she'd be forced to flee and reveal her existence.

A problem that could be remedied at a later date, perhaps. Though that would require bargaining with or lying to Amalia. Quite frustrating.

Rozalin was still attempting to find more ways to use the Dungeon Core for her own gain. She preferred this one over the previous Core, given that it didn't try to dominate her mind when she'd first reached out to it. Those chains seemed to keep it drained and in check. As much as she wanted to eat and study the chains, Rozalin realized that could easily draw attention her way.

It had been well over a month since they'd settled into this area. The amount of work to be done was enormous. Just because Rozalin didn't need much sleep didn't mean working 16-plus hours daily wasn't tiresome. Amalia had been placed on 6-hour shifts with rest time and days off sprinkled throughout. Humans fatigued more quickly, though Amalia seemed to be building up more stamina as her level increased and time went on.

Yet it was a simple fact that overwork could lead to death. One slip could end a life. And Rozalin knew it was extremely unusual for mercs and adventurers to hunt monsters as aggressively as she had Amalia do. Now that both of them were 'level capped', they'd slowed their pace down significantly and begun focusing on Rozalin's evolution and finding Amalia a good class.

That, and making money while working on their Skills. Especially the former.

Money was power. Information was power. And power was, well, power. The more they could amass, the better. As long as time continued being kind to the two of them, Rozalin expected she and Amalia would eventually have little to fear in this country. Or in the very least, they could move.

Rozalin secretly wanted to visit these dwarves and feline beast-kin she'd heard about. The former for business reasons; the latter for ... curiosity.

The Slime continued upward towards their home and spent some time reviewing the information she'd lovingly extracted from that vile visitor they'd had earlier.

After some time, Amalia would return. Rozalin was ready and eager to depart. After all, she firmly believed in solving problems as soon as reasonably possible. This intrusion was threatening to disrupt her peaceful, idyllic life.

And she planned to 'solve' this silly little bounty issue by whatever means available.

Skill List / Status Status Menu Name : Rozalin , (Deathwarded) Race : Small Princess Slime Level : 25 (MAX) HP : 212/212 (+13.1/hour) Stamina : 153/153 MP : 123/123 (+9.76/hour) Strength : 56 Vitality : 72 Intelligence : 62 Wisdom : 41 (+5) Dexterity : 53 Luck : 33 (+5) Charisma : 13 Skill List Offensive Skills Slime Bullet Lvl.6 (Lvl.4 → 6) Multi-Venom Lvl.6 (Lvl.4 → 6) Sneak Attack Lvl.5 (Lvl.4 → 5) Water Bolt Lvl.2 (Lvl.1 → 2) Wind Blade Lvl.2 (Lvl.1 → 2) Ice Bolt Lvl.4 (Lvl.1 → 4) Swordsmanship Lvl.1 Earthen Spire Lvl.2 (New!) Negative Energy Channel Lvl.1 (New!) Defensive Skills Toxin Resistance Lvl.3 (Lvl.1 → 3) Pain Resistance Lvl.4 (Lvl.3 → 4) Corruption Resistance Lvl.4 (Lvl.3 → 4) Tough Hide Lvl.3 (Lvl.1 → 3) Magic Resistance Lvl.2 (Lvl.1 → 2) Lesser Vitality Lvl.2 (Lvl.1 → 2) Health Regeneration Lvl.1 (New!) Slashing Resistance Lvl.2 (New!) Utility Skills Meditation Lvl.4 (Lvl.3 → 4) Magic Sensory Lvl.3 (Lvl.2 → 3) Mana Control Lvl.5 (Lvl.4 → 5) Mana Regeneration Lvl.4 (Lvl.2 → 4) Rejuvenation Lvl.5 (Lvl.2 → 5) Detoxification Lvl.2 (Lvl.1 → 2) Amplified Healing Lvl.3 (Lvl.1 → 3) Create Lesser Undead Lvl.2 (New!) Stamina Up Lvl.1 (New!) Miscellaneous Skills Amorphous Lvl.5 (Lvl.3 → 5) Mineralization Lvl.4 (Lvl.2 → 4) Stonemasonry Lvl.2 (Lvl.1 → 2) Magic Threads Lvl.1 Adaptive Coating Lvl.4 (Lvl.2 → 4) Overeating (Slime Variant) Lvl.4 (Lvl.1 → 4) Metalworking Lvl.1 (New!) Metallurgy Lvl.1 (New!) Alchemy Lvl.2 (New!) Herbalism Lvl.1 (New!) Magnification Lvl.1 (New!) Woodworking Lvl.1 (New!) Unique Skills Devour Lvl.4 (Lvl.3 → 4) Domain Lvl.3 (Lvl.1 → 3) The Royal Guard Lvl.2 (Lvl.1 → 2) Regal Aura Lvl.1 (MAX) Slime Domination Lvl.3 (Lvl.1 → 3)