*Susan*

I woke up, I don’t think I was out for long… The chamber was empty, the skeletons had not respawned yet. I was not sure how the dungeon had won, but we had. I was safe, if a bit hurt. I was able to stand, even if I was unsteady.

If I wanted to, I could walk to the core room now and take this dungeon… The experience I would gain from that would be tremendous- but how I could do that after the help it gave me? Maybe the skeletons at the entrance respawned?

I limp out, just barely able to remember the route I took. The dungeon was taking the form of a labyrinth, and it would undoubtedly grow after that battle. Hopefully, this battle would not cause the dungeon to spread its minions on the outside more. I would hate to be responsible for those deaths…

I made it to the entrance, but the skeletons who I met were not like the glowing one, they didn’t speak. I guess I will just sit against the wall and wait, a few hours later I watched mist coalesce into a humanoid form, and then into the glowing skeleton I had talked to.

“I… Back…”

“Thank you,” I stand up and bow to the skeleton. I owe them more than respect, but respect is all I really have to give. “You saved my life.”

“Lord… Says… Welcome…”

“Lord?” I ask, I heard the skeletons mention that before. It must be the spirit controlling this dungeon, an ancestor of hers. “Well let me thank you again Lord Ancestor.”

“Not… Ancestor…”

Now that is a surprise, I probably shouldn’t, but I have to ask, “Why?”

“Must… Keep… Morality…”

Talking to the skeleton was not easy, clearly it was translating for something else and not doing a very good job. If I had to guess, the dungeon was simply saying it was the right thing to do, but I feel like I am missing something…

“Well, if there is anything I can do for you before I go… Please tell me.”

I do worry that an undead dungeon might have some odd requests, but I had risked its life and it had helped save mine.

“Why… Leave…?”

*Core*

Oh for fucks sake, how the hell am I supposed to carry on a conversation like this? I had experience and mana to burn and the power to summon the dead but I can’t talk to a seventeen year old girl? Fuck this shit!

[12,500 XP received! Reached level 9! Mana raised to 110! Hired Thug killed in Dungeon! x4 2,000 XP each! Mercenary Mage killed in Dungeon! 4,500 XP gained!]

Maybe I could do something about it, I wonder if my spectral warrior can evolve at all… Ah, two options. [Guardian Spectre] and [Spirit Warrior].

[Guardian Spectres have increased resistances over the Spectral Warrior. They are slow moving, but difficult to kill and have enhanced senses. Unlocked by defending a non-native creature in the dungeon!]

[Spirit Warriors are the natural evolution to the Spectral Warrior. Their attacks ignore most resistances and applies small debuffs by attacking their opponents spirit! Unlocked by having a Spectral Warrior in battle!]

Well, the choice is obvious for now, I fucking hope this thing is smarter… The mist coalesces around the Spectral Warrior and it seems to grow, gaining a tower shield and bits of leather and armor strapped to it. It also has a stronger glow, especially its eyes which now shine with cold blue light.

So Specy, any smarter?

“Yes, my Lord. Thank you for giving me this power!”

Perfect! Now I don’t have to deal with anymore bullshit conversations. Introduce yourself as my voice to the woman please.

“Of course Lord,” the skeleton turned to the girl who was staring with open mouthed shock at the Spectre before her. “Greetings guest, I am the voice of my Lord, the core of this dungeon!”

“I- I am Susan… Did the cor- I mean, the Lord make you to talk to me?”

Yes and no. I would have done this anyway, this was something I hoped would occur.

“It was one of the reasons, but not the only reason. My Lord is beyond our understanding.”

I did not say that last part…

“Could I request your Lord’s name?” Susan asked, she seemed quite wary. A good attitude to have when speaking to a undead monster in a dungeon miles away from civilization I suppose. The only issue is that I no longer remember my name, I simply refer to myself as Core.

“I regret to say that you cannot, for not even my Lord knows. He is simply the Core.”

“I see, then I shall call you Lord Core for now, if that is fine with you?”

Sure. I don’t care.

“That is acceptable.”

“Then Lord Core, what did it mean when it said ‘why leave?’”

From what I have been able to gather, you have nowhere to go. Why not simply stay here? I feel I will be able to make my next floor soon, I could make a residence for you there.

“My Lord invites you to stay and live here,” Specy does paraphrase rather well, it is quite appreciated. “My Lord offers to build you a residence when the second floor is built.”

“Why would you offer that to me?” Well, it does seem fantastical I suppose, but I do have reasoning here.

I need information, you need safety, and frankly, why not? Do you have a place to go? I want to build a necropolis floor as my second anyway, just because another labyrinth would be boring, and that would have houses as a matter of course.

“My Lord proposes to shelter you for the information you have,” Specy speaks for me. “He also says he plans to build a necropolis anyway, so setting aside a place for you would be simple.”

“I… I really can't refuse…”

It will be a bit before the next floor is ready to be built, as a gesture of trust I will allow you to stay in my Core room until then. Understand just how dangerous this is to me, attempt to violate my trust and I will make those thugs seem merciful!

“My Lord very generously offers to let you stay in his Core room until your house is made. Do not dare spit on that generosity or you will wish you had died today!”

As I watch her cringe all I can think is, close enough.