The ‘adventurers’ are in the safe room, in front of my stone tablet, ready to ask me questions. I have to be careful, the outcome of this conversation is what will determine my future relationship with the former slaves.

If I don’t play it right, I fear I’ll need to crush their will to make them mine, I’ll be some kind of monster overmind and they will be nothing more than puppets. I’d rather avoid this if possible.

But if it goes right, I’ll have a group of people willing to work for me and with me to protect myself and themselves. It could be a kind of symbiotic relationship, with mutual protection and help to grow.

The people in Jack’s group are looking at the stone tablet, facing the side with words on it.

Welcome to the first safe room.

Here no harm will come to you from me.

You can rest peacefully before resuming your exploration or leaving the maze.

They are discussing what kind of question to ask me. I’m tired of listening to their discussion on the matter, so I take matters into my own hands. I carve new words on the tablet.

Stop discussing and start asking questions already. I’m tired of waiting.

“What are you?” Grundy bluntly asks me.

I’m a sapient rogue dungeon. I have my own free will, wishes, and aspirations.

That statement seems to make a bit of an impression on them. I know they already know I’m a special dungeon, but having revealed that information is proof that I’m able to discuss with them and that I want something else than killing them.

“How is it possible?” Asks Jack.

That is a secret I’m not willing to share, yet.

“Will you kill us?” Carefully asks Mickel.

It depends on you.

In the safe room, you are safe.

In the maze, your lives will constantly be in danger.

In the rest of my domain, it will depend on your actions and if you break my rules.

“What rules?” Inquires Charles.

Simple rules you need to follow.

Dungeon’s Laws:

It is forbidden to act against the dungeon. It is forbidden to kill or maim a citizen of the dungeon. It is forbidden to make an abortion.

Any infractions of those rules will lead to a fate worse than death.

“A fate worse than death? What is it?” Asks Jack.

Pray that you never find about.

“Are those the only Laws? Who are the dungeon’s citizens? Us? Can we make our own laws? And what is that about abortion?” Mililara asks more questions than the other. It’s good, if she’s as smart as she’s beautiful, then it’s all the better.

They are the only Laws for the moment. But more could be added in the future.

They are no citizens in my dungeon yet. But you could indeed become the first ones.

The citizens are allowed to make every rules or laws they which to. They can apply any sentences they see fit. As long as those don’t conflict with my Laws.

The point about abortion is because I want to give every child a chance at life. If a person doesn’t want to care for their child I will.

“Isn’t it the right of a woman to refuse to bear a child if she doesn’t want to? Like after a rape, so many of us have been raped by the pirates, there are a lot of pregnant women among us.” Insists Mililara.

Under normal circumstances, I would agree with you. But here I need the children to be born, as I need all of you.

If I want to ensure my security, in the long run, I need you. And I can swear that I will provide protection to those that became my citizens.

“It isn’t right to force us like that, you’re threatening us. We will never become your citizens if you force us like that.” Declares Mililara.

Fine. I will give you a week to act. After that delay, it will be forbidden to have an abortion. Until the security of the island is secured.

“I can do with that. But I still don’t know if I’ll become one of your ‘citizens’.” She says.

“You said you need us, you want us to become your citizens. What’s in it for us?” Asks Jack.

I can help my citizens grow fast, really fast. With my help, I think I can make someone become strong enough to take on a Second in a few months, maybe even become one. But it will only be for those that choose to become citizens of my domain.

But even then it will not be handed freely. You’ll need to earn my help in your growth.

Plus, I plan to ensure the security of the island and all its inhabitants for as long as I live, and as a Dungeon, I can live far longer than any sapient species.

“How can we earn your help?” He keeps asking.

It’s simple, you need to venture into the maze. Simply doing killing the creatures there will help you grow faster than outside. But my citizens will always have better or exclusive loot.

“Speaking of loot, what is it?” Says Mililara showing me the small piece of wood they found earlier.

It is a water token. Something of my invention. If you break it while you're in a house on my domain, I will install a waterway in it, allowing you to have running water in this house.

There will be more tokens of this kind, but with other effects.

“How, that’s great.” She adds.

“And if we refuse to become your citizens?” Asks Charles.

It is my wish that all of you accept to become my citizens, but I don’t want to force it upon you. If at least one of you chose to become a citizen I will respect the will of the others. As long as you respect my Laws.

But, I’m afraid that if all of you refuse, I will have to use force. I would rather work with you for our mutual benefices, but I’m ready to be a monster, like the usual dungeons.

“Are you threatening us?” He inquires.

Yes.

“If I get it right, you want at least one of us to become one of your citizens and to fight to protect you. In exchange, you’ll give us protection, a better life, and help us to become more powerful. Strong enough to take on people of a higher tier than us? But if we refuse you will use us against our will anyway?” Grundy was silent since the begging, but when he asks his questions they are spot on. He’s smarter than he looks like.

You get it right.

“I’ll do it.” He announces.

“What? No!” Exclaims Mililara.

“If no one does it, it will be hell for us all. I will protect my friends. I will do it. Nothing will change my mind.”

They start to argue, Jack, Mililara, Charles, and Mickel are trying to make Grundy reconsiders, but he seems determined to become my first citizen.

While they are arguing I see the dwarf moving around the stone and coming to the other side.

“Can you hear me?” She asks with a voice so thin I would be unable to hear it if I wasn’t present in the air all around her.

Yes.

I write it smaller than usual, right in front of her eyes.

“I don’t want the others to know I can speak, I don’t trust them yet. I have special circumstances. I want to make a deal with you.”

I hear you.

“Can you help me get revenge?” She asks that with a strange light in her eyes. It reminds me of the few memories I have gained back from my previous life. The same kind of look I had at the time.

Against the pirates, yes.

Against others, not yet. First, you’ll need to help me secure the island. After that, you’ll be able to leave the island and enact your revenge.

Swear yourself to me, become my citizen, and I’ll train you, I’ll even give you comrades to accompany you in your revenge.

“Then I’ll do it. I swear to protect you from all dangers until I’m strong enough to leave the island and get my revenge against those that wronged me. After that, I’ll come back and protect you for the rest of my life.” I can see she’s thinking every word she’s saying.

I’m glad to hear it.

What kind of weapon do you want? I’ll drop it for you in your next loot.

“I want a bec de corbin, one with a small handle, and a shield. I’ll also need a complete set of armor.”

You will get all that, but not at the same time.

Now, go back on the other side, you’re comrades are finishing their dispute.

I’ll contact you in your house to lead you on the citizen path.

“Thanks.” She mutters as she goes back on the other side of the stone tablet.

“So, we really can’t change your mind about this?” Is still asking Jack to Gundry.

“I’ve made up my mind.” Answers the big man. “Dungeon. If I become one of your citizens, I won’t be your mindless slave, right?”

As long as I have at least one citizen I won’t need to enslave you or your friends.

“Then, what do I need to do?”

Great! I have two of this group that want to become my citizens. Well, for different reasons, but still. If they can serve to show the others that they can benefit greatly by becoming my citizens it will be good. I don’t need all of them right now.

And for now, I need to give out instructions for Grundy, and the dwarf woman, to follow. I’ve never done it before, so I’m not sure if it will work as easily as I hope.

First, you need to feel the mana flowing inside you.

Then you need to feel the mana outside you, the one in the air, in the water, in everything surrounding you in my domain.

After that, you need to invite my mana in you.

And the last step is too attuned your mana to mine.

That’s all the advice I can give them. By doing that they will absorb more of my mana in their body than usually and lessen their resistance to it. On my side, I gather more mana around Grundy and push it carefully on its bubble. I’m not doing it for the dwarf, as I respect her decision to keep secret about becoming one of my citizens. Eventually, she will tell the others, but not now.

Anyway, I can see that there are both following my instruction as it seems their bubbles’ densities are decreasing. I resume pushing on Grundy’s bubble from everywhere. It doesn’t seem to work, the bubble is condensing again as I push on it. I change my strategy and focus it on his head and the areas around his heart and his hara. It’s more effective, I see the bubble changes form, like a balloon being squeezed too hard.

The bubble is distorting itself and seems like it will explode, I slow down and wait a bite for Grundy to weaken the bubble more. But it doesn’t change anymore. I think Grundy lacks mana control to do more right now. On her side the dwarf’s bubble is really thin and close to her body, she shows a better control of her own mana.

I could force my mana through his bubble, but I don’t want to make him uncomfortable and look uselessly rude.

Grundy, stop.

You’re on a good track, but not good enough to do it now. Keep practicing and soon you’ll succeed.

“Hey, big man. The dungeon said you can stop. Open your eyes and look at the stone.” Mickel informs Grundy.

After a few more seconds of empty blabbering, Jack’s group leave the safe room and go back to the village. When they exit the maze, I make a stone tablet come out of the ground in the center in front of the maze’s entrance, on it I inscribe the Laws.

Dungeon’s Laws:

It is forbidden to act against the dungeon. It is forbidden to kill or maim a citizen of the dungeon. It is forbidden to make an abortion. (One week before implementation.)

The group exiting the maze and the rest of the former slaves discuss the latest developments and revelations I made to them.

Most of the women don’t like the fact that I’m forbidding abortion. Even if a good number of them think that the children should have a chance at life they don’t like the fact that I’m forcing them to keep the children until birth. The one week delay before that is buffering their anger on this subject. As well as the announcement of Melinda, she’s completely willing to take care of all the children the mothers can’t take care of for various reasons.

The two other Laws are a lot more easily accepted by the former slaves. Some of them even look interested in the possibility of becoming my citizens. Grundy explains to them what the process of lowering the bubble density. It pleases me to see that, whatever their reasons, I will accept everybody among my citizens, as long as they can abide by my Laws.

On the other side of the island, the Marms are still progressing peacefully.