Ryan stood in silence for a moment, processing the unusual request the demon queen had just dropped with such casualness.

The air in the chamber, previously heavy with an almost unbearable murderous intent, now vibrated with a different kind of tension.

Even without using any perception skills, the opinions of his three companions present were immediately felt in the atmosphere.

Helen kept one hand on the pommel of her sword, her doubt reflected in her furrowed brow and a suspicion she made no attempt to hide.

Mirian, for her part, had lowered her bow slightly but kept an arrow at the ready, watching Ophelia with an uncertainty she rarely displayed.

Ryan finally broke the silence, keeping his tone of voice as neutral as possible so as not to reveal his true thoughts.

"Why do you think I would be interested in facing a demon king? I have nothing against them to begin with; my goal isn’t heroism."

At his response, Ophelia let out a bold laugh that echoed off the stone walls of the dungeon, her shoulders shaking with an elegance that was borderline irritating.

"Just what are you saying, Ryan? I’m surprised you’re trying to play the neutrality card at this stage."

Ophelia took a step to the side, observing the statues and the design of the top floor with almost academic interest before locking her red eyes onto him once more.

"Lately, every kingdom in this world has been talking about only one thing: you, the infamous adventurer of the hero party."

"A low-rank adventurer who made enemies of the holy knights, the church, and the entire world just to save a demon," she continued in a melodious tone.

Ryan felt a twitch in his eyebrow as he heard her describe his current situation through the eyes of society.

She paused briefly, letting the weight of her words settle in the minds of everyone present before continuing her analysis.

"But not only that; you have already directly interfered with the plans of Rigal, the most ambitious demon king of this era."

"No..." Ophelia corrected herself, shifting her gaze slowly and deliberately toward Helen, Mirian, and Beatrice.

"Your entire group has interfered with that demon king on multiple occasions, ruining his supply lines and his forward plans."

"I am completely certain that he will not be slow to act to erase this stain on his reputation," the queen declared with a frigid smile.

"You alone could not handle him, Ryan. It’s a fact. An alliance with me is something that benefits you. Don’t you think?"

’The enemy of my enemy isn’t necessarily my friend,’ Ryan thought, analyzing the variables Ophelia was presenting.

’She wants to get rid of a demon king and use me...’

In any other situation, Ryan would have considered the proposal a golden opportunity to level up and obtain massive resources.

But now, with the entire village newly relocated, the risk seemed to outweigh any immediate benefit he could imagine.

Ryan stared at her, after calmly and coldly processing everything she had laid out regarding his precarious situation.

"I understand your points, Ophelia. They are valid from your perspective, but there is a flaw in your reasoning. Even if the Demon King tried to take measures or exact that supposed personal revenge against us, he simply wouldn’t be able to find us,"

Ryan stated with confidence.

"So I don’t see why I should risk my group by facing him right now if we can live in peace here."

Ophelia raised her hands slightly in a gesture of disapproval, letting out a sigh that seemed more like pity than annoyance as she looked around.

"I see you haven’t understood yet, Ryan. Your current position is much more fragile than your ego allows you to see. First, let’s tie up some loose ends so you can wake up from your fantasy,"

She said sternly.

"I gather you are also the one involved in making the church’s S-Rank holy knights disappear. The ones they sent to the elven forest who never returned."

She sighed again, walking a couple of steps toward him in an intimidating manner.

"Basically, you have nowhere to go on this continent or ours. Did you really think you were so naive as to believe you could live peacefully hidden in a dungeon forever?"

"What do you mean by that?" Ryan asked, feeling a pang of unease in the pit of his stomach at the demon queen’s prophetic tone.

"Think about it for a moment, please; don’t be a simple barbarian with brute force," she reprimanded him softly.

"Dungeons are created by the deity, the same entity that gave all of you power through the system you use so much."

"At some point, the deity or its executors will come for you, and certainly for your entire group and those around you," Ophelia explained seriously.

"You aren’t safe here, Ryan. This place is a glass cage. Your best option is to collaborate with me and gain real power."

She observed Ryan with inquisitive eyes, analyzing his physical reaction to the revelation of the dungeons’ nature.

"In fact, if you analyze it coldly, this benefits you much more than it does me in the long run. Don’t you understand yet?"

’Yes, of course... it’s true she has only spoken of my benefits from allying with her, but there must be a reason why she doesn’t want to face him alone.’

Ryan looked at his three companions, noticing that Helen and Mirian seemed just as confused as he was at the mention of the deity.

’I was very naive to think this would be a good place to live,’ Ryan reflected.

’But then, why is she presenting it that way?’

"Hey." Ryan said, cutting through the queen’s flow of words. She looked at him immediately, waiting for a response.

"What do you intend to do with Rigal’s territory when he dies, if we agree to ally?"

Ophelia laughed softly and looked at the young man with a smile that lit up her face in an almost human way, even if her horns served as a reminder of her true nature.

Finally, the demon queen dissipated her intimidating aura completely, allowing the air in the entire dungeon to regain its tranquility.

Then she spoke with a voice laden with an honesty Ryan hadn’t expected to find in her.

"It seems you finally noticed the key point of this entire conversation, Ryan," she admitted, relaxing her defensive posture.

"As I told you at the beginning, I want a real alliance with you. Therefore, the answer to your question is obvious,"

Ophelia continued, locking her gaze onto his.

"You will be the new king of those lands. I will gain a strong ally on my border, and you will gain a legitimate home where no one will be able to question your authority."

Ryan was about to respond when a familiar notification appeared in his field of vision.

[Automatic debt collection initiated]

’Damn... I had completely forgotten to give them an order.’