Chapter-21

Roland perched awkwardly on the edge of the luxurious throne, feeling out of place amongst the seasoned warriors and mythical beings. Mugen, ever the master of anticipation, cleared his throat and addressed the room.

"As you all know," he began, his voice booming through the hall, "we face a growing crisis. The interdimensional rifts are becoming increasingly unstable, threatening to unleash a tidal wave of Foreign Devils upon our worlds once again."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the hall. The cat-eared woman flicked her tail in irritation, while the lizard-man thumped his fist on the armrest, clearly eager for a fight.

"We've tried everything," Mugen continued, gesturing dramatically. "Sealing the rifts, negotiating with all of the demon lords (Belial let out a pointed cough), demi human and human rulers, even offering the monsters a complimentary fruit basket. Nothing seems to work."

Roland raised an eyebrow. "Fruit basket? Did you seriously…"

Mugen held up a hand, silencing him. "A desperate time calls for desperate measures, young Roland. But that's where you come in."

All eyes turned to Roland, who suddenly felt like he was being judged for an isekai entrance exam he hadn't signed up for. 

"You see," Mugen explained, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in his eye, "we believe a new approach is needed. A… proactive one."

Roland braced himself. This didn't sound good. 

"We propose," Mugen continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "that you become… a dungeon master."

Roland blinked. Then he blinked again. Then he choked on his nonexistent spit. 

"A dungeon… master?" he sputtered, incredulous. "You want me, the guy who accidentally scares pigeons with his scowl, to be the guardian of a monster lair?"

Belial, ever the opportunist, chimed in with a sly grin. "Hey, it might work! Think about it: a surprise attack from a disgruntled isekai tourist with a flaming sword? Who wouldn't be terrified?"

Roland glared at Belial, who simply shrugged, his feathery wings fluttering innocently. 

The pixie, perched on the orc's shoulder again, buzzed excitedly. "Dungeon Master! Dungeon Master! We can have a snack bar!"

The orc, startled, swatted at the pixie, who buzzed off in a huff. Mugen chuckled, his eyes twinkling.

"It's not about scaring adventurers, Roland," he explained. "It's about control. We believe you can create a dungeon unlike any other – one that challenges heroes in new and unexpected ways."

Roland considered this. A dungeon Master? It was certainly unconventional, utterly ridiculous, and… strangely exciting. 

"And here's the best part," Mugen added, leaning in even closer, "free breakfast. Guaranteed. No suspicious stew vapor in sight."

Roland's heart skipped a beat. Free, non-suspicious breakfast? Now that was an incentive. He looked around the hall, at the diverse faces watching him with a mix of amusement and anticipation. 

"Alright," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "Dungeon Master it is. But I have one condition – I get to name my dungeon."

A collective gasp rippled through the room. Belial looked positively scandalized. Mugen, however, simply chuckled.

"A dungeon Master needs a catchy name," he said with a wink. "What's it going to be, Roland of Earth?"

Roland paused for dramatic effect, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Welcome, brave adventurers," he declared, his voice ringing through the hall, "to… Isekai's Most Frustrating Dungeon, Den of Nightmares! Prepare for questionable logic, existential dread, and a Master who just wants a decent cup of coffee!"

The hall erupted in laughter. The pixie, buzzing back in excitement, landed on Roland's head and declared him "Best. Dungeon Master. Ever!"

Roland, despite himself, couldn't help but grin. This isekai adventure was turning out to be far more chaotic, and infinitely more entertaining, than he ever could have imagined. And hey, at least he'd have a decent breakfast to fuel his reign as the most frustrating dungeon Master in existence. 

"Think of it as creative world-building with a side of monster wrangling," Mugen explained, a hint of a twinkle in his eye. "You'll design the dungeon's layout, populate it with appropriately frustrating creatures, and maybe even throw in a few… existential riddles for good measure."

The pixie buzzed excitedly, already conjuring images of neon signs flashing "Why am I here?" and "What is the meaning of life?" above perplexing puzzles.

"Alright," Roland said, a grin spreading across his face. "That doesn't sound like a bad adventure for someone who's bored out of his skull in a strange world!"

Roland, still basking in the afterglow of his self-proclaimed title ("Isekai's Most Frustrating Dungeon!"), puffed out his chest with newfound purpose. Free breakfast, a chance to unleash his inner dungeon overlord (even if it was a gloriously frustrating one), and the bemusement (or perhaps terror) of unsuspecting adventurers? Sign him up! 

Just as Roland was about to accept Mugen's offer with a flourish, a booming voice cut through the celebratory atmosphere. A hulking demon lord, easily twice Belial's size and sporting a menacing set of horns, rose from his seat. A dark aura crackled around him, and his voice rumbled like a collapsing volcano.

"Hold on a minute, Chairman!" the demon lord bellowed. "This… outsider simply cannot become a dungeon master! Those positions are reserved for esteemed members of the World Dungeon Council, specifically Director rank! Dungeon Masters, as we are properly called, are entrusted with the vital task of maintaining food chain stability. We oversee the creation and regulation of dungeons, ensuring they act as controlled outlets for monster incursions, not some whimsical playground for… for whatever this… isekai tourist intends to do!"

Dino, the Lord of Molten Fury, glared at Roland with a fiery intensity that would have melted lesser beings. His voice dripped with disdain as he continued, "The World Dungeon Council is a prestigious organization, not some cosmic amusement park! We cannot simply hand over such a critical role to an outsider with no experience and, frankly, a rather… unorthodox approach."

Roland deflated slightly. So much for his short-lived reign as a dungeon overlord. This demon lord, who looked like he could crush boulders with his bare hands, seemed like a real party pooper. 

Belial, ever the opportunist, leaned towards Roland and murmured, "That's Dino, the Demon Lord and Dungeon Master of Molten Fury. He's a bit of a stickler for the rules. Ignore him, he's just jealous he can't come up with a catchy dungeon name."

Roland rolled his eyes. Great, just what he needed – a jealous demon lord with a superiority complex.