Labyrinth: Chapter 114/118

Chapter 114: Little Bit of Shock

The Next Morning

"So you decided to stay?"

Inside the office, Chishiya Shuntaro looked up at the three people standing in front of him.

The three nodded.

Chishiya felt secretly pleased.

The company was fully staffed again.

Recruiting these top-tier anime characters to work under him in the Underground Labyrinth Enterprise gave him a strange sense of satisfaction.

Maybe it was the thrill of collecting?

Chishiya stood up from his chair.

"Alright then, let's go."

He was already getting a little impatient.

"Now?"
The three were momentarily stunned.

Chishiya turned and replied, "Of course. I like to get things done fast and clean."

Milim and her crew were going berserk in the arena, the ant workers were busy constructing another ridiculous monument, and Vanir and Wiz were off advertising the Labyrinth in Axel.

Everyone was living their best lives.

Might as well take advantage of the downtime to visit a few other worlds.

"Call Aqua. We're heading out."

A Few Minutes Later

Aqua's scream echoed from the other room.

"Eh? Dead for 29 years???"

"Chishiya, someone who's been dead that long can't be resurrected with resurrection magic."

Aqua looked puzzled. Even as a goddess, souls that had been gone for that long had likely reincarnated or entered Heaven.

Even if she could recreate the bodies, resurrection wasn't happening.

Behind her, Frieren and the other two looked a little disappointed but not particularly surprised.

It had been nearly 30 years. Himmel and Eisen had long since passed.

Their bodies were probably dust by now.

Even if they couldn't meet face-to-face, being able to see their souls would be enough.

Fern spoke up.

"It's fine, Chishiya-san. We already prepared for this. Even if we can't bring them back, just seeing them one more time is enough."

That's the longing of the living.

To see, hear, and feel the presence of those who've passed is its own kind of comfort.

Chishiya stroked his chin.

"That's true, but…"

Wouldn't that mean losing two high-value employees?

Plus, they were main characters. That had to come with recruitment bonuses.

Wasn't there any way to bring them back?

Just then, a thought crossed his mind.

"Aqua, if resurrection doesn't work, how about reincarnation?"

"Reincarnation?"

Aqua paused to think.

"Technically, once a soul enters Heaven, reincarnation's off the table. But… if I step in and negotiate, maybe it's possible."

"But their bodies are gone, right?"

"It's not like we can do a Kazuma and drop them directly into another world."

Chishiya asked, "As long as I have the right bodies, will it work?"

Aqua: "Normally, yeah."

Chishiya nodded. "Alright, I'll figure out the body situation."

He'd already thought about this.

All he needed was for Rimuru to return and create two clone bodies.

Same method used to revive Veldora the Storm Dragon. Just drop Himmel and Eisen's souls into the shells and problem solved.

"Come on, Stark. Let's go get your master first."

Time to give that dwarf warrior a little surprise.


---

Heaven

A place of rest. The domain of souls.

No sickness. No pain.

Think of anything, and it appears in your hand.

Old folks sat sipping tea in courtyards, gentle harp music playing in the background, a peaceful and quiet atmosphere.

By a stone fountain in the middle of one courtyard, two old men were playing chess.

On the left was a hunched little man, completely bald.

On the right sat an old man in priest robes, wearing glasses and holding a glass of barley wine.

Himmel leaned on his cane with both hands, eyes locked on the board.

"Heiter, you still haven't quit drinking."

"At your age, your soul won't be able to take it."

Heiter took a swig and laughed.

"Hahaha, we're souls, old man. What difference does it make?"

Himmel smiled. "Fair enough."

As he said that, he dropped a piece on the board.

"Checkmate."

"Seriously? Lost again? Were you always this good at chess?"

Heiter looked skeptical.

"Hahaha. I died years before you did. Had lots of free time to play chess with other old guys."

"This kind of retirement life ain't bad."

Himmel stroked his beard and smiled.

While the two were chatting, a young goddess approached from behind.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Himmel and Mr. Heiter?"

The two were briefly stunned before nodding.

A goddess?

Heaven was usually just souls. Goddesses mostly stayed in the divine realm.

This was the first time they'd ever seen one in person.

The young goddess smiled.

"I was sent by Lady Aqua."

"Congratulations to both of you. You've been given the opportunity to be reborn into another world."

"Huh?"

They looked at each other, clearly confused.

Then, the goddess raised her hand and waved.

A projection of the mortal world shimmered into the air.

A small team appeared in the image.

Leading the group was a black-haired boy, standing next to a blue-haired girl in a feather-trimmed robe.

The two souls didn't think much at first.

But when their eyes shifted—

They froze.

"Frieren?!"

On the screen, Frieren, Stark, and Fern stood together.

The group approached a small rock house and stopped.

"What are they doing?"

"That's Fern? She's grown so much."

Heiter looked delighted.

Himmel's eyes focused on the purple-haired girl in the image.

"That little one is Fern?"

Heiter always talked about her during their chess games.

She was his adopted daughter.

"Looks like Frieren kept her promise and took good care of Fern."

"Hahaha."

Heiter stared at the image and took another sip of wine.

"You don't know Frieren very well, do you?"

"I'd say our Fern took good care of Frieren, wouldn't you?"

"Hahaha. Yeah, that's true."

Himmel chuckled. "It's been a long time. I kind of miss those days."

The two smiled at each other, then turned their attention back to the projection.


---

Back to Chishiya's Group

They had just arrived in Frieren's world via portal.

Chishiya looked up at the small rock house in front of him.

This was Eisen's home.

The strongest warrior this world had ever seen.

Knock knock knock.

Chishiya rapped on the door.

Behind him, Stark looked a bit nervous.

When he'd left, things with his master were… not great. And he'd gotten the crap beaten out of him.

Creak—

The door opened.

A dwarf with a Viking helmet and weathered skin stepped out.

"Who are you?"

He eyed the black-haired boy in front of him with suspicion.

Didn't recognize him.

But then, a familiar voice spoke from behind the boy.

"Eisen. Long time no see."

Eisen froze.

His pupils shrank.

"Frieren?!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 115: Recruitment Reward, Chishiya Smiled

"Frieren, why are you back?"

Eisen was stunned.

He was the one who had asked Frieren to go to the resting place of souls to find Himmel.

Even though he wasn't sure such a place even existed, the fact that she was here now... did it mean the mission was already complete?

How long had it been? Two and a half years?

So fast?

The last time they made a journey like that, it took ten years.

Had they given up?

Just as Eisen was lost in thought, Stark stepped out from behind Chishiya.

"Master... I'm back."

He looked a little awkward.

"Stark?"

Eisen gave him a once-over. "You've gotten a lot stronger."

He stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction.

"That's great. My apprentice has grown into a fine warrior."

"Master…"

Stark's throat tightened with emotion. He couldn't speak.

He'd never wanted his master to die. Eisen had been the last family he had in this world.

He raised his arms to cover his face. His shoulders trembled slightly.

"No matter how old you get, you're still a crybaby."

"How are we supposed to rest easy with you like this?"

Eisen gave him a hearty slap on the back, trying to cheer him up.

Then, he turned to Frieren.

"Frieren, what brings you here this time?"

He was hoping she could explain what was going on.

Frieren said calmly, "Eisen, we've decided not to go to Ende."

In Heaven

Watching the conversation in the projection, Himmel and Heiter's souls exchanged glances.

So Frieren and the others had been planning to come to Ende?

To see them?

The two were briefly stunned, then smiled and shook their heads.

That elf wasn't the nostalgic type. It wasn't surprising that she didn't come along.

Honestly, it would've been more surprising if she had.

"How heartless… After traveling together for ten years."

Himmel grumbled, leaning on his cane.

Heiter laughed.

"If you were really upset over something like that, you wouldn't have turned down the offer to reincarnate."

They were part of a team of heroes who had defeated the Demon Lord.

Each one of them had the opportunity to reincarnate into another world and start over.

But Himmel had refused.

"Hey! Says the priest who still drinks and eats meat like a barbarian."

Heiter took another swig of his wine and smirked.

"Didn't I just want to keep you company?"

"Anyway, let's not get into that now."

He paused and looked at the elf in the projection, smiling softly.

"After ten years of traveling together, don't you know her?"

"She's definitely coming."


---

At the Door

Eisen nodded after hearing Frieren's words.

"I see."

He was still a little surprised.

After all, Frieren had promised him she would go to the place where souls rest and speak with Himmel.

They'd been comrades for ten years.

He knew what kind of person she was. She might seem cold on the surface, but she always kept her word.

So yeah, he was surprised.

But he didn't press further.

"Well, if you're not going, then you're not going."

He looked at the unfamiliar faces beside her.

"Are these your new friends? Want to come in and eat? I just made lunch."

Eisen stepped aside as the smell of roasted meat drifted from the house.

Even if Frieren didn't go, he still considered her a friend.

She wasn't good at expressing emotions, but she was a good person.

"Meat?!"

Aqua's eyes lit up.

She was about to charge inside when Chishiya held her back.

Read the room, please?

Frieren also shook her head. "No, Eisen. We came to bring you with us."

"Bring me?"

Eisen stopped halfway through the door.

He turned and stroked his beard. "Frieren, I told you last time."

"I can't even lift an axe anymore. I'm too old to fight."

"Spare my old bones, would you?"

He waved it off casually.

Then suddenly, a radiant light enveloped his body.

His previously dry, wrinkled skin began to visibly rejuvenate.

A rush of strength filled his limbs.

Aqua smiled. "Alright, I cast Protection on you."

"Now you've got the strength of your youth again."

"And as a reward… can I have the barbecue?"

She licked her lips and pointed at the steaming steak on the table, looking absolutely thrilled.

Eisen: "?"

He looked over at Frieren.

She didn't react much. She was used to it.

[Target: Eisen]
[Recruitable Employee]

[Recruitment Reward: Unlock special room "Gravity Training Room" in the Labyrinth]

[Gravity Training Room: Adjustable gravity (1x–100x). Enhances strength, explosiveness, and stamina through training.]

Chishiya: "?"

He blinked for a second, then turned toward Eisen and smiled.


---

In Heaven

Himmel and Heiter were both stunned.

Especially Heiter, who turned his gaze to Aqua.

"So… was that the goddess's magic?"

Himmel asked, "Heiter, would you call that rejuvenation magic?"

"Could you do that?"

Heiter shook his head seriously.

"No way."

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe anyone could do it."

"That blue-haired girl… she's a high priestess of incredible power. Definitely stronger than me."

Himmel stared at the girl in the projection who was shoving steak into her mouth.

He knew Heiter's abilities well. If he was praising someone like this, she must be on a different level.

As they were still mulling it over, the young goddess beside them spoke up.

She looked at Aqua with admiration.

"Of course she's powerful."

"She's my idol. One of the oldest and strongest deities."

Himmel and Heiter were stunned.

She's actually a goddess?!

That explains it. No wonder she's stronger than Heiter.

Still…

They turned to look at the image of the girl devouring meat like a starved goblin.

Not exactly the dignified type…


---

Inside the House

Chishiya took a seat. "Mr. Eisen, that's basically the situation."

He briefly explained the Labyrinth, the company's operations, and the reason they had come.

Then he casually picked up a drink from the table and took a sip.

A little sour...

Juice-flavored sparkling wine really hit the spot.

Eisen held a knife and fork in his hands but was too distracted by Aqua to eat.

"This... this is a goddess?"

"?"

Aqua's head snapped up.

She was clearly about to explode. Why did everyone keep doubting her divine identity? Didn't she look like a goddess?

"I apologize. I just didn't expect a goddess to appear in the mortal realm."

Eisen offered the most diplomatic apology he could manage.

Then he turned to Chishiya.

"Chishiya-san, can you make Stark, Fern, and the others immortal?"

If this had been ten minutes ago, he would've dismissed it as complete nonsense.

But after seeing Aqua restore him to peak condition with a single Protection spell…

He was starting to believe it.

Chishiya smiled.

"You misunderstood."

"I didn't ask them to break the limits of lifespan."

"I want all of you to do it."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 116: Chishiya is Trustworthy

Eisen froze for a moment.

As an old man, he'd never been interested in immortality.

But...

He looked at Stark.

All he really wanted was for Stark to be safe.

If he could live just a little longer, maybe he could see his apprentice get married, start a family, and grow into his own life.

That would be enough happiness for him.

"But, Chishiya-san, how do you plan to do that?"
Eisen finally voiced the question on everyone's mind.

Stark and Fern were also watching Chishiya with curiosity.

Chishiya spread his hands. "It's very simple. You just need to become a demon under my lineage."

"?" Eisen's face stiffened.

"???" Stark stopped cutting his meat.

"???" Fern looked up, shocked.

Only Aqua and Frieren continued eating, completely unfazed.

"..."

Eisen turned to Frieren.

She was still calmly eating her meal, showing no reaction at all.

Why was Frieren so chill about this?

A demon under the lineage? Was it just his imagination, or did that sound exactly like something a literal devil would say?

Chishiya gave a helpless shrug.

"Come on, you all look like you've never left your world before..."

"Mr. Eisen, don't panic. 'Demon' is just a term. It refers to beings with large amounts of mana."

"As long as you have enough magic power, your lifespan becomes virtually infinite. This is just the easiest and most efficient way."

"I see…"

Eisen nodded thoughtfully.

"I thought it meant becoming a servant of the Demon Lord."

Maybe he'd been overthinking it.

After all, like Chishiya had said, this wasn't the only world out there.

They couldn't judge others using the standards of their own worldview.

Chishiya: "..."

"Well... I mean, if you put it that way... you're not wrong."

"Since technically, I am a Demon Lord in some ways."

Clink.

The fork Eisen had just picked up slipped from his hand and landed back on the table.

In truth, even Chishiya wasn't exactly sure what he was anymore.

He was a reincarnator. He didn't belong to any one world.

A human? Definitely not.

His body had long since evolved into something conceptual—he could exist as both a physical and spiritual entity.

He was bound to the magic of the Labyrinth.

The stronger the Labyrinth became, the stronger he became.

And the more "obsessed" adventurers became with the Labyrinth, the more energy it fed back into the system.

In a sense, their obsession was his fuel.

It was, functionally, the same as how gods drew strength from belief.

So... was he technically a god now?

If Rimuru was the Demon of the Labyrinth, then Chishiya was probably the god who managed it.

"Ahem."

Chishiya cleared his throat and put on his usual calm expression.

"No need to overthink it, Mr. Eisen. Demon Lord is just a title. I'm not evil, if that's what you're worried about."

...Though even if he were, they wouldn't be able to beat him.

He dropped the thought and continued.

"Unlike your world, the monsters in our company don't spend their time picking fights."

"Everyone has their own responsibilities. They don't have time to go around killing people."

"Fern and Stark can confirm this."

The two nodded.

Indeed, the monsters in Chishiya's company were totally different from the ones in their own world.

They could talk. They could reason. They weren't wild beasts disguised in human form.

They didn't see humans as food either. In fact, their diets were almost identical to humans'.

It was more accurate to describe them as sub-human races.

They had a mutually beneficial relationship.

At that moment, Frieren looked up and spoke.

"Eisen, you can trust him. At the very least, I trust Chishiya."

Eisen froze.

Wait, what?

Was this really Frieren talking?

She was the one who had slain the most demons when they traveled together.

He looked at Chishiya, stunned.

What kind of charisma did this man have, that even someone as cold as Frieren would vouch for him?

Chishiya gave a faint smile.

"So, Mr. Eisen, are you willing to make a deal with me?"

"Join our company. I'll extend your lifespan and offer excellent benefits."

"But you'll need to work for me."

Eisen looked at Stark.

After a long pause, he nodded.

"I accept. It's not like I've got anything better to do with these old bones."

"Why not stick around and spend more time with my apprentice?"

You'll have plenty to do once you're in the company…
Chishiya smiled and pulled a pre-prepared contract from his coat, along with a pen.

"Then Mr. Eisen, welcome to the Underground Labyrinth Enterprise."

"As the CEO, I officially welcome you aboard."


---

In Heaven

Himmel and Heiter were both watching the projection.

Even Eisen had joined Chishiya's team?

Who was this young man?

He kept talking about companies, employees, and contracts in ways neither of them could fully understand.

Too bad they were dead now.

If they were still alive, the two of them probably would've tried to chat Chishiya's ear off.

"Looks like we've missed a lot of interesting stuff since we died," Himmel said with a beard stroke and a sigh.

Heiter chuckled.

"It's better to plant immortal seeds than sit around stewing in regret."

"Time moves on. More new things will come. We probably won't get to see much of them anymore."

"Goddess, if I may ask... who is this young man?"

They turned to the young goddess next to them.

She shook her head.

She had never seen Chishiya before either.

Could he be the rumored reincarnator who handled Aqua-senpai's reincarnation work in the past?

Just as they were all lost in thought—

Chishiya's voice rang from the screen.

"Next up, let's handle Himmel and Heiter's reincarnation."

Himmel, Heiter: "?"

Huh?

Did they hear that right?

Were they about to get involved in something?

Eisen looked shocked. "Chishiya-san, you can even do that?"

Chishiya shook his head and pointed at Aqua.

"At a time like this, we'll need our company's Chief High Priest."

"The Goddess of Water, Aqua, takes the stage!"

His tone was ceremonious, giving Aqua all the spotlight.

Aqua instantly fell for it.

Of course! She was a goddess!

And yet, people were always doubting her.

Only Chishiya treated her with the respect she deserved. That alone was reason enough to stick around.

Besides, working at Chishiya's company was the dream.

Way more relaxing than Heaven.

She didn't have to do much. There was food, drinks, and games. The occasional resurrection was all that was required.

Meanwhile, in Heaven, she'd be stuck managing endless reincarnations. A total hassle.

This was way better.

"Hehe~"

Aqua wiped her mouth and confidently declared,

"Easy stuff, Chishiya-san. Reincarnation is a pain since I need proper bodies..."

"But if it's just reuniting them with their souls, that's child's play."

Aqua was always easy to work with—as long as you gave her enough face.

Chishiya smiled. "Then I'll leave it to you."

He was already looking forward to the result.

Recruiting Eisen had unlocked the Labyrinth's special room: [Gravity Training Room].

Now he was curious.

What rewards would Himmel and Heiter bring?

(To be continued.)

Chapter 117: You Will All Hold a Bright Future

Just as Himmel and Heiter were still dazed, the young goddess beside them suddenly spoke up.

"Lady Aqua is about to contact you two. Please get ready."

She looked visibly excited.

Like a fangirl who had finally gotten a response from her idol.

"Huh?"

Ready for what?

This was their first time being dead. A little guidance would've been nice, thanks.

Meanwhile, back in the room…

Aqua closed her eyes and began to pray.

A shimmering projection slowly appeared in the air.

On the other end was a peaceful garden.

Then, a blonde girl and two elderly men came into view on the screen.

"Lady Aqua!"

The young goddess immediately bowed with reverence.

"You're the new manager of Heaven, right?"
Aqua stared at her for a moment, trying to recall.

Nope. No memory whatsoever.

"Yes!"
The blonde goddess nodded repeatedly.

"Thank you for your hard work," Aqua said casually.

"My friend wants to speak with those two. Is that alright?"

"N-no problem! Of course!"

The girl nodded so hard she nearly gave herself whiplash.

Oh my gods.
Lady Aqua just thanked her. She thanked her.

This was an achievement worth bragging about for decades.

Back on the Heaven side, Heiter and Himmel stared at the blonde goddess in disbelief.

In their minds, goddesses were supposed to be noble and majestic.

They never imagined they'd see one stammer with excitement like a common fangirl.

"Wow, you two are really old."

"I thought souls were supposed to look younger."

At that moment—

From the other side of the screen, Frieren commented with a deadpan tone.

"?"

The two men blinked in surprise.

They could see and hear everything?

The blonde goddess turned to them. "You may speak with them now."

Communicate?
Just as they were processing that—

"Lord Heiter…" Fern began softly.

Even now, she still couldn't believe it.

She was afraid it was all just a dream.

She was really speaking to Lord Heiter.

This time, it wasn't a illusion.

It was real. It was really him.

Heiter was stunned for a moment, then smiled warmly.

"Fern has grown into a beautiful young lady."

Fern's lips quivered as she raised her sleeve and wiped the corners of her eyes.

"I've always behaved myself. I've been a good girl."

"And I've become a full-fledged mage."

"So please, don't worry."

She steadied herself and gave a gentle smile.

Eisen's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he was witnessing.

Old companions reunited after decades… it was a moving sight.

Chishiya stood to the side and didn't interrupt.

Instead, he checked the floating system window.

[Target: Heiter]
[Recruitable Employee]
[Recruitment Reward: Unlock Wonder – Hagia Sophia]

Hagia Sophia: A grand, sacred architectural masterpiece. A cultural landmark that transcends worlds.
Effect: Allows the establishment of religion within the Labyrinth. Accumulate Faith from believers.
Faith increases your power and grants debuff resistance to your followers.

A new Wonder, huh?

Chishiya glanced at the reward for Himmel.

[Target: Himmel]
[Recruitable Employee]
[Recruitment Reward: Unlock Wonder – Hall of Valor]

A brave warrior beloved by mankind. Worshipped across history, your deeds echo eternally.
Effect: Unlocks the Hall of Valor. Recruit heroic spirits from across human history to fight for you.

"?"

Chishiya raised his brows.

Valhalla?
Could he summon Joan of Arc and King Arthur now?

That would be… kind of amazing.

He looked at Himmel and Heiter still chatting with their old friends, his eyes burning with anticipation.

Things were getting really interesting.

After a while, as the emotional reunion started winding down, Chishiya stepped forward.

"You two, nice to meet you. My name is Chishiya Shuntaro."

"I'm the CEO of Underground Labyrinth Enterprise."

He looked at the two elderly men thoughtfully.

So old... Could they still work?

Was this what "elderly workforce reintegration" looked like?

"Chishiya-san, thank you for your help."

"Frieren and the others already told us about you."

"We're very grateful."

The two bowed respectfully.

Chishiya waved his hand casually.

Whoa there, don't thank me yet—it's not free.

"You're welcome. I'm always happy to help others."

Then, with a practiced motion, he pulled out two contracts from his coat.

"This is...?"

The two blinked.

Chishiya gave them a professional corporate smile.

"Would you be interested in joining us?"

"Your teammates have already signed on. With the two of you, the family's finally complete."

"But... we're just souls, aren't we?"

Chishiya smiled. "Minor detail."

You think souls can escape me?
Come on, even the dryads are spirits, and they still clock in.

You think dying gets you out of working?

At worst, I'll reclass you as undead and put you on the payroll.

"Like I said earlier, I'll prepare suitable bodies and reincarnate you."

"Of course, not for free."

"If you agree verbally, that's enough. You can sign the paperwork later."

"I'm an honest man. I don't lie."

Himmel and Heiter paused.

What kind of kid was this?

He actually wanted to hire these two ancient souls?

They'd been dead for decades. They were supposed to be retired!

And yet… he still made the offer seriously.

He must really mean it.

Besides, Frieren had mentioned how chill life was in Chishiya's Labyrinth.

Wasn't this basically early retirement in a better location?

He probably said all that to ease their minds.

What a considerate young man.

They looked at each other and gave Chishiya a small bow.

"Then we'll be in your care, Chishiya-san."

Bingo.
Chishiya smiled.

"And I look forward to working with you both."


---

Two Hours Later

Everyone returned to the Labyrinth.

The call with Himmel and Heiter ended for now.

The two were in high spirits after seeing their old comrades.

They immediately went to brag to the other old-timers in Heaven.

Meanwhile, back in the real world…

Eisen was dumbfounded by the Labyrinth.

He'd explored plenty of dungeons before, but this was something else entirely.

At the entrance of the underground Labyrinth, a crowd of adventurers were filming with projection devices.

Each had a floating virtual screen in front of them.

They were talking animatedly into their displays, like they were possessed.

"Alright folks, today we're exploring the secret coffee shop hidden in the back alley! The food's rumored to be amazing! Let's check it out!"

"Three-day Arena King challenge! Follow me! If I lose, I'll wash my hair upside down!"

"Today's video: How to solo the elite boss, Murloc Priest, on the 6th floor. Gear, strategy, mechanics—this guide covers it all. Follow me if you're tired of wiping!"

…

Eisen stood frozen.

What the heck was happening?

He was completely lost.

Too old… he was too old.

Was this how kids had fun these days?

Chapter 118 : Darkness Is About to Debut?

Everything Eisen saw happening at the entrance of the Labyrinth could be traced back to Gobta—under Chishiya's instruction.

He was the first to start filming videos. Once one of them went viral, the trend exploded.

That's how the internet worked. The moment something became popular, the copycats arrived in droves.

Maybe that was bad news for content creators.

But for Chishiya—the man pulling strings behind the scenes—it was a gold mine.

Eisen turned and asked,
"Stark, what are they doing?"

"They're filming videos to upload to the forum," Stark explained.

"Forum? What's that?"

"Chishiya-san created a new use for projection magic."

As he spoke, Stark switched over to a projection panel.

He'd been dragged into filming by Gobta once before, so he more or less understood how it worked.

"Recently, Chishiya-san started a competition for high-quality bloggers."

"All these adventurers are filming content for that."

Eisen looked at the floating screen in front of him.

Video after video popped up.

The old man stared, eyes dazed.

He couldn't understand any of it.

After closing the projection, he followed Chishiya and the others into the reception hall.

Eisen glanced around.

The place was stunning—more extravagant than any royal palace he'd ever visited.

Then he froze.

His eyes landed on the reception desk.

There, a beautiful Oni receptionist was patiently explaining the rules to incoming adventurers and helping them register.

"Is this... for real?"

After a long pause, Eisen was in shock.

He'd heard about it from Frieren and the others, but seeing it in person was something else entirely.

Here, monsters and humans really were coexisting peacefully.

Wasn't this the peace they had dreamed of?

After standing in a daze for a long time, Eisen slowly raised his head and looked at Chishiya's back.

Anyone capable of making this happen was not just some ordinary person.

Eisen knew very well—peace wasn't achieved through love.

It was achieved through power.

Absolute power.

Now he understood why Frieren had vouched for him.

To hold that kind of power and still stay true to yourself... that was rare.

People like Chishiya were indeed trustworthy.

Chishiya finished a quick conversation with the receptionist, then turned to the group.

"Stark, take your master around the Labyrinth."

"Take it easy for today. I'll prep your mana supply tomorrow."

Once Chishiya left, the group exchanged glances and scattered to explore.


---

Back in His Room

Chishiya opened his system panel.

[Notice!]

[Congratulations on recruiting core employee Eisen. Special room 'Gravity Training Room' unlocked.]

[Congratulations on recruiting core staff Heiter. Wonder 'Hagia Sophia' unlocked.]

[Congratulations on recruiting core employee Himmel. Wonder 'Valhalla' unlocked.]

Chishiya immediately clicked on Valhalla's details.

Could it really summon legendary human heroes from across time?

He was itching to see how it worked.

[Wonder: Hall of Valor]
[Faith empowers the spirits of heroes.]
[Spend Faith Points to summon Heroic Spirits.]
[Heroic Spirit Rarity: Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary]
[Note: Level 1 Hall of Valor allows only one Heroic Spirit summon.]

So it used Faith Points to summon Heroic Spirits?

Chishiya paused.

This felt suspiciously like a gacha mechanic from World of Warcraft's hero base-building system.

And from the look of it, spirit strength depended on rarity.

But—he had the blessing of the Goddess of Luck.

Which meant, for him, this whole gacha mechanic was just for decoration.

He skimmed the rest and closed the panel.

Then pulled out two new Wonder blueprints.

Since summoning Heroic Spirits required Faith, he'd need to build Hagia Sophia first.

Start a religion. Grow followers. Accumulate belief.

"Lord of Wisdom, how long will construction take based on blueprint labor requirements?"

[Notice:]
[Calculating available idle workforce...]

[Notice:]
[Estimated construction time: 2 months]

The scale wasn't as massive as the Library of All Worlds.

And the Library provided even more absurd bonuses—learning efficiency, special skill growth, max magic capacity—just from completion.

Kaijin had said that one would take over a year to finish.

But now it was nearly done.

After thinking a bit more, Chishiya opened the system store and exchanged some of his Reputation Points for new Labyrinth ecosystems.

Glacier biomes. Snowy mountains. Deserts. Gobi regions. Rainforests. Floating islands…

He had plenty of Reputation Points for now, so he unlocked them all in one go.

Perfect for giving adventurers a more "immersive gameplay experience."

Finally, he looked at the special room unlocked from recruiting Eisen.

Gravity Training Room.

"Boosts explosive power and physical strength, huh?"

He'd thought the room would be filled with traps and mechanisms.

Didn't expect it to be an actual stat-boosting facility.

Adventurers would definitely be into that.

But…

This was practically made for Darkness.

Let her promote it.

She was probably the best fit.

…She also had the worst self-awareness among employees.

Yeah, it was time to give her a push.


---

Belzerg Kingdom – Royal Capital

Darkness wore a long noble dress, exuding dignified composure.

"Your Highness."

She bowed respectfully.

Iris nodded slightly.

She sat before a chessboard, chin resting on her palm, holding a piece in her hand.

"..."

Darkness paused.

It seemed Chishiya had really left a mental scar on Princess Iris...

From the side, Claire asked curiously.

"Lalatina, I heard you've started dating?"

"Is it with the Alderp family's adopted son?"

"Um…"

Darkness nodded, visibly troubled.

It was a blind date her father had arranged.

He had no respect for Alderp himself, but was fond of the adopted son for being a capable knight.

"Congratulations," Claire smiled.

She didn't know why Lalatina had acted so oddly in Axel before.

But in hindsight, maybe it had been a misunderstanding.

She was usually so reserved and proper. Now, on a blind date with a suitable partner, everything made sense.

"Sir Claire, was there something you needed from me?"

Darkness quickly changed the subject. She didn't want to talk about blind dates anymore.

"Right."

Claire glanced toward Iris, then pulled Darkness aside.

"You've seen it too. Her Highness has been like this since returning."

"She's been fixated on that chessboard day and night. It's like she's possessed."

"I wanted to ask… could you contact Chishiya and ask him to play another game with her? Just let her win one round."

Darkness looked at Iris.

"Didn't we plan to meet at her birthday party?"

Claire shook her head. "Her birthday isn't until September."

"But I'm seriously worried. She's clearly stuck in a spiral."

Darkness thought it over.

Let her win?

She couldn't imagine Chishiya going easy on anyone.

Still... looking at Iris now, maybe he was the only one who could snap her out of it.

Maybe it'd be best to have her visit Lapris instead.

Going out would be healthier than locking herself in all day.

She turned to Claire.

"I can contact Chishiya, but it'd be better if Her Highness visited him directly."

Darkness gave a short explanation about the Labyrinth's current status.

Claire froze.

"Lalatina... you mean that Labyrinth connects to another world?"

"And Chishiya manages that entire place?"

Darkness nodded. "I was shocked too."

"But honestly, it's hard to explain. You'll understand better when you see it."

There was too much for Claire to process.

The Labyrinth connected to other worlds?

Monsters and humans coexisting?

And Chishiya—of all people—was running the whole thing?

Just who was he?

A hero? A businessman? Something else entirely?

Claire was thoroughly baffled.

(To be continued.)