Labyrinth: Chapter 92/96

Chapter 92: Falmuth’s Three-Person Group

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

As more and more merchant guilds partnered with Chishiya,
combined with the smooth trade routes and relentless promotion...

Everything unfolded exactly as he predicted.

Adventurers were pouring into Lapris by the day.

Now—

The entire street was bursting with excitement and noise.

Adventurers were chatting enthusiastically.

"I've been here two days already. It's way too comfortable! The food's good, the rooms are amazing, I don't wanna leave!"

"Right?! There's even a hot spring to soak in, and a weapon shop that'll clean and repair your gear!"

"Most importantly—there are Dryads in maid outfits!"

"Whoever said this Monster City was shady? It's actually heaven!"

It hadn't even been two weeks.

But the Labyrinth City had completely won over the hearts of countless adventurers.

None of them had ever received this level of hospitality anywhere else.

From top-tier equipment to everyday essentials like food and clothing, everything exceeded expectations.

There was even a strange illusion...

That spending money here felt worth it.

While everyone was chatting, a familiar voice echoed through the square from a floating communication orb.

It was the voice of the Dryad, Treyni.

"Welcome, adventurers, to the Labyrinth City—Lapris."

"The city's core structure, the Labyrinth Tower, will officially open today."

"All of you are cordially invited to join the grand opening ceremony."

"There will also be a lottery event, with chances to win rare equipment crafted by Dwarven artisans~."

With that—

At the press podium in front of the Labyrinth Tower, Treyni put down the small sound transmission bead and turned to Chishiya.

"Chishiya-sama, the announcement has been sent."

Chishiya nodded. "Mm. Good work."

This was the second function of the Central Sound Transmission Bead.

The first use was acting as a signal hub, connecting smaller communication beads.

The second was for broadcasting messages citywide.

"Labyrinth Tower, huh?"

Back in the plaza, everyone turned their gaze toward the massive building in the city's center.

"I saw it in the catalog. Apparently, it's even cooler inside than it looks outside."

"That tower's a serious goldmine."

"You can hunt monsters for rare drops, gather high-level magic crystals and rare herbs."

"Oh, and apparently there's a Succubus Café inside. Heh... I don't need to explain what that means."

"OHH?! Ohhh ohhhh!"

They all exchanged smirks, then surged toward the Labyrinth Tower like a stampede.

——————

Meanwhile—

On a side street, two men and one woman were looking around, wide-eyed.

They were the three otherworlders sent by Falmuth.

The guy in the middle had spiky hair. His name was Shogo. His ability was Berserker, which drastically increased his speed and strength in combat.

To his left stood a slim man with squinted eyes—Kyoya. His ability was All-Seeing Eye, which allowed him to perceive the world in slow motion, like bullet time.

And the short-haired girl on the right was named Kirara. Her ability was Bewilder, which let her manipulate the consciousness of others and sway public perception.

In the original novel, these three were the ones who directly caused Shion's death.

"Oi oi oi, this place is more advanced than Falmuth?!"

Shogo scowled, eyes filled with hostility.

"Why the hell are these monsters living better than we are?"

Kirara's voice was sharp and bitter. "This makes no sense! Why do they get to live in luxury?"

"Let it go, Kirara," Kyoya said with his usual fake smile. "We still have a job to do."

Still... this was seriously annoying.

Back when they first got summoned, they were treated like VIPs in Falmuth.

But this world was lacking.

No games. No entertainment. No luxury.

Even "the best treatment" was garbage compared to their original world.

They had already started planning to kill the old mage and take over the kingdom themselves.

Just then, Shogo growled.

"So this is the Monster City, huh?"

"Why don't we kill the leader and take over this place as our own base?"

Kyoya shrugged. "We could, but maybe don't jump the gun."

Shogo smirked. "We're not starting a war. We're just causing some chaos, right?"

Kirara added with a sneer, "Right. We still need to create a scene where the monsters are 'attacking' innocent humans."

Shogo's eyes gleamed.

"Let's go. Isn't the opening ceremony today? Perfect timing."

"If we ruin their event, their faces are gonna be priceless!"

"Hahaha!"

The three of them kept talking, getting more excited by the second.

——————

At the same time—

The venue for the Labyrinth Tower's grand opening was packed with adventurers.

Everywhere you looked, it was wall-to-wall people.

"Damn, this tower is huge!'"

"And the decorations? You sure this is a labyrinth? Looks more like some noble's mansion!"

The crowd murmured and buzzed in anticipation, eyes fixed on the elegant tower gate.

On the venue stage—

Chishiya stood front and center, with Shuna and Shion flanking him on the left and right.

In the VIP area behind them—

All core employees of Underground Labyrinth Enterprise were present, except Rimuru and Darkness.

Fern bowed politely to the crowd.

Beside him, Stark looked utterly worn out.

Hakurou's training was brutal.
Getting beaten to a pulp every day was basically the warm-up.

Still, it wasn't without benefits. His reflexes were definitely sharper now.

He had even started picking up Hakurou's breath-control technique.

Elsewhere in the VIP section—

Even Frieren had shown up, though only because Fern dragged her.

She was still holding her magic tome, barely paying attention to the crowd.

"Chishiya-san, are these all new recruits?"

Aqua tilted her head and eyed Frieren and the others curiously.

"Yeah," Chishiya replied with a nod.

"They'll be staying for a while."

"There are a lot of people today. I'll introduce everyone after the ceremony."

Gradually—

The number of adventurers in the plaza grew.

The entire audience was buzzing in anticipation.

Finally, it was time. Chishiya stepped forward.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Labyrinth City—Lapris."

"I'm the city's administrator, Chishiya Shuntaro."

The moment he finished speaking, chatter erupted in the audience.

"Huh? The leader of this place is human?"

"He looks young. And kinda hot?"

"Now it all makes sense. Of course humans know how to provide the best customer service!"

No one had expected it.

This prosperous, extravagant city was being run by someone who looked to be in his early 20s.

Most people their age hadn't even graduated from the "starter village."

Yet Chishiya had already become a "king."

The gap was wild.

At the back of the crowd—

Shogo's expression twisted. He clenched his teeth.

"You're kidding me. That guy's our age?!"

Then he glanced up at the stage.

Flanking Chishiya were women who were all top-tier beauties.

Why?!

Why does he get to be surrounded by this many playthings?!

He was stuck in Falmuth like a prisoner, and now this?

The jealousy inside him was ready to explode.

Of course—

What pissed him off most wasn't the maids or the status…

It was the fact that he, one of the "chosen ones" with special powers, was still being treated like a tool by Falmuth.

And this guy—Chishiya?

He got to live like a king without answering to anyone.

That kind of gap was simply…

Unforgivable.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 93: Resurrection? Let’s Try It!

"I've decided," Shogo said.

"The first thing we'll do after the chaos starts… is kill him and take his place."

Kyoya's eyes narrowed. "Then we'd better act fast."

Clearly, he was just as consumed by jealousy toward Chishiya.

They had no idea Chishiya was also from another world.

Of course…

If they did know, that hatred would only grow deeper.

To them, Chishiya was just another native.

Killing some local from another world didn't bother them one bit.

On stage—

Chishiya continued speaking.

"The entrance fee for the Labyrinth is 10 silver coins."

"There are 30 floors in total. The deeper you go, the stronger the monsters become, and the greater the rewards."

"Every five floors, there's a resting zone for adventurers."

"We provide food, lodging, item appraisal and resale, equipment repairs and cleaning, and other services."

Down below, the adventurers began to murmur among themselves.

"Ten silver coins? That's not cheap. That's like a whole month of living expenses…"

"Ten silver coins just to enter? Isn't that a bit much?"

"Anyone who knows how business works can tell this is worth it. If you survive, you'll make way more than ten silver."

"Yeah, and they've got lodging inside. So no need to bail early because of supply issues."

"If you're strong enough, just keep pushing deeper. It all depends on your own ability."

"Honestly? I think ten silver is a good deal."

Voices varied, with some skeptical and others optimistic.

"Hey, hey, HEY!"

A loud voice cut through the crowd.

At the back, two men and one woman pushed their way to the front of the stage.

Shogo stood there with a sneer.

"You think it's that easy? This labyrinth isn't some friendly training field!"

"If I die in there, what then? All that for ten silver coins?! Are you kidding me?"

"You want us to pay and risk our lives? What a scam!"

The criticism was clearly aimed at Chishiya.

And with that, the crowd started to quiet down.

He had a point.

They were the ones paying. They were the ones risking their lives.

Didn't that mean they were shouldering all the risk?

On stage—

Chishiya raised an eyebrow as he looked at the trio.

Ah. The beast-brained trio from Falmuth.

So they actually showed up.

History really was persistent.

Just like in the original timeline, that idiotic king from Falmuth was still trying to make a move here.

"…"

Chishiya didn't say a word, but a faint smile appeared on his face.

Good…

Falmuth, you've brought this on yourselves.

So don't blame me for what comes next.

Shogo, mistaking Chishiya's silence as hesitation, felt even bolder.

"Kirara, use your Bewilder. Wreck this place."

He muttered under his breath.

The short-haired girl grinned.

"Don't worry."

Ability activated.

The mood of the crowd shifted instantly.

Voices rose in protest.

"Ten silver coins?! That's way too steep!"

"We're risking our lives and they're the ones making money? What a joke!"

"Screw this. I'm out! Why'd I even come to this dump?"

Shogo and Kyoya exchanged smug looks.

As expected, Kirara's ability was still effective when it counted.

Once the crowd turned violent—

Then they could frame Lapris for attacking humans.

And with that, Falmuth would stand on the righteous side.

Even if it didn't escalate that far...

They would've still ruined the ceremony.

No matter what, it was a win.

More and more adventurers were swaying under Kirara's influence.

Just as Shogo thought they had things under control—

On stage—

Aqua tilted her head and looked around.

"Huh? That's weird."

"Chishiya-san, do you feel something… off?"

Shuna nodded beside her.

"Feels like someone's tampering with their brainwaves."

Even Frieren closed her book.

She sensed it too.

Aqua placed her hands over her chest.

"Holy Purification!"

A wave of light surged outward, centered on her.

Instantly, the agitated crowd calmed down.

"All done~," Aqua said cheerfully, going right back to snacking with Rim.

Frieren blinked in surprise.

She looked at the blue-haired girl, brows raised.

Holy magic?

That was divine-class magic—goddess-tier.

This girl… was even stronger than Hinata.

A priestess this powerful?

Offstage—

Kirara's confident smirk froze.

"My ability… didn't work?"

"What's going on?"

That had never happened since the day she was summoned.

Who was that blue-haired woman?!

"It's fine," Kyoya said. "The crowd's still rattled. Next step is to push their buttons."

Just then—

Chishiya spoke again, calm and unbothered.

"As for accidents in the Labyrinth, don't worry."

"We provide professional resurrection items. Anyone who dies inside can be revived."

Silence.

The crowd froze.

Even Frieren, Fern, and Stark's pupils dilated as they turned sharply toward the stage.

Resurrection?

What did he just say?

There's no such thing in this world!

No known power could bring back the dead!

Shion noticed the look on their faces and smiled faintly.

She remembered wearing the same stunned expression back then.

But now?

She had the calm composure of a seasoned veteran.

After all, this company had long since broken every fantasy rule imaginable.

She was sure Miss Frieren and the others would get used to it soon enough.

Offstage—

"Resurrection item?"

People stopped in their tracks. Some even turned around.

It wasn't that they believed it—it just sparked curiosity.

"Did he say… resurrection?"

"That can't be real, right?"

"Still… what if it is?"

Even skeptics were now looking at Chishiya, waiting for proof.

If it was real, then exploring the Labyrinth suddenly became a no-brainer.

Ten silver coins? That'd be a steal!

Shogo shouted, voice shaking.

"You serious right now?! Resurrection?! You expect us to buy that crap?!"

"What if someone dies for real in there? You'll just deny it ever happened!"

"What kind of monsters would tell the truth anyway?! You're all the same!"

"Monsters will always be monsters. What gives you the right to act all high and mighty, pretending to be some kind of saint?!"

On stage—

Shion clenched her fists, turning to Chishiya with a forced smile.

"Chishiya-sama, may I rip his jaw off?"

Chishiya gently patted her shoulder.

He looked toward the three guests in the audience.

Still smiling.

"Then—guest. Would you like to participate in the demonstration?"

Demo?

Shogo was caught off guard.

He obviously didn't believe in any resurrection nonsense.

But then…

He lowered his eyes and glanced at Chishiya.

This was it. An opportunity.

All he had to do was attack Chishiya during the demonstration and kill him.

That would be enough.

The path to becoming king of the mountain was opening right in front of him.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 94: Split in Two and Still Revivable?

Shogo cracked his knuckles and sneered.

"Demonstration? Sure. I've been dying for some action."

"You won't chicken out, right?"

"After all, we can be resurrected, huh?"

"If you're scared, that just proves you're a lying sack of—"

The smile stretched wider across his face.

Perfect. Whether Chishiya accepts or backs out, he wins either way.

If he accepts, Shogo would just kill him. If he refuses, he proves he's a fraud.

So either way, the advantage is his…

Or so he thought.

Because the moment he finished thinking that—

Chishiya simply smiled.

"Sounds good. Let's begin."

Shogo's expression dropped.

He clenched his jaw, clearly annoyed by Chishiya's composure.

Even Kyoya and Kirara beside him looked surprised at first.

But then they smirked.

After all, in terms of raw power, Shogo wasn't even inferior to that old nun from the Holy Church—Hinata Sakaguchi.

There's no way a random city manager could be a match for him.

This would be entertaining to watch.

"Mr. Vanir, what should we do…?"

Wiz fidgeted nervously.

Problem customers were her weakness. If it were her, she'd be in full panic mode by now.

Vanir chuckled and pushed up his mask.

"Fascinating. So this is their little plan."

Wiz tilted her head. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Nothing," Vanir replied, his grin widening as he gazed at the trio.

"I just look forward to seeing their faces when it all goes up in smoke."

"Delicious negative emotions incoming."

——————

Ten minutes later.

A massive crystal screen lit up in the middle of the square.

It was made of the same material as the crystal ball Chishiya had once taken from Gelmud.

With the help of [Great Sage]'s analysis, Chishiya had reverse-engineered a broadcast screen. He even improved it to include live audio.

The square was packed.

All eyes were glued to the screen, chatter buzzing everywhere.

"Damn, that guy's got guts. What if the resurrection thing's fake? Isn't he gambling with his life?"

"The boss must be confident. With a whole crowd watching, wouldn't he be scared of messing up?"

"I don't get it. Guess we just wait and see. I still don't buy this resurrection stuff though."

"Same here, but why would he lie at a moment like this?"

Meanwhile, Chishiya and Shogo had already entered the Labyrinth.

When they reached the first-floor lobby, Shogo froze.

Reception desk. Lounge. Semi-open bar.

It looked like the lobby of a luxury hotel.

What the hell?

Why do these monsters get to live like this?!

And me—a "chosen one"—I'm stuck being controlled like a pawn?

Not even allowed to live freely?

He scanned the lavish interior. Greed flared in his eyes.

Boom. Boom.

The central stone door slowly opened.

Chishiya stepped through first.

Shogo followed behind, eyes sharp with murderous intent.

I'll kill you. Then everything here will be mine.

The heavy doors sealed shut behind them.

Chishiya turned around, still smiling politely.

"Dear guest, before we begin, I should inform you."

"Even though you'll be resurrected afterward… the pain doesn't go away."

"So I recommend mentally preparing yourself."

Shogo shrugged indifferently.

His Berserker ability, when activated, granted him overwhelming speed and strength.

Even the court mage Razen once said his strength rivaled that of Hinata Sakaguchi, Paladin Commander of the Western Holy Church.

She was a fellow otherworlder, reportedly as strong as a Demon Lord.

So why should he fear a guy like Chishiya?

Shogo sneered.

"Hey. You said we can be resurrected, right?"

"Then you won't mind if I kill you first, right?"

Back in the square—

Everyone watching the screen fell silent.

"Whoa. Did he just say he's going to kill the boss?"

"Damn, that guy's crazy. So that's why he agreed to the demonstration…"

"Haha! What a twist! This is like watching a real match!"

"That boss is in trouble now. No way he saw this coming."

"Wait… does this guy hate the boss or something? He's going full murder mode."

The crowd held its breath.

Everyone was waiting for Chishiya's reaction.

After all, anyone could see this guy was clearly here to start trouble.

Surely the boss would lose his temper, right?

But...

Chishiya didn't even flinch.

That same professional smile stayed on his face.

"No problem, guest. Whoever dies can be the demonstration subject."

"Ready? Then let's begin."

Shogo's eyelids twitched.

That calm response caught him off guard.

Tch. Let's see how long you can keep that smug face.

His expression darkened.

"Fine then—let's go!"

"Berserker—Activate!"

An intense surge of aura erupted from him.

Speed, power, perception—all maxed out in an instant.

He was in his peak state.

"DIE!"

He surged forward—

Just as Chishiya casually raised his hand and made a finger-gun gesture.

Huh?

Shogo blinked. Was he joking?

And in that exact moment—less than 0.01 seconds later—

BOOM—!!!

A deafening sonic boom shook the air.

Then—

SPLAT.

A shockwave hit him like a sledgehammer.

Flesh burst open.

Right before everyone's stunned eyes…

Shogo's entire upper body exploded.

A bloody spray coated the ground.

Only his lower half remained standing.

"!!!"

Kyoya and Kirara's eyes nearly popped out of their skulls.

Shogo… was dead.

Not even a counterattack. Instant kill.

They knew exactly how powerful he was.

Shogo could go toe-to-toe with Special A-Class monsters.

And he was an isekai cheat-holder.

Yet this… native just nuked him in a single strike?!

Silence.

The entire square held its breath.

"Dead… he's dead?"

"Wait, what kind of magic was that?! There was no chant, no cast animation!"

"That was insane…"

"I swear the boss was just holding back this whole time…"

"But—can he really be revived? He's literally in two pieces."

All eyes stayed glued to the screen.

If Shogo was really dead, this would turn into a massive scandal.

And then—

Chishiya stepped forward on the screen.

"Thank you, everyone, for supporting our brave guest!"

"Actually, I hired him ahead of time to demonstrate the Labyrinth's resurrection feature."

"He'll show us firsthand whether someone with such severe injuries can be brought back."

"I should warn you, the process is extremely painful."

"This adventurer is truly selfless!"

"I hope everyone gives him a warm round of applause!"

Chishiya clutched his chest and stomped the ground in mock emotion, eyes gleaming with fake gratitude.

The voice wasn't even trying to be subtle.

It was all emotion. Zero technique.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 95: Does Resurrection Magic Really Exist?

As soon as Chishiya said that—

The adventurers, who had been on edge just moments ago, were stunned.

"What? He was helping?"

"So it was prearranged? I seriously thought that guy was here to stir up trouble and the boss was just getting revenge."

"But the boss did say resurrection doesn't reduce pain… That guy's ruthless if he volunteered for that."

"Learned something new today. I've never seen this kind of marketing tactic."

"I knew it was all staged. No way someone would go that hard unless they were in on it."

…

Everyone began chatting, all firmly convinced that Shogo had arranged this with Chishiya beforehand.

After all, Chishiya hit him so hard it was brutal—he must have been a willing participant.

And honestly, if they weren't acquainted, no one would've dared go that far.

Otherwise the whole demonstration would've been meaningless.

Meanwhile—

Kyoya and Kirara were fuming, their faces flushed with anger.

Bullshit!

Who agreed to any of this?!

That bastard clearly did it on purpose!

They were about to speak up when—

Their throats suddenly tightened.

An invisible thread wrapped around their necks like a noose.

In a flash, they couldn't breathe. Their voices caught in their throats.

"Don't move. And don't get any ideas," came a chilling whisper behind them.

"I can kill you without causing the slightest scene."

Souei's voice was like death itself.

The two of them froze in place.

Their pupils dilated. Cold sweat trickled down their faces.

When?

When did this guy get behind us?

Why didn't we sense anything?!

Souei continued, voice quiet and deadly.

"You should be grateful that Chishiya-sama wants to see you."

"If it were up to me, you'd both already be dead."

Unlike the overly-kind Rimuru, Chishiya had issued no order to spare lives.

He just said to treat customers politely.

But if someone wasn't a customer—or came just to stir up trouble—

Then it was simple: beat them down until they begged.

Kyoya and Kirara swallowed hard.

This was bad.

Really bad.

There were monsters this strong in the city?

And they actually served that human?

What kind of person was Chishiya?

The memory of Shogo's torso being blasted to pieces suddenly resurfaced in their minds, making their legs feel weak.

They didn't dare move an inch now.

Damn it…

We really messed with the wrong guy this time…

Inside the Labyrinth—

Chishiya dragged what remained of Shogo's legs toward the treatment room.

Those Falmuth clowns must be tired of living.

Today was the Labyrinth's opening ceremony.

And they thought it was a good day to cause trouble?

Did they want to mess with his revenue stream?

Unforgivable.

If he hadn't handled it smoothly, it could've ruined the atmosphere and cost him sales. Who was going to cover that?

Your mom!

If he didn't kill them all today, he might as well stop calling himself Chishiya.

Though his mind was on fire, Chishiya still wore his ever-professional smile.

Inside the treatment room.

Chishiya turned toward the camera.

"Dear guests, allow me to introduce our Labyrinth's resurrection item."

He pointed at the capsule-like device beside him, which looked a bit like a high-end cryogenic pod.

"Just lie inside, and regardless of how fatal your injury is, you'll be revived."

As he spoke—

He casually tossed half of Shogo's body into the pod.

"If this guy can come back from the dead, I think it's safe to say you've got nothing to worry about."

Outside, at the plaza—

The crowd stared wide-eyed.

"Wait, wait, he's definitely dead, right? There's no way he lives through that."

On stage—

Frieren had already put her book aside.

She said nothing, just stared at the screen.

Fern and Stark, next to her, were the same.

They were all seasoned mages. They knew the rules.

There was no such thing as resurrection magic. It simply didn't exist.

In their world, death was final. It was the only absolute.

No spell. No relic. No god had ever proven otherwise.

And yet—

As they stared at the screen…

Chishiya loaded Shogo's mangled remains into the treatment chamber.

With a hiss of steam, the device activated.

Less than thirty seconds later—

There was movement.

The pod opened.

And in front of everyone—

Shogo sat up with a gasp.

His chest heaved. He was drenched in sweat, his face pale and terrified.

His hands instinctively reached for his torso.

Alive… he was alive.

But the sensation of dying still lingered in his bones.

It had been too vivid to be fake.

Had he really… been resurrected?

He turned his head, trembling, and looked at Chishiya.

That man still wore the same businesslike smile.

But this time—

To Shogo, that smile was more terrifying than any demon.

He's a monster…

That man is a literal monster!!!

Chishiya patted him on the shoulder.

"Glad you're awake."

"Thanks for the help."

"As thanks for your wonderful cooperation, the city will grant you two bonus resurrection credits."

"You're always welcome to stop by again."

"Benimaru, please escort our guest to the lounge."

From offscreen, a red-haired Oni walked in, katana at his waist.

He said nothing, but his aura was oppressively lethal.

Shogo flinched.

"W-What are you going to do to me?!"

"I'm a Hero of Falmuth! You can't just do whatever you want!"

But faced with such an overwhelming difference in power, his voice cracked.

Even his hands trembled.

Chishiya smiled again.

"My dear guest, whatever do you mean?"

"You helped advertise our product. We're incredibly grateful."

"Benimaru, please guide him gently. He's our VIP guest. Don't scare him."

Despite the kind tone, Chishiya's voice carried an unmistakable chill.

Shogo's throat tightened.

He knew that if he resisted now, he'd die again.

"D-Don't touch me! I'm not going anywhere!"

"I'm from Falmuth! If you touch me, your whole city's dead!"

Chishiya chuckled.

"Haha. Our guest is still a bit disoriented from being resurrected."

"Let's cut the feed for now."

Beep—

The screen went black.

Back in the plaza—

The adventurers finally exploded into chaos.

"NO WAY! He actually got up! HE'S ALIVE!!!"

"Holy crap, was that real?! Half his body was gone! HALF!"

"Ten silver coins suddenly sounds like the best deal in the world."

As the crowd buzzed—

On stage—

Frieren's eyes were wide.

"Is this… really happening?"

The elf, known for her emotional restraint, looked completely stunned.

Had that actually been resurrection?

Yes, there were limitations. But that didn't matter.

This was resurrection magic.

The unbreakable rule of death… had just been shattered.

"Amazing…"
Fern and Stark said it in unison, stunned into awe.

They had no better word for it.

It was simply… awesome.

"Hehehe~"

And then, from behind them—

A smug laugh rang out.

"Obviously, this is all thanks to me~!"

"After all, I'm the Chief High Priest of the company. The chief~!"

Aqua struck a proud pose, lifting her chin high.

"With a literal goddess like me around, reviving the dead is no biggie!"

"Ahahaha!!!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 96: Reasons for War with the Kingdom of Falmuth

Frieren: "?"
Fern: "??"
Stark: "???"

Goddess?
Resurrecting the dead?

What?

None of them could wrap their heads around it.

Frieren stared at Aqua.

Sure, the magic signature she emitted was definitely high-tier. A powerful priest, no doubt.

But… a goddess?

Images of Aqua staggering around town with a wine bottle came to mind.

Even drunk, she'd yell and dance in the streets…

It was impossible to connect that woman with divinity.

Just as they were about to ask—

Chishiya appeared on the screen again.

This time, Shogo was no longer in the frame.

But no one cared.

The demonstration was over. They had all been invited to the launch celebration.

What they really cared about was—

When does the Labyrinth open?

"Everyone, the demonstration is officially over."
Chishiya's voice echoed from the broadcast.

"The Labyrinth is now open!"

"The Resurrection Service, originally priced at 50 silver coins, will be completely free today!"

"Opening day special! First come, first served! Guests who want to participate, please head to the reception desk on the first floor!"

"Our professional receptionists will be waiting to assist you!"

Free today?!

The crowd lost it.

People spun around and sprinted straight toward the Labyrinth Tower.

Why be afraid when dying didn't cost you a thing?

As long as you made it back out—

That was free money!

Inside the Labyrinth—

After announcing the final line, Chishiya cut the screen.

Hmm…

The universal currency in [Tensura] was gold coins.

In the [Konosuba] world, it was Eris.

This currency mismatch was annoying.

Even setting prices took too much time.

Chishiya scratched his chin.

Guess it's time to issue our own currency.

Like casino chips.

Anyone entering the Labyrinth from another world would be required to exchange their money for Labyrinth Tokens.

Just like how tourists had to convert to casino chips before gambling.

Within a few days, he could set up a foreign exchange counter for adventurers.

And if the Labyrinth's influence spread far enough…

Maybe Labyrinth Tokens would become the standard global currency.

Focus, focus…

Back to business.

Chishiya looked down at Shogo.

Benimaru had already sliced off his arms and legs.

Business first.

Chishiya crouched, patting the bloodied guy's face.

"So… care to explain?"

"What was your plan?"

According to the original plot—

The Kingdom of Falmuth and the Western Holy Church would surround the city with a barrier to suppress monster power, then send in their army.

But thanks to the butterfly effect, the script had already changed.

Might as well double-check.

Not that Chishiya was worried—Vanir could always extract the truth if needed.

This was mostly for fun.

He just wanted to experience what it felt like to be the big bad behind the scenes.

Let's be honest—

What guy hasn't fantasized about being the mysterious villain pulling all the strings?

It felt… amazing.

So dramatic. So self-indulgent.

So deeply satisfying.

Chishiya straightened up, putting on a serious face.

"Your two companions have been captured."

"I'll give you three seconds to tell me who sent you."

He lowered his voice and darkened his expression.

"What's your objective?"

"What's the plan?"

"Of course, if you don't talk, I've got countless ways to—"

"I'LL TALK! I'LL TALK!!!"

Chishiya blinked.

"Huh?"

Did… did the guy skip ahead in the script?

He hadn't even finished enjoying the intimidation routine.

Shogo was trembling, his voice cracking. He looked like he was going to wet himself.

In this kind of situation, what was the point of acting tough?

For dignity?
For loyalty to Falmuth?

Screw that.

If he hadn't been isekai'd, he'd still be a schoolyard thug.

Now here he was, dismembered and crying like a baby.

Just let me survive. I'll kill you all later.

"I'll tell you everything!" Shogo blurted out.

"I'm part of the advance unit sent by the Kingdom of Falmuth!"

"They wanted us to provoke you, get you to fight back—then they could spin the narrative that monsters were hurting humans, and start a holy war!"

"Falmuth teamed up with the Western Holy Church! They've got troops stationed at all four corners of the city!"

"Over twenty thousand soldiers, just waiting for a signal to storm the gates!"

He dumped all the info in one breath, not even giving Chishiya a chance to interrogate him properly.

Chishiya: "…"

Come on, man. Can't you at least try to resist?

I didn't even get to monologue properly.

But… well.

The intel was useful.

Over 20,000 troops surrounding the city?

Neither the dryads nor Souei had picked up on it.

Must be some sort of concealment technique used by the Western Holy Church.

Not surprising. With the backing of the Holy French Empire, they had some decent tricks.

Still…

Chishiya stared blankly at Shogo.

Surrendering that fast really killed the vibe.

Just then—

Benimaru stepped forward, face serious.

"Chishiya-sama, this may still be a trap. Allow me to continue interrogating him. We'll verify the intel very quickly."

Chishiya: "?"

Shogo: "???"

Panic returned to Shogo's face instantly.

What the hell?

I already spilled everything!

Why are you still torturing me?!

"Wait, wait! I told you everything! It's the truth!"

"You can't do this!"

"This is prisoner abuse! I'm reporting you!"

Chishiya blinked.

As expected of Benimaru. The man never misses.

"Alright then. I'll leave him with you. I'm going to check on Souei."

He believed Shogo wasn't lying.

But if Benimaru wanted to play a little longer, who was he to interfere?

Chishiya turned around and walked away.

He'd just had a very profitable idea.

If Falmuth wanted a reason for war…

Why not give them one?

But on his terms.

"Hey! Don't leave! Don't leave me here!"

Shogo's wails echoed behind him.

Despair twisted his face as Chishiya vanished from view.

In the dimly lit chamber, only Benimaru remained.

The Oni's demonic aura grew thicker as he stepped forward.

"I really didn't lie!"

"I swear it's true!"

Shogo's voice cracked, on the verge of tears.

Benimaru's expression remained neutral.

"I know."

Shogo: "Then… can you let me go?"

Benimaru didn't answer.

He calmly unsheathed his katana, muttering to himself.

"You said some disrespectful things about Chishiya-sama earlier, didn't you?"

Shogo: "Huh?"

Benimaru narrowed his eyes.

"I counted nine uses of the word 'you.' Three threats. Fifteen mocking remarks."

Shogo was drenched in sweat.

"Wh-What are you going to do…?"

Benimaru didn't respond.

A second later—

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the Labyrinth.

——————————

At the same time—

Chishiya had returned to the meeting hall.

He opened the door.

Souei was already there, holding Kyoya and Kirara like they were shopping bags.

Behind them, Shion stood still, eyes glowing with murderous rage.

Her clenched fists cracked with each twitch.

On the other side of the room, Vanir sipped his tea elegantly, eyes gleaming with amusement.

On the table sat a magical flare gun.

Souei stepped forward.

"Chishiya-sama, these two confessed."

Chishiya raised an eyebrow.

"They did?"

Tch… What's with today's crop of enemies? Nobody wants to resist?

Shion stepped up, looking eager to be praised.

"Chishiya-sama, I personally handled the interrogation."

"They were sent by the Kingdom of Falmuth."

"And this flare gun—" she pointed at the table, "is their signal to the troops."

She was practically wagging her tail like a puppy begging for head pats.

It was frustrating being strong but not getting to show off…

Chishiya patted her on the head.

"Nice work."

Then, eyes narrowing, he picked up the flare gun.

The warmth left his face.

"Alright."

"My turn."

(To be continued.)