Labyrinth: Chapter 46/48

Chapter 46: Plays With Life!

Elsewhere

Gabiru and his followers rushed over in a panic.

"Gabiru-sama! Just what in the world did you give us?!"

"We feel like we're bursting with power!"

Gabiru: "…."

How should I know…

I've never seen a recovery potion this good before.

This stuff brought people back from the edge of death like it was nothing!

Totally insane!

"Enough talking! We're heading to the battlefield ahead. Follow me!"

Gabiru's expression turned serious.

He already understood who was behind all this—Gelmud!

He'd been manipulating everything behind the scenes, laying the groundwork for today!

Gelmud…
I will never let you off!

BOOM!!!

A thunderous impact echoed ahead.

Gabiru turned toward the sound—

What he saw made him freeze.

Mouth open. No words. No movement.

"W-What is it, Gabiru-sama?"

His followers turned to look as well.

And immediately froze on the spot.

It was a black-haired human.

With one hand, he slammed Gelmud into the ground.

Then began casually punching his face over and over.

Until his skull was buried into the dirt.

"Geh… G-Gabiru-sama… Isn't that the human from the conference…?"

"Yeah," Gabiru said, swallowing hard.

"Gabiru-sama… it looks like he's beating up… Gelmud…"

CRACK!

Not far away, a piece of ice shattered from the blast.

Everyone gasped.

"GAHH! Gabiru-sama!! H-His HEAD!!!"

Gabiru's eyes bulged. His scalp tingled. Goosebumps all over.

Are you serious right now!?

That's a high-ranking demon, second only to the Demon Lord!!

And he got destroyed like this?

He didn't even get to fight back. His head's just—

WHAT EVEN IS THAT HUMAN?!

"Gabiru-sama…" one follower whispered, trembling, and poked his arm.

"Didn't you… like… kind of insult him earlier…?"

"?!!!"

Gabiru's whole body jolted. He swallowed hard.

The mental image of a watermelon being smashed flashed in his mind.

But Chishiya didn't even look at them.

He was staring in the direction of Benimaru.

According to the original scenario, the Orc Lord devours Gelmud and evolves into the Orc Demon King.

But Gelmud's already dead.

An unevolved Orc Lord doesn't stand a chance against Benimaru and the others.

"You're not going to help?" Rimuru asked, landing beside him.

Chishiya shook his head.

"Let them settle their own grudges."

Even if the Orc tribe was being manipulated, that doesn't mean I can forgive them in Benimaru's place.

That'd be an insult to everyone who died.

He sat down on a nearby mound and watched from a distance.

This time… I'm just an observer.

Rimuru blinked, then quietly sat beside him.

——

"Crud… Crud…"

The Orc Lord mumbled repeatedly.

Benimaru held the hilt of his blade but didn't say anything.

Hakurou stepped up and spoke calmly.

"Young Master. He's not conscious anymore. Seems the demons used him too."

"I know," Benimaru replied, nodding slightly.

His grip tightened on the sword.

The image of that clown-faced demon flashed through his mind again…

Demons… again.

What is their goal…?

BOOM!

An explosion roared in the distance.

The Orc Lord's vacant eyes twitched.

He started muttering to himself.

"We came from the desert…"

"The famine ended… no more starving children…"

"I alone will bear the hunger… the pain… the sin…"

"ROAAAAR!!!"

He suddenly let out a thunderous roar.

"I am the Orc Lord, Geld!"

"The one who devours all!!!"

"I will devour you and become a Demon Lord!!"

"For my people!!!"

Benimaru slowly unsheathed his blade, his calm eyes locked onto the Orc Lord.

"You plan to carry everything alone?"

"Fine then."

"It ends now."

"For our people."

Behind him, Shion and the others drew their swords.

Time to settle this.

Boom…

——

The result was expected.

The unevolved Orc Lord stood no chance against Benimaru's team.

Even with insane regeneration, his magic power eventually drained completely.

The spot where he once stood was now just a crater.

Benimaru stared at it silently.

No one knew what he was thinking.

"It's over, Young Master," Hakurou said, patting his shoulder.

Benimaru looked ahead.

The remaining Orcs had dropped their weapons and knelt down, their minds freed from control.

Benimaru nodded.

"Yeah… it's all over."

——

Chishiya looked to the east.

A light mist covered the vast sky.

In the distant haze, a faint pink glow appeared.

Dawn.

[Notice:]

[Orc Lord confirmed eliminated.]

Rimuru looked around.

"The Orc Lord is gone. The effect of [The Hungerer] has disappeared."

"The war's over."

"Yeah."

Chishiya nodded.

Just then, Benimaru and the others walked over.

"Chishiya-sama, the Orc Lord has been eliminated."

Chishiya nodded again.

He glanced at the Orcs who had surrendered, scattered across the battlefield.

"What will you do with the rest of them?"

"Kill or spare?"

Benimaru looked back at them.

Some were unconscious from shock. Others were crying, holding their heads.

"It's over, Chishiya-sama," Benimaru replied.

"The feud between our tribes died with the Orc Lord."

Chishiya raised a brow.

"Even though they destroyed your village? No resentment?"

Benimaru responded, "Of course I still feel something. But next time, we won't be caught off guard."

"Besides… the ones who truly deserve punishment are the demons."

Benimaru's eyes narrowed.

His gaze turned cold.

"Those bastards used people's goodwill to ignite war."

"So many died because of it."

"Those with conscience are suffering, while the real killer is still out there!"

"I absolutely cannot forgive someone who toys with lives!"

His words weren't just for the fallen ogres…

But also for the countless Orcs manipulated and left to die.

That clown-masked demon…

I'll never let you escape justice.

Benimaru clenched the demon sword tightly.

"Chishiya-sama!"

Suddenly—

Benimaru and the others dropped to one knee.

"Thank you for giving us this chance! To settle the score with our own hands!"

"We'll repay this debt, even if it costs us our lives!"

"Okay okay, that's a bit much…" Chishiya waved dismissively.

"No, really," Souei added. "Meeting you was our fortune."

"We've found a truly wise leader," Hakurou agreed.

"Please let us continue serving under you," Shion added, her expression serious.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 47: Toys

At the same time.

Demon Lord's Castle

In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, a man in a white suit sat at a grand piano. His fingers danced lightly across the keys, casting out a cascade of elegant notes.

"Demon Lord Clayman, you seem to be in quite the mood."

On the sofa nearby, a red-nosed clown in a blue-and-white striped suit spoke lazily.

The melody drifted through the air.

Clayman eventually stopped playing, rose with grace, and took a sip from the wine glass in his hand.

"Subarashi~"

"Subarashi~"

"The chaos caused by the Orc Lord is far greater than I imagined."

"Whether it's the Orc Tribe or Demon Lord Milim…"

"They're all just pawns in my grand plan."

"This feeling—of manipulating everything from the shadows—is simply exquisite. Kukuku... HAHAHAHAHA!!!"

On the sofa, Laplace crossed his legs.

"Hey, Clayman, don't get too smug. You're not immune to getting wrecked."

Clayman smiled, turning his eyes toward the window.

"Laplace, I have a higher purpose."

"For the sake of Demon Lord Kazaream, I won't fail."

"Fine, fine…"

Laplace raised his hands with a shrug.

"Since you're that confident, I'll stay out of it."

"But I do suggest you take a look at what's going on over there."

"Demon Lord Clayman."

And with that.

Laplace bowed and vanished in a puff of white smoke.

"Heh…"

Clayman swirled the wine in his glass, lips curving up slightly.

"Relax."

"I've got everything under control…"

Bang—!

Just then, the door slammed open.

"Claymaaan!!"

"I came to check on my toys!"

A pink-haired girl with twin tails barged in, followed by a muscular blond man and a calm, white-haired woman with wings.

Clayman turned with a smirk.

"Milim, Carrion, Frey. Let's begin."

"Let's admire our masterpiece together."

"Uh-huh!!" Milim nodded enthusiastically, eyes sparkling like stars.

Frey and Carrion, by contrast, looked bored.

After all, this whole scheme was Clayman's idea. They were just along for the ride.

They had countries to manage. Unlike some people…

They side-eyed Milim, who looked like she was at an amusement park.

Clayman pulled out a crystal ball, smiling confidently.

"Let us bear witness!"

"To the birth of a new Demon Lord—the Orc Demon Lord, Geld!"

The moment he spoke.

A black-haired boy appeared on screen.

Clayman blinked. "Who's that?"

Then—

A vivid splash of blood filled the crystal ball.

"Hm?"

Other than Milim, all the Demon Lords present had the same reaction.

Their pupils narrowed.

Something... strong had entered the scene.

Clayman's eyelid twitched.

Gelmud was killed?
He might've been disposable, but he was still a high-ranking demon.

That human…

"Hey! Clayman! Where are my toys?!"

Milim slammed her hand on the table.

"That human looks fun and all, but I was promised a Demon Lord! Where's my Demon Lord?!"

An oppressive wave of magic power surged off her tiny frame.

Clayman quickly recovered.

"Milim, be patient."

He adjusted the crystal ball's angle.

His anticipation was building to a peak.

The Orc Lord—the very being he engineered with his own hands to bring disaster to this world.

Clayman smiled.

So this is what it feels like to be a creator.

"Everyone, feast your eyes!!!"

He pointed dramatically at the crystal ball.

Milim clenched her fists. "Waku-waku!"

Frey and Carrion gave him a token glance.

But after a few seconds…

Still nothing.

Just darkness and gray fog.

"…?"

Clayman's smile froze. "What's this?"

"Where is he?"

"Where's the Orc Demon Lord?!"

Milim frowned.

"Oi! Clayman! Did you call me here for this?!"

"Where's the good part?!"

The air around her started to tremble with power.

Clayman tapped the crystal ball, now sweating.

What the hell's going on?

Is it broken?

It shouldn't be…

Suddenly, the screen changed.

Benimaru and the others appeared on screen.

Clayman stared.

"Horns…? Are these Ogres?"

"No…"

Carrion's eyes sharpened.

"…They're Oni."

He narrowed his gaze.

There was something off…

These guys weren't weaker than him.

Especially the red-haired one…

He might be a Demon Lord even more terrifying than Carrion himself.

When did someone like that show up in Jura Forest?!

"Oni?!" Clayman stammered, eyes locked on the screen.

And then it happened.

The crystal ball showed the Orc Lord being consumed in black flame, reduced to nothing but ashes.

"W-WHAT?!"

Clayman let out a strangled yell.

That pile of ash... was the Orc Lord?!

All that effort… and that was it?!

What kind of twisted joke is this?!

"Ohhh!"

"Interesting, interesting!!"

Milim leapt to her feet, eyes gleaming.

"These guys are strong!"

"They've all evolved into Demon Lord species!"

But it didn't stop there.

Onscreen, in the stunned silence of everyone watching.

Benimaru and the others dropped to one knee in front of the black-haired boy.

Carrion's jaw dropped. Frey stared wide-eyed.

Carrion muttered, "That human… he's their leader?"

That wasn't even the crazy part.

The insane part was—

A human was commanding subordinates on Demon Lord level.

And not just one.

Four.

That kind of power could flip the entire world.

With enough intent, he could topple any nation.

Clayman's face darkened.

"This human… where the hell did he come from?!"

Milim stared into the crystal ball.

Her unique skill, Dragon Eye, lit up, seeing through the truth.

A human, giving names to monsters?

Sharing his own power with them?

Why would anyone do something so one-sided?

But…

To defeat Gelmud like that—he must already be at the level of a high-ranking demon.

Wait…

Could it be…?

He already possesses the power of a Demon Lord?!

Milim's eyes widened.

She made up her mind.

"INTERESTING—!!!"

"Clayman! I didn't get to see a Demon Lord evolve, but what you showed me might be even better!"

She cracked her knuckles.

"Alright, I've decided!"

"I'm going to check out this 'toy' myself!"

Clayman blinked.

Milim's actually getting involved?!

But then… his expression changed.

A grin tugged at his lips.

Milim stood up.

"But listen up, Clayman, Carrion, Frey."

"No one gets in my way."

"That human… is mine."

With that, she jumped out the window and flew off.

Clayman stayed quiet for a beat.

That human… is already dead.

He looked up, lips curling again.

That was Milim Nava.

The only Dragonoid Demon Lord in existence.

The oldest among them.

Her power was in another realm entirely.

No human could ever match her.

That was the bottom line.

Anyone who dares defy the Moderate Harlequin Alliance…

Will be erased.

(To be continued.)


Chapter 48: End of War

Chishiya sat in the main seat, arms folded, expression unreadable. Benimaru and the others stood silently behind him.

Below were the representatives of the Lizardman Tribe and the Goblin Village, led by Rimuru.

And in the center… the captured Orcs.

The war was over. Of the original 200,000 Orcs, only a little over 100,000 remained.

Even though the number had been halved, the problem of what to do with the remaining Orcs still loomed large.

“What—!!!”

“You have to take us in!!!”

The Orc in the black cloak looked up in disbelief.

The tribesmen behind him were even more shocked.

They genuinely couldn’t believe their ears.

Chishiya nodded.

“Yeah. You heard me right.”

He turned to look toward the Lizardmen.

“I know you’re not gonna like this.”

“I’ll skip the polite words.”

“I want to take them in. If anyone here has a problem with that, feel free to come talk to me directly.”

The black-cloaked Orc stood up abruptly, panic flashing in his eyes.

“Please wait a moment…”

“No matter what happens, we’re so sorry…”

Chishiya glanced at him.

If he remembered correctly, this was the same Orc Tribe Rimuru had taken in during the anime.

The one who later inherited the name of his father, Geld.

Didn’t seem like a bad guy by nature.

Chishiya waved his hand.

“You were used by demons. And you’ve got kids among your people, right?”

“Without someone backing you, your future’s gonna suck.”

The Orcs lowered their heads.

...True.

In the dangerous Jura Forest, there was no place for weak monsters without a protector.

Chishiya continued.

“Since Benimaru has already forgiven you, I’ll accept you too.”

“Really…”

The Orcs looked up at Benimaru and the others.

Benimaru gave a slight nod.

“When a brave man is angry, he draws his sword against the strong. When a coward is angry, he draws his sword against the weak.”

“With the death of the Orc Lord, the grudge between our two tribes is settled.”

“The one we truly cannot forgive… is the clown demon who caused all of this.”

“He’s the one we want to bring down.”

Chishiya was briefly stunned.

A brave man draws his sword against the strong. A coward draws his against the weak…

Hearing those words, even Chishiya felt a flicker in his heart.

As expected of Benimaru.

That’s exactly the kind of magnanimity a nation’s marshal should have.

Looks like pulling him in early was the right move after all…

The Lizardman leader stepped forward and nodded.

“I see. You care deeply for your people.”

“We understand.”

“But we still have one more thing to say.”

Chishiya narrowed his eyes.

Of course. It wasn’t going to be that easy.

“Go on.”

“If the compensation is reasonable, I’ll do my best to accommodate.”

The Lizardman leader didn’t hesitate.

“We’d like to seek refuge with you.”

“Please let us become your subordinates as well!”

Chishiya blinked. “Take refuge with me… that’s not… huh?!”

“Wait, what did you just say?”

He froze.

Did he hear that correctly?

The Lizardman leader continued.

“We’ve all seen your strength, and your attitude toward your people.”

“After the Storm Dragon disappeared, the forest’s been a free-for-all. Without a powerful figure to rely on, we can’t protect ourselves.”

“So we hope… that you’ll accept us too.”

“Please allow us to pledge our loyalty to Chishiya-sama!”

With that, the Lizardman leader got down on one knee.

All of the Lizardman followers followed suit and knelt.

What Chishiya didn’t expect the most.

Gabiru even knelt down beside his father.

Gabiru.

That arrogant lizard actually bowed?

So they’d discussed this in advance.

Chishiya finally returned to his senses and rubbed his temples.

“Alright… stand up.”

“I accept.”

“Thank you, Chishiya-sama!!”

Just when Chishiya thought everything was finally settled…

Rimuru suddenly stepped forward.

“Chishiya-san, I also have something to say.”

Chishiya: ???

There’s more?!

Rimuru: “I’d like to join you as well, along with my subordinates.”

Chishiya: “Ah???”

This is escalating way too fast.

Sure, he’d thought about recruiting Rimuru to trigger a reward.

But...

He never expected Rimuru to come knocking on his own.

Rimuru stepped forward.

He was impressed by Chishiya’s strength—and more importantly, his leadership.

Originally, he’d just planned to establish diplomatic relations with Chishiya.

But now...

With both the Orcs and Lizardmen joining...

Chishiya already had nearly 200,000 monsters under his command.

Rimuru scratched his head.

So really...

What were 2,000 goblins and the Garou Tribe in comparison?

A short silence later, Chishiya replied.

“No problem, Rimuru. We’d be glad to welcome you to our city.”

“I’ve heard the dwarven craftsmen in your village are top-tier.”

“We’ve got some blacksmiths of our own. Maybe they’ll hit it off.”

“I hope we can learn from each other moving forward.”

He extended his hand.

Rimuru paused for a moment, then shook it.

“Thank you, Chishiya-san. Please take care of me from now on.”

Definitely a chill guy…

Right then, a round of applause broke out.

Dryad Treyni’s voice rang out clearly.

“Chishiya-san, thank you for your help.”

“According to our previous agreement, the dryads will also offer their support.”

“And finally—”

She stepped forward.

“As the guardian of the forest, I, Dryad Treyni, hereby declare!”

“We acknowledge Chishiya-sama as the new leader of the Jura Forest!”

“In the name of Chishiya-sama, the Jura Forest Alliance is officially established!”

“Congratulations, Alliance Leader!!!”

The Lizardmen and Orcs cheered in unison.

And with that—

The number of monsters under Chishiya’s command officially reached 200,000.


---

Chishiya led the 100,000 surviving Orcs back to Ogre Village.

Rimuru and his people followed to pay their respects.

Seeing the massive army arrive.

Chishiya rubbed his forehead.

The company definitely had enough staff now.

But… over 100,000 names...

Seriously...

Where the hell was he supposed to start with that?

“Sis… is this Ogre Village?!”

Trya trailed behind the others, glancing around with wide eyes.

Now she finally understood why her sister had been so obsessed with this place!

The town was beautifully built.

There were still some houses under construction...

But rows of neat wooden homes already lined the streets.

The urban planning was flawless.

Some roads were even paved with cobblestones!

Even more surprising—there were street lights and fountains!

And this was before all the newcomers, there had already been nearly 10,000 monsters living here.

“Oh my god…”

She’d been shocked when she saw Rimuru had 2,000 subordinates.

She had not expected Chishiya to be this over the top.

“Wow… this is amazing…”

Rimuru also looked around in amazement.

The level of development was insane.

He’d thought his Goblin Village was doing pretty well…

But now that he’d seen Chishiya’s place?

They weren’t even playing the same game.

Just looking at housing.

His village had thatched huts.

This place had polished wooden houses with detailed interiors.

Even the streets…

Fifty meters wide.

Enough space for four or five carriages to pass side-by-side.

And everything was paved with stone tiles.

It wasn’t fully completed yet.

But from the layout alone, it was obvious this town was designed with full-on urbanization in mind.

“This is incredible…”

“Yeah… I definitely made the right choice.”

(To be continued.)