Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Management Staff
(Author Note: All characters are over 18 years old.)
---
In a rundown wooden house, Chishiya Shuntaro rubbed his head and opened his eyes.
"...Where am I?"
He slowly got up from the bed, his muscles still stiff.
Scanning his surroundings, Chishiya took in the unfamiliar space.
The room was roughly 20 square meters, furnished with a wooden bed and a simple wooden table.
An oil lamp flickered on the table, doing its best to illuminate the dim environment.
Wooden boxes were stacked in the corner, filled with some water and dry bread.
"I… got reincarnated?"
Chishiya used to be a hardcore anime fan—until the age of sixteen.
After entering high school, he buried himself in books.
Majoring in Financial Management in college, he helped wealthy clients invest.
Thanks to his unique insight, he was scouted by a major investor at twenty and started his own financial firm.
Then came the drinking party. And then came the dump truck.
Head-on collision.
Next thing he knew, he woke up here.
"You've gotta be kidding me..."
Back to the pre-modern era in one night?
Complete downgrade.
"But seriously, where even is this place?"
Chishiya rubbed his temple and stood up from the wooden bed.
He opened the door.
A blast of cold wind hit him.
What met his eyes was a pitch-black cave.
Blue minerals embedded in the walls gave off a faint glow.
The air was damp and smelled... disturbingly like bat guano.
Huh?
Don't tell me I got kidnapped and dumped in a coal mine?
Click, click...
A strange sound echoed in the cave.
It sounded like chewing.
Chishiya turned his head.
Behind the wooden house, a massive pink dragon lay curled up, gnawing on a black corpse.
The corpse didn't look remotely alive.
It looked like a wolf.
"Eh???"
Man and dragon locked eyes.
"This can't be right. Let's try this again."
Chishiya calmly closed the door, then opened it again.
".…"
Still there. Giant pink dragon. Front and center.
"Fuck!"
Chishiya turned and bolted.
He made it two steps before the dragon reached out and grabbed his ankle, lifting him clean off the ground.
"Chishiya, you're finally awake! Rim is hungry!"
The dragon spoke, in a girl's voice.
Chishiya: "???"
Then, a voice echoed inside his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on arriving in this world.]
[The Underground Labyrinth Enterprise System has been unlocked!]
[You are now the administrator of this underground labyrinth.]
[Labyrinth Demon(Majin): Rim has been bound to you.]
...What the hell is going on?
[Attempting to explain the current situation to the Host in simple terms.]
[This underground labyrinth contains rich resources and a complex ecosystem.]
[You can think of it as a farm, just in another world.]
[The Host is now the farm's—ahem—labyrinth's owner.]
'Owner?'
'Then maybe tell it to put me down first?! I'm about to throw up!'
Pah…
As if on cue, Rim loosened her grip.
Chishiya dropped like a sack of bricks.
Ugh...
He rubbed his lower back, wincing.
That hurt like hell...
Any lower and he'd be singing soprano.
"So what can you do, System?"
Chishiya groaned as he got back to his feet and communicated with the voice in his head.
[This system assists the Host in managing the underground labyrinth.]
[Functions include, but are not limited to:]
[Placing monsters, minerals, herbs, traps, special rooms, ecological systems, etc...]
As he looked through the menu the system projected, Chishiya didn't get all the details, but he got the gist.
The labyrinth was the farm.
The system was the farm's AI.
Monsters, minerals, resources—these were the crops.
"Pull up the labyrinth's detailed info."
[Received.]
[Current Labyrinth Level: 1]
[Upgrade Requirement: 500,000 Reputation Points]
[Monsters: Dogs, bats, fish-men, insects, slimes]
[Minerals: Low-grade magic crystals, iron ore, copper ore, rare metals...]
[Herbs: Healing Grass (Low-grade)]
[Ecosystem: Cave Ecology]
–Hint:
[Host can unlock new features by gaining reputation points.]
[Recruit core employees to gain special staff skills.]
"Special staff skills?"
As Chishiya pondered, the pink dragon in front of him began to morph.
From a towering beast to a pink-haired little girl with dragon horns.
"Hey… Chishiya… Rim is hungry! She needs food!"
"Hungry!"
She bit his arm.
"Ow! What the hell?!"
Chishiya clenched his teeth and grabbed her by the scruff of the neck.
He lifted her like a misbehaving cat.
[Labyrinth Demon energy level critically low. Please replenish immediately.]
[Failure to do so may result in a rampage.]
"Rampage?!"

Chishiya froze.
A status window popped up in front of him.
[Name: Rim]
[Title: Gluttonous Dragon/Demon(Majin) ]
[Energy: 1%]
[Labyrinth Resource Production Speed: Halted]
"Resource production speed? What does that even mean?"
Still holding Rim, Chishiya walked back into the house.
He pulled out some bread and water from a large box in the corner and handed them to her.
[The Labyrinth Demon is a direct reflection of the underground labyrinth.]
[Her energy level mirrors the labyrinth's energy.]
[In short: she is the labyrinth, and the labyrinth is her.]
[Managing her = managing the labyrinth.]
Huh?
Chishiya blinked several times, question marks practically floating above his head.
He turned to look at Rim.
She licked her fingers and shoved the last bit of bread into her mouth.
Then she looked up at him with those big, sparkly eyes.
"Chishiya, Rim's still not full."
"…."
[Energy: 3%]
[Labyrinth Resource Production Speed: Halted]
[Core Employees: 0]
Chishiya: "...Great. We're starting from zero."
---
Inside the wooden house, Rim lay fast asleep on the bed.
Chishiya sat in a chair across from her, watching her exaggerated sleeping pose and letting out a long sigh.
He had thought he was finally reaching the peak of his life.
And just like that, he got thrown back to square one.
When the hell will I get to live that peaceful, money-making, lie-flat life?
Chishiya rubbed his aching head.
He didn't know the customs.
He had no staff.
No money.
All he had left...
Was this labyrinth.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 2: God's Blessings on This Wonderful World
Chishiya touched his chin and muttered, "But first, we need money."
The essence of the underground labyrinth was simple: a giant farm.
To sell the stuff inside.
Not a bad deal.
He downed the last of the water in the box.
These supplies… looked like beginner loot.
A newbie starter pack?
Whatever. Rim ate most of it anyway…
He opened the system shelves.
[Product Shelf: Empty]
"Empty, so I have to stock it myself, huh?"
[Correct]
[The host can directly place goods on the system shelf.]
[The system will use big data algorithms to locate precise customers across worlds.]
[Items are converted into reputation points based on each world's currency and returned to the host.]
"So convenient?"
Chishiya raised a brow.
That eliminated a lot of hassle.
But first, he needed to figure out what he could actually produce right now.
He pulled up the labyrinth resource tab.
[Current Resources: Low-level Magic Ore, Iron Ore, Copper Ore, Rare Metals, Healing Grass (Low-grade)]
Let's skip iron and copper for now.
Magic ore...
That one was a blank spot in Chishiya's financial knowledge. Earth didn't have this stuff.
"System, can you mine it for me?"
[Negative]
"...?"
[There are tools in the box. The host can mine manually.]
"Excuse me?"
You're a system. You know modern college students can't even pass a basic fitness test.
I struggle with stairs. You want me mining?
This is ridiculous…
Grumbling, Chishiya pulled a pickaxe from the box, walked into the cave, and started swinging at the glowing blue ore on the wall.
I have to mine.
I need money.
I need food.
If I don't dig up product, I don't eat dinner.
Even heroes fall without a coin to their name.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Damn it!!!"
The sounds of metal clashing and Chishiya's cries echoed through the cave.
…
No idea how much time passed.
Clatter…
Chishiya dumped the contents of his backpack.
A pile of crystal-like minerals spilled out, glowing faintly. They looked like raw crystals but gave off their own light.
There was enough to make a small hill. Maybe over a hundred pieces.
It didn't seem like much, but Chishiya's legs were trembling.
He looked like he'd just walked out of a mining simulator.
His face was so dark it outshaded his sweatshirt.
"...I didn't think I had it in me."
Sometimes you don't know your limits until you push them.
Wiping the sweat off his forehead, Chishiya said, "System, will this do?"
[Analyzing...]
[Low-Level Magic Ore, Mana Purity: 50%]
[Evaluation: C-Rank Item]
"Magic ore… is this stuff the main energy source in other worlds?"
[Correct]
The system confirmed.
Chishiya narrowed his eyes.
"Then I should be able to make some decent money from this."
He loaded all the magic ore onto the system shelf.
Then shifted his attention to the other materials.
"Can iron ore be used to make armor?"
[No. The host must recruit specialized employees to unlock the corresponding technology.]
"So, same goes for herbs too?"
[Correct]
"Got it."
That meant the next step was recruiting employees from other worlds.
Chishiya tossed the pickaxe aside.
"System, like you said… how do I travel to other worlds?"
[Opening the map for the host...]
Shwoooosh.
A full map projected into the air in front of him.
Continents drifted across it like puzzle pieces on tectonic plates.
Chishiya's location was precisely at the intersection of them all.
[All worlds are connected to the host's labyrinth.]
[The host may choose any world to enter.]
Shwoooosh.
Several world panels floated into view.
[God's Blessings on This Wonderful World]
[Frieren]
[That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime]
[The Dungeon of Black Company]
...and more.
"They're literally all anime titles."
Chishiya blinked.
Aqua. Frieren. That adorable slime boss, Rimuru... all iconic characters.
Were these the "core employees" the system wanted him to recruit?
His gaze sharpened.
"Alright then."
"Let's start with the first one. Konosuba World."
[Confirmed]
[Transferring...]
———
Novice Town: Axel.
Surrounded by 10-meter-high stone walls, the city was lined with medieval-style brick buildings.
The streets resembled an old European town.
On one particular street...
Wiz's Magic Item Shop
A curvy brunette in a purple robe leaned tiredly on the counter.
Rustle...
Wiz flipped through this month's ledger, visibly distressed.
"Why... another loss?"
"I really have been trying so hard..."
Jingle.
The bell above the door rang.
Someone had entered.
"Hey! Shopkeeper! What's wrong with this potion you sold me?!"
A dusty adventurer stomped in and slammed a half-empty red potion bottle onto the counter.
Wiz jumped in surprise, shrinking back.
"W-What happened?"
The man snapped, "Your potion that boosts Paralysis ended up paralyzing me!"
"I nearly got eaten by a monster, you know that?!"
"S-So sorry!"
Wiz bowed deeply in apology.
"I'll issue a refund right away..."
"What kind of garbage shop is this?"
The adventurer took the money and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Wiz let out a deep sigh.
"That's the tenth one this month..."
"These were all supposed to be top-selling items…"
Ding!
A mechanical voice suddenly echoed.
[Welcome to Underground Labyrinth Enterprise Co., Ltd.]
[Dear customer, we proudly present the following product:]
[Magic Crystal, Mana Purity: 50%!]
[Introductory Price: Only 50,000 Eris! Order now!]
"Underground... Labyrinth Enterprise?"
Wiz stared at the floating projection in front of her.
"Is this... projection magic?"
"U-Uh, I don't really need this…"
"Why not ask someone else instead?"
Magic crystals with only 50% purity could only be used to craft C-rank magic items.
Who'd pay for that?
Wiz shook her head firmly.
Her store had been running in the red for months. She couldn't afford to gamble on some random item.
[...]
[Are you sure you don't want just one?]
"No."
She shook her head again, and her chest bounced along with the motion.
[...]
[As part of our beta launch, the company will offer you one crystal as a free trial.]
[If you find it satisfactory, please reach out.]
[Contact us by saying the company's name aloud.]
[We look forward to working with you.]
Beep.
The projection vanished.
In its place, a blue magic crystal appeared on the counter.
Wiz hesitantly tapped it.
"It just... appeared?"
"Was that spatial magic?"
"Underground Labyrinth Enterprise… What a strange name."
"But…"
She looked at the magic crystal.
"Could this thing... really sell?"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 3: Recruitment Suggestion
Wiz's Magic Tool Shop
Outside the storefront, three adventurers were whispering among themselves.
"This is it. The owner of this place? Total knockout."
"For real?"
The blond guy in the red short-sleeved shirt on the right lit up with interest.
"Tsk, tsk, once you see her, you'll understand. She's on par with the succubi at the Succubus Café."
"Hehehe… now you've got my attention."
Just as Dust was rubbing his hands together and preparing to head in, one of his companions stopped him.
"But I gotta warn you."
"What?"
"No matter how hot she is, don't buy anything from her. Total scam. Overpriced junk magic tools."
Dust nodded solemnly.
"Don't worry. I swear I won't buy a thing."
Jingle...
The door opened.
Wiz immediately greeted them with enthusiasm.
"Welcome! How can I help you?"
Oh wow!
Dust's eyes went wide—really wide.
She was a stunner.
One of the older adventurers rubbed his nose.
"Miss Wiz, mind if we just look around a bit first?"
Wiz blinked, then smiled sweetly.
"Of course."
Completely unaware that they were just here to ogle, she remained cheerful.
The three adventurers lingered in front of the shelves, occasionally sneaking glances at Wiz behind the counter.
She's gorgeous…
"Excuse me, is there anything I can help you with?" Wiz asked, tilting her head slightly.
Dust was already drooling.
The older adventurer quickly covered for him.
"Haha, Miss Wiz, I think we'll come back later. We're just—"
He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Shoving Dust aside, he sprinted to the counter.
His eyes locked on something.
"This is... a magic crystal?!"
He picked up the glowing blue crystal and inspected it closely.
No doubt about it. A real magic crystal.
And based on the glow, it could definitely be used to craft decent magic equipment.
Wiz hesitated.
"Well, the purity is only about 50%, so it's not exactly high-grade..."
"Doesn't matter!" the man cut her off.
"Miss Wiz, I'll buy it for 100,000 Eris. Deal?"
"Eh? 100,000?!"
"That's right. If that's not enough, I'm willing to offer more!"
Wiz was completely stunned.
Since when is a C-rank magic crystal this popular?
To a high-level lich like Wiz, C-grade materials were nothing.
But in Axel, full of newbie adventurers?
A 50% purity crystal was practically a treasure.
"O-Okay… I'll sell it for 100,000 Eris."
"Thanks!"
The man dropped his pouch on the counter and walked off with a huge grin, ignoring Dust and the others.
"C-rank...?"
The other adventurer stared, dumbfounded.
"Miss Wiz, do you still have more of those magic crystals?"
"Yes, but..."
"Please let me buy one too!"
"O-Of course, please wait just a moment."
Wiz hurried into the storeroom, heart pounding.
She could hardly believe it.
Since opening her shop in Axel, this was the first time her products were flying off the shelves.
Am I about to get rich?!
What an amazing company!
Stars danced in her eyes.
It felt so good to finally make a sale!
"Underground Labyrinth Enterprise Ltd.? Are you there?"
[Ding!]
A projected shelf appeared in front of her.
[How can we assist you?]
Wiz: "I'd like to order more magic crystals."
"Give me 20, please!"
[No problem. We're happy to serve.]
[Wishing you a nice day!]
Back at the counter.
"Miss Wiz, if you'd told us earlier you had real stuff in stock, I would've helped promote your store!"
The adventurer left with a satisfied grin, crystal in hand.
Dust stared blankly at them as they walked out.
Didn't he just say everything in here was garbage?
...Was this some weird new pickup strategy?
Wiz clasped her hands in front of her chest with a warm smile.
"Would you like one too?"
"Hehehe..."
Dust's expression twisted into a pervy mess, clearly overwhelmed by Wiz's charm.
"O-Okay... I'll take one too."
———
Meanwhile, back with Chishiya
[System received: 50,000 Eris]
[System received: 50,000 Eris]
...
"They sold that fast?"
The system's payment notifications kept popping up nonstop.
"Chishiya, I'm hungry."
"I'm hungryyy~."
Rim, still wearing rags, clung to him like a needy koala.
Chishiya opened his panel.
[Name: Chishiya Shuntaro]
[Occupation: Labyrinth Administrator]
[Core Employees: 0]
[Account Balance: 1,000,000 Eris (convertible to reputation points at a 100:1 rate)]
[Labyrinth Level: 1]
[Special Abilities: None]
One million?!
In under an hour, 20 crystals had already been sold?!
Chishiya's mood shot through the roof.
All that mining pain was finally paying off.
And this was just the beginning.
He could only sell magic crystals for now, and the profit margins were limited.
Still, he had start-up capital now.
Time to put his business background to work.
He wasn't here to mine.
He was here to build.
"Maybe I should look for local stores to act as agents…"
But right now.
His stomach rumbled.
"Alright. We've got money now. Let's go eat."
"Eat~! Eat~!"
Rim pumped her tiny fists in excitement.
———
Adventurers' Guild
Regret.
Deep, seething regret.
Chishiya clenched his jaw.
"How did this happen?!"
Across the table, the petite pink-haired menace was wolfing down steak like a starved beast.
The empty plate mountain was growing by the second.
"Delicious~! So good~!"
Chishiya twitched.
He thought having start-up capital meant things would finally go smoothly.
What kind of bottomless pit was this girl?!
And that wasn't the worst part.
He had just learned something critical.
Why did one plate of steak cost 5,000 Eris?!
Is this economy pegged to the yen?!
Unbelievable.
He had been so smug earlier, thinking he was loaded.
But 1,000,000 Eris?
Converted to Earth money, that was less than 50,000 yen.
Not even enough for a decent emergency fund!
Chishiya rubbed his temples, utterly defeated.
Still, there was one silver lining.
He checked Rim's status.
[Name: Rim]
[Energy: 25%]
[Labyrinth Resource Generation Speed: Slow]
At least the energy output had improved.
Several adventurers nearby stared in awe.
It was their first time seeing such a tiny girl eat like a dragon—well, technically, she was one.
Stare...
Chishiya didn't notice.
In a quiet corner of the guild sat a girl in a red robe and pointy hat.
She watched them intently.
Her red eyes glowed with curiosity.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 4: My Name is...
"Rim is full~."
Rim rubbed her slightly rounded belly and let out a content burp.
Chishiya Shuntaro's eyelid twitched twice. He turned to the receptionist and said dryly, "Excuse me. One salad, please."
Rim had eaten everything. He hadn't even touched a bite.
"Right away, please hold on," the receptionist replied politely.
Chishiya let out a sigh.
Whatever the case, things were moving in the right direction.
Next step—recruit employees.
He mentally drafted an org chart around the labyrinth's resources: Logistics Department, Mining Department, Sales Department, Technical Department, and Human Resources.
Each would need a capable department head.
Finding core employees… now that would be tough.
No matter the world, talent is always the most valuable strategic resource.
---
After the meal, Chishiya walked to the counter.
The receptionist was a hot blonde, probably in her twenties.
He glanced at the name tag on her chest.
Luna.
"Hello, how may I help you?" she asked with a gentle smile, eyeing him discreetly.
Dirty clothes. Unkempt hair.
He looked like a broke traveler—or a beggar, honestly.
Chishiya replied, "Can I post a commission?"
"Of course," Luna said, snapping back into professional mode.
"May I ask what the job details are?"
"Looking for teammates. Food and lodging provided. Salary: 100,000 Eris per month. Must be capable of physical labor."
I'm done mining by myself.
That was death on a stick.
Time to outsource. Or rather, recruit.
"Understood. Please write your name here and the commission will be posted on the board."
Luna began logging the request while maintaining her bright smile.
Chishiya nodded and turned to leave, but Luna suddenly stopped him.
She looked at the name written on the form.
"Mr. Chishiya, correct?"
"Would you like to register for an adventurer's certificate as well?"
She glanced him over again.
"You don't look like a local. Without ID, things might get tricky here."
Chishiya paused. She had a point. No ID in a fantasy world? Definitely inconvenient.
"Thanks. What do I need to do?"
Luna smiled. "Just place your hand on this magic orb."
She pointed to a floating blue sphere mounted in a special bracket.
Magic, huh?
System, do I have magic power?
Chishiya asked in his mind. He had zero clue about magic systems in this world.
[Host need not worry]
[After binding with the Labyrinth Demon, you inherited her massive magical energy]
Chishiya placed his hand on the orb out of curiosity.
The orb lit up with a blinding glow.
"Whoa...!"
Luna gasped and covered her mouth.
What incredible magical power!
This guy looked like a poor traveler who couldn't afford pants, and yet...
So much mana?
Unbelievable.
It really is true. When one door closes, a window opens.
"Mr. Chishiya," she said, picking up the printed adventurer's certificate.
"All of your stats are remarkably high. Especially your magic power!"
"You can choose from any advanced class right from the start!"
"That's amazing!"
Her voice had attracted attention. Adventurers around the guild began to whisper.
"First the blue-haired high priest, now the explosion girl from the Crimson Demon Clan… and another one shows up?"
"Newcomers are getting crazier by the day."
"Well, the first two were already unhinged. Let's see what this guy's deal is."
---
Chishiya accepted the certificate, which was already populated with his personal data.
"Then I'll go ahead and switch my class to Arch Wizard."
Luna had said he could change to anything, but this was an easy pick.
Crusader, High Priest... nah. Not interested.
"Alright!"
Just as Chishiya turned to leave with his new certificate, a girl in a magician's robe appeared in front of him.
She wore a red eye patch over her right eye and carried a staff.
Striking a dramatic pose, she stopped him in his tracks.
"I've reviewed your recruitment posting."
She covered her face with one hand and posed again like she was performing on stage.
Chishiya blinked. His eyes wandered over the petite girl.
She was cute.
His gaze dropped to her chest.
Okay. Not that kind of cute.
Still, something about her felt... familiar?
She smirked.
"Heh."
"My name is Megumin!"
"I am an Arch Wizard who wields the ultimate attack magic—Explosion Magic!"
[Ding!]
The system prompt chimed in his mind.
[Crimson Demon Mage: Megumin]
[Core Employee – Eligible for Recruitment]
[Recruitment Bonuses:]
1. Crimson Demon Clan Bond: Increases magic concentration in the labyrinth by 10%
2. Explosion Magic Devotee: Reduces mana cost of Explosion Magic by 50%, and increases power by 50%
---
Recruitment bonus?
Chishiya blinked in surprise.
Megumin is a core employee?!
And hiring her grants Explosion Magic?
Megumin tossed back her cloak confidently.
"I saw that you switched to Archmage too. Surely this is destiny."
"My immense power, feared and sealed by the world... do you wish to know it?"
"Then prepare yourself to gaze into the abyss with me!"
Chishiya: "..."
Yep. Full-blown chuunibyou.
Just like in the anime. Is everyone from the Crimson Demon Clan like this?
He cleared his throat. "Well, I—"
"Wait!"
She grabbed the hem of his coat.
"Don't reject me so fast!"
"I don't need money. Just food and a place to stay…"
Gurururu—
Her stomach betrayed her.
Chishiya froze and stared.
The girl turned red, her voice barely audible.
"I haven't eaten in three days… So, before we talk business, could I maybe have a meal first...?"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 5: Recruitment and Treatment
30 minutes later
"Alive!"
Megumin wiped her mouth with satisfaction, her belly slightly rounded.
Across the table, Chishiya Shuntaro stared at her, deep in thought.
A prodigy from the Crimson Demon Clan, she only knew one spell: Explosion Magic. And she refused to learn anything else.
Chishiya narrowed his eyes.
"She looks so delicate… can she even do physical labor?"
Right then, Megumin stood up dramatically, staff in hand.
"Very well! Thank you for the meal. As repayment, allow me to demonstrate the ultimate attack spell of mankind!"
Chishiya gave a nod.
Perfect. She'll collapse after casting it.
Then she can't argue about the job offer later.
Hehehe…
—
Back inside the guild, a few adventurers gathered around, whispering.
"Poor guy… roped in by the explosion freak right off the bat."
"She's definitely gonna get booted again."
"Agreed. What kind of team can afford a mage that only casts one spell a day?"
—
Grasslands Outside Axel
The three of them had accepted a quest to take down a giant frog.
The Giant Toad stood nearly three meters tall.
According to Luna, it terrorized herds during mating season, devouring livestock and frustrating local farmers.
One such massive toad came into view in the distance.
Its jumps shook the earth beneath them.
"Lunch!"
Rim drooled openly, her eyes fixed on the frog like it was a roasted turkey.
"Later!"
Chishiya, already anticipating disaster, tucked her under one arm and turned to Megumin.
"All yours."
"Heh…"
Megumin struck a pose, covering one eye with her hand.
"Leave it to me!"
As she spoke, the air around her warped and rippled. Magic surged outward in waves.
Even Chishiya was momentarily impressed.
At the tip of her staff, black energy gathered like ink bleeding into water.
She began her chant.
"Blacker than black, darker than darkness…"
"…Here we go with the chuuni nonsense," Chishiya muttered, rubbing his temples.
As her incantation continued, the sky darkened.
A vortex of magical energy spiraled above the frog, lined with layers of crimson magic circles.
"…Burn all that exists… descend from the abyss."
"This is the ultimate attack magic!"
"Explosion!!!"
Boom!!!
A red column of fire crashed down from the sky, slicing through the center of the vortex.
The resulting explosion tore a massive crater into the earth, the size of a basketball court, smoke and flame billowing everywhere.
The toad? Gone. Disintegrated.
"Lunch!"
Rim wailed in despair, watching her meal turn to ash.
Chishiya let her go and pointed her toward the other toads still hopping around.
Then he turned back to the scorched landscape.
"As expected from a Crimson Demon Clan prodigy."
A voice groaned from behind him.
"Um… can you help me?"
Chishiya turned and found Megumin lying face-first in the dirt, completely motionless.
"I went a little beyond my limit. Used up all my mana. I can't move."
"…Can you carry me back?"
"I don't want to get eaten by a toad…"
Chishiya chuckled.
This contrast never got old.
Time to strike while the chuuni's weak.
Time to secure that first proper employee. A noble cow and horse for the company!
He hoisted her onto his back and started walking.
"Your Explosion Magic is impressive. Join my company."
"…Huh?"
Megumin blinked in disbelief.
'Did I hear that right?'
Wasn't this the part where I get mocked and kicked off the team again?
She was fully prepared to grovel her way into this job!
She hadn't expected… actual approval?!
Her expression lit up.
"Really?!"
Chishiya nodded.
"Of course. You meet my recruitment standards. You're clearly gifted with Explosion Magic."
"Hehe…"
She grinned smugly.
"Obviously. I'm one of the most talented mages in the Crimson Demon Clan!"
"In that case, I—Megumin, number one wizard of the Crimson Demons—shall reluctantly join your cause!"
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host, for successfully recruiting Megumin.]
[Recruitment Bonuses:
1. Crimson Demon Clan Bond – Increases magic power concentration in the labyrinth by 10%
2. Explosion Magic Devotee – Reduces mana cost of Explosion Magic by 50%, increases power by 50%]
[Congratulations, Host, you've learned Explosion Magic!]
In that instant, the knowledge of Explosion Magic flooded Chishiya's mind.
His mana responded automatically, like the spell had always been a part of him.
"So… you don't need to chant all that nonsense, huh," he muttered.
Apparently, all the chanting was just Megumin's personal flair.
Still basking in praise, Megumin beamed.
"Hey, you just changed jobs, right? Haven't picked your skills yet?"
"Wanna learn Explosion Magic too?"
"I just used it, so it should be available on your adventurer certificate!"
"What do you say? Pretty cool, right? Explosion Magic!"
Chishiya gave her a sideways glance.
Her red eyes sparkled with hope.
She was almost fully brainwashed.
Time to deliver the final push.
"I'm not done evaluating yet."
"…Huh?"
"You have talent, sure. But your spellcasting has flaws."
"...What?!"
Megumin froze. Then she snapped.
"Are you insulting my Explosion Magic?!"
If she could move, she'd have been in full combat stance already.
"I switched to Arch Wizard just for Explosion Magic!"
"And you—you treat me to one meal and then criticize my art?!"
Chishiya stayed calm. "I'm saying you've got room to improve."
Megumin puffed up in defiance.
"Hmph! You may be an Arch Wizard now, but you just changed jobs today.!"
"I've been studying Explosion Magic since I was a kid!"
"You have no right to lecture me!"
It was like working hard at a company for ten years, only for some intern to tell you, "Hey senpai, your skills kinda suck."
Who could tolerate that?
Megumin sure couldn't.
"You think you understand Explosion Magic?! Then prove it!"
"Unless you can cast it, don't ever lecture me again!"
Chishiya calmly glanced at the new skill now visible on his panel: [Explosion Magic].
Then he looked at her and said flatly,
"Actually… I can."
(To be continued.)
Chapter 6: Stay-at-home NEET!
Megumin lay on Chishiya's back, clearly stunned.
"You know Explosion Magic too?"
She pursed her lips, her expression conflicted.
"Besides my big sister from the Crimson Demon Village, you're the first person I've met who can use explosion magic."
So exciting! I really want to talk to him about explosion!
A kindred spirit!
"No!" Megumin suddenly shook her head fiercely.
She refused to accept defeat.
"If you really know Explosion Magic, then show me."
"Let me see if your Explosion Magic has room for improvement."
Chishiya gave a faint smile.
I didn't want to show off, but you're making me.
"Can I borrow your staff?"
He took the staff from Megumin, then aimed at an empty patch of land nearby.
"Exhale."
He let out a long breath as mana began to surge through his body.
Megumin watched in disbelief as an overwhelming wave of magic—several times stronger than hers—erupted.
A kaleidoscope of starry light gathered at the tip of the staff.
Layer upon layer of red magic circles formed in the air.
"Explosion."
Chishiya said the word calmly.
The next second, a beam of multicolored light dropped from the sky.
Whoosh.
The light shrank inward, and the entire world seemed to fall into silence.
BOOM!!!
The explosion roared outward from the center, dwarfing the previous one in power.
A shockwave swept out, tearing through trees as thick as a man.
Megumin clutched her hat as she stared in stunned awe at the devastating blast.
The blazing red sky reflected in her crimson eyes.
It took her a while to snap out of it, only when the scarlet hue faded from the clouds.
"Wow… incredible…"
"Did I lose… the Explosion Magic contest?!"
She clenched her fists unconsciously.
Not just that. He wasn't even affected by the explosion at all.
He's obviously a regular human. How can he have this much magic power?!
Explosion Magic, while the most destructive spell, had serious downsides.
First, the mana cost was massive. Second, it required tons of skill points to upgrade.
Even Crimson Demons, with their innate magical talent, usually couldn't learn it before age 20.
Ordinary humans? Not before 40 or 50.
So people who could actually use Explosion Magic were extremely rare.
Let alone someone who specialized in nothing but Explosion Magic.
Megumin grit her teeth, staring at Chishiya's side profile.
"Even though I don't want to admit it…"
The feeling he gives me is just like the big sister I met as a kid!
"His Explosion Magic is so cool!!!"
Megumin suddenly grabbed Chishiya's shoulders and whispered.
"Teach me…"
Chishiya turned his head.
"Huh? What'd you say? You're mumbling."
"…"
Megumin's face turned bright red. She shouted,
"Please! Please teach me!!!"
"I can teach you," Chishiya said. "But what are you going to call me?"
"Sensei! Please, Sensei, teach me!"
Megumin clasped her hands together.
She had come to Axel specifically because she heard rumors about a magician who could use Explosion Magic.
Now it seemed she had found him.
And it looks like he was searching for the right disciple.
Yes, that has to be it!
Her second-year syndrome flared as she spiraled into delusions.
Chishiya smirked.
"Don't worry. I'll train you to become the world's strongest Explosion Magician."
"Get ready for hellish training."
"Yes, Sensei!"
———
Meanwhile
On the other side of the grasslands outside town, two adventurers were wrestling with a giant toad.
"Aaahh! Aqua, help!"
A boy in a green tracksuit was sprinting for his life as a giant frog chased after him.
From a hillside, a blue-haired girl shouted proudly,
"Kazuma! If you want my help, call me 'sama' first!"
"Aqua-sama!!"
Kazuma yelled back. Inwardly, he was cursing.
Damn you! I'll never let this go!
"Hehehe…"
Aqua giggled behind her hand.
"Fine, I'll help you, you stay-at-home NEET."
"But in return…"
"You'll start worshipping me properly tomorrow."
Just as Aqua began grinning smugly.
The giant toad, attracted by her yelling, changed targets.
It stopped chasing Kazuma and bounced toward her instead.
But Aqua, lost in her own world, didn't notice.
"When we get back to town, you're joining the Axis Church."
"You'll pray to me three times a day."
"And you won't complain about my cooking. You'll eat whatever I give you without question."
"Understand? And also—"
When she opened her eyes, the giant toad was already in her face.
"Huh?"
"Gu gua~!"
The toad opened its mouth wide and swallowed her whole.
"Ah???"
Kazuma stared blankly at Aqua's flailing legs sticking out of the toad's mouth.
"You actually got eaten—?!"
Ten minutes later
The giant toad was belly-up and unmoving.
Kazuma was kneeling beside it, panting.
"Thank god the thing couldn't move while it was eating Aqua."
Aqua sat on the ground, drenched in slime and sobbing pathetically.
"Waaaah… I've been defiled! It's so gross!"
Kazuma plugged his nose and backed away two steps.
He glanced at the toad's corpse.
A giant toad only fetched 5,000 eris.
You could make 8,000 eris working one day at a construction site.
Why the hell am I living this kind of life, risking my neck every day?
What I wanted was a chill, easy life in another world…
God, please. Just give me someone who can help me make that dream come true.
BOOM!
As soon as he finished speaking.
A deafening explosion rang out.
In the distant sky, a black vortex opened. A red pillar of flame dropped from the heavens.
The wind blew so hard, they couldn't even keep their eyes open.
Kazuma turned and squinted toward the source of the blast.
A man was standing on a distant hillside.
He looked around twenty.
A bit unkempt. Dressed in plain cloth.
"Amazing…"
Kazuma swallowed hard, staring at the explosion's aftermath.
"Is he… a high-level adventurer?"
"We used everything we had just to deal with one giant toad."
He turned to look at Aqua, still sobbing and slime-soaked.
"Why are my teammates such total weirdos?"
"Honestly, if I hadn't picked Adventurer and had gone Merchant instead, I'd probably be rich by now…"
"Luna did say I had high Luck. Said I'd be perfect as a businessman…"
Kazuma trailed off.
Watching Aqua heave a big sigh, he knew it was too late now.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 7: Training Ground
"Rim! We're heading back!"
Chishiya called out from the hillside.
A black vortex opened in the air before him.
"What's that?" Megumin blinked in surprise. "Sensei, are you part of the Demon King's Army?"
Chishiya rolled his eyes.
"What nonsense are you spouting? I'm just a regular businessman."
"Tsk... I don't buy it." Megumin pouted.
Rim returned, dragging a Giant Toad in one hand.
"Chishiya. Giant Toad. Delicious."
"Amazing!"
Megumin's eyes sparkled.
"You lifted that thing with one hand?!"
"The people in Sensei's team are seriously powerful!"
This must be the result of Sensei's training!
The three of them stepped into the vortex.
In the next moment, they arrived inside the Labyrinth.
"This place is..."
Megumin looked around. The mana here was noticeably denser than outside.
She could walk on her own now.
"This is your training ground from now on."
Chishiya led her forward.
"Training?"
Chishiya nodded.
"That's right. Your first task is to mine 200 magic crystals."
He handed her a pickaxe.
"Huh?"
Megumin stared blankly, gripping the pickaxe.
This is hell training?
Why is it so different from what I imagined?
"Ahem!"
Can't let the girl get suspicious. Chishiya cleared his throat.
"This is actually the first step of your training."
"Tell me, what's the most important thing for a mage?"
Megumin raised a hand and struck a dramatic pose.
"Style! If a mage's battle isn't cool, then what's the point?!"
...Well, style is important. Chishiya sighed.
"Wrong. It's close-combat capability."
"The biggest weakness for a mage is getting ambushed."
"If a high-level fighter gets in your face, your spells won't even matter."
"So having self-defense skills is crucial."
Chishiya spouted complete nonsense with a straight face.
Like he knew what he was talking about.
No way I'm digging crystals tonight. Gotta offload this shift to someone...
Megumin nodded thoughtfully. "Sensei, but what does this have to do with mining?"
Chishiya stroked his imaginary beard.
"Of course it's related. This is the most direct way to build up your physical strength."
"It'll greatly increase your survival rate in battle."
And reduce my workload.
Megumin gripped the pickaxe tightly. "I understand, Sensei!"
"But is mining the only thing I have to do?"
Chishiya shook his head.
"If you finish the mining quota, your next task is to defeat monsters here and level up to 20."
"Level 20?! But I'm only level 6 right now."
"Also, are there enough monsters in here?"
"Don't worry, there's plenty."
Chishiya led her deeper into the Labyrinth.
Megumin followed, and as they passed through a rocky tunnel, her jaw dropped.
The upper level had been a pitch-black cave.
But this lower level opened into a vast forest.
Blue skies above, with clouds drifting gently.
You'd never guess this was underground.
Most importantly, she could cast Explosion Magic freely without bothering anyone!
"It's beautiful!!! Sensei! How did you even do this?!"
Megumin's eyes sparkled like stars.
Chishiya looked at her awestruck expression and rubbed her head.
"You like it? Good. Rest up tonight. Training starts tomorrow."
Megumin saluted energetically.
"Yes, Sensei!"
After sending her off to the cabin to rest, Chishiya sat down and opened the Labyrinth panel.
---
[Current Labyrinth Level: 1]
[Upgrade Requirement: 500,000 Reputation Points]
[Benefit: Crimson Demon Clan Bond (Increases mana concentration by 10%)]
[Monsters: Omitted]
[Minerals: Low-grade Magic Crystal]
[Herbs: Healing Grass (Low-grade)]
[Ecosystem: Cave Ecology, Forest Ecology]
---
The forest ecosystem was newly unlocked.
Cost him 3,000 reputation points.
The reason Chishiya had so many points was thanks to consistent magic crystal sales.
He'd sold 100 so far.
Bought 20 each time, five times total.
Who keeps buying this stuff?
The system responded.
[Ding!]
[Magic Crystal Buyer: Wiz]
"Wiz?"
"You mean that Miss Wiz who loses money every time she opens shop?"
"She actually bought from our company? I guess she's got decent taste after all."
"If she handles it right, she might actually make a profit for once."
Chishiya opened his personal panel.
---
[Name: Chishiya Shuntaro]
[Core Company Employee: Megumin]
[Account Balance: 1,000,000 Eris (Convertible at 100:1)]
[Reputation Points: 37,000]
[Labyrinth Level: 1]
[Special Ability: Explosion Magic]
---
Chishiya rubbed his chin.
He hadn't converted all his earnings to reputation points yet.
Better to keep some Eris on hand for emergencies.
"The last batch of mined crystals is nearly sold out. Gotta restock soon."
Let's see what else I can unlock with 37,000 points...
"Just selling magic crystals won't cut it long-term."
He browsed the system store.
[All Plant-type Monsters – 10,000 RP]
(Evolve automatically with Labyrinth level)
[All Orc-type Monsters – 10,000 RP]
[All Medicinal Herbs – 20,000 RP]
[Collection & Construction Team – 10,000 RP]
[Basic House Blueprint – 5,000 RP]
[Teleportation Anchor – 50,000 RP]
"Teleportation Anchor?"
"What's that?" Chishiya asked.
[Unlocks teleportation anchor placement in the outside world. Allows outside access to the Labyrinth.]
[Can be used for tourism development.]
Chishiya nodded.
"In that case, 50,000 isn't a bad price."
"Once I have the points, I'll make that my next goal."
He skimmed through the store and made a decision.
Purchased three things:
1. Medicinal herbs
2. Collection & Construction Team
3. Basic House Blueprint
Herbs couldn't be processed into potions directly.
But he could sell them raw.
As for the collection team, he couldn't stay inside the Labyrinth forever.
Someone else had to handle gathering and construction.
[Ding!]
[Purchase successful. Collection & Construction Team en route.]
"Huh? What do you mean by en route?"
Just as he was wondering, the ground beneath him began to tremble.
Then, something started crawling up from the earth.
When Chishiya got a good look, his scalp went numb.
"Oh hell no. Where did all these ants come from?!"
A dense swarm of Labyrinth Ants emerged from the ground.
Each one about 1.5 meters long.
In under ten minutes, they had completely surrounded him.
Chishiya stood frozen.
"This... is the collection team?"
"A bunch of giant ants?! Seriously?!"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 8: Shopping Shelf
He was just standing there, stunned.
A mature female voice called out.
"My Lord, do you require our services?"
A young woman stepped forward. She had a sultry figure, wore a tight skirt, and exuded seductive charm with every movement.
She looked to be in her early thirties, with waist-length hair and a confident demeanor.

A system message popped up in front of Chishiya.
[Name: Labyrinth Ant Queen]
[Position: Core Employee of the Enterprise]
Recruitment Rewards:
1. Labyrinth Ant Colony – Increases collection and construction speed by 50%
2. Leadership – Grants host the ability to control insect-type monsters
[This employee was recruited using 10,000 reputation points]
[Recruitment rewards automatically granted]
As the system message ended, a spark of electricity flashed through Chishiya's mind.
Suddenly, he could understand what the ants around him were saying.
"My king! My king!…"
"Work! Work!…"
Chishiya stood frozen.
With the Leadership skill, he not only understood the Labyrinth Ants' speech, but could also sense their emotions.
Work!
The ants had one and only one thought.
Work for the king!
He'd never seen anything like this before.
Chishiya gave them a big thumbs-up.
Finally, someone in this world who actually likes working.
The Labyrinth Ant Queen stepped forward.
"Master, please give us your command."
Chishiya didn't waste any time and handed her the blueprints.
"Split the colony into two units."
"One handles resource collection."
"The other builds a commercial street on the surface and five floors underground."
"Yes."
The Queen accepted the plans and turned to issue her orders.
"Worker ants, move out!"
"Dedicate yourselves to our king!"
"Yes!!!"
Rustle.
The Labyrinth Ant swarm scurried back underground in droves.
The Ant Queen bowed politely to Chishiya.
"Master, please await our good news."
She turned and vanished into the earth.
Just then, the door to the cabin creaked open.
Megumin peeked out, eyes sparkling.
"Sensei, are you sure you're not the Demon King?"
The dense mana in the underground Labyrinth had helped her recover.
She hadn't expected to see this when she opened the door.
"You really aren't normal!"
"That's so cool! You can talk to ants?!"
"How did you do that? I wanna learn too!"
Chishiya rubbed his temples.
The Crimson Demons… They really aren't wired like normal people.
Any other 14-year-old would be screaming.
Megumin? She looked like she was about to catch one of the ants and start dissecting it.
"Go train after you rest. I've still got stuff to do."
"Pff…"
Megumin pouted and turned away dramatically.
"Dragging a young girl into a monster-infested labyrinth…"
"Then hiding out while playing absentee manager."
"Sensei, your personality's kind of trash."
Chishiya: "…"
Excuse me? Do you want me to go mine crystals with you?!
Megumin shook her head and muttered.
"Sigh… so unreliable."
"I really thought you were dependable…"
"I guess I was wrong about you, Sensei…"
Chishiya couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay, okay! I'll go with you!"
"Hehe."
Megumin smirked smugly, put on her magic hat, and hoisted her pickaxe.
She jogged up beside him and patted his back.
"Come on, Sensei. Let's go mining."
"You're a mage too. You shouldn't slack off!"
Ding ding ding!!!
CLANG—OW!
Once again, the sound of metal crashing and Chishiya's pained screams echoed through the cave.
I will atone for my lies even if it kills me…
He didn't know how long they'd been mining when…
Clang!
Chishiya dropped his pickaxe to the ground.
"That's it… I'm done for today…"
"Eh?" Megumin turned to look at him.
She'd already taken off her robe, rolled up her sleeves, and was still swinging her pickaxe like a pro.
Chishiya stared at her, confused.
Where does this little demon get so much energy?!
Megumin glanced at the basket beside her and did a rough count.
"Master, we still need a few more. We're not at 200 pieces yet."
Not enough?! Do you want to kill me, you cursed prodigy?!
Chishiya forced a smile.
"No need. You've already passed the first level. You're gifted."
Megumin put her hands on her hips proudly.
"Really?"
"That's great! I told you I'm the Crimson Demons' genius girl!"
"Ahahaha~~!"
Chishiya stared blankly into space.
If it weren't for the Labyrinth Ants, I wouldn't survive another day of this…
Still, something occurred to him.
As the Labyrinth expanded, managing everything alone would be impossible.
He needed someone with business savvy, tact, a little morality—but not too much—and a firm grasp of modern commercial thinking...
Suddenly, Chishiya's eyes lit up.
One perfect candidate popped into his mind.
Sato Kazuma!
"Yes, he's perfect for a management role."
"And with his absurd Luck stat, recruiting him would be a huge win."
——
Meanwhile
Night had fallen, but the Adventurer's Guild was still buzzing.
The tavern echoed with laughter, clinking mugs, and celebration.
"Aaah~…"
Aqua, now scrubbed clean of frog slime, was chugging sparkling wine across from Kazuma.
"That's the stuff~ Miss Luna, another round!"
Opposite her, Kazuma slumped over the table like a defeated salaryman.
"I'm so exhausted… I worked my butt off all day and only made 10,000 eris…"
"This isn't sustainable…"
"..."
"No!"
Kazuma suddenly sat bolt upright.
"We need new party members!"
"If this keeps up, I'm going to die poor!"
Luna approached with Aqua's next drink and gave Kazuma a look.
"Kazuma-kun, you seem troubled about your teammates."
Kazuma smiled bitterly and glanced at Aqua.
She was already wasted.
Flailing around with two fans in her hands and splashing water at the crowd.
Apparently, she'd decided it was time for banquet magic.
Kazuma's eye twitched.
What sin have I committed…
That murderous look in his eye was getting harder to hide.
He clutched his head.
He really wanted to strangle this useless goddess.
Why did I choose her?!
Should've just picked a magic tool!
"Damn it, AAAAAAAHH!!!"
The little devil in Kazuma's heart shrieked in agony.
Luna noticed his misery and leaned in.
"Kazuma-kun, if you're looking to recruit someone, I do have a suggestion."
"Really?!"
Kazuma sat up immediately.
Luna was trustworthy. Her recommendations had to be good.
"Hmm…"
Luna tried to recall.
"This morning, a new adventurer posted a party recruitment request."
"He's got serious talent!"
"His magic power rivals Aqua-sama's. And his stats are well above average."
"He switched to the Arch Wizard class right away."
"He also accepted a mission to subdue a Giant Toad today. You might've already met him."
Kazuma froze.
Arch Wizard …
"Ms. Luna, wait… You're not talking about… the person I saw earlier, right?"
Please tell me this isn't a coincidence.
Kazuma swallowed.
"What did he look like?"
Luna thought for a moment.
"Well… He's a tall guy, maybe 20 years old."
"Looks a bit… disheveled."
"Wearing simple cloth clothes."
Kazuma sprang to his feet.
"That's it! That's the guy!"
"So he really is a new adventurer?!"
You've got to be kidding me!
How can a rookie use that kind of spell?!
Luna blinked.
"What's wrong?"
Kazuma didn't answer. A sly grin curled on his face.
"Heh… heh heh heh…"
"It's settled. No matter what it takes, I'm joining his team!"
"I'm locking down that golden goose!!!"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 9: Darkness Passion
Next day.
Underground Labyrinth, Second Floor.
Boom!
A massive explosion rang out.
A huge stretch of forest was flattened by a blast of explosion magic.
"Delicious~, delicious~."
In the rubble, Rim puffed out her cheeks, gnawing on a chunk of meat like a hamster.
If she weren't chewing on a monster corpse, Chishiya might've called it cute.
The contrast was unreal.
Who would've thought this little pink-haired girl was actually the gluttonous demon of the labyrinth?
The kind of nightmare that makes monsters flee on sight.
"Sensei, the ground is cold. Can you help me up?"
Megumin's voice came from behind.
Chishiya turned to see the crimson-eyed Arch Wizard sprawled motionless on the floor.
He sighed, rubbed his temple, then picked her up and carried her on his back.
After yesterday's brutal training, Megumin's next phase had officially begun.
Monster grinding for level-ups.
"How's it going? What level are you now?"
"Hehe... I'm level 10! I finally have enough skill points to upgrade Explosion Magic!"
Megumin beamed on Chishiya's back.
"Sensei, once I recover, let's go again! I feel great today! Next time, I'll definitely unleash a 120-point explosion!"
Chishiya cut her off.
"That's enough for today. I've got other things to take care of."
"Tch... fine."
To help her level up, Chishiya had Rim round up a cluster of monsters.
Then Megumin nuked them with explosion magic.
In exchange, Rim got another steak meal.
A system prompt sounded.
[New items are now available in the shop.]
Chishiya opened the merchandise shelf.
[Product Shelf: Magic Crystals, Healing Grass, Detox Grass, Paralysis Grass, ...]
A variety of new herbs had been added.
Likely gathered by the Labyrinth Ants.
[New items added. Trial market area expanded.]
[Big Data algorithm scanning for ideal customers...]
[Host, please continue adding products.]
[The more products listed, the broader your customer base.]
[Targeting potential customer...]
[Scan complete. Target locked: Darkness.]
Chishiya blinked.
Darkness?
That masochistic Crusader? What would she need these herbs for?
...Forget it.
If the system selected her, there had to be a reason.
Right now, his focus was still on growing Underground Labyrinth Enterprise.
Bit by bit, everything was falling into place.
With a proper mining and construction team in place, the commercial district was next on the list.
The next step: unlock a teleportation anchor ASAP.
Opening the labyrinth to adventurers was the key to real profit.
Chishiya pondered.
"But I still need to follow through on two earlier priorities."
Recruit core staff, and find product distributors.
"The core staff target's already set. Kazuma fits the bill."
As for distributors...
Chishiya rubbed his index finger.
He had a potential partner in mind.
Wiz's Magic Item Shop.
Wiz, the lich, once known as the Ice Witch during her adventuring days.
She was kind-hearted and ran a magic tool store. Unfortunately, she had zero business sense and constantly stocked bizarre items that tanked the shop's revenue.
Chishiya reviewed her profile in his mind.
As long as he could help her turn a profit, she'd definitely agree to work with him.
"But come to think of it... the system's been quiet for a while."
"Are the magic crystals not selling?"
That can't be it...
As long as Wiz handles the transactions normally, there shouldn't be a problem, right?
———
Meanwhile, at Wiz's Tool Shop.
"How did this happen..."
Wiz slumped over the counter, clutching the ledger.
The storeroom behind her was stacked with boxes of magic crystals.
These weren't just any crystals—S-rank grade, with over 90% mana concentration.
She rested her face on the counter, brows furrowed in confusion.
"C-rank magic crystals are selling like crazy. I figured S-rank would be even more popular."
"So I invested all the profits into S-rank crystals and now..."
"They're completely unsellable!"
"Now the shop's in deficit again. I don't even have the money to restock C-rank crystals."
"This time, we're really heading for bankruptcy."
"No!"
Wiz straightened up and pumped herself up.
"I'll keep going!"
"I don't know why the harder I work, the more I lose... but I'll still work hard every day!"
———
Elsewhere, at a hotel in Axel.
Splash, splash...
Warm spring water flowed from the mouth of a lion-shaped stone statue.
A beautiful blonde soaked in the bathtub.
"I got rejected again."
Darkness pressed her hands to her chest, a faint flush coloring her face.
"No one wants to party with me since I always attract monsters."
She clenched her fists, remembering the looks they gave her.
"As expected... no one wants a useless woman like me."
"Ah~ as a Crusader, I got swarmed by monsters and showed such a pathetic, disgraceful sight to my team..."
Her breathing grew heavier. Her fair cheeks flushed deeper with excitement.
Something about her aura was getting... concerning.
[Ding]
Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed in her ear.
A projection screen appeared in front of her.
[Welcome to Underground Labyrinth Enterprise.]
Darkness jumped and quickly covered herself with a towel.
"What?! Who's there?!"
[Ding! Please remain calm.]
[As a customer selected via Big Data, our company is here to provide excellent service.]
"Company...?"
Darkness blinked, taking a moment to process. Then she sat back down.
"So, what kind of service?"
[Our mission is to meet all of our customers' needs.]
[Dear Ms. Lalatina, please allow us to introduce our product lineup.]
"Wh-what?! How do you know my real name?!"
Darkness flinched and stared at the screen, wary.
"Since becoming an adventurer, I've only ever gone by Darkness... I never told anyone my real name."
"How was it exposed...?"
[It is our job to understand every user.]
[Now, if we may introduce some featured items...]
[We believe they'll meet your interests.]
Business tactics...?
Darkness narrowed her eyes.
He doesn't seem hostile.
After a moment, she nodded.
"Alright. Go ahead."
[Product Introduction...]
[Paralysis Grass: Electrifies the target, delivering a tingling sensation throughout the body for 5 minutes.]
[Price: 20,000 Eris]
[Suffocating Flower: Inhalation of pollen blocks cellular oxygen intake, inducing a strangling-like sensation for 30 seconds.]
[Price: 20,000 Eris]
[YY Grass: Creates a wish-based illusion upon the target for 1 minute.]
[Price: 20,000 Eris]
[Weakness Grass: Inflicts random debuffs like heightened pain or fatigue, leaving the target in a weakened state.]
[Price: 20,000 Eris]
[Would you like to place an order?]
"..."
Darkness said nothing.
[Excuse me, would you—]
"Uuh..."
A heavy breath escaped.
Darkness didn't seem to know what to say.
Her face turned bright red. Her eyes gleamed.
[Are you satisfied? Which one would you like?]
"All of them..."
She clenched her fists. A twisted smile tugged at her lips.
"I want them all!"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 10: From Another World?
Chishiya took Rim out of the labyrinth.
Megumin stayed behind to level up with the Ant Queen.
"Delicious~, delicious~."
At a restaurant, Rim ordered a giant plate of grilled meat and devoured it with relish.
Chishiya opened his panel to check revenue after the new product launch.
---
[Name: Chishiya Shuntaro]
[Core Employees: Megumin, Ant Queen]
[Account Balance: 2 million Eris (convertible to reputation points at 100:1)]
[Reputation Points: 2,000]
[Labyrinth Level: 1]
[Special Abilities: Explosion Magic, Leadership]
---
After putting the new herbs on the shelf, Chishiya had earned 1 million Eris overnight.
Why did Darkness buy so many herbs that apply debuffs?
It couldn't be…
Forget it. That kind of speculation wasn't suitable for polite society.
He still needed nearly 40,000 more reputation points to purchase a teleportation anchor.
Until then, it was time to visit Wiz and discuss a sales partnership.
With a distributor, profits could scale much faster.
---
Wiz's Magic Item Shop
Wiz was slumped on the counter, her face pale as a sheet of paper.
Jingle…
The door opened.
A man in a tuxedo walked in, wearing a strange half-black, half-white mask.
"Hey, hey, hey, is this how you greet your guests?"
"Is this how a proper shopkeeper does business?"
Wiz lifted her head weakly.
"Mr. Vanir… Welcome..."
Vanir approached the counter and stopped.
"I was surprised to hear you made money."
"That hopeless shop owner who always runs losses actually turned a profit. I came to celebrate."
"I didn't expect you'd lose it all again in less than a day."
"As expected of you."
Wiz asked in a pitiful tone, visibly confused.
"Mr. Vanir, how come the S-rank magic crystals won't sell even though the quality is so high?"
Vanir tapped her forehead twice.
"You useless shopkeeper."
"This town is full of newbies and broke adventurers. Who on earth would buy such an expensive magic stone?"
Wiz lowered her head and poked her index fingers together.
"A great magician might just happen to pass by and buy them all..."
"What kind of idiot like that even exists in the real world?!"
Vanir sighed.
"At this rate, when are you going to fulfill your promise to build us a dungeon?"
"No, Mr. Vanir."
Wiz suddenly sat upright and declared seriously.
"As long as I keep working hard and earning money, I'll become Axel's number one merchant!"
"No—I'll create the largest chamber of commerce in the world!"
"When that happens, I'll definitely build the dungeon I promised you!"
Vanir waved dismissively.
"No, no, no. Keep your delusions in check."
Jingle…
The shop door opened again.
A man in his early twenties walked in.
Trailing behind him was a pink-haired loli.
"Oh?"
Vanir froze for a moment and stared at Chishiya.
This was the first time he'd seen a human whose past he could glimpse, but whose future was completely hidden.
He glanced sideways at Rim.
She was also unusual.
Her magical energy was on par with their own.
---
Chishiya scanned the store's inventory.
To sum it up in one sentence— Wiz certainly lived up to her reputation. Not a single practical magic item in sight.
In other words, it was a miracle this shop was still in business.
[Ding!]
The System prompt activated.
---
[Lich: Wiz]
[Recruitable Core Employee]
Recruitment Rewards:
1. Unlock new labyrinth monster type: Undead
2. Unlock potion development technology
3. Protection of the Ice Witch: Increases ice magic power by 50% and reduces mana consumption by 50%
---
Chishiya blinked.
That was a lot of rewards just for recruiting Wiz.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
Wiz lit up at the sight of a customer and enthusiastically launched into her sales pitch.
"Take a look at this magic crystal! The mana content is incredibly high!"
She pulled out an S-rank magic stone.
"With a good blacksmith, you could make an amazing magic tool!"
"Only 10 million Eris. What do you think? It's a steal!"
Chishiya's eyelid twitched.
This pricing was almost criminal.
Just then, Vanir appeared beside Chishiya, placing one hand before his chest in a gentleman's salute.
"We are officers of the Demon King's Army, commanders of all demons."
"I am the great demon who sees all things—Vanir."
"Human, you're from another world, aren't you?"
[Ding!]
---
[Duke of Hell: Vanir]
[Recruitable Core Employee]
Recruitment Rewards:
1. Protection of the Demon King: Increases host's mana capacity by 50%, and high-tier demons will fear the host
2. Unlock new labyrinth ecosystem: Dungeon
3. Unlock new monsters, including treasure chest monsters
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 2: Chapter 11-12
Chapter Text
Chapter 11: Duke Vanir of Hell
Chishiya was stunned.
Not just because of the sudden appearance of the system panel.
But more so… because his identity had been revealed just like that.
Vanir grinned.
"Relax, I don't mean any harm."
"What we're curious about is the civilization of your world."
"Are you really here to partner with this useless shopkeeper?"
Wiz immediately went into defense mode.
"Eh, hey hey?!"
"Mr. Vanir!"
"Please don't call me a useless shopkeeper in front of customers!"
Chishiya narrowed his eyes.
Now that the truth was out, there was no point hiding anything.
Might as well cut to the chase.
"Yes, I'm here to work with Miss Wiz."
Wiz blinked in surprise.
"Eh? You want to work with me?"
"That's right."
Chishiya pulled a blueprint from his coat.
"Miss Wiz, can you manufacture this?"
Ever since arriving in this world, Chishiya had been brainstorming ways to strike it rich.
His best idea? Magic devices fused with modern tech from his past life.
Wiz took the blueprint.
It wasn't detailed—just some basic working principles and ideas.
Wiz tilted her head. "This is a magic tool… that outputs cold air?"
Chishiya nodded.
"Yes. It's called air conditioning."
"In my world, it's a best-seller during summer."
Vanir walked over.
"This is intriguing."
"I get the feeling this will sell like hotcakes."
He glanced at Chishiya.
"Didn't expect someone who just sells magic crystals to come up with something this creative."
Wiz froze.
"Eh? Selling magic crystals?"
Vanir shot her a sideways glance.
"You clueless shopkeeper. He's the one who sold you the magic crystal."
Wiz's eyes went wide.
"Ehhhhhh?! So it was you!"
Vanir facepalmed.
"Human, please ignore this out-of-touch shopkeeper for now."
"If you're serious about this partnership…"
"How about letting our store act as your agent?"
Wiz blinked.
"Mr. Vanir—!"
"I didn't know you had such faith in me!"
"I'll work extra hard to make money!"
Vanir replied coolly.
"Don't get the wrong idea."
"I just know how talented you are… at ruining a business."
Wiz: "Eh?!"
Vanir adjusted his mask.
"From now on, we'll run this store together."
"If I leave it to you alone, our dream of making money and building a dungeon won't come true even in another thousand years."
Then he turned to Chishiya.
"You provide all the convenient inventions from your world."
"She'll handle production."
"We'll take care of the sales and guarantee results."
"How about splitting the profits 50-50?"
A fifty-fifty split wasn't bad.
But… this was still their shop, not his.
And how much money could it really make?
Chishiya knew the difference between a one-off meal and long-term meals.
He rubbed his chin.
Suddenly, an idea struck him.
"Mr. Vanir, did you say something about a dungeon earlier?"
Vanir chuckled.
"Correct."
"My dream is to build a dungeon that attracts all kinds of veteran adventurers!"
Chishiya: "If I help you finish that dream, would you work for me?"
Vanir paused.
"Help me?"
"The last person who said that nearly bankrupted me."
Wiz curled into a ball, embarrassed and clasping her hands.
Vanir: "So this time, I'll personally—"
Before he could finish, Chishiya cut him off.
"I have a dungeon."
"???"
Vanir and Wiz looked up at the same time.
Chishiya raised his hand.
A black portal opened before them.
"Would you two like a quick tour?"
Space teleportation magic?
They glanced at each other and followed Chishiya inside.
Then, they froze.
"What is this?!"
They saw countless labyrinth ants hauling stones, others mining magic crystals, everything running like a tight operation.
Chishiya explained.
"Let me show you around."
They exited the labyrinth.
There was a checkpoint at the entrance, and a huge plaque hung on the mountain above:
[Underground Labyrinth Enterprise Co., Ltd.]
Vanir was speechless.
"This is my first time seeing monsters employed like actual staff."
"Looks like I underestimated you."
Chishiya smiled faintly.
He had tasked all of this to the Labyrinth Ant Queen.
While the inner systems worked like a machine, the outside needed a presentable front.
You couldn't attract customers without a decent image.
"Mr. Vanir."
"If you work for me, you can fulfill your wish here."
"I want to make money. You want to savor the negative emotions of adventurers."
"Why not a win-win deal?"
"Let's grow bigger and stronger together."
Vanir's lips curled up into a satisfied smile.
"Interesting…"
"This place is way more fun than the Demon King's army."
"I accept!"
[Ding!]
[Successfully recruited Vanir]
[Please check rewards carefully]
Vanir: "Alright, tell me your plan."
Chishiya replied.
"First, the magic shop's name should be prefixed with our company's name."
"In return, the company will provide resource support."
"If the store profits, we'll give year-end dividends."
Vanir nodded.
"No objections here."
Chishiya turned to Wiz. "What about you, Miss Wiz?"
Wiz: "I don't really have any objections…"
"But…"
"There are still some losses on the shop's books…"
Chishiya smiled.
"That's fine. As long as you're willing to work for me."
"I can handle the losses."
Wiz's eyes lit up.
"Really?!"
"Mr. Chishiya, you're so reliable!"
"It's such a relief to have a dependable boss~"
Back at the magic shop.
Wiz pulled out the account book carefully.
Vanir stayed quiet.
His expression said everything.
"…Let's go scout the market."
He patted Chishiya's shoulder.
"Good luck."
Then he walked away without another word.
Chishiya blinked.
Why'd he leave in such a hurry?
Wiz stepped up with a smile.
"Mr. Chishiya, this is for you."
He accepted the account book.
And suddenly had a very bad feeling.
"..."
A few seconds later.
His worst fears were confirmed.
Can someone please explain…
How a tiny little magic tool shop…
Could rack up a debt of 50 million Eris?!
Wiz sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness I have a reliable boss like Mr. Chishiya."
"Otherwise, I'd have no idea what to do with this much debt."
[Ding!]
[Congratulations on successfully recruiting Wiz]
[Please check rewards carefully]
(To be continued.)
Chapter 12: Magic Air Conditioner
Chishiya rubbed his temples.
The corners of his mouth twitched into a forced smile.
"Miss Wiz, can you explain this 50 million Eris debt?"
Wiz: "…"
She lowered her head, placing her hands against her chest awkwardly.
"Well… I borrowed some money to buy a few S-class magic crystals…"
"But, Mr. Chishiya!"
Wiz looked up. "I really think these are quality goods!"
"They're sure to be a big hit!"
Chishiya gently set down the account book and smiled faintly.
"Miss Wiz, it was a pleasure meeting you."
Wiz: "Huh, huh?!"
Chishiya turned around.
"Mr. Chishiya, where are you going?!"
Chishiya picked up Rim.
"Mr. Chishiya?!"
Chishiya ran.
"Mr. Chishiya—!"
Out on the street...
Wiz clung tightly to Chishiya's pant leg.
Chishiya: "Wiz, let go!"
50 million Eris!
What kind of sick joke was this?!
Miss Wiz, you look so harmless, but you're absolutely lethal!
Wiz refused to let go.
"Mr. Chishiya, please don't leave—!"
"If you don't help, the shop's going under!"
"I'll do anything you ask!"
Tsk tsk tsk…
Passersby whispered as they took in the scene.
Especially at the sight of Chishiya carrying a little girl in his arms.
"Sigh… young people these days."
"Love drama?"
"The poor child, caught in the middle…"
What a disaster. Chishiya's eyelid twitched.
"Fine! I'll help you, okay?!"
Wiz looked up, eyes sparkling.
"Really?!"
"Yes, really. Now let go already."
The farce finally ended, and they returned to the shop.
Chishiya said, "Miss Wiz, can you contact the person who sold you those magic crystals?"
"….."
Wiz shook her head.
Chishiya sighed.
No chance of getting a refund, then.
He looked at her.
"Miss Wiz, let's go over things first."
"You said you'd do anything, right?"
Wiz nodded.
"Yes! As long as I can make up for the losses, I'm willing to do anything!"
Chishiya: "Good. That thing I sketched out earlier…"
"How many could you produce in one week?"
Wiz answered seriously.
"If I don't eat, drink, or sleep, I can make about 50."
Chishiya narrowed his eyes.
The quantity was solid.
But pricing and sales… that was going to be the real problem.
Oh well.
"You go ahead and make them. I'll figure something out once they're ready."
———
The next day
Chishiya arrived at the store bright and early.
First order of business: change the signboard.
[Underground Labyrinth Prop Shop]
"If this actually sells well, it'll boost the Labyrinth's reputation too."
He walked into the shop.
Wiz was at the workbench, tinkering with something.
"Mr. Chishiya, you're here?"
Hearing his voice, she looked up.
As expected of a lich. She had no issue pulling an all-nighter.
"Wiz, how many did you finish?"
Wiz stretched and pointed to nine tall units lined up behind her.
Chishiya was surprised.
"You already made nine?!"
Wiz nodded.
"Based on the idea you gave me, I embedded ice magic into each one."
"As long as you feed it a magic crystal, it'll blow cold air anytime."
Chishiya gave her a firm pat on the shoulder.
"Miss Wiz."
"Now comes the most important part. It's all on you."
Wiz replied seriously.
"Don't worry! I'll do my very best!"
———
An hour later
A row of tables was set up at the shop entrance.
Chishiya shouted with everything he had.
"Dear adventurers, don't walk past this chance!"
"Our shop has just launched a brand-new product!"
"Essential for staying cool in summer!"
"Only 200,000 Eris per unit. Take one home today!"
Right next to him...
Wiz stepped out shyly.
Wearing a maid café outfit that was clearly one size too small.
"Mr. Chi… Chishiya… Are you sure this will work?"
Chishiya gave her a confident thumbs-up.
"Trust me. It will."
As an expert in dropping baits…
Chishiya knew exactly what kind of degenerates filled Axel's adventurer ranks.
Sure enough, the moment Wiz stepped out…
Every man within a 50-meter radius spun around like they'd picked up on a pheromone signal.
Swish!
Heads turned in perfect sync.
Sharper than radar.
In an instant, they were surrounded.
"Miss Wiz, please go out with me!"
"No! Come with me!"
"Be mine!"
....
Wiz: "Eh?!"
"Mr. Chishiya, isn't this… kind of wrong?!"
Caught off guard, Wiz was overwhelmed by the chaos.
"Everyone, calm down!"
Chishiya stepped forward.
"Thank you all for attending the grand launch of the Underground Labyrinth Prop Shop's latest product!"
Everyone froze.
"A launch… event?"
"Yes. Allow me to present our store's new product."
He gave Wiz a signal.
She pulled off the red cloth.
Revealing the nine vertical air conditioners underneath.
"What is that?"
"So sneaky. I thought this was a dating event, but she's selling stuff…"
"Forget it…"
"Sorry, Miss Wiz. We're not interested in magic tools."
People began to drift off.
Wiz: "Mr. Chishiya…"
Chishiya raised a hand to stop her.
"Don't panic."
"It's the hottest season of the year. I'm sure a lot of people are struggling with the heat."
"The product we're launching today solves that exact problem."
"Wiz."
He turned and gestured.
Wiz nodded and slotted a magic crystal into one of the devices.
The next second.
A cool breeze burst forth.
"Whoa! What kind of magic tool is that?!"
"It's blowing cold air?!"
"How does it even work?!"
As the temperature dropped, the adventurers who were leaving turned back.
"It actually cools the air?!"
"With this, I wouldn't have to suffer through sleepless summer nights!"
"Does it have any side effects?"
Someone asked cautiously.
Chishiya replied.
"Rest assured, this product has no side effects."
"It only requires a low-grade magic crystal to operate."
"One C-grade magic crystal can power it for over half a year."
As the crowd thickened...
Chishiya raised his voice again.
"To celebrate our launch, all first-day buyers will receive one complimentary C-grade magic crystal!"
The audience buzzed.
"What?!"
"200,000 Eris per unit, and it comes with a C-grade crystal?!"
"A C-grade magic crystal's worth 100,000 Eris on its own!"
"What's this device called?"
Chishiya smiled.
"I call it the Magic Air Conditioner."
"There are only nine units available."
"If you want one, now's your chance."
"Because starting tomorrow, we won't be giving away any more magic crystals."
"First come, first served."
As soon as Chishiya finished speaking...
The crowd exploded into a frenzy.
"I want one!"
"Me too!!!"
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 3: Chapter 13-15
Chapter Text
I messed up the upload order, it's fixed now, sorry about that xD.
---
Chapter 13: Where Did Air Conditioning Come From?!
In the blink of an eye, all nine Magic Air Conditioners were sold out.
"That's it?! That's way too few! I didn't even get one!"
"Yeah! They were snatched up instantly!"
Chishiya raised his hand.
"Don't worry, we'll have another batch of nine for sale at the same time tomorrow."
"If you want one, come early and line up."
After that, he pulled Wiz inside and shut the door.
"So much money~"
"Chishiya-san, you're amazing. You sold them all in a flash."
"There'll definitely be a lot more people showing up tomorrow!"
Chishiya shook his head.
"That depends on how many Miss Wiz can make."
"Tonight's a critical point."
Wiz tilted her head.
"…I don't get it."
———
It was getting late.
The cicadas in the trees showed no signs of stopping.
Inside the stable...
Kazuma tossed and turned.
"It's so damn hot!"
He suddenly sat up and looked over at Aqua.
She was sprawled out dramatically on a pile of hay, grinning in her sleep for who-knows-what reason.
Rustle… rustle…
Suddenly, Kazuma heard something.
He got up and walked outside.
There, at the end of the stable, was a crowd of people lying at the door of one of the stalls.
"…What's going on?"
"Shhhhhh!"
They immediately hushed him.
"Huh?"
Kazuma blinked.
As he stepped closer, he felt it.
A faint breeze.
Cold air?
Coming from that stall?
Kazuma leaned in for a better look.
Inside, someone had set up a strange-looking device.
Cold air was steadily flowing out from it.
"…Oh, I thought it was something weird."
"It's an air conditioner."
"It's so nice having air conditioning~"
With that, he lay down beside the crowd and shut his eyes.
"..."
"…Wait."
Kazuma's eyes snapped open.
"Wait a minute—!!!"
"AIR CONDITIONER—!!!"
Kazuma sprang upright, eyes bulging.
He blinked several times in disbelief.
Yup.
It was definitely an air conditioner.
And it was a vertical one!
No. No, wait…
Isn't this supposed to be another world?!
How the hell is there air conditioning here?!
"You little bastard…"
"Huh?"
Kazuma slowly turned around.
Behind him stood a group of burly men.
Their fists were clenched tight, knuckles cracking.
"You damn punk…"
"Yelling in the middle of the night like that."
"You trying to die?!"
"Ack—! No, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to— AHHH—!"
———
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
The sun rose with the crow of a rooster.
Aqua rubbed her eyes.
A rare occurrence, she'd actually gotten up early.
"Kazuma? Kazuma-san?"
After searching around, she finally found Kazuma curled up in a corner.
He had full-blown panda eyes from the beatdown.
"Pfffft—HAHAHAHA!"
"Hahahaha! What happened to you?!"
"I can't— I'm dying! Hahaha!"
Aqua clutched her stomach, laughing so hard that tears ran down her cheeks.
Kazuma stood up, picked up his coat, and said nothing.
"Stop laughing and follow me."
Aqua blinked.
"Huh? What's with the serious tone all of a sudden?"
She followed him to the end of the stable.
"Look."
Kazuma pointed.
Aqua peeked inside and whispered in awe.
"Wow… Kazuma, someone's got air conditioning!"
"I'm so happy for them. Why don't you buy one too?"
Kazuma: "…"
He said nothing, just stared at her in silence.
Aqua: "Eh? If you don't want one, fine."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I mean, it's just… an empty sta—eh?"
Even this idiot finally caught on.
"Wait. Hold up… this doesn't add up."
Kazuma instantly clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Now do you get why I got beaten up?"
Aqua, still stuck in her excitement, stammered,
"Ka…Kazuma, that's really an air conditioner!"
"This world actually has air conditioning?!"
"Is the tech level here that advanced?!"
Kazuma: ???
He smacked her on the head.
"You useless goddess! Don't you get it?!"
"This was made by another reincarnator!"
Aqua: "Ohh, that makes sense now."
Kazuma just facepalmed.
He was done.
"I've already found out where they're selling them."
"We're going there this afternoon!"
He was now very, very curious about whoever made that air conditioner.
———
The afternoon flew by.
The street in front of the prop shop was already packed.
"I never imagined Miss Wiz's Magic Air Conditioner would be this effective."
"Right? My roommate was so jealous last night."
"Jealous? I had a girl sleep over just for the air conditioning."
"…What?!"
The crowd stirred.
Inside the shop…
Wiz peeked out the window, looking anxious.
"Chishiya-san, why are there so many people out there?"
Chishiya smiled.
He honestly hadn't expected the first batch of Magic Air Conditioners to perform this well.
"It's all thanks to you, Miss Wiz."
"Looks like people are really satisfied with your work."
Wiz blushed.
"Really?"
It was the first time anything sold at the shop had received praise.
"Results don't lie. The crowd outside is the best proof."
Wiz looked even more nervous.
"But we only have nine Magic Air Conditioners ready…"
"With so many customers, what should we do?"
Chishiya smiled calmly.
"That's my department."
He checked the time, then looked at her.
"It's almost time to open."
"Wiz, are you ready?"
Wiz took a deep breath and nodded.
"Ready! Let's open!"
The moment the door opened.
"Please give me one—!!!"
"I want one too—!!!"
"Me! Me!"
Adventurers stormed in like a tidal wave.
Less than 30 seconds later.
All units sold out.
"Dammit—!"
"I lined up since this morning and still didn't get one!"
"Why doesn't the owner make more?!"
"Yeah! There's no other way to buy it!"
Chishiya raised his voice.
"Everyone, please be patient!"
"I understand many of you want our new product."
"But due to certain unavoidable factors…"
"We're currently only able to sell nine units per day."
The crowd got rowdy.
"Why?"
"Yeah! Miss Wiz, we're all waiting here!"
"These tools are lifesavers in summer!"
Wiz was about to say something when Chishiya held her back.
"Miss Wiz is a kind soul. To make sure no one's trip goes to waste, she's launching a new promotion!"
"Magic Crystal Clearance Sale!"
"C-grade Magic Crystals, originally 100,000 Eris, are now just 90,000!"
"And customers who've bought an air conditioner from us…"
"Get another 20,000 off! That's only 70,000 Eris!"
The crowd went wild.
"What?!"
"Only 70,000 for a C-grade magic crystal if you've bought an air conditioner?!"
"Even if I don't use it for power, I can still make a ton by reselling or using it in crafting!"
"Miss Wiz is the best!"
"Are you sure you won't lose money on this?"
"I bought an air conditioner! Gimme two crystals!"
"I want one too!"
"This is definitely worth it if you buy in bulk! I want five!"
"Damn! I spent 90,000 yesterday! If I'd waited, I could've gotten it for 70,000!"
"No way! I'm sending my wife to line up tomorrow!"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 14: You Are Simply an Angel!
Half an hour later…
Chishiya waved his hand.
"Sorry everyone, the magic crystals are sold out too."
"Same time tomorrow. Come early if you want one."
After sending the customers out the door, Chishiya turned to Wiz.
The two high-fived, faces full of excitement.
"Chishiya-san, you're amazing!"
"How did you even come up with such a great idea?"
"We just made another 8.2 million Eris in no time!"
"That's over 10 million in just two days!"
"That's insane!"
Chishiya smiled.
"It's just bundling."
"Plus some good old-fashioned scarcity marketing."
He hadn't expected the results to be this good though.
All 60-something magic crystals he brought from the Labyrinth had sold out.
And whether they sold for 70,000 or 90,000, both were well above the system's base price of 50,000.
A guaranteed profit either way.
Wiz nodded eagerly.
"Thank you, Chishiya-san."
"I feel like I've learned so much from you in just two days."
Chishiya began sorting the account books.
"What comes next is even more important. Once Vanir finds a larger market, we can talk about mass production."
"There's still a lot to cover."
"I'll teach you slowly over time."
———
Outside the store...
Kazuma and Aqua were backed into a corner by the crowd.
Aqua pouted.
"There are so many people here, I can't even see who's selling…"
"Kazuma, can we just go home?"
Kazuma gave her a look.
"If only you could remember who you reincarnated as."
"Would we even need to be here?"
Aqua: "Then why are you looking for him?"
Kazuma: "To ask for help, obviously."
"You want to keep sleeping in the stable?"
Aqua stared at the packed street.
"But… how do you know he'll even help us?"
Kazuma sighed.
"We've got to try…"
"Besides, we've only got enough money left for one more meal."
He reached into his pocket.
"…Huh?"
"Hey hey hey!!"
"Where's the money—?!"
Aqua slowly turned away and started whistling.
"Hey… hey…"
Kazuma's temple throbbed.
He grabbed her by the head.
"You useless goddess! Where's our dinner money?!"
"Ow ow ow—!"
Aqua began to cry.
"It's not entirely my fault!"
"The weather's so hot!"
"In times like these, a glass of premium sparkling wine really hits the spot!"
"And didn't you drink it too?"
"You can't just blame me—!"
Kazuma let go of her head.
He looked at her in pure despair.
"…So you're telling me…"
"That whole thing earlier, when you said it was someone else's leftovers…"
"You actually spent our dinner money on premium sparkling wine?"
Aqua scratched her head sheepishly.
"Well… I was afraid you'd say something if I told you…"
The light in Kazuma's eyes faded.
He was done.
Absolutely done.
"Just destroy it all already…"
Kazuma clutched his head.
"Aaaaaah—! You useless, brainless goddess!"
"What goes on in that empty head of yours?!"
"Why do you always do the stupidest things?!"
Just then...
A voice called out from behind them.
"Do you two need help?"
They turned.
Chishiya was standing behind them.
Kazuma blinked.
It's that guy from before…
———
At the Adventurer's Guild restaurant...
The three sat at a table.
Kazuma and Aqua were stuffing their faces like starving wolves.
Chishiya sipped a glass of sparkling wine and watched them eat.
He'd been on his way out of town, but then he saw them.
[Ding!]
Two new panels popped up in front of him.
---
[Name: Kazuma Sato]
[Recruitable Core Employee]
[Recruitment Perks:]
Blessing of the Goddess of Fortune: Greatly increased luck
Flexible Mind: Increases product profitability in the Labyrinth by 25%
---
[Name: Aqua]
[Recruitable Employee]
[Recruitment Perks:]
Blessing of the Water Goddess: Immune to all negative effects
Unlocks Healing Technology in the Labyrinth
---
Both were high-value assets.
Kazuma brought business luck.
Aqua brought healing.
Chishiya sipped his drink thoughtfully.
"Ahhh~!"
Aqua took a long gulp of wine and looked visibly happier.
Kazuma swallowed a mouthful of food and bowed his head.
"Chishiya-san, thank you so much."
"If it weren't for you, we'd be starving again tonight."
Chishiya waved it off.
"It's fine."
"You two just seemed like a good match. I figured I'd help."
Kazuma stood up and gave a proper bow.
"Really, I mean it. Thank you."
Aqua raised her glass.
"Cheers—!"
Kazuma quickly pushed her arm down.
He gave Chishiya an apologetic look.
"Sorry. My partner's kind of… not all there."
Aqua, now fully tipsy.
"Eh? What did you say?"
"I'm the Goddess of Water!"
Hiccup… hiccup…
She burped twice mid-sentence.
Kazuma tried to restrain her.
"Hey! Can you not embarrass us for once?!"
"Calm down already!"
Chishiya waved his hand.
"It's fine."
"Excuse me, three more glasses of sparkling wine."
"And two more plates of fried chicken."
Soon, the dishes were served.
Chishiya pushed them toward the two freeloaders.
"Eat. Don't be shy."
Kazuma sniffled.
"Ugh…"
He was touched.
This was the first genuinely kind person he'd met since coming to this world.
"Chishiya-san, you're… you're an angel!"
Chishiya chuckled and waved a hand.
"Okay, okay. Just eat."
Aqua took another sip of wine and slurred,
"Chishiya-san… are you a reincarnated person?"
Kazuma froze mid-bite.
He looked up at Chishiya.
The Magic Air Conditioners came from his store.
It all added up.
They were the same type.
Chishiya looked at the two.
Since he was planning to recruit them, there was no point in hiding it.
He nodded.
"Yes. I am."
Kazuma looked shocked.
He actually admitted it directly!
Aqua: "Huh? Then how come I don't remember seeing you before?"
Chishiya explained.
"Maybe not the same world as yours."
Kazuma nodded slowly and took another sip of wine.
"I see…"
Chishiya noticed they were finishing their meal.
Time to get down to business.
"If you two don't have a place to stay, how about working for my company?"
"I'll start you off at 2 million Eris a month."
"HOW MANY—?!"
Both of them slammed their hands on the table.
They shot to their feet.
The entire restaurant turned to look.
Chishiya rubbed his temples.
"Can you two not be so dramatic?"
Kazuma stammered.
"W-why give us so much?!"
Chishiya answered casually.
"Because you're worth it."
"Isn't that simple?"
"Of course, if the company thrives, you'll get raises too."
Suddenly...
Chishiya was stunned.
The two people across from him had tears running down their faces.
They collapsed against the table, hugging Chishiya's waist tightly.
Kazuma and Aqua: "Chishiya-san! You are truly an angel—!!!"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 15: Darkness Is Bored?
The sobbing was... excessive, to say the least.
"Chishiya-san, you don't even know the kind of life I've been living."
"Sleeping in stables every day."
"Dragged down by this idiot."
"Everything I earn gets swallowed by debt."
"People look down on me wherever I go."
"You're the only one who ever gave me this kind of money!"
"From today on, you are officially the person I admire most in the world!"
Chishiya: "…Well… that's really not necessary…"
———
After leaving the restaurant, Chishiya raised his hand.
A black portal appeared in front of them.
"Come on. I'll give you a tour of the company."
With that, he stepped through first.
Kazuma and Aqua exchanged a look, then followed.
When they emerged, they found themselves at the entrance of the Labyrinth.
Kazuma looked up at the plaque.
[Underground Labyrinth Enterprise Co., Ltd.]
Aqua latched onto Kazuma's arm.
"Kazuma! There are so many ants!"
Not far ahead, dozens of Labyrinth Ants were hauling stones.
Some were dragging lumber.
The surface looked a little rough, but a few crude structures were already starting to take shape.
Chishiya explained.
"Don't worry, they're harmless."
At that moment, the Ant Queen stepped out.
"Master, welcome back."
"And these two?"
She glanced at Kazuma and Aqua.
Chishiya said, "Friends."
The Queen bowed politely.
"Welcome."
Kazuma and Aqua awkwardly waved back.
"Uh, hello."
Kazuma turned to Chishiya.
"Chishiya-san, what… what is all this?"
Chishiya replied calmly.
"This is my company."
"As you can see, it's an underground labyrinth."
Kazuma: "HUH?!"
"H-how did you do this?!"
Chishiya continued.
"I brought a divine artifact with me when I reincarnated. You probably have one too."
Kazuma: "…"
He turned toward Aqua, who was busy staring at the ant workers.
Aqua: "K-Kazuma! Look! That ant is building a house!"
For the next ten minutes, Chishiya gave them a rundown of the Labyrinth System and his plans for a commercial district.
Kazuma picked it up fast.
Based on the layout, he even suggested a few adjustments for the street layout.
Chishiya thought to himself—this guy's a natural businessman.
Even if he's a complete failure as an adventurer.
Kazuma: "Chishiya-san."
"Leave the Succubus Café to me."
"I'm confident I can get them to move in before the grand opening."
"And as for the hot spring resort…"
He pointed at Aqua.
"Give it to that one. She might be a dumbass, but she can still be useful."
Chishiya smiled.
"Then I'll leave it to you both."
He pulled two pouches from his coat.
"Here's your monthly salary."
"I'm paying in advance."
"Don't slack off."
Kazuma froze.
He held the pouch tightly, eyes welling up.
What kind of trust was this?
He's not even worried we'll just run off?
"Chishiya-san… no, aniki!"
"I swear, I will never let you down!"
Chishiya gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"I'm counting on you."
"Y-Yes!"
———
After sending Kazuma and Aqua back, Chishiya returned to his cabin.
"Come to think of it, I haven't checked the profits from the last few days."
He was referring to the system's recruitment rewards.
He opened the door, ready to lie down and rest.
Only to find his bed already taken by two girls.
Megumin and Rim were curled up on it, sound asleep.
Chishiya didn't disturb them.
He sat in the chair and opened his system panel.
[Congratulations to the host]
[Successfully Recruited: Wiz, Vanir, Kazuma, Aqua]
[Corresponding rewards have been issued]
He pulled up his personal info.
[Name: Chishiya Shuntaro]
[Core Employees: Megumin, Wiz, Vanir, Kazuma, Aqua]
[Account Balance: 3 million Eris (convertible to Reputation Points at 100:1)]
[Reputation Points: 2000]
[Labyrinth Level: 1]
[Special Abilities: Explosion Magic Lover, Leadership, Ice Witch's Blessing, Demon King's Blessing, Goddess of Luck's Blessing, Goddess of Water's Blessing]
Chishiya glanced at his account.
They'd made 10 million Eris over the past two days.
Half had gone to Wiz for materials.
He'd also paid salaries to Kazuma and Aqua.
Now he only had 3 million Eris left.
Converted to modern Earth currency, it wasn't even $100,000.
Chishiya rubbed his temples.
"…Still a long way from my goal of doing absolutely nothing."
"But at least the Labyrinth has unlocked new features."
"We can start developing new products."
He opened the Labyrinth Technology Panel.
[Congratulations! The Labyrinth Technology Panel has been unlocked.]
[Current Technologies: Potion Crafting, Healing Technology]
Potion Tech was self-explanatory—use herbs to craft potions.
Healing Tech…
Chishiya clicked it.
And was stunned by what popped up.
[Soul Isolation Barrier: Retains the souls of the dead inside the labyrinth.]
[Healing Holy Water Tank: If someone dies within the labyrinth, they can be revived within one hour.]
Oh my god.
This was basically a weaker version of Aqua's resurrection.
Meaning adventurers could fight monsters in the labyrinth without fearing death.
That's the pitch!
That's the selling point!
This… this was a goldmine.
Once the labyrinth officially opened, the healing tank alone could make a fortune!
Chishiya held back his excitement.
Not yet.
The Magic Air Conditioner wasn't ready for mass production.
They needed to expand product development.
And production capacity.
Then suddenly…
"…What's up with Darkness these days?"
He remembered something.
The herb inventory still hadn't moved.
System Notification:
[Customers have lost interest in basic herbal medicine.]
[They are hoping for a stronger product.]
Chishiya: "????"
Just what's going on in that perverted knight's brain?
Well, either way, it was time to develop some new potions.
[Potion Development Technology]
The system screen popped up.
On it, a giant cauldron.
Next to it stood a chibi version of Wiz on a ladder, stirring the pot.
Bubbles containing different herbs floated up.
[Drop ingredients into the cauldron.]
[Random chance to discover a new recipe.]
[Current known formulas: 0]
"…Why does this feel like a minigame?"
Chishiya mumbled as he clicked on the herb bubbles.
Before long.
[Ding!]
[You've unlocked the Basic Healing Potion Formula!]
[Ding!]
[You've unlocked the Basic Mana Potion Formula!]
[Ding!]
[Failure. You created a pot of unknown sludge.]
On screen, chibi Wiz held her nose, turned away, and gagged.
Chishiya clicked again.
"…This is actually kinda fun."
———
Time flew.
Before he knew it, Chishiya had played all night.
———
The next morning…
Chishiya opened his eyes and rubbed his sore back.
He'd fallen asleep at his desk.
He had spent all night experimenting with potion crafting.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 4: Chapter 16-17
Chapter Text
Chapter 16: Pre-order! An Advanced Way to Make Money
Chishiya stood up.
Megumin and Rim were still asleep.
He quietly closed the door and stepped outside.
At that moment...
The Ant Queen appeared in front of him.
"Master, reporting on the construction progress."
Chishiya gave a nod.
The Ant Queen continued.
"Surface and fifth floor construction is 60% complete."
"Estimated full completion in three days."
Chishiya blinked.
"So fast?"
He'd originally estimated that something this massive would take a month or two at least.
But finishing in less than half a month?
This 50% construction speed bonus was really doing work.
Chishiya rubbed his chin.
He needed to speed up his money-making plan too.
He opened the labyrinth details screen.
---
[Labyrinth Level: 1]
[Upgrade Requirement: 500,000 Reputation Points]
[Benefits: Crimson Demon Clan Bond (Increases mana concentration by 10%), Labyrinth Ant Colony (Increases construction and resource gathering speed by 50%)]
[Monsters: New Additions – Undead, Treasure Box Monsters]
[Minerals: Omitted]
[Herbs: Omitted]
[Ecosystem: New – Dungeon Biome]
[Technology: Potion Crafting, Healing Tech]
---
Five hundred thousand points...
Way too early to think about leveling up.
For now, he still needed to figure out mass production for the Magic Air Conditioners.
---
Axel – Underground Labyrinth Enterprise Prop Shop
Chishiya pushed open the door.
Wiz was hunched over her workbench, tinkering.
She didn't notice him at all.
Chishiya just stood quietly by the door.
Honestly, Wiz was a good person.
Just... extremely terrible with money.
"Huh? When did you get here, Chishiya-san?"
Wiz finally looked up, startled to see him already inside.
Chishiya replied, "Just a minute ago."
Wiz stood and poured him a cup of tea.
"You've been working so hard lately, Chishiya-san."
"Coming to the shop every day to help like this…"
"If you weren't here, I don't know what I would've done…"
Chishiya accepted the teacup, gently swirling the stirring stick inside.
Of course I'm coming. If I don't supervise you, I'll end up broke.
"I did say I'd help, didn't I?"
"Besides, you haven't slept for days, have you?"
"Don't you need a break?"
Wiz shook her head.
"It's fine, Chishiya-san."
"The whole thing with the magic crystals was my responsibility."
"And I'm a lich. I won't die even if I don't rest."
"Well, metaphorically speaking... unless I totally fall apart, then maybe..."
"But! I'm doing my best!"
You won't die even without rest?
Working 24 hours nonstop?
Is this what they call... the Chosen Employee?!
Ahem.
Chishiya stopped mentally spiraling.
He said, "Wiz, take tomorrow off."
Wiz: "Eh? We're not selling Magic Air Conditioners anymore?"
Chishiya replied flatly, "We are."
"But even labor slaves need sleep."
"Anyway, I actually came to talk about two things."
Chishiya sat down in a nearby chair.
"First."
"Do you have a channel that can mass-produce Magic Air Conditioners?"
"About a thousand units."
Wiz paused to think.
"A thousand... Hmm... It's possible, but delivery might take a month."
Chishiya narrowed his eyes and took a slow sip of tea.
A month...
That's too long. Too many variables.
He reached into his coat and pulled out several potion bottles.
"How about helping me evaluate these potions?"
Wiz accepted the bottles, inspecting them closely.
"These are all beginner-grade recovery potions."
"Going price is about 30,000 Eris."
"Eh? Wait a minute…"
Suddenly, she picked up another bottle from the table.
Squinting.
"What's this, Chishiya-san?"
Chishiya explained casually, "That one's a debuff potion."
"Applies paralysis and weakness simultaneously."
"This one's hallucination and paralysis."
"This one's poison plus paralysis..."
"And this one—"
...
One by one, Chishiya laid out the results of last night's experiments.
Wiz dipped a finger in one of the bottles and tasted it.
A moment later, she shivered from head to toe.
"Wha—?"
"Chishiya-san!"
She stared at him, stunned.
"This potion actually worked on me?!"
Chishiya: "…"
"Wiz... You haven't unlocked any vulnerabilities yet... Did your stats break?"
Wiz shook her head rapidly.
"No! Chishiya-san!"
"It seriously worked on me!!!"
Wait...
Chishiya's brain suddenly kicked into gear.
It worked... on Wiz?
Wiz?!
Wiz clutched the bottle, eyes wide.
"Chishiya-san, I'm a lich!"
"Negative effect potions aren't supposed to affect me at all—!!!"
Chishiya: "!!!"
Oh, right!!!
Wiz was an undead king!
She was basically one of the top-tier combat powers in this world!
And these potions could debuff her?!
Then monsters around Axel were going to be melted like slime in summer!!!
Wiz looked up, eyes gleaming.
"Chishiya-san, where'd you get the ingredients for these potions?"
"They must've been crazy expensive!"
Chishiya shook his head.
He knew exactly where they came from.
The herbs were just standard medicinal weeds from inside the labyrinth.
As for why they worked so well?
Probably the effect of the labyrinth's potion tech.
But it didn't matter...
This was a business opportunity!
A massive, gleaming business opportunity!
He could already smell the money!!!
---
Adventurer's Guild – Axel
Several adventurers stood in front of the request board.
"Lately, monster sightings have really dropped off."
"Yeah, no more commissions either."
"I'm broke enough to start eating weeds."
The board only had difficult quests left.
Complaints were echoing across the guild.
"I was saving up to buy that Magic Air Conditioner everyone's talking about."
"Same here!"
"I just wanted to support the cute, broke shopkeeper."
"Wait... isn't it on sale again today?"
"…"
Silence fell.
The next moment.
The whole guild sprinted out the front door.
---
Back at the prop shop.
Still packed as always.
Magic Air Conditioners were still selling out in seconds.
"Everyone!"
Chishiya stood at the entrance, raising his hand to silence the crowd.
"I know you're all here for the new product."
"But our stock is limited."
"So the shop's introducing something new."
"A pre-sale campaign!"
As he clapped his hands, Wiz stepped out.
Dressed in a maid outfit.
White hair accessory, long hair tied back with a few strands by her ears, lace skirt brushing her thighs.
After a few days of practice, she looked more natural in it.
Still, certain parts were very... well emphasized.
Let's just say, it was illegal in five prefectures.
Wiz held up a specially made magic certificate.
She spoke softly.
"Customers interested in the product."
"After payment, you'll receive our shop's exclusive card."
"Write your information on it."
"Once stock arrives, we'll deliver it straight to your door."
For a moment, everyone just stared blankly at Wiz.
"Pre-sale?"
This was the first time they'd ever heard the word.
"Pay money without getting the item? Just a card? Are you kidding me?"
"What if they run off with the money?"
"Yeah! No product, no deal!"
Chishiya just smiled.
"Now now. No need to panic."
He knew this would happen.
This was another world, after all. They had no concept of advanced economic systems.
But pre-orders?
A method of making money that could change history.
Even without stock... he could still drain their wallets.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 17: It's a Big Hit! Earn 24 Million!
Chishiya raised the card.
"First of all, everyone can trust Miss Wiz's integrity."
"Second, with this card, you'll still enjoy the Magic Crystal discount!"
The entire crowd froze.
Their eyes locked onto the card in Chishiya's hand.
To be honest, most of them were here for that Magic Crystal deal.
C-rank magic crystals at 70,000 Eris?
Only one shop in the entire kingdom offered that.
Anyone who bought it this week was guaranteed to turn a profit.
Chishiya saw the shift in their expressions.
He turned and gave Wiz a signal.
She nodded and brought out a large box of potions.
Chishiya raised his voice.
"Lastly, anyone who purchases this pre-sale card…"
"…will receive a special potion for free!"
"Today only!"
???
Everyone thought they'd misheard.
"Wait, what? Free gift?!!!"
Chishiya replied calmly, "That's right. Absolutely free."
"These potions inflict various negative effects on large monsters."
"Just a friendly reminder—do not use them on yourself."
People still looked skeptical.
"Is that for real…?"
"But big monsters usually have high resistance to debuffs."
"You idiot, who cares?! It's free!"
"This is basically stealing. Gimme one!"
"Same here! Count me in!"
...
Before long, a single spark had ignited a firestorm.
More and more adventurers rushed forward to buy.
Not just pre-sale cards—now they were buying magic crystals in bulk thanks to their newly acquired "discount rights."
Inside the shop…
Wiz and Chishiya were drowning in customers.
Nearly a hundred pre-order vouchers were gone in a flash.
All the giveaway potions were claimed.
Every last magic crystal Chishiya brought out… completely sold out.
"Thank you for your patronage!"
"Thank you for your patronage!"
Wiz closed the shop door, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Chishiya-san! We did it again!"
Chishiya took a sip of tea.
Soothing his dry throat.
"How much did we sell today?"
Wiz leaned against the counter and started working the abacus.
"Oh… oh my…"
She stammered as she double-checked the numbers.
She turned toward Chishiya, eyes wide in disbelief.
"T-twenty-four million…"
"Chishiya-san!"
"We made 24 million Eris in one day—!!!"
Her jaw hung open.
She'd run this store for years and never seen numbers like this.
Her respect for Chishiya reached a whole new level.
Wiz stared at him.
"Chishiya-san…"
"How did you even come up with the idea of pre-sales?"
"That's just… genius!"
"This way, we don't even have to worry about having stock right away!"
Chishiya smirked.
"Thank goodness there's still some summer left."
"Otherwise, this wouldn't have sold nearly as well."
Wiz shook her head firmly.
"No no no, Chishiya-san."
"The promotion itself got me tempted."
"Honestly, I started thinking…"
"Even if there's no air conditioner, buying this card for 200,000 Eris still felt worth it!"
Chishiya chuckled.
With a mindset like that, Wiz was not suited to be a merchant.
"Wiz, do you know what 'cost-effectiveness' means?" he asked.
"Selling at a low price?"
Chishiya shook his head. "No. It means the product feels worth the money."
"If something's just cheap, people might think it's low quality. They'll doubt the safety or performance."
"True cost-effectiveness means offering high performance at a price lower than the customer expects."
Wiz's eyes sparkled.
She nodded like a student being enlightened by a wise Sensei.
Over the past few days, Chishiya had consistently shattered her world view.
He didn't hide anything.
"Show off what the product can do," he explained, "then let the customer guess the price. And finally, tell them it costs even less than they expected."
"I get it now," Wiz said.
Kind of.
Cost-effectiveness wasn't just about being cheap.
It was about exceeding expectations.
Chishiya thought back to his previous life.
He'd once eaten at Narisawa, one of Tokyo's most prestigious fine dining restaurants. The set menu cost tens of thousands of yen… and didn't even fill the palm of his hand.
He didn't know about other people, but to him, it felt disappointing.
On the flip side, a hotpot chain like Mo-Mo-Paradise offered a surprisingly pleasant experience.
Why?
It wasn't that Mo-Mo-Paradise was objectively better than Narisawa.
It was about psychological expectations.
At Narisawa, expectations were sky-high. If the food didn't blow your mind, it felt like a letdown.
But Mo-Mo-Paradise?
Just an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu chain with bottomless broth and sauce trays. Expectations were low, but the service was cheerful, the ingredients fresh, and the whole vibe comforting. In the end, it left him more satisfied than the fancy meal ever did.
That effect was what made the experience feel amazing.
So cost-effectiveness… was never about price.
It was about beating what people expected to get.
Chishiya rubbed his chin.
"But Wiz, what you just said gave me an idea."
"We should launch… a VIP card."
Wiz blinked. "Eh?"
"What's that?"
Chishiya didn't answer. His mind was already spinning.
VIP cards. Yes.
Once the labyrinth officially opens, that's going on the product line.
Chishiya waved it off.
"It's fine, don't worry about it for now."
"For now, we wait."
"Let's see if these potions attract new customers."
"And since we're done with air conditioners for now, you can take a break."
Suddenly, Chishiya added, "By the way, I've got something to do tomorrow, so I won't be here."
"Can you handle things on your own?"
He was planning to take Megumin and Rim out for a walk.
Couldn't leave them locked up in the labyrinth all the time.
Wiz froze.
"Chishiya-san… isn't coming tomorrow?"
She didn't know why…
But her heart suddenly started pounding.
'So many customers...'
'Can I really handle it alone…?'
Over the past few days…
With Chishiya around, she'd felt at ease.
Not only had they started clearing their debts...
Business was better than it had ever been.
Now, hearing she'd be on her own…
"Wiz! Get it together!"
"You used to run this store solo all the time!"
She straightened up and nodded confidently.
"Don't worry! I can do it!"
But Chishiya had clearly picked up on her nerves.
"How about this," he offered, "I'll drop by in the morning when I finish up."
Wiz waved him off.
"Chishiya-san! Trust me!"
"I've been a shop owner for years!"
"I'll be fine!"
Chishiya didn't say anything.
But it felt like she was waving a lot of flags right now…
Oh well.
He'd still swing by tomorrow.
Just in case.
---
Meanwhile, at a hotel in Axel
Darkness removed her armor and looked in the mirror.
"My abs are starting to show again…"
"Maybe the armor's too heavy…"
"Time to lighten up."
Ding!
A notification popped up in her ear.
[Underground Labyrinth Enterprise has released new products!]
Darkness tied up her hair.
"New, huh?"
"I wonder who the boss is."
"Do they really think I'm the kind of woman who gives in to temptation?"
[New Potion]
[Phantom Numbing Potion – Inflicts dual debuffs. Target suffers hallucinations and moderate full-body paralysis for 1 minute.]
[Price: 40,000 Eris]
[Weakness Potion – Reduces target's resistance to negative effects, increases sensitivity.]
[Price: 40,000 Eris]
[Also available…]
More potion entries filled the projection screen.
All of them were Chishiya's creations from last night.
"T-this…"
Darkness flushed.
Feelings… she didn't know how to name.
[Would you like to place an order?]
Her eyes sparkled.
But she still shook her head.
"No. I'm not that kind of woman."
"Besides…"
She murmured to herself.
"I already spent everything on those herbs…"
"I'd be too embarrassed to ask my family for more…"
"I have to take a quest tomorrow."
"If I don't, I won't even have money for a room. I'll end up sleeping in a stable."
"…Although…"
"…Sleeping in a stable doesn't sound too bad…"
She started panting lightly, her imagination running wild.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 5: Chapter 18-20
Chapter Text
Chapter 18: The Crusader with a Sick Mind
The next day
Woods outside Axel
Darkness had temporarily joined a small party.
They were clearing out slimes that had been stealing food supplies.
"Ahh... finally cleared it all out…"
The party's leader, a young swordsman, flopped onto the ground.
"So weird! All the weak monsters nearby have vanished…"
"But the number of slimes hasn't gone down," the party's mage added.
"Well, I'm not complaining. I'll take easy jobs that still pay," the thief girl chimed in.
She turned to Darkness and grinned.
"Thanks for attracting those slimes."
"Things went way faster thanks to you."
"We'd heard some... rumors before."
"We were kinda nervous about teaming up at first…"
"But we were wrong. Sorry about that."
The three of them bowed apologetically to Darkness.
"Wha?!"
Darkness flailed, waving her hands in panic.
"N-no, it's fine... really…"
She blushed slightly.
Being entangled by slimes wasn't exactly unpleasant...
Darkness looked down at one of the slime corpses.
It wouldn't be too bad to keep one as a pet...
"ROAR—!!!"
A sudden roar echoed from deep in the forest.
A massive black saber-toothed tiger stepped out from the bushes.
Everyone's hair stood on end.
"Th-that's the new killer beast—!"
"What the hell is something that strong doing here?!"
"Run, now!"
The three teammates turned and bolted.
But Darkness suddenly charged toward the monster, sword in hand.
"Hey hey hey!!!"
"If we all run, we can make it!"
"I'll hold it off!"
She swung her sword down with a gleam in her eyes.
The three froze in shock.
Facing a monster like that for someone you just met?
"Damn… she's such a good person…"
"How could there be weird rumors about her?!"
"I even doubted her... I'm garbage."
The next moment…
The new killer beast slammed its paw down.
Darkness was sent flying.
Her armor cracked, her clothes tore.
"Are you okay—?!" the others shouted.
Darkness slowly stood up.
A wide smile on her face.
"I'm fine… don't worry… just run."
Then she rushed the beast again.
They were stunned.
Too moved to speak.
"No, we can't just sit here."
The leader suddenly remembered something.
He pulled out a potion bottle.
"This debuff potion is supposed to work on large monsters!"
"Maybe it'll help!"
He shouted at Darkness.
"Get out of the way—!"
He hurled the potion through the air.
It made a clean arc, aimed right at the new killer—
Until Darkness suddenly stepped in the way.
The potion exploded on impact.
Soaking her completely.
Instantly…
Her body was flooded with numbness from head to toe.
And then, suffocation.
"???"
Everyone froze.
They turned to the young man.
"Are your eyes on your ankles or what?!"
"How the hell did you miss that badly?!"
He was speechless.
Spiraling into a pit of self-doubt.
"I... I was aiming... at the monster…"
"How could it miss like that...?"
Darkness gripped her sword, using it to prop herself up.
Her face flushed.
Breathing heavier by the second.
Her smile... grew unsettlingly wide.
"No... I'm fine…"
"Heh... heh heh…"
"I... I'm good… hehe…"
"Eh?!"
Everyone turned toward her.
Darkness was panting.
"Not bad…"
"This situation... this sensation... not bad at all…"
???
Even the dumbest person would realize something was off by now.
"W-wait… is it just me?"
"Why does she... look like she's enjoying this?!"
They all exchanged awkward glances.
The killer beast hesitated.
It paced in place, refusing to charge again.
Darkness frowned.
She shouted at it.
"Come on!"
"Drool on me! Bite me harder! Push me to the edge while I resist, little by little!"
"What are you waiting for?!"
"Don't think I'll stop struggling just because I can't move!"
"Even though it's completely useless now."
"Still... come on!!!"
Killer Beast: "???"
The three adventurers: "???"
For the first time ever, they saw a monster with a [???] expression.
Eventually, thanks to Darkness's indescribable "bravery"...
The killer beast ran away in fear.
The three behind her swallowed hard.
They looked at each other...
Then at Darkness, who looked disappointed.
Confirmed.
This Crusader is 100% mentally broken.
---
Adventurer's Guild
At a table…
The young party leader bowed deeply to Darkness.
"We're giving you a little extra reward."
"But... please find another team."
Darkness blinked.
"W-why? I can tank!"
"You don't need to pity me!"
The young man shook his head violently.
"No. No no no."
"Please spare us."
As soon as he said it, the whole party fled without turning back.
Darkness picked up the pouch on the table.
Enough for dinner and a night at the inn.
But what about tomorrow…?
She turned to glance at the other adventurers nearby.
"?!!"
Instantly, everyone averted their eyes.
Avoiding her gaze like it was a disease.
Afraid she might cling to them.
Darkness sighed.
She walked toward the quest board.
"I still don't have enough for tomorrow."
"Gotta pick a new quest."
[Investigate the slimes appearing in the forest.]
"Slimes... should be fine on my own…"
"Let's go with this one."
---
Meanwhile, in a corner of the guild cafeteria
Chishiya was rubbing his temples.
"ka-ka-ka-ka…"
Across from him, two small girls were devouring their meals like starving wolves.
How did he end up raising two food-obsessed brats?
As Chishiya stared blankly...
Megumin reached over and snatched his snack.
And immediately shoved it into her mouth.
"Hey! That was mine!"
Megumin munched triumphantly, cheeks puffed.
"Sensei, in a world where the strong prey on the weak, being naive like you is fatal."
"If you want something, you take it."
"Right, Rim-chan?"
Rim nodded while chomping down.
"Yummy~, so yummy~"
Chishiya clenched his jaw.
"You two little gluttons…"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 19: The World's Best Master!
Chishiya rubbed his temples twice.
Opened his account.
[Account Balance: 20 million Eris]
The total from selling Magic Air Conditioners and Magic Crystals had surpassed 20 million.
Which meant he could convert it into 200,000 Reputation Points.
With that, he could finally unlock teleportation anchors and start developing the tourism industry.
Across the table, Megumin swallowed the last bite of her food and looked at Chishiya.
"Sensei, didn't you say you were super busy lately?"
"So how come you brought us out today?"
Chishiya opened Rim's status panel.
---
[Rim]
[Gluttonous Dragon/Demon(Majin)]
[Energy Level: 10% → 30%]
[Labyrinth Resource Production Speed: Slow]
---
The truth was, Chishiya had noticed a problem.
The more resources mined from the labyrinth...
The faster Rim's energy dropped.
The two systems were clearly linked.
If her energy wasn't replenished in time, there was a risk of her going berserk.
Chishiya took a sip of wine and said casually, "It's not healthy to keep you locked inside the labyrinth forever."
"Might as well let you out for a walk every now and then."
Megumin pouted, clearly not buying it.
"Tch…"
"I've never seen a Sensei as irresponsible as you."
"Just dumped your apprentice inside and became some hands-off CEO."
"And!"
She slapped the table and stood up.
"Even if I said I only needed grocery money!"
"You've gone way too far!"
"Do you know what I've been eating every day living with a bunch of ants?!"
"Ugh… Ugh…"
She widened her eyes, covered her mouth, and gagged twice.
Chishiya stared at her, stunned.
...Don't tell me she really ate—
Megumin wiped her mouth and scowled.
"And another thing!"
"Living in a wooden shack?! I can't even bathe!"
"Do you know what I've suffered through?!"
She grew more worked up with every word.
Stormed right up to Chishiya, red eyes blazing.
Chishiya swallowed nervously.
"M-my bad…"
"Hmph…"
Megumin plopped back into her seat.
She rubbed her slightly rounded stomach.
"Whatever…"
"I'm full now anyway."
"But!"
"I'm taking a bath tonight!"
Chishiya: "No problem!"
"Oh, and—"
Chishiya reached into his coat and pulled out a shimmering rainbow-colored magic crystal, handing it to Megumin.
It was the high-grade ore that Wiz's shop couldn't move.
"This is for you."
When she saw the prismatic crystal…
Megumin's eyes lit up like fireworks.
"Isn't this… an S-rank Mana Ore?!"
"The holy grail of every great Arch Wizard?!"
"Sensei! You're giving this to me?!"
She was too easy to bribe. Chishiya smiled.
"So… do you like it?"
Megumin nodded like a bobblehead.
"I love it! I love it!"
"With this, I can make a staff that launches even more magnificent Explosion Magic!"
Seeing her that happy...
Chishiya couldn't help but grin.
"So, does that mean I'm forgiven?"
Megumin pouted again.
"Well... I'll mostly forgive you."
Chishiya: "What if I buy you a new robe?"
Megumin: "!!!"
Her whole face lit up.
"Sensei! You're the best master in the world!"
"Let's go! Let's go now!"
She grabbed his arm and pulled him out the door.
Chishiya's eye twitched.
"…This girl is so shameless…"
---
Later that morning
Chishiya took Megumin shopping for a new robe.
Aqua finished building two hot springs inside the labyrinth.
The queen ant got assigned to remodeling the wooden house.
After a long day of chores, Chishiya finally found a moment to breathe.
Back from the labyrinth, he headed straight to the Adventurers' Guild.
If the potions were getting results...
He could license distribution to the guild and skip a bunch of logistics.
Inside the Guild.
"Hey, have you tried the new potion from the cute shopkeeper?"
Adventurers were chatting at the tables.
"It works! It really works!"
"Way more effective than I thought!"
"Right?"
"Even a Horned Crocodile took the debuff!"
"There've been fewer low-level monsters around Axel lately."
"These potions have been a huge help."
From his seat in the corner, Chishiya sipped his drink.
Not bad. Feedback looked promising.
Mass production might be worth it.
He walked up to the front desk.
"Miss Luna, do you know when the next Chamber of Commerce carriage is leaving town?"
If these potions could affect high-level monsters…
They'd sell like crazy in elite markets.
Places like the Royal Capital, or the Water City.
Might as well start exporting.
Behind the counter, Luna tilted her head in surprise.
"Chishiya-san doesn't know?"
"Due to an increase in high-level monster sightings lately…"
"All local trade caravans have stopped running."
Chishiya blinked.
"High-level monsters... showing up frequently?"
"What's causing it?"
Luna shook her head.
"No one knows."
"But the Guild has already posted investigation requests."
"If we hear anything, I'll inform you immediately."
Chishiya rubbed his chin.
So the trade routes were suspended...
This was seriously cutting into his profits.
Then Luna added.
"Chishiya-san, maybe you could take the commission?"
"The carriages are grounded, and the Guild's getting desperate."
"If you find the cause, you'll be rewarded."
Chishiya nodded.
His goal was to make money while doing absolutely nothing.
But with this many employees depending on him...
And his current power level being somewhere around "Demon King Adjacent"...
A simple investigation shouldn't be a big deal.
"Sure."
Luna smiled and handed him a commission.
"Given your current rank... let's start with this one."
---
[Commission: Investigate the sudden appearance of slimes in the forest]
---
Chishiya raised an eyebrow.
"Slimes?"
---
In the forest
"Freeze."
Boom—!
A black saber-toothed tiger was flash-frozen, then shattered into icy shards.
Chishiya rotated his wrists.
Wiz's ice magic was way more practical than Megumin's explosions.
And surprisingly efficient.
That killer beast was strong enough to one-shot rookie adventurers.
Most parties would need three or four level-20 adventurers just to bring one down.
Chishiya bent down and picked up the monster's magic core.
Should sell for a decent price.
After all...
Rim eats faster than the labyrinth can produce…
He still didn't have enough cash to upgrade the labyrinth…
Remodeling the house cost a fortune...
Damn it, the more he thought about it, the broker he felt.
Making money was non-negotiable.
He tucked the core into his coat and continued along the path marked on the map.
Come to think of it…
Ever since receiving all those blessings, his magic had felt stronger.
Before, it was just a vague impression.
But now, the power was definitely real.
Take that rookie killer earlier.
He probably didn't even use 30% of his strength… and it still got one-shot.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 20: The Mentally Ill Knight Drives a Demon King Army Cadre Crazy
Following the markers on the map,
Chishiya arrived alone in the deeper part of the forest.
He looked around.
There was no detailed information on the slime cluster in the commission.
"Is this really the place?"
Just as Chishiya was questioning things,
a strange sound echoed from deeper in the woods.
"Come… come on—!"
"No… you're welcome…"
Chishiya: "???"
...What the hell?
Is this how kids are playing in the woods these days?
Tch. Focus, Chishiya. Positive energy.
"..."
After two cautious steps forward, he paused.
"Should I really be investigating this? I mean…"
He pushed aside the bushes.
Instant regret.
There, in a small clearing,
a blonde woman in full armor was surrounded by slimes.
Her sword had been tossed aside.
She stood there… visibly enjoying herself.
"Ah~"
Rustle...
She heard the leaves moving behind her.
Darkness turned around and locked eyes with Chishiya.
"…"
The silence was deafening.
Darkness: "???"
"EHHHHHHHHHHHH——?!!"
Her face turned beet red.
She scrambled for her sword.
"You… you vile slime scum! Y-you dare use illusions on me?!"
"Take… take this!"
She swung her sword at the nearest slime.
Three minutes passed.
She hadn't landed a single hit.
"Haa… haa… haa…"
Darkness panted, gripping her sword tightly.
Her eyes kept flicking to Chishiya from the corner of her vision.
So humiliating…
So shameful…
So utterly disgraceful...
...but also… kind of thrilling.
Just as her thoughts were spiraling.
The surrounding slimes suddenly fused together.
In the blink of an eye, they became a giant slime.
Its tentacles wrapped around her armor-clad body.
Too shameful!
To be seen like this!
And yet… what comes next...?
Hehe… hehehe…
Darkness stifled a smile, her mind entering full delusion mode.
Chishiya's system interface popped up.
---
[Name: Darkness]
[Recruitable Employee]
[Recruitment Rewards:]
1. Knight's Body: Greatly enhances host's physical defense.
2. Kingdom Nobility: Increases profit margin by 25% when dealing with noble clients.
---
Recruitable…
But…
Chishiya stared at the woman who was literally basking in her tentacle-fueled humiliation.
Nope. Not a chance.
This woman is beyond help.
Still, to stop this from getting any weirder, Chishiya finally stepped in.
"Freeze."
In an instant, the slime froze solid.
It shattered to pieces on the ground.
Darkness blinked.
"Huh?"
Almost disappointed.
But with Chishiya still standing there, she held back.
"Ahem…"
"Thanks for the help…"
Darkness cleared her throat.
"I was… under an illusion, that's all."
"These slimes are really crafty..."
"..."
Chishiya said nothing.
Illusions? From slimes?
God-tier mental gymnastics.
Darkness gave him a grateful bow.
"Anyway, thank you again."
Chishiya waved dismissively.
"No big deal."
Darkness studied him curiously.
Simple clothes. Average gear.
But…
Way too good-looking. Not her type.
She preferred the kind of guy who was totally useless, muttering bitterly about society while hitting himself with an empty bottle.
A hopeless man forced to work just to survive.
Someone like…
That perverted shopkeeper who sold cursed goods.
Yes… yes… he was just right.
Darkness flushed red, already imagining his greasy face in her mind.
"Since you're okay now, I'll be heading out."
Chishiya turned around.
That giant slime earlier was likely the source of the disturbance.
With that dealt with, he could get back to his real job—selling products.
"Please wait!"
Darkness called out to him.
"May I ask your name? I want to properly thank you later."
"Chishiya."
With that, he turned and left.
Recruitment could wait.
He already had more than enough unmanageable weirdos in his company.
---
Back at the Guild counter
Chishiya reported his findings to Miss Luna.
Luna nodded and returned the commission slip.
"Alright, Chishiya-san. Once it's confirmed, the reward will be transferred to your account."
Chishiya nodded.
He checked the time.
Almost time to open shop.
He was about to leave when.
BEEEEP!
A sharp alarm blared through the Guild.
Urgent notice! Urgent notice!
All adventurers, please arm yourselves and gather at the town gates!
Repeat: All adventurers, to the front gates! Immediately!
"What the hell's going on?"
The Guild broke into chaos.
Everyone rushed toward the entrance.
There, they found—
A massive, purple-black slime.
It gurgled and burbled as toxic bubbles rose from its body.
It spewed foul gas and noxious mist with every pulse.
Standing before it was—
A blonde crusader.
Chishiya: "?"
He stared blankly.
Why…
Why did he immediately feel like this was somehow Darkness's fault?
Then someone shouted.
"Wait… isn't that a Demon King Army officer?!"
"Poison Slime Hans!"
"Why is he here—?!"
---
Outside the town
Hans, the toxic slime officer, was on the verge of a breakdown.
Damn it!
Dealing with Axis cultists in Water City was already bad enough.
Now he was assigned to Axel… and ran into this nightmare!
Vanir had gone missing in Axel, so Hans was sent by the Demon King to investigate.
And today, while chilling in the woods,
this lunatic knight jumped out of nowhere.
Claimed he "reeked of evil" and challenged him to a duel on the spot.
And the worst part?
His poison didn't work on her.
Even after full exposure,
she didn't collapse.
She got excited.
She even started saying weird crap with a flushed face.
Hans: A complete psychopath—!!!
Darkness, now covered in toxic slime,
bit her lip, cheeks flushed red.
"I… I won't let you hurt the people of Axel!"
Hans's eye twitched uncontrollably.
"Lady. You're insane."
"I told you already!"
"I'm not interested in the rookie adventurers here!"
"Do you not understand human language?!"
Darkness narrowed her eyes.
"How can I trust the words of a Demon King officer?"
"You must have some twisted motive."
"For example…"
"Poisoning me… and then fulfilling your sick fantasies!"
"Your eyes… they're totally giving it away!"
Hans: "You're insane!?!?"
"Stop saying things that'll ruin my reputation!"
Darkness ignored him completely. "Quit pretending—!"
Hans: "???"
"You're trying to corrupt me with your poison, aren't you?"
Hans: "???"
"Or maybe you want to do something even more depraved?!"
Hans: "Wait, what—"
"She's definitely a hopelessly evil monster."
Hans: "I'M THE MONSTER?!"
"COME ON! COME AT ME! H-H-HAAH… I WON'T GIVE IN TO YOU!"
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 6: Chapter 21: The Probationary Hero
Chapter Text
"Isn't that the mentally ill Crusader?!"
"She... why is she there?!"
The people gathered at the city gate didn't catch what Darkness had said earlier.
They only heard her final line.
"I will not yield to you!"
That scene, paired with those words.
It was easy to jump to a conclusion:
Darkness had stepped forward to battle one of the Demon King's army leaders to protect the town.
Chishiya rubbed his eyebrows.
His perception was far keener than the average adventurer.
He had heard everything Darkness said.
There was no hope.
She was already this far gone...
But...
No wonder the number of commissions had dropped lately.
Even the Chamber of Commerce's carriages stopped running.
So it was because of a Demon King Army executive?
Right then, someone in the crowd muttered:
"Damn it..."
"But still, Hans is a cadre with a 300 million Eris bounty..."
"We don't stand a chance..."
Chishiya's eyes widened.
He turned sharply toward the speaker.
"How much did you just say?"
"Eh?"
"Th-three hundred million... why?"
Chishiya turned back.
He stared at the purple-black slime, and his eyes lit up.
Three hundred million...!!!
With that kind of money, he could upgrade the Labyrinth, launch new product lines, and expand his staff.
He could keep scaling up his corporate empire.
"Hey, calm down," the man warned him.
"The bounty might be high, but he's still a Demon King's Army executive!"
"Guys like us have zero chance! Don't be reckless!"
Chishiya didn't bother replying.
He wasn't being reckless.
It was simple fact.
With the protection of Vanir, Wiz, and Aqua.
And his own magical perception constantly pinging.
The enemy across the field...
Was ridiculously weak.
—
Outside the city.
Hans took a long breath.
"You've really pissed me off now."
"If you want to die so badly, I'll be happy to oblige."
Darkness gritted her teeth.
"You think I'll beg for mercy in front of everyone?"
"If you're so confident, why don't you try it right now?!"
The more she yelled, the redder her face got.
Hans was sweating heavily.
"You're absolutely nuts!"
"Why is a lunatic like you even a Paladin?!"
Suddenly—
The sky darkened.
Hans looked up.
Above him, countless red magic circles layered on top of each other in the air.
Hans: "Huh?"
"When did th—"
"Explosion!"
As Chishiya's voice echoed.
A fireball surrounded by vibrant, multicolored light dropped from the heavens.
BOOM!
A red wave of fire burst across the sky.
A thunderous explosion rang out, leaving a massive crater in its wake.
Nearby trees were torn from the ground by the blast.
Everyone's sleeves flapped in the wind.
They all stared, dumbfounded, at the young man who had just stepped out from the crowd.
"???"
"Wha... what just happened?!"
SPLAT!
Hans's massive body was vaporized on the spot.
Chunks of foul-smelling slime splashed everywhere.
Darkness's armor was completely corroded.
Darkness: "Eh???"
She stared at the scorched battlefield.
The light faded from her eyes.
The poison had eaten through her defenses.
She collapsed backward and lost consciousness.
Chishiya strolled over to the blast zone.
After confirming Hans was truly dead, he grabbed Darkness by the legs—
And dragged her back.
After all, even Aqua had felt the sting of Hans's poison in the anime.
If she felt it, then someone like Darkness, even with her high defense, wouldn't hold out.
Which meant it was faster to haul her to Aqua for healing.
The crowd could only watch him in confusion.
"Wh-what just happened?"
"Was that Explosion magic?!"
"He took out a Demon King's general in one hit?!"
"When did such a powerful master come to our town?"
"Wait..."
Someone suddenly recognized him.
"I remember now!"
"He's that newbie adventurer who registered a few days ago!"
"You're joking, right?!"
"A newbie?!"
—
Inside the Guild Association
Aqua examined Darkness, who was still twitching from the venom's corrosion.
"Don't worry, Chishiya-san. I'm a goddess. This is nothing."
"Heal!"
As green light poured from Aqua's hands, Darkness's pained expression began to relax.
Aqua put her hands on her hips.
"Alright! She should wake up by tomorrow."
Chishiya gave her a thumbs-up. "You really are a goddess."
Aqua beamed with pride, giggling foolishly.
Chishiya thought to himself: For a so-called goddess, she's surprisingly easy to handle.
Just then.
Luna jogged over and handed him an adventurer's certificate.
"Chishiya-san! Thank you for defeating a Demon King Army executive!"
"On behalf of the entire town, thank you so much."
"As for the reward, I'll notify the Guild Association. It'll be transferred to your certificate soon."
"Once again, thank you!"
Luna bowed deeply to Chishiya.
If he hadn't been here today, who knows how much destruction Hans could've caused.
—
Thanks to this incident, Chishiya became famous among adventurers overnight.
Rumors even started circulating.
That he might be one of the chosen heroes destined to defeat the Demon King.
After all, someone with that much power... right after registering?
There could be no other explanation but that he was a hero candidate.
Naturally.
As his reputation skyrocketed, the items in his store completely sold out.
"My dear hero! Just one bottle of potion, please!"
"Please, sell me one too!"
"Me three!"
There were even excited female adventurers screaming from the crowd.
"Chishiya-san! Can I get your autograph?!"
"Chishiya-san, do you have a girlfriend?"
"Please let me join your hero party!"
—
Inside his shop, Chishiya sat silently.
He stared at the noisy crowd outside in confusion.
Why the sudden rumor about him being a hero candidate?
He had zero interest in fighting Demon Kings or any of that nonsense.
All he wanted.
Was to make money, expand his business empire.
Then lie around all day while earning passive income.
Wiz peeked out the window, blinking in curiosity.
"Chishiya-san? What's going on?"
"Why are there so many people outside today?"
"Did yesterday's potion work that well?"
Chishiya rubbed his temple.
"No... probably just the star effect."
"Huh?"
Wiz tilted her head, completely lost.
Chishiya looked at her. "Actually... I just killed your coworker. Hans."
Wiz blinked.
"Oh~, I see."
"Then of course everyone thinks of Chishiya-san as a hero!"
Chishiya: "???"
Hold up. That's... not the kind of reaction I expected.
He asked cautiously.
"Wiz, I killed him. Aren't you angry?"
Wiz looked surprised.
"Eh? Why would I be angry?"
Chishiya: "You two were coworkers, weren't you?"
Wiz replied calmly:
"We may have been colleagues, but I didn't really get along with Mr. Hans."
"We actually fought a long time ago."
"And besides, all I did in the Demon King's Army was help maintain the barrier around the castle."
"The only person I considered a real friend there was Mr. Vanir."
"And—"
Wiz suddenly straightened up, her expression turning serious.
"I'm now Chishiya-san's employee!"
"Chishiya-san helped me turn the store around when we were in the red."
"You also taught me a lot about business management."
"I'm really, really grateful."
"How could I possibly be mad?"
She spoke with such sincerity that.
Thanks to her naturally affectionate personality.
She ended up standing very close to Chishiya.
Close enough for him to catch the subtle scent of flowers on her.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 7: Chapter 22: We Rich
Chapter Text
Chishiya smiled.
Realized he might've been overthinking things again.
But still, to be honest... that was massive.
"Alright, let's open up for business," he said.
Then turned back to look at Wiz.
"Wiz, write this down in your notebook. I'm teaching you a new trick today."
Wiz perked up, excited.
"What is it?"
"Product promotion."
Wiz blinked.
"Product... promotion?"
"What does that mean, Chishiya-san?"
"You can think of it as a kind of publicity."
"Just watch and learn."
Wiz nodded, still confused.
—
Outside the store.
"My lord, I need a potion!"
"Please, just one bottle!"
"No wonder Miss Wiz's gear suddenly started working. Turns out the hero's helping behind the scenes."
"Please, give me a bottle!"
Chishiya stepped in front of the crowd, casually waving at the surrounding adventurers.
"Please be patient, everyone."
"The ingredients for this potion are extremely rare. I harvested them myself from deep within underground labyrinths, so quantities are limited."
He lied without flinching.
An essential quality for a successful businessman.
"What?! He collected them himself?!"
"Forget it, I'll take them all!"
"Quit showing off! You already bought yours! Leave some for the rest of us! I want five bottles!"
Perfect reaction.
Chishiya frowned slightly. "This is going to be tough..."
He rubbed his temple.
"Well... since everyone is so passionate..."
"I have no choice but to make a decision... that goes against my ancestors!"
The crowd went still.
Huh?
Going against your ancestors? That serious?
Wiz's eyes went wide.
Is... is this what he means by 'product promotion'?
Something feels off...
But she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Meanwhile, Chishiya's grin nearly reached his ears.
If these people had ever watched late-night shopping channels, they wouldn't fall for something this basic.
"Everyone here today is like family to me," Chishiya declared.
"Today's offer is a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Miss it, and it's gone forever."
Then he pulled out a potion from his coat pocket.
"This formula is from my homeland."
"Exceptionally effective against powerful monsters. Great for leveling up."
"If you've used it, you know I'm not lying."
"Last time I gave them away... because I consider you all my family."
Someone in the crowd chimed in.
"It's true! I used one and it worked like magic!"
"I even managed to hold off a Horned Crocodile for a whole minute!"
"Same! I was wondering why he'd give away something that valuable."
"Chishiya-san is a great guy!"
People in this world were so easy to deceive.
You think you're making a deal?
No. I never lose money.
Chishiya pointed at a man in the crowd.
"Do you think 100,000 Eris is too expensive for this potion?"
The man shook his head.
"Not at all! The bounty for a Horned Crocodile is 300,000 Eris!"
"What about 150,000?"
The people nearby also shook their heads.
With this potion, their odds of completing monster subjugation quests had gone way up.
A single minute of solid crowd control was enough to take out a high-level monster.
And those bounties started at 300,000 Eris.
So even 150,000 was cheap.
Chishiya nodded.
"In other livestreams... ahem... I mean, in other stores, it might cost 100,000 or 150,000 Eris."
"But today..."
"In our store, I'm giving an exclusive deal... just for the family."
Chishiya raised his voice with conviction.
"Only 60,000 Eris!"
"I'd never cheat my own family!"
"Eh?!"
Wiz dashed out and grabbed his arm.
"Chishiya-san, that's way too cheap!"
"You'll go bankrupt!"
Chishiya: "????"
He stared at her.
Wait... what?
You're not in on it?
Did you seriously just improv that?
Were you born with the natural talent for sales?
I haven't even taught you yet...
Wiz was dead serious.
She had been completely fooled.
She still didn't know what the actual ingredients were.
Chishiya had never told her.
So she just assumed it was some rare, expensive herb blend.
"How could you sell such a valuable potion for only 60,000 Eris?!"
"Chishiya-san, are you sacrificing profit just to help me break even?"
He's doing this all to cover my losses...
I can't let him carry the burden of the shop anymore...
Her unintentional outburst.
Ironically made Chishiya's plan even more effective.
The crowd was hyped up now.
Sure, 150,000 Eris wasn't a bad price.
But Chishiya was selling it for just 60,000!
That was more than half off!
"60,000?! That's a steal!"
"Unbelievable!"
"As expected of our brave hero! He really treats us like family!"
"I want one!"
"Give me five!"
Chishiya brushed off Wiz's objections.
"Family!"
"We've got 200 potions in stock, 200 orders for air conditioners, and 200 magic crystals ready to go!"
"3... 2... 1... ready, set—uh... I mean, go!"
The moment he finished.
Chaos erupted.
"Chishiya-san! I want one!"
"Magic crystals, please!"
"Preorder me an air conditioner!"
The crowd rushed into the store like a tidal wave.
It was packed wall to wall.
In under an hour, every potion was sold out.
The magic crystals too.
Over 130 air conditioners were preordered.
A modern livestream sales tactic.
Totally foreign to people in this world.
Wiz slumped behind the counter.
Pearl-like tears welling in her eyes.
So many other products had sold too...
But thinking about how Chishiya had willingly taken a loss for her...
She couldn't hold back anymore.
Meanwhile, Chishiya was off to the side, happily counting money.
"I'm rich~, I'm rich~"
Between the product sales and the bounty from Hans.
He'd earned more than 30 million Eris.
Enough to clear the shop's debt.
Plenty left to upgrade the Labyrinth.
And still a huge surplus.
Chishiya turned around.
Ready to compliment Wiz.
After all, today's success was thanks to her accidental sales pitch.
But the moment he turned.
He saw Wiz secretly wiping tears from her eyes.
Chishiya froze.
"Wiz, why are you crying? We just paid off the debt. No need to get emotional..."
Wiz sobbed quietly.
"Waaah... Chishiya-san, thank you so much... You're such a good person... and such a good boss..."
"You sold such expensive potions... at such a loss... just to help me..."
"I don't even know how to thank you..."
Chishiya finally caught on.
She... actually believed it.
He rubbed his temple.
"What expensive potion?"
"That thing is made with herbs you can buy anywhere."
Wiz looked up, stunned.
"W-what? But you just said..."
You believed the lie?! Chishiya waved her off.
"Don't worry about the details."
"The important part is that my refining skills are top-tier."
Wiz wiped her tears, still unsure.
"But Chishiya-san... you said you were going against your ancestors..."
Chishiya muttered under his breath.
God, the ancestors again...
Did I say that out loud?
"Anyway, just remember one thing."
"I never run a business at a loss."
"Here, I'll show you."
Chishiya walked over to the workbench.
Pulled out two herbs from the system inventory.
Then, right in front of Wiz, tossed them into the cauldron.
Used the Labyrinth System's refining module.
Let it cook for about 30 seconds.
He handed Wiz a bottle of glowing purple potion.
"See? I wasn't lying."
"It really is made from ordinary herbs."
Wiz's eyes widened. She took a tiny sip—
And was hit with that familiar zap of energy.
"R-really..."
"Wow... incredible..."
"Chishiya-san, how do you do it?!"
The whole process looked like standard potion-making.
But the result was on another level.
Wiz stared at the potion, overwhelmed.
"It's unbelievable..."
Chishiya smiled.
"Oh, it gets better."
"Wanna guess how much we made today?"
Wiz shook her head.
Chishiya held up his hand with a smug look.
"Wiz, 32 million!"
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 8: Chapter 23: Royal Capital Banquet
Chapter Text
"Ehhhhhh—!"
Wiz stuttered when she heard the number.
"S-So much money?!"
"We… we're rich?!"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Chishiya-san, we're rich!"
Chishiya smirked.
Seriously.
As far as business goes—
He now had enough capital to get truly started.
Next step: expand his business territory.
Go big, go strong.
Make more and more money...
And finally enjoy a life of lying around in heaven, doing absolutely nothing.
He handed a portion of the profits to Wiz.
An extra 40 million Eris.
Then, Chishiya said solemnly:
"Wiz, this money is a corporate subsidy for you and Vanir."
"You can only use it if both of you agree."
"Got it?"
Wiz nodded, eyes serious.
"Don't worry, Chishiya-san."
"I'll follow whatever you say."
"Because you're a powerful boss, and I believe in you!"
Chishiya smiled.
Then opened a portal.
"I'm heading back."
Wiz nodded eagerly. "Yes! See you tomorrow, Chishiya-san!"
---
Ancient Kingdom of Belzerg
The royal capital was still lively, even at night.
The streets were full of pedestrians celebrating something.
Both sides of the city gate were packed with people holding bouquets.
"It's the Sword Saint! The Sword Saint has arrived!"
"As expected of the Sword Hero, he defeated the Demon King's army!"
"So cool!"
A blond-haired boy in blue armor walked through the crowd, waving with practiced charm.
"Sword Saint-sama!"
A shy young girl rushed out of the crowd, holding out a bouquet.
"Sword Saint-sama, please accept this…"
The boy accepted the flowers with a charming smile.
"Thank you very much."
He sniffed them and said gently, "This flower is as beautiful as you."
"KYAAA!!!"
The girls around him went into heart-eyed hysteria.
Mitsurugi Kyouya smiled and headed toward the palace.
A celebration banquet was being held there.
As soon as he arrived, a wave of nobles swarmed in to flatter him.
"As expected of the Sword Hero, your strength has grown immensely."
"Your technique is peerless. That strike earlier was unforgettable."
"It's incredible how you took down an entire Kobold army with just a single slash."
"Shame the Demon King's officers showed up. Otherwise, the rest would've been finished too."
"Yeah... those cadres really are on another level."
The thief girl standing next to Mitsurugi scoffed.
"Hmph."
"Mitsurugi-sama was caught off guard! If it was a head-on fight, he could've easily one-shotted that Demon King officer."
"Exactly," the pink-haired girl beside him chimed in.
One-shot a cadre…? If he could really do that, why was he almost killed?
The watching nobles twitched their lips in discomfort.
But they held their tongues to stay in the good graces of the "hero."
They raised their wine glasses and smiled politely.
"Yes, yes... of course, you're absolutely right."
Mitsurugi took a sip of wine and scanned the hall, as if looking for someone.
At that moment.
A commotion broke out behind him.
A blonde girl in an elegant gown walked in, escorted by two court instructors.
"Mitsurugi-sama, thank you for your service."
The girl bowed slightly.
She looked to be only around 12 or 13 years old.
So beautiful... Mitsurugi snapped back to reality and swallowed.
"No, it's nothing, Princess Iris. It's simply my duty as a hero."
The woman in a beret beside the princess stepped forward.
"Thank you for the rescue."
"The Demon King's army officers are incredibly strong. The fact that you managed to protect the troops and retreat safely... we're deeply grateful."
Mitsurugi quickly set down his glass and waved his hands.
"Ms. Rain, you're too kind."
"It's just unfortunate that the Demon King's officers appeared. Otherwise, I could've wiped them all out."
He clenched his fists, clearly frustrated.
Truthfully, he'd barely escaped last time, even with the Cursed Sword in hand.
His companions quickly jumped in to console him.
"Mitsurugi-sama, it's alright. You're already incredibly powerful."
"You might be the only adventurer who can even try something like that."
"The Demon King's leaders may be strong, but next time, we'll be ready."
"Yes, exactly!"
"Everyone…" Mitsurugi's voice cracked a little.
That's right... Kyouya Mitsurugi, you're a hero.
If anyone can defeat the Demon King, it has to be you.
You can't be discouraged over something like this!
He clenched his fists, ready to say something inspiring to Princess Iris.
"Report—!!!"
A knight burst into the banquet hall.
"Princess Iris! Something terrible has happened! Axel has been attacked by Hans of the Demon King's Army!"
"Miss Lalatina has been seriously injured and is currently unconscious!"
"What?!"
The banquet fell into silence.
Commander Claire instinctively gripped the hilt of her sword, her wrist trembling slightly.
"H-How can that be? Isn't Axel just a beginner town?!"
Iris began to panic.
"How's Lalatina?!"
Mitsurugi's expression darkened.
Hans... One of the top four on the bounty list?
Even he wouldn't stand a chance against him.
Damn it...
But even so—
As a hero, he couldn't back down now! Mitsurugi stood up and declared firmly:
"Please rest assured. I will leave immediately and ensure no one else is harmed!"
He turned toward the knight.
"How many troops did the Demon King's army send? How long has the attack been going on?"
"Take me there now!"
"Ermm..."
The knight hesitated, then slowly raised his head.
"You... don't need to go."
Mitsurugi froze.
Edgeworth clenched his teeth. "What... Don't tell me... Axel has already..."
Fallen...
The knight replied calmly.
"Because Hans has been eliminated."
"...Huh?"
Mitsurugi and the others stared at him.
"NANI——?!"
The knight continued, "Though Miss Lalatina was injured, her life is not in danger."
"She has already been returned safely to her home."
Not your bro?
Why are you breathing so hard while talking?
If the guy's dead, just say he's dead! This dramatic delivery is giving people heart attacks!
Edgeworth sighed and wiped his forehead.
"Phew, thank goodness he was taken out…"
"Taken out…"
Mitsurugi casually lifted his wine glass.
"That's good to he—"
PFFT!
"Cough— Wait a minute!"
Mitsurugi suddenly choked and spat out his wine.
His eyes shot open.
Taken out?!
A top-four ranked Demon King officer was actually killed?!
Everyone in the banquet hall froze as realization hit.
"Hans is dead?!"
"That poisonous slime?!"
"My gods... Who on earth could do that?!"
Iris's eyes were wide in shock.
Mitsurugi stroked his chin, trying to analyze.
"To defeat a Demon King cadre... this person must be extremely powerful."
"And they were active in Axel again…"
"Could it be some powerful human warrior who's been hiding from the world all this time?!"
Yes!
After hearing Mitsurugi's theory, the nobles began nodding in agreement.
It was entirely possible that a hidden elder warrior had made their move.
Claire asked, "Have you identified who it was?"
"We must treat them with the utmost respect."
"We must not tarnish the royal family's image."
"This..." The knight hesitated before speaking slowly.
"The person who defeated Hans is... an ordinary adventurer who just registered."
"Seems... like a complete newcomer…"
"WHAT!!!"
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 9: Chapter 24: Darkness Shock
Chapter Text
"The one who eliminated a Demon King's Army officer was a newcomer? Are you serious?"
"Is that information even reliable?"
"This is absolutely impossible!"
"Even Mitsurugi-sama can't guarantee a win against Hans. A newcomer? Come on!"
"Hey, hey... shhh, look at Mitsurugi-sama..."
Someone quietly reminded the group.
Everyone followed their gaze.
Mitsurugi stood there, frozen in place.
His eyes were full of disbelief.
Newcomer?
The word hit him like thunder, making his scalp go numb.
It wounded his young hero heart.
The one who defeated a Demon King Army officer... was a newbie adventurer???
How could that be?
If that were true, where was the dignity of a brave hero like him supposed to go?
No, no, no. There had to be some other explanation. Maybe Axel's adventurers worked together?
No way he did it solo...
As if reading his thoughts, Claire asked, "A newcomer? Are you sure? Were there any witnesses?"
"What was the situation on-site?"
Yes! What happened on-site?! Mitsurugi asked mentally, hopeful.
The knight responded, "Captain, almost all the adventurers in Axel witnessed it."
"As for the situation..."
The knight paused, carefully choosing his words.
"One hit. According to eyewitnesses, the boy used a single Explosion Magic to blow Hans to pieces…"
Ah?
Mitsurugi's eyes widened.
He understood every word, but somehow, strung together, they made no sense.
Blown to pieces in one hit?!
Do these people think Demon King Army officers are made of paper?
"How amazing!!!" Princess Iris clapped excitedly.
"Claire! I want to meet him!"
Claire had just managed to collect herself.
"Your Highness, the celebration banquet for Mitsurugi-sama isn't over yet."
Iris shook her head. "It's boring and no fun. I want to meet the person who did that!"
Claire kept trying, "Your Highness, as a royal, it's important to build ties with nobles and heroes."
"Even if you're not enjoying it, you mustn't act willfully."
Mitsurugi's eye twitched. Huh?
That... hurt.
Sorry my celebration banquet was so boring.
Claire continued, "And Lady Lalatina is still recovering."
"How about inviting her to bring that adventurer to your birthday party?"
Iris thought about it, then nodded. "Okay! Let's do that!"
---
Dustiness Family Estate
In a luxurious room, on a silken bed.
Darkness slowly opened her eyes.
"Lalatina, you're finally awake!"
She turned her head.
It was her father, Ignis, holding her hand, looking deeply concerned.
"Lalatina, you can't keep doing this. It's far too dangerous!"
"If an adventurer hadn't stepped in, you would've died! Do you understand that?!"
Darkness blinked.
Fragments returned to her memory.
Someone grabbing her by the legs… dragging her back…
Ignis gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
"You were rescued from the Demon King's Army. You really ought to thank him."
"And the princess even sent a letter. She's been worried about your condition."
Darkness sat up and lowered her gaze.
"I'm sorry to have worried Her Highness Iris."
"Father, please write to her and let her know I'm recovering well."
Ignis nodded. "Of course. I'll take care of it."
He walked to the window and drew open the curtains.
"But there's something else important."
"It's about the adventurer."
"Did something happen to him?"
A flicker of worry crossed Darkness's eyes.
Despite her, uh... tastes, her desire to protect others was genuine.
She never wanted someone else hurt just to save her.
Ignis shook his head.
"No. He wasn't even injured."
Darkness exhaled in relief.
"That's good... I'm glad no one got hurt."
"Wait..."
A realization hit her. She shot upright.
"Father... wasn't the enemy a Demon King Army officer?"
"No one was injured. Did the Royal Army arrive in time?"
"..."
Ignis hesitated, as if carefully choosing his words.
"Lalatina, by the time the Kingdom Army arrived... it was already over."
"What?!"
"Because that adventurer took down Hans, one of the Demon King's Army generals."
Darkness: "?"
Suddenly, she remembered.
That moment facing Hans.
An unbelievably powerful Explosion Magic had rained down from the sky.
It had shredded Hans to bits right in front of her.
That... was unleashed by an adventurer from Axel?
"I didn't realize Axel had such a powerful adventurer…"
"Was it a high-ranking one just passing through?"
Ignis shook his head.
"We investigated. He registered as an adventurer only three days ago."
"Even though his stats are exceptionally high, technically speaking, he's still a newbie."
Thunk.
Darkness froze.
She didn't even know what kind of expression to make.
"He killed a Demon King general in one shot without taking damage."
And he's a newcomer?!
Seeing his daughter's expression, Ignis sighed.
That was exactly how he looked when he first heard the news.
"Lalatina, do you understand now?"
"With that kind of strength, he's very likely a hero candidate."
"Princess Iris wants to meet him at her birthday banquet."
"And I'm assigning you the task of escorting him there."
Darkness: "Eh? Me?"
"Yes. He saved your life. You're the most suitable person to accompany him. Any objections?"
"No... Father."
Darkness shook her head, slightly dazed.
A brave...
"Indeed... only someone like that could be a brave."
"He might even become Her Highness Iris's future husband."
The Kingdom of Belzerg had long encouraged marriages with powerful heroes to enhance the royal bloodline's potential.
Ignis stepped forward and handed her a glass of water.
Darkness accepted it.
"Father, what's this adventurer's name?"
She took a sip to soothe her dry throat.
"His name is Chishiya Shuntaro. Ever heard of him?"
PFFT—!!!
Water sprayed everywhere from Darkness's mouth.
Who?!
Wasn't that the guy I ran into in the woods?!
Oh my god!!!
I was seen like that by the potential future consort of Princess Iris?!
AHHH—!!!
Darkness grabbed her head, face beet red.
She desperately wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
"Lalatina, what's wrong?"
Darkness forced a stiff smile.
"N-Nothing... Father. Please, just... leave me alone for now."
"I want some time to think..."
"Alright. Let me know if you need anything."
The door closed behind him.
Now alone in the room—
THUNK!
Darkness slammed her head against the wall.
I need to erase that memory!
He saw me like that... That's the guy I'll probably serve as a knight one day...
There's nothing more socially devastating in the world!!!
But it wasn't my fault! I was under illusion magic!
He'll believe me...
"..."
"LIKE HELL HE WILL!!!"
THUNK THUNK THUNK!
She banged her head against the wall repeatedly.
Five minutes later—
Darkness slumped onto the bed.
"Well... he does seem like a decent guy."
"He'd suit Princess Iris quite well."
"I need to thank him properly when I meet him."
Darkness smiled faintly.
---
The Labyrinth
Several days passed.
The surface structures were almost complete.
What was once an empty plain.
Was now shaping into a proper small town.
Yellow lines had been drawn across the ground for reserved building areas.
There were residential zones, commercial zones, research sectors...
As long as resources kept flowing, construction could continue.
There was a time when Chishiya believed in science.
Until he saw a group of ants build an entire city.
Without blueprints, without schematics, without structural calculations.
Chishiya opened his control panel.
[Chishiya Shuntaro]
[Core Employees: Megumin, Queen Ant, Wiz, Vanir, Kazuma, Aqua]
[Account: 300 million Eris (convertible to Reputation Points at 100:1)]
[Reputation Points: 2,000]
[Labyrinth Level: 1]
[Special Abilities: Explosion Magic Lover, Leadership, Lich's Blessing, Demon King's Blessing, Goddess of Luck's Blessing, Goddess of Water's Blessing]
"300 million Eris."
"That's enough to upgrade the Labyrinth."
"System, convert 200 million Eris into Reputation Points."
[Confirmed]
[Conversion in Progress…]
[Conversion Complete]
[Current Reputation Points: 2,000,000]
[Upgrade Requirement for Labyrinth Level 2: 500,000 Reputation Points]
[Proceed with Upgrade?]
"Yes."
[Confirmed. 500,000 Reputation Points consumed. Labyrinth Level Up successful.]
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 10: Chapter 25: Labyrinth Merge
Chapter Text
As the system prompt echoed—
A series of glowing screens unfolded before Chishiya Shuntaro.
[Labyrinth is upgrading…]
[A large number of B-grade Magic Crystals and a small number of A-grade Magic Crystals have spawned below the fifth underground floor.]
[All herbs upgraded in tier. Effects increased by an additional 30%.]
[With increased magical power, certain monsters in the depths have evolved.]
[Labyrinth Ants have evolved into a superior species: Armored Army Ants.]
[The Ant Queen has evolved into a quasi-Demon Lord-level monster. Entire colony now possesses mimicry abilities.]
[Remaining monsters have been enhanced…]
[Murlocs have evolved into advanced monsters: Murloc Priests, Murloc Chieftains, Murloc Warriors…]
[Undead have evolved into higher forms: Skeleton Mages, Skeletal Horses, Skeleton Warriors…]
Chishiya raised a brow.
One Labyrinth upgrade, and now even the Ant Queen was at quasi–Demon Lord level?
A monster at that level could flatten an entire city.
This was a major boost to the company's defensive assets.
[Labyrinth Level 2 Upgrade Complete. New feature unlocked: Voice Transmission Network.]
"Voice Transmission Network? What the hell is that?"
[Voice Transmission Network: The host may now communicate with core employees remotely at any time.]
Now that was useful.
No more running around just to micromanage. He could check in without lifting his butt off a chair.
Truly, the ultimate management tool for any black-hearted company CEO.
Time to try it out.
Chishiya cleared his throat and tapped Vanir's portrait on the panel.
"Vanir-san, can you hear me?"
—
Somewhere in a southern kingdom…
Vanir, who was casually chatting with a bartender, suddenly froze.
Chishiya's voice echoed in his mind.
"Vanir-san?"
Chishiya repeated.
Vanir: ???
This time, he heard it clearly. It really was him!
Vanir excused himself and stepped into a quiet corner.
"How the hell are you talking in my head?"
Chishiya blinked.
It actually worked?
His lips curled into a satisfied smirk.
"Vanir-san, how's the progress on securing new sales channels?"
"I've already opened up Axel's market. You need to pick up the pace on your end."
Vanir twitched.
"You're contacting me just to rush production?"
"Tsk, I'm just checking in."
Vanir sighed. "Don't bother lying. I can smell the desperation."
"I never thought I'd see the day when someone could boss me around…"
Chishiya cut in. "So? What's the status?"
The reason he was pressing—
Summer was ending in about two months.
More importantly, Axel's consumer market was clearly plateauing.
Last time, during the big product push—
Even though he had prepared an entire inventory of bestsellers, profits barely hit 30 million Eris.
Axel was still a starter city, after all.
There was only so much spending power available.
No matter how great the product, they had hit the ceiling.
Which meant branching out to new regions was essential.
But time was running out.
Once summer ended, air conditioners would stop being a hot item.
Vanir's laughter came through the line.
"I'm not that useless shopkeeper."
"I've already got sales handled."
Chishiya's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Vanir replied, "We're in a small southern kingdom right now."
"The king owed me a favor."
"After I showed him your products, he was very interested. The temperature here is scorching year-round."
"We reached a deal. He placed an initial order of 500 units."
"If they perform well, there'll be a larger follow-up order."
Chishiya was stunned.
500 units?!
That was huge!
He'd worn himself out for days to push under 200 units in Axel.
Vanir had casually secured five hundred with a single deal.
That was easily a 100 million Eris contract!
Chishiya suppressed the glee bubbling in his chest.
"When will you be back?"
"I left 40 million Eris with Wiz as an investment."
"You'll handle the mass production."
Vanir raised an eyebrow.
"You made up for the losses in just a few days... and even profited 40 million?"
"Not bad."
Vanir's curiosity toward Chishiya deepened.
Then he suddenly paused.
"Wait…"
"Who did you say you gave the money to?"
"Wiz? Why?"
Vanir's tone turned frantic.
"WHAT?!"
"You gave the money... to that hopeless shopkeeper?!"
"Are you insane?! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?!"
"Give her money and you'll go bankrupt!"
"WAIT. I'M COMING BACK IMMEDIATELY!!!"
—
The voice cut off.
Back in the Labyrinth, Chishiya had already reached the entrance of the old wooden shack.
Just as he was about to enter.
He stopped dead.
"What… the hell?"
Before him stood a four-story classical villa.
Its manicured courtyard bloomed with flowers.
It looked like something a noble lord would live in.
Way bigger than the previous cabin.
"Welcome back, Master."
Chishiya turned.
The Ant Queen had appeared behind him.
Something about her felt... different.
Stronger. More refined.
Probably a side effect of the Labyrinth upgrade.
She had evolved too.
"Master, the mansion you requested has been completed."
"It's a bit crude. Please forgive us."
Crude?
Was her sense of simplicity broken?
Chishiya stared at the "modest home" before him.
How the hell was he supposed to live in a place this massive—alone?
He thought for a moment.
"Let's have Megumin, Rim, and the others move in too."
The Ant Queen nodded.
"Lady Megumin and Lady Rim have already moved in."
Chishiya: "Huh. They work fast."
"Then you should move in too."
The Ant Queen blinked.
"Me?"
"Yeah." Chishiya nodded. "It's more fun with more people around."
(And frankly, she was great for eye candy.)
The Ant Queen dropped to one knee.
"Thank you, Master!"
Chishiya waved it off and stepped inside.
"Finally, time to redeem that teleportation anchor."
[Teleportation Anchor: Price – 50,000 Reputation Points]
[Confirm purchase?]
[Note: Purchasing this item will cause the Labyrinth world to merge with the Konosuba world. Proceed with caution.]
Chishiya already understood what this meant.
The anchor would create a portal between the two worlds.
Merging them into one.
Like popping the membrane between two soap bubbles and fusing them.
"Confirm."
[Purchase complete.]
[World is merging...]
BOOM BOOM
The Labyrinth began to shake.
So did the Konosuba world.
From the sky, one could see a new landmass appearing next to the Suqing continent.
It slid into place like a puzzle piece.
The tremors lasted ten minutes before finally stopping.
[World Fusion Complete]
[Optimal merge location has been selected via big data.]
[Location: Crimson Demon Village, 10 km away]
Chishiya: "???"
Wait, what?
Crimson Demon Village?
You mean the one crawling with female orcs and high-level monsters?
Where even horse-drawn carriages can't reach?
Chishiya rubbed his temples in frustration.
Sure, he had start-up funds.
And the Labyrinth's core infrastructure was coming together.
But—
They were short on reception staff.
Short on facilities.
Short on everything.
And he couldn't just hire random nobodies.
He needed people on the same wavelength.
People he could trust.
Chishiya laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling.
Still, if it was near the Crimson Demon Village…
Maybe he should visit that girl's parents sometime.
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 11: Chapter 26: Level 2 Store Unlock
Chapter Text
The next morning.
Chishiya opened his account.
[Chishiya Shuntaro]
[Account Balance: 100 million Eris (Convertible to Reputation Points at 100:1)]
[Remaining Reputation Points: 1.45 million]
Last night, he had made a decision—to head to the world of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.
Mainly for staff recruitment.
With his own magic power, he might even be able to build a new faction by naming monsters.
In the anime, that adorable slime king expanded his influence by giving monsters names, turning them into loyal subordinates across multiple races.
If he copied that method, it might actually work.
Not only could he gather enough personnel, he might even establish a brand-new monster kingdom over there.
Chishiya rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
He still had 1.45 million reputation points left, which was just enough to unlock the Level 2 store.
[System Store upgrade requires 100,000 Reputation Points]
[Proceed with the upgrade?]
"Yes," Chishiya nodded.
Might as well upgrade the Labyrinth Store before heading out.
[Level 2 Store is now unlocked]
[Deluxe Architectural Blueprint Pack: 100,000 Reputation Points]
[Land Deed: 500,000 Reputation Points]
[Central Voice Transmission Pearl: 200,000 Reputation Points]
[Small Voice Transmission Bead: 1,000 Reputation Points]
Most of the deluxe blueprints were a hybrid of magical and modern architecture.
Like elevators powered by teleportation magic.
Magic street lamps. Stuff like that.
Definitely a major upgrade over the basic starter pack.
"What's this land deed?" Chishiya asked.
[Land Deed: Grants control over a 1-kilometer radius territory]
[Buildings within this territory are immune to destruction by external forces]
So by establishing a new territory, the buildings there become indestructible.
Wait…
If he had enough reputation points,
couldn't he technically claim an entire world?
Chishiya blinked.
Then glanced at the voice transmission beads.
[Central Voice Transmission Pearl: Collects data from small beads and broadcasts it outward]
[Small Voice Transmission Bead: Sends data to the central bead]
Communication tools, huh?
Perfect for setting up a communication network inside the Labyrinth.
Everything in the Level 2 Store was useful.
Not a single thing disappointed him.
And with a bit of spare reputation, it was time to make use of it.
"System, redeem everything."
"And add 50 more small voice transmission beads."
[Confirmed]
[Processing exchange…]
[Exchange complete. Items have been placed into the system inventory]
[Remaining Reputation Points: 500,000]
Looking at the land deed now resting in his system inventory, Chishiya wasn't in a rush to use it.
"When I reach the next world, I'll use this to establish a branch over there."
But that was later.
For now, his focus was recruiting more people.
And finding a way for the company to plant its roots in the Konosuba world.
Chishiya opened the door.
Just in time to see Megumin stepping out of the bathroom, drying her damp hair.
Steam still clung to her skin.
"Huh?!"
Wrapped in a bath towel, Megumin yelped and instinctively covered her chest.
She ducked behind the door with a tomato-red face, peeking out with just her head showing.
"Sensei… Sensei, when did you get back?!"
"Last night."
Chishiya massaged his temple.
Flat as a board, huh…?
"No, seriously—do you always walk around like this at home?"
Megumin stammered.
"How was I supposed to know you'd come back out of nowhere?!"
Chishiya looked around.
"Where's Rim?"
At that moment—
A barefoot pink-haired girl darted out of the bathroom and threw herself into his waist.
"Chishiya! You're back~!"
He looked down.
Then closed his eyes in silent resignation.
She wasn't even wearing a towel.
Being the Gluttonous Demon apparently came with zero awareness.
You're gonna get the wrong idea doing stuff like this…
Sure enough.
Megumin's face turned the color of a firework about to go off.
"Ah…!"
"Sensei, Sensei! You really are a pervert, huh?!"
"You brought two beautiful girls here and now the beast inside you can't be tamed anymore?!"
Chishiya silently took off his coat and draped it over Rim.
Then grabbed Megumin by the collar and hoisted her up.
"Ahhh! That hurts!"
He bonked her on the head with his fist.
"Quit saying nonsense, you brat!"
"Ow ow ow! Sensei! Mercy!"
He finally let go.
"It still hurts…"
Megumin crouched down, hugging her head and whimpering.
Chishiya sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Come on, we're going somewhere."
"Where are we going?" Megumin asked.
"Crimson Demon Village. Time to visit your parents."
"Ehh?! Sensei, you're not… sending me back home, are you?"
"You're saying I cost too much in food expenses, so now you're kicking me out?!"
"Don't look at me like that. I can cry too, you know!"
"At worst, I'll just stop eating!"
Chishiya lightly flicked her on the forehead.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"You're with me now. That means I should visit your family properly with some gifts. It's called basic courtesy."
"…Oh."
Megumin clutched the edge of his sleeve tightly… then slowly let go.
So I was just overthinking it…
I thought I was getting abandoned again.
Rim came over and gently patted her head, like an older sister comforting a younger one.
"Don't worry, Megumin. Chishiya promised he'll stay with you all."
"Right, Chishiya?"
Rim looked up with that usual, blissfully clueless smile.
Chishiya blinked.
Even though her brain was basically made of food cravings, sometimes she said surprisingly sweet things.
He gave a small nod.
"Yeah. I'm not abandoning you. Relax."
Megumin lowered her head, discreetly wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye.
"…Really."
"Geez, you're making this sound way too emotional…"
She looked up suddenly, acting all tough.
"I wasn't even that worried! I'm a level 20 Arch Wizard now!"
She proudly showed him her adventurer card.
Sure enough, she had hit level 20.
With all the monsters roaming the Labyrinth and Rim helping to herd them,
Megumin had leveled up fast.
She'd completed Chishiya's goal for her in just a week.
"Not bad. Fast progress."
"In that case, I'll bring you with me next time."
"Really?!"
Her eyes sparkled like stars.
Chishiya nodded.
"Yup."
"Oh, and the mana ore I gave you last time. You still have it, right?"
"Bring it when we visit Crimson Demon Village. I'll have someone make you a new staff."
Megumin's face lit up like it was Christmas morning.
"A new staff?!"
"Sensei! You really are the best Sensei in the entire world!"
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 12: Chapter 27: My Name is Yunyun
Chapter Text
—A clothing store in Axel—
Megumin stood in front of the shop assistant, pointing decisively.
"I'll take that mask. And those mittens."
"Oh, and that cloak too. Thanks!"
Chishiya rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Hey. What are you even doing…"
At the moment, Chishiya was wearing a slim-fitting black robe.
It had a gold-trimmed belt, a swallowtail cape, and a stiff high collar.
Basically, the very definition of that chuunibyou fashion Megumin adored.
Her eyes sparkled like she'd found a limited-edition Explosion plushie.
"Sensei! You look amazing! So cool!"
"Isn't this, like, way more stylish than what you usually wear?"
Up until now, Chishiya had always been dressed in plain cloth robes.
But since they were about to visit someone's family, he figured it was time to upgrade his appearance a bit.
Megumin had insisted on picking out his new look herself.
Which led them to this.
After paying, the two of them left the store.
Megumin waved excitedly at passersby.
"Sensei! You're so handsome! Look! Everyone's staring at you!"
Chishiya glanced around at the whispering crowd.
"…Why do I get the feeling it's not for the right reasons?"
Megumin replied seriously.
"It's fine. You're gonna be a huge hit in the Crimson Demon Village!"
Chishiya: "...Let's just keep walking."
———
—Adventurer's Guild—
Walking past the murmuring crowd, Chishiya made a beeline for the reception desk.
Luna blinked when she saw him.
"Chishiya-san, what… what's with the outfit?"
Chishiya deadpanned.
"Don't ask."
"…Okay…"
He cut straight to the point.
"Miss Luna, I'm heading to Crimson Demon Village. I'll be out of town for a while."
"I'd like the Guild to post a notice while I'm away."
Luna tilted her head. "What kind of notice?"
Chishiya answered seriously.
"My prop shop will be holding a new product launch early next month."
"The first 100 customers will receive a mysterious bonus item."
Luna was momentarily stunned.
Was this… a store promotion?
Was this guy seriously using the Guild notice board for an ad?
He really was different from the other hero candidates…
It kind of screamed, "I'm broke."
"I mean… I guess it's doable…"
"Thanks!"
Without waiting for approval, Chishiya slapped the written ad on the board and walked out.
Well, technically he was a "hero candidate." That should come with a few perks, right?
At least now, he wouldn't need to worry about business while visiting the next world.
His plan was simple: visit Megumin's family, then travel to the Slime world.
Stay about a month, recruit subordinates, set up a branch office, then return.
By then, the Labyrinth's facilities should be complete and ready for a grand opening.
———
About an hour later—
The Guild door swung open.
Darkness stepped inside.
Heads turned.
"It's the Crusader from that battle!"
"Thanks for your hard work!"
Caught off guard by the crowd, Darkness looked flustered.
She'd recovered from her injuries and had come today to ask about Chishiya.
Waving her hands in a panic, she tried to explain.
"No, no, it wasn't really anything."
"You all saw what a mess I was at the end, right?"
The onlookers responded enthusiastically.
"Don't be modest. We all admire your bravery!"
Even her former teammates came over to apologize.
"Sorry. We thought you'd lost your mind when you charged in like that."
"But it turns out we were the ones with scrambled brains."
"Huh?"
"N-no, it's fine…"
Darkness's cheeks turned red.
She hadn't expected it to end up like this.
She was feeling flustered and embarrassed… but not in the fun way.
This wasn't the kind of humiliation she liked at all.
Trying not to let it show, she made her way through the crowd to the counter.
Just then—
A girl was quietly speaking to Miss Luna at reception.
"Um, excuse me… I wanted to ask…"
"Is there a Crimson Demon girl here who can use Explosion Magic?"
"Someone around the same age as me…"
The girl seemed super anxious, barely lifting her head.
"Explosion Magic, Crimson Demon girl…"
The image of Megumin immediately popped into Luna's mind.
After all, plenty of parties had filed complaints about her 'accidental' explosions.
"Yes, but she just left."
"She left?!"
The girl looked up in surprise.
Luna then noticed something.
She was a Crimson Demon too.
"Wait, aren't you that girl from before?"
"Yunyun, right?"
Luna remembered her coming with Megumin the first time.
Then disappearing to the corner to quietly play chess with herself.
"Weren't you two always together? Did you get separated?"
Yunyun nodded. "Something happened… we split up temporarily…"
"But we made a really important promise."
"So now I want to find her again."
"I see…" Luna nodded.
"She left with Chishiya-san."
Chishiya?!
Behind them, Darkness's eyes lit up the moment she heard his name.
Yunyun quickly followed up, "Do you know where I can find Chishiya-san?!"
"Please tell me too!"
Darkness leaned in next to her.
Miss Luna jumped slightly at the sudden double interrogation.
"Um… I think they went to Crimson Demon Village…"
Crimson Demon Village…
—Outside the Guild—
Darkness turned to Yunyun.
"You're looking for Chishiya too? Want to travel together?"
"Huh?"
Yunyun froze.
This was the first time someone had proactively spoken to her in… forever.
"Y-yes! Of course!" Yunyun nodded rapidly.
Darkness smiled and offered her hand.
"I'm Darkness. Crusader."
Yunyun blinked, flustered for a second.
"This is so embarrassing… so awkward…"
"No! It's rare for someone to talk to me, I need to do this right!"
She cleared her throat and placed her hand dramatically over her chest.
"My name is Yunyun! Daughter of the Crimson Demon Clan Chief! A first-class mage, wielder of high-level magic!"
Darkness: "…"
The air went completely silent for a moment.
Yunyun's face immediately flushed bright red.
She caught the odd look on Darkness's face and panicked.
"Ahahaha! Please don't get the wrong idea! I'm not weird!"
"Just… just call me Yunyun…"
Darkness blinked, then nodded slowly.
Right. She'd heard that the Crimson Demons were all a bit… eccentric.
Now she'd finally met one in person.
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 13: Chapter 28: It's Over
Chapter Text
With a flash of light, Darkness and Yunyun appeared just outside the village via teleportation magic.
Yunyun pulled out a bottle of mana potion from inside her cloak and took a swig.
"We made it. Is this your first time in Crimson Demon Village, Darkness?"
Darkness nodded.
She'd heard the people here were fearsome enough to terrify even the Demon King's army.
They were frequently engaged in battles against his forces, and that only piqued her interest further.
Her lips twitched into a subtle smile, eyes full of anticipation.
"If I got kidnapped during a battle with the Demon King's army… something truly awful might happen to me…"
"Hehehe…"
A confused question mark might as well have floated above Yunyun's head.
Why was Darkness suddenly so… excited?
Something about this felt deeply off.
"W-well, let's go to Megumin's house first."
"Maybe they've already returned."
———
A short while later, they stopped in front of a small wooden cottage.
The house looked even shabbier than a typical peasant's home.
Yunyun knocked politely on the front door.
Footsteps came running from inside.
Soon, the door creaked open, revealing a girl who looked strikingly like Megumin.
She was probably still in elementary school.
"Who are you?"
Yunyun winced, feeling like she'd just taken ten thousand points of emotional damage.
"Komekko! It's me, Yunyun! I was in the same class as your sister!"
The little girl squinted for a moment, then suddenly lit up.
"Dad! That weird lady you mentioned is here!!!"
Yunyun: "Please don't call me that!"
—Living Room—
Yunyun knelt stiffly on the carpet. Across from her sat Megumin's father, Hyoizaburoo, wearing a solemn expression.
At a glance, he looked like an average middle-aged man, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made him hard to ignore.
For reasons she didn't entirely understand, Darkness also ended up kneeling beside her.
Hyoizaburoo said flatly, "You're telling me… my daughter was kidnapped?"
Yunyun flailed. "No no! She wasn't kidnapped! She just… left with an adventurer, I think?"
Darkness chimed in quickly.
"Yes! We heard he might've come to the village, so we came to check."
There was a brief silence.
Then the elegant woman sitting beside him, clearly Megumin's mother, with long, lustrous black hair and a strong resemblance to her daughter—spoke gently.
"Dear, don't scare the guests."
Ms. Yuiyui smiled. "Actually, Megumin sent us a letter. We've already heard about all this."
"A letter?"
Both Yunyun and Darkness blinked in sync.
Ms. Yuiyui pulled out the letter and handed it over.
They both leaned in to read.
[I met a magician who is super skilled in Explosion Magic! He agreed to take me as his apprentice!
Even though his clothes are in rags, his magic is super strong, and he can even talk to ants!
His other apprentice can eat any monster alive!
Recently, he took me mining and then to a forest for training.
I might not have time to write for a while.
—Megumin]
"…Huh?"
Yunyun and Darkness stared at each other in horror.
The mood flipped on a dime. Two people who hadn't been remotely worried were now on the verge of panic.
Yunyun yelled, "This is kidnapping, right?! This is totally kidnapping!"
Darkness shouted back, "She's eating monsters alive?! And he talks to ants?!"
"He took her mining and dragged her into a forest?! This is human trafficking! This is what trafficking looks like!"
Like she'd been sold off to some black market mining ring…
Ms. Yuiyui just laughed lightly.
"Relax. Isn't this just a normal family letter?"
"No need to get worked up, dear."
Hyoizaburoo nodded calmly.
"Yeah. I was a bit upset when I saw the Explosion Magic thing, though."
"If he turns out to be some comedy magician, I won't let my daughter learn anything from him."
"…???"
Darkness had always known Crimson Demons had… eccentric personalities.
But this was beyond what she'd imagined.
Still, Chishiya had saved her from one of the Demon King's top generals. He couldn't be as insane as the letter made him sound…
Could he?
And anyway, wasn't he supposed to be Her Highness Iris's fiancé?
Yunyun jumped to her feet, flustered.
"W-when was this letter sent?"
Ms. Yuiyui tilted her head. "It arrived four days ago."
It's over…
Yunyun clutched her head in despair.
Four days…
Everything that could happen probably already did happen…
Megumin…
What kind of twisted journey are you on right now?!
———
—Outside Crimson Demon Village—
"I didn't think the Labyrinth would be this close to the Crimson Demon Village," Megumin said, surprised.
She'd never left the Labyrinth before.
And the first time she did, she ended up practically in her backyard.
Chishiya nodded.
After the world merge, the Labyrinth's location had shifted.
It now sat just ten kilometers south of Crimson Demon Village.
At a brisk pace, you could reach it in two hours.
Soon enough, a peaceful little village came into view.
"Megumin, your hometown actually looks kinda nice."
"It's… fine," she said with a flat tone.
She had just left, and now she was already back…
As they walked down the village road, a few Crimson Demons greeted her enthusiastically.
"Megumin, you're back!"
"We haven't seen you in months! You must be way stronger now!"
"I heard Yunyun's become a pretty famous mage!"
Several Crimson Demon girls gathered around the pair.
They looked like Megumin's childhood friends.
"Heh…"
Megumin lowered the brim of her hat coolly.
"No matter how famous Yunyun becomes, my Explosion Magic will never lose in firepower."
"Besides, I'm already level 20."
"For real?!"
The girls gasped in amazement.
"You were only gone for a few months! How'd you level up so fast?!"
"That's amazing! What's your secret?"
Megumin grinned. "Hehe. Maybe the power sealed within me has finally awakened."
"Whoa! That's so cool!"
Chishiya sighed.
Yup. The Crimson Demons were just as weird as advertised.
"I hate to interrupt…"
Chishiya cut in flatly.
"But Megumin, we do have some important stuff to take care of."
"?!!"
The girls turned toward Chishiya and went silent for a moment… then locked on to his outfit.
"Whoa! He's so cool!"
"Megumin, is this guy your companion?"
Two of the girls, Funifura and Dodonko, slipped right past Megumin and sidled up to Chishiya.
"Megumin, your taste is on point."
"He's way different from the other outsiders we've seen."
Megumin put her hands on her hips, puffed up with pride like a smug lion cub.
"Of course. I personally—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Funifura and Dodonko's eyes were starting to glow red.
Megumin knew that look all too well.
Danger.
Bad intentions.
Emergency.
She immediately grabbed Chishiya's arm.
"Sensei, let's go. We've got important work to do. No time to waste!"
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 14: Chapter 29: Treating Parents
Chapter Text
Two people stepped out of the crowd.
Megumin puffed up proudly.
"Sensei, did you see the look in their eyes just now?"
"Told you I wasn't lying when I said I'm the number one genius girl in the Crimson Demon Clan."
Chishiya nodded flatly. "Yeah. So impressive."
"...Tch."
Megumin pouted.
Chishiya walked ahead, already thinking through what he was going to say when they arrived.
Honestly, this was his first time visiting someone else's parents. He was a little tense.
If they didn't approve of Megumin staying in the Labyrinth, it could get messy.
He needed to find a way to put them at ease.
Bribe them?
No, Chishiya shook his head.
"Even if they're poor, I doubt they'd take a payoff."
He needed them to feel like he was someone reliable—just by the way he acted.
Ten minutes later, they arrived in front of a small wooden house.
Chishiya knew Megumin's family wasn't well-off.
But seeing it in person… he realized he had still overestimated.
The place looked patched together from leftover firewood.
Knock knock knock.
Megumin took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Footsteps ran from inside.
The door creaked open, and a little girl peeked her head out.
Megumin knelt down and gently patted her head.
"Komekko, have you been a good girl while I was gone?"
Komekko stared blankly at Megumin.
"…Komekko?"
Megumin tilted her head.
Komekko suddenly locked eyes with Chishiya, who was standing behind her.
Her eyes widened, and she sucked in a deep breath.
"DAD! SIS BROUGHT A GUY HOME!"
Megumin: "EEEEHHHH?!"
Chishiya: "...???"
—Living Room—
The tiny room felt cramped as everyone gathered around the low table.
A quiet, awkward atmosphere settled in.
Komekko sat between Hyoizaburoo and Yuiyui, watching the scene with wide, curious eyes.
Yunyun looked up. "Why is Megumin here?"
"That's my line!"
Megumin jumped up and flicked Yunyun's forehead hard.
"What are you doing in my house?!"
Yunyun didn't back down. "Obviously, I'm here to challenge you to a duel!"
"I've fulfilled our promise!"
"I've mastered advanced magic, Megumin!"
"Time for a rematch!"
Megumin: "Huh?! Who said I'd compete with you?! You never win anyway!"
Yunyun turned red like an angry squirrel.
"N-not true! I've won a few times!"
Ahem.
Hyoizaburoo cleared his throat, interrupting the chaos.
Yunyun immediately remembered where she was and slumped back into her seat.
"R-right… sorry for shouting…"
"…"
Hyoizaburoo shifted his gaze to Chishiya, looking him up and down.
"So, you're Chishiya?"
"You look pretty young. From the way she wrote it in her letter, I thought you'd be some old geezer."
Wait, what?!
Yunyun blinked and finally looked properly at the boy next to Megumin.
This was Chishiya?
She'd assumed he'd be some middle-aged uncle.
After all, anyone using Explosion Magic had to be ancient, right?
Hyoizaburoo continued, arms folded.
"I heard you're teaching my daughter magic."
Chishiya nodded.
"That's right."
Hyoizaburoo's expression turned sharp.
"You can use Explosion Magic at your age… That makes you a genius by normal standards."
"But let me tell you something harsh."
"Even the lowest-tier Crimson Demon can outperform most human mages."
"Yet, none of them study Explosion Magic. Know why?"
Chishiya didn't answer.
He already knew. Too many downsides. One-use. Huge mana drain. Terrible efficiency.
Megumin kept her head down.
Hyoizaburoo went on.
"This ridiculous magic that can only be used once a day isn't suitable for anyone."
"However…"
He looked directly at Chishiya.
"She's poured in far more effort than others for the sake of this useless spell."
"Maybe only she understands what that kind of loneliness feels like."
"So if you're just treating Explosion Magic like some kind of joke…"
"Then don't waste her time."
"I don't want my daughter's dedication turned into someone else's comedy skit."
"…"
Chishiya didn't respond immediately. He glanced over at Megumin.
She was still looking down, fists clenched, shoulders trembling.
Of course.
No one likes seeing something they love treated like it's worthless.
That's probably what she's dealt with all her life.
And if even the people she respects think her passion is a joke…
No one could endure that.
Hyoizaburoo understood his daughter well.
He truly cared.
Chishiya took a deep breath and looked him in the eye.
"I don't think her dedication is a joke."
"In fact, I think it's incredible—choosing to dedicate yourself to what you love."
"She's already doing something I've never managed."
He turned to Megumin and met her gaze.
Her eyes were full of tears.
Then she suddenly threw herself into his arms, sobbing.
"Sensei!!! Uuuuwahhhh—!!!"
Chishiya: "Hey! You're getting snot on my new robe!"
Hyoizaburoo's brow relaxed slightly. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Darkness also looked visibly impressed.
"As expected. Now I really can recommend him to Her Highness Iris without worry."
Yunyun sniffled, wiping her eyes discreetly.
Yuiyui giggled behind her hand.
"Dear, I think our daughter found someone she can rely on."
"Hmph?!" Hyoizaburoo frowned. "It's way too soon to say that!"
"What if this guy's just some third-rate magician?"
Darkness calmly answered.
"Mr. Hyoizaburoo, you can rest easy."
"Chishiya-san is not a third-rate anything."
"He single-handedly defeated a Demon King Army general. He's a very capable man."
"That's actually why I came to meet him."
…
As Darkness finished speaking, silence fell over the room.
The only ones who knew about that battle were her and Chishiya.
Everyone else had been far away in Axel when it happened.
"Wait, what?!"
Megumin instantly stopped crying.
She grabbed Chishiya by the collar and shook him violently.
"Sensei! You went and fought a Demon King general without me?!"
"That's unforgivable!"
Chishiya sighed. "Weren't you grinding levels at the time?"
"Didn't I promise I'd bring you next time?"
Megumin ground her teeth. "Tch…"
"Still not fast enough… How many generals are left?!"
Watching her sulk, Chishiya reached out and gently patted her head.
Relax, little girl.
Very soon, I'll take you to other worlds where you can finally cut loose.
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 15: Chapter 30: Approval?
Chapter Text
Yunyun's eyes sparkled like twin mana crystals.
"Megumin's Sensei defeated a Demon King Army general?! That's incredible!"
I can't fall behind!
"No! Please let me become your disciple too!"
Just then, Megumin froze, as if remembering something.
She swallowed hard.
"Sensei… If you beat a Demon King general, there should've been a reward…"
Chishiya replied casually, "Yeah, there was a little something."
"…How much?"
Megumin's voice trembled slightly.
"About 300 million."
Megumin: "HOW MUCH?!"
Pffft—!!
Hyoizaburoo spit out his tea.
"Th-three hundred million?!"
He turned with wild urgency.
"Wife! Bring out the best tea we have!"
Yuiyui calmly stood up. "Dear, we only have one kind of tea."
Chishiya waved his hands. "Really, it's fine. No need."
"Actually, I brought some small gifts."
He reached into his inventory and placed down some high-end snacks and rare ingredients.
"Just a small gesture. Nothing fancy."
Komekko peeked over from the side.
"Whoa! Real food!"
"This isn't our usual watery porridge! This looks like food that actually fills your stomach!"
At that moment.
Hyoizaburoo's eyes gleamed as he turned to Chishiya and clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Chishiya-san, you must stay here tonight."
"Adventurers probably don't have a fixed place to stay, right?"
"If you don't mind, you can live here permanently."
Chishiya: "…Uh…"
Megumin pulled him aside quickly.
"Dad, what are you saying?! Sensei has his own mansion!"
"We've been living there!"
Hyoizaburoo froze. "A… mansion?!"
Yuiyui smiled. "Oh my. Well, either way, please stay for dinner tonight."
"We're very grateful for everything."
She turned toward Yunyun and Darkness.
"I'm sorry. We have a bit of family business today."
"So we won't be able to host you both tonight."
Yunyun, Darkness: "...???"
Getting kicked out… what is this??
Chishiya, watching Megumin's family shower him with warmth and sudden hospitality, just kept waving his hands.
"Really, don't worry about it. I've got work to do anyway."
"I understand…"
Yuiyui gave a slightly disappointed smile.
"Well, at least stay for dinner."
———
Night fell.
Smoke drifted from the chimney of the wooden bungalow.
Dinner had ended.
Chishiya found himself stuck in the living room, trapped by both parents for after-dinner conversation.
Megumin sat alone outside in the yard, gazing up at the stars.
Ever since she met Chishiya, everything had gotten better.
She couldn't help but smile.
"Megumin…"
A voice called out behind her.
It was Yunyun and Darkness.
The two had been waiting outside for Chishiya to come out.
One wanted to become his disciple.
The other wanted to thank him in person.
Yunyun stepped forward.
"Megumin, I'm ready. Let's duel!"
Megumin turned around with a smug little smirk.
"Hehehe~ Yunyun, I'm already level 20 now. You can't beat me."
Yunyun froze.
"When we parted, you were still level 6! How did you level up so fast?!"
Megumin grinned wider.
"Heh. If you're that curious, I'll show you later."
"My training ground… is like hell."
"...H-Hell?"
Yunyun shrank back and gulped.
She'd been intimidated by Megumin's usual chuunibyou phrasing.
Megumin looked satisfied.
Then she admitted, "I'm kidding. It's actually a Labyrinth."
"Sensei took me there to level up."
Yunyun let out a long sigh. "So it was a Labyrinth…"
Darkness, who'd been listening to their exchange, suddenly froze.
She touched her chin.
"Labyrinth… That sounds familiar…"
"A Labyrinth… Wait. A Labyrinth?!"
"D-Darkness? Are you okay?"
Yunyun jumped at her sudden outburst.
But Darkness didn't respond.
She bit her thumbnail, eyes narrowed.
"It can't be… The name matches that strange projection shop that's been appearing all over the place…"
"Don't tell me Chishiya-san works for that company…"
"I mean, the goods from that company are amazing… but it always gave off this shady, underground vibe…"
"If Chishiya-san is really employed by that boss… that's not good."
Yunyun looked worried. "Darkness, are you okay? You look pale…"
Darkness shook her head. "No… it's nothing…"
"We can't jump to conclusions. We need to confirm it with him directly."
———
Ten minutes later, Chishiya stepped out of the house, looking thoroughly drained.
What was that interrogation…
"Do you have a girlfriend?" "Anyone you like?" "Do you want us to introduce Megumin to you properly?"
She's still a kid. At the very least, give her a few more years.
His type had always been the cool, quiet type anyway.
As soon as he stepped outside, the three girls looked over.
Megumin was the first to speak.
"Sensei! Let's go back!"
"I didn't get to do anything exciting today!"
Chishiya pinched the bridge of his nose.
Please… stop phrasing it like that…
"Okay…"
Darkness: "Eh?!"
Something wasn't right.
But… she didn't say anything like that inside the house!
Yunyun didn't even flinch.
She was used to Megumin phrasing her spellcasting in ways that were... frequently misunderstood.
Chishiya looked at both of them calmly.
Two status windows popped up in his mind.
---
[Crusader: Lalatina]
[Recruitable Employee]
Recruitment Perks:
1. Knight's Body: Greatly enhances host's physical defense.
2. Kingdom Nobility: Increases profit margin by 25% when dealing with noble clients.
---
[Crimson Demon: Yunyun]
[Recruitable Employee]
Recruitment Perks:
1. Crimson Demon Bond – Labyrinth's magic concentration +10% (stacks +10% with two bonded members)
2. Lone Wolf – Magic power +25% when fighting solo
---
Chishiya had noticed it earlier while he was still inside.
Both of them were recruitable.
And Yunyun's perks stacked perfectly with Megumin's.
If both joined, he could boost the Labyrinth's magic concentration by 30% immediately.
The only question was whether they'd actually agree.
Chishiya asked simply, "Would you two like to join me?"
"Eh?!"
Yunyun froze.
She'd been trying to find the courage to ask him about becoming his disciple…
She never expected him to offer first.
"Yes! Yes, please! Thank you so much!"
She bowed deeply.
Darkness also nodded seriously.
She still had her doubts about whether Chishiya worked for that shady-looking boss behind the Underground Labyrinth Enterprise.
She needed to get to the bottom of it.
This was someone Princess Iris was bound to meet, after all. It had to be verified properly.
In her mind, the image of a greasy, sinister-looking middle-aged man formed.
It was now her personal belief that the boss of the Underground Labyrinth Enterprise looked exactly like that.
(To be continued.)
...
By dropping Kudos and comments, you can easily get double the number of chapters.
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 16: Chapter 31-32
Chapter Text
Chapter 31: Shame Meter
A portal opened, and everyone appeared outside the Labyrinth.
Chishiya led the way and opened the account interface.
"What unique teleportation magic," Yunyun said in awe.
"I've never seen a portal-based spell like that before."
She looked at Chishiya with shining admiration.
"Hey, hey, hey—!"
Megumin frowned and jabbed Yunyun in the cheek with her staff.
"What's with that look on your face?!"
"I'm warning you, don't start getting any weird ideas!"
Yunyun panicked. "W-what?! I wasn't thinking anything weird!"
She was still internally struggling over the apprentice issue.
"Normally, if you want to become someone's disciple, you should bring a gift…"
"If I suddenly ask without anything, won't that make me look thoughtless?"
Megumin clicked her tongue.
"Really…"
"What exactly are you going on about?"
As the two bickered, a small town came into view.
Laborers passed by carrying timber on their shoulders.
Some transported materials to their designated construction areas.
Many buildings had already been erected. Some were still under scaffolding.
Running water was fully connected.
An underground drainage system had already been installed.
Magic-powered streetlights lined the cobblestone roads, keeping the area brightly lit even at night.
In the middle of the square stood a statue of a goddess holding a kettle.
Darkness blinked in disbelief.
This is the Labyrinth?
Shouldn't a Labyrinth be some dark cave or creepy forest?
This was the first time she had ever seen a settlement constructed around a Labyrinth.
Yunyun looked at the people hauling stones across the road and lit up.
"Megumin, your training ground is amazing!"
Megumin glanced around.
"You mean them? Oh, they're all, uh…"
She was about to say they're mimicked Army Ants when Chishiya covered her mouth.
He turned back toward the group calmly.
"It's getting late."
"There's an inn just ahead, and a hot spring hall where you can soak and relax."
"You two should get some rest tonight."
"I'll have someone show you around tomorrow."
Yunyun nodded excitedly.
"Okay, okay! Thank you, Chishiya-san!"
Just as Chishiya turned to leave.
"Please wait!"
Darkness stepped forward.
"Chishiya-san, I've been meaning to ask from the beginning…"
"What exactly is your connection to this place?"
Chishiya paused.
Since he planned to recruit Darkness, there was no need to hide it.
"I'm actually—"
"The item you requested has been completed!"
Vanir suddenly appeared, holding a box in his arms.
Chishiya's eyes lit up.
"That fast?"
After returning, Chishiya had handed the sound transmission beads to Vanir, asking him to upgrade them for the Moe King world product line.
He didn't expect it back so soon.
"These cost us quite a bit of effort."
Just then, Vanir noticed the others.
"Oh?"
He smiled. Something had clearly caught his eye.
"Interesting."
Vanir gave a theatrical bow.
"Welcome, dear adventurers."
"I am the Duke of Hell who commands all demons, the all-seeing Vanir."
Darkness's pupils shrank.
"What?!"
She immediately drew her sword.
"You're a demon?! Everyone, get behind me!"
Megumin and Yunyun also entered combat stance.
"Sensei! Hurry up and get over here!" Megumin called out.
Chishiya rubbed his temple.
This guy absolutely did this on purpose…
Vanir chuckled.
"Girls, calm yourselves."
"We're cooperating with Chishiya now."
"There's no need for alarm."
The girls all stared at Chishiya in disbelief.
Megumin was the first to speak.
"Sensei! You're working with a demon?!"
Yunyun looked panicked.
"Chishiya-san, that's really dangerous!"
Chishiya rubbed his forehead.
"If I said he's a demon who doesn't hurt people, would you believe me?"
Darkness clenched her sword tightly.
"There's no such thing!"
"As a devout follower of Eris, I must destroy him!"
Vanir laughed gleefully.
"Relax. You're a perverted knight who's afraid of being outed for your… questionable purchases."
"W-what?!"
Darkness's face turned beet red.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about. Ha… haha…"
"Just the usual nonsense demons say, right?"
Yunyun stepped forward. "You dare insult my friend? I won't forgive you!"
"Sword of Light!"
A bolt of energy shot toward Vanir.
He effortlessly sidestepped it.
"Your magic won't work on me."
Yunyun: "Ehhh?!"
Yunyun collapsed onto the ground in embarrassment.
Megumin yanked her up by the collar and shook her.
"Hey! You really are trying to become his disciple, aren't you?!"
Vanir turned toward Megumin.
"And you."
"Because you're insecure about your chest, you're worried your beloved Sensei will get stolen by a cute, slightly more developed girl."
Megumin: "W-w-w-what are you saying?!"
"EXPLOS—Ow!"
Before she could raise her staff, Chishiya smacked her on the head with a swift and precise chop.
"Oww! My head!"
Chishiya glared. "Calm down. The Labyrinth cannot handle an Explosion spell!"
Vanir stood there contentedly, covering his mask with one hand.
"Mmm… such delicious shame."
"Please don't be stingy. Let me savor more in the future."
Everyone's battle posture crumbled under the overwhelming embarrassment.
Darkness's face was glowing red.
Megumin clutched her head.
"Sensei, what the heck is going on?!"
Vanir interjected again.
"Just as Chishiya said, I am a great demon… but one who does not harm others."
Darkness clenched her teeth.
"As if anyone would believe that nonsense."
Vanir responded smoothly.
"My kind feeds on human shame."
"We don't harm people. The sound of newborn babies is a greater delight to us than screams."
Chishiya let out a small sigh.
"He's telling the truth… He's that kind of demon."
Vanir continued.
"We signed a contract with Chishiya and are temporarily working under him."
"So you can rest easy. We won't do anything that hurts people."
"Demons take contracts very seriously."
Darkness paused, stunned.
"Working for him…?"
"You mean…"
Vanir nodded proudly.
"Yes. My boss is currently this man… surrounded by many women."
Chishiya sighed, rubbing his temple.
"The unnecessary commentary can be omitted."
Darkness asked, "So… what is this Labyrinth, really…?"
Chishiya looked up.
"I was just about to explain."
"I'm in charge of this Labyrinth."
"And… haven't you bought products from our company before?"
"You bought quite a few of those debuff herbs."
"Eh—"
Darkness's shame meter shattered.
Her eyes rolled back…
And she fainted on the spot.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 32: Congress Staff
The next morning.
Darkness rubbed her aching head and slowly sat up.
"What happened last night…"
"…"
After a moment, the memories came flooding back.
And so did the shame.
Her face flushed deep red.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
"Just kill me already, oh my god!!!"
Why… why did this happen?!
Darkness still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that the owner of the Labyrinth shop was actually Chishiya!
And he knew everything about her!
Just remembering it made her want to bury herself alive.
Wasn't he supposed to be a Hero Candidate?!
How—how could this be happening…
Oh no oh no oh no oh no—!!!
She clutched her head, unable to face reality.
Though she hadn't died physically, she had absolutely suffered social death.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Chishiya walked in.
"You're awake?"
He poured her a glass of water and handed it over.
Darkness blinked and took it, flustered.
"Th-thank you…"
Chishiya poured another cup for himself and took a sip.
"I think things are clear now, Miss Lalatina."
Darkness froze.
She was about to retort, but then realized.
Right. He introduced himself with his real name from the start.
It wasn't weird for him to know hers.
She gripped the cup tightly.
"Please… don't tell anyone my name is that…"
Chishiya raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"Because… it's embarrassing…"
Chishiya set down his cup and nodded solemnly.
"True. A perverted knight with a name that sounds like a refined noble lady…"
"That's rough."
PFFFT—!!!
Darkness sprayed water all over the floor.
Cough, cough, cough!
She choked on his sudden bluntness.
Something's off.
Something is very off.
She wiped her mouth and glared at him.
Chishiya continued calmly.
"I don't know what your current goals are."
"But Miss Darkness, are you interested in joining us?"
He looked directly at her.
He was mainly targeting the recruitment bonus.
The 25% profit boost from noble trading was huge.
And the enhanced physical durability was a bonus.
The only downside… was the brain damage.
Darkness blinked.
Is he trying to recruit me…?
"I'm sorry, Chishiya-san…"
She stood up and bowed politely.
"Thank you for saving me—twice—but I have no intention of doing business right now."
"I want to remain an adventurer."
"But as repayment—"
"I swear on the name of House Dustiness—if you ever need help, our family will support you to the best of our ability."
Chishiya said nothing.
Internally: How is that not the same as just joining me?!
He crossed one leg over the other and leaned forward.
"Miss Lalatina. You wouldn't want your family to learn about your personal preferences, right?"
"You wouldn't want their reputation damaged."
Darkness flinched.
"Eh?!"
Then realization hit her.
"You… you're threatening me?!"
Chishiya shook his head. "No. This is a negotiation."
"Of course, if you don't accept, then yes, it's a threat."
Darkness stared at him in disbelief.
He made the threat sound so reasonable… like it was just business.
Without even blinking.
This guy's supposed to be a Hero Candidate?!
He's a total monster!
…No.
This kind of person must not be introduced to Her Highness Iris!
Princess Iris is still young. She wouldn't be able to handle someone like this!
As her loyal subject, it is my duty to monitor him!
Yes. That's right.
Surveillance only.
Totally not for any other reason.
Darkness turned red.
"Chishiya, I didn't think you were this type of person…"
"You're actually blackmailing me using my family…"
"For their sake, I have no choice but to say yes…"
"…How despicable."
Chishiya: "???"
Why does it sound like you're enjoying this?
Chishiya sighed. "Despicable? I saved you twice, didn't I?"
"If anything, I should be calling you despicable, Miss Lalatina."
Darkness blushed harder. "Please don't call me that!"
Chishiya's expression remained flat.
"If you don't agree, I'll reveal your real name and your little shopping habits to the entire town by tomorrow."
"YOU BASTARD—!!!"
Darkness grabbed him by the collar and shook him like crazy.
But after a moment, she released her grip.
…Fine. He was her benefactor.
And summoned by Princess Iris.
She couldn't disrespect him too much.
"Fine. I'll do it."
"But Chishiya, I'm a Crusader and a devout Eris follower."
"Even if I work for you, I'll keep a close eye on you. I won't allow any funny business!"
Chishiya nodded. "Relax. We're a legal company. No shady activity here."
[Ding!]
[Recruitment reward obtained:]
1. Knight's Body: Greatly increases host's physical durability.
2. Kingdom Nobles: Increases profits by 25% when selling Labyrinth goods to nobles.
---
"Improved physical durability?"
That sounds… vague.
He'd test it out later.
But the second effect? Very useful.
Expanding trade to the capital would mean massive profits from those rich nobles.
Chishiya stood up.
He didn't care what she was thinking—as long as he got the rewards, it was fine.
"If you've agreed, come with me."
"We've got a company meeting."
"…Huh?"
——————————
At the end of the hallway, in the meeting room.
Before they even opened the door, yelling could be heard from inside.
Chishiya rubbed his temples and pushed the door open.
Around a round table.
On the left.
Two Crimson Demon girls were going at it.
Megumin had both hands on Yunyun's collar and was shaking her violently.
"Damn it! You've grown again recently!!!"
"You'll never make it as my apprentice with a body like that! It's a waste of materials!"
Yunyun fought back.
"Stop blaming me for your own lack of development!"
"Ow, ow, ow! Don't pull! It's going to rip!"
"And I still haven't officially said I want to be your apprentice, y'know! Huihui, take it easy!"
On the right.
Vanir and Aqua were in a heated debate.
Neither backing down.
Vanir: "Hah?!"
"You're a third-rate Chief High Priest with pitiful magic. What use are you to this company?"
Aqua propped one foot on a chair and jabbed Vanir's crumbling form.
"Ahhh~! Demon-lord-wannabe, your entire body's falling apart!"
Vanir chuckled behind his mask.
"This is just a clay body."
"But for a novice priest, you're doing alright."
Aqua twitched.
"What did you just say?!"
Vanir: "I said— Hey! Don't pull my mask while I'm talking!"
Wiz and Kazuma tried to mediate.
"Please, everyone calm down…"
Darkness stood frozen at the doorway.
The company atmosphere was… not what she expected.
Chishiya rubbed his forehead and slapped the table.
"Hey. Sit down."
Silence.
The noisy meeting room went dead quiet.
Everyone turned to Chishiya.
No matter how chaotic things got…
They still respected him.
Aqua pointed.
"Chishiya-san! Why are demons like that guy here?!"
"And that lich too! What are they doing in our company?!"
"Eh? M-Miss Aqua…" Wiz shrank into herself.
Vanir scoffed.
"I'm a high-tier demon who just negotiated a 100 million Eris deal."
"You? You're not even qualified to be called entry-level."
Aqua gritted her teeth. "You bastard!"
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 17: Chapter 33-34
Chapter Text
Chapter 33: New Products
Chishiya walked up to the head seat and sat down.
"Silence. We're not here to listen to your bickering."
Seeing how serious Chishiya was, everyone around the table quieted down instantly.
The Queen Ant stepped forward, poured him a cup of tea, and gently placed it in front of him.
Chishiya gave a slight nod.
"Everyone, this meeting is about two things."
"First, appointing department managers."
"Right now, Underground Labyrinth Enterprise has five departments."
"Human Resources, Mining, Logistics, Sales, and Technical."
"For Mining Department Manager—Queen Ant."
"She'll be handling all construction inside and outside the labyrinth, plus resource excavation."
The Queen Ant stepped forward and gave a polite bow to the group.
Chishiya continued.
"Logistics Manager—Kazuma."
"In charge of managing and investing in surface and underground shops."
"Sales Manager—Vanir."
"Handles external product sales and customer acquisition."
Vanir stood up in a theatrical pose and gave a gentleman's bow.
Then he glanced sideways at Aqua and curled his lips into a smirk.
Aqua's eyelids twitched furiously.
She was about to explode when Kazuma quietly held her back.
Chishiya tapped the table with his finger and spoke again after a short pause.
"No suitable candidate yet for the Technical Department."
"As for Human Resources, I'll be handling it personally."
"Any objections?"
He glanced around the table.
Only Aqua's hand shot up into the air.
"Chishiya-san! Chishiya-san! What about me? Don't I have a job?!"
She looked fired up, eyes shining with anticipation.
You…? If you can manage yourself, I'd already consider that a win.
But Chishiya simply said with a straight face, "Yes. Not only that, your role is quite important."
Aqua: "Really?!"
Despite being a literal goddess, her personality was easy to understand.
She just loved being praised.
Chishiya gave her a small smile.
"That's right."
"From today onward, you're officially the Chief High Priest of Underground Labyrinth Enterprise."
"This position was made just for you."
"Hehehe~"
Aqua raised her chin and pointed at Vanir smugly.
"See that? I'm the chief~"
Vanir didn't even look at her.
What a stupid goddess. Can't even tell she was handed a meaningless vanity title.
"What's the second item on the agenda?"
Chishiya waved his hand.
The Queen Ant came from behind and passed out a document to each person.
"This is your benefits package."
"Each position has different perks."
"But I think everyone will be pretty satisfied."
Don't talk about feelings when it's time to talk money.
Even between brothers, accounts should be settled clearly.
As a boss, Chishiya was very self-aware.
Megumin held her form, arms shaking.
"Sensei… 500,000 Eris… Is this real?!"
The form included health insurance, discount perks, and other welfare benefits.
But Megumin's eyes were glued to the salary section alone.
Aqua glanced at hers.
Then at Kazuma.
"Hey, Kazuma, what's this about shares?"
"Why don't I have any?!"
Kazuma clutched the paper tightly, staring at Chishiya in disbelief.
Bro… Chishiya's too generous…
He actually gave me ten percent of the shares?!
Kazuma trembled with emotion.
"I have to show some results now."
'I can't betray this trust…!'
Vanir had shares too.
On top of that, he also got usage rights for part of the labyrinth's lower floor.
Once everyone finished reading their papers.
Chishiya said, "I'll be away for a bit next month."
"I'm leaving the labyrinth in your hands."
"That's all for today. Back to work."
Short and to the point.
He then turned to Megumin.
"Hey, girl. Go bring your friend here."
Megumin glanced at Yunyun. "Let's go. I'm calling you."
Yunyun nodded shyly. "Y-yes!"
The three of them returned to Chishiya's room.
Chishiya pulled a big box out of a cabinet.
Inside were the new products he'd had Vanir prepare.
New transmission devices.
Each one was a small square box, with a unique array code etched on its surface.
They were designed to transmit information to paired sound transmission beads via a central hub.
"What's this thing?"
Darkness picked up one of the "boxes," pulling out its antenna curiously.
It was her first time seeing this kind of magic device.
Chishiya frowned. "Why are you here? I didn't call you."
Darkness continued playing with the gadget without even glancing at him.
"I'm obligated to supervise you and make sure you don't stray into darkness."
Crazy woman. Chishiya rolled his eyes.
"This thing's called a magic telephone."
"It allows for instant long-distance communication."
"It can replace even the advanced voice transmission magic of top-tier mages."
Darkness looked up, stunned.
"What?"
She stared at the little box in her hand.
This tiny thing could do that?
Advanced sound transmission magic wasn't something just anyone could use.
If it really worked.
It would revolutionize battlefield communication.
"Chishiya, sell these to me. I'm serious."
"Not for sale."
Chishiya swiped the magic phone from her hands and put it back in the box.
With Vanir's help, he had produced two hundred units in the first batch.
His plan was to sell them all in the Tensura world.
That world had a more advanced tech level.
They might already have stuff like air conditioners.
But phones? Not yet.
As far as he knew, no such item existed there.
For Chishiya, it was the perfect opportunity to establish a foothold—and make a fortune.
Darkness eyed the magical devices like a starving wolf staring at meat.
Chishiya's eyelid twitched. He shoved the whole batch into the system space.
Then turned to Yunyun.
"You want to join?"
"I…" Yunyun looked hesitant.
"You're so damn annoying. Just say what you want!"
Megumin smacked her on the back.
"Sensei, she wants to be your disciple."
"She's always been a loner. No friends."
Yunyun quickly waved her hands. "I-I have friends!"
Megumin: "Oh? Plants count?"
"..."
Yunyun went silent, puffed her cheeks, and her eyes began to well up.
Seeing this, Megumin sighed.
She looked at Chishiya seriously.
"So yeah, that's the situation. Sensei, take her in."
"Huh?"
Yunyun looked at Megumin in shock, as if she'd heard wrong.
Megumin continued, "Because this idiot's hopeless."
"If she were alone, she'd just keep spiraling."
"M-Megumin…"
Yunyun's voice trembled.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not doing this for you."
Megumin turned her face away in embarrassment.
"You're my rival, after all. If you're too weak, my victories won't mean anything."
"Got it?"
Chishiya smiled faintly at the two of them.
Megumin, huh? Proud to a fault.
No friends? She's got one right here.
He turned to Yunyun.
"So, Yunyun. Do you want to be my disciple?"
Yunyun wiped her eyes and nodded rapidly.
"Yes!"
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully recruiting Yunyun]
[Recruitment reward granted:
1. Crimson Demon Bond: Labyrinth mana density increases by 10% (additional 10% bonus with two clan members)
2. Lone Wolf: +25% magic power when fighting alone]
Labyrinth mana density rose by 30%.
That would massively speed up resource production.
As for combat strength…
Honestly, Chishiya had no idea what his own combat ability really was.
But if we were just going by raw magic power, he was probably around Demon King level.
Anything below a pseudo-Demon King should be fair game.
Chishiya looked at Yunyun.
"What level are you now?"
"Level 13."
"Stay in the labyrinth and train up to level 20 first."
A portal opened in front of them.
"When you're ready, I'll take you on a mission."
He then turned to Megumin and Darkness.
"You two, come with me on this one."
Megumin looked smugly at Yunyun.
"Looks like I'm one step ahead again, Yunyun. Better pick up the pace, Kouhai~"
With that, the three stepped through the portal.
And disappeared from the room.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 34: Subduing
Jura Forest
The Ogre Village was in flames.
The thatched huts were riddled with fire arrows, burning furiously under the dark sky.
The army of the Pig-Head Tribe had ravaged the entire Ogre Clan. The village had been turned into a hellish wasteland.
Like a swarm of locusts, they left nothing but scorched earth behind.
"Damn it…"
A tall, red-haired ogre knelt on the ground, fists clenched, glaring at the inferno in front of him.
"Big brother…"
Behind him, a shrine maiden-dressed ogre girl trembled with teary eyes.
Next to her, four other surviving ogres stood silently.
Out of the three hundred villagers who once called this place home, only six remained.
The red-haired ogre gritted his teeth.
"Damn pigs. And that demon…"
"I will make them pay for this!"
"Young Master, now is the time to retreat and regroup."
A white-haired elder stepped forward, voice calm.
"The Pig-Head Emperor isn't just after us."
"He's aiming to dominate the entire Jura Forest. We need to warn the other monsters, get them to evacuate."
"Anyone devoured by the Pig-Head Emperor will only make him stronger."
"..."
The red-haired ogre boy fell silent.
Then slowly raised his head. "You're right. We're not in a position to fight right now."
"We'll fall back. Gather strength. One day, we'll take revenge."
Just as they were preparing to leave, a powerful wave of magical energy surged from behind them.
"?!"
Monsters are naturally sensitive to danger. All six immediately drew their weapons, turning toward the source of the magic.
A black portal opened in the air.
Megumin stepped out first.
"Wow… this is the place—huh?"
She froze at the sight of the burning village. "What the… what happened here?"
Darkness followed, her expression serious as she surveyed the scene. "Was this village attacked?"
The ogres didn't relax just because two girls appeared. Their instincts told them the real danger was still behind them.
Their hands gripped their weapons tighter.
Then, a black-haired boy walked calmly through the portal.
The magical pressure radiating from his body was suffocating.
The sheer weight of it made their knees weak.
One of the ogres couldn't even hold his sword properly.
"You…"
Chishiya was just about to speak when he noticed something odd.
The ogres were sweating bullets.
...Huh?
He suddenly realized.
Could it be the magic pressure I'm leaking?
Right, this isn't the Konosuba world. There's no custom of suppressing magic power here.
And these monsters are probably extra sensitive to mana.
I must look like some kind of final boss to them right now.
With a slight sigh, Chishiya dialed his magic power back.
The ogres finally breathed again.
That kid's presence was nearly suffocating a second ago.
Chishiya scanned the burned-down ruins, then turned back to the group of ogres.
If memory served, this clan had just been wiped out by the Pig-Head Emperor.
Out of 300, only these six survived.
These six would eventually go on to become Rimuru's right-hand team in the original timeline.
Chishiya stroked his chin.
He did plan to trade with Rimuru in the future…
But manpower was a more pressing issue right now.
If he intercepted them here and now… well, that wasn't technically his fault, was it?
It's not stealing if no one's claimed them yet.
The red-haired ogre sheathed his blade and stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
"Powerful human… may I ask what brings you here?"
"As you can see, our village has been destroyed."
"I'm afraid we're in no position to help you."
He knew better than to provoke this guy.
Just based on his aura alone, this boy could wipe them all out.
And they still had a mission to accomplish.
They couldn't afford to die here.
Chishiya turned his gaze to the scorched village behind them.
"Thinking of rebuilding this place?"
The red-haired ogre hesitated, then a trace of pain flashed through his eyes.
"What's the point in rebuilding, when all our people are gone?"
Chishiya replied flatly, "What if I said I could bring them back?"
"!!!"
Their mournful eyes instantly snapped toward him.
Resurrect…?
Was that even possible?
Could someone really pull off something like that?
The red-haired ogre couldn't believe it.
"Resurrection… for real?"
Chishiya clarified, "Let me be clear. Not everyone can be brought back."
"At minimum, I need a body. Even a part of one is enough."
The ogres didn't hesitate.
A few minutes later, over twenty bodies were laid out in the village square.
Only twenty-four corpses out of three hundred…
The rest had already been devoured by the Pig-Head Emperor.
Chishiya stared at the corpses.
Some intact, some not.
Just like the original story.
The Pig-Head Emperor's unique skill, Hunger, let him grow stronger by consuming other monsters.
Not a single body from the Pig-Head Tribe could be found either.
The red-haired ogres were lucky to recover even this many.
Megumin covered her mouth.
Then turned and vomited behind a tree.
Darkness's face was grim. "How cruel…"
Chishiya turned to the red-haired ogre.
"I get how you feel."
"But I'm a businessman. I don't do charity."
"I'll help you. But in return, the Ogre Tribe must become part of my company."
"Are you willing?"
The five others looked to the red-haired ogre.
As their young master, the decision was his.
"..."
He knelt down.
If there was even a chance to save his people—even just a handful of them.
Then pride wasn't worth clinging to.
"Please save my clan."
"In exchange, let us serve you."
Chishiya looked at him for a moment.
He respected the decision.
Admitting your weakness is the first step toward becoming strong.
"Raise your head."
Chishiya helped him up.
"Deal."
"From now on, we're family."
"Welcome to Underground Labyrinth Enterprise."
[Transmission Network is now open]
A familiar system notification rang in his mind.
"Aqua, it's your turn."
He opened a portal behind him.
A blue-robed girl stepped out proudly.
Chishiya looked at her. "Well? Confident?"
Aqua thumped her chest. "Leave it to me, Chishiya-san!"
"I'm the Chief High Priest! The chief~!"
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 18: Chapter 35: The Arch Priest’s Strength
Chapter Text
The ogres stared wide-eyed at Aqua, who had appeared without warning.
The girl radiated immense magical power. Yet, instead of overwhelming pressure, her presence brought an odd, gentle warmth.
"Don't worry."
Aqua crouched beside a fallen ogre and gently placed her hands on his face.
"The Axis Church welcomes all life. Whether orcs, demi-humans, or lizardfolk—so long as they're not demons, salvation is always possible."
As soon as she spoke.
A warm, holy light enveloped the corpse.
The next second.
The ogre suddenly sat up, gasping for air, eyes wide with shock.
He instinctively reached for his chest wound, now completely healed.
"I… I'm alive?!"
Aqua threw her arms up triumphantly. "Success! Next one—!!!"
At that moment, the six surviving ogres were struck dumb.
Especially when they saw another comrade—half his body missing—fully regenerate and come back to life.
Their worldview, logic, and basic common sense were all shattered on the spot.
The shrine maiden-clad ogre girl clutched her mouth.
"Oh… Oh my god…"
"Whoa… that's incredible…"
"There really is resurrection magic… oh my god…"
She repeated "oh my god" like a broken record, unable to snap out of her shock.
Even the white-haired elder stared, mouth agape.
A miracle.
A true miracle.
Not even some Demon Lords could resurrect the dead.
Who exactly was that girl?
And what kind of monster was the boy standing behind her?
The red-haired ogre's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, glancing back and forth between Aqua and Chishiya.
He finally realized.
He might have just made the best decision of his life.
No… not just his life.
This moment might have rewritten the fate of the entire Ogre Clan.
Roughly an hour later, every ogre with a recoverable body had been resurrected.
Some were missing limbs or vital parts, so the process took longer.
But as the anime had once made very clear, Kazuma himself got blown to ashes and still got revived.
So this wasn't pushing the logic too far.
In Aqua's own words: "If the person's been dead for a short time, I can bring them back in a flash!"
"Hehe~"
Aqua stood with hands on hips. "Chishiya-san, I did a good job, right?"
Chishiya gave her a thumbs up.
"Very good."
To be honest, Aqua might be dumb, but her professional ability was solid.
Chishiya said, "I already contacted the Queen Ant via voice transmission. She's preparing a premium case of sparkling wine for you."
"A whole box. You'll have enough to drown in it."
"Chishiya-san! You're the best! I'm heading back now!"
Beaming, Aqua turned to leave as another portal opened behind her. She gave everyone a happy wave and disappeared.
Meanwhile, in the ruined village.
The newly revived members of the Ogre Clan were tearfully reuniting.
Relief. Joy. Grief. All flooding out at once.
But after a while, they all turned.
Led by the red-haired ogre boy, they knelt before Chishiya.
"Master, thank you—!!!"
"Thank you for giving them another life!"
"From now on, we are your most loyal subordinates!"
Chishiya nodded and looked around the ruins.
This place would make a decent base.
Next step: give them names. Let's see if that triggers evolution.
"Gather everyone. I'm going to give you names."
"Huh?"
"You're naming us?"
The red-haired ogre leader blinked in surprise.
Thirty ogres... Could a human really survive giving out that many names?
Chishiya shrugged. "It's inconvenient not having names."
"But…"
The pink-haired ogre girl looked worried.
"Giving names comes with a heavy cost. You're human, right…?"
"Using up too much magic power could literally kill you."
Chishiya touched his chin.
She had a point.
In the anime, Rimuru collapsed after naming just six of them.
He wasn't sure how his own body would react.
But with all the blessings he had… he should be fine.
"I'll be careful. Let's start with you six first."
He walked up to the red-haired ogre.
"You'll be Benimaru."
"Next, Shuna."
"Shion."
"Hakurou."
"Souei."
"Kurobe."
He named all six using their canon names from the series.
The moment he finished, a huge surge of mana drained from his body.
Chishiya felt it immediately.
There was no physical pain. Just a weird sensation, like sudden hypoglycemia.
Still, that meant it had worked.
As for how far they'd evolve… they'd have to wait until tomorrow.
Noticing Chishiya's pale face, Shuna stepped forward, clearly concerned.
"Chishiya-sama, let's stop here for today."
"You don't look well. It could be dangerous if you push yourself."
The other ogres all nodded in agreement.
This was the difference between monsters and humans.
Their loyalty was unwavering.
Chishiya gave a nod.
No need to rush.
It'd take four days to name them all anyway. That was more than enough to rebuild the village.
"We'll continue tomorrow."
With that, Chishiya opened his system panel and selected a [Land Deed].
It had cost him 500,000 Reputation Points.
It'd better be worth it.
[Use land deed?]
"Yes."
As Chishiya answered, a beam of light shot from his palm.
A one-kilometer radius of forest lit up around him.
Then—
The ruined houses around him began reconstructing on their own.
Nearby trees were broken down and absorbed into the magic.
Soon—
A modest village materialized before their eyes.
Simple structures. Thatched roofs. Bare essentials.
But way better than nothing.
Especially for land that cost him 50 million Eris.
There better be some kind of startup bonus.
[Land Setup Complete]
[Initial Base Established]
System messages popped up.
Chishiya gazed at the thatched hut in front of him.
Crude, but livable.
The ogres stared, jaws nearly dropping.
First, he brought the dead back to life.
Now he rebuilt a village out of thin air.
Just… who was this guy?
Chishiya turned toward them.
"Let everyone rest for now."
"Tomorrow we'll name the others and resume construction."
He was going to build a proper branch here.
Thatched huts wouldn't cut it.
He needed infrastructure—roads, housing, commerce, and entertainment districts.
"Yes!"
Benimaru and the others bowed and went off to assign housing to the newly revived.
The slightly larger house in the center of the village was designated as Chishiya's residence.
Megumin and Darkness would temporarily be living in the one next door.
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 19: Chapter 36: Evolution
Chapter Text
Chishiya stepped into the thatched hut. The interior was sparse, with only the bare minimum in furniture.
Well, it was an initial village. Can't exactly expect five-star comfort right out the gate.
He sat down on the wooden bed and opened his system panel.
[Chishiya Shuntaro]
[Core Staff: Megumin, Queen Ant, Vanir, Wiz, Kazuma, Aqua, Darkness, Yunyun]
[Account Balance: 100 million Eris (convertible to Reputation Points at 100:1)
0 copper coins (convertible to Reputation Points at 100:1)]
[Reputation Points: 300,000]
[Special Abilities: Explosion Magic Lover, Leadership, Lich's Blessing, Demon King's Blessing, Goddess of Water's Blessing, Goddess of Luck's Blessing, Knight's Body, Lone Wolf]
He originally had 500,000 Reputation Points.
But after producing 200 magic telephones, he was down to 300,000.
He closed the panel.
If he wanted to establish a branch in this world, the Ogre Clan alone wasn't enough.
He'd need more manpower.
Not to mention, the Pig-Head Emperor had to be dealt with. Otherwise, forget trade—no one would even survive here long enough to talk business.
——————————
Meanwhile...
Boom! Boom! Boom...
The forest echoed with thunderous footsteps.
From the sky above, the sight was terrifying.
A vast horde of orcs—200,000 strong—marched forward in full steel armor, heading straight for the center of the Jura Forest.
Their sheer numbers made the earth tremble.
"Crush everything!"
"Crush everything!"
Their pig-like eyes glowed with crimson light, their chants echoing like a curse.
Atop a tree, not far from the advancing army...
A masked demon wearing a crow-shaped mask looked on, grinning.
Since destroying the Ogre Village, the Orc Lord's magic power had skyrocketed.
Next target: the Lizardmen.
After that: the Goblin Village.
Eventually, every monster in the Jura Forest would fall.
"Eat. Eat everything."
——————————
Deep within the Jura Forest
"Trya, the orcs wiped out the Ogre Village…"
On a treetop, two women in plain dresses stood side by side.
They looked nearly identical. Only the length of their hair set them apart.
The long-haired one on the right narrowed her eyes.
"Treyni," she said calmly. "There's a high-level demon backing the Orc Lord."
"The Ogre Clan was just the first target."
"They're planning to take over the entire forest now that the Storm Dragon has vanished."
Trya clenched her fists anxiously.
"Sister, what do we do?"
Treyni's expression turned serious.
"We need the help of other races."
"Are you talking about that slime?"
"Yeah."
Treyni nodded. "He leads the goblins and the wolfmen. He's a force to be reckoned with."
As they spoke.
A beam of divine light split the clouds overhead.
"Sister, there it is!"
Such intense magic… Treyni's eyes sharpened. "That's coming from the Ogre Village's direction."
A sudden gust rustled the trees around them, as if the forest itself was whispering.
They turned to each other in shock.
The Ogre Clan… had been resurrected.
And not only that—they had been subjugated?!
A race as proud and stubborn as the Ogres… actually brought to heel?
A new power had emerged in the forest.
"Trya," Treyni said. "We're going to investigate."
"I'll confirm whether this new player is friend or foe."
"And I'll check in with the slime," Trya nodded.
The two women turned into streaks of light and vanished from the treetops.
——————————
The Next Morning
Before Chishiya even opened his eyes, he heard bickering.
"Shion, let me deliver Chishiya-sama's breakfast."
"No, no, Miss Shuna. Please allow me to handle this trivial task."
He slowly opened his eyes.
In his room stood two beautiful women, each holding a bowl of porridge.
When they saw he was awake, they rushed over.
"Chishiya-sama, good morning! Time for breakfast!"
What… the hell?
They looked vaguely familiar.
Weren't these two some of the Ogre girls from yesterday?
Had the evolution already succeeded?
Their appearances had completely transformed.
The one on the left was Shion.
Her long violet ponytail suited her sharp features perfectly. A single obsidian horn rose from her forehead, elegantly parting her hair down the middle.
Her skin was pale, lips crimson, and the savage aura she had before had softened into a more composed beauty.
She stood at around 170cm, with a tall, slender figure like a model... except for one very obvious area that seemed desperate for attention.
Next to her was a petite, stunning girl—Shuna.
She had already been cute, but now she radiated refined beauty.
Her pink hair had grown out, curled slightly, and was tied in a graceful bun.
Twin white horns peeked out like porcelain ornaments.
Her red eyes sparkled as she looked intently at Chishiya.
"You two…?"
Chishiya blinked.
Their mana had skyrocketed.
Had they evolved into the Oni race?
Wait… no.
He squinted.
This aura…
Was this demon evolution?
In Ogre biology, evolution goes: Ogre → Kijin (Oni) → Demon → Demon God.
Demons have power comparable to Demon Lords.
In the original anime, Rimuru had only helped them evolve into Kijin.
The demon stage came much later—after he became a Demon Lord.
So that meant…
My current magic power is already about mid-tier Demon Lord level?
"Chishiya-sama!"
Shion cheerfully handed him a bowl of… black sludge.
"…What is this?"
He stared at the ominous paste for a long time.
Shion smiled brightly. "It's porridge! I made it myself!"
"Try some!"
"…I'm… not very hungry."
Even with goddess-level blessings, Chishiya had a gut feeling eating this would not end well.
"Chishiya-sama, you're awake."
The curtain lifted.
Benimaru and the others walked in.
Chishiya glanced around.
After evolution, Benimaru had shrunk in size but was overflowing with mana.
Two black horns curled from his head, glowing with obsidian luster, sticking out from his fiery red hair.
Next to him was Souei.
He had dark skin and deep blue-black hair.
A single white horn protruded from his forehead.
His icy blue eyes matched his dark complexion perfectly.
Hakurou looked significantly younger.
Kurobe had transformed into a rugged bearded uncle.
All six of them had evolved into Oni.
Their bodies had become leaner, which unfortunately made their clothes comically oversized.
Except Hakurou. He looked exactly the same.
The most dangerous one was still Shion.
Her absurdly massive… assets… were barely held back by her shirt.
This couldn't continue.
If Megumin saw this, she'd absolutely lose her mind with jealousy.
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 20: Chapter 37-38
Chapter Text
Chapter 37: Dryad Treyni
Chishiya glanced over at Shuna.
"Shuna, do you know how to sew?"
Shuna nodded politely. "Chishiya-sama, I know a little."
Shion immediately chimed in with praise. "Chishiya-sama, Miss Shuna is being modest. She's famous back home. She's known as our Orihime. Her weaving skills are unmatched."
Sewing, of course, was a completely different art from forging.
Sewn clothing was more form-fitting, more comfortable to wear.
For instance, the outfits both Shion and Shuna were currently wearing were made of monster-grade silk, smooth and elegant.
The material came from the Hell Moth, a magical beast found near the Ogre Village. After spinning its cocoon, its silk was harvested and turned into cloth.
That silk contained a high concentration of magic and had surprisingly strong defensive properties.
Chishiya had long wanted to incorporate this into Labyrinth product lines.
Besides, this world also had linen and cotton.
Shuna should be able to process them.
Shion blinked. "Are you thinking about manufacturing textile-based clothing?"
Chishiya nodded.
"Exactly. I want to see if we can mass-produce clothes using monster silk."
"Monster silk?"
Shuna pondered a moment. "It's possible, but gathering the raw material will be difficult."
In this world…
Textiles were considered a luxury commodity.
Cotton and linen clothes were common, but silk was rare and rarely traded.
The main reason being—the Hell Moth was a ferocious, high-ranking B-class monster.
"Chishiya-sama," Souei stepped forward. "Leave the gathering to me."
The Hell Moth was dangerous—its scale dust could cause hallucinations. But during its metamorphosis, it was highly vulnerable.
Souei's plan was to harvest the cocoons before the moths hatched and return safely.
"Then I'll leave it to you," Chishiya said. "Though you'll probably need help."
He walked to the center of the village and opened a portal.
From it, over a hundred soldier ants marched out.
"Let them help with transporting the cocoons."
"And if possible, bring back live larvae. I want to establish a moth farm here in the village."
"Also, Shuna, I want you to teach weaving to the villagers."
After Chishiya finished explaining, Shuna's eyes sparkled.
"Really?!"
"Don't worry, Chishiya-sama! I'll do my best!"
She looked genuinely thrilled to be entrusted with the task.
Chishiya turned next to the bearded blacksmith standing nearby.
"Kurobe, you're good with forging, right?"
The gentle-looking man gave a humble nod.
"Then you're in charge of weapons production from now on."
"Just like Shuna, I'll need you to teach forging skills to the villagers."
Kurobe nodded. "Understood."
After assigning tasks, Chishiya returned to his room.
Raising moths in the Labyrinth... Collecting silk... Textile products...
A new idea suddenly lit up in his mind.
Could he revolutionize fashion here?
Women's clothing... stylish, alluring… maybe even—
Lace. Silk. Garter belts. Thigh-highs. Sheer cutouts. Open collars…
Stop.
No. Nope. Absolutely not.
He shut down the death-flag thought immediately.
And then…
A green light flashed inside the room.
A beautiful woman dressed in a simple gown materialized inside his tent.
Followed instantly by.
BOOM!
The entire wall exploded.
Benimaru and the others rushed in, eyes locked on the intruder.
"Who are you?!"
…Chishiya wiped his face slowly and stared at the new hole in the wall.
Seriously? Has nobody here ever heard of using a door?
Sighing, Chishiya turned back to the mysterious woman.
She looked distinctly Nordic, with fair skin and delicate, aristocratic features.
Her pale blue lips and matching blue eyes gave her a mysterious aura. She looked no older than twenty in human years.
But her translucent body gave her away—she didn't have a physical form.
The woman gave a graceful bow.
"Forgive the sudden visit. I am Treyni, a dryad."
Dryad. The forest guardian of Jura?
Wow, that didn't take long.
Barely been here a day and they're already knocking on my tent.
Chishiya tilted his head. "What brings you to us, Miss Treyni?"
He already had a good idea.
This was almost certainly about the Orc Lord.
Treyni confirmed it.
"I have come to ask for your help in defeating the Orc Lord."
She had observed Chishiya and his group for a full day and night, and was now confident he could be trusted.
The words "Orc Lord" instantly changed the room's atmosphere.
Benimaru and the others went stiff.
They hadn't forgotten what happened to their village.
From 300 villagers, only 30 remained.
Slaughtered by pigs. And that monster in the clown mask.
Even the children were wiped out.
Benimaru clenched his fists until they cracked.
A memory flashed across his mind.
That cheerful girl, just a few days ago, weaving flower crowns in the village.
"Young Master, you've been training so hard. Here, a gift from me."
But now—
Only blood, smoke, and shattered petals remained.
Not even a body to bury.
Once again, he'd failed to protect anything. Benimaru gritted his teeth.
"Benimaru."
A hand landed gently on his shoulder.
He looked up to see Chishiya gazing at him calmly.
"Take a breath."
"This won't happen again."
Benimaru nodded silently.
He'd let his emotions get the better of him.
Chishiya turned back to the beautiful dryad.
For Benimaru and the others' sake, he would help.
But the dryads needed to show some sincerity.
He wasn't Rimuru.
He wasn't some selfless saint.
"I'm willing to help," Chishiya said. "But what can the dryads offer in return?"
Treyni blinked in confusion.
She had spent the whole night watching him from afar.
He'd treated the Ogres so warmly. There was a sacred, almost divine quality to him.
He must be a noble and compassionate man.
"What... do you want us to do?"
That reaction…
Oh no.
These girls weren't planning to pay at all, were they?
Did you seriously think I was helping out of the goodness of my heart?
She looked so clueless.
Clearly had never dealt with a human before.
Chishiya sighed.
Time to educate the forest on the basics of transactional relationships.
"You dryads can monitor the entire Jura Forest, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Then I want you to relay a message to all adventurers entering the forest."
"Eh? What kind of message?"
He ignored her question and looked her over again.
She had the perfect figure for a maid outfit.
Anyway.
"Do you agree?"
Treyni tilted her head. Something felt… off.
But she couldn't pinpoint what it was.
He didn't seem like a bad person.
So she agreed.
Once the deal was sealed, Chishiya let out a subtle smirk.
Treyni didn't notice it.
Besides, she didn't even have a physical body.
How bad could this really get?
And so, the partnership was formed.
Chishiya also learned that Rimuru had agreed to join the cause the day before.
In three days, they would meet at the Lizardman's territory.
First Alliance Conference
To discuss strategies for dealing with the Orc Lord.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 38: Meeting Discussion
Three Days Later.
Outside the Ogre Village, on the hillside
Benimaru hurled a black flame from his hand.
Boom!
A deafening blast erupted across the hillside.
Black flames surged and engulfed the entire mountain face.
"Black Flame Prison!"
With one overwhelming strike, everything caught in the blazing cage was reduced to ash.
However...
A figure emerged slowly from within the sea of fire.
He lowered his gaze to his body, completely unharmed.
As expected. Aqua's Blessing granted total immunity to all status effects. Including flame burns.
Whoosh!
Just as Chishiya stepped forward.
A sharp glint of light flashed in his blind spot.
Hakurou appeared like a phantom.
The wooden sword in his hand swung directly at Chishiya's arm.
Bang!
The wooden blade struck squarely. But not even a scratch appeared on Chishiya's skin.
Despite using a wooden sword, Hakurou's strength was now nearly on par with a Demon Lord.
Even higher-level demons wouldn't walk away unscathed from a clean hit like that.
Chishiya flexed his arm briefly.
The Knight's Body ability was doing its job.
The physical reinforcement from all his blessings was even better than he expected.
In terms of defense, at least, he was very satisfied.
Hakurou stepped back and sheathed his sword. "Chishiya-sama, we'll end here for today."
"Your strength is far beyond ours."
Benimaru looked frustrated. "I expected a gap, but…"
"I didn't think our attacks would have zero effect."
"I still have a long way to go."
"I'll keep training."
These guys were way too humble. Honestly, if it were a typical Demon Lord, they'd be splattered across the hillside by now.
Especially Hakurou—his sword speed was ridiculous.
Chishiya hadn't even been able to react in time.
With their current strength, even if the Orc Lord evolved into a Demon Lord, they'd probably still win.
"We should go name the rest of the villagers."
Over the past few days, Chishiya had named most of the Ogre Tribe.
But not all had evolved into demons.
Most had only evolved into Kijin.
Benimaru and the others were clearly unique.
"Chishiya-sama, another group of goblins has arrived asking to join us."
At the village entrance, another wave of goblins waited patiently.
Chishiya had lost track of how many batches this was now.
In just three days.
Including the 1,000 currently in front of him.
Over 7,000 goblins had come seeking refuge.
Some even arrived from the far eastern parts of the Jura Forest.
Chishiya rubbed his temples.
No doubt about it, Treyni was the one spreading the word.
No, correction. 100% her fault.
Still, he didn't turn them away.
He named them all.
Manpower was always welcome.
After finishing, Chishiya staggered back toward the village.
Benimaru followed, a hint of concern in his voice.
"Chishiya-sama, are you alright?"
Naming 1,000 goblins in one sitting wasn't exactly low-stress.
"I'm fine."
Chishiya waved him off.
Mana consumption was tolerable.
But—damn, coming up with names was agony.
How does Rimuru manage this?! Unique names for every goblin?!
It took him forever just to think of one.
He was mentally suffocating.
———
In just three days, the village had transformed.
Ogres, goblins, soldier ants—the total population had swelled to nearly 15,000.
Construction had accelerated dramatically.
The once crude thatched village now featured wooden houses across the entire settlement.
Stone-paved roads had been laid.
Even an industrial district was under development.
Materials were stored in large warehouses, and rows of workshops lined the streets—blacksmiths, tailors, armorers.
Kurobe remained in the smithy, teaching blacksmithing to the male villagers.
Several high-quality blades had already been forged.
Souei managed material gathering.
Shuna focused on clothing production.
Benimaru and Hakuro trained daily.
As for Aqua.
She, Megumin, and Darkness had formed a patrol unit with several ogres.
They scouted the area regularly to prevent another sneak attack like Treyni's surprise appearance.
As Chishiya passed by Kurobei's forge, the rhythmic clanging of metal echoed.
He didn't stop.
Instead, he headed toward Shuna's workshop.
"Chishiya-sama, you're here!"
The moment she saw him, Shuna lit up like sunshine.
She ran over, excitedly showing off her work from the past few days.
Her large, bright eyes sparkled.
They chatted briefly to check on progress.
Chishiya gently patted her head.
"Good job. Thanks for your work."
Shuna's face lit up as she smiled under his touch. "It's nothing. As long as I can help you, Chishiya-sama!"
His heart skipped a beat.
Adorable.
He was seriously jealous of Benimaru for having such a capable little sister.
Unlike his cousin in his past life, whose only skills were chuckling and saying "hehe."
Stare…
Suddenly.
Chishiya felt two intense stares on his back.
A cold sweat broke out across his shoulders.
He turned.
Megumin and Shion stood in the doorway, expressions unreadable.
"Sensei," Megumin said with a fake smile. "We were working hard on patrol while you're living the easy life?"
"Well done~, thank you for your hard work~," she added mockingly, mimicking his earlier praise.
"Huh?!!"
She stomped up and jabbed her staff into his cheek.
"We've been busting our butts out there!"
"Answer me—!!!"
Chishiya: "…hard work… yes… you worked very hard…"
Shion stood silently beside her, smiling with the air of someone who had just caught her cheating boyfriend.
"Chishiya-sama, Miss Shuna still has plenty to do."
"It's probably not appropriate to keep distracting her. Let's go."
Wait—what?!
I didn't even do anything! Why does it feel like I've just been caught cheating?!
Flustered, Chishiya straightened up. "Right. Let's go."
"Chishiya-sama!"
An ogre wearing a guard uniform rushed in.
"Miss Treyni is here."
"I see." Chishiya nodded.
Time for the strategy meeting.
———
Meeting Room
It was called a meeting room.
In reality, it was just a wooden hut they built specifically for discussions.
Treyni gave a respectful bow.
"Chishiya-sama, it is time."
"Please accompany me to the Central Lake—the Lizardmen's territory."
"The other two representatives are already waiting."
Rimuru and the Lizardman leader, no doubt.
Chishiya nodded. "Alright. Let's go."
Shion piped up. "Chishiya-sama, please let me come with you!"
She wouldn't cause trouble, right?
He thought for a moment.
Yeah, she was more reliable than Aqua.
Stare…
Shion's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Chishiya sighed, massaging his temples.
"Fine. You're coming."
———
Meanwhile
Jura Forest – Central Lake
Underground Cave
Inside the stone-walled chamber, the Lizardman chieftain sat at the center of the long table.
To his right, the seat remained empty.
To his left sat a female goblin, gently cradling a familiar blue slime in her arms.
Next to her, a goblin with a round head was slumped over the table, snoring softly.
The chief glanced at the slime.
"This is…"
Haruna gently stroked the little blob. "This is Rimuru-sama."
"Three days ago, he named 500 goblins."
"He's resting now, having used up too much magic power."
"But don't worry. He'll wake up soon."
The Lizardman chief was speechless.
Five hundred goblins?!
That was no small feat.
Anyone capable of naming that many had to be far stronger than they appeared.
This slime... wasn't to be underestimated.
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 21: Chapter 39: Gabiru
Chapter Text
Behind the two, the short-haired dryad Trya looked at Rimuru.
Images flashed through her mind.
Goblins constructing houses under the dwarves' direction.
Even if they were simple thatched huts, they were leagues better than the tents in other goblin villages.
There were over 2,000 Goblins and Garou tribes under Rimuru's command.
That many subordinates…
And they'd all been named—an unfathomable boost in power.
No wonder her sister said he was indispensable.
She had truly been shocked.
But…
She looked across the street.
Her sister hadn't arrived yet.
Ever since the day the Ogre Tribe returned to the village, something had clearly changed.
Trya's sister hadn't said much since then, and Rimuru's matters had been entirely entrusted to Trya.
Lately, her sister seemed more interested in that other situation…
Always muttering things like "public relations," "influence," and "grassroots outreach."
They'd even gone out of their way to contact other goblin villages.
According to her sister, those villages had also developed rapidly.
But she hadn't seen this place yet.
If she had, she'd definitely be stunned.
---
"Hey, hey, hey! I said, haven't you guys arrived yet?!"
While Trya was lost in thought, a lizardman stormed into the cave entrance.
Green skin, leather armor, and a serious case of being annoying.
"Son, show some respect!"
The leader slammed the table and barked.
"Father, let me deal with the Orc Tribe!"
"Why are we wasting time on some so-called alliance?!"
"Sir Gabiru, the dryads are still here…" the female lizardman beside the leader whispered a reminder.
"Oh?"
Gabiru turned and noticed Trya standing behind Rimuru, eyes closed.
He gave a half-hearted bow.
"Lady Trya, leave the matter of the Orc Lord to us."
"The wetlands are the Lizardmen's domain. The Orcs don't stand a chance."
Trya opened her eyes, voice cold.
"Please don't underestimate the enemy, Lord Gabiru."
"The Orc Lord possesses the unique skill [Hungerer]. He feeds on his followers' fear.
They wiped out every single Ogre tribe."
"And there are high-level demons involved. Possibly even a Demon Lord pulling the strings."
"In this situation, our only hope of survival is uniting everyone's strength."
Gabiru just laughed.
"I'll admit they're impressive, wiping out the Ogres and all."
"But I have a name granted by Gelmud-sama."
"There's no way I'll lose."
"And besides…"
He paused, eyes drifting toward the slime in Haruna's arms.
"You expect me to trust a slime? And a goblin?"
His "huh" afterward made the insult perfectly clear.
"What did you say?!"
The moment Gabiru finished, a giant wolf leapt out of Rimuru's shadow!
It had a signature horn and a star-shaped marking on its forehead.
"Awoooo!"
Ranga's howl echoed through the cave.
The sheer force of his aura sent the other lizardmen trembling in fear.
Gabiru remained where he was, face stiff but unmoving.
"So you're their leader?"
"Fine. Then let's talk."
Ranga growled. "Just a lizard…"
Black lightning began to swirl around him.
Right as he was about to strike, his gaze suddenly shifted toward the cave entrance.
Trya looked over too.
Such an intense magical fluctuation.
"Sorry we're late."
Everyone turned.
Three figures were entering the cave.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
At the center walked a black-haired young man.
On his right, a red-haired demon in a samurai kimono with a katana at his hip.
On his left, a tall purple-haired woman in a men's suit, radiating cool-headed confidence.
The trio was clearly led by the black-haired youth.
His aura was overwhelming. It wasn't magical—it was the kind of oppressive presence you'd expect from a Yakuza boss.
Chishiya gave Shion a sideways glance.
Benimaru's presence was expected… but he didn't expect Shion to give off such a commanding vibe.
At least she looked the part.
---
Ranga narrowed his eyes.
The two Oni flanking the youth were radiating magic power.
Especially the red-haired one—his magic was at least five times stronger than Ranga's.
He stared at Benimaru in disbelief.
Trya turned her gaze to the boy in the center.
So… he's the leader of the Ogre Tribe?
Wait—he's actually human?!
But…
His magic power seemed lower than the two demons beside him.
Strange, considering he was supposedly their leader.
Just then, Treyni appeared behind them.
"Sister." Trya gave a respectful bow.
Treyni returned the gesture. "Yeah."
Whoosh—!
As the two sisters greeted each other, a flash of light burst from Haruna's arms.
Rimuru's soft voice rang out. "Yatta! Finally awake!"
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
In the next instant, black magic swirled around him.
In a flash, Rimuru transformed into his blue-haired human form.
[Ding!]
Chishiya blinked.
For the first time in a long while, the system's voice echoed in his mind.
[Target: Rimuru Tempest]
[Recruitable Employee]
[Recruitment Rewards:]
1. Special Ability: Great Sage
2. Special Ability: Predator
3. Special Ability: Mutant
4. Unlocks Demon Lord Evolution Path]
…Wait, wait, wait…
Three legendary abilities at once?!
Chishiya's expression didn't change, but internally, the logical side of him was having a total meltdown.
These rewards were ridiculous.
There was a reason Rimuru was so overpowered.
And it all came back to these insane skills.
Especially Great Sage—that external brain was basically a cheat engine.
Its upgraded form, Raphael, could analyze and optimize nearly everything.
This was very tempting.
Chishiya couldn't help but smile slightly.
Rimuru, now fully awake, spotted the young man across from him.
The guy was waving with a weird little grin.
"…???"
Huh? What's this about?
He had to know Rimuru was a slime, right?
And yet, he was still being friendly?
This guy was the first person to ever react like this.
[Notifice:]
[The individual is the leader of the Ogre Tribe.]
[Race: Human]
Great Sage's voice echoed in Rimuru's mind.
Human?!
Rimuru was stunned.
His dream was to create a nation where monsters and humans lived together in peace.
And this guy… he might be the key to that.
But…
Rimuru squinted at the black magical energy coming off of Chishiya.
'Great Sage… what's his power level?'
[Notification:]
[The individual is concealing their magic power. Estimated output: ten times greater than yours.]
"Nani (⊙-⊙)!!!"
Ten times?!
Rimuru whistled under his breath.
Sure, he could tell the guy was suppressing his magic, but he didn't think the gap was that wide.
Humans… are actually this strong?
Thank goodness he seems to be the friendly type…
Hmm…
Rimuru rubbed his chin.
Decision made.
They had to establish diplomatic relations.
At this moment, all parties of the Jura Forest Tripartite Alliance had finally gathered.
The conference was about to begin.
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 22: Chapter 40: Discussion
Chapter Text
A long table stood at the center of the cave.
The Lizardman Chief sat at the head, while Rimuru's faction and Chishiya's group sat on opposite sides.
"Ahem…"
Gabiru stood up, cleared his throat dramatically, and struck a pose with his hands on his hips.
"Since we're allies now, the first thing we need to decide is who's in charge."
"As the only named warrior among the Lizardmen, I, Lord Gabiru, will reluctantly accept this position."
"I trust no one here objects, right?"
"Yes, that's right!"
His followers chimed in immediately.
"With Lord Gabiru's brilliant leadership, we'll crush the Orc Tribe for sure!"
Shion's mouth twitched. She clenched her fists on instinct.
Who does this guy think he is?!
The Lizardman Chief barked, "Gabiru! That's enough!"
Gabiru turned back.
"Father, this is our Lizardman territory."
"Do you want a slime… or a bunch of losers making the calls?"
Crack!
The sharp sound of a teacup being crushed.
Benimaru's eyelids twitched as his hand moved toward his katana.
A vein bulged on Shion's forehead.
Ranga bared his fangs, his face turning grim.
Chishiya casually sipped his tea.
Looks like someone's about to get his skull introduced to the floor.
The Lizardman Chief yelled, "Gabiru! What are you doing?!"
Gabiru replied confidently, "Father, have you forgotten the pride of the Lizardmen?"
"A powerful enemy is at our doorstep, and we're supposed to entrust our future to outsiders?"
---
Treyni calmly set her teacup down.
"Then what does Lord Gabiru propose?"
Gabiru grinned. "Simple."
"Settle it with strength."
"Each group sends a representative. Whoever wins, leads the alliance."
Treyni pondered for a moment.
Well, technically, there's nothing wrong with that.
And an alliance does need a clear leader.
"What do you two think?" she asked, glancing at Chishiya and Rimuru.
Chishiya answered first, voice flat. "Fine by me."
Rimuru nodded in agreement.
Gabiru laughed proudly, hands on hips.
"Hahaha, excellent! Then I, Gabiru, will represent the Lizardmen!"
"You all can send someone too!"
"Let me show you what real strength looks like!"
Crack…
Shion snapped the armrest clean off her chair.
She turned toward Chishiya with a disturbingly forced smile.
"Chishiya-sama, can I kill this guy?"
---
Central Lake
Thick fog hovered over the wetlands.
The shallows were filled with reeds swaying in the breeze.
At the center clearing, a crowd of Lizardmen had gathered.
"Gabiru! Gabiru!…"
Almost every young Lizardman was chanting in support of him.
"Heh…"
Gabiru stood in the clearing, brandishing his trident and striking flashy poses like he was at an idol concert.
This guy was weirdly popular…
Meanwhile.
Benimaru stepped forward. "Chishiya-sama, allow me to fight."
"No, Chishiya-sama!" Shion interjected. "Let me do it!"
"I promise I'll win!!!"
She looked at him with sparkly eyes, practically begging.
Chishiya said plainly, "Shion, sit this one out."
"What?!"
Shion glared at Gabiru, who was still flexing nearby.
She looked ready to jump down there and punch his lights out.
Chishiya added, "Because you might accidentally kill him."
"The next opponent will be tougher. I'm counting on you for that one."
He turned to look at Ranga.
Rimuru would probably pick him.
Shion wasn't a Oni in name only.
In the anime, she could already handle Demon Lord Clayman at this point.
And she still didn't know how to hold back.
If she fought Gabiru seriously, there might be no Gabiru left.
Benimaru, on the other hand, could handle it cleanly.
---
Treyni stepped into the center of the field as the official referee.
"Everyone, remember that our true enemy is the Orc Lord."
"Please restrain yourselves accordingly."
Gabiru waved her off. "No worries, Miss Treyni, I'll go easy."
"Hey, Ogre Tribe. Let me show you the true marksmanship of the Lizardmen!"
Benimaru rested his hand on his katana and ignored him.
On the sidelines, Rimuru leaned toward the Great Sage.
"Great Sage, explain this guy to me."
[Notice:]
[Target: Oni Clan. Demon Lord species. Evolved from a rare unique-class demon.]
"What's a Demon Lord species?"
[Notice:]
[It refers to beings with the potential to become Demon Lords.]
'Wait… so he's even stronger than the Orc Lord?!'
[Notification:]
[Correct.]
Rimuru turned to glance at Chishiya.
Even his subordinates are on this level…
So cool…
He really hoped they wouldn't become enemies in the future…
Just then, the boy in question met Rimuru's gaze and gave a casual wave.
Rimuru smiled in return.
…What a friendly guy.
It would be nice if they could be friends.
Meanwhile, Chishiya rubbed his chin and turned away.
It's over. I've been single for so long, even a slime is starting to look cute…
---
"Gabiru!"
"Gabiru!"
"Come on, Lord Gabiru! Crush them!"
"Show them the power of the Lizardmen!"
The Lizardman Chief looked on, not too concerned.
His son might be immature…
But he was, without a doubt, the strongest warrior among the Lizardmen.
Even if he lost, it would be a thrilling match.
---
"Gabiru!"
"Gabiru!"
The crowd was still chanting as Treyni raised her hand.
Benimaru sighed.
"Can we start now?"
Treyni nodded. "You may begin."
Gabiru twirled his trident with flair. "Hehe~."
"Ogre Clan, can you hear the cheers behind me?"
"This is our territory!"
"Now take this!"
"Whirlpool Spear—!"
His trident spun as water spiraled around it, shooting straight at Benimaru.
"Feel that?! That's the power of the wetlands!"
"No one's ever blocked this move of mine!"
Shing—!
Right after launching the attack—
The smug grin on Gabiru's face froze.
Wait…
Where did he go?
Benimaru was gone.
"Wha—?!"
The Lizardman Chief shot up from his seat.
"What just happened?!"
The crowd blinked in confusion.
"When did he vanish?!"
"Where did he go?!"
"Wait! Over there—!!!"
Before anyone could react, Benimaru had reappeared behind Gabiru and smacked the back of his neck with the flat of his blade.
Gabiru's eyes rolled back.
He crumpled like a sack of wet rice and hit the ground, unconscious.
Treyni stepped over and checked him.
Then raised her hand.
"The match is over!"
"The winner is the representative of the Ogre Tribe—Benimaru!"
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 23: Chapter 41: One Move, Instant Kill
Chapter Text
"???"
"What?!!!"
The Lizardman Chief and his cronies stared at Gabiru, who lay unconscious on the ground, in total disbelief.
"What just happened?!"
The entire exchange had lasted less than three seconds.
That was… way too fast.
The Chief gulped.
Benimaru simply walked off the battlefield like nothing had happened.
Sweat beaded on the Chief's forehead.
The gap in strength… is this wide?
Since when did the Ogre Tribe become so powerful?
And more importantly…
He turned to glance at the black-haired human not far away.
A demon clan this strong… actually serving a human?!
How… is that even possible?
---
Chishiya scanned the crowd with his usual blank look.
As expected of Benimaru.
His control was precise, hitting hard enough to KO without causing any permanent damage. Clean work.
Rimuru smacked his lips.
Whoa…
That's some serious power.
Fighting that guy would be annoying.
Benimaru had been so fast, Rimuru had to rely on Great Sage's [Thought Acceleration] just to keep track of him.
---
Off the field, Gabiru was already being dragged away.
The second match was now up.
Shion rubbed her hands together, her whole body practically vibrating with excitement.
"Chishiya-sama, I'll definitely win!"
She waved at him and grinned with pure enthusiasm.
Across from her—
Gobta stood in the ring, completely confused.
"Huh?"
"Me?"
He turned to Rimuru, pointing at his own nose in disbelief.
Why am I being sent up?! I just woke up!
…Rimuru sighed and covered his face.
Yeah, this was probably going to be a mess…
Gobta immediately collapsed to his knees.
"Rimuru-sama, you've got to be kidding me!"
"There's no way I can fight that violent gorilla-woman!"
"Eh——?!"
Both Chishiya and Rimuru widened their eyes in horror.
Bro, you're asking to die with a comment like that!
As expected—
Shion's mouth twitched. A dangerous aura began leaking from her body.
Clenching her fists so hard they creaked, she stalked forward one step at a time.
"What… did you say?"
"You little punk… say that again if you dare."
Treyni, seeing that both sides were technically "ready," raised her hand and declared:
"Prepare!"
"Begin the—"
Gobta: "Wait—Wait a seco—!"
"Match start!"
BANG——!!!
Shion threw one punch.
Gobta: Who turned off the lights…?
Huh?
Why do I see Grandma waving at me from across the river…
---
So far, both matches had ended without any suspense.
Benimaru and Shion had claimed flawless victories.
Leadership of the alliance was temporarily handed over to Chishiya.
With the meeting concluded, the strike team led by Chishiya was finalized.
From the Ogre Tribe: Chishiya, Benimaru, and others would participate.
From the Goblin Village: Rimuru, Ranga, and Gobta joined the squad.
As for the Lizardmen… Gabiru was kindly assigned to logistics and cleanup.
Initially, some of Gabiru's closest followers grumbled that this decision was too sudden.
But the moment they heard Chishiya commanded over twenty High Ogres, they all zipped their mouths shut.
After all, they had already witnessed the strength of Benimaru and Shion with their own eyes.
Imagining twenty-plus of those monsters in one group…
Yeah. No one wanted to keep talking after that.
Action was scheduled for tonight.
---
Demon Lord's Castle
"Hey, Clayman! So how's that toy of yours doing?"
On the sofa, a pink-haired loli with twin-tails lounged casually.
She wore a black vest over a white tube top, black shorts, and pink-white thigh-high socks.
Her fashion sense? Bold.
In front of the window, a man in a white suit swirled a glass of red wine.
His voice was smooth and magnetic.
"Milim, everything is proceeding perfectly."
"The situation's getting interesting."
"Just be patient and enjoy the show."
The pink-haired girl, Milim, suddenly hopped off the sofa.
"Really?!"
"Alright then, I'll believe you this time!"
"I'm heading back. Let me know when it's ready!"
As she bounced off, Clayman turned to the window, sipping his wine with a smirk.
"Seems they haven't noticed anything yet."
A voice echoed from behind him.
Clayman turned.
"You're bold, Laplace. What if someone had caught you sneaking in?"
Laplace waved him off.
"No worries, no worries."
"That terrifying guy's already left."
Clayman narrowed his eyes.
"So what are you here for?"
Laplace strolled in, crossing one leg over the other.
"The President asked me to pass on a message."
"You've done well. Lord Kazaream is pleased."
"Neither Demon Lord Milim nor the others realized we were stirring up chaos."
"I figured it was all just a game."
Clayman smiled faintly.
"The Orc Lord is about to evolve."
"I wonder how the Western Nations will react to that."
"Can't wait."
---
Elsewhere
The news of the Orc Lord's emergence in the Jura Forest had already reached the Western countries.
The Western Holy Church, the Dwarf Kingdom, and the Free Guild from the Blumund Kingdom had all dispatched investigation teams.
Partly to confirm the disappearance of the Storm Dragon…
And partly to verify the existence of the Orc Lord.
At the same time—
Dwarven Kingdom, Armed Nation Dovagon
Moonlight poured through the palace windows, gleaming off the silver-white tiles.
At the end of a corridor stood an ornate door, carved with angelic symbols.
Two guards in steel armor flanked the entrance, gripping their spears.
Inside a dimly lit conference room, ministers gathered around a round table.
"My king, what did Night Assassins report?"
Dwarf King Gazel Dwargo slowly placed the letter in his hand onto a candle's flame.
He raised his sharp, eagle-like eyes.
"The reports are confirmed. The Orc Lord does exist."
"What?!"
The room erupted in tension.
"That legendary monster of destruction is real…?"
"Your Majesty, what are your orders?"
King Gazel Dwargo frowned deeply.
"Ever since the Storm Dragon vanished, monster activity has become more aggressive."
"And now an Orc Lord, commanding two hundred thousand Orcs…"
Even if we manage to stop him…
That kind of number, if it gets out of control, would be a disaster.
The King exhaled slowly and leaned back in his chair.
Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
"Your Majesty…"
One of the Night Assassins operatives stepped forward.
"There's something else to report."
"Go on."
"We've detected signs of high-level monster movement in the southwest."
"A village has appeared there."
"Preliminary reports suggest the presence of Oni-type monsters."
Oni-types…
Could this be the evolved form of the Ogre Tribe?
Was this connected to the Storm Dragon's disappearance?
The Dwarf King narrowed his eyes.
"Our top priority is still the 200,000-strong Orc Tribe."
"Send a small team to keep an eye on that village."
"Understood."
The King continued,
"Make the Orc Lord a critical observation target."
"Monitor his movements closely."
"There must be no mistakes!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 24: Chapter 42-43
Chapter Text
Chapter 42: Battle, Great Conflict
Moonlight spilled through the trees.
Jura Forest.
"Help! Help!!"
A small Lizardman tribe near the wetlands had been thrown into chaos.
They were utterly incapable of resisting the overwhelming force of the 200,000-strong Orc Army.
Boom, boom, boom…
"Crush everything!"
"Devour everything!"
---
"Damn it… are these really just Orcs?!"
Four or five Lizardman warriors struggled to bring down a single pig-headed creature, panting hard.
"This feels like fighting a horde of demons!"
"Where the hell did these pigs even come from?!"
"Someone go get help from the Wetlands' main tribe!"
As they argued, a volley of flaming arrows rained down on them.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!!
The whistle of death.
Those who didn't dodge in time were torn apart by the impact, collapsing into pools of blood.
"HELP!! PLEASE!!"
The village echoed with the screams of children and female Lizardmen.
"Get to the shelter, now!! Hurry!!"
Less than a hundred Lizardman warriors had formed a defensive wall in front of the cave.
Behind them, the shelter overflowed with terrified women and children.
"Crush… devour… destroy…"
They were completely surrounded.
The Orcs' eyes were bloodshot, their mouths foaming with saliva.
They moved like corpses… or rabid beasts.
"Damn it… what happened to them? Are these really just the Orc Tribe?!"
"This can't be normal…"
"Captain… I… I'm scared…"
A young warrior's knees buckled as he trembled.
"I… I don't want to die…"
"I want to live…"
Just moments ago, his teammate was cleaved clean in half and devoured right in front of him.
Not even bones remained.
As the pigs drew closer, the squad's legs trembled in unison.
They were terrified.
This was suicide.
If they fought, they would die.
"What are you all afraid of?! Pull yourselves together!"
The captain raised his spear and stared forward.
"Don't forget what we're protecting!"
Everyone turned to glance behind them—
Inside the cave, a dozen children huddled in fear, tears long since dried up.
The captain roared and skewered an approaching Orc with a single strike.
"You bastards…"
"Don't you dare underestimate the pride of the Lizardmen!"
"I will never abandon my people!"
With an arrow stuck in his shoulder, he snapped the shaft off and turned back to his squad, bellowing:
"WAKE UP!!"
"We are the guard team! These kids are counting on us!"
"Stand up straight!"
"Don't let these damn pigs trample over our pride!!"
"Captain…"
Their throats tightened.
They were still afraid. But…
"Uh… Captain, your legs are shaking too…"
"Shut up!! Stop pointing that out!"
"Hold the line!"
"HEY, YOU PIGS! You're only getting past this point over my dead body!"
"CAPTAIN!!"
Their fighting spirit was reignited.
They pounded on their trembling legs.
Grinned through gritted teeth.
"Hell yeah, let's do this!"
"We may not win, but we'll sure as hell starve them trying!"
"Feed them to death! I'm not dying today, no way!"
"Survive, everyone!!"
---
On a nearby hill…
"Yoshi~ yoshi~."
A clown in blue and white stripes with a red nose pranced around gleefully.
"Everything's going swimmingly~."
"The plan's moving along perfectly~ Gelmud-sama~."
Across from him, a demon wearing a crow-shaped mask stared into a crystal ball.
Inside, a grotesquely massive army of Orcs marched through the forest.
"Crush the Ogres, destroy the Lizardmen. Absorb their strength."
"Even the Dryads won't be able to stop my precious child."
"Yes… my child, the Orc Lord, will soon rule the Jura Forest!"
"Then—he will evolve… into a true Orc Demon King!"
"If you pull this off, Clayman-sama will definitely reward you, Gelmud-sama," Laplace said, practically giggling.
Gelmud grinned as he stared into the crystal.
"HAHAHA… No one can stop me now."
"This forest… belongs to me. To Clayman-sama! Hahahahaha!!"
Just as he broke into crazed laughter, something in the crystal flickered.
Gelmud's eyes went wide.
"…Why the hell is that loser here?!"
---
Back at the cave entrance.
The defensive unit was on its last legs.
Their captain, bloodied and half-delirious, struggled to stand.
"Washed clo—!"
Just as an Orc raised its axe for a final swing.
A shadow dove from the hillside.
"Water Vortex Style: Vortex Crash—!!"
With a blast of high-pressure water, the spear pierced the Orc's chest and launched it into the cliff wall with a deafening boom.
It left a crater.
The Orc crumpled, twitching once before going limp.
The smoke cleared.
The Lizardmen could only gape at the figure standing with his back to them.
"…You are…?"
The captain forced himself to his feet and looked up at the tall figure.
A silver trident gleamed in his hands.
The crest of the Wetland Tribe.
Reinforcements!
"You've done well. I'll take it from here."
Gabiru patted the captain's shoulder and stepped forward, shielding them.
"Gabiru-sama is truly here to save us!"
"Gabiru!"
"Gabiru!"
The support troops who followed Gabiru into battle lined up behind him, cheering like overenthusiastic fanboys.
Gabiru grinned.
He'd been sent as support by order of the Alliance Leader, Chishiya-sama.
The main force had headed straight for the Orc Lord.
Honestly, he was a little ticked that he wasn't part of the main squad.
But those guys were strong.
Especially that red-haired demon… the one he fought before.
So sly.
He was probably the real leader of the Ogre Tribe.
Gabiru smirked with confidence.
I, Lord Gabiru, have already seen through everything!
But that doesn't matter now!
It's finally my time to shine!
"HEY, YOU FILTHY PIGS!"
"Let me teach you what happens when you mess with a Lizardman!"
"Vortex Crash!"
Gabiru twirled his trident, launching spiraling torrents of water that ripped through the battlefield.
Ordinary Orcs couldn't withstand the attack at all.
Their formation collapsed within minutes.
The rescued Lizardmen stared at him with awe.
"So that's Lord Gabiru… the heir to the Great Wetlands Tribe."
"The first warrior of the Lizardmen."
"I never imagined… he'd be the one to save us!"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 43: Explosive Magic! The Battle Changes
"Hahaha! Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's nothing."
Gabiru's mouth stretched practically to his ears.
It felt so good to be admired.
"Hahaha, let's send the wounded for treatment first."
Suppressing his grin, Gabiru gave the order.
There were kids among the injured—definitely not the time to bask in praise.
Everyone began helping the wounded.
Getting ready to leave...
Suddenly, an immense magical force surged from behind.
"Hey, hey, hey… What's that piece of trash doing here?"
The Lizardmen turned around.
It was a demon wearing a crow mask.
Gabiru froze for a second when he saw him, then spoke excitedly:
"Gelmud-sama! Why are you here?!"
His followers widened their eyes.
"That's the one who gave Gabiru-sama his name…"
"Why's he here?!"
Gabiru looked stunned.
"Gelmud-sama, did you come to help us?"
"Huh?" Gelmud's voice was laced with irritation.
"You useless idiot."
"Why don't you just die already?"
Gabiru: "Huh?"
Just the tone of his voice was enough to imagine the maniacal grin behind that mask.
"I said—you losers should've been food for the Orc Lord!"
Gabiru froze in place.
"Gelmud-sama… what are you talking about…"
"You're trash, and even worse, an ugly piece of trash."
"Just be my food."
Death-March Dance!
Countless purple orbs lit up the air.
He pointed at Gabiru.
And in an instant, those spheres launched toward him like missiles.
"Gabiru-sama! Dodge!!"
Gabiru stood there in a daze.
He still couldn't process why the one who gave him his name was now attacking him.
Boom—!!
A violent explosion echoed through the wetlands.
All of Gabiru's followers threw themselves at him and blocked the fatal blow.
"Y-You guys…!"
The three of them, breathing their last, whispered:
"Gabiru-sama… to us, you're always…"
"…the greatest…"
"Please… run…"
With that, they stopped breathing.
"…Why…"
Gabiru clenched his teeth, bloodshot eyes burning with rage.
"Why are you doing this?!"
Gelmud clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Ugh, what a pain."
"Disgusting little insect."
"General Orc, finish him."
As his words fell, the ground rumbled.
A four-meter-tall pig-headed creature in black alloy armor stepped forward.
Gelmud didn't even glance at Gabiru again.
"I'll leave it to you, Orc General. I'm off to see how the Orc Lord is doing."
"This trash is all yours—enjoy your meal."
He kicked off and vanished into the air.
The towering Orc General gripped his giant axe and slowly approached the crowd, muttering:
"Eat it all… eat it all…"
"Gabiru-sama, let's retreat—quickly!"
The Lizardmen behind him spoke up.
They could feel the overwhelming pressure radiating off that pig-headed monster.
There was no way to win...
"..."
Gabiru said nothing. He picked up the trident from the ground and slowly stood up.
"There are still children and wounded here…"
"If we all run, we won't make it."
"But…"
"Leave this to me. I'll hold him off. Get the injured out of here."
"Gabiru-sama…"
"I SAID GO!!"
Gabiru gripped his trident tightly, staring down the Orc General with a look of unwavering resolve.
At that moment, something about him changed.
Clang clang clang—!
The clash of metal rang out behind him.
The remaining Lizardmen realized Gabiru was buying them time.
There were still children to save.
They couldn't waste this chance!
"Retreat!!"
Clang clang—!
Gabiru blocked the Orc General's attacks, holding the line until he saw his people get away.
A faint smile formed on his face.
"You're a worthy warrior."
"Surrender, and I'll grant you an honorable death."
The Orc General spoke.
Gabiru blocked a sweeping blow and sneered.
"How laughable! We noble Lizardmen never surrender!"
No one knew how long the fight went on.
Chaos Eater!
Five black serpents shot out from behind the Orc General, carrying a deadly aura.
Gabiru mustered every ounce of strength to dodge, leaping backward.
Thud!
He collapsed to his knees, exhausted.
Damn it…
We can't win. This guy isn't even on the same level as normal Orcs…
I can't beat him…
I'm going to die…
…But at least the wounded made it out.
The Orc General towered above him, looking down at the kneeling Gabiru.
A mocking grin spread across his pig-like face.
"How dare you stand in our way?"
"You Lizards are good at groveling. Die like the worms you are!"
It's over…
Everyone… I'll see you soon…
The giant axe came crashing down—
Clang—!!!
A piercing metallic clash rang out.
The blow never landed.
"Hey, now's not the time to nap."
"Get up."
"…Eh?" Gabiru slowly opened his eyes and saw the figure in front of him.
Kimono. Samurai sword. Wooden clogs…
And that familiar red...
It was the Oni.
Benimaru glanced down at him. "How long are you planning to lie there?"
"You want me to carry you?"
Across from him—
The Orc General gritted his teeth, pressing his full strength into the axe.
But Benimaru hadn't even drawn his blade.
He blocked it with one hand.
He wasn't even using strength.
The General's face twisted in frustration.
It was like a child being handled by an adult.
Utterly outclassed.
"Who the hell are you?"
Benimaru turned to him.
"What? Forgot already?"
"Didn't you devour our village not that long ago?"
The Orc General's eyes drifted to the horn on Benimaru's forehead.
"That broken horn… You're from the Ogre Clan?!"
Benimaru smirked. "Who knows. Maybe I've changed a little since then."
The General took two cautious steps back, pulling out a massive shield from behind.
"I don't know where you came from, wild brat…"
"If you get in our way—don't blame me for—"
He didn't get to finish.
Back at the battlefield—
Suddenly, several crimson magic circles lit up the sky in rapid succession.
Then—
A rainbow-wreathed pillar of flame dropped from above!
BOOM—!!!
A massive explosion detonated across the battlefield.
The towering inferno lit up the entire night sky.
The shockwave blasted away all the lingering fog over the wetlands.
Splash…
Raindrops, condensed from steam, pattered down from the sky, soaking Gabiru's face.
He stood there, eyes wide, mouth agape.
The Allied Forces had arrived.
They were fighting on a massive battlefield.
"But… what the heck was that magic just now?!"
"What just happened?!…"
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 25: Chapter 44: The Devil’s Dream
Chapter Text
The blazing curtain of fire in the sky reflected in Benimaru's pupils.
"Don't worry. That's just my companion's magic."
"Tsk…"
The Orc General gritted his teeth.
Was that massive spell cast by the Lizardmen?
We need to finish up here fast and kill the one casting those high-level spells.
He turned around, magic power behind him morphing into five giant snakes.
He raised the massive shield in his hand.
"Ogre Clan… Looks like you've come to help these lizards."
"But it's pointless!"
"No matter how many losses we take, our advantage remains!"
Chaos Eater!
The serpents shot toward Benimaru like streaks of lightning.
"Watch out!" Gabiru shouted.
This strike was even faster than before. So the pig wasn't going all out earlier?!
Benimaru's face didn't twitch.
"A defeated opponent?"
"Then allow me to show you."
A black flame rose in Benimaru's palm.
As the black snakes lunged forward.
His figure suddenly vanished, reappearing behind the Orc General.
"Nani—?!!"
The General's pupils dilated.
What speed!
Before he could react.
Benimaru's palm was already touching his back.
A cold voice followed.
Black Flame Prison.
"Perish."
In the next instant.
The Orc General was trapped inside a purple barrier.
Immediately after, searing black flames filled the inside.
"AAAAAAHHHH!!!"
It was like the fires of hell were burning an evil soul alive.
A piercing scream echoed through the battlefield.
"You… Who the hell are you?!"
Benimaru said nothing.
He just stared calmly as the General was devoured by the flames.
The screaming gradually faded.
Eventually, it went silent.
All that remained… was a thin layer of black ash.
Gabiru stood there with his mouth wide open.
"Whoa… That was amazing…"
Benimaru pulled out three bottles of recovery potion and tossed them at the unconscious Lizardmen nearby.
"Give those to them. It should still be in time."
"Huh? These are…?"
"Healing potions."
"Chishiya-sama gave them to me before we left."
"Said they were blessed by a goddess or something."
Goddess… Well, maybe that's just how he phrased it.
Benimaru popped a red pill and shut down his racing thoughts.
Then he turned toward the battlefield.
"Hey, if you can still move, follow me."
"We might need more people on the front line."
With that, his figure leapt into the air and vanished.
Gabiru clenched his fists as he looked in the direction Benimaru disappeared.
So this is the gap… I'm still not even close…
———————
Meanwhile…
On the battlefield
"Sensei! Sensei!"
Megumin clung to Chishiya's back, shouting excitedly.
"Did you see it?!"
"It's really a new staff!"
"That Explosion Magic just now was the best one I've ever done!"
She patted his back excitedly.
This girl… We're in the middle of a war. Can't she take anything seriously?
Chishiya kept his calm, expression deadpan.
"This is the result of training."
"How is it? I didn't scam you, did I?"
Megumin nodded furiously, still riding high on the joy of her detonation.
Not far ahead, an Orc General was engaged in battle with a blonde knight.
"What's wrong with you humans?!"
Chaos Eater!
Black and red serpents slammed into Darkness's armor.
Cracks began to spread… on the armor.
Darkness herself? Totally fine.
The Orc General was starting to doubt the entire concept of being born a pig.
What kind of person is tougher than their own armor?!
Why even wear armor then?!
"What the hell are you made of, human?!"
"How can you be this hard?!"
Darkness blocked the giant axe, cheeks turning bright red.
"H-Hey! I can't just ignore that!"
"Say it clearly! Who are you calling hard?!"
Despite her embarrassment, she stood her ground.
After all, being called "hard" wasn't exactly something a young maiden wanted to hear...
"Hey! Hey!!"
Darkness shouted back.
"Your attacks are too weak!"
"This has nothing to do with me!"
She glanced behind her at the Lizardmen and Goblin Wolf Riders.
"Everyone!"
"I'll be the meat shield! Don't worry about me!"
"Just hurry up and finish it!"
Boom!
Another Orc General bit the dust.
Rimuru turned his head toward Chishiya.
"Chishiya-san, your subordinates are really something."
Impressive…? Yeah. In a certain way, extremely impressive.
Also possibly clinically insane.
"Ahem…" Chishiya cleared his throat.
"Well then. Let's go find the Orc Lord."
"Okay. I'll head up first."
Rimuru sprouted bat-like wings and took to the sky.
Oh yeah… He can fly…
One day, I'm definitely learning that skill.
Chishiya pouted slightly and followed on foot.
"Sensei, why are you still walking? It's embarrassing."
Megumin chirped while still hanging onto his back.
Chishiya muttered, "Yeah, yeah. So sorry."
———————
Now the entire battlefield had basically fallen under the Oni's control.
Shion swung her massive greatsword, its blade glowing with a violet light.
Every swing unleashed a flash of purple energy.
Every strike carved a seven-meter path of destruction through the Orc ranks.
Not just cut in half. Enemies exploded into pieces.
Her beautiful face lit up with a cheerful smile as she danced her blade through the crowd.
She didn't even seem to be getting tired.
Her barrage was nonstop, and no Orcs could get within reach.
Absolute domination.
Meanwhile, Hakurou handled the enemy commanders and generals.
He didn't even need a battle. Just walked in and sliced them to ribbons.
At the Orc Lord's side.
Gelmud was losing his mind.
"What… what the hell is going on?!"
Across the battlefield.
The once-formidable Orc army was getting shredded.
Out of nowhere, more than a dozen Oni had appeared.
Wielding magic swords, they pounced on their prey like starving tigers.
The Orcs didn't even have a chance to fight back.
"Are you… kidding me?!"
"I already ordered the Orcs to destroy the Ogre Clan's village!"
"Where the hell did these monsters come from?!"
Gelmud's eyelid twitched wildly.
And that wasn't all.
In the center of the battlefield, a blonde knight was holding her own against one of the Orc Generals.
What faction is she from?
Western Holy Church?
And that little loli mage over there!
He saw her spell with his own eyes!
One blast and nearly a quarter of the Orc army was obliterated!
"Ahhh—gahhhh!"
Gelmud clutched his head, practically screaming.
"Where did these people even come from?!"
"Why are they ruining everything at this critical moment?!"
"If this keeps up… If it keeps up… that adult will kill me!"
"Damn it! The Orc Lord… The Orc Lord—!!!"
Gelmud howled.
"Hey, Orc Lord! Get moving already!"
"What the hell are you waiting for?!"
Behind him stood a grotesque pig-headed creature.
Over five or six meters tall.
Yellow, clouded eyes full of malice. A demonic aura seeped from its body.
But something was off…
It didn't seem to have any will of its own.
As if it were being driven purely by—
(…To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 26: Chapter 45: This Is Your Full Strength?
Chapter Text
Gelmud was practically frothing at the mouth as he screamed at the top of his lungs.
"You idiot! What the hell are you doing?!"
"If you'd just eaten these losers earlier and evolved into a Demon Lord, I wouldn't have to clean up your mess!"
"Trash, trash, trash!"
He kicked the Orc Lord hard in the leg.
"Hey, what do you mean by 'evolve into a Demon Lord'?"
A voice rang out from behind.
Gelmud turned around.
At some point, Benimaru, Shion, and the others had appeared behind him.
Benimaru's hand rested on his sword, his eyes cold.
He recognized this demon.
This guy had once come to their village offering to give them names.
But everyone had rejected him. He reeked of suspicion.
"Tsk… what a hassle."
"Well, now that I've been found out, no point hiding it anymore."
Gelmud's eyes were bloodshot.
"Why do you think I go around handing out names?"
"Of course it's to make you fight each other, so the strongest one left can be my ultimate chess piece!"
"Just for that?" Benimaru's voice grew even colder.
Shion gritted her teeth. "So that's why you destroyed our village?"
Hakurou spoke up, "Young Master, it seems we've found the one responsible."
Gelmud turned away.
"Hey, Orc Lord! No—Geld! Kill them!"
"Devour them and you'll evolve into a Demon King!"
"…Geld…" A glint of recognition flickered in the Orc Lord's dull eyes.
"…Geld…" He muttered it again, but didn't move.
He stood there, lost in thought, repeating that name.
"Tch…"
"There's no time left. I know I shouldn't interfere directly, but…"
"Looks like I'll have to do it myself!"
Gelmud's eyes were now fully bloodshot.
"Let me show you the power of a high-ranking demon!"
He raised his hand and began gathering magic above his head.
"Go to hell!"
Death-March Dance—!
Several magic bullets shot toward Benimaru and the others.
Each one radiated deadly magical energy.
"Freeze."
A sudden voice echoed behind the group.
Then—
An ice wall materialized in mid-air, crashing into place and blocking the attack with a resounding bang.
It was Chishiya's voice.
"Is this your full strength?"
"How do you expect to kill anyone with this kind of party trick?"
"Chishiya-sama!"
Benimaru and the others turned around in unison.
Chishiya waved a hand.
"Benimaru, don't waste your magic on garbage like this."
"Go handle your real business."
He turned his gaze toward the Orc Lord.
"Whether he's been forced into this or is just weak-willed, one thing's clear—"
"There needs to be an ending between you two."
"As for him…"
Chishiya pointed directly at Gelmud.
"I'll deal with him. He won't bother you again."
Benimaru gave a small bow.
He understood what Chishiya meant.
This was their grudge. Their village, their people.
Whether they chose revenge, justice, or forgiveness—it was their choice.
"Thank you, Chishiya-sama."
———————
Gelmud's eyelid twitched violently.
"Hey, hey! Don't look down on me, you bastard!"
He activated his magical perception.
"Eh? Wait… wait a sec…"
In his vision, the magical flow around Chishiya was so faint it was practically nonexistent.
"His magic level is that low?!"
"Are you kidding me?!"
"You've been acting all smug, but you're weak as hell!"
Megumin gritted her teeth.
"Ugh, Sensei, this guy's seriously annoying."
"Can I hit him?"
Chishiya looked back at her. "Can you stand on your own?"
Megumin nodded and slid off his back.
"Sensei, please beat the crap out of him."
Gelmud burst into laughter.
"That tiny magic flow?!"
"I'm a high-level demon, you know?!"
He shouted like it meant something.
Chishiya glanced at him. "That's more than enough for you."
"And besides…"
"You're not even worth me using my real skills."
"…What did you say?!"
Gelmud's eyes blazed.
"You arrogant piece of—"
"I'll blast you to pieces!"
He raised his staff.
A huge, unstable magic bullet began forming above his head.
Chishiya calmly muttered, "You're too slow."
"With a cast speed like that, even my grandma could outpace you."
"WHAT?!"
Chishiya lifted a hand. A blue magic circle flared to life in an instant.
It was Wiz's signature ice magic.
The magic of the Lich King.
"Wha—?!"
An icy chill hit Gelmud like a tidal wave.
He panicked, trying to defend.
Too late.
In a blink, half his body was frozen solid.
"HOW?!"
"This is… This is high-level magic!"
"How can someone like you cast something this powerful?!"
Before he could react further.
A figure shot in front of him.
Chishiya grabbed his face with one hand and slammed him into the ground.
BOOM—!
A crater formed on impact.
A sharp pain tore through Gelmud's head. Blood dripped down his mask and pooled on the ground.
"AAAHHHHHH—!"
He screamed, flailing wildly.
"You bastard! How dare you make me fe—"
BAM!
Before he could finish, another punch landed.
Then another.
And another.
Chishiya's fists rained down like a hailstorm.
After recruiting Darkness and gaining the skill [Knight's Body], his strength and defense had skyrocketed.
To the point where.
He could give someone a firsthand understanding of what it meant to have their skull smashed like a watermelon.
"Wait…"
Gelmud's mask cracked. Blood ran down his chin.
"I-I was wrong…"
"Let me join your team…"
His voice was weak and hoarse.
"…I'll leave quietly…"
Chishiya didn't respond.
He grabbed Gelmud by the head and lifted him up.
"You should've died a long time ago, you leech."
As he spoke, frost radiated from Chishiya's fingers.
A layer of ice spread across Gelmud's skull.
Gelmud clawed at Chishiya's arms, trying to break free.
"Let go of me! If you kill me, that person won't—"
"Aaaaagh!!"
Pain shot through his skull as Chishiya squeezed.
"It hurts! Stop! STOP—!"
His legs kicked and thrashed wildly…
But gradually, they stopped moving.
Crack…
A crisp sound echoed.
Gelmud's mind froze completely.
Then, with a final burst of magical force.
His head exploded into glittering ice shards.
Thud…
His body dropped lifelessly to the ground.
[Notice:]
[Gelmud has lost all vital characteristics.]
Rimuru witnessed the scene from above.
He gulped audibly.
Yeah. Not someone I ever want to fight.
After the war, definitely opening diplomatic relations...
———————
Chishiya crouched beside the corpse and rummaged through Gelmud's belongings.
From inside his robe, he pulled out a crystal ball.
"Found it."
He looked around.
He'd wanted one of these ever since watching anime.
It provided a bird's-eye view of any target.
Unfortunately, there was no sound.
Usually only top-ranking figures owned this kind of magic tool.
Good stuff. Chishiya tucked it away.
"With the right marketing, I bet tons of perverts will pay good money for this."
"Let's bring it back and have Vanir study it."
"This thing's got major product potential."
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 27: Chapter 46: Plays With Life!
Chapter Text
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.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 28: Chapter 47: Toys
Chapter Text
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.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 29: Chapter 48: End of War
Chapter Text
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.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 30: Chapter 49: Demon Lord Milim’s Raid
Chapter Text
In the room, Shuna poured Chishiya a cup of tea.
The girl whispered, "Chishiya-sama, I heard about the Orc Tribe from my brother."
"Thank you for giving everyone this opportunity."
"And thank you for everything you've done for us."
Finished speaking, Shuna pulled out a food box from behind her.
"This is a snack I made myself, Chishiya-sama. Please try it."
A dessert?
Shuna can do this kind of thing too?
Chishiya opened the food box—inside were rose-shaped pastries, pink and delicate, made entirely from hand-crafted dough!
This girl's too skilled.
Way better than Shion's stuff.
Chishiya picked one up and took a bite.
Delicious.
Very sweet, with a hint of honey.
Chishiya smiled. "Thanks, Shuna. It's really good."
"I'm glad you like it!"
Shuna beamed with a sweet smile.
"Then I'll get going. Chishiya-sama, please get some rest."
With that, Shuna picked up the food box and left, still smiling.
Once she was gone,
Chishiya opened his panel.
Clearly in high spirits.
[Recruitment Rewards have been issued. Please check.]
Chishiya tapped the panel.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations. You have acquired the unique skill: Great Sage!]
[Unique Skills: Predator, Degenerate!]
[Demon Lord Evolution Route successfully unlocked!]
"…Demon Lord Evolution Route? What's that supposed to mean?"
[Notice:]
[Individual: Chishiya Shuntaro has obtained the Demon Lord Seed.]
[Those who possess the Demon Lord Seed and meet the conditions are eligible to awaken and become a True Demon Lord.]
A calm, feminine voice echoed inside his mind.
That's... Great Sage?!
Chishiya froze.
Brainy came online that fast?
Wait…
So this "Evolution Route" thing means he now has the qualifications to become a Demon Lord?
Is that... even allowed for a human?
"What are the conditions for awakening the Demon Lord Evolution?"
[Notice:]
[Awakening requires a nutrient catalyst.]
[The sacrifice must be human souls, with a minimum of 10,000.]
Ten thousand souls—the same as he remembered.
Chishiya narrowed his eyes.
But where the hell is he supposed to get that many human souls? He couldn't just use Meggido like Rimuru.
He's just a businessman.
Forget it. Deal with it later if the opportunity shows up.
He pulled up his panel again to check his current skills.
[Chishiya Shuntaro]
[Core Employees: Megumin, Yunyun, Darkness, Vanir, Wiz, Kazuma, Aqua, Rimuru]
[Special Abilities: Explosion Magic Lover, Leadership, Ice Witch's Blessing, Demon Lord's Blessing, Goddess of Water's Blessing, Goddess of Luck's Blessing, Knight's Body, Lone Wolf, Great Sage, Predator, Degenerate]
Predator…
That was the skill that absorbed materials into the stomach, right?
Chishiya raised his hand and stared at the pastries on the table.
Might as well give it a try.
As he willed it, a small black hole appeared in his palm.
A powerful suction force erupted.
The pastries, along with the table, were sucked into the black hole.
[Notice:]
[Analyzing Recipe… Completed.]
[Honey Rose Cake.]
[Recipe acquired. Can now be reproduced.]
Now this is a true Great Sage.
With functions like analysis, copying, and purification,
This might be the most practical ability he's ever gotten.
As for the Degenerate.
Its function was to fuse and reorganize other skills.
In the anime, this was the ability Rimuru inherited from Shizu-san.
Chishiya looked at his skill panel.
"Great Sage, activate Degenerate. Fuse all my Blessing-type skills."
[Notice:]
[Fusing: Ice Witch's Blessing, Demon Lord's Blessing, Goddess of Water's Blessing, Goddess of Luck's Blessing.]
[Processing Fusion…]
Thanks to Great Sage's accelerated thought-processing,
What should've taken several hours was done in half a minute.
[Notice:]
[Fusion complete.]
[The aforementioned skills have been sacrificed.]
[New Skill Acquired: World's Shelter.]
[Inherits all prior effects. Magic capacity increased by 100%.]
Success.
Chishiya lowered his head and focused on the surge of mana within him.
Disassemble and fuse skills…
Definitely a very useful feature.
He was just about to try using Predator on something else when—
A massive wave of magic power suddenly surged in from afar.
The Great Sage immediately triggered a warning.
[Notice:]
[A large mass of magic is rapidly approaching.]
Chishiya narrowed his eyes.
He bolted out of the building.
High in the sky,
A pink meteor-like object was hurtling toward the town.
That is…
A certain figure flashed through Chishiya's mind.
His feet moved on their own, rushing toward the hillside just outside the town.
It can't be her…
BOOM—!!!
The pink "shooting star" slammed into the hillside,
Leaving a massive crater in its wake.
As the smoke cleared,
A girl slowly emerged.
She had twin pigtails, colored sakura pink.
Wearing a white tube top, short briefs, and thigh-high pink socks.
"Hey there, human. Nice to meet you."
"I'm the [Destroyer], Demon Lord Milim Nava."
"That Gelmud you took down—he was one of ours, right?"
Chishiya pressed a hand to his forehead, staring at the absurdly dressed little girl in front of him.
Yup. It's Milim…
Don't let the height fool you. She barely reaches his chest, but—
She's basically the battle ceiling of the [Rimuruverse].
With his current strength, there's zero chance he could take her.
[Notice:]
[Within the observable range, the opponent's exposed magic power is conservatively 5 times yours.]
Five times?!
And that's just what she's showing without going full power…
How strong is this girl?
[Notice:]
[The opponent is a natural disaster-class Demon Lord. She can easily defeat you.]
"…Yeah, no need to rub it in."
Chishiya sighed inwardly.
The Great Sage just confirmed what he already knew: he stood no chance.
Only one option left—play it cool and charm her.
He took a deep breath.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Chishiya Shuntaro, the owner of this town."
Milim stepped closer,
Sniffed at him.
"Ahaha! It's true!"
"You really are as strong as a Demon Lord now!"
Chishiya looked down at her.
"So, what brings you here?"
"You're not here to avenge Gelmud, are you?"
Milim stood up straight.
"Huh? No, I just came to say hi."
This time, she wasn't here to recruit anyone.
That was boring.
She wanted to play. To stir up trouble.
Clayman and Carrion wanted more combat power, so she figured she'd hand some over once she got tired of messing with them.
That was the plan—until now.
This town… was way more interesting than she expected.
The human in front of her was piquing her curiosity more and more.
"Chishiya-sama!!!"
Just then.
Benimaru and the others appeared on the hillside.
The demon guards showed up at the same time, surrounding Milim.
Every one of them tense, faces grim, ready to fight.
Shion raised her massive sword, shielding Chishiya.
"Chishiya-sama! Please retreat! We'll hold her off!"
"Oh?"
Milim looked around at the demons encircling her.
She raised an eyebrow, then the corner of her mouth curled up.
"Wahahahaha!"
"What, you guys wanna play with me?"
As she spoke.
Her pupils gleamed red, and a terrifying pressure radiated from her tiny frame.
"Sure~"
Milim grinned with childlike excitement.
"I was just getting bored anyway."
Shion clenched her teeth.
With a roar, she charged in and swung her sword at Milim.
"Hah?"
But before she could land a blow,
Chishiya grabbed her by the collar and yanked her back.
"Everyone, chill. She's not an enemy."
If she was an enemy…
Then even all of them attacking at once wouldn't make a difference.
Chishiya stepped forward, standing face-to-face with the pint-sized destroyer.
"Demon Lord Milim, let's talk."
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 31: Chapter 50: Friends
Chapter Text
As Expected of Chishiya-sama, Easily Doing What We Couldn't
Wooden house, center of the village.
This was Chishiya's room.
At the moment, the house was surrounded by curious villagers.
Especially at the window—
Gabiru was leaning right against it, trying to peek inside.
Inside the room...
"What is this?!"
"I've never eaten anything this delicious!"
Milim was practically inhaling pastries at the table.
Said table, by the way, was now covered with a variety of sweets.
Over ten types of desserts were on display.
All of them were recreated from Chishiya's previous-life memories using Great Sage.
Having Great Sage is way too convenient.
Perfect.
Chishiya glanced at Milim.
Just like in the anime, despite her overwhelming strength, she was still very much a kid at heart.
If there was tasty food, she was all in.
And with Great Sage around, any dish from his previous world could be reproduced.
Keeping a glutton like her happy wouldn't be hard.
Actually…
Catering department expansion, maybe?
Chishiya noted the idea mentally.
Shuna could definitely manage that.
The otherworld food industry was wide open. Still untapped.
"Yummy! So, sooo good!"
Milim was puffing her cheeks and chewing blissfully.
Benimaru and the others stood frozen inside the room,
Watching the "crisis" disappear in real time.
The food on the table was nearly gone.
Chishiya asked, "You full?"
"Then maybe it's time you head back, yeah?"
It's not like he didn't want to keep her around…
But he already had a glutton in the house.
He couldn't handle a second one.
"Huh?"
Milim turned toward him, blinking with confusion.
"Who said anything about leaving? This place is super fun! I've decided to stay!"
"Hey~, Chishiya! Let me be your companion!"
"How about it~?"
She smiled, flashing her pointy canine teeth.
Chishiya responded immediately. "No."
He was here to make money and do absolutely nothing.
Not run a daycare.
He already had two chaos magnets living with him.
Three, if you counted Darkness.
And now a demon god-tier glutton too? No thanks.
"EHHHH—?!"
Milim's twin tails bounced as she looked utterly shocked.
Rejection. Not part of her daily experience.
"Don't you want to become a Demon Lord?!"
"I can help you, you know!"
Help me harvest 10,000 souls, you mean?
Yeah, I'll pass.
Chishiya shook his head. "Still no."
"HEYYYYY!!!"
Another worldview shattered.
Milim sprang up and started gesturing wildly.
"Being a Demon Lord is super cool!"
"It's really exciting!"
Benimaru and the others nodded along.
They totally agreed.
In their minds, they were already picturing Chishiya as some dark, majestic Demon Lord.
Chishiya asked, "And what exactly are the benefits of being a Demon Lord?"
"Hehe~"
Milim crossed her arms, trying to act like a veteran.
"You'll get challenged by lots of strong people! It's really fun~!"
Chishiya: "...Okay, so we've established the downsides. Now how about the upsides?"
"…Huh?" Milim blinked.
Chishiya was deadpan.
"…That wasn't a benefit. You're just bored, aren't you?"
"EHHHH—?!"
Milim flinched like she'd been hit by lightning.
A direct hit to her soul.
She stood there, stunned, unable to refute.
Chishiya sighed. "Anyway, it's late. You should head back."
He turned to leave,
But Milim grabbed the hem of his coat.
"Wait!"
"You're doing something way more interesting than being a Demon Lord!"
"That's cheating! Totally cheating!"
"I want in!"
She clung to his arm, shaking it desperately.
"Come on! Tell me! Let me join you!"
"Okay, okay, stop shaking me…"
Chishiya massaged his temples.
This was punishment for existing.
"Fine. I'll let you stay."
"But on one condition: you're not allowed to attack anyone in the village. And you can't hurt people whenever you feel like it."
Milim: "No problem!"
Chishiya gave a small nod.
"Then from today, we're friends, Milim."
"...Okay... okay…"
Milim crossed her arms, sulking a little.
"But you're a special case, you know!"
"The only people allowed to call me Milim are other Demon Lords!"
Chishiya smiled.
"Let's go, Milim. I'll show you around the village."
Milim's eyes sparkled.
"Yes! Let's go! Let's go~!"
Watching them walk off together,
Benimaru and the others let out a deep breath of relief.
Outside the house,
Chishiya addressed the crowd.
"Let me introduce our new companion."
"She's our guest. I hope everyone treats her with respect."
Milim stepped forward.
"I'm Milim Nava."
Gasps rippled through the villagers.
"It's really Demon Lord Milim-sama!"
"This is the first time I've seen her in person…"
"With her around, we'll be safe for sure!"
Milim added, "I'll be living here from now on. Please take care of me."
"Ohhh! Ohhh!"
The villagers erupted into cheers.
She was more popular than expected.
Chishiya glanced sideways at her.
Milim raised a hand high.
"If anything happens, you can count on me!"
"YEAHHH!!!"
Another burst of cheering.
Gabiru looked over at Chishiya.
"Looks like I was right to convince Father to join Chishiya-sama."
"And Father agreed immediately…"
'We really did make the right call.'
Milim's arrival boosted the villagers' faith in Chishiya.
A legendary Demon Lord calling their boss "friend"?
They were practically glowing with pride.
And just like that.
The village's development entered a period of rapid growth.
————————
Ten days later.
Armed Nation of Dwargon.
Inside the war room, the top officials of the kingdom had gathered.
Captain of the Night Assassins, Anrietta—
A masked blonde elf beauty—
Was reporting.
"My king, a report from the Night Assassins."
"Several high-level demons entered the battle, and the war concluded."
"The Orc Lord has been confirmed dead."
"!!!"
Gasps filled the room.
"That legendary monster was defeated?!" the Knight Commander exclaimed.
King Gazel Dwargo stayed silent.
He closed his eyes.
High-level demons…
Were they connected to that slime from before?
The military commander asked,
"Anrietta, are you certain multiple high-level demons were involved?"
The elf nodded.
"Four, according to the intel."
"Four?!"
The commander's face went pale.
"Special A-Class demons… each one could destabilize an entire country."
"And there were four of them…"
Anrietta continued, "My king, there's more intel regarding the orc army."
Gazel nodded.
"Go on."
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 32: Chapter 51-52
Chapter Text
Chapter 51: The Dwarf King Comes to Visit
"The war is over, and the remaining 100,000 orcs aren't rampaging."
"Instead, they've scattered everywhere."
"And they've all evolved into High orc."
"Not only that, these monsters are constructing large-scale towns."
The Knight Commander swallowed nervously.
"H-How… how is this even possible…"
"All 100,000 High orc evolved?"
"You've got to be kidding…"
The Military Commander clenched his fists.
"Over 100,000 High orc could crush a small country."
"Being able to control so many monsters and even evolve them…"
"The real problem is the one behind all this!"
The Dwarf King opened his eyes.
A certain slime came to mind.
This had to be his doing.
Just what is he planning?
If this isn't handled right, our whole country might collapse…
In that case, we'll need to verify it with our own eyes.
The Dwarf King stood up.
"I'll go meet him myself."
"I want to see this slime's true nature with my own eyes!"
——————–
Meanwhile, in town
"Achoo~!"
"Yada… Who's talking about me behind my back…"
Splash…
Rimuru melted back into slime form and plopped into the hot spring.
"Ahh, relaxing~"
Next to him, Chishiya was also enjoying the bath.
It had been ten days since Milim showed up.
In that time, Chishiya named both the orcs and the lizardmen.
Then assigned them their roles.
The orcs were led by their former commander in capes.
In line with the anime, Chishiya gave him the same name as his father—Geld.
The evolved High orc focused on infrastructure, like roads and housing. They'd become a reliable labor force.
The lizardmen evolved into dragonmen.
Led by Gabiru, they handled medicinal herb farming and aquatic fisheries.
"Chishiya-san, I didn't expect you were also from another world."
Over the past few days, Rimuru had learned his secret.
And that Chishiya intended to build a commercial city here.
Chishiya didn't bother hiding it.
After all, reincarnators from other worlds were a dime a dozen here.
Chishiya closed his eyes, basking in the rare moment of peace.
The High orc were frighteningly efficient.
In just ten days, the central zone of town was nearly complete.
Even this hot spring center had been built by the High orc.
Though the hot spring itself had been sourced thanks to Aqua.
The division of labor in the town now resembled the anime layout.
Kaijin and Kurobe were in charge of forging weapons.
The two hit it off instantly and became drinking buddies.
The three dwarf brothers handled armor production.
The eldest, Garm, took charge of armor.
Dord, the second, specialized in crafting.
The youngest, Myrd, focused on architecture and art.
They even taught the villagers new skills, and overall, Chishiya had been living the CEO dream lately.
These peaceful moments were rare.
"But still, it might be time to consider alliances with other forces," he murmured.
Just then—
"Chishiya-san," Rimuru said. "Come to think of it, the town doesn't have a name yet."
"It's going to be a commercial hub. It's inconvenient without a name."
After learning Chishiya was also an otherworlder, Rimuru had relaxed a lot.
Ever since Shizu passed away, he hadn't expected to meet another kindred soul so soon.
That was why he felt oddly familiar around Chishiya.
He even revealed that he was a reincarnator too.
His dream? A nation where humans and monsters lived in harmony.
Coincidentally, Chishiya had the same idea, just replace "nation" with "enterprise."
"Yeah… guess it should have a name," Chishiya said, rubbing his chin.
"How about… Labyrinth Commercial City?"
Rimuru floated in the hot spring, blowing bubbles.
"Sounds good!"
...
"Milim-sama! You can't swim in the hot spring!"
Suddenly—
Shuna's voice echoed from the women's side.
"Wahahahaha!"
"This is awesome~!"
Milim's laughter rang out.
Shion: "Wow! Darkness-san, you've got such a great figure!"
Darkness flushed.
"R-Really?!"
Shion nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling.
"What a powerful body! Especially those abs… Uh…!"
Darkness quickly covered her mouth.
"Ahahaha, Shion-san, you're embarrassing me… Come on, let's bathe…"
Shuna massaged her temple.
"You too, Megumin. Stop encouraging Milim-sama."
"Hehe~"
Megumin stood wrapped in a towel, one hand on her forehead, crimson eyes glowing.
"I am Megumin, the great Arch Wizard who wiped out an orc army in a single blast! I'll be the next Demon Lord!"
She then turned to Milim with stars in her eyes.
"Well? Well? How was my intro, Milim-chan?!"
"Oh my gosh! It was amazing!!"
Milim clapped her hands excitedly, her eyes shining.
For some reason, she and Megumin got along scarily well.
Besides Chishiya, Megumin was the only one in town who called her "Milim-chan" directly.
Meanwhile, in the men's bath.
Chishiya and Rimuru exchanged glances.
Without a word, both sunk deeper into the water.
Time to soak away the stress…
...….
But before long—
Souei's voice came through.
"Chishiya-sama, urgent report. Hundreds of pegasi are approaching the town."
On the other side—
Milim noticed something too.
She looked up toward the sky.
Ding ding ding!!!
The town's emergency alarms rang out sharply.
Shion stood up at once.
"We've got a powerful enemy incoming!!!"
————————
Above the city—
The Dwarf King led his Pegasus Knights across the sky.
"So this is the town built by those monsters?"
The Knight Commander stared down in disbelief.
What lay below was far more beautiful than anything he'd imagined.
Meticulously organized buildings.
Neatly aligned housing blocks.
Even the streets were lined with ornamental trees.
It was hard to believe monsters had built something like this.
"My king… is this the work of the slime you spoke of?"
The Dwarf King didn't answer.
But he already knew.
The only one who could command such a diverse group of monsters… had to be him.
Just as expected.
As they descended onto the town square—
Kaijin stepped forward.
"Long time no see… King."
He knelt down.
"Long time no see, Kaijin." The Dwarf King's voice was deep and steady.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 52: Tamed Milim?!
The Pegasus Knights landed.
The military commander scanned the area.
"Your Majesty, even the goblins here have evolved into low-level demons."
"The one behind all this… is no ordinary figure."
Whoosh—!
"Ah~!"
As the knights dismounted, dozens of figures emerged.
The demon guards and goblin wolf cavalry appeared at the town's entrance.
Civilians were already in hiding.
Knight Commander Dorf gripped his sword, his expression grave.
"Your Majesty, I believe the intel was wrong."
His gaze locked onto the figures ahead.
"There are more than four high-level demons here…"
"There are over twenty of them, just out in the open!!!"
Over twenty high-level demons… backed by hundreds of thousands of monsters…
This kind of force… could wipe out a small country in a single night!
Who would've thought…
After the Storm Dragon disappeared…
Such an overwhelming force had taken root in the Jura Forest?!
Even the Dwarf King was shaken.
That slime actually commands so many powerful subordinates…
He'd underestimated him.
With power like this…
It's more important than ever to verify whether he's good or evil.
"Kaijin, where is the slime?"
Kaijin blinked for a moment.
He looked up slowly. "Your Majesty… you came to see Rimuru-sama?"
Honestly… Kaijin thought the king came to see Chishiya…
After all, this was Chishiya's turf.
"Huh?"
"You're here for me?"
A soft, adorable voice chimed in.
The Dwarf King looked up and saw a blue slime bouncing toward him.
Trailing behind him were several figures.
These must be the high-level demons mentioned in the reports.
The Dwarf King narrowed his eyes.
Five… all with horns. Oni?
And one more…
He spotted the black-haired youth in the middle.
A human?
There's actually a human among his subordinates?!
Chishiya calmly returned his gaze.
The Dwarf King—Gazel Dwargo, the Swordmaster.
So he really did come.
Good thing he'd already told Kurobe, Darkness, and Megumin to evacuate the civilians.
But considering how the Dwarf King was portrayed in the original series… he wasn't a bad guy. He was even Hakurou's apprentice.
If possible, Chishiya would prefer to work with him.
The Dwarf King looked down at Rimuru.
"Slime—no, I should say Rimuru."
"I've come to see you for myself."
Rimuru: "See me?"
The Dwarf King nodded. "Yes. I want to see your true nature… with my sword."
"Huh?"
Why is this guy trying to read me with his sword?
Rimuru was baffled.
I mean, I didn't do anything…
The Dwarf King drew the blade at his hip. "If you can withstand my attacks, you win."
"But don't underestimate the blade of the Swordmaster, Gazel Dwargo."
"Huh?!"
Rimuru's slime eyes bulged.
"W-Wait, hold on… Why are we suddenly doing a test of strength?!"
The Dwarf King raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? You, who commands so many high-level demons… are you afraid?"
Wait just a second…
Chishiya paused mid-snack, melon seeds in hand.
Wasn't this guy supposed to come see me?
And also…
Rimuru hadn't devoured the Orc Lord. He wasn't a Demon Lord.
Could he even beat Gazel?
Rimuru: "???"
Only then did Rimuru realize the massive misunderstanding.
He wasn't taking the fall for this!
Just as he was about to explain—
A girl's voice called out behind them.
"Hey, Dwarf King, acting all tough. Wanna spar with me instead?"
The Pegasus Knights turned toward the voice.
A twin-tailed girl in a white JK uniform stood there.
Her cherry-pink hair shimmered.
"How dare you speak so casually to the king! Where did this little brat come from?!"
The words had barely left his mouth when—
BOOM!!!
A sonic boom split the air.
BANG—!!!
Milim's punch came flying in at absurd speed.
Clang!!!
A piercing metal clash rang out.
The Dwarf King barely blocked the strike with his sword.
Behind him…
The Knight Commander stood frozen, unable to speak.
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead. His legs trembled violently.
If the King hadn't intervened… he would've died just now!
The killing intent in that pink-haired girl's eyes… was unreal…
Milim smirked.
"What's the matter? Wanna play, Dwarf King?"
Gazel's expression turned deadly serious.
"Demon Lord Milim Nava… why are you here?!"
!!!
The words hit the Pegasus Knights like a lightning strike.
Everyone froze.
"She's Demon Lord Milim Nava?!"
"The legendary Dragonoid!
"Why is she in this town?!"
"Don't tell me… she owns the town?!"
If that's true…
A collective breath was sucked in.
If it's really Milim…
Even if they sent the entire Pegasus Knight Corps, they wouldn't stand a chance!
Milim giggled.
"Relax, Dwarf King. I'm just here to protect my turf."
"If you're still itching for a fight, I can stop by Dwargon sometime and mess around with you."
Gazel clenched his sword tightly.
That… was a direct threat.
But the worst part was…
There was nothing he could do about it.
If he'd known this was Milim's territory, he never would've come!
Demon Lord Milim…
There may be no one in this world who could match her…
Milim: "So now you understand, Dwarf King. Why not gather your knights and—ouch, hidoi~!"
Mid-sentence, she got smacked on the head.
Chishiya had chopped her lightly with a knifehand strike.
"What did I say about causing trouble without my permission?"
Milim squatted down, holding her head.
"Eh?! But… but that's because…"
She flailed her arms, trying to come up with an excuse.
"That's right! Because they're not from our town!"
"So it's fine! Totally fine!"
Chishiya: "It's not fine."
"No dinner tonight."
"Ehhhhhhh!!!"
The little tyrant exploded.
"No~, no~!"
Milim clung to Chishiya's arm with teary eyes, shaking it pitifully.
Too cute… Chishiya rubbed his temple.
"…I seriously can't with you."
"Fine. But don't let it happen again."
"Yes~!"
While the two were chatting,
They completely missed the Pegasus Knights' reactions.
???
Their jaws were practically unhinged.
Was that really the Demon Lord Milim… acting like a spoiled child?
The Destroyer?!
She didn't even care about the Dwarf King's authority, yet she actually listened to that boy?!
No way. That had to be a joke.
No one would believe this!
Gazel's eyes widened in shock.
'What… what is going on?'
'He just hit Milim on the head… and she's not even mad?!'
The Dwarf King, normally calm and composed, wore a rare expression of disbelief.
"You have got to be kidding…"
'Just who is that boy?!'
'He actually tamed Demon Lord Milim!'
'And that slime… has subordinates like him?!'
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 33: Chapter 53: You, Dwarf King Gazel, Can't Even Face It?
Chapter Text
"The Dwarf King, Gazel Dwargo!"
A cool, commanding voice rang out, instantly silencing the entire plaza.
Three new presences suddenly appeared, and the voice came from one of them.
"Dryads?!"
The court mage cried out in shock.
Chishiya turned his head and saw that it was Treyni. Her sisters stood beside her.
Treyni smiled at Chishiya, then turned a sharp gaze toward the Dwarf King and his group.
"You've shown great disrespect to the leader of our forest, Dwarf King."
"You barged into our territory with swords drawn. Are you prepared to become enemies of the forest's residents?!"
Now the dwarves were truly rattled.
Even the dryads—
The guardians of the Jura Forest—had shown up!
What kind of terrifying town is this place?!
"The highest-tier beings of the forest… even the dryads are here…"
"Our intel was totally insufficient…"
The dwarves began whispering among themselves.
The Dwarf King lowered his gaze and looked toward Rimuru.
"The leader of the Jura Forest…"
Eh? Why are you looking at me?! Rimuru panicked.
"W-Wait, I've been trying to say this from the start…"
"You're misunderstanding something…"
"I'm not the person you're looking for, am I?"
Gazel: "Misunderstanding?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Rimuru. Isn't this your territory?"
"Who else but you could command so many monsters?"
Upon hearing this, Benimaru and the others glared coldly at the Dwarf King.
"HUH?!"
Rimuru broke into a cold sweat.
This is so embarrassing!
Saying something like that right in front of my boss…
Chishiya might not care, but to monsters, territorial hierarchy is serious business!
This is basically public treason!
Rimuru waved his hands in a panic. "Y-You're wrong! You've got it all wrong!"
"This isn't my territory!"
"I'm currently living under someone else's roof!"
The Dwarf King froze. "What?!"
That slime… is renting from someone else?!
Could I have completely misjudged the situation?
What is even happening…
"Oi, oi, Dwarf King," came a voice dripping with menace.
Shion cracked her knuckles and stepped forward, a dangerous aura leaking out.
"That's right. We will not forgive anyone who disrespects Chishiya-sama!"
Shuna's aura flared up too, her voice cold and sharp.
"Chishiya…?"
Gazel blinked.
Who the heck is that?
Then a terrible thought hit him.
He slowly turned toward the black-haired boy standing beside Milim.
Don't tell me…
At that moment—
Treyni's voice echoed again.
"That's right, Dwarf King!"
"This is the true leader of the Jura Forest."
"Chishiya-sama."
As she spoke,
Everyone's eyes turned to Chishiya.
Chishiya casually patted Milim's head, then straightened up and smiled politely.
"Nice to meet you, Dwarf King Gazel Dwargo."
"I might be the one you've been looking for."
"I'm the owner of this monster town. Chishiya Shuntaro."
"As you can see, I'm human."
The air went dead quiet.
Then—
"NANI—?!!!"
The one pulling the strings behind the Orc Lord's defeat…
The one commanding an army of 100,000 orcs…
Was actually a human boy who looked under twenty?!
The Pegasus Knights felt like they were on an emotional roller coaster.
They thought nothing else could shock them today.
And then this happened.
A slime controlling 100,000 monsters was already absurd enough.
But reality went and made it worse!
The Dwarf King stood frozen, unsure what kind of face to make.
Goosebumps ran down his arms.
How… how is this possible?!
"The terrifying figure our scouts kept speculating about… was just a human kid?!"
"This is insane… Who could possibly believe this?"
"A human child… giving names to 100,000 monsters?!"
"Commanding multiple high-ranking demons… and friendly with Demon Lord Milim?!"
If all of that is true…
There's only one possibility.
The Dwarf King lowered his eyes and looked at Chishiya.
His strength… is probably on par with a Demon Lord…
Across from him,
Chishiya just smiled.
"Dwarf King, Gazel-san, since you've come all this way, let's sit and talk."
——————————
That evening.
The town square glowed with warm lights.
Over a dozen tables had been set around the central fountain.
A banquet was in full swing.
The long center table was filled with delicious food.
Laughter and toasts echoed through the square.
"Ah~, so good!"
Knight Commander Dorf gulped down a sparkling wine and smacked his lips, his expression blissful.
He slammed the glass on the table and looked around like a man reborn.
"Chishiya-sama, where did you get this wine?!"
"This is amazing! I haven't tasted anything this good in years!"
It was high-end sparkling wine from the Konosuba world.
Even Aqua got drunk off it, so of course the dwarves were loving it.
Chishiya gave a casual smile. "If Commander Dorf likes it, feel free to take some back with you."
"Consider it a parting gift."
"Hahaha! Much appreciated!"
Dorf stood up with a hearty laugh and went to toast his fellow knights.
Meanwhile, beside Chishiya—
Gazel lifted a glass.
"I never imagined you were the benefactor of Master Hakurou."
"Please, allow me to offer a toast."
Hakurou stroked his beard with a chuckle. "Well, I was surprised too."
"It's been, what, 300 years since we last met?"
"I never thought the kid from back then would grow into the Hero King."
Gazel nodded slowly. "I didn't expect to see you here again either."
Hakurou's smile faded slightly.
"Though it's been a long time…"
"I won't easily forgive how you treated my benefactor just now."
Gazel turned toward Chishiya and bowed deeply.
"Chishiya, as Gazel Dwargo, I offer you my sincere apology."
Chishiya waved his hand with a light smile.
"Dwarf King, no need to stand on ceremony."
Gazel shook his head.
"No!"
He straightened up.
"Chishiya… if you'll allow it, call me Gazel in private."
"This is the least I can do to express my thanks!"
They'd originally gathered to assess the nature of the monster forces that had defeated the Orc Lord.
Were they friend or foe?
But then Treyni had arrived. Then Hakurou. And then the misunderstanding cleared itself up.
At that point, there was no need to continue.
Instead of negotiations, it turned into a dinner party.
The Monster Federation's food, hospitality, and environment won them over instantly.
And it turned out—
These monsters were nothing like the rumors.
Especially after interacting with Chishiya—
Everyone instinctively trusted him.
…Well, Chishiya had been perfectly polite from start to finish.
But of course… he had his own thoughts.
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 34: Chapter 54: Establishing Diplomatic Relations with the Armed Kingdom
Chapter Text
While the banquet was in full swing, the Dwarf King suddenly turned to Chishiya with a serious expression.
"Chishiya, I have something to ask you."
Here it comes... Chishiya smiled.
"Go ahead."
The Dwarf King spoke with full formality. "Would you be willing to form an alliance with me?"
He had arrived with his sword drawn and attitude cold, and yet the other side had shown only hospitality.
That alone made him feel guilty.
Plus, with the dryads and his old mentor present, it was clear this wasn't some evil organization.
The Dwarf King continued.
"This isn't a personal request. I speak as the king of my country."
"If you take control of this forest, your financial power will soon surpass ours."
"And your town is beautifully built, with advanced and rational construction methods—especially the passageways through the forest."
"It's not finished yet, but it will no doubt become a major trading hub someday."
"It's a rare opportunity. When that day comes, it'll be beneficial to have a kingdom as your ally."
Chishiya couldn't help but grin.
Been waiting for you to say that.
Having the backing of Dwargon, a heavily armed powerhouse, was beyond valuable.
In this world, negotiating with small states was a headache.
But a formal alliance with a recognized superpower? That was a geopolitical stamp of legitimacy.
Once that deal was inked, the floodgates would open. Other nations would follow.
This was the beginning of his trade empire.
"Well then, I look forward to our cooperation."
Chishiya shook his hand, smile calm and professional.
The signed treaty between both parties consisted of four main points:
1. Non-aggression pact
2. Mutual assistance during national crises
3. Construction of a road to Dwargon
4. Technology exchange
The first two were obvious.
But it was the last two that Chishiya had his eye on.
Especially Dwargon's tech.
With access to that, he could recruit even more dwarf artisans and stop outsourcing the manufacture of magical tools.
Having in-house production was like building his own factory. Full control, fewer expenses.
And the roads?
Economics begin with roads. Every thriving empire in history was built on them.
——————————
The dwarves had an excellent time that night, and the signing ceremony was set for the following morning.
The Dwarf King chatted away with Hakurou, nostalgia thick in the air.
Chishiya quietly slipped away from the table.
"Chishiya-sama, where are you going?"
"Cwiiisp—Chishiya! Thish…this cake ish sho good!"
Milim and Megumin were sitting together, their cheeks puffed out like hamsters.
They couldn't even speak clearly.
Chishiya sighed and gently wiped the whipped cream from the corners of their mouths.
These two…
Sometimes, it really felt like he was running a daycare.
He smiled faintly. "Take your time. I'll be back soon."
Leaving the square,
Chishiya found a quiet place to sit.
He watched the festivities from afar.
There was a strange peace in being just a little removed from it all. That quiet detachment… was comforting.
So much has happened without me realizing it.
In his previous life, Chishiya had been used to solitude. He never expected this strange, warm feeling.
"Chishiya, you feel it too, huh?"
Darkness walked up and sat beside him, smiling as she looked at the crowd.
Chishiya turned to her.
"You're not about to say something weird, are you?"
"You!"
Darkness turned toward him, clearly offended. "Is that really the kind of person I am in your eyes?!"
"..."
Chishiya didn't respond, but his silence said everything.
"Ugh…"
Darkness bit her lip. "You really never go easy, huh?"
Chishiya said, "So what were you actually thinking about?"
Darkness lifted her chin slightly, gazing up at the sky.
"Just thinking… that monsters have a side I never knew about."
"I never imagined I'd actually become friends with them."
That… and you even bathed with them…
Chishiya suppressed the urge to speak and just pursed his lips.
Darkness turned toward him, her expression unexpectedly serious.
Their eyes met.
What's with that stare…? Don't tell me she can read minds now.
"Chishiya, did you know?"
"I've never had many friends before."
Chishiya nodded. "Yeah, I figured."
"You jerk—!!!"
Darkness lunged and started choking him. "Even I get angry sometimes, you know!"
Chishiya waved his arms.
He was well aware of her past, but sentimentality wasn't his thing.
"Fine, fine. Go on."
Darkness huffed and stood up.
"Forget it. I'm not saying anything anymore."
She stomped off a few steps, then stopped.
She turned back to look at him, her voice suddenly soft.
"Chishiya… now that I think about it, you've saved me so many times, but I've never properly thanked you."
"Thank you for saving me. And for making my life a little more vibrant."
"Really… thank you."
Under the moonlight, Darkness smiled—genuinely—and turned to leave.
Chishiya: "…"
That's it?
Come on. Introduce me to some noble clients or something.
Sigh… never mind.
Chishiya looked up at the sky with a deep breath.
Darkness' smile replayed in his mind.
For someone who's clearly a walking perversion, she's… surprisingly pretty.
——————————
Demon Lord's Castle
Inside a dark room.
Clayman slammed his palm onto the table, glaring furiously at the crystal ball's projected image.
"What the hell?!"
The screen showed a cheerful festival scene.
"That human not only survived, he even signed a treaty with the Dwarf King?!"
"Milim didn't kill him?!"
"She's actually interested in him?!"
A wine glass tipped over.
Red wine splashed across the floor.
Clayman stood frozen in disbelief.
Why?
What was so special about this human?
Could he be hiding something?
Clayman's anger slowly shifted into a sinister curiosity.
Interesting…
He'd failed to evolve the Orc Lord, but he might've found something better.
This human… was worth investigating.
He'd subdued a hundred thousand orcs and gave them all names for seemingly no reason.
He also controlled a horde of high-ranking demons…
How much magic power did he even have?
Clayman licked his lips.
If I could claim his soul… maybe I could awaken.
Just then, Laplace's voice came from the couch.
"Demon Lord Clayman, that human's not ordinary."
"The President has plans for him."
"Don't underestimate him. And don't act on your own, got it?"
Clayman smirked.
"Relax. I know my limits. I won't do anything reckless."
Laplace stood up, arms folded.
"Just don't let your thirst for awakening cloud your judgment. You might regret it."
"If you need help, ask."
Clayman nodded, still smiling.
"I know what I'm doing."
"Don't forget—manipulating others is my specialty."
Laplace scratched his head. "Fine…"
"Oh, right. This is for you."
He tossed out a necklace wrapped in black and purple energy.
"This Orb of Domination came straight from the Guild Master."
"It's said no one can resist its control. Not even a Demon Lord."
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 35: Chapter 55-56
Chapter Text
Chapter 55: Back To The Labyrinth
The next morning.
Inside the meeting hall.
The magic contract activated, and with that, the Armed Kingdom of Dwargon and the Monster Federation officially formed an alliance.
News like this was sure to spread to the Western Nations in no time.
"It's been a pleasure working with you."
Chishiya shook hands with Gazel Dwargo.
The Dwarf King gave a solemn nod. "To a prosperous alliance, Chishiya."
"Thank you for your hospitality last night."
"It's getting late. We should take our leave."
"Please wait a moment."
Chishiya gestured for them to hold on and gathered everyone's attention.
"Why don't we kick things off with our first trade?"
Gazel blinked.
"Right now?"
Chishiya nodded. "That's right. The sooner we cooperate, the sooner the benefits come rolling in."
He raised his hand casually.
From the void, a black hole shimmered open and dropped a box onto the table.
A neat container full of sleek, compact tools.
"What are these?"
The Dwarf King reached in and pulled out a small, cube-shaped item.
"Communication magic devices," Chishiya said, tapping the cube.
"They replace high-tier transmission spells. Range? Thousands of kilometers."
The dwarves' eyes widened.
They rushed in to examine the devices up close.
"There's a complex magic array etched inside."
"Ordinary craftsmen couldn't reproduce this."
"The artisan behind this must be a master of magical engineering."
Coming from dwarf craftsmen, that was high praise.
If Vanir were here, he'd probably explode from ego inflation.
"But they do require a base station," Chishiya added, pulling out a central relay core.
"A single one of these covers a 50-kilometer radius. That's enough for the entire country of Dwargon."
"Fifty kilometers?!"
Gazel stared at him, stunned.
"You invented this?"
Chishiya shrugged with a modest smile. "Let's just say I studied the wisdom of my predecessors."
"So, Gazel-san, what do you think?"
Gazel slowly nodded and gave a reply:
"It changes everything."
"It's more compact and discreet than a crystal ball. If deployed on a battlefield, it'd be a game-changer."
Ah yes… otherworld logic. First thought: military use.
Whatever.
Chishiya didn't care how it was used, as long as it sold.
"We're planning to put these on the market," Chishiya said. "As our ally, Dwargon gets priority."
"So, what do you say? Need any?"
He lifted the cube again.
Gazel thought for a moment, then asked, "How many units do you have in stock?"
"About 200."
"We'll take all of them."
"…Really?"
Even Chishiya was briefly caught off guard.
Gazel nodded, dead serious.
"This is a strategic-level tool. Something like this has never appeared in any nation."
"Whichever kingdom secures it first will hold the advantage."
"I didn't expect you to come up with this…"
"Clearly, forming ties with you was the right decision."
---
Developing and supplying Dwargon with exclusive magic tools meant massive profits.
Initial contracts stabilized around 300 gold coins per year.
In this world, gold coins had real value.
One gold coin was worth around 10,000 dollars.
So 300 coins translated to 3 million dollars.
Back in the Konosuba world, defeating a Demon Lord army general earned a 300 million Eris bounty.
Converted, that was only about 2.8 million dollars.
Now, with one business line alone, he'd exceeded that—every year.
A stable and reliable revenue stream.
And that was just the start.
Chishiya hadn't even touched the logistics of cross-world goods, or flipping magic crystals and potions.
Those were side hustles.
He wasn't about to bother the Dwarf King with petty trader talk.
Once the trade routes were up, everything else would fall into place.
---
After the dwarves departed, Chishiya returned to his room.
He'd relocated his residence to a quieter area.
Perfect for solo living, with a newly built hot spring pool in the back courtyard.
Stripping down, Chishiya soaked in the bath and let out a relaxed sigh.
Time to handle the Labyrinth transfer.
He opened his system panel.
[Labyrinth Level: 2]
[Upgrade Cost: 1,000,000 Reputation Points]
[Current Reputation: 300,000]
[Teleportation Anchor: 100,000 Reputation Points]
The second anchor cost more than the last one.
But manageable.
Chishiya closed the window.
Once the town was fully stabilized, he'd integrate the Labyrinth completely.
For now, all he wanted was peace and silence.
He leaned back and closed his eyes in the hot spring.
---
Rustle…
"Sensei's so sneaky! He built this entire deluxe estate just for himself!"
Megumin whispered, wrapped in a bath towel like she was infiltrating a dungeon.
"M-Megumin… this doesn't feel right," Darkness followed nervously, also wrapped in a towel.
She looked around cautiously, clearly uneasy.
"Relax, airhead~," Megumin waved her off.
"Sensei's probably still in some boring meeting with Gazel."
"So as his beloved disciple, I'll test the waters for him! Wahahaha!!!"
She boldly slid the door open.
And came face to face with Chishiya.
In the bath.
Staring at her with deadpan confusion.
"…Eh."
Her brain stalled.
Her gaze drifted downward…
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Darkness rushed over. "Megumin! What's wrong?!"
SLAM
Megumin slammed the door shut with a thunderous bang.
Her face turned a nuclear shade of red.
"Let's… let's go. The place isn't ready yet."
She flailed her arms and looked like she had seen the gates of heaven… and hell.
Darkness blinked. "Not ready…?"
She tried to peek, but Megumin yanked her back.
"Let's go! Sensei's probably almost done bathing!"
"It'd be really bad if he saw us!"
Before Darkness could argue, Megumin dragged her into a full retreat.
I saw everything…
Sensei's really…
She swallowed.
Her face went even redder.
---
In the hot spring…
Chishiya rubbed his temples.
"That girl screamed like she'd been murdered."
"I need to put up a sign or something."
"Living under one roof with these lunatics is a privacy disaster."
---
One month later
Things had calmed considerably.
The road connecting the town to the Armed Kingdom was nearly complete.
So was the road to the lizardmen's home.
The High Orcs were excellent at civil engineering.
The town's infrastructure was growing more complete by the day.
Drainage systems, indoor plumbing—every household now had clean running water.
After Gazel left, he even sent over a thousand dwarf craftsmen.
Chishiya now had a steady technical workforce.
No more outsourcing.
Back in his system panel…
[Teleportation Anchor: 100,000 Reputation Points]
[Confirm Purchase?]
"Confirm."
[Remaining Reputation Points: 200,000]
[Initiating Fusion...]
The ground began to rumble.
Benimaru and the others looked toward the horizon.
Kaijin emerged from the workshop.
All across town, people paused, walking into the streets to witness it.
In their stunned gazes—
A vibrant, stylish town emerged on the eastern side.
The two towns fused into a single, grander city.
Before anyone could make sense of what happened.
Aqua walked out from the new section.
Holding a bag stuffed with snacks.
A bottle of premium wine in each arm.
Cream all over her mouth. Cheeks full.
"Eh?... What just happened?"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 56: The Fifth Floor
After the merger between the Labyrinth and the town, Chishiya Shuntaro gave everyone a brief explanation.
The principle?
He had no idea either.
Apparently, after purchasing the teleportation anchor, the Labyrinth started appearing in two dimensions simultaneously.
Like space-folding?
Chishiya shook his head. Not worth the brainpower.
"In the future, the Labyrinth will be integrated into town operations."
As for the residents inside the Labyrinth, they didn't make a fuss about it.
They were all his people anyway, fully loyal to Chishiya.
"Geld."
Chishiya looked up at the honest-looking High Orc in front of him, who towered over three meters.
"From now on, you'll be in charge of construction in both towns."
"Yes, my King."
The orc dropped to one knee, and the pressure he gave off was no weaker than Shion or the others.
He had probably evolved into a Demon Lord.
"Chishiya-san, you're back! Kazuma's been talking about you non-stop lately."
"I heard he's got a surprise for you."
Aqua waddled over, swallowing the last bite of bread in her mouth.
There was an unusual gleam of intelligence in her eyes.
Chishiya nodded.
"I'll go check it out."
It had been over a month since he last returned. Time to see what had become of his empire.
Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind.
"Chishiya! What's so fun over here?!"
Milim came running in, still in her sailor outfit.
She was about to say more when she suddenly stopped.
"…Huh?"
She stared blankly at the blue-haired girl in front of her.
Chishiya opened his mouth, ready to make introductions, and then froze.
Wait a second…
One's a Demon Lord. The other's a Goddess.
Are they going to start brawling the second I blink?
...No clue who'd even win that matchup...
Wait, Chishiya, what are you even thinking?!
Now is not the time for hypothetical battle simulations!
"Uh…"
Just as he was about to say something, Milim spoke first.
"That bread you're eating…"
She wiped the corner of her mouth.
"It looks tasty. Can I try some?"
Aqua's eyes sparkled as she stared at Milim.
"Wow! So cute~!"
"Here you go! Have as much as you want~!"
Aqua turned to Chishiya with sparkling eyes.
"Chishiya-san, where did you meet such an adorable girl?"
…What?
Weren't you two supposed to be natural enemies?!
Chishiya stood dumbfounded, trying to process the scene.
"A friend I just met," he replied.
"Where's Kazuma?"
"I'll go find him."
Aqua, without looking up from feeding Milim, said:
"He's probably still in the Labyrinth. Been super busy lately."
"Said he was working on a surprise for you and didn't want to let you down."
"I've never seen him work so hard."
Chishiya raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Guess the guy really went all in.
"Great Sage, Recreate a few comics from my memory."
[Notice:]
[Yes.]
He'll probably love this.
A decent reward for the hustle.
Chishiya tucked the freshly printed comic into his storage space and headed into the Labyrinth.
—
On the way in, Chishiya couldn't help but notice how much the upper floors had changed in just a month.
The previously marked yellow zones for commercial and residential use were now mostly complete.
He didn't have proper employees yet, but with 200,000 monsters under his command, he wasn't short on manpower.
As he looked at the surrounding buildings, he silently nodded.
Looks like the Queen Ant have been putting in serious work…
They deserve a reward.
—
Ten minutes later
Chishiya entered the Labyrinth, ready to inspect Kazuma's handiwork.
The first thing he noticed was the teleportation array installed at each floor's entrance.
A sign was posted next to it:
"Record Teleport Point to Temporary Rest Area (50,000 Eris per use)"
Chishiya raised a brow.
Save points… like in video games? Smart idea.
Was this Kazuma's doing?
—
Descending further
Chishiya arrived on the fifth underground floor.
The moment he stepped in, he was stunned by the scene before him.
"Move that over there!"
"The magic device shop's just past the intersection, don't misplace it!"
The ones shouting were the army ants busy at work.
No wonder he didn't see any above.
They were all here.
Chishiya looked around.
He'd thought the surface constructions were impressive.
He didn't expect the fifth floor to be even more advanced.
A 50-meter-wide bluestone road stretched ahead.
On either side were prop shops, leisure hotels, and even neon-lit shop signs.
Every intersection had a road sign marking nearby stores and directions.
Prop Shop – 100 meters ahead
(Identification services available)
Weapon Shop – 50 meters left
(Equipment maintenance, cleaning, sales, etc.)
And more…
All clearly labeled, neatly laid out.
But more than that, the shops weren't crammed together.
They were thoughtfully distributed across zones.
Everything was efficiently organized, revealing just how much effort had gone into this.
All of this was Kazuma's design.
Chishiya stood there in awe.
Hiring him wasn't a mistake.
This is even more professional than my own layout…
While he was still taking it all in, a voice called from behind.
"Chishiya-aniki, you're back?"
He turned around.
Kazuma was holding blueprints and about to begin inspections.
Dark circles hung under his eyes.
The man had clearly been burning the candle at both ends.
Chishiya frowned.
"Why do you look like a raccoon?"
Kazuma waved it off.
"It's fine. The company needs to function. I've gotta keep things on track."
Chishiya snatched the blueprint from his hands.
"Come on. You need a break."
"Running a company's important, but not more than your health."
"Go take a bath. I'll treat you to dinner."
Kazuma froze.
"But what about the rest of the work?"
"I've got people who can finish the clean-up."
"If you're gonna call me aniki, I'm not letting you suffer."
"Let's go."
Kazuma just stood there, dazed.
No one had ever treated him this well before.
Like a real older brother…
"Why are you standing there like a statue? We're getting food!"
—
Outside the Labyrinth
The two returned to town.
Chishiya smiled and took out the comic from his storage space.
"A gift. You earned it."
"Eh? This is… a manga?!!"
"Weekly Shonen Jump?!!"
Kazuma stared in disbelief.
He never imagined that one day…
In another world… he'd get to read manga again!!!
It was like a dream!
Oh. My. God.
Chishiya-aniki is a hexagonal warrior!!!
How the heck did this get recreated?!
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 36: Chapter 57: A Gift for Someone Important
Chapter Text
The two of them sat down for a meal break.
Kazuma repeated his proposal again.
"Chishiya-aniki, I set up a teleportation point on each floor."
"They connect to the inn and cafeteria. The rest areas are open to adventurers who are willing to pay."
Chishiya nodded.
"Yeah, I saw it on my way down."
"Smart move. Well done."
Kazuma scratched his head awkwardly and took a sip of sparkling wine.
"We can offer food, lodging, item identification and sales, equipment maintenance and cleaning."
"The prices are higher than on the surface."
"It's like one of those overpriced convenience stores on a hiking trail."
"Chishiya-aniki, I've got another idea."
Kazuma's breathing quickened. You could tell he'd been holding this one in for a while.
Chishiya smirked slightly. "Go ahead."
"We can install a boss monster on each floor."
"Adventurers can fight them for loot and rewards."
"They can either exchange the drops with us, or take them if they want."
"This'll attract more adventurers and boost the sales of our Labyrinth items!"
"We could even offer treatment services!"
"That useless goddess has been freeloading for weeks!"
"Do you know she spent hundreds of thousands of Eris on an egg?!"
"So dumb!!!"
Kazuma took a long gulp of sparkling wine, burying his trauma under carbonation.
Chishiya set down his chopsticks and listened calmly.
Kazuma paused.
Wait… Did I go too far?
Did I just steamroll the conversation like I'm the CEO?
Panicking slightly, Kazuma quickly tried to walk it back.
"O-of course, there's still a lot to work out…"
"Like, what kinds of rewards, how to ensure adventurer safety, and so on…"
"Maybe I didn't think it all the way through…"
"Chishiya-aniki, I hope I didn't overstep…"
But then, unexpectedly—
Chishiya clapped his hands twice.
"No."
"Your idea is genius."
As expected of an RPG addict. These ideas are tailor-made for the Labyrinth system!
Guard Bosses.
The Labyrinth had expanded to 20 floors after the last upgrade.
The monsters had evolved into higher-tier races.
He could assign them to guard each level as mini-bosses.
Crusade Rewards.
Chishiya smirked.
Simple stuff.
He had a whole army of Dwarf craftsmen under him.
Just toss some of their failed forging attempts into treasure chests. Adventurers would be thrilled.
As for safety measures...
That was even easier.
Thanks to hiring Aqua, he had unlocked [Healing Technology].
[Soul Isolation Barrier]: Prevents souls from escaping the Labyrinth after death.
[Healing Holy Water Warehouse]: Revives fallen adventurers within the Labyrinth if payment is made.
Resurrection Service: 2 million Eris per revival. Very reasonable.
No cash? No problem. You can revive once you've got the funds.
Chishiya placed both hands on Kazuma's shoulders.
"I'll assign staff to support you."
"We'll do everything just like you said."
"As for the fine details, I'll handle those."
Kazuma stood there, stunned.
He hadn't expected his idea to be accepted on the spot.
"You're really trusting me with this?"
Chishiya replied, "Only hire people you trust. Don't waste time on the rest."
"Just go full throttle. If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility."
Totally not because I want to be a hands-off boss.
Kazuma went quiet for a moment, then set down his chopsticks and said seriously:
"Chishiya-aniki, don't worry. I'll get it done!"
Chishiya smiled and raised his glass.
"Cheers."
—
After Dinner
Chishiya gathered everyone for a meeting.
Mostly so everyone could get to know each other.
It'd help smooth future cooperation.
In addition to Wiz and Vanir, who managed the branch of the Underground Labyrinth Item Shop, most of the team was based in the Labyrinth itself.
Inside the Labyrinth Villa:
"Everyone, this is Benimaru. He'll be in charge of company security from now on."
Calling him a security guard was an understatement.
He was basically a Marshal.
Benimaru bowed to the group from the center of the hall.
Chishiya continued:
"This is Shuna. She's in charge of the textile workshop and will be heading up the Technical Department."
"And this one."
Chishiya turned to the small twin-tailed girl standing next to him.
"This is my friend Milim. She'll be staying with us for a while."
He went on introducing everyone in turn.
Hakurou was the company trainer, responsible for drilling Gobta and the others...
Kurobe and Kaijin were in charge of the forge.
Then there were the three Dwarf brothers, Geld, and more.
Chishiya finished:
"From today onward, we're one big family. I hope we'll all get along and work together."
"That's all. Any questions?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"Alright, meeting dismissed."
To his surprise, everyone adapted faster than expected.
For instance, the Queen Ant was already discussing architectural principles with Geld.
Rim and Milim, the two pink-haired snack fiends, were happily chatting like best friends.
What Chishiya really didn't expect…
Was Kazuma and Gabiru hitting it off like long-lost bros.
Meeting adjourned.
Then came a familiar voice from behind.
"Master!"
After not seeing her for a month, Yunyun ran up cheerfully.
Chishiya turned around.
…and took a sharp breath.
This girl. Did she grow again?
We're from the same hometown—what did she eat growing up?
Megumin immediately turned and narrowed her eyes.
"Master, were you just thinking something inappropriate?"
"No," Chishiya replied flatly.
"Tsk…"
Megumin clicked her tongue and stood off to the side.
"Master, I'm level 20 now!"
Meanwhile, Yunyun clung to Chishiya's side, eyes gleaming.
Clearly fishing for praise.
Chishiya understood and gave her head a gentle rub.
"Good work. Want a reward?"
Yunyun hesitated, lips pressed together.
Megumin had been bragging all morning about her new robe and high-tier staff.
Apparently, Chishiya had bought it for her personally.
To be honest, Yunyun was jealous.
But those gifts were way too expensive.
So instead, she pulled out a small paper bag from behind her back and handed it to Chishiya awkwardly.
"Master… these are cookies. I made them…"
"Because… I wanted to give them to someone important…"
"I'm worried they don't taste good… so I want you to try them…"
"This is the reward I want…"
Chishiya blinked.
He looked down at the cookies in his hand.
Holy crap.
She's a little angel.
So pure. So wholesome.
And when he thought about Megumin in comparison…
Traitor. Zero competition.
"Is this really all?" Chishiya asked.
Yunyun nodded, though her cheeks turned redder by the second.
She wasn't great at expressing herself...
But ever since Chishiya took her in, she'd felt a warmth she never had before.
Everyone in this company had been so kind to her.
So she made cookies for everyone.
But Chishiya's were special.
She'd spent a long time on this one batch. It was her best.
Chishiya took a bite.
Surprisingly delicious.
"For someone important," huh?
Chishiya smiled.
"They're good. I'm sure that person will like them."
Yunyun looked up and smiled brightly.
"Really?!"
"Yeah. Really."
"Th-thank you, Master…"
Her cheeks were pink as she beamed with pride.
Off to the side, Megumin twitched.
She glared at the two of them and muttered:
"Hey. How long are you two gonna keep flirting?"
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 37: Chapter 58: Everyone Wearing Maid Outfits?
Chapter Text
Megumin stepped forward and held out her hand.
"What about mine?"
Yunyun froze.
"Eh?!"
"I'm the one who asked Master to take you in, right?"
"So where's my share?" Megumin asked, dead serious.
Yunyun's face flushed. "Why do you always act like it's so natural?!"
She had actually prepared something for Megumin.
She just didn't expect Megumin to be so shameless as to ask outright.
Megumin raised an eyebrow smugly.
"Yunyun, this is the difference between us~"
"We Crimson Demons do whatever we want."
"You're still a long way off, hehe~"
No, Yunyun, don't let her corrupt you… Chishiya rubbed his temples.
But then…
The cookie in his hand suddenly vanished.
When he opened his eyes again—
Megumin looked like she hadn't eaten in three days.
She reached into the bag of cookies and shoved handfuls into her mouth!
She didn't even chew—just crushed the rest into powder and dumped it down her throat.
Chishiya: "???"
Yunyun: "???"
"Megumin—!!!"
By the time Yunyun realized what was happening, the cookies were gone.
She screamed and grabbed her own neck with both hands.
"Megumin! You'd better compensate me!"
"Why do you always go so overboard!!!"
She was so angry that tears welled up in her eyes.
Those cookies had taken her hours of work, made specially for Master!
And he'd only had one bite!
Megumin ate all of them!
Megumin nonchalantly brushed herself off and took a step back.
"If they were meant for someone important, it would've been wrong to let anyone else eat them, right?"
"So just make more."
"…Or was that one different?"
She narrowed her eyes at Yunyun.
Like she had seen right through her.
Yunyun bit her lip and couldn't respond.
Of course it was different.
She had wanted to thank Chishiya more than anyone else.
But she'd never be able to say that out loud. Not in this lifetime.
Too embarrassing.
Chishiya sighed from the sidelines…
These two were polar opposites.
How had they even become friends?
Inevitable clash.
Yunyun shouted, "Megumin! I challenge you!"
Megumin sneered.
"Fine. But for the record, I'm already level 28."
"You've got a long way to go before you catch up."
Yunyun snapped back, "Then let's use a different kind of competition!"
She paused for a moment.
"…Let's see who can help Master the most!"
Megumin replied without hesitation, "No problem!"
"Just last month I helped Master wipe out the Orc army."
"You're welcome to try, Yunyun, but prepare to lose!"
—
Wiz's Magic Tool Shop
Wiz stood frozen at the doorway.
"Ch-Chishiya-san…"
"What is… going on here?"
Inside…
Six beautiful girls were standing around the store in full-on maid café uniforms.
Chishiya rubbed his temples.
You're asking me? I want answers too…
Milim skipped happily through the store in a white cat-ear maid outfit.
Shuna and Shion stood side-by-side in classic black-and-white maid uniforms.
Both were smiling, but lightning seemed to crackle between their eyes.
The malicious aura radiating from them could kill small animals.
Megumin and Yunyun refused to back down.
Megumin wore a black lace skirt, a white frilly headpiece, and thigh-high black stockings tucked into shiny Lolita leather shoes.
Yunyun wore the exact same outfit.
Except…
Let's just say the chest proportions didn't match.
Darkness was wearing a tight, traditional maid outfit.
Her face was flushed as she mumbled to herself like a lunatic.
"..."
Chishiya was exhausted.
Just utterly drained.
God… please save me.
The villain inside his heart had already collapsed on the floor.
The cause of this catastrophe: Megumin and Yunyun's dumb rivalry.
Apparently, Yunyun heard somewhere that wearing maid outfits was the secret to shop profits.
(Chishiya had a strong suspicion Vanir was behind this.)
So she wanted to challenge Megumin to see who could attract more customers.
Then Shuna and Shion overheard.
Shuna offered to make everyone's uniforms and said she'd join too.
When Shion caught wind of it:
"Miss Shuna, I'm Chishiya-sama's personal guard. Let me handle this kind of service."
Shuna smiled sweetly.
"No, no. Fighting is one thing, but delicate work like serving guests is just too much for you, Shion."
"Better to leave that to me~"
Shion returned a polite, deadly smile.
"Oh? Miss Shuna, should I take that as a provocation?"
Shuna's smile didn't falter. "Shion, I'm just stating facts."
Shion: "Perfect!"
"Then let's make it a competition!"
Meanwhile, Darkness was the most enthusiastic of all.
"A maid costume…"
"So this is the secret to running a successful store…"
"You're awful… so awful…"
"But if someone must fall victim to your wickedness…"
"Then let it be me! Let it be all me!"
As for Milim…
She was the most normal of them all.
She just thought it looked fun and wanted to join.
"…And that's the story."
Chishiya explained wearily to Wiz.
She gave him a very awkward smile…
And patted him gently on the shoulder.
"Chishiya-san, you've worked so hard…"
"But! I have good news!"
Wiz raised her hands, eyes sparkling under her bangs.
Chishiya looked up. "What news?"
"The store is making a lot of money!!!"
"For real?"
Wiz nodded excitedly. "It's mostly thanks to Vanir, of course."
"But I helped too!"
"Honestly, not causing any problems is already the best help you could offer."
A voice called from behind.
Vanir, dressed in a fancy gentleman's suit, stepped out from the back room with his usual flair.
"Oh? Seems my strategy worked perfectly."
Vanir smirked as he scanned the maid-dressed lineup in the store.
"Looks like business will be booming today…"
He really did it…
Vanir grinned.
"Well, what do you think, kid? Easy on the eyes, huh?"
"…I mean, yeah…"
"Pfft—"
Chishiya realized he'd walked into a trap and quickly changed the subject.
"About that money Wiz mentioned…"
Vanir chuckled, clearly pleased by the emotional chaos Chishiya had just handed over.
"Remember that small country to the south I told you about?"
"The first shipment of magic air conditioners was delivered."
"Their nobles were thrilled. They've signed a long-term order."
"Annual revenue: about 200 million Eris. Of course, that's before deducting expenses like transportation, caravan fees, and materials."
"So don't get too excited."
200 million Eris…
Chishiya narrowed his eyes.
Not pure profit, but still solid.
Just then, Wiz's expression shifted.
She looked anxious.
She wanted to leave a good impression on Chishiya and show she was improving in business.
"Vanir-san! We're not done!"
"You haven't told Chishiya-san about that yet!"
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 38: Chapter 59: Event Launch
Chapter Text
"What are you referring to?"
Chishiya looked at Vanir with mild curiosity.
Vanir replied, "This matter actually has something to do with you."
He paused, watching Chishiya's reaction closely.
"What is it?" Chishiya asked.
Vanir spoke calmly:
"Chishiya Shuntaro, you've become famous."
Chishiya blinked.
"Famous? What do you mean?"
He already had a decent rep in Axel from defeating a Demon Lord's army officer.
Vanir narrowed his eyes.
"Your exploits have spread all the way to the capital. The entire kingdom is now calling you a new hero."
"…The entire kingdom?"
Chishiya: "I'm that popular already?"
It's only been a month. News moves fast around here...
Damn.
I should've made up some cool backstory ahead of time.
Like… I'm the long-lost prince of the kingdom or something.
Vanir continued:
"Anyway, several merchant guilds have started partnering with the store."
"Each bottle of Moonlight Potion brings in about 60 million Eris in profit."
Sixty million?!
All that just from one product in a month?
No wonder the shop had expanded so much while he was gone.
Wait a second...
Chishiya suddenly asked, "But... didn't you guys need my permission to make those potions?"
Vanir grinned and glanced toward Wiz.
"The useless shopkeeper and I stayed up all night cracking the formula.."
Wiz flailed in protest. "Vanir-san, stop calling me a useless shopkeeper!"
"Cracked it?" Chishiya raised an eyebrow.
Wiz nodded earnestly.
"After you left, I experimented a bit myself."
"I found that if I precisely control my magic output, I can recreate the same potion effect."
She said it casually.
As if she hadn't stayed up several nights in a row doing it.
Chishiya was mildly impressed.
The potion used ordinary ingredients, but the effects bypassed level restrictions.
He had originally assumed it was due to the system's support.
Turns out, the system's performance was linked to recruiting Wiz in the first place.
That's why it worked.
Wiz stared at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
A single phrase written all over her face: Please praise me.
Chishiya smiled and patted her on the head.
"Good job."
"You really helped me out this time."
Now he didn't have to brew the potions himself.
Saved him a ton of time and effort.
Wiz grinned, leaning into his hand like a content kitten.
She still remembered how Chishiya helped her clear her 50 million Eris debt.
Being able to return the favor made her genuinely happy.
But then—
All the girls, who had been quietly posturing in the background, turned their gazes on her.
Wiz… was praised?
Wiz… helped Chishiya-san?!
Staaaaaare…
The air was suddenly filled with silent hostility.
"E-Ehh?!"
Wiz froze, shrinking back under their murderous stares.
"W-what did I do wrong…"
Vanir chuckled wickedly, enjoying every second of the drama.
"Hahaha, what delicious negativity."
"Well then. Allow me to propose something fun."
"Let today's sales revenue decide it."
"Whoever generates the most income for this brat wins."
"They'll be the one who 'helps' him the most."
"Deal!!!"
All the girls shouted in unison.
Chishiya: ???
The corner of his mouth twitched.
He turned slowly toward Vanir.
"You… did this on purpose."
Vanir: "Hahaha. Naturally."
—
Meanwhile, at the Adventurer's Guild
A group of adventurers gathered in front of the bulletin board.
They were discussing a notice Chishiya had left before his last departure:
[Our store will hold a mysterious event next month.]
"It's been a month already. Think it's happening soon?"
"I missed the last pre-order. The C-rank magic crystal was only 70,000 Eris! Still kicking myself over it."
"No clue what's coming, but it's definitely worth the hype."
"Come on, Chishiya-san's basically a hero candidate. It's not like he'd scam us."
Off to the side, a girl with short hair and light armor—Fio—fiddled with her drink and muttered,
"Tch. What's everyone so worked up about?"
"Guy's just a glorified shopkeeper."
"He can't even compare to Mitsurugi-sama."
Next to her, a blonde-haired boy smiled.
"No need to compare. We're all heroes in our own way."
"I'm just here to get a good look at him."
And maybe dig up some intel while I'm at it…
Mitsurugi Kyouya sipped his drink.
After hearing that Chishiya had one-shotted Hans, he hadn't been able to sit still.
He wanted to see for himself what kind of person this "hero" really was.
Or maybe it was just the competitive spirit in him.
He hated being outshone.
"At the very least, I want to test his strength."
Mitsurugi set down his glass, his eyes sharpening with resolve.
—
Elsewhere
A small girl in a white dress hopped out of a noble carriage.
Golden hair shimmered in the sunlight.
"Your Highness Iris…"
"Please remember this is a secret outing. Your safety is paramount," Claire the knight reminded gently.
Iris looked around the busy streets with wide, sparkling eyes.
She hadn't been outside the capital in ages.
"It's fine, Claire! This is a covert trip. No one will recognize us."
"And besides, if there's any danger, I've got you, right?"
Iris grabbed Claire's hand and dashed forward eagerly.
She couldn't wait to meet the mysterious "hero."
Claire followed with a sigh.
Originally, they had planned to invite him to Iris's birthday party.
But this "hero candidate" wasn't what the royal court had expected.
He had invented all kinds of bizarre magic tools and was making a killing in the capital.
There was even talk of a pre-sale event in Axel.
A concept no one in the capital had ever heard of before.
Clearly, this was a man full of ideas.
Princess Iris had never encountered anything like that.
So she'd insisted on going incognito to see this "hero" herself.
As Claire watched the little princess skip through the streets like a normal girl…
She smiled softly.
"I just hope he doesn't disappoint her."
—
Back at the Item Shop
Wiz blinked, snapping out of thought.
"By the way, Chishiya-san, what brings you here today?"
Chishiya smirked.
"I was originally planning to hold a new product launch."
"But now…"
"I've got a better idea."
"Let's go full throttle on the hype."
Wiz tilted her head.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 39: Chapter 60: New Product Release
Chapter Text
Wiz blinked. "Hype? What does that mean?"
Chishiya gave a faint smile.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Vanir sipped his tea with a flourish, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
Looks like something amusing is about to happen.
—
At the same time, a long line had already formed in the square outside the shop.
The buzz from Chishiya's earlier promotions still hadn't died down.
Countless adventurers had been waiting for this day.
"I wonder what kind of event it's going to be!"
"Open up already! I can't wait!"
"I see adventurers from other cities here too."
"Boss! Open the store! Stop teasing us! What kind of mysterious event is this?!"
And it wasn't just adventurers.
There were plenty of newspaper reporters in the crowd too.
They'd heard the rumors about Chishiya.
Clearly a powerhouse, yet he chose to open a shop in a Novice Village.
This kind of curiosity bait? No way they'd miss it.
Everyone wanted the scoop.
Soon, amid the rising voices, six wooden platforms were wheeled out.
Each one was about half a meter tall with steps on both sides.
On top sat a small wooden table and two stools.
Looked more like a setup for tea than a battle stage...
"Nani? What's going on?"
"Is this the mysterious activity Chishiya mentioned?"
"I came all the way from another city just to shop here, please don't let me down..."
"You're clearly not local. Just wait, our hero won't disappoint you."
—
Among the crowd,
Mitsurugi Kyouya lowered his eyes slightly as he watched Chishiya come out alongside the platforms.
"That's the Hero Candidate?"
"He's so young... Could he really have defeated a Demon Lord general in one strike?"
"Tch..."
Fio, the rogue girl beside him, pouted.
"Such a scam."
"If you're a hero but don't want to fight the Demon Lord's army, and instead set up a shop in a newbie village just to rake in profits... what kind of ability is that?"
Another teammate, the spear-user Cremea, chimed in.
"Not everyone has the sense of duty Mitsurugi-sama does. Some people only care about money."
"As expected, Mitsurugi-sama is the real hero."
Mitsurugi Kyouya turned and said calmly,
"Don't say that. Let's wait and see."
"If he's known as a Hero Candidate and has that kind of strength, I believe he won't be like what you're saying."
"He probably does want to fight the Demon Lord's army. He just hasn't had the chance yet."
The two girls blushed and gazed at him dreamily.
"Okay… okay."
"Mitsurugi-sama is so kind…"
But when it came to Chishiya, the "fake hero" who stole their sword prince's spotlight?
No love lost there.
—
Elsewhere in the crowd,
Claire and Princess Iris blended in.
Iris had a sunshade cloak over her golden hair, hiding her identity.
Claire wore simple traveling clothes and followed close behind.
It was summer.
Their clothes weren't flashy, but their beauty still turned heads.
Claire glanced toward the square, just in time to see Chishiya pushing out one of the platforms.
"Iris-dono, I believe that's the Hero Candidate everyone's been talking about."
Iris rose on tiptoe, peering through the crowd for a glimpse of Chishiya's profile.
"He's not what I imagined. He's so young."
"...Can I talk to him afterward?"
She asked in a whisper.
Claire whispered back,
"My Lady, according to the traditions of the Belzerg Royal Family, it's against protocol for an unmarried princess to meet a man in private."
Though frankly, just sneaking out like this was already against the rules.
"Your birthday banquet is coming up. I'm sure Lady Dustiness will bring him to meet you then."
Iris thought for a moment, then nodded obediently.
"Okay. I'll wait then."
She leaned forward again to sneak another look.
Claire's eyes followed Chishiya too.
So that was the rumored Hero Candidate...
Good-looking, and at a glance you could tell he was a serious person.
And the one who saved Lady Dustiness.
If the opportunity came up, she'd need to properly thank him.
But...
Where was Lalatina, anyway?
No one had heard from her lately...
Troubling.
Still, with her strength, she'd be fine.
She was probably off adventuring again.
—
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Chishiya's voice rang out as the crowd buzzed.
Everyone turned toward the stage.
"Chishiya-san! What's the event this month? Quit teasing us already!"
"Yeah! Got any new gear?!"
"That potion from before was amazing! Shame it's impossible to get now! Got any in stock? I'll pay triple!"
"Same here! Triple the price, no questions asked!"
—
Chishiya raised a hand to quiet the crowd.
"Everyone, our potions are now available at all major commerce guilds."
"If you want to buy them, check there."
This event wasn't about potions, and Chishiya didn't plan to waste time on that topic.
"This time's event is actually about two announcements."
He scanned the square.
His gaze passed over several eager reporters scribbling furiously.
"First—"
"We're launching new products at our shop."
Right as he spoke, the store doors swung open, and Wiz stepped out holding a white gauze dress.
The material was airy, and the design was strikingly modern—half-shoulder, gently layered.
As she held it up, many female adventurers were stunned.
So pretty!!!
After spending all year in practical battle gear and spell robes, this was the first time they'd seen something this eye-catching.
Even Mitsurugi's two female teammates—at the sight of the dress in Wiz's hands—twitched involuntarily.
But...
As pretty as it was, it felt a bit too extravagant for adventurers.
Sure enough, the male adventurers in line began to stir restlessly.
Especially those who had traveled from far-off cities.
"I've been in line for this long, and you're showing me a skirt?"
"We're a bunch of burly dudes! What are we gonna do with a skirt?!"
"You messing with us or what?!"
"This is a joke, right? I spent my savings to get here!"
"Boss, are you seriously promoting just one dress after teasing us for a whole month?!"
The grumbling escalated.
Fio grinned maliciously.
"Heh. Serves them right. Suckers got played."
"Skirts for men, seriously. What was he even thinking?"
Cremea scoffed.
"Told you, he's no match for Edgeworth."
—
On the other side of the square,
Claire's eyes shimmered with doubt.
'With how innovative this guy is... was all this build-up really just for a dress?'
It didn't quite add up.
Iris's eyes sparkled as she turned to Claire.
"Why's everyone reacting so strongly? I think that dress is really pretty."
Claire leaned in and smiled.
"Yeah. It's very elegant."
"As long as you like it, Miss Iris."
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Chapter 40: Chapter 61-62
Chapter Text
Chapter 61: Magic Silk
In front of the store.
Chishiya was still smiling.
That was the professional quality expected of good customer service personnel.
"Everyone, please be patient. This product was specially prepared for female adventurers."
"So what? Clothes that flashy aren't practical for adventuring."
Dust muttered, "Yeah, have you ever seen a woman fight in a skirt?"
Suddenly,
Chishiya looked directly at him.
"Could you repeat what you just said?"
The blond-haired Dust pointed to himself. "Me?"
Chishiya's smile didn't falter. "Yes, you."
Gulp. Dust swallowed.
"I said, have you ever seen a woman fight in a skirt?"
"Excellent!"
Chishiya suddenly raised his voice.
"This gentleman has hit the nail on the head. Why don't they fight in skirts?"
"Do they not want to?"
"I've always believed that there's a little fairy in every girl's heart. No one wants to wear clunky, outdated combat gear every day."
"Is loving beauty such a crime?"
"No. Beauty is innocent."
That last line came straight out of some ancient corporate pitch.
Chishiya began spouting textbook rhetoric.
He was giving the locals a solid slap of modern fashion logic.
As he spoke, many of the female adventurers in the crowd looked down at themselves.
Most could only wear the uniforms of their specific job classes.
They were busy day in and day out.
Hardly ever got the chance to wear anything of their own choosing.
And if you were the frontline tank? Heavy armor, all day. You might even start bulking up...
Chishiya's words struck a chord.
Even Mitsurugi's two female companions started wavering.
Mitsurugi, sensing their change, spoke gently.
"Fio, Cremea, you're both already beautiful."
"You don't need to doubt yourselves."
"Mm…"
The two nodded, but added quickly,
"Well… that guy's just a smooth talker. We're not paying attention to him…"
Mitsurugi smiled and nodded.
He didn't notice the flash of loneliness in their eyes.
—
On the platform,
Chishiya continued in a loud voice.
"To help every girl break free from the constraints of gear and embrace their love of beauty!"
"I now present to you…"
"A product developed by our store over the past month!"
"Magic Silk!!!"
As the words landed, the crowd froze.
Wait… Chishiya wasn't selling clothes?!
He was selling… fabric?!
Everyone blinked in shock.
Chishiya lifted the dress from Wiz's hands and explained,
"This silk isn't just breathable and comfortable."
"More importantly…"
Chishiya emphasized clearly,
"It contains a high concentration of magic power, with powerful defensive properties!"
"It can easily block a claw swipe from a Rookie Killer."
!!!
The moment those words dropped, the crowd exploded.
"What?!"
"Is that for real? It's better than regular armor? Clothing with that much defense?!"
"You're joking. That thing looks like it'd tear if I tugged on it."
"Same here. It feels just like a normal dress…"
"But if what he says is true… doesn't that mean most armor becomes obsolete?"
Everyone fell silent.
If this was real, forget aesthetics. It meant the entire paradigm of protective gear could shift in the future.
—
At the back of the crowd,
Claire's eyes lit up.
Textile material with high defense?
If that was real, it would be classified as a strategic military resource!
This could change the entire kingdom's defense standards!
—
Chishiya was satisfied with the reaction.
He didn't blame them for doubting it.
This silk had been cultivated for the past month under the joint efforts of Shuna and Haruna.
Spun from larvae of the Hell Moth species.
Chishiya had already considered their commercial use back when he first arrived in the [Tensura] world and asked them to collect moth larvae.
As for skepticism?
Simple solution.
The best way to kill doubt?
Prove it.
Chishiya turned and said,
"Wiz, if you'd assist me."
He spread the dress open.
"This material is naturally resistant to elementary magic."
"It even reduces damage from intermediate-level magic."
"And if a special magic array is engraved during processing, the defense multiplies."
Then,
Chishiya nodded at Wiz.
Wiz raised her hand.
"Sword of Light."
A lightning bolt arced out from her palm.
High-tier offensive magic!
Even a level 30 monster would be toast if hit by that!
Were they serious?!
CRACK—!
The white bolt was about to strike Chishiya when—
A magical barrier unfolded from the dress in his hands.
A low rumble echoed as the lightning snake slammed into the barrier and rippled out before dissipating completely.
"WHAT—?!!!"
The entire square froze. Mouths dropped.
Armor that could withstand high-level magic was incredibly rare.
Even the best equipment forged by legendary blacksmiths wasn't fully immune.
But this "flashy" dress… actually blocked it?!
"Oh my gods!!!"
"Am I hallucinating?!"
"How is this possible?!"
"Magic Silk… is it because of the material?!"
"Crap… I take back everything I said earlier…"
"Actually, y'know, I could wear a skirt…"
"…Huh???"
"I didn't expect Chishiya-san to make something this ridiculous. First the potions, now this?"
Claire and Mitsurugi both stared wide-eyed.
What kind of joke was this?!
A skirt that could block high-level magic?
Mitsurugi was speechless.
Even his armor couldn't block magic of that tier with certainty.
But this flimsy-looking garment?
Had superior defense.
That wasn't just surprising, it was insane.
—
In the crowd, reporters' pens were flying like mad.
Friction alone might've set the pages on fire.
They couldn't afford to miss a single detail.
They could already imagine how many headlines about Chishiya Shuntaro would be plastered across tomorrow's newspapers.
The debut of this new material?
Absolutely massive news.
—
Once the barrier faded.
Chishiya folded the dress again.
Still smiling.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the fruit of our research."
"Due to the high concentration of magical elements in Magic Silk, we're able to inscribe defensive runes."
"This specific piece of clothing can resist up to five high-level magical attacks in total."
"So…"
"Are you satisfied?"
As his final words rang out, the crowd erupted.
Especially the female adventurers.
They were initially concerned the clothes would be pretty but impractical.
But now?
It could block high-tier magic?
No more concerns.
Chishiya was right.
What girl didn't want to look beautiful?
Now, they could finally have both beauty and safety.
However—
Just as the excitement reached its peak—
Chishiya's next sentence hit like a cold bucket of water.
"But I should mention this up front."
"This dress costs 40 million Eris."
(To be continued.)
Chapter 62: Interactive Mini-Game
"How much?!!"
"Forty million—!!!"
Everyone was floored by the astronomical number.
An S-class Mana Stone only went for about 10 million Eris.
And this dress was worth four times that?
Was this some kind of twisted joke?
Who on earth could afford that price?
"Forty million Eris? It's so expensive I can't even afford to cry…"
"There goes my will to live…"
Some people sighed and began to leave in disappointment.
Off to the side, even Wiz looked stunned.
She had learned from last time.
Even she could tell this price was so high, no one would realistically buy it.
What was Chishiya trying to do this time?
Was this… part of his plan too?
Claire narrowed her eyes.
Forty million Eris wasn't just expensive—it was absurd.
Even in the royal capital, that was considered extravagant.
Let alone in a small place like Axel.
There weren't enough rich nobles to make this product viable.
So what was the point?
Meanwhile, over by Mitsurugi Kyouya—
His two companions sneered.
"He seriously dares to charge that much."
"Who'd pay 40 million Eris for that? That guy's brain is just one big gold coin."
Mitsurugi said softly, "That dress is still very beautiful. Don't you want it?"
"Wha—Who would want that kind of thing…"
"T-That's not it…"
They looked away, stammering.
In truth—
They absolutely wanted it.
They wanted it badly.
If Chishiya had sold it at a normal price, they would've rushed the store.
But now, it was too late.
If Mitsurugi found out, how would he look at them?
—
On stage, Chishiya continued smiling calmly.
Of course, that 40 million figure had just been pulled out of thin air.
Hype?
When you hold the core technology, why not manipulate the price?
Besides, he wasn't even planning to sell the dress in the first place.
Chishiya said, "Now, let me announce the second matter."
"Due to the complexity of defensive rune engraving—"
Not really. It was actually trivial with the Great Sage's help.
"Our store has developed alternative products that can effectively defend against elementary and intermediate-level magic."
"Prices range from 100,000 Eris to 4 million Eris."
"As for this dress, it's just a demonstration item."
Chishiya held up the white gauze dress again and looked out over the crowd.
"It will be given away for free through a game."
What?!
Several adventurers who were preparing to leave immediately froze in place.
"Did he just say free?!"
"Are you kidding?! He's giving away something worth 40 million?!"
"I heard this shop was honest, but this is next level!"
"Brother, you must be new here. The last pre-order promo was even better!"
"A C-class magic crystal usually sells for over 100,000 Eris, but it was only 70,000 here."
"Can you find that kind of deal anywhere else in the whole kingdom?"
"I've been saying this all along—Chishiya treats adventurers like family. He'd never scam us."
Claire's eyes widened in disbelief.
Free?
She had just questioned the purpose of his actions.
Now she realized—he really was giving away a priceless magical item?
Was this the resolve of a true hero?
To treat money like trash?
What a terrifying man...
They clearly weren't even in the same dimension anymore…
—
"What's the format of the game?"
Someone from the crowd shouted excitedly.
Chishiya smiled and clapped his hands twice.
The shop doors creaked open.
"Wahahahaha~! My time has come!"
A pink-haired little loli with twin ponytails sprang out first, flashing her little fangs.
She wore a cat-ear headband and a fluffy tail swayed behind her.
An overwhelming level of cuteness.
"Milim-sama, please slow down."
Shuna and Shion followed behind in elegant maid outfits.
"Yunyun! This time, you're going down!"
"No way! I'm winning this one!"
Megumin and Yunyun appeared next, both dressed in black lace maid uniforms.
Claire: ???
What… is going on here?
Why are all these gorgeous girls appearing in maid outfits?
Is this part of the game?
Even if there's a gap between me and the hero… is this seriously normal?
But before she could finish processing it…
Something even more confusing happened.
Darkness appeared, blushing like a tomato.
"Ch-Chishiya… the way they're all looking at me…"
"So intense… it's like they want to do something to me… uhnn…!"
Before she could finish, Chishiya quickly slapped a hand over her mouth.
...Please. Just shut up.
Claire: Huh???
No… wait. Huh???
HUH?!?!
Her mind reeled.
What is happening here?
Why is Lady Lalatina here?
Wearing a maid outfit, no less??
And… has her relationship with the hero gotten that far already?!
Iris tilted her head. "Eh? Claire, isn't that Lalatina?"
Claire swiftly covered her eyes. "No, Miss Iris. You're mistaken…"
And just like that…
Darkness died of embarrassment again.
—
In front of the store,
All six participants had taken their seats on the wooden platforms Chishiya had arranged.
Left side: Shion, Milim, and Darkness.
Right side: Shuna, Megumin, and Yunyun.
Chishiya announced,
"Everyone, it's time for the 'Maid Interactive Mini-Game!' Win prizes and take them home."
"But… there's a 10,000 Eris entry fee."
"Seriously?!!!"
Suddenly, every male adventurer who had dismissed the earlier dress reveal now looked like their eyes were glowing.
Sure, the reward was a skirt.
And sure, they were all grown men with no interest in skirts.
But now? Before them were cute girls. All. In. Maid. Costumes.
Who could resist?
Ten thousand Eris?
That was basically free.
Who cared about money when there was a chance to get up close and personal with this lineup?
"Boss! What are the rules?!"
"I'm in!"
"Count me in too!"
One after another, the men surged forward like a horde of pigs in heat.
Dust, in particular, had a completely unhinged expression…
Chishiya raised an eyebrow.
"The rules are simple."
"Arm wrestling and chess."
"If any of you…"
"…can beat one of the three girls on the left in arm wrestling,"
"Or win a game of chess against one of the three girls on the right…"
"The first winner will receive this 40-million-Eris magic item."
"All subsequent winners get a 1-million-Eris prize."
That is… assuming any of you actually win, Chishiya added silently.
?!!!
"WHAT—!!!"
The crowd exploded again.
On one hand, they were stunned by the generous rewards.
On the other, by how ridiculously easy the game seemed.
Forget chess for a moment.
Arm wrestling?
Seriously?
And there's a loli among the participants?!
Wasn't this basically giving away money?
They were seasoned adventurers.
There's no way they could lose to a tiny girl.
And 1 million Eris for a win?!
That was insane value compared to the 10,000 Eris entry fee.
Chishiya stood calmly on stage and smiled.
"Anyone who wants to participate, stay."
"Those who don't, Miss Wiz will assist you in the store."
"Now then… let the game begin."
"Please prepare yourselves."
(To be continued.)
...
Support me on P/treon to read up to 100+ advanced chapters on this and 10 other fics of mine
https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Pages Navigation
faikanaz (Guest) on Chapter 1 Sun 13 Jul 2025 09:52PM UTC
Comment Actions
i_really_should_be_sleeping on Chapter 2 Fri 06 Jun 2025 07:01AM UTC
Comment Actions
Junkdog786 on Chapter 2 Sat 07 Jun 2025 11:57AM UTC
Comment Actions
Bigotes15 (Guest) on Chapter 2 Wed 11 Jun 2025 10:44AM UTC
Comment Actions
Archerfish19 on Chapter 8 Sat 14 Jun 2025 09:34PM UTC
Comment Actions
OmniiTheDeer on Chapter 17 Tue 08 Jul 2025 08:19AM UTC
Comment Actions
RandomNon3859 on Chapter 20 Thu 10 Jul 2025 05:56PM UTC
Comment Actions
Unseee (Guest) on Chapter 20 Wed 13 Aug 2025 10:07PM UTC
Comment Actions
Issei (Guest) on Chapter 22 Tue 15 Jul 2025 02:51AM UTC
Comment Actions
MagnoliaHarvest on Chapter 24 Sat 19 Jul 2025 01:40AM UTC
Comment Actions
MagnoliaHarvest on Chapter 25 Thu 24 Jul 2025 07:45AM UTC
Comment Actions
MagnoliaHarvest on Chapter 27 Thu 31 Jul 2025 12:44AM UTC
Comment Actions
MagnoliaHarvest on Chapter 28 Thu 31 Jul 2025 06:54AM UTC
Comment Actions
MagnoliaHarvest on Chapter 29 Thu 31 Jul 2025 01:51PM UTC
Comment Actions
NebulaRuben on Chapter 29 Wed 06 Aug 2025 12:11PM UTC
Comment Actions
MagnoliaHarvest on Chapter 30 Fri 01 Aug 2025 04:46AM UTC
Comment Actions
NebulaRuben on Chapter 30 Wed 06 Aug 2025 12:19PM UTC
Comment Actions
MagnoliaHarvest on Chapter 31 Sun 03 Aug 2025 10:48AM UTC
Comment Actions
NebulaRuben on Chapter 31 Wed 06 Aug 2025 12:28PM UTC
Comment Actions
MagnoliaHarvest on Chapter 32 Tue 05 Aug 2025 09:23PM UTC
Comment Actions
NebulaRuben on Chapter 32 Wed 06 Aug 2025 01:00PM UTC
Comment Actions
Pages Navigation