Then finally, the battle was over… For my executives, it was like a dream and a nightmare at the same time. Ramiris was still shaking, and Diablo regarded me with an even higher reverence than before. I allowed Veldora to return to his human form. Once he did, I turned my attention to explaining the situation to Beretta and Treyni-san. Now, we could get to work—but there was one thing I wanted clarified first.
I fixed my gaze on Beretta. "Beretta, did you swear in front of Guy to pledge your loyalty to Ramiris? Has your sentiment changed since then?"
Beretta looked shocked. Even beneath the mask, the rare flicker of emotion was visible.
"—Atem-sama, please forgive my rudeness. As I said before, I wish to serve you and Ramiris-sama," he said.
"Yes. I remember that," I replied, my tone firm and commanding. "But wouldn't that break your vow with Guy?"
"…Yes. When that day comes, I'll take the responsibility myself—"
"No," I interrupted, my voice calm but unyielding. "You don't need to split hairs. As you have wished, Ramiris has moved to the town. She is now responsible for running the labyrinth. Do you wish to serve her?"
"Of course!"
"If that is the case, there is no problem. By the results, you are also pledging your loyalty to me."
I had already considered this. Beretta's choice to serve Ramiris was acceptable as long as he remained loyal to me in outcome. Since he had once sworn to Guy, breaking a vow could have endangered him—but now, with my authority, it was safe.
"Won't you mind that?" I asked.
"Then, I will serve Ramiris-sama," Beretta replied without hesitation.
I studied him. This cunning, decisive choice… it was as if everything had been part of Beretta's plan. Well, it was fine. Who taught him such careful calculation?
«Answer. Of course—»
Ah, I didn't want to hear that answer. So careless. Still, I wondered… what would Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom, think of me? Surely someone with such cunning would reflect their teaching.
«…»
He seemed slightly displeased, but I ignored it.
"That's fine. Then Beretta, pledge your loyalty to Ramiris from now on!"
"Even though I will become Ramiris-sama's servant, I will not forget the gracious deeds done by Atem-sama. If I may ever be of use to you, just say the word," he declared.
"All right. I'll count on you."
With that, I deactivated the Creator Order (Master Lock) on Beretta and transferred "Master Access" to Ramiris. After the transference, I would retain access only as the creator. If anything happened to Ramiris, the command would revert to me. But as long as she remained, Beretta's loyalty was hers alone.
Now, I could be assured. Guy would not fault me, and Beretta as Ramiris's guard was trustworthy.
The labyrinth had more potential than I had expected. On the surface, it attracted adventurers. Behind the scenes, it allowed Veldora to release his power. And as a byproduct, it transformed iron ore into magisteel using high concentrations of magicule. Researching the mysterious substance known as magicule had made the labyrinth incredibly efficient. Its importance had skyrocketed.
I wasn't entirely confident leaving the mission of protecting the labyrinth solely to Treyni-san, but with Beretta's presence, I was reassured.
As for Ramiris, now with authority over Beretta… the quick turn of events left her almost hysterical.
"Beretta has really become my subordinate… Now I'm finally not alone—" she said, spinning around him.
"Ah, Ramiris-sama, you still have me," Treyni-san added, smiling warmly.
"Oh, right! And Treyni is here too! Now I have a big family!" Ramiris exclaimed with joy, circling Beretta happily.
Ramiris had been alone all this time; I understood her relief and happiness. Even with two subordinates, she had always considered herself surrounded—but it clearly worried her. Treyni-san was reliable, yet she spoiled Ramiris too much. Beretta would now shoulder even more responsibility, but his common sense and calculative nature would meet my expectations.
"Beretta, do not mind me for now. Take care of Ramiris. Protect her well," I commanded.
"Yes, Sir! I shall guard her with my life!"
I had confidence in him. As long as Beretta was there, the labyrinth's management would remain stable. Treyni-san and Ramiris might be busy handling monsters, but Beretta's presence meant they could focus on other tasks without concern.
Veldora and I exchanged a glance, both slightly agitated by Ramiris's excited noises—but her joy was infectious.
With an official master-subordinate relationship in place, Beretta had become "immortal" within the labyrinth. Even without a "Resurrection Bracelet," the mechanisms worked perfectly. The same applied to Treyni-san. Items like the "Resurrection Bracelet" and "Return Whistle" that used Ramiris's power were watered-down versions of her skills. Now, as her followers, they didn't need to rely on them. Resurrection points were flexible, allowing revival anywhere the save point had been set, and simplified transportation could occur across floors.
Ramiris's intrinsic skill, Labyrinth Creation, was rarely useful for herself but highly beneficial for her subordinates. The concept of infinite revival was terrifying—especially with just two subordinates now. In the future, as monsters were born within the labyrinth and tamed, Ramiris could form a Ramiris Legion, an immortal force that would make anyone underestimate her at their own peril.
From a defense standpoint, her skill could not have been better. The only limitation was Ramiris herself, who had yet to fully grasp her potential.
—But she was Ramiris, after all. I had no doubts. There was nothing to fear. She remained a small, lonely fairy, yet her courage and companions ensured she would thrive.
I felt a faint, approving satisfaction. The labyrinth, its monsters, its subordinates—everything was aligned. Ramiris, Beretta, Treyni, Veldora… and I, Atem, Sovereign of Eterna, overseeing it all. Everything was in order.
Now we were entering the next stage. It was time to plan the internal structures of the labyrinth. With as many as a hundred levels, designing it was no simple task. But a labyrinth without traps is no labyrinth at all, so we had to take on the role of interior designers… in the deadliest sense.
The first level was square-shaped, with each side stretching 250 meters. Large enough to rival the Tokyo Dome, yet as one descended, the labyrinth narrowed, forming an inverted pyramid. This was deliberate: Veldora released his youki from the bottom level, and the shape allowed the energy to spread evenly throughout. Practically every structural condition had been considered. The design went beyond common sense—but there was no reason to overthink it.
It was time to decide what kinds of traps to deploy:
* **Poison Arrow:** Arrows smeared with potent toxins that would fly from nowhere.
* **Poison Swamp:** A Farron Keep 2.0—pure poison that inflicted ailments and drained HP with every step.
* **Spinning Surface:** Floors that rotated to disorient intruders—remember to always draft maps!
* **Shifting Surface:** Floors that moved on their own—terrifying to traverse.
* **Dismembering Razor-String:** Strike it blindly, and you might lose a limb—especially cruel when paired with shifting surfaces.
* **Booby Trap Pit:** Injuries pale in comparison to what might be lurking at the bottom.
* **Mimic Chest:** "A treasure chest?" KONO MIMIC DA!
* **Exploding Chest:** A chest, yes… followed by a sudden explosion.
* **Monster Cabin:** "Delivery time! It's pizza… no, monsters!"
* **Sealed Room:** Igniting a fire here could be catastrophic.
* **Dark Level:** Bring torches—or pay 3,000 souls for a marked-up alternative.
* **Low Ceiling Floor:** Crawling becomes a deadly hazard when monsters appear unexpectedly.
* **Terrain Effect Level:** Volcanoes, floods, and sudden hazards—why not?
* **Atem, Sovereign of Eterna:** Arguably the deadliest trap of all.
"That is quite the arsenal. Can you really make all of these traps, Ramiris?" I asked, my tone firm but curious.
"Hm! Inside the labyrinth, I can make whatever I want!" she replied confidently.
Indeed, as Ramiris said, the air composition even a hundred floors below remained identical to the surface, thanks entirely to her skill. This once again demonstrated the sheer magnitude of her power.
"By the way, this 'Sealed Room'… is it really a booby trap?" she asked.
I allowed a faint smile. "Air—more precisely, oxygen. Humans and most creatures require it. If the oxygen concentration drops too low, hypoxia will occur, and death may follow instantly. That is why adventurers must be cautious in such rooms. It is a fixed rule of exploration."
Generally, sealed rooms posed no threat unless fire was introduced. A careless flame could consume the oxygen or produce poisonous gas. Even if adventurers discovered similar rooms in ruins, they could not simply rush in. Analysis and skepticism were essential. In a world where magic existed, using wind-element spells to aid breathing was a basic precaution.
I explained this carefully so Ramiris could understand, though she seemed only partially grasping it.
"Okay… so it's a vicious trap. But it doesn't really affect us, so we don't have to worry too much, right? By the way… I always thought you were scary, Atem. But you're also incredibly capable. I… couldn't come up with traps like these myself," she said, clearly impressed.
Knowing she personally would not be harmed by the labyrinth reassured her. She genuinely believed in the measures we were implementing, which… admittedly embarrassed me slightly. In my previous world, anyone familiar with games might recognize these traps—but in reality, they were lethal. Surviving even a few floors could take days. The terrain, hazards, and traps meant that reaching the tenth-floor save point was no trivial matter.
For beings like Veldora or myself, who needed neither food, water, nor sleep, and who could ignore poison, brute force could suffice. But ordinary adventurers—even heroes—required careful planning and rest. This labyrinth would be merciless to anyone unprepared.
"Are we perhaps setting the difficulty too high?" Ramiris asked nervously.
"Is it?" I countered,"I find it acceptable."
"Yeah, Atem. This is really nothing!" Veldora added, laughing. Ramiris followed with an excited cheer.
With their confidence restored, I returned to planning the labyrinth's routes. Each trap, each floor, each hazard was meticulously considered. The labyrinth of Eterna would be as beautiful as it was deadly—a true reflection of the authority and power that governed it.