A few days passed after that, during which Ramiris joyfully prepared all sorts of traps. Beretta and Treyni-san deployed them alongside her. I had planned out the labyrinth routes with Veldora, devising several models and registering them first so we could make adjustments whenever necessary. Everything was proceeding smoothly… until we attempted to add the "Terrain Effect."
"No, no, no! I can't sustain that much energy!" Ramiris exclaimed, frustration coloring her voice.
It was clear what the issue was. We wanted each level to have a natural disaster theme covering the entire floor—a fire level, an ice level, or a storm level. Creating a volcano or a raging blizzard that spanned the whole floor was simply beyond even her considerable abilities.
"I see your point. Very well, Ramiris. I've been asking too much," I said firmly, my tone carrying calm authority. I had no intention of forcing her beyond her limits.
But then—a familiar voice broke the tension.
"Can't that be solved if you capture a fire or ice dragon from somewhere? Do you need me to help catch one?"
I turned sharply. A pair of platinum-pink ponytails swayed behind her.
It was Milim.
"Eh…? What are you doing here, Milim?" I asked, my gaze narrowing.
We were at the hundredth level, the very bottom of the newly built labyrinth. By every rational measure, this location should have been inaccessible—its presence unknown to the outside world. Yet Demon Lord Milim had appeared anyway, standing there with a smug smile that spoke of utter confidence.
By the way, Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom, had detected her presence. But since she bore no hostile intent toward me, it intentionally withheld the alert… as I had instructed it to. Still, I made a mental note to reassess those commands later. Solarys was brilliant, but flexibility was not its strongest suit—a minor headache I would endure.
«…»
Now was not the time for that. My attention returned to Milim.
"Fufu," she said, her voice full of playful arrogance. "I know you've been up to something interesting, so I came to see for myself. And you've been hiding it from me, Atem. How dare you."
She straightened her chest confidently, her usual bold attire still on display—but more covered than last time. After Shuna and the goblinas had dressed her, she had perhaps grown slightly more self-aware in public. On her fists, she wore her pair of drago knuckles, their rough surfaces catching the light. The aura they radiated was unmistakable—she was a force to be reckoned with. That was Milim: brash, fearless, and impossibly reckless, a true punk at heart.
I studied her calmly, my presence filling the room with authority. "You are far from expected, Milim. But since you are here, tell me plainly—what is your purpose?"
Milim tilted her head, the mischievous glint in her eyes unbothered by my commanding tone. "Purpose? I'm just curious. I want to see what you've been up to down here. And maybe… stir things up a little."
"Curiosity can be dangerous in a place like this," I replied, my voice sharp, radiating controlled power. "You are in the deepest part of my labyrinth, at the hundredth floor. One misstep, and even your strength may not save you."
Her grin only widened. "I've been in worse situations, Atem. Don't underestimate me."
I allowed a faint nod. "Very well. Then observe carefully—and remember, you tread where only I dictate. Do not interfere without permission."
Milim smirked and stretched her arms, clearly relishing the challenge. "Of course, of course. I'll behave… for now."
I turned my attention back to Ramiris and the traps. With Veldora at my side and Beretta and Treyni-san assisting, the labyrinth continued to grow—its danger and complexity steadily increasing. Milim's unexpected arrival added a new dynamic, but I had the authority to ensure that the work here would proceed without disruption.
I couldn't bring myself to outright reject her, so if Milim truly wished to join the development of the labyrinth—
"Heh, so it's Milim. You're just a brat. How could you possibly understand the sublime work of us adults? This is not a place to play around—don't get in our way!"
Veldora slanted toward Milim, his voice booming as if justified in his outrage. I didn't have time to respond before he had inserted himself into the scene. While this was technically work, it was clear that even he found the situation more mischievous than serious.
Not only Veldora, but Ramiris followed in his footsteps.
"Mentor is right!" she yelled, confronting Milim with fiery determination. "We are working! An idler like you should just go home!"
The poor chibi's courage was impressive, but Ramiris simply lacked the strength to back it up fully.
I lacked that kind of recklessness, so I intervened in a calm, commanding tone. "Milim, you mentioned that we are doing something interesting. What is it that you refer to? Everything we are organizing stems from the initiative sparked by your letter."
"What? Did you ignore my letter?" Milim's tone wavered between mock indignation and genuine curiosity.
"How could we? We are hosting a grand festival for visiting Demon Lords. Offering anything less than perfection would be unacceptable," I replied, my voice calm, yet authoritative.
Milim's displeasure vanished immediately. Her usual jovial grin returned, much to the chagrin of someone else.
"Hold on, Atem! I'm a Demon Lord too! Just like Milim, I'm a member of the Octagram!"
Ramiris's voice rose in indignation. She had noticed that Milim had been treated differently, and she did not take it lightly.
"Ramiris, you were not 'received' at all. You moved here without my permission!" I said, my voice carrying authority to rein her in.
"What? Moved here? Atem, could it be… I'm living with you now?" Ramiris stammered under my questioning.
Faced with the scrutiny of both Milim and myself, Ramiris's composure faltered.
"That's right! I wasn't invited, but that doesn't matter! And I'm not going to be alone anymore—I'm living with Atem now!"
Her declaration, though impulsive, could have been easily misunderstood.
"How audacious and cheeky! I want to live here too!" Milim exclaimed, grinning widely.
"Hehe—! I'm here to work. I'm helping Atem—not a guest like you who only brings trouble," Ramiris shot back, standing her ground despite the obvious imbalance in their power.
"What! How dare you say that, you are just a—" Milim's retort was cut short as the two began to argue heatedly, yet not violently.
I simply observed, knowing that my presence alone was sufficient to prevent escalation into serious violence. Their quarrel remained verbal—though their lack of vocabulary made their insults laughable to any onlooker.
Occasionally, Ramiris would deliver a light kick, and Milim would chase her in playful retaliation. To any observer, it looked more like a game of tag than a true confrontation. These two had known each other for a long time, and perhaps this was a reflection of mutual respect and hidden affection.
Their quarrel ended abruptly when Shuna arrived, carrying desserts in hand, her tone stern.
"No dessert for anyone who's fighting!"
The two froze immediately. Obedient, they set aside their quarrel and began eating together, their bickering forgotten, replaced with a surprisingly harmonious scene. Yet my attention returned to Milim—there was still a question to settle.
"By the way, Milim, why did you come here?" I asked, my voice calm yet compelling.
"Fufu, didn't I just say? I felt you were doing something interesting."
"No… that's really the only reason?" I pressed.
"Yep. But I'm lucky to have come. This cake is amazing, and the labyrinth itself looks incredibly intriguing. I didn't expect Ramiris to be so useful," she replied, her usual irrepressible cheerfulness on full display.
"Fufu—! I'm just like everyone else keeping my power a secret. You simply didn't notice!" Ramiris said proudly, her voice tinged with modest satisfaction.
Even so, Milim's keen insight left little hidden. She had already discerned more than most could, and her ability to arrive here uninvited demonstrated her sheer unpredictability. She had former Demon Lord followers like Karion and Frey; her speed and initiative were astonishing.
Milim was a wild card—completely independent, recklessly bold, and utterly undeterred by boundaries that would restrain others. In the depths of Eterna, she was exactly the kind of variable that demanded attention and respect.