Chapter 27: Labyrinth Shop (3)
by fnovelpia
In a hidden world separated from the dimension of the continent, a Dragon Lord in human form sat at a table within a small dimension created solely for this meeting.
A hum resonated.
On the opposite side of the table, magic gathered at a single point. From the shape of a sphere, the Demon King Diana, the absolute ruler of the demon realm, slowly walked out.
“Calling for a meeting without notice? I’m a busy being.”
“I apologize for the sudden call. Please, have a seat.”
With a gesture from the Dragon Lord, Losef, an empty chair materialized in the air for the Demon King.
Click, click.
The Demon King walked gracefully to the chair prepared for her and sat down.
“So, what’s the reason you called me here?”
Her face wrinkled in displeasure, she didn’t hide her annoyance as she asked.
“First, thank you for responding to the meeting request.”
With a wave of his hand, Losef conjured teacups filled with warm tea in front of both him and Diana.
“This is…”
Diana’s delicate fingers lifted the teacup.
“Green tea.”
“Indeed.”
“I didn’t expect to see this tea outside of Rudera. Did you make it, Lord?”
“Yes.”
Losef smiled affirmatively.
“Sip. It seems you quite enjoy Rudera.”
Diana elegantly brought the tea to her lips.
“Not at all. As the guardian of the intermediate world, I have no interest in such amusements. I’m merely studying new cultural artifacts from another world.”
“Is that so.”
Diana chuckled softly at his denial.
“…What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. Just remembered something amusing.”
“It seems there’s a misunderstanding. I don’t indulge in such lowly pleasures in such places.”
“Of course, I understand.”
Despite enjoying Rudera more than any dragon except for Carthesia, he tried desperately to hide this fact.
As a representative of the dragons protecting the intermediate world, he couldn’t show weakness to pleasure.
Moreover, he couldn’t afford to be caught for the misdeeds he committed in that world.
Of course, Diana found it laughable that the Dragon Lord, who she knew often anonymously posted lewd pictures on the community, was trying to hide this.
“No, I don’t think you understand. Let me explain again. I am the Lord of Dragons. I don’t engage in such undignified acts in such a world. So…”
Losef tried to convince her, noticing her unsatisfied reaction.
“Enough.”
Diana raised a hand to stop him. She didn’t want to hear his pointless rambling once he started talking.
“I understand well enough. It doesn’t matter whether you enjoy Rudera or not. Explain why you called me here. I’m busy.”
Responding to the summons for the meeting left the community unguarded.
“Ah, the moderator!”
—”Moderator!”
In her absence, numerous users were being devastated by ongoing terror attacks without any restraint.
Not that it was of great importance to her.
“Sigh. Alright. The reason I called you here is…”
Losef sighed deeply and got to the point.
“You know the Tower of Labyrinth appeared in Rudera recently, right?”
“Of course.”
“And just recently, the Labyrinth Shop also appeared.”
“I’m aware.”
The community she managed was in turmoil over the item [Miraculous Spring Water] from the Labyrinth Shop.
She couldn’t not know.
“They seem to be selling quite rare items. I haven’t checked thoroughly as I don’t enjoy Rudera, but…”
Who said dragons never lie?
Losef was lying through his teeth without blinking.
“Even the spring water, which has become a hot topic on the continent, has immense value.”
“Rare items, indeed. That spring water is beyond imagination.”
Diana nodded in agreement.
“It can reverse the user’s weakened state as they perceive it. It heals not only minor ailments like baldness but also special conditions like aging, curses, and recoil effects. It’s almost like divine water crafted by a god.”
Though Diana was on the verge of godhood herself, even she found the substance too mysterious to comprehend fully.
“Indeed. A divine cure-all that can save countless people on the continent.”
“Yes.”
Elderly people with little time left due to aging.
Patients waiting for death from incurable diseases. The [Miraculous Spring Water] had the power to heal these individuals and upheave the continent.
“But that’s not the important part.”
Snap.
With a snap of his fingers, several weapon shapes appeared in the air.
“This is…?”
“These are special weapons from the Labyrinth Shop’s catalog.”
“…I see. This is…”
Though she hadn’t visited the Labyrinth Shop herself, Diana had glimpsed discussions about its catalog in the community.
“Excalibur, Gungnir, Laevatein. What do you think?”
“…I understand why you called me.”
Like the Dragon Lord, Diana, who was nearing godhood, could sense the immense power within each weapon just by hearing their names.
“Divine relics… one might believe.”
“The descriptions state as much. Gungnir is the spear used by the king of gods, and Laevatein is the demonic sword wielded by the giant of fire.”
“And these can be purchased?”
“Yes. Anyone who can access Rudera, from the emperor of an empire to a beggar on the street, has the right to buy these weapons.”
“With this level of power, they would affect reality as well. What’s the price?”
“An astronomical amount. Based on the ratio of coins obtained through contributions in the labyrinth, one would have to conquer more than ten levels alone to buy one.”
“Hmm. Is that even possible?”
More than ten levels.
Diana had visited the Tower of Labyrinth once.
It’s a place where clearing even one level is impossible without being of considerable prowess.
It’s a place of extreme difficulty where competition with others is a constant.
It was hard to imagine anyone doing such an impossible thing alone.
The second to fourth levels were conquered by other players.
“Indeed. Due to competition among players, it’s virtually impossible. But if someone like us were to seriously climb the Tower of Labyrinth? The story changes.”
Losef said solemnly.
“…I understand.”
Diana met the Dragon Lord’s eyes.
“You want to prevent me from climbing the Tower of Labyrinth and obtaining such weapons. You want to agree not to climb it.”
“…”
Losef chose silence.
“Coward.”
“Say what you will. As a guardian of the intermediate world, I only wish to maintain balance and peace.”
“Is that so.”
Diana stood up.
“Demon King!”
Losef quickly stood up as well.
“Don’t be so anxious. I’ll do as you wish.”
Diana’s star-marked eyes looked at the Dragon Lord.
“I have no particular desire to climb the Tower of Labyrinth at the moment. I don’t want to be an adult who destroys a playground for children.”
The GM constantly stirred up new events every day with the Tower of Labyrinth, lifting and setting down the continent.
Diana wanted to see the changes the GM aimed to bring to the continent.
“But do you think such a crude response will stop the era’s change? The god of Rudera added the Labyrinth Shop. Do you not understand what this implies?”
“…No, I do. It likely means a rapid change for the continent.”
“You’re not stupid. The GM has connected the continent to the Tower of Labyrinth and given them the opportunity to conquer new worlds. He has also made rare treasures from other dimensions easily accessible. He aims to transform this dull, old continent.”
The Dragon Lord stood silently.
“It’s time to bid farewell to the old peace and order. This is the new era that the GM of Rudera wishes for.”
A world that evolves, where those who pursue new challenges gain greater power, and those who remain stagnant are weeded out.
The new era that the GM was creating.
It was the ideal that Diana had always dreamed of, a dream that overcame her ennui and captured her heart.
“Are you so afraid? Of the new era!”
“I…”
Losef gritted his teeth but couldn’t bring himself to speak.
“You enjoy disruptive activities in the community while fearing to abandon the old order in reality.”
“…! How do you know about that!”
Losef ‘s eyes widened in shock.
“Think carefully about whether you’ll be left behind with the old era or move forward into the new era, Lord.”
With those final words, Diana vanished in a swirl of magic.
“…I…”
The Dragon Lord was left alone.
He clenched his fists tightly.
“I…”
But his strength soon waned.
“GM. I’m scared. So scared. What do you plan to do to our continent?”
He collapsed weakly into his chair.
“Are you truly planning to turn this continent into a land of competition and evolution…?”
***
Meanwhile, the GM, Albus, was pondering.
“Should I send about five? Or should I add more?”
He was trying to decide how many bottles of hair tonic to send to his father through the mail.
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