The Supreme Council.
This is a gathering where the rulers of the eight Labyrinth Cities convene.
“Recently, the death rate within the labyrinth has increased.”
“Oh, yours is located… in the east, wasn’t it? The visitors have lost their restraint.”
“That’s good. So, you’re making a move. Is that why we were summoned?”
“Let’s have some fun ♪ Ga-o^o^o ♪”
“For the bloodline of our great ancestors. We are holding the Harvest Festival, aren’t we? What a joyous occasion. Today is auspicious. Truly auspicious ♪”
Hahaha. Hahaha.
After sharing laughter and joy amongst themselves, they returned to their respective Labyrinth Cities and towns.
And then, it began.
The plan to massacre half of the population.
The entrances and exits to the Labyrinth City were sealed.
The residents outside, assuming monsters were lurking nearby, didn’t make much of a fuss.
From the city center, in coordination with the perpetrators, the slaughter of residents began gradually.
Knock, knock.
“Delivery! ♪”
“Coming! Delivery, ugh? Wha— Sssplat.”
Disguised as a delivery person, he plunged a dagger into the unsuspecting stomach of the wife who opened the door.
Before the woman, writhing in pain and confusion, could call for help from her family or neighbors, he adjusted the angle of the dagger upwards, as if to lift her, and pierced her heart and lungs.
Behind the killer stood others who relished the murder.
They slipped past and entered the house.
Cross-referencing their information, they massacred the remaining family members.
They didn’t even defile the precious woman; they simply dismembered her.
Using a magic tool, they prevented the smell of blood from escaping.
Discarding their blood-stained clothes, they changed into fresh ones from the closet.
“Next, let’s go~ ♪”
“I’ll take the front door next ♪”
“Aw, I wanna do it too ♪”
Slowly and surely, they massacred residents from the city center all the way to the outer wall.
Only a small fraction offered any resistance.
“Huh? Whoa! You— *Pahshh* — Gha!”
Their surprise attack failed due to a hunch.
Those observing from behind took them down with long-range weapons.
The long-range weapons were coated with a fast-acting poison.
The man, realizing what was happening, vomited blood and died in front of the entrance.
However, the abnormality had been clearly noticed by the neighboring residents.
“This is going to be a hassle.”
“Hey, let’s quickly kill those making a racket.”
“We still outnumber them. Let’s reduce their numbers while we can pick them off one by one.”
“I know, I know. You don’t have to tell me that every time.”
Another Labyrinth City.
As with the previous city, the iron bars and doors of the outer wall were shut.
From there, the situation escalated violently.
The attack magic formulas that had been secretly planted throughout the city were activated.
Passersby, shop vendors, and stall owners were instantly reduced to charcoal by flames erupting from beneath their feet.
Those inside buildings, confused by the sudden heat, the smell of burning, and the foul odors, rushed out or peeked out of their windows, only to be met by flames from the attack formulas.
“Uwa— *Bosshhhun*”
“Wha— Kyaaaaaa!”
Faces were carbonized, headless bodies toppled backward, and screams erupted continuously.
People rushed out into the street or just poked their heads out, wondering what was happening.
The same thing happened again: *Bosshhhun*.
By the time they realized this would happen if they stepped outside, the attack formulas continued to flash.
Once they reached a certain activation threshold, those who had set them deactivated them.
They then called out to the surviving residents, “We are a rescue team,” and lured them into gathering in one place.
Along the way, they began a treacherous ambush.
“Offer yourselves to the Demon God! Your souls! Your magic power!”
In the next location.
The Ruler announced he had an important announcement and summoned the residents.
Only those meant to be killed were summoned.
Some suspected that certain individuals were missing, but they thought it better to simply have them hear the important announcement later.
They waited for the announcement, not bothering to summon those absent.
Suddenly, the street behind them sealed off with Earth Magic and Barrier Magic.
Murmur. Murmur.
“We have a major announcement (＾◇＾)! You are all going to be sacrifices (to the Demon God)♪ Aren’t you happy♪?”
The speaking Ruler had somehow been replaced by an adorable young girl.
Hearing the girl’s words, they thought they were to be sacrifices? This must be a joke?
Hubbub. Hubbub.
“You’re all so energetic, it makes me happy too (＾◇＾)!”
The little girl raised her hand.
Then, the Rulers simultaneously transformed into monstrous forms—beast-like, dragon-like, insect-like—disturbing shapes that changed before their eyes.
“Well then, let’s have a bloody carnival~~♪♪ Ahahaha, Ahahaha♪♪”
“Gwooooon! Kyshhaa! Gyaoooooon!”
Trying to escape, they backed away, causing a domino effect.
Residents outside were crushed between the wall and the human tide, at risk of suffocation.
But in front, the異形 began to slaughter and trample the residents, and the human tide gradually receded.
Their limbs were pulled and torn apart by the異形, their fangs pierced them and sucked their blood, and their intestines were impaled by the tail of the spear or harpoon.
“Help meeee” “Hii, I was loyal to you, Gyaaaa!”
“How dare you do this to Father. Uryaahh, Gha?!”
Begging for mercy or resisting.
All met the same end: death.
“All of you! Will be offered to the Demon God (/・ω・)/ And your screams… make me feel it y///oy♪”
Inside the Labyrinth.
Godwin’s party searched for prey for days, holed up inside, to obtain the materials they needed.
“Found him ♪”
“……”
“Haa…”
The administrator, setting aside his fatigue, pointed at the prey and ordered them to go.
We unloaded our gear, took only what was necessary, and approached the prey.
“Clack, clack. Clack, clack.”
The prey spotted us.
How will it attack? We had the numbers.
But our fatigue was undeniable.
In contrast, the prey… the spider monster, was full of energy, clacking its mandibles.
We wanted to return to town quickly…
“Kishaa, Kishuuu”
“Guh, you son of a—”
“Keep him pinned like that.”
“Cut off its legs quickly.”
“Got it.” “Rrgh! ”
“Kishyyy! Shaaa…”
Surviving a fifteen-minute battle to the death.
They secured the venom from the spider monster in small vials.
Godwin’s party began their journey back to town.
Upon seeing the town, they noticed something was amiss.
“Hmm?”
“What are you doing!? Hurry up and come here!”
The administrator yelled at Godwin, urging him to quickly return to the Guild “Unchanging Knowledge.”
He couldn’t wait to conduct experiments using the fresh spider venom.
“Hey, hurry up.”
“Y-Yes… Hmm?”
Did the town change in the few days I was away? Is it just my imagination?
With a nagging feeling, Godwin returned to the Guild.
Exhausted from the Labyrinth, he was immediately overcome by sleepiness upon entering the main room.
“Ah, r-right… *Thump*. Gguu… zzz”
“Hey, hey, don’t fall asleep near the entrance. It’s in the way.”
“…Damn it, he’s got no intention of waking up.”
“Geez, shall we take a break too? Huh?”
“Hey? What’s wrong all of a sudden? Hey, steady yourself, Fuhu?”
As the other colleague, steadying the one who had just fallen, entered the main room halfway, they were also suddenly overcome by a powerful sleepiness.
The two ended up snoring loudly in the main room, collapsing on top of Godwin.
How much time had passed?
Snoring could be heard from various parts of the Guild.
And then, a murderer, marching in military boots and wandering around without being reprimanded, killed any Guild Member who caught his eye.
“♪ ~ ~ ♪”
He hummed a song called “Farewell and Realization.”
The murderer slaughtered all the Guild Members to his satisfaction and then, as if he had arrived, left through the main entrance.
Several other Guilds suffered the same fate.
