Nyamis, who acted on her own judgment, must have let her guard down.
The intruders didn’t return, tracing their path in reverse.
If one can achieve great deeds, unilateral actions are forgiven.
“Shartalk was abducted by an intruder.”
“Demon King, is that true? Ah, no, it’s not that I doubt you…”
“It is true. It happened while I was fighting alongside the 6th Layer Master.”
“!!!”
Upon hearing the result from the Demon King, his vassals were all shocked.
“Are you going to rescue Shartalk?” a close subordinate asked the Demon King.
“Rescue is secondary. First, we must discover who the Demon King is that dared to provoke us. Once we’ve identified them, we will all march out to invade.”
The Labyrinth of Power intended to launch a war of aggression against other labyrinth masters.
His subordinates prepared the necessary forces, and his vassals devised strategies for quickly deploying troops to the environments of any given layer.
The Demon King accessed the notification history of the Labyrinth Core, the Dungeon Core, and investigated which labyrinth the intruder belonged to by examining the skills and abilities used in the infiltration.
***
The scene shifts to the southeastern town of Kudonalka.
This town is still occupied by the Rebellious Tartar Kingdom Army.
Remnants, composed of the descendants of a clan once hailed as heroes and brave warriors but deemed unnecessary by the Kingdom, have been enticed by promotions and money and continue to hold the town.
“No strange incidents have occurred recently.”
“Yes, General. Nothing has happened today either.”
For a time, it was thought to be the work of the town’s residents who had occupied it, but that was incorrect.
The residents were under complete surveillance.
On the days when strange incidents occurred, they had alibis.
Moreover, even with the theft of clothes from female soldiers and provocative attire, or kidnappings, the damage was not significant.
“Is there any information about our comrades?”
“None.”
The General pondered.
The number of personnel and the inventory of consumables.
The town’s production capacity was still hampered by their strategies, leading to a shortage of materials.
The range of creations was limited.
“Is there any progress in procuring materials from the surrounding areas?”
“Yes. The medicinal herbs and food we desire are only in minuscule quantities.”
“It’s better than having nothing.”
“Yes.”
“General! Someone wishes to meet with you. What shall we do?”
“Someone wishes to meet with me.”
It was likely another request to join their ranks… or so he thought, but he could tell from the subordinate’s demeanor that it was something else.
“Let them in.”
“Yes. Hey, bring them in.”
“Excuse me, General♪”
A man entered the executive office; he looked rather scrawny.
Can he fight? Was the unspoken thought. Without sufficient physical strength, they couldn’t sustain prolonged combat.
This would inevitably lead to them being held back.
“There are others who wish to see me.”
Unless he stated his business quickly, he would be thrown out.
“I understand.”
Apparently, his meaning was conveyed. This meant the man was not a fool.
However, he could be reckless. He might even attempt to assassinate me. My second-in-command stood ready to draw his sword at any moment.
There was no problem. I am stronger than my second-in-command. If he could parry one blow…
This man would be cut in half.
“Actually…”
The scrawny man was a disciple of the Koryu school.
He had endured his master’s harsh training, but one day, he witnessed a mysterious flying object in the western sky.
His master and several senior disciples went to investigate this mysterious flying object as a brief excursion and never returned.
With his master gone, he could no longer learn the techniques of the Koryu school.
At that time, he heard the information that we had taken control of the town.
The other disciples had already departed to their own paths.
“You don’t seem to be dissatisfied with the current Kingdom, do you?”
“I want to try cutting people with the forms I’ve learned♪”
A madness flickered in his eyes.
A kamikaze unit. If I can use him as expendable, perhaps the strength of the Koryu school could be put to use.
Right now, I’d welcome any help, even a cat’s paw.
“I shall welcome you♪”
“Thank you, General. I will surely show you results that will make you glad you hired me. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
He seemed to be leaving with the subordinate who had guided him here.
“Are you certain, General? To let someone like that…”
“It’s fine. If he’s useless, he’ll die quickly.”
Dismissing his second-in-command’s worries as unfounded, they discussed preparations for before the Kingdom Army returned to reclaim the town.
***
Branch 445 had been taken by the natives.
“Is it true!?”
“It appears to be true.”
The head of the circle, whose theme was “Imaginary Weapon Manufacturing,” was distraught by the latest information.
Just when it seemed the transport unit could finally be finalized, their detachment at Branch 445 was RAMPAGED by the natives.
There was nothing left.
They had hoped to find clues for imaginary weapons, but this was too harsh an outcome.
“No clues again. The budget… an increase in research funding is slipping away… haha… haaa…”
“部長!? Please compose yourself!? Surely, you’ll find clues again? So, consciousness…”
“Well then, I’m leaving.”
“Wait! Don’t leave the部長 in this state—”
“You guys handle it.”
Branch 408 continued its daily routine, as always.
Without conflict with anyone.
Engaging with neither the Tartarus Kingdom, the Rebellious Tartar Kingdom Army, nor any labyrinth factions.
Peace until orders came from headquarters.
Their unchanging days continued. The information about the complete annihilation of the guard unit several weeks ago was now so distant it was almost forgotten.
Within the branch, laughter and mysterious driving sounds echoed.
“部長ゥッ――”
“Hahaha… The budget…”
“Sprinkling water on him… No good?”
“Then… calling his name by his ear.”
“Hehehe, hyahahaha…”
“部長、 please come back――”
“Hahaha…”
The members of the circle developing “Imaginary Weapon Manufacturing” spent half a day bringing their部長 back to reality and discussing ways to increase future funding.
However, given their past, they had no ideas without new information.
“…”
How cruel reality is.
They sighed deeply and re-examined the proposal documents they had written when they founded the circle, ironically poking fun at their past selves for truly believing they could create such things.
“Let’s go get drunk!”
“Ooh!”
After getting drunk, they were comforted by female employees… women earning some pocket money.
