---

“If you break through the labyrinth to the end, you can fulfill one wish.”

There was something a bit odd about the huge stone tablet covered in all sorts of languages.

“A wish?”

Could there really be an object capable of accomplishing such an extraordinary feat?

Maybe if I gathered around ten powerful eyes, it might be feasible.

But I didn’t believe an ordinary object could grant a wish.

Still, the idea that one could fulfill a ‘wish’ was quite an attractive reward because there were plenty of armed people gathered at the entrance to the labyrinth.

A middle-aged man in armor bore the scars of fierce battles, his gleaming armor reflecting light like a rippling lake surface.

A woman loomed nearby, her steps graceful as if riding the wind, holding a huge longbow that looked ready to fire at any moment.

There were people of all ages dressed like adventurers, standing in line at the entrance to the labyrinth.

It was truly a maze city.

If we’re diving into a labyrinth filled with fantasy, forming a party to explore the depths is the norm, isn’t it?

With that thought, I eagerly began to make my way toward the crowd, and strange languages started filtering into my ears.

Ugh, I can’t understand a thing!

Moreover, since I couldn’t speak, I wouldn’t be able to find a party here.

Perhaps due to my inability to engage in a proper fantasy adventure, the destruction conditions popped up in my mind as I looked at the entrance of the labyrinth.

[The end of the adventure.]

I barely had a fleeting thought along the lines of “I can’t let anything I can’t do happen!” when the destruction conditions suddenly appeared, leaving me flustered.

Unfortunately, the conditions for destroying the labyrinth were trickier than I had anticipated.

While lost in various thoughts, staring blankly at the entrance, a sudden good idea hit me.

A way to gather party members even without speaking!

If I could save people in crisis inside the labyrinth with my amazing dual swordsmanship, wouldn’t they want to team up with me?

Pursuing a natural party formation!

Hehe.

With a chuckle, I poured all my strength into pushing open the labyrinth’s door.

The door was heavy and rigid, as if it were made for a labyrinth, but I managed to open it with the power of the Black Reaper armor.

Standing at the center of the hefty door, I slowly walked forward while pushing it with both hands.

What a heavy door that I had to open with both hands!

This feels like an adventure too.

With a bouncy heart, I stepped into the labyrinth with a light footstep.

*

The middle-aged man known as Dog Meat Man by the girl stood at the entrance of the labyrinth, wearing armor he hadn’t donned in years.

Though battle scars marked the armor, it reflected the sunlight perfectly, as it had been meticulously maintained over time.

Unlike the serious armor of a seasoned warrior, the man’s expression was remarkably anxious.

The green flames of the torches outside flickered, and the door to the labyrinth had firmly shut.

“Damn, it’s been more than a day already, and the door still hasn’t opened.”

“This kind of situation is unprecedented, calm down a bit. Once the door opens, let’s go look for the kid right away.”

A man in a thick robe spoke in a sharp voice to ease the anxious middle-aged man.

“By the way, it looks like a lot of guards are gathering. It seems a good portion of the city’s guard is here, right? What in the world is happening?”

In response to the robed man’s concern, a woman in leather armor pointed somewhere with her chin.

“That must be it. It’s not even inside the labyrinth, but an object of that magnitude is roaming through the city; it’s only natural to be on edge.”

Hearing that, the robed man turned to look at the object in black armor, swallowing hard.

“Why is something like that in the city? At least it doesn’t feel hostile; I’d want to run away at once if it were.”

The woman holding a large bow chuckled softly as she watched the robed man grow tense.

“Are you too on edge? You might snap your staff.”

“You too, Nami. Aren’t you nocking your arrow as well?”

Their quarrel felt exaggerated, as if they were trying to forget the fear.

This light-hearted exchange continued until an odd noise echoed from the entrance of the labyrinth.

The strange noise sounded like a scream, akin to hard stone shattering.

A little object, about one meter tall, was trying to push open the firmly closed door of the labyrinth with both hands.

It seemed like a simple action that posed no significant problem, but if you looked down at the object’s feet, a horrifying abyss lurked there.

Tentacles resembling black veins were wriggling, burrowing into the solid ground beneath.

It seemed to be seeking support for pushing the door, and the pulsating black veins radiated a terrifying energy that could instill fear in anyone watching.

With the sound of crumbling rock, when the blocked door of the labyrinth finally swung wide open, those ominous veins were pulled back into the armor.

Thump thump.

The black-armored object that forcibly opened the door disappeared into the labyrinth, its footsteps echoing lightly.

While people gathered at the entrance were paralyzed in fear and unable to move due to the sudden turn of events, the man in the old armor dashed through the now-opened door.

And at the moment he entered, the previously opened door to the labyrinth slammed shut once again.

*

As I stepped into the labyrinth, the space twisted and transported me to another area.

The newly arrived space was a square room adorned with four torches.

‘Oooh.’

I surveyed my surroundings, feeling like I had entered a fascinating tourist spot.

The four torches and a series of strange letters and numbers adorned the ceiling.

But no matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find any monsters or corridors.

Hmm, is this some kind of quiz?

Squawk.

Suddenly, I grew tired of thinking and ripped through space to smash one wall.

After leaping through walls a few times, I finally encountered a monster.

It was a large wolf that blazed green.

With a confident expression, I drew my dual swords and dashed toward the wolf to strike down with both blades.

However, the wolf effortlessly dodged my attack with its agile steps.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Maybe it was thanks to the strength buff from the Black Reaper; the swords I swung made heavy sounds as they smashed into the floor, but none of the strikes landed successfully.

“Mom, hitting with the flat side of the sword isn’t the way!”

“Mom, it’s essential to position your feet to support your weapon!”

The black reapers were quiet at first, but soon began giving me unsolicited advice with every step I took.

Frustrated by the wolf’s evasive maneuvers, I nearly ripped apart space again when I recalled I had to consider my fantasy adventure life and think of another approach.

“Auto-hunting on!”

As soon as I told the Black Reaper to move on its own, the black armor took a step, spinning in mid-air, and unleashed a graceful attack.

The strike was so sharp that the wolf’s head slid off its neck like something out of a cartoon.

Being a master swordsman of the Golden Reapers seemed to give the Black Reaper considerable skill with its sword.

When I eventually return to the Sehee Research Institute, I’ll challenge the 1st Sword of the Golden Reaper to a duel.

As I wandered excitedly through the labyrinth, anticipating the encounters ahead, I soon arrived in front of a massive door.

It looked like an important door at first glance.

Since this labyrinth truly felt game-like, stepping through this door likely led to a tier boss, and defeating it would allow me to progress to the next floor.

Though I still hadn’t encountered any party members, it seemed natural to recruit some on the second floor, which might be more challenging.

After all, the first floor had only wolves and swallows.

I opened the door, filled with anticipation for what lay ahead, and a room completely saturated in purple appeared.

The room was filled with glossy purple dolls and a purple mirror.

Gazing at the fantasy boss I had just encountered with excited eyes, I slowly stepped further into the boss room.

As I completely entered the room bathed in purple, the door I had come through vanished without a trace.

It was more than just closed; it was completely gone.

It truly felt like a boss room.

I was taking in the mysterious atmosphere, feeling like I was on a labyrinth tour, when I noticed something moving toward the direction where the boss had been.

What is this? Am I imagining things?

Seeing the boss seemingly move away from its initial spot, I was convinced something had shifted as I began to step closer, but then the boss abruptly turned and started scratching the wall.

Creak. Creak.

Huh?

*

The Black Reaper transformed into a long blade and sliced through the sharp ice spiderweb.

Between trees rooted in clouds, ice spiders emerged, targeting the lives of the Black Reaper and the girl.

“Mom!”

The Black Reaper continued to call out for its mother, but that will seemed unable to reach her, as if blocked by something.

Each spider was weaker than the Black Reaper, but there were far too many to fight while protecting the Attached Human.

Cough, cough.

A sound like painful coughing.

“The Attached Human is in pain!”

Negative emotions were slowly oozing from the Attached Human.

Countless emotions were emanating from the pain.

Though I had carelessly consumed negative emotions when slaying traitors, the Black Reaper was desperately trying to avoid those feelings.

Because mother wouldn’t like it.

But now, there was no other option.

The number of spiders was only increasing, and the girl was nearing her limit.

While consuming the pain that seeping out of the Attached Human, it took on a new form.

Long arms and melted-looking legs.

Sharp teeth and ominous eyes.

The firewood began to turn a pale white.

Familiar strength started to surge endlessly.

With this power, I can protect the Attached Human!

Just as I stretched out my long arms to devour the spiders, a voice called from behind.

“You mustn’t! Don’t do it because of me.”

Even though she couldn’t properly open her eyes and was unaware of the situation.

Yet despite her ramblings, that voice seemed directed toward the Black Reaper.

At the Attached Human’s desperate plea, the Black Reaper transformed back into its Mini Reaper form.

Beeep—

If that happens, the Attached Human will die, and it let out a sorrowful cry, but the girl looked at the Black Reaper with hazy eyes and smiled before closing them again.

The sound of her breath grew weaker.

In the end, the Black Reaper steeled its resolve for the Attached Human and began absorbing pain once more.

Restoring the appearance of the Old God, the Black Reaper swung its long arm to grasp one of the spiders.

Then, it extracted a part of itself like a blood vessel and plunged it inside the spider’s body.

“Pain.”

As the squirming black vein started to gnaw at the spider’s body, the spider began writhing in agony.

Kieeek!

Though the ice spiders were eerily lifeless, as soon as those black veins penetrated, they screamed in torment.

After writhing for some time, the spider’s life was eventually extinguished.

When the Black Reaper glanced over the remaining spiders, they could feel nothing but despair.

Whoosh.

The white flame in the Black Reaper’s chest blazed even more intensely.

“Fear.”

Whenever the spiders writhed in pain.

Whenever they soaked in fear.

Whenever they fell into despair.

The white flame of the Black Reaper grew brighter and larger, and the figure of the Black Reaper began to grow as well.