Underground Labyrinth
After finishing the meeting with Fuze, I headed back to Tempest.
It does use up some magic energy, but my reserves are so vast that I don’t even feel it.
When I neared the city, Gerudo contacted me via telepathy.
What could be wrong?
In a leap completed in a single moment, I head towards Gerudo. It truly is a very useful skill.
If necessary, I could appear exactly on a desired spot, but this time let’s transfer a little further away.
And at this point it’s easier to move towards him by foot.
Pieces of demon steel were spread across the landscape barely obscuring the ruined tunnel.
I wonder why?
Gerudo seems to be arguing with somebody.
「I’m telling you~! We’re now occupying these tunnels!」
Please allow me to consult Rimuru-sama first.」
Are you seriously planning on making us homeless?」
「Tch. How sharp! Don’t sweat the small things, or my Beretta will–Wha!!」
Erasing my presence, I successfully captured Ramiris.
No question about it, it’s Ramiris.
「What the hell are you doing?」
「Y-yahoo! What’s up, Rimuru?」
Averting her eyes, Ramiris greeted me.
She’s planning on claiming the demon steel and connecting the tunnel into the labyrinth.
She’s said something about building an entrance around here before, after all.
「So, you were planning on building a labyrinth here and you were discovered by Gerudo?」
「In other words, I’m right. Seriously…」
「Aha, ahahaha…..」
She tried laughing the matter off.
But, maybe it’s a good idea to have her build the labyrinth here after all?
We want people to continuously revisit Tempest.
So, is there something we could do that would attract people that often?
This might be a good idea.
She’s a little… no, she’s very unreliable, but maybe she’ll manage.
Steeling myself, I expressed my proposal.
My proposal.
I’ll have Ramiris create a labyrinth and act as it’s manager.
Ramiris will live there, and I’ll get some pocket change.
In fact, when I disclosed the plan,
「Eh, eh? In other words, I can make a labyrinth here?!
…Actually… could this be a chance to finally dispel that horrid nickname: NEET?!」
Opening her eyes wide, she exclaimed.
Well, I did think of it more as a joke though.
「U-umm… it is true that I can earn some money this way?」
Swallowing hard, she asked me with a serious expression.
Though there’s no way I would. Well, not like all my promises are enforceable, though.
「I’m serious. But, I wouldn’t know how much profit we can make until we try it…
「Umm… how much would that be?」
「Geh!! S-s-such a f-f-fortune?!」
And since you need to build a place to live anyways, you don’t suffer as a result, right?」
She violently shook her head.
So there was nothing disagreeable about this.
She hugged me tightly out of joy.
Adding Gerudo to our discussion, we polish out the details.
It’s a trip that wouldn’t even take half a day.
About 10 km away, I’d like to say? Once the road is done, we also plan to build a stable nearby.
Since letting horses and magic beasts into the city would lead to new hygienic problems.
Since it’s relatively close to the city, an inn here would unlikely bring many customers.
But if we will build a labyrinth here, then an inn would be in order.
And if we build a labyrinth here we are bound to attract some adventurers.
Drawing up the plan, I have Gerudo confirm it.
Moreover, the site of our battle with the knights is only a few steps away.
It’s relatively close to the city, so we expect the guests to walk there.
It’s unimaginable to not walk a round trip of less than 20 km. They also follow the early to bed, early to rise policy.
As for the staff, we can probably have them stay at the inn.
After talking to Myormiles, I finally envisioned how I wanted it to look.
Raphael really is useful at these minor things.
When I looked at Ramiris,
「Uhehe… now even I will be making money, huh.
Gone are the days when I was made fun of as the Poverty Demon Lord!」
Is she tripping? She seems completely lost in her world.
She’s been significantly ridiculed up until now.
(TL Note: “in want of” means to lack)
True, Ramiris’ Labyrinth was rather devoid of… people.
I really hope adventurers show up. For Ramiris’ and my sake.
Ramiris is showing a determined face, the likes that I never have seen from her before, and is ready to go.
I had five questions for her.
Is what I asked.
Here’s what she answered.
Is what she said
「Wonderful! It’s wonderful, Ramiris-kun!」
「Yeah. Now our ambitions have overlapped!」
「Really? I was just thinking the same thing」
We nodded at each other.
「I’m looking forward to working with you, Ramiris」
「Yeah, I’ll be in your care. Joining a large organization is like riding a big ship. It’s reassuring」
Big ship, huh. Let’s hope we’re not the Titanic.
I decided to have Ramiris take the demon steel scattered around.
We continued to exchange ideas regarding the design and concept of the dungeon.
Me and Ramiris “being merry” and discussing the dungeon.
Next is production.
So promising to come visit, I return to the city.
I need to have Kurobee hand over all those test armors and weapons that won’t be seeing the marketplace any time soon.
「Is this fine, Rimuru-sama? These articles are imperfect and can hardly be used by the average person.」
They might become magic items, you see」
「Is that so. In that case, do as you see fit」
He said and took out the products from the cellar.
However, to think that he had so many trial products.
But, as Kurobee mentioned, these are imperfect items to which the user could never adjust to.
But in exchange for sucking up magical energy and converting it into raw strength, the user can temporarily obtain unbelievable physical power.
Not that I’d take responsibility for that, though.
I’m actually playing on putting it into treasure chests inside the dungeon and having special monsters guard these.
Well, it is true that just auctioning these products off would bring a lot of gold.
But, that’s no good. What’s most important is the ongoing advertisement of Tempest.
Honestly, when I told Ramiris that she can create an entrance to her labyrinth, I originally intended it to be in the middle of the city.
Equipment and the like should be bought up in the city.
With the money left over for maintenance and purchase of raw material, we can probably offer sales for return customers.
Moreover, it’s probably a good idea to keep the citizens busy.
Military drills, adventurer tests.
Thus, having assembled all these parts, I have finally decided to gain the one being necessary to make it all work out.
Veldora’s in my room.
He’s grown very accustomed to it.
「Hey, Veldora, I’ve got a favor to ask of you.」
「Hmm? Can’t you see that I’m busy?」
Yeah. You’re reading manga.
And clearly have nothing to do.
「I see… that’s too bad. And, I was just about to offer something fun to do.
If you’re busy, it can’t be helped. I guess I’ll just ask Diablo」
I said, and pretended to leave
「Hey, wait up. I’m busy, but I’ll listen to your request.
Speak!」
Hook, line, and sinker.
It’s as easy to manipulate this old geezer as taking a candy from a baby.
But that aside,
「The thing is, we were thinking about building a dwelling for you.
「W-what did you say?! Seriously?
But, why did you call it a favor?」
Whether he’s deeply interested or not, he has a serious look on his face.
I told Veldora about the Dungeon plan.
「So the thing is, we need a king to rule over the dungeon.
We need a strongest guardian to protect this gate.」
「Exactly. And while in the labyrinth, I want you to constantly flaunt your aura」
「It is」
I nodded.
What I want is Veldora’s aura.
But if he keeps it in too long, releasing it will create an explosion like last time.
Which means, that we needed to find a place for him to do so…
That’s why I had the dungeon be made 100 floors deep and once he freely release his aura.
Once the magic concentration increases, monsters will naturally spawn.
Even the cave had A- ranked Tempest Serpents spawn.
Perhaps another intelligent slime will spawn among them.
Killing two birds with one stone, essentially.
「… And when I see adventurers,
or something like,
And fight them, right?」
Veldora said.
I nodded,
「Moreover, it would also be possible to face entire units of adventurers.
How about it? Doesn’t it sound fun?」
Veldora stood up, and put the manga in his pocket.
And facing me,
「As expected of you, Rimuru. I always knew you could do great things」
He said, and shook my hand.
And thus, I have (with great difficulty?) recruited Veldora.
The next day.
As she promised, the labyrinth was completed.
「Yo, Ramiris, you doing good?」
「Ah, master! It has been a while. I am in perfect health!」
These two are friendly as always.
And after exchanging greetings, we got right into the explanation.
That was, once every few days we can change its layout.
Upon reaching this point, the next time you enter you can continue from where you left off.
Selling maps is probably too evil. It’ll also be a pain to make new ones every day.
The charm made by Ramiris’『Labyrinth Creation』
Any death that occurred in the labyrinth will be negated, and the user will be returned to the surface.
There’s also an emergency escape item that returns the user to the surface.
But if you don’t but it and die… you only have yourself to blame.
As for the price, we can decided that later. For now, all done.
Hopefully this will all end as well as we want it to.
We exchanged glances, and laughed like the villains we are.