340 - - 338 votes.

After breaking through the 100th layer and descending to the 101st layer, we found ourselves in the core of a labyrinth that was violently blinking and asserting itself. Let's try to communicate with it for the time being.

"Uh, the labyrinth core?　I've decided not to bring you up, so don't worry. I have a lot of questions I'd like to ask you.　One blink if you want, two blinks if you don't, three if you have a question I can't answer."

The intense blinking stopped, and after a short pause, the core blinked once with a flicker. It seems intelligent enough to communicate.

It's a bit tedious, but before paradise became a sanctuary, Gina and the others were communicating with each other just like Fukuchan and the others. I can't act like a master if I can't do it either.

**

I asked a lot of questions. I guess it's hard to communicate when there are only three kinds of answers. I thought I understood a little of what Gina and the others had to go through, but actually doing it myself is much harder than I thought it would be.

I think that the core was also interested in being able to communicate with me, and seemed to enjoy answering my questions from the middle of the session. I feel that their blinking was somewhat light, and I'm glad if it was so. It is a little disappointing to think that if I had understood Morse code, I could have taught it to Koa and we could have had a conversation.

But I wonder what kind of people remember Morse code. There was no one who knew how to use Morse code in my neighborhood. Well, what you can't remember, you can't help. Let me summarize what I found out.

Who built the labyrinth?

I don't know. It seems to have existed when I came across it.

Are the cores of the other labyrinths conscious?

I don't know. The core of this labyrinth became conscious after the 50th layer was built. Maybe the core grows as the labyrinth grows.

Why does the labyrinth lure people in with its treasures and land?

He doesn't know. It's instinctive, they say.

Do you hear spirits?　Can you see them?

They say they cannot hear and cannot see, but they can sense the presence of a faint presence. Does he have a bit of a gift of the genie?

Why do I end up on the 100th layer?

It's because of me. I was taking it easy, thinking that the 100th layer was enough since no one was coming, but then I appeared, the one who doesn't read the air!

The whole place is filled with materials that ordinary adventurers would throw away or not take home with them. The core, which had been absorbing and recycling the discarded materials, seemed to be in trouble.

Plus the repeated overhunting and the taking of large quantities of valuable resources. Even powerful demons that normally would not be defeated so easily were taken home, and they were having a hard time replenishing the supply. For the first time in a long time, he apologized seriously.

I promised him that from now on I would not recklessly over-hunt demons, and that I would not take any materials other than what I needed. But I told him that I would take some of the gravity stone island and stepping stones on my way back. I think he was a bit taken back, but on the surface he agreed. I'm sorry, Koa. But I really want the gravity stones.

Now that I've come this far, are you going to build a new layer?

Core, two dazzling flashes. When I ask him why he denies it so vehemently, he says he doesn't know what kind of layers I need to make to stop me. He is trying to tell me that even if I build the next layer, I will end up being overexploited.

Can't you make some kind of transitional formation that can move through the labyrinth?

It seems that it is possible to make them if the energy is available, but the core is not willing to do so. Well, if it has been profitable enough up to now, there's no reason to accommodate adventurers.

Huh?　I've tried to summarize, but I haven't been able to get much out of them. I spent a lot of time on ...... and now I feel like crying a little.

"Yuta, dinner?"

While I was in a state of shock, Belle came flying in and asked me with a crinkled head. Her furrowed brow and tiny hands on her stomach to show that she was starving were so cute that I almost fainted in agony. It's so cute that it blows away all your theories about spirits not being hungry or something like that. Where did you learn that?

I looked at the 101st layer for a minute and saw that we were supposed to have dinner. I'm sorry. I'll be right up. Koa, I'm going to eat dinner here, if that's OK with you?"

One flicker. Looks like we're clear. The kitchen hurriedly sets out the many dishes for dinner in front of the eagerly waiting Belles. The belles are happy to jump on the dishes as they are served. Sorry to keep you waiting.

I also talk with Sylphy about the core as I pick up the food. Sylphy seems to enjoy communicating with the labyrinth, and is excited about what questions she will ask next. I'm the interpreter for ....... Will I be able to sleep ...... here one night tonight?

"Yuta."

Belle comes flying in with a skewer in her hand. Should I scold him for misbehaving?

"Yuta, koa, do you want some kushiyaki?"

"Heh?"

Let's see, ...... Bell is asking me if the core of the labyrinth eats skewers?　I can communicate, but does the core eat food?　

"Sylphy, what do you think?"

"How would I know? I'm standing right in front of you, so you should ask the core directly."

...... you are right. I guess I've got a habit of asking Sylphy about what I don't know because she's so reliable.

"Koa, can Koa eat food?

A few moments later, a single flicker of light.

"...... I can eat."

"So you can eat ......."

My voice and Sylphy's overlap. I was surprised, but so was Sylphy. That's true. The flashing, round, jewel-like core can be eaten and drank. I guess I'm lucky I didn't burst into a comic joke.

"Have you ever eaten?"

Two blinks. I don't think so.

"Would you like to have dinner?"

One blink. He wants to eat. And next to me, I see Belle excitedly holding a skewer. ......She's a genie. There's no danger, right?

"Belle. Core wants to try a meal. Will you feed him?"

"Okay!"

Belle happily flies up to Koa and without hesitation pushes a skewer onto him. I wonder where is the mouth of the core in the labyrinth?　As I was watching with a sense of apprehension, the kushiyaki was quickly sucked into the core.

"Whoa!"

Belle is very excited, but is it OK that the skewer is being sucked in as it is?

They say it's fine. After asking a few questions, I found out that basically anything can be inhaled. Even rocks and ores can be converted into energy and used to run the labyrinth. I asked him if he could taste anything, and he said that he could taste very well grilled skewers.

Now the amused Bells are bringing in more and more food and feeding it to the cores, which are sucking it in one after another, blinking furiously with delight. They are totally baiting him.

"It's kind of funny for the core of the labyrinth, isn't it?"

Sylphy muttered to herself, and she was right. The atmosphere is that of children trying their best to take care of their pets. It's impossible for them to get the core of the labyrinth if they're like this. Well, it seems that the core can only faintly sense the presence of Bell and the others, so it must be like food is flying in on its own.

**　

"I'll be back..." "Coo-coo..." "Friend..." "Coo-coo..." "I'll play with you!" ......"

The words of Bell and the others are interpreted into the core, and they leave the core room on the 101st layer. Yesterday, Sylphy and I talked a lot with the core to satisfy Sylphy's curiosity. As a result, we found out something quite significant and not so significant.

If there is not enough power to build the next layer, we thought that we could accumulate power by bringing something that the labyrinth can absorb and having it absorb it, and when that turned out to be possible, we talked about what kind of layer we could build next and that if I prepared the materials to absorb, they would build the layer as requested.

I guess this is the ability of a dungeon master in a sense.　Well, I don't have a specific layer in mind at the moment, so I'll see what I can come up with. It seems to have a lot of flexibility, since it can even build a flying island. Bell and his friends would love it, and I wonder if an amusement park is possible?

Also, when I told them that it takes time and trouble to get to the 100th layer, they agreed to build a transition zone in a secret room for me if I brought the next waste material. This is convenient, isn't it?

After the discussion was over, I told him I would come visit him again when I had time to dive into the labyrinth, and he was happy to see my core flashing. He was happy to ......, wasn't he?　You weren't happy I was leaving, were you?

From the core's point of view, it could be seen as an interrogation with a knife to the neck. He might actually be scared to death if I get him in a bad mood. Well, I was eating breakfast, and the core was shining and urging me to cook, so I guess it's all right.

"Okay, here's what we're going to do. First, we will go down to the 95th layer while securing the gravity stone, and then go on a treasure hunt from there to the 91st layer. After that, we'll go to the sea to collect sacred power plants and fish and shellfish. Then, depending on how much time we have, we will collect magic grass and almighty grass. The core of the labyrinth is in trouble, so I'll try to avoid overhunting demons as much as possible."

I'm curious about the carpets and brooms, and I thought about asking Nomos to appraise the treasures in the labyrinth, but there are too many of them and we don't have time this time, so we'll wait until we get back to paradise.

"You're not going to kill the monsters?"

For some reason, Flare looks at me with a shocked expression. She doesn't like not being able to fight demons.

"I'll defeat the demons that attack me, so it won't be much different from before. But I won't go looking for demons to defeat them without a reason, and I might run away if there are too many demons gathered.

"I don't want to run away!"

Yeah, wrong choice of words.

"Well, escape was the wrong word. If we kill too many demons, the core will be in trouble. So, when too many demons gather, we can leave them unkilled for the sake of the core.

"......I can't help it if it's for him!　It's a humongous thing!"

Flair nodded yes. I had never heard of a henchman, but I guess he means a friend. Well, I managed to convince Flare. Avoiding the overhunting of demons will probably make it harder for him to gain levels, but since his level has risen to 212 at one point during this labyrinthine search, he should have no problem avoiding the overhunting.

I've killed a lot of bird demons, and in addition to the green dragon and wyverns, Poison dragons, light dragons, and dark dragons ......, that's going to raise my level, and the labyrinth's core will be in trouble too. And on top of that, you're taking an entire island of gravity stones with you. Next time I come back, I'll make sure to bring some souvenirs for the core.

Marie will share with us the materials if there are any parts to be thrown away. We won't use all of the demons. We can still give it back to the labyrinth and the core will be happy. Now that we've come up with a plan, let's get going.