Chapter 103: The Underground City is Mine
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 103: The Underground City is Mine
A cultist, significantly larger than the others, approached me.
“I heard you called for me privately. What task do you have for me? I shall follow any command you give.”
The man took me for Priest Fainel’s right hand.
“It is nothing else but this: your soul is far more valuable than the others. Therefore, I intend to perform your Ascension Ritual in a special, unconventional manner.”
“Ah...! Is that true?!”
“Indeed. Now, kneel before me.”
“I obey!”
Infatuated with the idea that he was special, the man knelt before me without a shred of suspicion.
I placed my hand on his head and told him to relax.
“Release all your tension. Ease your mind. And offer yourself. Give yourself up.”
“I offer myself...! For a true ascension. I shall go to Arha’s side...!”
“Is that truly your wish? Will you really give up everything?”
“Yes! I offer this life to gain salvation!”
The man, seemingly lost in the fervor of the moment, shed tears as he declared he would give me everything.
To pull someone’s soul out with a Spirit Chain, you either have to beat them within an inch of their life or make them give up on their own.
Right now, this man had given up on himself.
The chain twitched. It meant I could interfere with his soul.
I felt like I could pull it out. I immediately shot the chain into the cultist.
“Urgh! Gaaah...!! W-What is this...!”
“You’re going to see Arha. Endure it. At the end of this pain, you shall face God.”
“I-Is that... truly so...!”
“Trust me. This is the final trial. At its end, you shall find salvation.”
“I-I understand!! Gaaaaaaah...!!!!”
The man endured the agony.
Quite admirably, he was surrendering his own body to me of his own volition.
It’s done.
Once I judged that I had pulled most of the soul out of the cultist’s body, I shoved the swordsman’s soul into it.
The Flesh Swapping was a success.
The cultist’s soul was bound by the chains and sucked into me, while the swordsman within me poured into the cultist’s body.
It was a successful exchange ceremony.
—Ohhh...! Lord Arha...? Wait? Where... where on earth is this...?
—A newcomer has arrived. Welcome. This is a place that is neither heaven nor hell.
—Huh? Wha-whaaat? Why is the Apostle here...?
Inside me, the cultist and Fainel recognized each other. Only then did the cultist realize something was wrong and began to thrash about in a frenzy. Leaving him be, I looked at the swordsman who had taken over the body.
“Cough... cough. Wheeze...”
“Hey, are you alright?”
“Am I... am I really alive again...?”
“Yeah. Though it’s in a cultist’s body.”
“Ha. Hahahaha! Resurrection... To think I’ve been resurrected!”
The man in the cultist’s body clenched and unclenched his fists, checking his new form.
Then, with a face full of ecstasy, he began to tremble with joy.
“It’s much... much better than my original body. Ah. It feels... it feels like I’ve been born anew. To perform such an impossible miracle... Are you... are you an incarnation of God?”
“Huh? An incarnation of God?”
Wouldn’t the incarnation of God be the Saintess over there, currently pummeling Paramel and the Cursed Book?
“First, keep your voice down.”
“Ah, yes sir.”
“Your name was Roy, right?”
“That is correct. Roy the swordsman. A Silver Badge adventurer.”
“From today on, you are a Labyrinth Watcher.”
“Pardon? What is that?”
“It’s a role managing the Underground City. I created it. You’ll have comrades soon enough.”
“Comrades. I like the sound of that. So, my role is to manage the Underground City.”
“Right. Since the Labyrinth Eruption, the Labyrinth City has been facing a crisis in many ways. You could say it’s the perfect time to make a big move.”
The Labyrinth City was currently in a state of economic panic with a dwindling influx of people.
If this situation persisted, even the existing adventurers would eventually disappear.
That was why I intended to launch a subjugation campaign. By increasing the influx of adventurers through unlimited purchasing and revitalizing the Labyrinth City’s stagnant economy.
I intended to maximize the safety of the adventurers here. Currently, Silver Badge adventurers were refusing to descend to the 6th floor. They were all terrified of dying. The 6th floor was so difficult that they wouldn’t go down even though there was much to gain.
Furthermore, the long time it took to reach the 6th floor played a major role in their reluctance to go below the 5th.
Therefore, I planned to turn the 5th floor into human territory. The 6th floor would only become safer if more people flowed into it. My goal was to drastically reduce the difficulty of the 5th floor to encourage adventurers to explore the 6th.
Only when the 6th floor was properly cleared would it serve as the foundation for me to descend to the 7th.
This wasn't just about my personal gain. I had to go down as quickly as possible to stop the nightmares of the Labyrinth from leaking out any further.
“So, you see, I’m planning to claim the Underground City first.”
“Claim the Underground City?”
“Yeah. I’m going to take control of the Central Section first.”
The Central Section of the Underground City was a place everyone descending from the upper levels had to pass through.
If I took control of it first, I would gain a massive advantage in future Labyrinth walkthroughs.
To reiterate, for someone who had to go beyond the 6th floor and even down to the 7th and beyond, it was a must-have.
“I see...”
“The detailed plan is still only in my head. For now, you just need to guard the Central Section.”
“Understood.”
“The contract period is ten years. Let’s say you can go up to the Surface once a week.”
“Understood. I shall serve you with all my loyalty.”
Ten years might seem long, but for someone whose chance of resurrection had been zero percent, it was a small price to pay.
If a corpse had remained, the Church might have used a Resurrection Spell, but in Roy’s case, not even a corpse was left.
I’ll increase the numbers starting with him.
If I tried to take the Underground City, the leadership of the Labyrinth City probably wouldn't leave me alone.
They didn't want the Labyrinth to be controlled by anyone.
I just need to bring the Tower Lord and the Guild Master to my side... and get Lafnel out of that Hole-in-the-wall Shop.
The Magic Tower ultimately moved according to the Tower Lord’s will.
If I made a contract to give them first pick of rare monster materials, the Tower Lord would likely take my side.
Guild Master Moira would also turn a blind eye to my deviations if I presented her with a profit. In Lafnel’s case, I just had to convince him that it was time to break the restriction on entering the Labyrinth.
The Church might step in directly to denounce me, but...
I had to win over the Saintess for that eventuality.
She’s already halfway there.
Since I told her she could be remembered as a great figure for future generations and gave her a stake in the Labyrinth expansion project, there was a very high possibility she would also take my side.
What remains is the backlash from various merchant associations and adventurers. And the Council of Nobles in the Labyrinth City.
Ultimately, it was the merchant associations that kept the Labyrinth City running.
Adventurers hunted monsters and sold the materials gathered from them.
The ones who distributed those materials to the outside world were the merchants of the Labyrinth City.
To make the Underground City a strategic stronghold, I’ll have to meet with the Merchant Alliance as well.
They didn't want anyone to monopolize the Labyrinth.
I had to meet them, inform them of my plan, and ask for their help.
As for the backlash from the adventurers...
Adventurers wanted freedom.
They wanted to hunt freely and enter the Labyrinth freely.
Controlling the Underground City could bring about a backlash from them.
Even if the Guild Master was on my side, she couldn't just give unilateral orders to the adventurers.
I also need to find a way to win over the hearts of the adventurers. Sigh.
Various plans swirled in my head.
Trying to execute them one by one was a headache. But the important thing was to use the Underground City as my base camp and maximize my gains. That would make clearing the Labyrinth easier.
At the very least, I had to obtain the authority to manage and supervise this place.
“It’s almost over.”
“It seems so. Are those two the last?”
“Yes. They are the end of it.”
As I was pondering future matters, Helena approached. Almost all of those many cultists were dead, and now only two remained.
“Do you know how many have died in total so far?”
“I haven't been counting, so I don't know. Do you know, Halcy?”
“About six hundred have died. Quite a lot.”
“Heh. Six hundred.”
“With this, most of the lay believers they had will have evaporated. All that’s left now are the executives, the two Apostles, the Saint in Black, and the Yetis.”
Just as Helena said, most of the manpower they employed had vanished.
The ones elsewhere probably had no idea what was happening here.
“You two are the last!”
“Whoa!”
“Finally! Our turn...!”
With only two left, Raphael took off the mask he was wearing.
“Long live the Goddess!”
“...Eh?”
“Goddess...?”
“That’s right, you vermin. Now, do you see this light? It’s Holy Light.”
“....????”
“You’ve been tricked.”
At Raphael’s words, the two remaining cultists looked at him as if they couldn't understand what was happening.
“Since useless workers like you are of no help, I’ve sent you all to the Goddess’s side. Suffer for eternity in hell.”
“You—!!!”
Thud!
Raphael crushed the skull of a cultist trying to flee and then grabbed the neck of the trembling one and snapped it.
With that, all the cultists intended for sacrifice were killed.
They were neatly stacked in my inventory.
“The cleanup of the Flooded Section is mostly finished.”
“Since the powerless worker class has collapsed, all that’s left are the cultists who know how to fight.”
“Saintess. What will you do?”
“The time for decision has come again.”
Now that the labor class had been wiped out, the cultists had lost their foundation in the Underground City.
Only about forty cultists remained.
“I want to kill all the Apostles, but it would take ages to find them. For now, let’s head up. We’ve achieved our primary goal. We’ll take a rest and then hunt the Giant.”
The Saintess made her decision.
We had caught the Blue Apostle and hunted most of the cultists hiding in the Underground City, so we could consider the goal achieved.
Of course, two Apostles, the Saint in Black, and the Yeti tribe remained, but since we hadn't intended to go below the Layer Division of the Underground City from the start, it was time to head up.
With no cultists left to sacrifice, the remaining ones would slowly wither away.
“By the way, seeing you withdraw so readily, you must be quite satisfied.”
“Fufu. This is the first time I’ve massacred cultists so refreshingly. They’re usually so good at hiding. Hahaha! I am satisfied. It’s all thanks to you, Porter.”
“It was nothing.”
The Saintess looked very pleased.
This woman seemed like she couldn't even swallow her food unless she cracked at least two cultist heads a day, so it was no wonder she was in a good mood after being given the chance to kill so many this time.
From the Saintess’s perspective, it must have been like being treated to a special cultist feast.
I was also quite satisfied. Now, let’s head up above the Layer Division. Of course, the well we used to come down was too difficult to climb back up, so we had to find another exit.
Fainel. Lead the way.
—I understand...
Fainel was more reasonable than I expected.
It was just that he kept trying to win sympathy with his bullshit sob stories, but after tearing his limbs off and putting them back together a few times with the Spirit Chain, he quickly became obedient.
If you behave, I’ll let you pass on peacefully.
—Are you trying to send me to the Goddess’s side...! You cruel bastard!
I don’t believe in the Goddess. What I mean is, if you listen to me, I’ll help you die a normal death. Then you might actually end up by your God’s side.
—What? You... are you serious? You’ll just let me die?
I have no reason to lie. Shouldn't a well-behaved slave get a proper reward?
—You truly see me as a complete slave...
It’s the truth, isn't it? So, are you going to disobey me? Do you want to wander the afterlife for eternity? You don’t want to die a normal death?
Right now, I held the power of life and death over this guy’s afterlife.
He had to stay on my good side no matter what.
—What.... what do I have to do?
I’m going to have you possess a Vine Bean.
—What? A bean?
Yeah, a bean. To be precise, a plant-type monster.
By now, Labyrinth vines should have grown in the Central Section.
Since it had been about a day since they were planted, they would have grown immensely by consuming mana.
Vine Beans are monsters too.
Lafnel had said so.
That Vine Beans were ultimately monsters. And I could have a spirit captured by the Spirit Chain possess any target I wanted.
I could have them possess a person or a monster.
I’m going to put you into a Vine Bean. Borrow the body of the Vine Bean and guard the Central Section until we return. You’ll have a comrade, so guard it together. That’s an order. If you refuse, I’ll shove you into a rusty dagger and abandon you at the bottom of the lake forever.
—Dammit...
If I put Fainel into a Vine Bean, a Vine Bean capable of using curses would be born.
Its combat power would increase even further. It would effectively block monster waves.
Then, while our party went up to rest, Fainel and Roy would be guarding the Central Section.
Oh, and by the way, you have a Transfer Stone that can take you directly from the 5th floor to the Labyrinth City, don’t you?
—You even found out about that...
Where is it?
He hesitated, stammering.
If you don’t speak, you won’t die peacefully. Can’t you see how things are going? You’re all going to die at the hands of the Goddess Church anyway. Don’t be stubborn and just tell me. Do you think that Saint in Black or whatever will protect you? If the Labyrinth City brings down all its forces, you’ll all be wiped out. Didn't you see over six hundred of your people get slaughtered by us?
—O Arha... forgive the sins of this commoner... The Transfer Stone directly connected to the Labyrinth City is below the Spire District.
He said there was a Transfer Stone below the Layer Division near the Spire District. Using that, we could go straight up to the Labyrinth City.
That meant, conversely, there was a Transfer Stone in the Labyrinth City that could bring someone directly down to the 5th floor Underground City, right?
Where do I have to go in the Labyrinth City to go straight to the Underground City?
—In the Labyrinth City... you probably just need to enter the sewer below the Eastern Red Light District.
So there was a Transfer Stone below the Eastern Red Light District.
Taking that would lead straight down to the 5th floor.
A new entrance connected to the Labyrinth. If this fact were revealed, the Eastern Red Light District would probably be completely cleared out.
It wasn't a place I visited often anyway. If the Hole-in-the-wall Shop next to the Red Light District got cleared out as well, it would be even easier to bring Lafnel over to my side, so it was actually better.
As a result of meeting Helena and strengthening my Ability, things were going too well.
After overcoming the unfair odds, luck was following me.
Now, once I killed the Giant, I could head back up.