The Sham Land Turns Out to Be a Small Labyrinth Jackpot
After falling for the troublesome customer's scheme, I had a brief chat with the new receptionist, Marie, in the office.
She really did suffer from dissociative identity disorder—what people commonly call multiple personality disorder. In fact, she had dozens of personalities, and even she couldn't grasp the exact number.
But Marie actively utilized her condition to her advantage.
"I project one of my personalities into each clone. That way, I can control multiple clones with precision."
"I see……"
I'm no expert on magic, but according to Marie, it's incredibly difficult for most people to make multiple clones act independently. With only one brain, coordinating different actions across several bodies demands insane concentration.
"Of course, I only have one brain too, so efficiency drops the more clones I make."
"R-right…… Then why didn't you put that talent in your self-introduction or something……?"
Because no other workplace would hire her if they just saw it listed as a disorder! That's what I thought too, and that's why I hired her!
"No one ever believed me. They'd just dismiss it as the ravings of a lunatic."
"Ah."
Thinking back, I probably would've brushed it off as nonsense too. And if I realized it wasn't, I'd have despaired.
"Vivaldi-nim, you're the first person to believe in someone like me. I'm truly grateful."
As Marie bowed deeply in thanks, a sharp pang hit my chest. I didn't deserve it. I just saw her as flawed like everyone else. The only difference was that I planned to exploit it.
"……Ah."
At that moment, Marie frowned slightly, as if sensing trouble.
"There seems to be a bit of a problem at the reception desk……"
Marie was the kind of talent who could handle any workload simultaneously through her clones. But clones couldn't surpass the main body's capabilities. No matter how competent, she was still a rookie receptionist, ill-equipped for irregular situations.
"Do you know who I am?! I'm Countess Pia Tung of the Elaithe Empire!"
"Shut it, lady! This ain't the empire!"
Like when a demanding, no-nonsense customer clashed with a rough adventurer.
A fat lady and the sturdy-built Bella were growling at each other.
"Bella-ssi, please calm down a little. Countess-nim, we only accept payment in cash as a principle."
Marie was responding calmly as trained, but the situation showed no signs of cooling.
In cases like this, it fell to me, a senior guild member, to step in. I wedged myself between Bella and Countess Tung.
"Hello, Countess-nim. May I ask what the problem is?"
"What?"
The countess raked her sticky gaze up and down my body, licking her lips like she'd spotted something tasty.
"I asked for the boss…… Are they using pretty boys now? Not bad at all."
"Hey, don't ignore him. He's scrawny, but he's one of our senior guild members."
"Eek."
Bella slipped her hands under my armpits and hoisted me up effortlessly. My eye level matched the countess's now, but embarrassment burned my cheeks.
"Vivi, aren't you too skinny? I can see your ribs…… Ugh, so tempting."
"Eut……"
Her fingers kept groping me, tickling unbearably. The countess scowled at my pathetic, dangling form.
"A senior guild member? This boy?"
"H-his name is Vivaldi. He's an adult and oversees reception duties."
"Listen up, Vivi! I took down a huge monster that showed up in this lady's territory. But she says she can't pay cash!"
Unable to enter the labyrinth yet, Bella had taken on a regular monster extermination request. But the client, Countess Tung, refused to pay.
"I didn't say I can't pay! I said I'd give land!"
"We only take cash!"
"Then sell it and cash it in!"
"Ha! You're dumping worthless land, right? Probably near Labyrinth City! You think I've fallen for this once or twice?"
The countess flinched, hit right on the mark. Plenty of adventurers fell for land offers, only to get barren wasteland near Labyrinth City—worthless without the Great Labyrinth vanishing. She must be one who bought into rumors of development.
Regrettably, no one had reached the Great Labyrinth's end.
"Get cash now! Or I'll kick your ass! That work, Vivi?"
"This barbaric wench dares to……!"
"Er…… yeah……"
Something clicked in my head. I could see my path to expulsion from this guild!
The Adventurer's Guild exists to protect adventurers' rights—ensuring they get fair pay for fair work.
"Bella. Take the land."
"What?"
"A countess of the empire wouldn't scam an adventurer. It must be good land."
But if my botched mediation caused an adventurer to go unpaid? I'd have to step down immediately.
"Finally, someone reasonable."
"Hey, Vivi."
The countess smirked, while Bella spun me toward her and lifted me higher. Twice my height, she dangled me far above the ground before our eyes met.
"Eek……"
"What makes you so sure about taking the land?"
"P-please trust me just this once. If it's bad, I'll cover your pay."
"Hoo……"
Intrigued by my baseless confidence, Bella perked up. Covering it herself meant a hefty sum, but if it got me out of the guild, I'd bear it gladly.
"Vivaldi-nim. Shouldn't we at least check the land's condition first?"
Marie's sensible point made my heart sink. Both I and the countess looked visibly troubled.
Checking would make Bella refuse for sure.
"No! Write the contract now!"
But surprisingly, Bella shot down Marie's suggestion—not me or the countess.
"If Vivi insists that much, there must be a reason. Fine. I'll take the land. Contract now."
"Of course. No backing out later."
"If it's worthless, Vivi, you make it right."
"O-of course."
"I mean, not with money…… Heh heh……"
Bella trailed off with a lewd chuckle, smacking her lips. I felt uneasy, like I'd lose something more precious than cash.
Bella and I arrived at the land Countess Tung had transferred. As expected, it looked like nothing but unsellable wasteland.
Imagining myself kicked out for harming Bella, I couldn't help but grin.
But oddly, Bella didn't seem disappointed at all.
"Ah~ What a pickle. It's just dirt, huh?"
"Eut……"
Her index finger trailed down my spine, sending chills and goosebumps rippling through me.
"Kya, how should I cook this up……"
Rumble……!
"Huh?"
Bella's foot sank into the ground as she walked. Her size meant serious weight, but this was unnatural.
"Fuck! Trap?! Vivi!"
"Eek!"
Bella swiftly scooped me into her arms. The shaking intensified, the ground around us collapsing in a roar, and we tumbled into the pit.
"Ngh!"
She twisted to land on her back, cradling me safely. I was unscathed.
"Bella! You okay?!"
"Totally fine! Don't move! If it's a trap, more might come flying!"
"Mmph."
She pinned my head down with her hand. My mouth and nose buried in her ample chest, breathing grew labored, my head spinning.
"……Good. Seems safe for now. Stay still just in case."
"Mmph."
She flipped us over, laying me on the ground and sprawling atop me. Gravity made her breasts smother my face.
As my eyes adjusted to the dark, the surroundings came into view. This underground cavity wasn't a simple tunnel—it resembled a structure.
—Grrrrowl……
—Keruk……
Sinister growls echoed from all sides. Monsters stalking their prey.
"B-Bella……!"
"Whoa, fuck. Jackpot?"
I wasn't worried about attacks. The sounds suggested mid-sized monsters at most—Bella could mop them up in seconds.
The problem was their presence at all.
Bella, thrilled, shook me excitedly.
"Hey! Did you know something was here and take it?! It's a Small Labyrinth!"
"H-hey, I'm dizzy, stop shaking……!"
A Small Labyrinth! Structures that pop up randomly due to unknown causes. Tiny compared to the Great Labyrinth, but disasters for civilians, spewing monsters.
For skilled adventurers like our guild? A gold mine!
They usually appear on owned land, so lords handle them or get national aid. Requests mean sharing profits with the lord.
But this was legitimately ours—free and clear of complications.
"From now on, all treasure here! All monster byproducts! Ours to monopolize! Haha! Huge score!"
"I'm gonna hurl, seriously."