Destroy the Small Labyrinth (3)
Watching the Small Labyrinth run so smoothly, all I could do was sigh. Once reports came in that we could stably supply potions to the guild members, my performance metrics would shoot up again. I had to find some way to sabotage this somehow.
"Come on! Get in there, you bastards!"
― Kieeeek!
At first, there'd been an explosion of complaints because of Gerda's stubborn refusal to kill the monsters. But now, even the guild members were getting into it, whipping the monsters along with gusto.
― Kyek! Kieeek!
"This bastard won't listen at all. Should I break one of its legs?"
"Yeah, do it~wa yo!"
"Heh heh heh, you disgusting monster scum. I'll make you regret ever being born!"
The monsters were building up a tolerance to the pain, making them harder to control as time went on. But breaking their limbs one by one got them listening again. By the time their resistance made them impossible to handle, their physical defects were so severe that they'd become the first targets in cannibalistic infighting and get weeded out.
Gerda's factory was running with astonishing smoothness. Sure, minor issues cropped up now and then, but the solutions were always simple. Abuse the monsters harder. That was it.
"Hoo…."
"Hooo…."
I sighed, racking my brain for a way out, when someone else let out an even deeper sigh that seemed to shake the ground. It was James, one of the few men dispatched to the Small Labyrinth. He'd originally been under me as a receptionist but had been sent here to handle paperwork.
"James, is something wrong?"
"Ah! Mr. Vivaldi! N-no, nothing at all!"
His words said one thing, but his expression was as dark as mine. The women guild members were handling all the heavy labor, and his paperwork load couldn't be that heavy. So what reason could he have for looking so down…?
"Do you feel sorry for the monsters too, James?"
"No! M-monsters attack people if you leave them alone! They deserve every bit of suffering…!"
"Do you really think that justifies people abusing them like this? I don't."
"…Do you really think that?"
James's face brightened a little at my outburst. He wasn't full-on Monster Protection Association material, but he clearly felt some sympathy for them.
"Truth be told, it hurts my heart too. The monsters' screams echoing from inside the Small Labyrinth haunt my dreams. I figured no one would take my complaints seriously, but you're a kind soul, Mr. Vivaldi."
I felt a twinge of pity for the monsters, but not enough to truly empathize with James. Still, I decided to play along. Stirring up the disgruntled guild members could create cracks from within. No matter how solid Gerda's operation was, sneaky internal sabotage would be hard to stamp out.
"I get why the Monster Protection Association is protesting, to a point. Killing monsters in self-defense to survive is one thing. But tormenting them while grinning like that… it just feels wrong for any sentient being."
"Well said. So, James—want to team up with me on something?"
"…Something?"
The protesters from the Monster Protection Association had pitched tents near the Small Labyrinth and were staging a sit-in. Technically, this was Tragodia property, so we could drive them off by force. I'd only stalled execution by lying that I'd handle it somehow.
"Protesting alone won't cut it. Tragodia is utterly ruthless—they won't blink. I know better than anyone!"
The protesters blinked in confusion, watching me rant. They were mostly men. Women, who often had to risk their lives fighting monsters, probably found it hard to hold such soft views.
A middle-aged man who seemed to be their leader stepped forward, scratching his head.
"Uh, receptionist. You here to negotiate?"
"Negotiate? Your cause is a hundred times right! That horrific monster abuse facility has to stop—by any means! And for that, I need your help!"
"Noble words, but… we can't do more than protest. Fighting those barbaric women isn't feasible."
"I've got a less reckless idea."
I clapped a hand on James's shoulder beside me. I felt him tense and swallow hard.
"This gentleman knows the Small Labyrinth inside out—its layout, weak guard spots and times."
"Ho, so you're sharing intel with us?"
"Exactly. Use it to sneak in and free the monsters from their cages!"
Murmurs rippled through the protesters at my plan. But it wasn't negative—their faces lit up with hope.
"We can liberate the monsters from those evil bitches…!"
"Let them roam free across the wide plains!"
James and I hashed out details with them, settling on 3 a.m. for the op.
"Um, Mr. Vivaldi… what if it goes wrong? The punishment won't be light…."
As we left the tent, James asked cautiously, worry creeping in now that things were real.
"Leave it all to me. You stay out of it."
"Huh?"
"If anything goes south, I'll take full blame. You'll have no connection to it."
I had zero intention of letting this insane plot to free all those monsters succeed. The plan would inevitably snag, and we wouldn't free a single one. But I'd be the one held accountable for roping in outsiders to harm the guild. This time, it was a perfect escape.
At midnight, James returned to the protesters' tent. Three hours early, but they were already armed with wooden clubs and leather armor, eyes burning with resolve. James flushed with anger.
"I messed up. Thought he was an ally, but he must've realized I was a mole and bailed. He even sniffed out our 3 a.m. plan…!"
"That Vivaldi guy… felt like he was toying with us. Sigh…."
The middle-aged man sighed in despair. That delicate-looking guy who'd visited earlier. They'd underestimated him, but watching him pretend to plan while reciting their own scheme verbatim had been chilling.
"Like he was putting on a play with us in that soft voice. 'I already know your plans. But I'll play dumb if you stay quiet.' That's what it felt like."
"If he knew everything, why not report us up the chain? Why hang out?"
"Maybe he's just enjoying the show. Watching us squirm pointlessly."
In truth, it was pure coincidence, but they couldn't fathom that.
"…Or maybe he's merciful. He's sabotaged moles before without reporting directly. Giving sinners a chance to stop themselves."
All eyes turned to the unfamiliar voice. A woman with perky black cat ears—no one knew when she'd joined. She eyed a fly buzzing around the tent impassively.
"Wh-what? Who are you?"
"…That kid's got a kind heart. But the guild master… different temperament."
Her eyes locked onto James. The shring of metal leaving its sheath made him bolt without hesitation.
At the promised 3 a.m., I headed to the rendezvous. The sky was pitch black, moonlight faint, the mood eerie. No protesters showed.
These guys—bold as brass earlier, now chickening out?
No footsteps approached, even after waiting ages.
"Hic…."
Standing alone in the dark got scary; a pathetic sound escaped me. In my past life, they'd call me girly. Here, it passed for manly. Should've brought a torch—too dark.
Monster screams from the Small Labyrinth aside, it was deathly quiet.
"Ugh… if someone sneaks up and grabs me now…."
"…How'd you know?"
"Kyaaak!"
I'd muttered to lighten the mood when a voice replied. I yelped boyishly and nearly sprawled, but something wrapped my waist—whoosh. A fluffy tail.
"…Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. You okay?"
"N-Natalia?"
Her voice confirmed it, but her dark skin blended into the night.
"Wh-what are you doing here?"
"…Mm. Out for a walk. Heading back to the guild—wanna come?"
A stroll in this creepy spot? Unique taste. No sign of those cowards; plan busted. Dark, cold, hungry, tired. Time to go.
"Y-yeah… let's."
"…Wanna go somewhere nice with me?"
"Huh?"
"…Nothing."