Chapter 269: The Infinite Labyrinth, Anew (6)
Chapter 269: The Infinite Labyrinth, Anew (6)
The raid on the Infinite Labyrinth had concluded in a resounding success.
There were injuries, but not a single casualty. Everyone had made it back out of the labyrinth safely.
The citizens saw it with their own eyes.
They saw the succubus farmers hauling out countless magic stones they had harvested from within the Infinite Labyrinth.
Everyone was struck with speechless shock at the fact that they hadn't even been able to recover all of them, resulting in a slight loss of loot.
They understood that the Infinite Labyrinth had gone berserk.
But regardless of the berserk state, was it truly possible to acquire such a staggering amount of magic stones in a single day without a single death?
A mountain of magic stones that would normally take at least thirty days to mine was pouring out overnight.
And they hadn't even cleared all the way to the 50th floor—they had only gone down to the 30th!
"Ruji Fermaton... is he the God of Raiding?"
It was a monumental achievement that no one else had ever come close to.
He had mobilized knights on a massive scale, deploying his forces so perfectly that no one died. Meanwhile, the core knight order he personally controlled through the Living Armor had conquered the 30th-floor boss without a hitch.
Of course, one might wonder what the big deal was since the path to the 50th floor was already open, but the fact that he pulled this off while the Infinite Labyrinth was in a berserk state showed just how bold of a man Ruji Fermaton truly was.
"So, him coming out naked wasn't just because he was confident in his body!"
Some called him the Raid King; others called him the God of Raiding.
Faced with this incredible feat, the people of Fermaton couldn't even feel jealousy or shock.
They were simply filled with admiration and awe.
"It's a festival!!"
As if he had foreseen his own victory, food and wine had been prepared in advance for a celebration.
Five restaurants were rented out entirely to celebrate the knight order's victory. Under Ruji Fermaton's tab, the knights of Fermaton tore into meat and poured drinks down their throats, letting out roars of triumph.
"Have you heard? I'm telling you, I...!"
The knights began to spin tales of what had happened on their respective floors.
Ordinary adventurers listened in awe, and those outside the taverns were left stunned as they heard accounts of the battles.
Today, the Infinite Labyrinth had truly been conquered by Ruji Fermaton.
Even if it was only down to the 30th floor, no one until now had ever displayed a feat comparable to his.
"Wow... even if it's just a one-time thing, it's truly amazing."
"Huh? Who said it's a one-time thing?"
"What?"
The people were shocked once again.
"Since we triggered a berserk state, we'll take a break tomorrow, but the day after that, we're going hunting again just like today."
"You're doing it again? This?"
"Of course! Did you think this was a one-off? We're going to keep doing this! Every single day. Five times a week, Monday through Friday, with weekends off!"
"Heh..."
This was a movement on a scale completely different from the usual monster hunting managed by the Adventurer's Guild.
To say it was simply a large-scale operation by the Fermaton Count's Castle didn't do it justice; the difference in dungeon rewards and risk management was simply too vast.
"Doesn't this mean the Adventurer's Guild is becoming completely useless?"
"If anything, they're a nuisance. If they mess something up and trigger another berserk state..."
"I told you, there was a reason Guild Leader Bernhard left the Adventurer's Guild to join Fermaton!"
The Adventurer's Guild had lost its reason for existing.
Perhaps guild members might still be needed for items found between the 31st and 50th floors, but would experts of that caliber really care about the guild's survival?
Hardly.
"Man, it's incredible. Ruji Fermaton has completely overturned the way we approach the labyrinth!"
"So, where is he and what is he doing right now?"
"Hey! The raid is over, so what do you think he's doing? He's obviously conquering a different labyrinth."
"What other labyrinth?"
"Well, obviously..."
Everyone could only guess one thing.
"The 'lower labyrinth' of the knight order!"
* * *
Night. Fermaton Castle.
"Everyone probably thinks I'm just having sex right now, don't they?"
"Yes. Everyone definitely thinks that."
Laura organized the reports beside me and pushed them to one side.
The office desk was piled high with parchment detailing the breast-shaped magic stones consumed, the equipment used, and the spoils of war secured during the battle.
As soon as I returned to the office, I prioritized the raid settlement over sex.
I could have left it to others and checked it tomorrow, but I worked quickly to clear my schedule for a happy, blissful night.
"Good grief. People would think I start having sex the moment I win."
"So you're not doing it right away?"
"Of course not."
I was going to have sex.
I had just postponed it for a moment because there were two major things I needed to settle first.
"Alright. Amy. Nero. Put the documents over there. I've checked the urgent ones, so I'll look at the rest when I wake up tomorrow at noon."
"You're... waking up at noon?"
"I'll probably wake up in the morning, but I might not get to office work until noon."
Actually, it might not even be tomorrow.
The night was deep, and we had secured a very precious item.
"Hehehe."
I picked up the gem I had kept in front of me while working—the 'Mythstone.'
"Finally, the third one."
"Only three out of twelve..."
It was a fairly slow pace.
However, now that I had one, the important question was how to utilize it.
Infinite duplication of magic stones?
Mass-producing breast-shaped magic stones?
No.
The purpose of this Mythstone wasn't for such trivial things.
"Laura. What do you think this looks like?"
"Um... a shackle?"
"Exactly. You're spot on. This looks exactly like a bitch collar."
The gem could be split open to fit perfectly around a person's neck, wrist, or ankle.
When closed again, the Mythstone would flash briefly, and the separated parts would fuse back together.
It was shaped like a donut, but for us, we had reached a 'Fermaton-style consensus' that this was a bitch collar.
No matter how hard I tried to think of something else, it was a Mythstone that looked like a bitch collar.
"Who are you going to give that to?"
"This? I'm not giving it to anyone."
"Pardon...?"
"I'm not designating it for any one person. It's for communal use, so to speak."
"The girls might be disappointed..."
"They'll be satisfied once they know its purpose and how it's used. Because we're going to use it this very night."
The moment I confirmed the shape of the third Mythstone, I limited its use to one thing.
"The Mythstone issue is settled, so I should deal with the other matter. Amy. Is he waiting outside?"
"Yes. Shall I bring him in?"
"Yeah. Bring him."
I adjusted my posture, leaned my chair back slightly, and straightened my tie.
Knock, knock, knock.
At the sound of the knock, a young man with a deathly pale face appeared.
"Right. Ermond. Come on in."
Knight Ermond.
The very person who had ignored my orders to stay out of the boss room and triggered the berserk state.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"...No, sir."
"Really?"
"...I am sorry."
Ermond bowed deeply, his waist at a ninety-degree angle.
"You're good at apologizing. But can a man who doesn't follow his lord's instructions and orders really be called a knight?"
"I am sorry, Count. I will accept any punishment."
"Indeed, you should. I don't have a specific sentence for you; I'm just going to give you a simple corporal punishment."
"Corporal punishment...?"
"Banishment."
Ermond jerked his head up.
"C-Count?!"
"What? I hate variables. The berserk state started because you barged in. I can't keep someone who doesn't listen to the Count's orders as a knight. Get out of Fermaton. The knights will personally escort you out of the castle."
"I-I'm sorry! Please, anything but banishment!!"
Ermond suddenly fell to his knees.
He looked so desperate that for a moment I wondered if I was being too harsh, and I glanced around at the others in the room.
What's with him?
I don't know.
Everyone seemed puzzled by Ermond's behavior.
"Look, I'm letting you live and just banishing you. What more do you want from me?"
"I will do my absolute best from now on! Please, just once, forgive me just this once! Please, anything but banishment!!"
"Hah... You don't want to be banished? You put everyone in a life-threatening crisis, and you think a simple 'I'm sorry' fixes it?"
"I-It's not that! I just didn't know that would happen...!"
"Every adventurer knows the basic rule that exceeding the core capacity in the Infinite Labyrinth causes accidents. You didn't know that? You're incompetent. Banishment."
"Count!"
"How dare you raise your voice at me?"
I was starting to get annoyed.
I had wanted to quickly banish this troller and get on with a wet and sticky victory party, but this guy was dragging things out.
"This won't do. Sir Lambert! Where is Sir Lambert?"
"Did you call, my lord?"
I finally used my cheat key.
"Take this man and punish him. You can take him to the Infinite Labyrinth or just kick him out. That is all!"
"Uh, Count?"
Lambert pointed at Ermond with an incredibly serious expression.
"This... this might sound strange, and maybe I'm the one who's weird, but..."
"What is it?"
"Well, this fellow... I don't think he's a man."
"......What do you mean?"
Not a man?
Then he's a woman?
With that face and that appearance?
"Yes. I know you don't like me bringing up such topics in front of you, my lord, but I felt I had to speak up this time. When I look at this knight named Ermond, my 'equipment' doesn't react at all."
"......."
Ermond turned pale, and I swallowed hard.
"The cock compass of Fermaton is the best in the world. Especially if Sir Lambert's 'thing' isn't reacting at all... Serica! Yurdi! Grab Ermond! Strip him!!"
With lightning speed, the two women lunged forward, grabbed Ermond, and forcibly tore his clothes off.
"......Wow."
Unbelievable.
"You're the first woman who hasn't made my dick stand up."
"Count. What should we do with her?"
"Hmm..."
I wanted to have sex as soon as possible.
"Knock her out, put the bitch collar on her, and throw her in the dungeon."
I had so many virgins waiting for me; I didn't have time to waste on a woman who couldn't even give me an erection.
"Laura. Relay this to the entire knight order."
I picked up the Mythstone from the desk.
"All knights under Laura's command, assemble in the sex room."
Now.
It's time for the cock rotation.