Labyrinth Shop (4): Hearken to My Covenant
"Did you not hear my covenant? Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be dismayed. Just as in the days when your mother lived, wherever you go, your savior GM is with you," it declared.
Thus, the hero Jenice commanded the entire army.
GM, release the stock of Miracle Spring Water right now! 100 units? Is that a joke? Are you telling latecomers they can't even use it?!
Omnipotent and merciful GM, your humble servant dares to beseech you. Have pity on us and grant us the miraculous water. We plead earnestly.
Today, I went to the Labyrinth Shop to buy some spring water and waited in line, but I couldn't get any. On a whim, I tried buying from other buyers, but no one was selling. I completely forgot my age and cried out for the Armband in my sorrow. But no matter how much I shouted, the Armband didn't appear. Is an Armband that doesn't show up when needed really a proper Armband? I don't think so….
Posts about the Miracle Spring Water flooded the community.
The post regeneration was even more frantic than when the Labyrinth Tower first appeared.
Unlike the Labyrinth Tower, which felt like distant tales of far-off rankers to ordinary players, this was a true miracle item that could save their real-world selves, Albus mused.
Thanks to his GM privileges, Albus could see the authors of the posts.
"The Republic's Chancellor… the Beast King's right-hand man… and… the High Elf Grand Council Chair?"
Not just ordinary players—even the continent's most prominent figures were swarming, desperate for the Miracle Spring Water.
"…It was just an item I made without much thought. Did I set the healing range too broad?"
He hadn't anticipated it affecting reality too.
If he'd known it would blow up like this, he wouldn't have released it so easily.
Treatment for all diseases, anti-aging.
And it even cured baldness or erectile dysfunction—truly a divine elixir, worthy of the name.
"What the hell did I create?"
Of course, it wasn't a perfect panacea.
I have both baldness and ED, so I bought two potions and tried them. The ED got fixed, but baldness didn't. Looks like it only cures the first debuff you designate, per the item description?
Bald and ED but still not suicidal? lol
Only one per bottle? Kinda disappointing.
"So it only recovers one debuff."
Albus nodded as he read user reviews.
Not a perfect cure-all, then.
A potion that heals just one abnormality.
It targets only the one debuff designated at first use.
Even with its stellar performance, ordinary players wouldn't need multiples.
Labyrinth Shop items restock over time anyway. Demand would drop, and the frenzy would fade eventually.
"No."
Albus murmured after pondering.
One was enough for personal use, but Miracle Spring Water was tradable.
For those with incurable diseases, it was worth its weight in gold. Combined with tradability…
"Some might hoard and resell it."
Albus envisioned the future unfolding in his mind.
The continent's powerhouses climbing the Labyrinth Tower.
Them monopolizing the water, while the truly needy were at the mercy of the elite.
'Master! Please, I beg you! My daughter won't last the day! Mercy!'
Villains peddling to the desperately ill, not mere baldness or ED victims.
'That's not my problem. Bring more money. None? Then scram!'
The Labyrinth Shop, meant to bridge player gaps with its gacha system, only widening inequality.
"…."
I'm no saintly gentleman.
I don't believe all humans are equal.
I'm glad I was born into a duke's family.
No plans to spread democracy here.
But…
Clench.
Albus gripped his fist tight.
It grated on him.
Why?
This was exactly the cutthroat game world from his past life he'd craved.
Endless competition, the thrill of victory—a perfect MMORPG structure.
So why did it bother him? Albus couldn't understand himself.
Ding.
Command window activated by will.
'I….'
This is the message from GM himself!
- A gift for support of the Labyrinth Tower
- All players get Miracle Spring Water upon login
- Soulbound to recipient
Just transcribing the system message from GM exactly.
GM! Are you a god?!
Starting my GM praises now.
Omnipotent Lord, we thank you! We offer all spirits and saints in service!
Miracle Spring Water items were distributed to every player's mailbox.
News of it set Luddera ablaze with joy.
Beastkin devotees of GM, of course—but humans, elves, dwarves, and demonkin too, all races praised GM.
Freely giving everyone an elixir rivaling—perhaps surpassing—the greatest legendary draughts in history.
No miracle from any god could compare to this true 'miracle.'
"Distributing Miracle Spring Water right when the Labyrinth Shop has everyone's attention."
Diana crossed her arms, watching the ecstatic community flare up.
"How much chaos do you plan to unleash on this continent, you?"
Shocking enough that he had tens of millions—but giving them away unconditionally to all players.
Not entirely unconditional; they were soulbound, non-tradable.
Probably to prevent hoarding and black markets.
She'd boasted to the Dragon Lord about a new era, but GM's moves exceeded her wildest expectations—bold, aggressive.
"Haaah."
Her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"It's too thrilling, GM. What's next? What will you show us?"
Somewhere on the Empire's frontier.
A remote rural village.
Thud thud thud.
A small child clutched something precious and sprinted down the village path.
"Yonseok! It's dangerous! Be careful!"
"Sorry, mister!"
Nearly crashing into a passerby at the corner, the child hugged their bundle tighter and picked up speed again.
After running far, the child reached a small, shabby house.
"Huff… huff… huff……."
Leaning against the doorframe to catch their breath, the child pushed inside.
"Cough cough! …Jenice, is that you?"
A frail-looking woman in bed greeted the child from within.
"Mom…."
The child approached slowly, face etched with worry.
"How's your body?"
"Cough cough! Same as always. Not that bad. I'm used to it now… cough cough!"
Her worsening coughs, skin darkening.
Even the child could tell she didn't have long.
"Here."
The child held out the bundle.
"Cough! …Hm? What's this?"
A strange helmet-like device.
The woman took the unfamiliar object and asked.
"I found it."
A Luddera access device, periodically distributed or scattered across the continent by Kartesia's minions.
The child had played with one from their secret base.
They'd considered letting their bedridden mom relax inside but kept it secret, fearing it might worsen her condition.
"Try it on first."
"Try it?"
"Yeah. Open the mailbox inside—there's a water bottle. Drink it!"
The child bubbled with excitement.
"Haha, slow down, Jenice. Explain so your mom can understand."
Moments later.
The woman sat up in bed and removed the access device from her head.
"H-how is it, Mom?"
"Jenice… this."
Strength surged through her body.
Unwittingly, she rose from the bed.
Three years since she'd been able to sit up.
Now, she felt vitality like before her illness—impossible to believe this was the same sick body.
"H-how…."
"Mom!"
The child dove into her embrace.
Deus couldn't save her. Alia couldn't.
But He did.
The true savior.
Salvation for the sick and weak.
The true… god.
GM was different from false gods.