AN: Hello everyone! Here is another update for this fic!
By the way I want to ask all of you how is the story so far?
Is the pacing alright? Was it slow? like it has being stretch too much? Or it is becoming boring, flat or monotonous?
Please share your thoughts!
It will be really helpful for me as I proceed writing the rest chapters.
Anyways happy reading!
PS: Thanks to all of you for the power stones After_Wing, DragonConquer1, Novel_Pirate, SparkleEyeMole, Master_Sigi and ExiledFou!
=====<< Chapter Start >> =====
Demon's Labyrinth, Seiryuu City, DesuMachi Planet…
After almost a full day of being separated and trapped inside the Labyrinth, Mei, Hachiman, and Sora were finally reunited. Zena practically burst with emotion the moment she saw both of them unharmed. Her relief was so sincere that Hachiman couldn't help but let out a real smile. Sora, on the other hand, made an excited fuss (trying to ignore the storm(Mei) waiting for her.), the instant she found her "Zena‑nee", rushing at her side.
It wasn't just them who got reunited, Tina, the young lady who Hachi‑Sora's group saved from the spider room, tearfully embraced her father, Viscount Jin Velton, who had been traveling with Mei's group. Even the old slave trader Nidoren let out a small sigh of relief when he saw that at least one of his "goods", the black‑haired cat‑ear beastkin slave girl had survived the Labyrinth.
At the moment though, Hachiman was watching the surviving men in the Labyrinth, butchering the buffalo monster Sora had sent flying earlier. Laughter and relieved voices filled every corner of the room, so lively and warm that no one would guess this place had been a battlefield against slimes and skeletons just a few moments ago.
The butcher from Mei's group and several soldiers from Zena's squad chatted as they worked, their blades never stopping as they cut the buffalo's meat into chunks. Liza also joined the dismantling effort with experience movements beside the old butcher. Just a short distance away, right behind her was the black‑haired cat beastkin slave girl from earlier, eyes shining and drool practically dripping as she watched them work with intense fascination.
Curious about who this girl was, Hachiman raised a brow. Rather than asking anyone or the girl herself, he did what he always does: observe silently. As if responding to his curiosity, his system popped up, displaying the girl's details. She was a nameless slave from the cat‑ear kin, only twelve years old and level three. What surprised him most was her set of active skills: [Night Vision], [Expert Carver], and [Sense of Direction].
'Huh? This kid… she's surprisingly resilient. To survive with only these skills…' Hachiman thought, genuinely impressed. 'If I train her like Liza and the others… she might become a solid addition to their group.'
"Ahh… Hachiman-san, are you not going to stop Mei-san? Or help Sora-san?"
A voice snapped him out of his thoughts as someone tapped his shoulder. Turning around, he found Zena looking at him helplessly while pointing off to the side.
He blinked before following her finger. His expression became troubled… actually, it turned grimace, as he truly didn't know what to do about the sight in front of him. Sora was kneeling, sitting politely as she told (confessed) the story of how their adventure went to the 'smiling' Mei, who listened with a terrifyingly gentle expression. Auna, Pochi, and Tama sat nearby as if watching a ritual. Champ and Wan-chan stood behind Sora like obedient statues, while Cait Sith stood at sharp attention beside Mei.
Hachiman had to double‑take, blinking and rubbing his eyes. He was pretty sure he saw cold sweat(oil) running down from both Champ and Wan‑chan's faces. Even Cait Sith's shoulders trembling under Mei's aura.
"M-Mei-nee h-how a-about we…. Talk about this later?" Sora tearfully pleaded.
"Hmm? Why? Aren't we at the exciting part? The one where you thought it was perfectly fine to blow up traps?" Mei replied with a sweet, too-sweet smile.
"Ughh… b-but H-hachi-nii a-also… (mumble)" Sora pouted weakly.
"Sora-chan, can you please talk properly? I won't understand what you're saying if you mumble like that," Mei said gently, like she was comforting her. "I want to know every bit of your side before I ask your Hachi-nii for his version of the story."
Mei's tone sent shivers down Hachiman's spine. At that moment, he fully understood, there was no escape. He and Sora were trapped in Mei's interrogation—Ehh….. polite questioning.
'So in the end… both of us are doomed,' he cried internally.
Feeling his stare, Sora slowly turned toward him. Her teary eyes wordlessly delivered a message louder than any scream: 'HELP ME HACHI-NII!!'
Hachiman flinched. He wanted to help her, he really did, but stepping between Sora and the ongoing storm(Mei)? No sane man would. Especially when Mei was wearing that sweet (terrifying) smile.
'Uggh… I'd rather face the rampaging Kagura than a "smiling" Mei,' Hachiman groaned internally, rubbing his stomach. '…At least that way… I'd have a chance of winning.'
"What are we going to do now, Hachiman-san?" Zena asked him again, worry can be heard in her tone.
"Ahh… excuse me, Master, Zena-sama…" Liza interjected softly.
Zena jumped in surprise and turned toward Liza, while Hachiman tiredly glanced back at her.
"...We are done dismantling the meat of the buffalo monster that Sora-sama killed." she reported.
"I see… Thank you for telling me," Hachiman replied with a nod before turning back toward Mei and Sora. He took a deep breath, then another, trying to calm his nerves. Once he felt ready, he forced his legs forward, each step slow and shaky as he approached the duo. Zena and Liza exchanged confused looks before following him.
When they reached Mei's side, Hachiman nervously licked his lips and gave a weak, awkward cough. "Ahem… Ehh… Mei?"
Hearing her name, Mei turned her head and raised a brow at him. "Yes?"
Hachiman unconsciously stepped back at her tone, Then he took another deep breath before continuing. "...Well… you see… Liza said they're done dismantling the buffalo…"
"Hmm… I see." Mei tilted her head, then let out a soft hum. "Alright, we'll continue our talk later. For now, we need to make something to eat before we move on through this Labyrinth."
She rose gracefully and dusted off her skirt. Auna's eyes widened in awe, while Sora's whole face lit up with relief that her interrogation had finally ended.
"Mei-sama, are you going to cook something?!" Auna asked, her voice shaking with reverent excitement.
The three—Mei, Sora, and Hachiman, even Zena who knew her for a long time, instinctively leaned back from Auna's sudden enthusiasm. Both Sora and Hachiman wore matching expressions of 'Whoa… she got hooked that much from Mei's food, huh.'
"Well… I'll just make something simple and light," Mei replied, trying to keep a straight face.
Perhaps realizing her reaction was far too unlike her usual calm self, Auna coughed into her hand to hide her embarrassment. "A‑ahem— E‑excuse me."
Her cheeks flushed a deep red as shame and fluster crashed over her. 'G-goodness! Just what am I doing?! I need to calm down!'
"L‑let me join Mei‑sama. Please let me help you with the cooking," she added, cheeks still red as she tried to save her dignity.
"Oh… I guess that's fine?" Mei replied, a little bewildered by the sudden change.
Auna visibly brightened before catching herself and straightening her posture. "Thank you. I won't let you down!"
'It's just cooking a simple meal… Why the sudden enthusiasm?' Mei thought, slightly confused.
"Ah… Sora‑chan, you come help too," Mei said.
"Eh…?" Sora froze with a dumb look. "I have to help?"
"...I will make you some dango," Mei said flatly.
"WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR, MEI‑NEE?! LET'S GO!!" Sora quickly stands with explosive energy. Running at the open space of the room and taking out the portable cooking set of Mei from her Trailblaze certified pouch.
"This kid…" Hachiman muttered, dumbfounded by how fast Sora's mood flipped. "Now I'm worried she'll get taken advantage of because of how simple she is…"
Mei, who overheard him, raised a brow and let out an amused snort. "I think she'll be fine. She has her Hachi-nii to look after her," she said, giving his shoulder a teasing pat.
Hachiman snorted back and glanced at her. "Well… her Mei-nee isn't exactly simple either." His matching her smirk.
Mei rolled her eyes playfully, but the smile on her face never faded. Their light banter continued as they followed Sora to start preparing their meal.
Auna, Zena, Liza, Pochi, and Tama watched them from the side, each with their own reaction. Pochi and Tama tilted their heads with innocent curiosity. Liza stayed stoic, as if this level of banter was just the norm.
Meanwhile, Auna and Zena blushed and fidgeted, their innocent hearts unable to handle the "flirting" between Hachiman and Mei. However in Zena's eyes, there was a tiny hint of envy and maybe even a small longing.
—----
Their little feast went peacefully... as much as it could be. Mei had only made simple dishes: meat pies, hamburger steaks, and barbecue. Yet as Hachiman and Sora expected, the moment everyone took their first bite… it happened. The "Foodgasm," Hachiman had oh‑so‑proudly named it, triggered a chorus of embarrassing sounds across the room.
From the tough-looking, battled harder soldiers of the Seiryuu Earldom to nobles like Tina and even the other priestesses, none were spared. Pochi, Tama, Liza, and Zena fell right into the wave as well. All of them produced reactions that should never be shown in public.
"Uhmmm…!" Zena slapped both hands over her mouth, trying desperately to muffle the sound. Her legs rubbed together as she chewed.
Pochi and Tama looked as though they had transcended mortality itself, eyes blissfully unfocused as the hamburger sauce dripped from the corners of their mouths. Meanwhile, Liza's tail twitched nonstop behind her, an unmistakable sign that she was also losing to the taste. But despite their shameless reactions… None of them thought about stopping to eat.
The Cait Sith didn't even survive after the tenth bite, it collapsed dramatically before sinking back into Hachiman's shadow. Mei's food had successfully subdued even Hachiman's Persona (Memosprite) without a fight.
The black‑haired cat‑ear slave girl nearly lost consciousness herself. Her eyes rolled, her body swayed, but through sheer stubbornness and grit, she kept taking bite after bite. Hachiman was equal parts impressed and terrified by her will to live… and to eat.
'That's it! I'm absolutely recruiting this child to our team!' Hachiman declared firmly in his mind.
Seeing the spectacle repeat and now on a much larger scale those from Mei's group who had experienced this earlier simply nodded in understanding, as if saying "Yep… here we go again."
"F‑fa‑father!!! T‑th‑that was…?!" Tina stammered, her entire body kept twitching though not enough to stop her from shoving another bite into her mouth.
"That, my dear daughter, was the taste of food made by a great being," the Viscount answered sagely… right before letting out an embarrassingly girlish moan as he took another bite.
Tina nodded at her father with teary eyes as she continued eating. She had been hesitant at first to eat the monster meat but seeing her father eat it eagerly, she followed without complaint. And now, after tasting it herself, she understood. As her father said… it truly tasted like something made by a great being.
On the other side, the other priestesses dining with Auna and the Garleon Priest were drowning in shame. The moment they took their first bite, all temple‑taught grace and discipline evaporated. Their so‑called holy manners didn't just slip away, they flew straight out of the window.
"Huhuhu… Parion‑sama, forgive me!! B‑but I can't stop eating!!!" one cried, holding her plate like it was sacred scripture.
"J‑just what kind of cooking magic is this?!" another squeaked, shaking as she shoveled in another bite.
"How did Mei‑sama turn ordinary ingredients into this divine… divine miracle?!" a third wailed.
"I‑I'm just eating a simple patty… so why? Why does it feel like my entire body is being stimulated?!" a priestess cried, face turning a dangerous shade of red.
Watching her fellow priestesses fall apart one by one, Auna wiped tears from her eyes—tears of deep, spiritual understanding. "Everyone… I know exactly what you're feeling…" she whispered. 'Ah Yukel… as expected, Mei‑sama's food is… I might be done for…'
Meanwhile, Mei's eyes had completely died. Her expression? Became flat. She stared blankly at the scene she had created. Hachiman and Sora watched in understanding.
"And here I thought the effects of the 'first bite' would be weaker since you didn't have much prep time… but I guess I was wrong," Hachiman sighed.
"No! No! That's not it, Hachi‑nii!" Sora protested loudly, stuffing a dango into her mouth. "Mei‑nee's cooking just leveled up!"
"Huh? What do you mean?" he asked back, tilting his head.
Sora swallowed her dango before launching into her explanation. "Mei‑nee has that cooking skill now, right? Soooo her already amazing cooking just went limit break! She's basically cooking on a cosmic scale now!" she declared with absolute confidence.
"I see! So that explains it!!" Hachiman's eyes widened as if he had just achieved enlightenment.
Mei slowly, mechanically turned toward them with the same dead expression she'd been wearing since the feast began. Hearing them casually analyze her "ascended cooking" like gourmet critics, her cheeks went flushed with deep crimson red. Her shoulders trembled, tears starting to form at the corners of her eyes. She bit her lip, brows twitching violently as the crowd continued reacting like her dishes were divine revelations.
"...I..I..I…!" Mei murmured, her voice shook. "I can't take this anymore....!"
Hachiman froze. Sora froze. Both turned at the embarrassed Mei with wide eyes.
Mei's expression broke entirely.
'THAT'S IT!! I'M NEVER COOKING AGAIN!!!' she screamed internally, her soul practically lifting out of her body.
—-------
After their meal and a short rest, the entire group of survivors continued moving toward the exit of the Labyrinth. Mei, who is still sulking from earlier, retreated deep into her mindscape and shoved the responsibility of controlling her body onto her Herrscher personality.
'Oi! Don't use me as your escape button!' the Herrscher of Thunder (HoT) protested but Mei completely ignored her.
Left with no choice, HoT sighed and took over temporarily. And since HoT was basically an awkward introvert who refused to talk to strangers, she simply marched to the front followed by Sora, Pochi, Tama, and Liza, cutting down any monster unlucky enough to appear in front of her. She moved like she was speed‑running the Labyrinth out of sheer spite.
"Ahh!! HoT Mei-nee, leave us some monsters to fight too!!" Sora complains, watching HoT slice a pack of wolves cleanly in half.
"So cool!!" Tama said with twinkling eyes.
"Nano desu!" Pochi said in agreement.
HoT didn't respond, she just kept walking, Katana in hand, clearly done with the world.
"Hachiman‑san, is this really okay? Letting Mei‑san and Sora‑san fight alone in the front?" Zena asked, standing beside Auna as they watched the carnage ahead.
"Hmm? Ahh… yeah, don't worry about it," Hachiman replied with full confidence. "With the current Mei, she can handle anything thrown at her. Nothing in this Labyrinth can actually pose any danger to her."
"Hachiman-sama sure has high confidence toward Mei-sama, huh?" Auna said, tilting her head with a hint of teasing in her eyes.
Smiling wryly, Hachiman answered in an almost dry tone, "Rather than confidence, it's more about… how I understand her."
His expression softened as he continued, "Mei was a gifted swordswoman from the start. Her father trained her in their family's 'Kenjutsu' from a young age. And with her personality… She never stopped improving herself. She's been polishing her technique for years."
His words made those around him, Auna, Zena, the Viscount, Tina, the Garleon Priest, several priestesses, even soldiers around them perk up, as they learned something about the girl who had been protecting them all this time.
"Mei-sama has been training for that long…?" Auna whispered in awe.
Zena's eyes wide with respect. "No wonder she can move like that…"
Hachiman smiles, like a very genuine smile. "Yeah… she's always been amazing…. More than she ever realized. This is just… Mei being Mei."
—------
They continued like this for a while until they finally reached the final room just before the exit of the labyrinth. HoT returned her katana to its sheath and let out a long, tired sigh—finally, this whole ordeal was nearing its end.
Her eyes scanned the room. Excited laughter and relieved voices filled the air. Everyone talked about what they would do once they got out: drinking ale, eating good food, taking long baths, sleeping for an entire day, or stressing over how they would write the damage report for this disastrous event.
But there was one thing she noticed on every face a smile. A real, heartfelt smile of people who had survived this nightmare far too long.
'Oi, coward. Haven't you sulked enough already? Come back. I'm done,' HoT called out to Mei.
'Ehhh… why? Aren't you the one who always tells me you'll take over my body someday? You finally have the chance, why aren't you happy?' Mei sulked.
'…That is that. This is this. Completely different scenario,' HoT replied flatly.
'Hmm? Are you perhaps shy?' Mei teased.
'…You—tsk! You're spending way too much time with that pink Herrscher! You're getting infected by her,' HoT irritatedly replied.
'Hehehehe, that response of yours… absolutely screams yes.' Mei snickered, completely ignoring her Herrscher half.
HoT's cheek twitched. "Annoying…" she muttered before shoving Mei back into control.
"Ouch…!" Mei winced, holding her head from the sudden, forceful switch. "Mouu… that was kinda mean, me," she pouted.
"Mei…? You're back?" Hachiman asked as he approached.
Mei lifted her head and turned toward him. "Ah… yes, it's me." She scratched her cheek shyly. "Sorry about that… I just got overwhelmed by… well… that."
Hachiman shook his head with a small, understanding smile. "It's fine. Honestly, you probably took a lifetime's worth of shock all at once."
"Ahah… ahahaaa… that's… one way to put it," Mei sighed tiredly.
Hachiman let out an amused chuckle. "Ah—by the way, just so you know. I already told Patricia-san that we're close to the exit, so she'll meet us outside the labyrinth."
"I see…" Mei nodded softly. "I can finally see Kagura-chan again… I hope she didn't make too much fuss because of our disappearance."
"Well… Patricia-san didn't mention anything, but yeah… knowing our daughter, Kagura probably cried and caused trouble," he replied with a troubled nod.
As their conversation continued, at the other side of the room, a sudden burst of cheers erupted from a couple of civilians, soldiers, and merchants. Someone had discovered a treasure chest hidden at the corner.
"Hey, there's a treasure chest here!"
"Ooh! I've heard of them appearing in dungeons sometimes!"
"It's mine! I found it first!"
Not far from the commotion, Sora relaxes comfortably with Wan‑chan, Champ, Pochi, Tama, and Liza around her. Her hands moved nonstop as she patted Wan‑chan, Pochi, and Tama, while Champ and Liza sat upright like loyal guards.
"What are those uncles and big brothers shouting about?" Sora asked, tilting her head curiously.
"It seems they found a treasure chest," Liza replied calmly.
"Nyaa." Tama purred contently.
"Arf." Wan‑chan chimed in.
"Kafuu… nanodesu…" Pochi mumbled sleepily.
"Ohh…" Sora hummed lazily, then her eyes went wide open as realization hit. "WAIT—A TREASURE CHEST?! That's so lucky!!!!" she cried, puffing her cheeks in envy.
Just then, the group's cheer turned into a scream.
"Oh-ho-ho-ho… to think that so many of you actually made it here! I, impressed!"
Before them was the eyeball demon, the same one who had dragged everyone into the labyrinth, had finally appeared.
"Damn! Just when I thought it wasn't here...! It was disguising itself?!" Hachiman snapped as the demon revealed itself.
"Everyone, get into position!" the captain of the soldiers shouted. "Three‑pronged formation, not a circle! This thing can use magic! Viscount, Zena, we need you two on defense!"
The soldiers instantly obeyed, scrambling into formation. Zena cast Wind Protection and Air Cushion in rapid succession, while Auna and the other priestesses hurriedly ushered civilians into the far corner for safety.
"I'm going to use 'Blast Pole'! Buy me time!" Viscount Belton announced as he began his chant.
The demon howled, and several black orbs spun into existence around him, forming a barrier that knocked away any knights who tried to get close.
"Human magic is slow. I, bored!" the demon taunted.
Its giant eye blinked, just once.
Hachiman stiffened as he felt something wash over him. "...What was that? I felt … something off for a moment," he murmured, eyes narrowing.
[Skill Acquired: Mystic-Eye Resistance]
"No way!!! The soldiers got charmed?!" Mei shrieked, as she read the notification from her system.
Just as Mei said, the soldiers who had met the demon's gaze now had the status ailment: Charmed. Those Charmed soldiers immediately turned on their allies, swinging their weapons wildly. Fortunately, they were outnumbered, so it didn't escalate into a mass slaughter but every second counted.
Hachiman's eyes widened as he scanned the battlefield. "Tch…! All those who were directly in the line of sight of that demon got afflicted!"
Meanwhile, the captain along with the battle‑crazed heavy soldier were locked in direct combat with the eyeball demon. They swung their broadsword and battle‑axe with everything they had, but the demon's spinning black spheres intercepted every attack, preventing them from landing a clear hit.
Zena was at a short distance away, desperately casting support magic. Sweat started falling down her face, as the strain piling up from casting multiple spells in succession.
"Stupid humans, kill each other! I, happy!" The demon laughed madly, clearly delighted by the chaos it created. With another howl, its entire body glowed in deep, sinister red.
At last, Viscount Belton finished his chant, and a pillar of flame erupted from under the demon's body.
"Foul demon! We humans won't allow your kind to trample on us forever!" he roared as a pillar of flame engulfed the demon.
But as if to mock the viscount's grand declaration, the eyeball demon simply floated there, inside the pillar of flames, spinning slowly as if enjoying a warm bath. The chant took so long that the demon had already prepared a defence against it.
"Hot! HOT! It's nice and hot! I, cozy!" it chirped, sounding unreasonably pleased.
"What the—?! Intermediate magic doesn't work on him?!" a knight shouted in disbelief.
"Doesn't work? Of course it worked. I, kind," the demon replied cheerfully. And it wasn't lying, its HP bar had indeed dropped… by what looked like a polite scratch.
The demon shivered delightfully. "Ahh… your despair feels so good! I, thrilled!"
"Stop enjoying it!!" Sora couldn't help but let out a tsukkomi from behind the front line, pointing her finger towards the demon. "You're supposed to be suffering!"
The demon blinked at her. "Moi, just being honest. Fire is warm. I, delighted."
Hachiman clicked his tongue softly. "Tch… this is bad. At this rate, someone's going to die before they can even push it back."
Mei tightened her grip on her katana. "Then we have no choice but to join and lend our strength to everyone. We can't let them die here!"
======