They pushed through the long, suffocating expanse of the Rock Labyrinth.
And the instant Emiya Shirou and Lili stepped onto Floor 18, the world opened up.
No more damp, lightless tunnels—this was a vast underground sky. Massive luminous crystals were embedded across a ceiling dozens of meters high, pouring down radiance bright enough to mimic daylight. Underfoot spread a sea of green grass, and in the distance shimmered a lake beside dense forest.
"No matter how many times I see it," Shirou murmured, drawing in a lungful of clean air, the tension in his shoulders easing at last, "it still feels unreal. A place like this… inside the Dungeon."
"This is Floor 18—'Under Resort,' the Labyrinth's Paradise," Lili said, wiping sweat from her brow.
Her body was exhausted, but her eyes were glittering with exhilaration. Her oversized backpack was crammed full of magic stones—so full that several extra sacks had been tied to the outside with rope.
"Lord Emiya, let's go rest in the town ahead," she said, pointing toward the edge of the forest. A rough settlement of wood and stone could be seen there, half-hidden among the trees. "Everything's expensive, but we can restock supplies."
Rivira Town.
A lawless district where wanted criminals, violent adventurers, and greedy merchants gathered. Officially it was a supply station. In practice, it was a nest of brutality and fraud.
"Mm. I wanted to take a look anyway."
Shirou nodded. A sharp glint passed through his eyes.
Mind's Eye had already confirmed it—the nauseating "scent" of the group that tried to frame them on Floor 13 with Monster Lure… was clustered in this town.
Rivira Town — The Tavern "Pirate Flag"
Calling it a tavern was generous. It was more like a crude shack of logs and planks, choked with sweat stink and cheap alcohol.
"Hahahaha! Cheers!"
At a round table, several adventurers who looked battered and grimy were drinking like they'd won a war.
They were the same party that had thrown Pass Parade at Shirou.
"Damn, we got screwed!" the scar-faced leader spat, downing his drink with a furious slam. "We finally lined up a good horde, and that newbie didn't even die! What the hell was he?! I looked back—he was in the monster pile like he was taking a bath!"
"Boss, forget that freak," one of the underlings said, pale and jittery. "We made it to Rivira. Once things cool down, we'll shift floors. Even if he lived, he had to be wrecked—probably ran back to the surface crying."
"Yeah! As long as we didn't die down there, it's profit!" The scar-faced man grinned viciously and smacked the table. "Owner! Another barrel! And call that contraband merchant over—I've got a few bottles of Monster Lure to move…"
"Oh?"
A warm, gentle voice spoke from behind them.
"That stuff… could you sell it to me?"
The scar-faced man turned, irritated.
"Huh? Who the hell are—do you even know the rules—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
His expression froze.
The cup slipped from his fingers, amber liquor splashing across the floor.
Behind him stood a short-haired redheaded少年 in light leather armor, hands in his pockets. A deep crimson short sword hung at his waist. On his face was a smile so harmless it looked almost polite.
And behind him, a pallum girl with a massive backpack stared at them like they were garbage.
"Y-You—why are you here?!" the scar-faced man lurched to his feet as if seeing a ghost. "What about the monsters?! That was dozens of Hellhounds!"
"All taken care of," Shirou said.
He pulled out a chair and sat down like he was joining friends for a drink.
"It took a little time to clean up the battlefield, so I'm late. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"T-Taken care of…?"
The underlings went sheet-white.
Dozens of Mid-Floor monsters… wiped out? And the kid didn't have a scratch on him?
Was he Level 3?!
"What do you want?" the scar-faced man demanded.
He was a seasoned rat—fear hit him, then he forced himself to breathe. He flicked a signal to his men, who began inching toward their weapons.
"This is Rivira! Lawless ground! Even if you're Loki Familia, you can't just—"
"Power?"
Shirou cut him off.
He slowly placed his right hand on the table.
"Trace—On."
A pulse—emerald circuits lit.
A black pistol formed in his grip, vicious and angular. Of course, it was only a projected shape; in essence it was a "magic gun," a weapon that fired condensed mana rounds.
Bang!
Shirou didn't even look as he pulled the trigger.
A mana bullet sliced past the scar-faced man's ear and struck with surgical precision—
Crack!
It shattered the sword hilt of the underling who had been trying to draw his blade behind Shirou's back.
"AAAAH!"
The man screamed, his grip torn open from the shock. The broken sword clattered to the floor.
The entire tavern went dead silent.
No chant. No dramatic movement. Just a casual lift of the hand—and a weapon was disabled.
"I don't like violence," Shirou said, blowing lightly at the faint haze on the barrel—mana residue rather than smoke. His voice remained polite, almost gentle.
"But I'm not a saint either."
He leaned forward slightly, eyes smiling—
and cold.
"You used Pass Parade on us. So I'm here to collect a little… 'emotional damages.' That's reasonable, isn't it?"
"R-Reasonable… totally reasonable!" the scar-faced man stammered, sweat pouring.
He could feel it—the kid looked like he was smiling, but the pressure was worse than a Floor Boss. If he dared say "no," the next shot wouldn't hit a sword.
"S-So… how much?" he asked, trembling as he fumbled for a coin pouch.
"I don't need money."
Shirou shook his head and scanned their equipment.
"But your armor and weapons aren't bad… Lili."
He gestured lightly.
"Pick out anything valuable. We'll take it back and let Tsubaki use it as recycled material."
"Huh? Really?!" Lili's eyes lit up like lamps. She dropped her backpack and marched over, rolling up her sleeves. "Then I won't hold back! This bracer's mithril-plated! This necklace has poison resistance! And this sword—yeah it's chipped, but the steel's decent…"
The next five minutes were… surreal.
A tiny pallum girl "robbed" a group of grown adventurers until they were left in nothing but underwear—while a redheaded少年 sat nearby, sipping fruit juice with a pleasant smile, supervising like a calm teacher.
The surrounding scum in the tavern didn't dare breathe. In Rivira, strength was law.
And this boy's "law" was harder than steel.
"Lord Emiya! Huge haul!"
Lili hugged a pile of gear, grinning ear to ear.
"Even if we patch these up a bit, they'll sell for at least a million valis!"
"Good."
Shirou stood. The projected gun dissolved into sparks of light.
He walked up to the scar-faced leader—now shivering in the cold air, wearing only shorts—and looked down at him.
"This time I'm only taking equipment," Shirou said quietly.
"Because you didn't actually hurt anyone."
His voice turned razor-cold.
"But if I ever see you use that kind of gutter tactic again…"
He leaned closer, the smile gone.
"I'll throw you into Floor 19's Great Tree Labyrinth as fertilizer."
A pause.
Then a single word:
"Get out."
"Y-Yes! Yes! Thank you for sparing us!" the scar-faced man sobbed.
He and his men fled the tavern in a humiliating scramble, triggering laughter from the street outside.
"Haa… that feels better," Shirou said, stretching.
He turned to Lili.
"Let's find an inn. We'll stay here tonight and head back to the surface tomorrow."
"Yes, Lord Emiya!"
Lili stared at his back, her admiration practically spilling out of her eyes.
When he was gentle, he was like the sun.
When he punished evil, he was like a demon king.
So cool…
But They Didn't Notice…
In the darkest corner of the tavern, a pair of eyes watched everything.
A figure wrapped in a black cloak, face hidden behind a mask painted with strange patterns.
"Red hair… silent-cast magic… and those constructed weapons…"
The masked man murmured, voice hoarse and warped.
"Just like the reports. The brat who ruined the Soma Familia plan."
He drew out a black crystal and whispered into it.
"Target confirmed. Rivira Town. Move tonight?"
The crystal flickered.
A cold voice answered from within.
"Not yet. That 'strongest rookie' is perfect."
"As Test Subject No. 1 for our Artificial Labyrinth—Knossos."
"Once he falls asleep…"
"Bring him underground."
"…Understood."
The masked man put the crystal away and stared after Shirou and Lili, letting out a chill laugh that made the skin crawl.
Rivira's night was not going to be peaceful.
The Dark Faction's hand had already reached for this dazzling new star.
-------
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