Chapter 57 Audience
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A shiver ran through Yuuri’s body. It wasn’t that he sensed some presence in the empty seat across from him—no, in a way, that comparison fit perfectly. The true unease came from feeling absolutely nothing at all.
This starry horizon marked the lofty throne of the goddess Shelm. She had invited a guest here, yet that visitor left no trace, no hint of existence. Whoever it was understood the value of remaining unseen. This had to be a being on par with Shelm herself.
It didn’t matter which goddess held more power or which showered him with twisted favors. To her guest, a single human—like him—amounted to little more than an insect under inspection, even if he’d been summoned here.
”Nfu fu. That tuxedo looks good on you. Suzuri-chan already proved useful, huh?”
Shelm lounged on her chaise, smiling playfully.
”You can change clothes anytime,” Yuuri shot back. “But you sure had fun turning me into a monster last time.”
He was glad she hadn’t pulled his consciousness here while he was naked, and that Suzuri had dressed him in formal wear. Still, if she’d only summoned his mind to her domain, his real body’s outfit shouldn’t matter at all.
He grumbled about her self-praise for the form she’d given him, recalling how she’d once forced him into a beastly shape. Shelm ignored his complaint as usual and sent him a mocking grin.
”Come on♡ I finally got you here alone, no interruptions. Comfort me like old times♡”
”Don’t be stupid. You said you had business to discuss. If this is your idea of it, I’ll get seriously mad.”
She knew he’d refuse, yet she still wrapped her arms around him in that suspicious way. He grabbed her hands and peeled them off gently. He avoided shaking her away roughly only because the guest was surely watching.
No matter how cruel Shelm acted toward humans, he relied on her skills. Disrespecting his own patron would make him look rude. Acting bold would only sour the impression of the visitor She’d called to meet him.
It irritated him, like showing off a well-trained pet, but good behavior might raise Shelm’s status—and improve the quality of future rewards. He’d play nice for that.
”Mooou, you’ve added so many wives lately, you’re no fun at all. Ahn♡”
He lightly stroked the complaining goddess’s earlobe. When he stepped back, she didn’t pursue, just as he’d expected.
Yuuri left her side and knelt beside the long chaise opposite her.
”Pleased to meet you. I don’t know your honored name. The goddess Shelm summoned me here, and I believe the matter concerns you. Please show yourself—I beg this humbly!”
He bowed low toward the empty seat, using stiff formal words. It probably looked like a joke, but after all the unreal experiences Shelm had forced on him, he knew better. She only toyed with lives at critical moments; she never played with insects on her palm for no reason.
A seat set for meeting her guest meant the visitor existed—no doubt.
In the corner of his lowered gaze, he spotted Shelm reclined on her chaise, peeking at him. She must wear a pleased smile, but he couldn’t afford distraction. He focused on the empty spot to meet the guest’s standards.
After hanging his head in near-certainty and taking three breaths, a woman’s voice fell from above without warning.
”—Hm. I worried what sort of rascal Shelm kept as a pet, but you know basic courtesy before gods.”
Yuuri almost looked up but forced his head down with all his willpower. This being could crush a human without lifting a finger. Shelm’s familiarity tricked him sometimes, but he had to stay proper—or risk losing her protection if gods prioritized their own interests.
A soft clink—like lifting a teacup—sounded. She’d paused on purpose. He couldn’t just wait blankly.
He shifted his eyes to gather what little he could. Even if she saw through him completely, showing his thoughts and actions might earn points as Shelm’s follower.
The hem of a blue dress came into view. Ethnic embroidery decorated it, matching her black pump shoes. Through the dress slit peeked brown skin; her crossed legs relaxed as if she’d always been there.
Noticing this, the guest shifted her legs, making the chaise creak faintly. No sound had come before her voice, so she’d either appeared with divine power or evaded notice entirely.
Desperate for more clues before words, he stared too long at her feet.
Her voice came at once from above, and he quickly looked away.
”Fine. Raise your face.”
Granted permission to see her noble features, he lifted his head and straightened his back.
The figure entering his sight was a beautiful woman, much as expected. Her face matched her legs—brown skin. Black, glossy hair reached her waist, tied with silver work.
Her silver eyes stood out most, contrasting her skin, framed by ornate silver glasses. Like Shelm’s inhuman traits, peering in revealed new irises forming endless circles in her pupils.
”Human. I allow you to give your name.”
”—Y-Yes! I’m Yuuri!”
Chasing the irises toward the center, she pushed up her glasses, blocking his view.
Whatever power she held, those unusual eyes had nearly pulled him in. Snapped back by her call, he straightened. Shelm, still lounging, let out muffled chuckles from her throat.
”No good, Yuuri-kun. A god’s eyes reveal their authority most clearly. A weak human who stares carelessly gets overwhelmed by divine power right away.”
That made sense, he thought.
But another question rose: why didn’t Shelm’s eyes cloud his mind? Before he found an answer, the brown-skinned goddess read his thoughts and replied.
”Your soul has adapted to Shelm’s authority. You don’t share mine, so staring brings full divine force with no reduction.”
She meant her skills, no doubt.
Resistance to a god’s power likely grew with exposure to their authority. With his Familial Workshop, he could ease Shelm’s influence greatly.
Relieved he could face Shelm without issue, he watched the brown goddess rise slowly and approach.
”Stand, Yuuri.”
A short command. No reason to refuse—he stood straight. She circled him without courtesy, observing for a while before nodding in satisfaction.
”Hm. Keeping sanity with so much authority on your soul—you fit the plan. …Even gaining ‘major god power’ might cause minimal harm.”
”Yours is a big authority. Yuuri-kun already experiences body control beyond human and simple authority use. By labyrinth end, he’ll prepare more for yours.”
Yuuri stood listening to the goddesses talk.
Summoned because a god had “business,” he never expected anything normal. As guessed, unsettling words slipped out.
”Shelm, your man looks like he wants to speak.”
”Ah, go ahead, Yuuri-kun. Listening is free. Answering is another story.”
”Your kindness honors me, Shelm-sama—”
They toyed with his fate freely, but this was a place for beings beyond human knowledge.
No matter how much favor Shelm showered on him as her lover, Yuuri couldn’t barge in and snap at the wicked goddess. He reminded himself to know his place and spoke humbly. Shelm responded by puffing out a short laugh, as if mocking his effort.
”From your talk, I half-guessed already,” Yuuri said. “Are you the goddess of labyrinths?”
”Yes. I should have introduced myself sooner. I am Mataaha. I share friendship with your master, Shelm.”
”Our personalities are total opposites,” Shelm added with a grin. “But our abilities and interests match up, so we stay friends…”
Her tone sounded amused despite the words. People didn’t always bond over similar traits. These two trusted each other’s strength and kept their promises—that built their bond.
Yuuri felt surprised his cruel goddess had a friend. Shelm caught his thought with sharp eyes and glared unhappily, but he ignored her.
”From your chat, it sounds like you’re planning to let me claim a labyrinth.”
”Don’t misunderstand,” Mataaha replied. “You must seize it by skill. Ownership only comes through true power.”
He hadn’t expected her to hand over control right now with a simple “here, take it.”
Truthfully, with Marina leading and his Familial Workshop, they could conquer any labyrinth eventually. But whether the labyrinth goddess would allow shortcuts was another issue. If she saw cheating, she’d counter it.
Mataaha seemed to decide an owner would boost her power through the labyrinth—pure profit for her.
Relieved Marina’s faint hope stayed alive, Yuuri watched Shelm float up from her chaise. She drifted down before him, her porcelain body settling into his arms. She wrapped slim arms around his neck and pressed her thinly covered breasts against his chest.
”The capital labyrinth where you all are? It’s Mataaha’s masterpiece. She poured her heart into it, and now no one can beat it. She can’t recover the divine power she invested, so she came crying to me.”
”I did not cry,” Mataaha said, looking annoyed. “I asked for a skilled bearer. That’s all.”
She sounded wronged, but eighty years ago, Suzuri’s party caused a collapse the moment they reached deep layers. Existing skills clearly couldn’t finish it anymore.
That matched a mere guide’s guess. Shelm rubbed her forehead against his cheek like a cat, as if confirming it.
”You need labyrinths that fit human strength, or they’re pointless. That’s why I watch humans closely. I only give trials they can overcome!”
Shelm bragged proudly about her methods. Labyrinths stayed harmless unless challenged. Hearing an evil god who brought trouble on her own mock another felt infuriating, especially while she nestled in his arms.
But he couldn’t waste this chance to gain info from the labyrinth goddess by fussing over Shelm.
”One last question. What happens when someone conquers a labyrinth? No one ever talks about it. Is there a reason owners must hide it?”
”I can’t explain fully here. But owning a labyrinth means trading huge amounts of data with your soul. That load can twist a person’s mind enough.”
Mataaha, who had kept a straight face, sighed softly and closed her eyes.
The two goddesses shared many ability traits. Claiming a labyrinth might feel like gaining massive skills all at once. If right, the strain could multiply the faint he felt after crafting the white kimono—tens or hundreds of times worse.
No normal human could keep their will. Failed owners likely turned into shells, hidden by those around them.
”Why design it to break conquerors?”
”Full use demands that much processing. Basic resource growth might spare the mind, but try turning labyrinth monsters into soldiers for war—the data surges, and soul strain explodes.”
War use required fine military choices from the owner. Turn into a vegetable, and ambitions died. At best, owners enriched nations and strengthened human armies. Details stayed secret to hide how much labyrinth control they’d unlocked from rival countries.
”Then why plan for me—I mean, why let me handle a labyrinth beyond those limits?”
”I can’t reveal that yet. But meeting you confirms you’re fit for our plan. If you need the labyrinth for your wives, keep conquering. I promise no changes to prepare you for major god power.”
Hearing this from the labyrinth goddess herself shocked any guide who saw conquest as highest honor. Special training meant he’d carry big burdens later—dark thoughts crept in.
He glanced at the goddess in his arms. She only kissed his cheek for comfort.
”I won’t treat you badly. Just think about protecting Ashley and the others.”
Her rainbow eyes looked up earnestly, rare for her.
He couldn’t quit now. His women’s peace lay only beyond hardship. He had no choice but to ride the goddess’s words.
He asked about capital labyrinth depths but got nothing, of course. As he tried recalling other questions, time ran out.
”Hm. Sorry, I must leave. Trouble with my ‘Sairu’ (god fragment).”
”Ehh, already? Make a subdomain like mine and delegate authority management.”
Casual god talk about high powers left a weak human—who fainted crafting simple items—out completely.
The blue-dressed goddess floated up, narrowed her eyes slightly, and refused Shelm’s offer.
”Unlike you, I handle things myself. It lets me feel the numbers change.”
”Number fetish.”
Yuuri stared where Mataaha vanished into the void. Shelm tugged his collar lightly.
He peered into her sparkling, color-shifting eyes. She opened her mouth with clear enjoyment.
”Okay, let’s go!”
”Huh? Where?”
He hated when she skipped to conclusions—it confused him.
Question marks filled his head as he asked. She hugged him with a smile that bordered on evil.
”Your workshop, of course! Suzuri-chan joined, so I’ll add new sections!”
Rainbow light particles swirled as the starry horizon faded.
Shelm beamed fully. He couldn’t doubt her kind offer now. But he also couldn’t ignore the mischief surely mixed in.
Notes:
• Shelm – Wicked Goddess, reincarnated Yuuri, manipulative, wants him to use his power.
• Suzuri – A scout who braved the labyrinth and lured a petrifying monster to protect her friends, she endured long isolation while frozen in stone and relied on inner magic to preserve her sense of self.
• Mataaha – the labyrinth goddess with brown skin, silver eyes, and waist-length black hair. She resembles a stern, intellectual character like Mikasa Ackerman but with divine power.
• Marina – First Princess of Restea—needs labyrinth escort.
• Ashley – Count’s daughter, royal attendant, has a crush on Yuuri.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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