Chapter 146 Testing the Limits of the Familial Workshop’s Time-Stop Ability
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It had been a few days since Yuuri had secretly handed the [Restoration] ability to Marina. Precious external time was now being dedicated to their remaining challenge: preventing their [Holy Sword]–type skills from interfering with one another. The proving grounds for this intensive training were located on the 57th layer—the [Infinite Canopy] (Mūkyū Tengai). Normally, the area was infested with black monsters far stronger than those found on the shallow levels, but for the Workshop family, whose members combined numerous skills, it served as nothing more than a convenient training field for formations and tactical drills.
Before Suzuri joined their ranks, the group had already completed several circuits with only one relatively weak male among them. With more members now, it simply required adjusting to the overwhelming firepower. Mastery came quickly, as the fundamentals hadn’t changed. Moreover, any situation where they previously lacked the power to swiftly finish an enemy was now handled easily thanks to [Luster] and [Dust], marking a tremendous improvement. Yet this very ease created an inverse issue: progress became so smooth that side attacks were being left behind. It was a luxurious sort of trouble—they had to slow themselves down just to ensure proper skill development.
Taking these unexpected developments as a sign that they had finally gained some leeway, they chose to practice multiple combat maneuvers in preparation for the future.
• The first was a Forced March, maintaining maximum speed while eliminating only the enemies ahead.
• The second was an Annihilation Battle, aimed at efficient combat and skill refinement by defeating all surrounding monsters.
• The third, proposed by Marina, was a crucial Retreat Drill, made feasible by their current safety margin.
Two escape methods were outlined: a standard fallback while reinforcing defenses against pursuing foes, and a spatial retreat where the servants would return to the Workshop after ensuring the [King]—Yuuri—had already fled at full speed.
After using Forced March and Annihilation as warm-ups, they moved to the standard retreat that did not rely on the Workshop. They simulated struggling against enemies they could normally kill with a single blow, refraining from using [Holy Sword] skills to foster composure and the courage to face monsters pressing into melee range. Learning how the remaining three should counter enemies that slipped past Marina’s defense proved a valuable gain.
”…That was tough, wasn’t it, desuwa. Simply putting Suzuri-san out front wasn’t enough,” Suzuri analyzed with crisp precision.
”It is so, is it not?” Yuuri replied, nodding thoughtfully. “If Marina-dono is entirely occupied, a single person can no longer manage the remainder. If we choose to hold our ground without relying on the Workshop, Yuuri reasoned that Yuuri should restrain one enemy, leaving Ashley free to cast magic. Enemies would likely circle behind them, and Yuuri would have to eliminate those or a retreat would become impossible.”
The group returned to the Workshop for a temporary debriefing and rest, maintaining the one-month external-time limit. They kept their gear on and watched a single black Rigia—a massive pill bug-like monster—trapped in Ashley’s magic outside the glass wall that replaced the Workshop’s automatic door. They observed to confirm that external time had indeed halted. As they ventured deeper in future expeditions, fleeing to the Workshop might become their last resort; mentally preparing for monsters lurking at the exit was essential. Similarly, observing the Workshop’s time-isolation in real conditions helped them detect abnormalities swiftly.
Under that persistent tension, Yuuri and Marina—usually not frontline defenders—began discussing the retreat drill’s shortcomings.
”Yeah. Yuuri might lack technique and offensive options, but Yuuri’s divine protection is the strongest,” Yuuri admitted plainly. “At worst, Yuuri can just hold the line.”
”That’s right, you see,” Marina agreed. “As Suzuri pointed out, this solves things before we choose to escape to the Workshop. The assumption is that Ashley or Suzuri can defeat the enemy in one blow. During that time, I’ll be drawing a massive number of enemies. Taking too long on one that slips through would ruin the tactic.”
From here on, as the party entered unexplored territory, even the core members could no longer afford to naively avoid all contact with monsters. Yuuri had prided himself on avoiding danger for ten years—even if only on shallow floors—but strategy now demanded proper deployment of each piece, including the [King] himself.
”Even so, Yuuri would rather not get slowly overwhelmed. Can the judgment for switching to a Workshop retreat be left to Marina?” he asked.
”Yes,” she replied, “but for that decision, I’ll need your insight on the Labyrinth. And fleeing to the Workshop is important for survival, but ultimately, we must learn to withstand the enemy’s assault while searching for a breakthrough. Otherwise, we’ll never conquer the Labyrinth.”
Everyone agreed. Escaping was easy, but forming a habit of retreating would halt all progress. To prevent the seizure of their leased property and ensure Marina’s political survival, they could not afford to slacken.
”…But still, looking at the scenery outside the Workshop frozen like this gives you a very strange feeling, doesn’t it?” Marina remarked, pointing to the motionless Rigia.
The large fixed glass pane allowed them to observe the monster like an exhibit. The giant insect stood frozen, confirming time had stopped—but its glossy black carapace, damp from the [Infinite Canopy]’s humidity, appeared vividly alive, like a three-dimensional photograph. They had only seen the monotonous interior of the [Safety Area] before, where nothing changed even when time moved. While they never doubted the time-stop—thanks to Shelm’s explanation and the fact that monsters didn’t respawn when a day passed inside—the evidence had been only circumstantial. Seeing a creature frozen mid-motion made the reality undeniable.
A new worry followed: how much could they rely on this “absolute ability”? Would the Workshop truly defend them even against monsters forced into desperate action? Suzuri seemed to share this silent unease.
”Indeed. That black Rigia hasn’t moved a single antenna, even though it should have broken the ice by now. I hope this power works against monsters deeper down, desuwa,” Suzuri voiced.
Marina considered the matter. “Complacency is dangerous, but I think it’ll be fine. It’s better to assume the Workshop’s time is accelerating rather than the outside being stopped. We’re simply moving faster. We’re not interfering with the monsters outside. For them to react, they’d have to move at infinite speed the moment the Workshop cuts off external time. If a monster could do that, we’d be dead before we even reached the Workshop.”
If enemies like that existed, the Labyrinth never could have been conquered. The fact that it had been conquered served as proof; even the Royal Capital Labyrinth, crafted by Goddess Mataaha, had to be surmountable with realistic manpower. The [Familial Workshop] supplemented their capabilities, which was why the deities entrusted them with the most difficult Labyrinth. All that remained was to use its powers thoroughly and prepare completely.
However, Yuuri still disliked granting skills that strayed too far from human intuition. If they lost human sensibility upon returning to society after conquering the Labyrinth, it would cause conflict. Their goal was to conquer the Labyrinth using as few skills as possible. For that, the ability to safely retreat to the [Safety Area] when a skill shortage was discovered remained indispensable.
”All right. Let’s restart training,” Yuuri said, standing before the battlefield tension could fade.
”Yes, you see. Suzuri, please do as we discussed,” Marina instructed.
”Yes, desuwa. Ashley-dono, are you ready?” Suzuri asked.
”Yes. Please begin,” Ashley answered.
They were about to test an ability they understood in theory but hadn’t verified: the precise nature of the time-stop and how to exploit the Workshop strategically. Once everyone was ready, Suzuri placed her hand on the glass—on the border separating them from the outside world. Her shinobi-clad form scattered and reappeared outside.
”Ah, it moved,” Marina breathed.
”Well, that’s exactly what Yuuri thought would happen,” Yuuri murmured.
The moment Suzuri stepped outside, the external time display began moving. Simultaneously, the Rigia—formerly frozen—resumed movement, thrashing to escape its icy pedestal and devour the prey that had materialized.
”So time only stops when all of us are inside the Workshop?” Marina summarized.
”Yeah. Otherwise, anyone entering later would be left behind,” Yuuri replied.
Since unlocking the [Familial Workshop], the group usually acted together to maximize efficiency. But the possibility remained that a servant might have to venture out alone if cornered. Verifying mutual limitations was essential.
”My Lady! It might be possible to cast magic from here!” Ashley suddenly exclaimed.
Marina blinked. “…Oh, seriously? That sounds terrible. That means Ashley could attack from safety without ever being targeted.”
Originally, Suzuri was to test whether she could lure the Rigia out of the ice. But Ashley’s sudden realization presented a new advantage they’d overlooked due to their fixation on conserving external time.
”Ashley, focus your firepower and cast a lightning spell that won’t hit Suzuri. Weaken the Rigia and free it; Suzuri will understand what we’re doing,” Yuuri ordered.
”Y-Yes, sir! …[Trembling Thunder]!” Ashley chanted, ensuring Suzuri had moved to a safe distance. A storm of lightning exploded outside.
Suzuri, startled by the sudden attack, scanned for a new enemy before noticing the enraged Rigia and understanding the situation.
”As expected, Suzuri noticed, desuwa. But the Rigia is furious and thinks Suzuri is the attacker,” Yuuri observed with faint amusement.
”Mmm… not only are we untouchable from here, but our attacks don’t register outside. Shouldn’t we have Ashley stay in the Workshop and safely cast magic?” Marina proposed.
Her idea had merit: Ashley’s spellcasting always required a moment of vulnerability. If she could attack while invincible, all the better.
But Yuuri had spotted a flaw.
”Hmm… I can’t change the entrance’s orientation unless I go outside. And even outside, the viewable range is extremely narrow—as you can see. Restricting Ashley to shooting only through that narrow field wastes her true strength,” Yuuri explained.
”Aww, man, I thought it was such a good idea!” Marina groaned, stamping the floor.
A trick is, by nature, a deviation from proper means, Yuuri thought. Even if it worked, unexpected obstacles often arose.
They couldn’t exploit this loophole—at least not now. But under the right circumstances, it might prove invaluable. Keeping that in mind, Yuuri used the [Familial Workshop] to summon Suzuri back so the situation could be properly explained.
—
Summary:
The Workshop family dives into intense combat drills on the 57th layer, the [Infinite Canopy], to master complex formations and retreat strategies before advancing deeper into the Labyrinth. After confirming their mastery of Forced March and Annihilation Battles, they focus on a critical Retreat Drill, leading to a vital discovery: the [Familial Workshop]’s absolute power to halt external time only functions when all members are safely inside. The scene culminates in a thrilling, high-risk test of an accidental tactical advantage—the ability to cast magic safely from within the time-stopped Workshop to the moving outside world—a powerful but geographically limited [trick] that promises future strategic utility.
Notes:
• Marina – First Princess of Restea—needs labyrinth escort.
• Suzuri – A scout who braved the labyrinth and lured a petrifying monster to protect her friends. Tall, statuesque, flawlessly pale skin, powerfully toned yet soft and feminine, with long, flowing black hair identical to Marina. Her body is exaggerated hourglass—strong, trained muscles in her core, shoulders, and limbs paired with extremely generous curves. Her breasts are very large, full, high-set, and overtly described as “too big for her frame,”
• Ashley – Count’s daughter, royal attendant, has a crush on Yuuri.
• Shelm – Wicked Goddess, reincarnated Yuuri, manipulative, wants him to use his power.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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