Chapter 171 An Audience with the King of the Magic Labyrinth
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After I had waited for some time in one of the mansion’s rooms, Millrose, Esrain, and Mardira finally made their appearance, escorted in by Vectra-san.
I had permitted all three of them to use the mansion’s large bathhouse to thoroughly scrub themselves clean. I also provided them with reasonably decent attire.
I suppose their high-born origins truly show; looking at them now, they are all remarkably beautiful women. Though I have to say, the contrast between Esrain’s doll-like face, her petite frame, and that massive chest is just dangerous…
Emerald, Sardonyx, and Eunos-san were also standing by in the room.
All three newcomers fixed their gazes upon Emerald and the others—whom they were seeing for the first time—but the lion’s share of their attention was drawn to the winged Eunos-san.
Presumably, no winged races exist in this world. They are likely regarded as nothing more than figments of imagination or artistic fancy.
”To introduce myself once more: I am Shimizu Shoichi. Though, lately, I have been called the King of the Magic Labyrinth,¹” I said.
I make a conscious effort to maintain the bearing of a Dominator² of this land. Right now, I am a King. I must conduct myself as one…
”I trust you were able to relax in the bathhouse?” Shoichi asked.
”………”
Esrain remained stoic and expressionless, while Mardira fidgeted, looking completely lost as to how she should respond. The one who finally mustered the courage to look me in the eye was Millrose.
”I find myself wondering what the King of the Magic Labyrinth intends to do with us?” Millrose asked.
Ugh… as I thought, this woman has a heavy presence…
If we had met under normal circumstances, she is definitely the type I would have kept at arm’s length. She possesses the unmistakable aura of someone who sat at the absolute top of the school hierarchy.
But even a woman like that can do nothing but submit to the King of the Magic Labyrinth…! Heh… heh heh heh…!
Besides, I’ve dealt with this type enough to know their nature. When a confident person has their ability³ acknowledged by a superior, it triggers a powerful sense of satisfaction and validation.
”…Millrose, was it? I have observed your group over the past few days… and I concluded that you are a woman of quick wit and high practical competence,” I said.
”………”
Millrose’s eyes twitched ever so slightly.
This was a direct evaluation from an individual she recognized as the Dominator of this land, a man possessing mysterious power. It couldn’t have felt bad to hear.
”With a mind as sharp as yours, you must have considered several possibilities regarding your fate before you even stepped into this room. If you don’t mind, would you care to share your thoughts?”
I ended up countering her question with one of my own, but only after properly buttering her up. Millrose slowly opened her mouth to speak.
”Normally speaking, one would purge those who disrupt the harmony of the group to ensure those remaining work more efficiently… or perhaps make a public example of the discarded to show the consequences of failure. However, I believe your intentions align with neither of those desuwa,” Millrose said.
Just as I suspected, she had been weighing their circumstances carefully. I gestured for her to continue.
”In the first place, our status here is that of criminals who have committed an insolence against the Dominator. Aside from passing judgment, there is no logical reason to utilize us as a mere labor force. Nor is there a need for a public execution; everyone here already possesses a sufficient understanding of your overwhelming power,” Millrose said.
I had intended to flatter her, but it seems she truly is as sharp as I hoped.
Even in this predicament, her reasoning remains cold and calculated. She is clearly the type who can view situations with objective detachment.
”Furthermore, despite being treated as little more than livestock until now, the three of us were permitted to use a magnificent bathhouse that would be the envy of royalty and nobility, and we have been provided with these clothes. At this stage, we are being treated as something more than beasts of burden. From that, I infer we are no longer considered livestock. In exchange for our absolute submission to the King of the Magic Labyrinth, you intend to assign us some specific role… that is my conclusion desuwa.”
It helped that I had already mentioned giving them roles, but she correctly surmised that it wasn’t a role meant for humiliation, but one with actual standing.
The fact that she didn’t interpret the bath as a ‘last meal’ shows her underlying confidence in her own utility. I can also start to see why the others might dislike her.
At the same time, I am certain: Millrose is the type who is easily manipulated if I leverage my position as the King of the Magic Labyrinth.
If I were just plain old Shimizu Shoichi, she wouldn’t have given me the time of day.
”Impressive, Millrose. You are exactly the woman I took you for,” I said.
When I praised her from my position of superiority, a faint look of satisfaction crossed her face.
Yeah, she’s definitely easy to handle. She must be thrilled to have her worth validated by the Dominator of this territory.
”The task I wish to entrust to the three of you is the management and selection of the livestock,” I said.
”…I wonder what you mean by that?” Millrose asked.
”Exactly what I said. I want you to act as my subordinates and take charge of managing the livestock,” I replied.
I proceeded to outline the specifics of the work. I explained the mechanisms installed in that room and the tasks the livestock would be required to perform. I also informed them that as managers, they would have the authority to administer punishments depending on the situation.
I further stated that they could freely command the maids dedicated to the livestock’s care, and that the ultimate goal was to make those women truly desire to work here as my maids from the bottom of their hearts.
It is far too early to release these women back to their home country after everything they’ve seen. On the other hand, I can’t bring myself to simply execute them…
”And the reason for choosing three women who are so hated to be the managers desuwa?” Millrose asked.
”It makes it easier for you to be ruthless with them, doesn’t it? After all, you were cast out by that group as the three unneeded members,” I said.
Heliodor and the others can’t be expected to babysit the female knights every single day. If I establish managers from within their own ranks, it saves us a tremendous amount of effort.
”If I were to refuse this proposal, I wonder what the outcome would be?” Millrose asked.
”A curious question. Are you suggesting you would rather return to the group that branded you useless? Would you truly choose to sink back into the status of mere livestock on purpose?” Shoichi asked.
”………”
By becoming managers, they can maintain a status far above the livestock who abandoned them. They can continue to use the luxurious bathhouse, and they can easily imagine that the quality of their meals will improve as well.
A woman as prideful as Millrose could never accept the alternative. She must be vividly imagining the prospect of being forced to thrust her naked face into a latrine trench again.
”…Depending on the terms, I do not mind submitting to the King of the Magic Labyrinth desuwa,” Millrose said.
”Oh? I wonder if you honestly believe you are in a position to negotiate terms?” Liliarette asked.
Typical. The moment negotiations start, she immediately tries to seize the high ground…
”Now, now. Let her speak her mind,” I said.
”…First, I require a guarantee of my own life. Furthermore, I ask that the lives of my family back in my home country be guaranteed as well desuwa,” Millrose said.
”If it is only that much, I have no objections. I have no intention of going out of my way to invade your country and wipe out your entire clan just because you once defied me,” I said.
”I am relieved to hear that. Should the King of the Magic Labyrinth’s pet be unleashed upon our nation, I have no doubt it would face utter collapse desuwa,” Millrose said.
I see… she was worried I might set Grantula⁴ on them.
Well, Grantula isn’t the female-type, and he can’t even leave the Dominion,⁵ though. There’s no point in telling her that, so I’ll keep it to myself.
”Then, from this moment forth, I, Millrose, shall serve as the hands and feet of the Great King of the Magic Labyrinth desuwa,” Millrose said.
”Eh… M-Millrose-san…” Mardira said.
Mardira looked on with a bewildered expression, prompting Millrose to turn her gaze toward her.
”Is there a problem? To begin with, I always held doubts regarding the structure of the White Lily Knight,⁶ which placed individuals devoid of management ability at the top simply because their loyalty to Viorga-sama was deep. The Great King of the Magic Labyrinth evaluates my competence correctly. Is it not only natural to wish to work for one who places a higher value on one’s abilities?” Millrose asked.
Millrose is exactly the kind of woman I pegged her for. As I thought, as long as I use my status as the King of the Magic Labyrinth, she is incredibly easy to manage.
”In my eyes, your presence here is the only thing that feels out of place. But you should count yourself lucky. It is precisely because of that lack of ability that you’ve been granted this chance to serve the Great King of the Magic Labyrinth in this capacity,” Millrose said.
Yep, she’s definitely the ‘unconscious power-harasser’ type!
Because she’s talented, she likely shows zero mercy to those she deems inferior. Personally, though, I feel more of a kinship with Mardira.
”I may have chosen the three outcasts to be managers… but I have expectations for Mardira as well,” I said.
”Eh…”
”It wasn’t that you lacked talent, but rather that the White Lily Knights were simply the wrong place for it to flourish. We have ample facilities and manpower here. I’m hoping you’ll use this chance to build a new career… what do you say?” I asked.
I framed it as if she wasn’t incompetent, but merely a victim of a toxic workplace environment. I made sure to lace my words with that specific nuance.
But let’s be real—given the situation, unless she’s the type who values loyalty to Viorga more than her own life, there’s only one choice.
And looking at her, she clearly isn’t that type.
”Y-Yes… I… I will obey… the King of the Magic Labyrinth…” Mardira said.
Good, good. That’s two of them ready to work. Now… for the rumored ‘Guru.’
Esrain had been silent and expressionless since entering the room, but her eyes had been glued to either the floating Sardonyx or the winged Eunos-san. Finally, Esrain spoke.
”…King of the Magic Labyrinth. I heard from Heliodor and the others that their power was bestowed upon them by you. Is the same true for that girl drifting in the air there?” Esrain asked.
”It is,” I replied.
”…If you grant that power to me as well, then I will serve you from this day forward,” Esrain said.
Well now… it seems her motivations are quite different from Millrose and the others.
—
Summary:
Shoichi grants an audience to Millrose, Esrain, and Mardira, offering them positions as managers over the other captive female knights. Millrose’s pragmatic nature leads her to accept the offer in exchange for recognition and safety, while Mardira is coaxed into the role through Shoichi’s validation. Esrain, however, reveals a specific desire for the supernatural powers Shoichi bestows on his followers, changing the dynamic of her submission.
—
Character Insight:
Millrose serves as a classic example of an elitist whose loyalty is tied to merit and recognition; she abandons her former order the moment she finds a ‘superior’ who values her properly. Mardira represents the fragile psychological state of the group, easily swayed by the first person to offer a ‘new career’ outside of her failure. Esrain is the most enigmatic, showing that beneath her child-like appearance lies a deep-seated ambition for the same ‘divine’ power Shoichi uses to maintain his rule.
—
Behind the Scene:
This chapter solidifies the transition of the captives into a functioning hierarchy, a staple of the ‘darker’ side of the kingdom-building genre where protagonists utilize outcasts to manage their domains.
”focus”: “Author notes, trivia, or production facts (if known)”
—
T/L:
Notes:
• Millrose – Vice-commander level knight of the White Lily Knights. Ranked 1st most hated. Height 164cm, D-cup. Cream-colored hair in ringlets. High pride and well-trained body with faint abs.
• Mardira – A female knight ranked 3rd most hated. Height 153cm, B-cup. Dark blue hair in a bob cut. Low stamina and self-esteem.
• Esrain – One of the four Great Gurus of the Emmeld Kingdom. She is the youngest among them and is considered to be at the peak of her magical power. She has beautiful white hair in a short cut and sleepy-looking eyes. Her height is 150cm with a D-cup bust size. She has a youthful, petite facial appearance.
• Vectra – A Unique Individual maid with white skin and white hair. Height 170cm, Bust Size D. Class: Duelist. Attribute: Darkness. Weapon: Star-Strike Battle Axe Volkein
• Emerald – Magical Girl version of Cleonora. Smaller, side-tailed, green-and-white mini-skirted girl.
• Eunos – Height 164cm, Bust Size C. A Unique Individual Maid summoned by Shou. She has long silver hair of a darker, steel-like shade and a pair of white wings on her back. She wears a modest long-skirted outfit resembling a nun’s habit. Her class is Magic Flash Gunner (El-Gunner).
• Sard – Magical Girl version of Liliarette. A-cup, wolf cut hair, class guardian knight. Yellowish-red vibe.
• Shimizu Shoichi – A plain, middle-aged Japanese man with short black hair and brown eyes. He looks worn-out and ordinary. Average build, average height, standing looks like Satoru Mikami from certain series.
• Heliodor – The Iris version of magical girl with a yellow-green theme. Height 144cm, Bust size B. Wears a rock-style mini-skirt with belts on thighs and arms. Right eye covered by hair, back hair shoulder-length with green mesh and a ribbon-braid on the left. Transforms into the Magical Girl Heliodor, the Luminous Archer.
• Liliarette – The other Princess, who sacrificed her ability to walk and her sorcery talent to save her sister, Cleonora. She is imprisoned in the East Tower and is being used as a political and monetary pawn by Viorga. C-cup, true golden hair, waist-length hair, the fringe was a slightly blunt, hair on her left side was braided to the chest.
• Grantula – A Unique Individual in the form of a giant mechanical spider. It has metallic parts and serves as the guardian of the Dominion’s periphery.
• Viorga – The First Princess of the Emmeld Kingdom. She is a beautiful, young woman with long golden hair and sharp blue eyes, always dressed in an elaborate crimson and gold royal gown. She is utterly ruthless, viewing all people—including the summoned Heroes and her own family—as disposable assets in her political games. Looks like Aileen Lauren from certain series.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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