Danmaku, my skills refresh weekly.

And this centaur before us is, without a doubt, very likely the very first heretic to emerge.

Charles's expression was strange: "It is said that the dungeon will reclaim the souls of dead monsters, transform them into new forms and re-incubate them. Heretic was born from this rule."

"Is it possible that some immortal essences might have mixed into the souls of these reincarnated monsters?"

Fairies are the agents of the gods, and they hate the dungeons of the gods. They would never allow the souls of dead fairies to return to the heavens.

"From our last test, only a few powerful immortal spirits remained that were not digested and whose physical forms still existed. The rest are all gone."

"There must have been more than just those few heroes who followed the adventurers into the labyrinth back then."

Alfia wasn't sure either. Although they had discovered the heretics long ago, they hadn't had much interaction with them. But the heretics didn't possess any aura that would instinctively arouse human disgust.

The centaur frowned: "What are you talking about? Invaders, are you planning to harm Mother again?!"

Charles, hands on hips: "Intruder? Looks like you haven't figured out your own position yet... Come on, take this [Divine Persuasion]!"

Golden magical light bloomed in Sharl's palm, and under its glow, the centaur's eyes became clear...

"……Owner?"

【Divine Persuasion】This is a spell that can control wild monsters. Unlike the forced binding of the 【Collar】, this is a change on a spiritual level.

It's equivalent to... Kotoamatsukami, which is used against ordinary monsters.

Charles looked at the centaur, who was constantly frowning as if in resistance, and sighed, "It doesn't seem to be having much effect..."

"Just call me Charles."

"Shire!" The centaur was clearly much more comfortable.

While the magic was still active, Charles quickly asked:

"What were these invaders you mentioned earlier? You've always lived in the labyrinth, so why did you suddenly attack us? And what do you mean by 'guarding the sacred ground'?"

The question seemed to trigger a confrontation with the centaurs; her eyes trembled slightly, but she still managed to utter the information that Charles wanted to know.

It turns out that when Sharl and Alfia last entered the 60th floor, they were discovered by the centaurs. Because they accidentally triggered the Kraken's hatred, the monsters revived and the labyrinth collapsed.

After that, the severely injured Kraken began to devour and parasitize the labyrinth, restoring its fighting strength by absorbing more energy from within the labyrinth.

This led the centaurs, who saw themselves as their mother's darlings and were determined to protect their homeland, to believe that the humans, including the Shire, were invaders attempting to encroach upon the underground sanctuary.

"No... Not long ago, other 'people' entered the lower levels. After that, Mother cried out in anguish, and those green things began to erode her. The ice plains I inhabited have become like this, and my kin have also been mutated, becoming ugly and insane..."

At this point, the centaur's eyes glazed over, but soon regained their fury: "What have you done to me?!"

“Calm down, ma’am. I think there was some misunderstanding between us.” Charles softened his tone, picked up Pochi, and gave the centaur a couple of swipes to calm him down.

"We are not bad people..."

"Are there any good people among humans?! From the day I was born, humans have been slaughtering our own kind!" the centaur retorted stubbornly.

"Do you think those monsters outside would consider you one of their own?" Sharl retorted. "They would attack you just the same way. You've grown up to this point, and you've killed quite a few so-called 'compatriots' and devoured magic stones, haven't you?"

"..." The centaur turned his head away and didn't reply.

"The one you're referring to as destroying the dungeon (Mother) isn't me, it's that monster! We just accidentally awakened it, and the labyrinth's corruption was inevitable."

Charles said calmly, "You should thank me. Once that tentacle monster has quietly completed the transformation of the labyrinth, you, who live here, will also become its food."

"I will kill it!" the centaur retorted.

"You can't beat her!"

"I have an arrow that can shoot down the sun!"

"But you can't beat her!"

"I am incredibly strong!"

Charles retorted again, "But you can't beat her!"

"Damn it!" the centaur exclaimed. "Can't you say something else?!"

"This is a fact."

Faced with overwhelming magical attacks and enormous bodies that can cover an entire floor, centaurs, a unit with both strength and speed, would only become easy targets.

“And…” Charles chuckled, “You should have noticed it by now, your own specialness.”

Don't you want to see your real compatriots?

The centaur was taken aback: "A true kin?"

Ciel patted Rimuru, who was pretending to be dead and hiding in his chest: "Come out and say hello."

Rimuru reluctantly emerged, extending his tentacles in salute: "Hey, I'm not a bad slime."

shoot--

Ciel slapped Rimuru's round body: "Don't say that. What if the [Star Dragon] hears you?"

The centaur stared wide-eyed at Rimuru in disbelief: "There are other brethren with wisdom like me?"

“Of course…” Charles smiled, “we are on the same side.”

"Our enemy should be that octopus! You alone are no match for it, but we can help you."

"I don't believe it! If you hadn't ambushed us, you would already be dead under my arrows!" the centaur retorted. "Besides, I don't need your help. Just recently, a human also came into contact with that monster. If she hadn't borrowed its power, I would have killed her!"

A person? Charles narrowed his eyes...

Has the strange man already come down?

"You've never fought anyone before?!"

"That was my carelessness! I didn't dodge!" the centaur retorted. "My Sun-Shooting Arrow! It's enough to destroy all enemies!"

"You couldn't even penetrate Pochi's armor." Charles rolled his eyes...

This centaur doesn't seem very bright, and...

"I...I will defend the glory of the earth (Mother Earth) to the death!"

"So, who ordered you to protect her, the dungeon? Have you seen her? Or did she personally give you the order?"

The centaur raised its head: "As the only wise man in this land, the only wise king born of Mother, I have a responsibility to guard my homeland! And to protect the safety of the land (Mother)!"

Ciel slapped his own face: "This is a character setting you created for yourself!"

Damn... Chuunibyou (middle school syndrome)!

Chapter 378 You Need a Name

"Is there a problem?" The centaur felt that his argument was completely correct.

Her mother bestowed upon her wisdom and knowledge, and she bore the responsibility of protecting the labyrinth and her home. She was to expel or kill any intruders who threatened her mother or the labyrinth.

She has always done it this way; she is the queen of this icy plain, unlike those madmen who live in the water.

Of course, there were also people she dared not provoke. The humans who had ventured into this icy plain were all ridiculously strong. At that time, she could only hide in the ice cave and observe them in secret.

It was then that she resolved to become the true queen of this land!

In the last decade or so, she has indeed succeeded, using her painstakingly honed archery skills to kill many powerful monsters in other territories, learning human habits, and using the bodies of powerful prey to create weapons.

Until that woman arrived.

She awakened a colossal monster on the 60th floor, destroying the lower kingdoms, shrinking her territory by a third, and planting horrible green flesh in an attempt to plunder her habitat.

They are invaders, robbers trying to plunder her rights!

So she initiated a sacred duel, and then, predictably, lost.

But she refused to acknowledge her weakness, saying that humans were too despicable, resorting to sneak attacks and even seeking help.

"Even in defeat, I will still be the strongest on this icy plain! The sole guardian of this labyrinth!" the centaur roared.

Charles sighed, "But... someone as great as you... alas..."

He counted on his fingers: "When people mention the [Glacier Overlord], the [King of Wisdom], the [Dungeon Guardian], and the [Primal Beast], they don't think of you..."

"Why?! Don't I have enough titles to prove my strength?"

"Because you don't have your own name!"

"Goo-hoo—" The centaur's eyes widened.

Charles added, "Whether they are monsters or humans, they won't associate these things with ordinary centaurs."

"Hey, Ma. Do you think I'm right?"

The centaur neighed: "I am not a horse! I am the guardian of the labyrinth!"

"And who is the overlord of the glacier?"

"It's me too!"

"And... what about the King of Wisdom?"

"It's all my fault!"

"You can only choose one."

"Why?!"

Charles spread his hands: "Because centaurs are a race, when so many titles are applied to centaurs, people will naturally think that this race has produced many strong people, rather than referring to you."

"So I need a name!" the centaur realized.

Charles said with a sly grin, "Didn't your mother give you a name? She was such an irresponsible mother, failing to bestow a name upon the great [Guardian]!"

"Just like your compatriot, her name was bestowed upon her by me, a name that symbolizes the title of the future 'Sweet King'—Rimuru!"

"You're really good at naming things?!" The centaur was intrigued. Charles had just mentioned many impressive titles that even she hadn't considered. She tentatively inquired:

"Can you help me come up with a name?"

“I can’t name you; that’s your parents’ job.” Charles put his hands behind his back and said mysteriously, “Unless you really want to acknowledge me as your father.”