Danmaku, my skills refresh weekly.

Meanwhile, Charles was meeting these heretics for the first time. After a brief introduction and getting acquainted with them, he dragged Fels away.

The long-stalled "artificial underground city" project can now begin construction.

After demonstrating Rimuru's monster-breeding abilities...

“We need to build a ‘Fairy Energy Circuit’ at the base that can recycle and recover energy. Using this as a stepping stone, we can increase Rimuru’s value until his body covers the entire labyrinth wall, creating a replica of the dungeon,” Sharl proposed his plan.

“That would require enormous amounts of energy and resources…” Fels asked.

“The Dark Faction can handle this. That guy Balka, hasn’t he always been pursuing the creation of a replica of the dungeon? Now that we can completely transform the labyrinth into a dungeon, he should be happy to make it happen.”

Charles explained, "The Dark Faction also needs to improve its strength. They're all trash. Apart from Dix, who's good at making money, there's only Valetta, that weakling. Two level 5s aren't enough for Finn and his group. We can't always have to make a move. The Dark Faction should be sitting on its throne with its legs crossed, not showing its face in public."

“Let’s start with the most basic things: hatching different monsters and automatically repairing the dungeon.” Sharl looked at Haski and took out some light-colored magic stones: “I will have Rimuru assist you in advancing the research, mass production, and automation of new monster species.”

“Fels, you will assist me in constructing the ‘Undying’ domain.”

The gifts from Erebus, the underworld, can also come in handy now.

However, if he wanted to extend his authority over the entire labyrinth, Charles's small body would definitely not have enough blood. He would need a special array to turn the entire man-made labyrinth into a magic workshop.

"After that, we'll find a way to recover the mental energy released by the adventurers to replenish Rimuru's consumption and strive to achieve self-sustaining growth."

This can be partially compensated for by the mana-absorbing properties of the [Mana Wyrm], but this attribute needs to be further amplified.

Charles pondered:

If you want to increase the adventurers' enjoyment of exploration, you must provide enough treasure to attract them.

Ideally, you could kill monsters to get equipment or open treasure chests.

But I can't possibly use my own things to fill this hole...

Ideally, this portion of the consumption should be returned to the adventurers who explored.

Ciel thought of the dream crystal Belle had left behind.

If we could control the power of dreams and extract the "experience points" of "dead" adventurers through dream crystals, could we generate special items, such as... experience books or skill books? Or even transform them into equipment or other items?

This was just a wild idea, and coincidentally, the labyrinth happened to have a "nightmare god" named Icarus...

Charles secretly wondered if he could succeed the next elder brother.

far away...

“We can use the power of ‘immortality’ to make the dark faction’s cadres kill each other, and then resurrect them to gain a group of elite subordinates. This will require a group of volunteers…” Charles muttered.

Alfia stroked his chin: "Speaking of infighting, that's a tradition of the Dou Kingdom. Should we make a trip there?"

"A nation of fighting?" Charles narrowed his eyes.

That was the name of a national faction ruled by the God of War, Gali, and led by Amazons.

The children of Dou Kingdom live with their sisters from a young age, and eventually kill their roommates at a certain age in order to continuously advance through the ranks.

The environment of Dou Kingdom can be described as a land of blood and mist.

And right now...

As a powerful faction with four level 5 members, it would be a lie to say I wasn't tempted.

Four level 5 warriors fight each other to produce two level 6 warriors, and then the two level 6 warriors fight each other to produce a level 7 Amazon "Contending Princess". This is the bloody power struggle.

If these female warriors can fight to the death in the [Death] realm, and then be resurrected by Fels using resurrection magic, the world's combat power will be further enhanced.

“But Dou Kingdom… it’s very far away!” Xia Er hesitated.

He was completely unfamiliar with the world outside of Orario, practically knowing almost nothing about it. Venturing into a foreign land without proper knowledge would easily lead to getting lost. He was still just a child.

Alfia seemed to sense Charles's unease and said softly, "The school district will be returning soon. You can try boarding that warship and traveling the world. Don't you have Ansel under your command?"

"As Ciel, you can enter the school district; as the Joker, you can also complete your plans—killing two birds with one stone."

Charles's eyes lit up.

The school district's world tour is held every three years. Starting from the beginning of the main tour, the school district will return to base five and a half years before the main tour begins.

The major protests have been over for more than half a year, and time has already passed to 'six and a half years ago'. So, in another six months or so, will the school district return?

"Hmm, almost a year is still too long."

“We can start by planning… to find some forces connected to the Dou Kingdom, such as the remnants of the Ishtar clan,” Alfia suggested.

“That’s right…” Charles’s eyes lit up, not thinking of Aisha, who wasn’t born in the Amazons of the Kingdom of Dou. He was thinking of Tiona and Tione, who hadn’t yet arrived in Orario…

"I remember that before arriving in Orario, they would join fishing clans near the port city to hunt aquatic monsters for money. The time limit was about a year, so maybe they're already near the port city?"

but……

If the Amazon sisters are recruited, Tione will most likely continue to follow Finn because of the karmic entanglement from their past lives... after all, she was the woman who almost ate Finn.

Tiona might also go with her sister.

But never mind, Ciel isn't interested in the yandere Amazon either. He's just using her as a stepping stone to the Fighting Kingdom. He can make contact with her first.

At worst, I could just shove two more former "noname" familial traitors into Loki's service. I really want to see her reaction when she discovers that the officers she finally recruited were actually "noname" before.

……

A man-made maze, 10 levels, between the maze's inhabitants.

The Joker, draped in a black robe and cloak, found Balka, who was pondering how to make more money.

After demonstrating Rimuru's characteristics and his cooperation with the monster, Ciel suggested:

“The current labyrinth is vastly different from the dungeon. To fulfill Daedalus’s long-cherished wish, I believe it is necessary to introduce new technologies.”

Barka stared at the black slime clinging to the rock wall, which was beginning to spew out goblins, his eyes gleaming...

"How much farithm will this require?"

“We don’t need too much funding. Rather, we can move some of the super-hard metals to other places. Not all floors of the dungeon are rigid mazes. We need something more natural, so we need to change the current blueprints for the maze,” Charles explained. “What I need is your consent, or rather, the consent of your ancestors.”

The Daedalus bloodline will complete the labyrinth step by step according to the cursed blueprints left by Daedalus; this is a curse that cannot be resisted.

but now……

It has to be said, Barka was tempted.

The design blueprints from a thousand years ago are outdated. Daedalus's true desire is not for lifeless imitations, but for a real dungeon!

His blood was churning, his soul was burning.

It wasn't a rebellion stemming from blood, but rather excitement!

Daedalus, driven by his obsession, granted the Shire's request!

His hands trembled as he stroked Rimuru's smooth, rounded body: "Joker, you and your retinue have brought about change! You are a true sage who truly understands and recognizes our lofty ideals! You will be a friend of the Daedalus clan forever!"

Chapter 386 Spectacularity Leads to National Detriment

Barka's eyes were bloodshot, and the blood-red letter D trembled in his eye sockets.

What I said before was not unfounded; it was a genuine agreement with Ciel.

Barka has never been to the surface. He does not know when he was born, nor when his "self" was born. From the day he was born, when he was chosen to be the "progenitor" of this generation, everything he does is in accordance with his "bloodline" and "manual".

He has been wavering between "consciousness" and "unconsciousness".

however……

A life that should have followed the established procedure of building a maze until death was altered after this man appeared.

He had his own desires...

"I will surpass my ancestors!" Balka's face contorted with madness. "Ah... my blood is churning, my 'bloodline' is excited! It acknowledges me! It praises me! In this moment, I am no longer a 'substitute for Daedalus,' I will break free of my shackles and become the true 'Daedalus,' the true ancestor!"

"The 'handbook' is useless now! The 'bloodline' is urging me to complete a new plan!"

"Mr. Joker, your fantasies make even the spirits of the past tremble!"

Ciel, one hand in his pocket, shoulders trembling, covered his face: "Heh heh heh~, hey, Balcasan, no one would refuse to build their own labyrinth, would they?"

"Watching such a magnificent spectacle being completed bit by bit by my own hands, and feeling the sense of accomplishment when the last brick is laid... that's the ultimate thrill!"

“Ah…” Barka clenched his fist.

Over a thousand years, the man-made maze has only completed less than 18 floors.

He was not an immortal being and claimed he could not see the labyrinth completed, but after the appearance of Charles, he developed new ambitions!

The 19th to 25th floors, a full six floors, would have taken a century to complete, representing a third of the previous amount of work. However, after the appearance of the Shire, it was completed and put into use within just a few months.

Although the expensive "Dirgen Steel" and "Orichalcum" have not yet been used, and the mechanisms and traps have not been implemented, this is only a matter of "decoration."

As long as the money is in place, the maze that would normally take a second millennium to complete will be finished in no time.

and……

"You just said that some floors don't require super-hard metal, right?"

“Hmm…” Charles praised, “Your ancestor, Daedalus, pursued ‘ecology,’ right?”

"A masterpiece completed under the immense power of nature, hailed as a work of divine craftsmanship!"

"What he yearns for is not the labyrinth, but 'the world'! He is a man who, with a mortal body, is usurping the authority of the gods, attempting to become the creator god!!"

Barka's facial muscles twitched, and his voice was agitated: "Allies! You know us!"

Charles opened his arms wide: "The current labyrinth is too rigid! No matter how many resources are invested, it's just a lifeless object! To bring it to life, 'earth,' 'water,' 'air,' 'magic element,' 'monsters,' 'adventurers'—everything will be part of the labyrinth's self-sustaining cycle."

"With such a perfect finished product right in front of us, why should we cling to lifeless 'bricks' and 'metals'?"

"Balka! Let's create a 'world' together!"

Barka asked excitedly, "What should we do?"

"Let's start from the first floor! As the beginning of our adventure, we'll need slimes, goblins, kobolds... and more monster materials!"

Charles looked at Balka: "I remember you have a half-brother, right?"