Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

Having located the location of Rives, their greatest threat, they removed their most worrying factor.

"All troops, increase speed!! This is the dividing line between victory and defeat—attack in one fell swoop!"

The commands of the little people thundered from the magical artifact.

Having located Revis's position, all units immediately accelerated in unison.

To be precise, it is an "offensive" that shifts from preserving a way out to completely abandoning the option of retreat.

Bert and his men roared, Grace and her men charged forward, and Tiony and his men followed suit, the heretics' howls reaching the heavens. The various forces began to penetrate deeper and more ruthlessly into the man-made labyrinth.

The combat tactics have been switched.

Finn's command, Ais and the others' incredible individual prowess, and then Fels's outrageous magical artifact that defied the boundaries of time and place—everything worked perfectly together, making this campaign proceed smoothly, effortlessly, and ruthlessly.

In the vast, labyrinthine maze, adventurers scattered throughout the area roared together like a single creature, charging forward with unwavering courage.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 11 Chapter 5: Obsession Manifests

"..."

Baka, a descendant of the master craftsman Daedalus and who holds the de facto "control" over the man-made labyrinth, was speechless as he looked at the scene before him.

(...too fast.)

The enemy's attack speed is also fast.

The adventurers also progressed through the floors at a rapid pace.

Half a day has passed since the faction alliance began its conquest operation. No, perhaps it should be said "only half a day" is more accurate.

The army of adventurers, centered around the Loki Familia, surged forward like a raging fire, conquering every floor of the man-made labyrinth.

The fastest orc unit had reached the eighth floor, while the others were advancing towards the seventh. To put it bluntly, this speed was truly unbelievable. This might be understandable in a dungeon that had already been thoroughly explored and mapped. But this was a man-made labyrinth, a world that should still be "unknown" to the Loki Familia.

But the situation is...

(The moment Revis approached the [Sword Maiden] unit... from that moment on, the movements of every unit changed. Even the monsters near the lowest level.)

Baka had no idea that it was all the effect of the magic item "Eye Crystal" provided by the magician.

The ability to accurately transmit messages over long distances is of paramount strategic importance. The sheer power of Finn's ability to interpret battlefield situations and deliver clear instructions to all units in real time surpasses the capabilities of countless weapons. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this "Eye Crystal" is the final "key" to conquering the man-made labyrinth.

The sheer magnitude of the threat it posed was evident in the devastating sight of the water film ravaging the pedestal before Baka's eyes.

The number of makeshift seedbeds that were destroyed is countless.

The rate at which monsters are being regenerated is already too fast to keep up.

The carnivorous plant was driven away by the adventurers, and the crystal strider was annihilated in the face of the vanguard's fierce charge.

Although the remnants of the dark faction are fighting, they often fail to catch the enemy and simply self-destruct.

(A second intrusion into the man-made maze, making full use of the intelligence obtained from it...)

The Loki Familia has used everything up to this day as its foundation.

This includes the first retreat battle, which came at the cost of sacrificing comrades, and the second surprise attack that targeted Baka and his men.

Behind the valiant fight of the first-tier adventurers, the routes written down and memorized by the other members became the guiding principles of this attack, transforming into the light illuminating the demon's lair.

The anger over the murder of a companion, and the wisdom of an adventurer.

They've turned everything into weapons, and are about to shatter this man-made labyrinth.

"Can even a thousand-year history of clan achievements be surpassed...?"

They showed Baka what it was all about.

Witness the difference between the extraordinary world of "Dungeon," which defies the thinking of the gods, and the artificial counterfeit "Knossos."

Anything man-made always possesses certain rules and creates a certain order. The arrangement of stones, the sequence of paths, the location of the "doors"... all must contain human "intention." And unless the maker is a god, there is no such thing as "perfection." At this moment, Baka seemed to understand the torment of the progenitor Daedalus in his pursuit of perfect chaos.

The Loki Familia must have gotten closer to the rules of the place during their second battle, repeatedly refining their strategies, and successfully "adapted" to it.

Having spent years challenging underground abysses that are over 50 stories deep, how could they possibly find a man-made area with only 18 stories more difficult?

The various scenes reflected on the water film on the pedestal and then disappearing immediately—the speed at which the Loki Familia attacked, destroying the monitoring "eyes"—caused Baka a distinct chill.

He couldn't help but wonder, as if it were none of his business, if this was the feeling of someone whose city was about to fall.

"We've already approached the eighth floor!"

"What should I do? What's the right thing to do?!"

"Now we have no choice but to send our cadres into battle too...!"

“…………”

Baka glanced at the surrounding cadres, who were still noisy and restless like wild beasts even in the "Lord of the Bewitching Hall," and pondered in silence.

The dark faction's proud stronghold is about to fall. Some of the undisciplined "villains" have even abandoned it and begun to escape the labyrinth.

It's too early to draw conclusions. However, if we don't play the "fairy spirit" trump card now, the artificial maze will definitely fall.

Baka's purpose was definitely not to go to the underworld with the apostles of death.

Baka will stop at nothing to achieve his "long-cherished wish".

Given this, the action that Baka should take is—

"Baka, little brother."

At this time.

Without anyone noticing, Sanatos quietly approached and reached out his arm, wrapping it around the shoulder of Bacca, who was deep in thought.

"Are you planning to betray the information about the artificial labyrinth and defect to the Loki Familia?"

“…………”

"To protect this man-made labyrinth... why not just betray us?"

That face was smirking right next to him.

The slender arms that wrapped around the shoulders resembled a snake.

And the voice of this celestial being accurately saw through Baka's heart.

Baka's sole focus was fulfilling the progenitor's long-cherished wish: to complete this man-made labyrinth. As long as he achieved this goal, he had no need to be attached to the dark faction. His continued service as Thanatos's servant was merely due to his contribution to expanding the labyrinth.

Bacca has no loyalty.

Baka possesses only the "millennial obsession" passed down from his ancestors.

Therefore, if the Loki Familia, which is cooperating with the guild, wants to wipe out all those who attempt to destroy the city, he can simply hand over the information and surrender.

"But even if you betray us and survive... I don't think the management organization <Guild> and Uranus will let you continue to expand the artificial labyrinth, absolutely not."

“…………”

"For the sake of the city's peace, areas connected to the underground city would only be in the way."

Sanatos, as if bestowing an oracle, instilled dark words into Baka's heart.

He hit the nail on the head. Even if the man-made maze could be built without destroying it, it would be impossible to continue building more.

Just like the "Heretical Child" incident, any mishap could allow the monster to re-enter the surface. Such areas are a thorn in the side of the management agencies.

Baka glanced at him without even looking at his god-like profile.

The androgynous, decadent Grim Reaper is still laughing.

He didn't know if it was mockery or affection for the foolish child.

Sanatos, who had been peering at the reflection in the water, slowly met Bacca's gaze.

"You know that Baka's wish can only be fulfilled by those around us, right?"

"..."

"Besides, Brother Baka isn't an elf, a long-lived race, so he couldn't possibly have witnessed the completion of the man-made labyrinth. Didn't you say that yourself? Or are you just being greedy?"

"..."

"Since I can't do it myself... for the sake of the next generation <the next Daedalus>, I'll remove as many obstacles as possible. By any means necessary."

A long silence followed.

The words God whispered in his ear told him only the "truth".

"...Yes, I understand."

Finally, he nodded expressionlessly at his reflection in the eyes of the celestial being.

Sanatos, who had asked him to share both good times and bad, had eyes that curved into a smile. The moment the arm wrapped around his shoulder loosened, Bacca immediately took a step forward.

"Baka, is there anything I can help you with?"

"No. After I leave, no one will be able to operate the 'door,' so the command is in your hands."

Baka responded to the laughing voice that came from behind without changing his expression. His ghostly gait startled the previously bustling group members, who stopped in their tracks and made way for him.

Baka correctly understood Thanatos's "divine will".

He understood what Thanatos was asking him to do.

Baka, who holds control over the artificial maze, has only one purpose in leaving the "Master's Hall," where he can manipulate the "doors": to kill the intruders.

Moreover, they are unscrupulous and stop at nothing.

“…………”

He walked down the dimly lit corridor.

The echoing footsteps vibrated in the ears of the expressionless man.

The darkness of the labyrinth revealed a restless spirit in the man that he had never felt before in his life.

—Baka Perdix doesn’t remember when he became sensible.

In other words, even though he is now old in terms of age, he is still no different from a "child in early childhood".

Baka has never left the earth's surface. Baka has never seen sunlight. Baka has never interacted with gods or humans who possess normal moral values. Baka knows nothing of love or friendship, morality or ethics.

That is why he always lacks emotion and is almost expressionless.

The reason why we possess knowledge called common sense but do not understand the concepts within it is precisely because of this.

Therefore, Baka is still oscillating on the line between "consciousness" and "lack of consciousness".

However, Baka doesn't need this "function".

In order to fulfill the "millennial obsession" passed down from our ancestors—to complete the artificial maze—it would be better to eliminate the superfluous "functions."

(The scene of me becoming "me"... Why is it only now that it has come back to mind...)

Baka's primal memories, which he had seen like a dream, always began with the sound of water.

That was the sound of water breaking. In the dark labyrinth, Baka was born.

A new life, born from the womb of someone who could be called a mother and stained with blood, cries out as it falls to the ground—and in the next moment, someone places an open "book" in front of it.

It is the "Daedalus Manuscript" that records the "blueprints" of the man-made labyrinth.

『————————』

The new life stopped crying.

The crying baby stopped abruptly and opened his left eye wide.

Despite having eyes that are still developing and whose vision is not yet fully clear, these eyes, marked with the letter "D," unfortunately saw that "notebook."

"Imprint it upon your eyes!! The will of Daedalus now rests with you! You are the next to replace the Founding Father, Perdix!!"

The elderly man, qualified as a father, wept bloodshot tears from his bloodshot eyes, spitting saliva from his blackened teeth as he howled like a demon. He roared at the life that hadn't even received the code name, Baka, with an expression of stubborn delusion, ignoring the mother who lay on the ground, convulsing and barely breathing. The woman, in her agony, simply looked at the father and son with eyes filled with emptiness and hatred. Of course, Baka never cared about this.

Not long after his birth, Baka was cursed.

Their fate was taken away by that "cursed journal".

The fair-skinned infant, destined by his bloodline, became a "prisoner of Daedalus" less than a minute after birth.

(Nothing is different now, and it will be in the future.)

He has continued to "operate" as a "prisoner" ever since.

He continued digging into the rock even as his fingernails fell off.