That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Underground Labyrinth Manager

Elsewhere

Gabiru and his followers rushed over in a panic.

"Gabiru-sama! Just what in the world did you give us?!"

"We feel like we're bursting with power!"

Gabiru: "…."

How should I know…

I've never seen a recovery potion this good before.

This stuff brought people back from the edge of death like it was nothing!

Totally insane!

"Enough talking! We're heading to the battlefield ahead. Follow me!"

Gabiru's expression turned serious.

He already understood who was behind all this—Gelmud!

He'd been manipulating everything behind the scenes, laying the groundwork for today!

Gelmud…

I will never let you off!

BOOM!!!

A thunderous impact echoed ahead.

Gabiru turned toward the sound—

What he saw made him freeze.

Mouth open. No words. No movement.

"W-What is it, Gabiru-sama?"

His followers turned to look as well.

And immediately froze on the spot.

It was a black-haired human.

With one hand, he slammed Gelmud into the ground.

Then began casually punching his face over and over.

Until his skull was buried into the dirt.

"Geh… G-Gabiru-sama… Isn't that the human from the conference…?"

"Yeah," Gabiru said, swallowing hard.

"Gabiru-sama… it looks like he's beating up… Gelmud…"

CRACK!

Not far away, a piece of ice shattered from the blast.

Everyone gasped.

"GAHH! Gabiru-sama!! H-His HEAD!!!"

Gabiru's eyes bulged. His scalp tingled. Goosebumps all over.

Are you serious right now!?

That's a high-ranking demon, second only to the Demon Lord!!

And he got destroyed like this?

He didn't even get to fight back. His head's just—

WHAT EVEN IS THAT HUMAN?!

"Gabiru-sama…" one follower whispered, trembling, and poked his arm.

"Didn't you… like… kind of insult him earlier…?"

"?!!!"

Gabiru's whole body jolted. He swallowed hard.

The mental image of a watermelon being smashed flashed in his mind.

But Chishiya didn't even look at them.

He was staring in the direction of Benimaru.

According to the original scenario, the Orc Lord devours Gelmud and evolves into the Orc Demon King.

But Gelmud's already dead.

An unevolved Orc Lord doesn't stand a chance against Benimaru and the others.

"You're not going to help?" Rimuru asked, landing beside him.

Chishiya shook his head.

"Let them settle their own grudges."

Even if the Orc tribe was being manipulated, that doesn't mean I can forgive them in Benimaru's place.

That'd be an insult to everyone who died.

He sat down on a nearby mound and watched from a distance.

This time… I'm just an observer.

Rimuru blinked, then quietly sat beside him.

——

"Crud… Crud…"

The Orc Lord mumbled repeatedly.

Benimaru held the hilt of his blade but didn't say anything.

Hakurou stepped up and spoke calmly.

"Young Master. He's not conscious anymore. Seems the demons used him too."

"I know," Benimaru replied, nodding slightly.

His grip tightened on the sword.

The image of that clown-faced demon flashed through his mind again…

Demons… again.

What is their goal…?

BOOM!

An explosion roared in the distance.

The Orc Lord's vacant eyes twitched.

He started muttering to himself.

"We came from the desert…"

"The famine ended… no more starving children…"

"I alone will bear the hunger… the pain… the sin…"

"ROAAAAR!!!"

He suddenly let out a thunderous roar.

"I am the Orc Lord, Geld!"

"The one who devours all!!!"

"I will devour you and become a Demon Lord!!"

"For my people!!!"

Benimaru slowly unsheathed his blade, his calm eyes locked onto the Orc Lord.

"You plan to carry everything alone?"

"Fine then."

"It ends now."

"For our people."

Behind him, Shion and the others drew their swords.

Time to settle this.

Boom…

——

The result was expected.

The unevolved Orc Lord stood no chance against Benimaru's team.

Even with insane regeneration, his magic power eventually drained completely.

The spot where he once stood was now just a crater.

Benimaru stared at it silently.

No one knew what he was thinking.

"It's over, Young Master," Hakurou said, patting his shoulder.

Benimaru looked ahead.

The remaining Orcs had dropped their weapons and knelt down, their minds freed from control.

Benimaru nodded.

"Yeah… it's all over."

——

Chishiya looked to the east.

A light mist covered the vast sky.

In the distant haze, a faint pink glow appeared.

Dawn.

[Notice:]

[Orc Lord confirmed eliminated.]

Rimuru looked around.

"The Orc Lord is gone. The effect of [The Hungerer] has disappeared."

"The war's over."

"Yeah."

Chishiya nodded.

Just then, Benimaru and the others walked over.

"Chishiya-sama, the Orc Lord has been eliminated."

Chishiya nodded again.

He glanced at the Orcs who had surrendered, scattered across the battlefield.

"What will you do with the rest of them?"

"Kill or spare?"

Benimaru looked back at them.

Some were unconscious from shock. Others were crying, holding their heads.

"It's over, Chishiya-sama," Benimaru replied.

"The feud between our tribes died with the Orc Lord."

Chishiya raised a brow.

"Even though they destroyed your village? No resentment?"

Benimaru responded, "Of course I still feel something. But next time, we won't be caught off guard."

"Besides… the ones who truly deserve punishment are the demons."

Benimaru's eyes narrowed.

His gaze turned cold.

"Those bastards used people's goodwill to ignite war."

"So many died because of it."

"Those with conscience are suffering, while the real killer is still out there!"

"I absolutely cannot forgive someone who toys with lives!"

His words weren't just for the fallen ogres…

But also for the countless Orcs manipulated and left to die.

That clown-masked demon…

I'll never let you escape justice.

Benimaru clenched the demon sword tightly.

"Chishiya-sama!"

Suddenly—

Benimaru and the others dropped to one knee.

"Thank you for giving us this chance! To settle the score with our own hands!"

"We'll repay this debt, even if it costs us our lives!"

"Okay okay, that's a bit much…" Chishiya waved dismissively.

"No, really," Souei added. "Meeting you was our fortune."

"We've found a truly wise leader," Hakurou agreed.

"Please let us continue serving under you," Shion added, her expression serious.

(To be continued.)

***

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