After leaving the A rank party, I aim for the deep part of the labyrinth with my former students
I braced myself, and Papa gave a chuckle, his shoulders shaking.
As if saying got you right where I want you.
“That’s right, Yuke Feldio. Wielding the power of ‘Culling’ isn’t your exclusive privilege. I have the aptitude of a ‘Walker,’ the tolerance to embrace Culling, and the ability to use it effectively.”
“If you’re such a man, why are you trying to destroy the world?!”
“Because it isn’t my story.”
Papa, as always, spoke incomprehensible words.
Behind him, countless translucent tentacles swayed.
They looked a little like the arms of an octopus or squid, but also like leeches or worms—moving as if alive, clearly targeting us.
“This is one of the Cullings from another world. A dangerous conceptual creature born from fear and sin… but as you can see, it’s now a part of me. One of the possibilities the Cult implanted in me.”
“Are you saying you’re just another victim too?”
“Hardly. I wasn’t a victim—I took to the stage. With this power, I was supposed to reach paradise.”
At Jamie’s words, Papa let out a deep sigh and his eyes grew distant.
“But unfortunately, even with the aptitude of a Walker, that doesn’t guarantee you’ll reach paradise, does it? You’re still a foreign contaminant to that world.”
As his tentacles lazily lashed out to attack, Papa continued his monologue.
“So I thought, why not create paradise here in this world instead? I thought it was a rather good idea, myself. After all, humans can’t make their dreams come true just by wishing and leaving it up to others.”
“You say it like it’s righteous, but in the end you just want to bend the world to your will!”
“And what’s wrong with that? You, too, save a doomed world as you please and keep continuing your own story, don’t you?”
Just what perspective does this man see the world from?
I couldn’t tell if he was self-righteous or detached.
He seemed unnatural, unstable—and yet, in a strange way, he had some kind of unshakable core. That eerie quality revealed just how abnormal he really was.
“A story belongs in each person’s heart. I won’t let you do as you please…!”
“That’s right! Who do you think you are, rewriting the script just because you don’t like it?!”
Rain and Jamie both raised their staves, concentrating their magic.
Who knew how effective magic would be against that Culling—but taking both of their full power head-on would be no small matter.
“—Thou art guilty! 〈Judgment〉!”
“This is my full power! 〈Magic Bullet—Freikugel〉!”
Both were immensely powerful, seventh-tier spells.
They were fired at Papa at the same time.
As the mana’s interference made the surrounding space itself shudder, the two spells struck Papa.
A part of the labyrinth collapsed, and dust filled the air.
But out of that dust emerged Papa, unscathed, shaking his head as if exasperated.
“Unscathed… how… I thought… we killed you…”
“No way…!”
As Rain and Jamie stood dumbfounded, Papa let out a sigh and spoke.
“You’re mistaken about a few things. First, I am now the administrator of this Tower. In other words, you can’t kill me with the power of your world. Second, I fully control the power of Culling. Unlike Yuke Feldio, who only wields the leftover scraps of a calamity, I’ve fully assimilated another world itself.”
“What are you getting at…?!”
“I want you to understand this: the moment Marina used that power to activate the Tower, all choices became mine to make.”
Papa slid a tentacle to grab Nene by the leg just as she tried to slash at him.
“Nnyaah…! Let go!”
“We’re wasting time on words to help you understand… and submit.”
“Let her go!”
The weakening spell I cast was easily resisted, as Papa batted it aside with his hand and pulled the bound Nene closer with his tentacles.
“I hate how you play the protagonist. I want to bury you in humiliation and make you understand. I’m the true protagonist here—and I want to open this story with your sobs and despair. After kicking you, the foolish opening act, off the stage and ruining everything you’ve gained, I’ll start the proper, new story.”
As he ran a finger down Nene’s belly, Papa smiled with satisfaction… and a disturbing gleam.
“This, too, is mine. Wonderful… what shall I plant in this womb, I wonder?”
“Let me go! I’ll never accept you!”
“That doesn’t matter. In the end, everyone accepts me. —That’s how it goes in my story.”
The moment Papa forcibly leaned in to kiss Nene, I used dark magic to pull her into my arms.
I felt a small sting on my cheek, but it was nothing compared to saving her.
“You okay, Nene?”
“He made my skin crawl…”
Nene, teary-eyed, stood up, and I turned back to face Papa.
Looking faintly displeased, Papa let out a big sigh and glared at me.
“You really are good at stealing what’s mine. Disgusting red mage.”
“You’re the last person I’d take that from. Sorry to disappoint you, but Nene and Marina—belong to me.”
I readied my short sword again, and Papa looked at me with eyes full of pity as he opened his mouth.
“It seems you still don’t quite understand. How can I make you understand? How can I make you fall to your knees, crying and screaming? …Ah, yes, I know.”
As he tilted his head several times and let his tentacles writhe, he said it with a smile—
and in that instant, the atmosphere around us completely changed.
Something cold filled the air, and like frost slowly settling, it began to fall on us.
I didn’t even know what he had done, but the effects became apparent immediately.
“My body… feels heavy…? I… can’t move…!”
“What is this? A debuff spell?”
Silk and Jamie’s legs gave out as they froze in place.
Rain and Nene were the same, collapsing to the ground, their bodies seemingly drained of strength.
Only Marina and I remained standing, unable to fully grasp what was happening, facing Papa.
“What did you do to them…?!”
“There’s no need to explain. As long as you understand that I can do this, that’s enough. Now, what will you do? Marina. You understand now, don’t you? Come on—let’s start reshaping the world together. Let’s enjoy a new story, you and I.”
He extended his hand to her, but Marina shook her head and raised her great katana toward him.
“No.”
“A flawed world must be changed. And I’m the one who has to set it right.”
With a shady preacher’s smile plastered on his face, Papa began spewing his one-sided dogma.
But Marina firmly rejected him.
“I won’t accept that. To change something… you have to change yourself. Just like how I changed when I met everyone.”
“That’s just sophistry.”
“I met Silk, and I met Rain, and I met Yuke… reunited with him. Then I became comrades with Nene and Jamie, and started living together with Rune-chan… I met so many more people in so many places, talking, sometimes clashing… and that’s what shaped who I am now.”
She took a small breath, then glared straight at Papa.
“That’s how the world changes! This way of yours won’t change anything! You’ll never get what you truly want!”
Marina’s voice echoed through the translucent darkness.
Perhaps Papa didn’t hear it—he didn’t so much as change his expression.
But the moment Marina finished speaking, the tablet Rain carried at her side began to flash.
“As expected, Marina-chan really says the best things! What do you think, Mister Commentator Gato?”
“I can only say: absolutely spot on!”
The voices we heard were, as usual, those of the two hosts from the Official Adventure Broadcast Channel.
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