That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Underground Labyrinth Manager

Megumin stepped forward and held out her hand.

"What about mine?"

Yunyun froze.

"Eh?!"

"I'm the one who asked Master to take you in, right?"

"So where's my share?" Megumin asked, dead serious.

Yunyun's face flushed. "Why do you always act like it's so natural?!"

She had actually prepared something for Megumin.

She just didn't expect Megumin to be so shameless as to ask outright.

Megumin raised an eyebrow smugly.

"Yunyun, this is the difference between us~"

"We Crimson Demons do whatever we want."

"You're still a long way off, hehe~"

No, Yunyun, don't let her corrupt you… Chishiya rubbed his temples.

But then…

The cookie in his hand suddenly vanished.

When he opened his eyes again—

Megumin looked like she hadn't eaten in three days.

She reached into the bag of cookies and shoved handfuls into her mouth!

She didn't even chew—just crushed the rest into powder and dumped it down her throat.

Chishiya: "???"

Yunyun: "???"

"Megumin—!!!"

By the time Yunyun realized what was happening, the cookies were gone.

She screamed and grabbed her own neck with both hands.

"Megumin! You'd better compensate me!"

"Why do you always go so overboard!!!"

She was so angry that tears welled up in her eyes.

Those cookies had taken her hours of work, made specially for Master!

And he'd only had one bite!

Megumin ate all of them!

Megumin nonchalantly brushed herself off and took a step back.

"If they were meant for someone important, it would've been wrong to let anyone else eat them, right?"

"So just make more."

"…Or was that one different?"

She narrowed her eyes at Yunyun.

Like she had seen right through her.

Yunyun bit her lip and couldn't respond.

Of course it was different.

She had wanted to thank Chishiya more than anyone else.

But she'd never be able to say that out loud. Not in this lifetime.

Too embarrassing.

Chishiya sighed from the sidelines…

These two were polar opposites.

How had they even become friends?

Inevitable clash.

Yunyun shouted, "Megumin! I challenge you!"

Megumin sneered.

"Fine. But for the record, I'm already level 28."

"You've got a long way to go before you catch up."

Yunyun snapped back, "Then let's use a different kind of competition!"

She paused for a moment.

"…Let's see who can help Master the most!"

Megumin replied without hesitation, "No problem!"

"Just last month I helped Master wipe out the Orc army."

"You're welcome to try, Yunyun, but prepare to lose!"

—

Wiz's Magic Tool Shop

Wiz stood frozen at the doorway.

"Ch-Chishiya-san…"

"What is… going on here?"

Inside…

Six beautiful girls were standing around the store in full-on maid café uniforms.

Chishiya rubbed his temples.

You're asking me? I want answers too…

Milim skipped happily through the store in a white cat-ear maid outfit.

Shuna and Shion stood side-by-side in classic black-and-white maid uniforms.

Both were smiling, but lightning seemed to crackle between their eyes.

The malicious aura radiating from them could kill small animals.

Megumin and Yunyun refused to back down.

Megumin wore a black lace skirt, a white frilly headpiece, and thigh-high black stockings tucked into shiny Lolita leather shoes.

Yunyun wore the exact same outfit.

Except…

Let's just say the chest proportions didn't match.

Darkness was wearing a tight, traditional maid outfit.

Her face was flushed as she mumbled to herself like a lunatic.

"..."

Chishiya was exhausted.

Just utterly drained.

God… please save me.

The villain inside his heart had already collapsed on the floor.

The cause of this catastrophe: Megumin and Yunyun's dumb rivalry.

Apparently, Yunyun heard somewhere that wearing maid outfits was the secret to shop profits.

(Chishiya had a strong suspicion Vanir was behind this.)

So she wanted to challenge Megumin to see who could attract more customers.

Then Shuna and Shion overheard.

Shuna offered to make everyone's uniforms and said she'd join too.

When Shion caught wind of it:

"Miss Shuna, I'm Chishiya-sama's personal guard. Let me handle this kind of service."

Shuna smiled sweetly.

"No, no. Fighting is one thing, but delicate work like serving guests is just too much for you, Shion."

"Better to leave that to me~"

Shion returned a polite, deadly smile.

"Oh? Miss Shuna, should I take that as a provocation?"

Shuna's smile didn't falter. "Shion, I'm just stating facts."

Shion: "Perfect!"

"Then let's make it a competition!"

Meanwhile, Darkness was the most enthusiastic of all.

"A maid costume…"

"So this is the secret to running a successful store…"

"You're awful… so awful…"

"But if someone must fall victim to your wickedness…"

"Then let it be me! Let it be all me!"

As for Milim…

She was the most normal of them all.

She just thought it looked fun and wanted to join.

"…And that's the story."

Chishiya explained wearily to Wiz.

She gave him a very awkward smile…

And patted him gently on the shoulder.

"Chishiya-san, you've worked so hard…"

"But! I have good news!"

Wiz raised her hands, eyes sparkling under her bangs.

Chishiya looked up. "What news?"

"The store is making a lot of money!!!"

"For real?"

Wiz nodded excitedly. "It's mostly thanks to Vanir, of course."

"But I helped too!"

"Honestly, not causing any problems is already the best help you could offer."

A voice called from behind.

Vanir, dressed in a fancy gentleman's suit, stepped out from the back room with his usual flair.

"Oh? Seems my strategy worked perfectly."

Vanir smirked as he scanned the maid-dressed lineup in the store.

"Looks like business will be booming today…"

He really did it…

Vanir grinned.

"Well, what do you think, kid? Easy on the eyes, huh?"

"…I mean, yeah…"

"Pfft—"

Chishiya realized he'd walked into a trap and quickly changed the subject.

"About that money Wiz mentioned…"

Vanir chuckled, clearly pleased by the emotional chaos Chishiya had just handed over.

"Remember that small country to the south I told you about?"

"The first shipment of magic air conditioners was delivered."

"Their nobles were thrilled. They've signed a long-term order."

"Annual revenue: about 200 million Eris. Of course, that's before deducting expenses like transportation, caravan fees, and materials."

"So don't get too excited."

200 million Eris…

Chishiya narrowed his eyes.

Not pure profit, but still solid.

Just then, Wiz's expression shifted.

She looked anxious.

She wanted to leave a good impression on Chishiya and show she was improving in business.

"Vanir-san! We're not done!"

"You haven't told Chishiya-san about that yet!"

(To be continued.)

***

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