Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

Satou here. Maybe because I’ve been making games, I can’t skip event scenes until the first time I clear a game.

If it’s a game I don’t like, I’m the type to skip through it and just get rid of it at a used game store.

◇

“Hehehe, that was a failure.”

“Yeah, it was a failure.”

From the crumbling remains of Zen, two small purple lights floated up.

“Goodbye, hero.”

“You win.”

Sensing the malevolence from those lights, I instinctively slashed at them with the Holy Sword. The lights scattered once but then gathered again and rose toward the ceiling.

“Let’s meet again.”

“See you.”

Eventually, the lights seeped into the ceiling and vanished.

◇

Angel? Or was it? It still gave off a feeling of evil.

But there was no time to ponder that leisurely. Because—

“System message: the maze’s self-destruct sequence has been initiated. All staff and trainees must evacuate immediately. Repeating—”

Yes, that announcement echoed through.

I rushed to Mia. I gave this seemingly awakening magic potion to the still unconscious Mia. Since the drug was untested, I gave it in thirds. She opened her eyes just as I finished the bottle.

“Mia, do you recognize me?”

“…Big brother?”

No, that’s not right.

Mia’s blurry eyes came into focus.

“Where am I?”

“This is the master of Torazayuuya’s maze’s chamber.”

When I said that, Mia panicked and looked around for the magician.

“It’s okay. He’s not here anymore. He won’t appear before you again.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

But this wasn’t the time to be relaxed and talking like that.

“The self-destruct sequence has been activated. Staff and trainees must evacuate immediately…”

We had to stop it quickly.

“Mia, can you stop the maze’s self-destruct?”

“I’ll try.”

I guided the unsteady Mia to the control panel.

She tried a few operations but shook her head.

“Impossible.”

Too quick to give up.

From what Mia explained, it seemed all functions were locked. Even the master of the maze couldn’t do anything.

If we destroyed the Maze Core, something might change, but that was too risky. I’d rely on my own physical ability and run to escape.

I took the discouraged Mia into my arms.

“Stay curled up; it’s dangerous.”

Without even waiting for Mia’s nod, I started running.

◇

I ran down the corridor.

Ran.

And kept running.

At first, I could hear Mia’s screams, but now she was silent—probably unconscious again.

I knocked down ants and bones that suddenly appeared. It was tough protecting Mia from flying debris as I shielded her.

Finally, we reached halfway, the central room.

Inside, still unconscious, was a busty beauty homunculus. I picked her up and slung her over my opposite shoulder from Mia’s.

We couldn’t save the others, but at least I wanted to save one for my own satisfaction.

I’m such a hypocrite.

Even with extra weight, my speed didn’t drop. It was just a little harder to keep balance.

I jumped across the illusory stairs in one leap.

Alright, four floors left.

At that moment, I heard tremors and dull explosions from deep below.

“System message: subsystem activated. The Maze Core of this maze has detonated, causing the force field supporting the facility to fail. This maze will soon collapse. All staff and trainees must evacuate immediately. Repeating—”

Even hearing that emotionless voice, I didn’t stop moving.

Damn, if there’s a subsystem, could I have stopped the self-destruct there? They should’ve marked the map with a backup control room or something.

The ominous tremors came from beneath my feet; the collapse had begun.

Three floors left.

Blocks in front started crumbling.

Without slowing down, I kicked off the ceiling of the collapsing block and leaped to the next one.

Such acrobatic running meant Mia and the beauty weren’t completely unharmed. Once we got out, I’d let them drink as many potions as they wanted to make up for it.

Two floors left.

A massive shake happened; just before turning the corner, the path was blocked by a landslide.