Chapter 208: Labyrinth Exclusively for Senpai
When the door to the infirmary opened, what appeared ahead was a marble staircase descending downward.
Ethan stepped in without hesitation, and shortly after, a tightly shut stone door came into view.
Looks like this is the entrance to the Labyrinth.
The stone door was sealed shut, and right beside it was a strange machine.
"This is…"
Ethan stepped closer, his curious gaze scanning up and down the machine that looked like a desktop arcade game.
Next to the machine was a lever, and above it was the phrase:
"BB Slots"
…Isn't this…?
A BB slot machine?!
"You also used this thing to enter the Labyrinth back then?"
Ethan asked Tohsaka Rin suspiciously.
On the lever of the slot machine were three empty slots, and judging by their size, they looked like keyholes.
Ethan tried inserting one key in—sure enough, it fit perfectly.
"Huh? How could it be something so weird?! Back then I only had to apply to a teacher and I could enter the Labyrinth. There was no shady machine like this at all!"
Tohsaka Rin also seemed confused, staring intently at the machine before her.
"Senpai, I've never seen a machine like this before either."
Mash tilted her head, examining it curiously from every angle.
"I get it! This is a machine used to cheer during idol activities, the kind they use during live performances!"
Elizabeth immediately began speaking with total seriousness—or rather, fabricating nonsense very seriously.
"Mama, what is this? Is it a TV???"
Little Jack raised her sharp knife and was about to poke the machine, but Ethan quickly stopped her.
"Enemy Servant are back there."
Ethan scooped up Little Jack and turned his head to shout behind them.
"I'm here!!!"
Tamamo no Mae immediately raised her hand, but then her ears drooped down.
"But if possible, I hope you won't call me by that title anymore. After all, I'm not a villain anymore."
"Well, that depends on how you behave."
Ethan lifted Little Jack and tossed her to Tamamo no Mae.
"Take care of her for a bit."
"Mikon!!!"
Tamamo no Mae's ears immediately stood upright!
"What! You actually entrusted your daughter to me—does this mean my gentle-wife charm has finally been fully recognized?!"
While Tamamo no Mae was stunned, Little Jack had already climbed onto her head.
"Looks like becoming a good wife and wise mother or whatever is finally going to be acknowledged?! Aaaah, it feels like everything is heading in a wonderful direction, and if I've been recognized, then the next step is… aaaa… Master, honestly~..."
Tamamo no Mae continued drowning in delusion, completely unaware that a dagger had been planted on top of her head.
"But why isn't this machine responding? Is it broken?"
Tohsaka Rin even reached out and smacked it a few times.
Seeing that, Ethan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
She still fixes electronics like this, huh…
"Chang chang!!!"
Suddenly, the machine in front emitted an incredibly loud sound.
"Uwaa!!!"
Tohsaka Rin screamed and clung tightly to Ethan who was standing beside her.
This caused Mash, who was walking behind, to become visibly annoyed.
"Geez, treating BB-chan's beloved machine so roughly—if BB-chan gets angry next time, you're totally doomed~~~"
Suddenly, BB's image appeared on the screen, pouting angrily.
"That evil black-hearted woman?!"
Tohsaka Rin shouted, pointing at the screen in shock.
"Who are you calling an evil black-hearted woman?! BB-chan is really mad this time!"
Clearly, BB still absolutely loathed Tohsaka Rin.
"To think you all are this stubborn—still surviving even after the school area was destroyed. Senpai, you really are the clingy type, huh."
BB's eyes stared directly at Ethan through the screen.
"But that's fine. After all, a lot of GAMES start with death, so generous BB-chan will of course give Senpai such a chance!"
BB placed her hands on her hips and laughed loudly before pointing to the lever on the right side of the machine.
"But earning the right to resurrect won't be easy, which is why I've specially prepared this for Senpai. Just one key gives you a chance to obtain the right to enter the Labyrinth."
After speaking, BB brought her devilishly grinning face close to the screen.
"Well? Heart racing yet? Can't wait to spin the wheel? Come on, hurry up, throw the key in already!"
"Don't listen to her!"
Tohsaka Rin immediately interrupted BB.
"As long as we can find another entrance to the Labyrinth, there's no need to take unnecessary risks."
"Oh? Do you really think that I, who controls the entire MoonCell, can't set access permissions for the Labyrinth?"
BB's gaze turned dangerous.
"If I so wish, Senpai won't even have the right to step foot inside the Labyrinth. That coward hiding in the infirmary should also know that everything I've said is true."
"…Sorry, what BB said is true."
From Ethan's communication ring came Matou Sakura's weak voice.
"Right now BB holds a tremendous amount of authority. If she wants to restrict Senpai, entering the Labyrinth will be extremely difficult."
But soon after, Matou Sakura spoke again.
"But if we spend a bit of time, we might be able to find a side entrance or some hidden passage."
"Hmph, you planning to waste time rummaging through trash cans and sewers?"
BB crossed her arms, looking displeased.
"Even if you do, the moment I find out, I'll immediately kick Senpai out of the Labyrinth!!!"
Ethan fell silent for a moment, then made his decision.
"So I just throw the key in here, right?"
He pointed to the top of the slot machine.
When she saw that Ethan intended to throw the key in and spin the slot, Tohsaka Rin was completely stunned.
"Hey, you're seriously going to follow her suggestion?!"
"We're out of time."
Whether it was the fusion process between MoonCell and New London, or the search for Noah—
He didn't have much time left to make choices.
Sure, he could go back and ask Matou Sakura to figure something out, but BB, as a malicious AI, possessed overwhelming privileges.
By the time they found another entrance, who knew how long that would take?
Besides, it's just gacha. Who said he wasn't a "lucky guy with high-tier luck"?!
Ethan took out the key Berserker Jack had given him and decisively tossed it into the slot.
"Aaaa!!!"
Seeing the key thrown in, Tohsaka Rin knew it was too late to stop him.
"I didn't think Senpai would be this decisive!!!"
BB inside the machine looked shocked.
"I thought Senpai would hesitate more, be a little more cautious—I thought you'd run back and discuss it with that coward hiding in the infirmary. But you were so resolute, BB-chan is a little touched~~~"
BB's face once again lit up with a mischievous smile.
"Well then, since Senpai has taken the first step, I'm sure you'll keep moving forward, right? Now, pull the lever, and let's see how your luck is today!"
"I was going to do that even if you didn't say anything."
Ethan reached out, grabbed the lever of the slot machine, and without hesitation, pulled it down hard.
"Ahhh! Senpai dared to touch that place without a word! BB-chan, BB-chan is about to…"
Along with a burst of dazzling light and epic background music, BB-chan's whole body began turning pink?!
Wait a minute!
All he did was pull a lever! Why did it feel like she was about to transform into a magical girl or something?!
Magical Girl BB-chan?!
"BANG!"
With a puff of pink smoke, a chibi version of BB appeared, holding a teacher's pointer.
"So sorry, due to various limitations, BB-chan's H-form has been sealed, so I can only serve Senpai in this cute form!"
BB Q-version winked with one eye and struck a super adorable pose.
"Well then, let's begin, 1, 2… BB Machine! Start——————!!!"
The slot machine in front of them began spinning nonstop.
Apples, melons, bananas, 777…
Countless symbols flashed one after another as Ethan watched nervously until finally, it slowly came to a stop.
Unfortunately, all three symbols were completely different.
"Too bad, it seems Senpai's first-time luck isn't great. But you still have two more chances, right? Come on, use all your remaining attempts—maybe you'll get a surprise result~~~"
Suddenly, demon wings sprouted from behind BB Q-version, and she began whispering words like a devil.
"Tohsaka."
Ethan turned to Tohsaka Rin standing beside him.
"What! You're not thinking of giving her my key too, are you?!"
Her expression instantly changed, and she immediately hid both hands behind her back.
"Either way, we can't return to the lecture hall anymore. And besides, don't you think BB's targeting more than just me?"
"——————?!"
After hearing what Ethan said, BB chimed in as well:
"Now that you mention it, I've always been super jealous of those around Senpai, able to enjoy the game so freely. After all, BB-chan is the Game Master, she can only manage the game, not play in it."
BB's eyes locked directly onto Tohsaka Rin.
"That's why BB-chan is super jealous of everyone around Senpai. Jealous enough to want to eliminate all of you!"
"Damn it, so now I've been dragged onto the same sinking ship..."
Tohsaka Rin stood there, mentally torn for a moment, but in the end, she gave in.
"Alright, looks like there's no other choice..."
Tohsaka Rin reluctantly placed the key into Ethan's hand.
"There's still one more, isn't there?"
Ethan tilted his head and asked curiously.
"One's enough, right?! Aren't you super confident?! Then win this stupid game properly for me!!!"
Faced with Tohsaka Rin's demand, a mysterious smile suddenly spread across Ethan's face.
"That last one didn't count. Now I'll show you my true power!!"
Ethan took a deep breath, gathered energy in his core, channeled all his strength into his arm, timed it precisely, and hurled the key into the slot!
Immediately pulled the lever down!!!
"Then let's get started, 1, 2… BB Machine! Start——————!!!"
Just like last time, the chibi BB began dancing again beside the machine.
On the screen of the slot machine, a cascade of symbols rapidly spun, until the background music stopped and the pace began to slow.
The first two symbols to stop were both "7"—just one more "7" and it would be a jackpot!
Both Ethan and Tohsaka Rin held their breath, staring at the screen, waiting for the final result.
The third symbol slowly rolled into place—it was also a "7," creeping toward the center.
"Thump, thump, thump…"
At that moment, Ethan could only hear the sound of his own heartbeat. If that "7" stopped—
"Creak."
The last "7" jerked slightly… and then slipped past.
It turned into an apple.
"Ahahaha, Senpai really is so easy to trick—but that's kinda cute too~~~"
BB Q-version stood next to the outcome, clutching her belly and laughing uncontrollably.
"Poor Senpai, failing both attempts—feels awful, doesn't it? BB-chan gets it. You really don't seem like someone blessed by the goddess of fate."
"BB, you rigged it, didn't you?"
Ethan stared directly at BB.
"Absolutely not!"
BB immediately hugged her tiny arms in protest.
"BB-chan is an Justice AI! There's no way I'd do something so meaningless, hmph!!!"
Even though Ethan could vaguely sense the malicious intent unique to BB in that moment, there was no way to prove it.
"Tohsaka, give me the last one."
Ethan held his hand out toward Tohsaka Rin.
"No way! I've changed my mind, I'm definitely not giving it to you!!!"
The moment she saw Ethan reaching for her last key, Tohsaka Rin firmly refused.
"It's clear that evil black-hearted woman rigged everything and ruined our only ways into the Labyrinth. I'm not letting her pull the strings anymore!!!"
Seeing that Tohsaka Rin was about to flee, Ethan exchanged a glance with Mash beside him.
"Mash!!!"
"Understood, Senpai!"
Mash stepped forward and grabbed Tohsaka Rin by the collar.
"Sorry, Tohsaka-san, but please cooperate with Senpai's decision."
"Uwaa~~~"
Tohsaka Rin struggled violently as Mash held her in place.
"Just because you're his Servant doesn't mean you should abandon all reason! Look at him—he's clearly addicted now! He's throwing away precious keys into a hopeless gambling game like it's nothing!!!"
"Tohsaka!"
Ethan suddenly called out, stopping her mid-struggle.
"I completely understand how you feel. Because I, too, have experienced failing a Morgan banner and burning every single SQ I had. I deeply understand that gambler's despair!"
"..."
After hearing Ethan's sorrowful tone, Tohsaka Rin wore a thoroughly baffled expression.
"You're insane. I didn't understand a single word of that..."
"But it doesn't matter!"
Ethan immediately straightened up and continued with a serious face.
"As long as we keep moving forward, we'll definitely succeed!"
"Senpai, here's the key!"
Mash took advantage of the moment to pull the last key from Tohsaka Rin's hand.
"Sorry, Tohsaka-san… Senpai, catch!!!"
The red key was pulled out and tossed through the air toward Ethan.
"Smack!"
Ethan caught it one-handed, took a deep breath, and threw it straight into the slot machine in front of him!