Chapter 63: The Bubble Bursts at Floor 5
Notice. Target 'Masayuki' has reached the Floor 5 transition zone. Analysis. Unique Skill [Chosen One] is operating at peak output. Warning. Deviation in probability remains high. Probability of accidental success: 89%.
In the VIP lounge, the atmosphere is thick with the scent of expensive tobacco and the nervous sweat of Blumund merchant lords. I sit in a manifested velvet armchair, my legs crossed with executive precision. Beside me, Rimuru is leaning forward, a cup of Shuna's specialized matcha in his hand.
"He's making it look easy, Shinji," Rimuru says, his golden eyes reflecting the massive magical screen. "Veldora is actually pouting in the lower levels. He thinks the Hero is 'cheating' the system."
"He is cheating the system, Rimuru," I respond, my voice porcelain-cold. "He is utilizing a probability-warping law to bypass tactical requirements. It's the equivalent of insider trading. It's efficient, yes, but it doesn't build long-term value for the dungeon's reputation."
On the screen, Masayuki stumbles into the Floor 5 boss chamber—a cavernous room filled with jagged obsidian pillars. Waiting for him is the Ogre Lord, a B-rank heavy-hitter I personally selected for its aggressive AI.
"There he is!" Fuze shouts from the back of the room, his face flushed. "The 'Lightspeed' Hero will end this in a single strike!"
Notice. Ogre Lord has initiated combat. Assessment. Target Masayuki's physical stance indicates a 0% combat readiness. Notice. [Chosen One] is attempting to force an environmental fluke.
Masayuki let out a squeak as the Ogre Lord roared, the beast's massive club swinging in a horizontal arc that should have decapitated the boy. Masayuki tripped over his own scabbard, falling flat on his face.
The club whistled over his head, smashing into an obsidian pillar. The pillar shattered, sending a jagged shard flying—directly into the Ogre Lord's throat.
The crowd in the lounge erupted. "Unbelievable! He used the environment to execute a perfect counter-kill!"
Sloppy, I think, my internal persona sneering. This isn't an audit; it's a circus. He's winning by failing upwards. If I let this continue, the dungeon will be seen as a theme park rather than a high-stakes investment.
"Vesper," I say, not looking away from the screen.
My contracted demon maid appears from the shadows, her red eyes gleaming. "Yes, Lord Shinji?"
"The audience is satisfied with the 'Heroic' luck. Now, give them a dose of reality. Calibrate the Floor 5 boss's second phase. Override the environmental variables. I want to see how he handles a situation where the probability of success is mathematically zero."
"Shinji, wait," Rimuru interjects, his expression turning serious. "The goal was to promote the city. If the Hero dies here, the bad press will be a nightmare."
"I am not liquidating him, Rimuru. I am conducting a stress test," I reply, my sea-grey eyes cold. "My current architecture is stable, but not sufficient for my long-term vision of this nation's defense if it relies on flukes. We need to know the limits of this 'Luck' variable."
Warning. Modification of boss AI initiated. Notice. [Transaction Domain] logic applied to localized area. Probability manipulation is being suppressed by 40%.
On the screen, the Ogre Lord didn't dissolve into magicules. Instead, its wounds cauterized with dark energy. It stood back up, its eyes glowing with a red, systematic fury. It didn't swing wildly this time. It moved with the calculated efficiency I had programmed into its sub-routines.
Masayuki froze. The 'luck' particles around him shimmered frantically, but the Ogre Lord's club was already coming down in a vertical strike that he couldn't trip his way out of.
"He's going to die!" a merchant screamed, dropping his betting slip.
[Shadow Step]
I don't wait for the impact. I vanish from the lounge and reappear in the Floor 5 chamber, standing between Masayuki and the club.
[Obsidian Aegis]
The massive club hit my outstretched palm. The shockwave shattered the floor beneath me, but I didn't move a millimeter. The Ogre Lord froze, its programmed instincts clashing with the overwhelming [Dragon Spirit Haki] I was now leaking into the room.
"Audit interrupted," I say, my voice echoing like a tolling bell.
Masayuki was shaking on the ground behind me, his eyes wide and watery. "Y-you... you saved me?"
"I saved my investment," I respond, looking down at him with clinical apathy. "Your performance was becoming a liability to the dungeon's branding. Luck is a useful asset, Masayuki-kun, but it is not a substitute for capital."
I look toward the invisible observation crystals. "The Hero has cleared Floor 5! But as the Auditor, I am declaring a 'Market Freeze' for the next hour for technical adjustments!"
Notice. Audience confusion is at 74%. Fear levels rising. Assessment. The demonstration of force has successfully re-established the dungeon's threat level.
"Vesper, escort the Hero to the medical wing," I command. I look at the trembling Masayuki. "Read the fine print of your contract again. Tomorrow, we move to Floor 10. And I suggest you spend the night actually learning how to hold that sword."
Current Magicule Reserves: Infinite (Linked). Location: Floor 5 Boss Room. Status: Luck Audit: Interrupted. Market Perception: Corrected. Soul Capacity: 38%.
Chapter End.