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Maria continued her conversation with the Oni God of Onsenkai, delving deeper into his origins and history.
"Interesting. They’re far below you, yet your world is much smaller, and you’re its sole guardian. Why didn’t you ally with them?"
"Because we were enemies. I was once known as Shuten Douji, the tyrannical Demon King, son of Orochi! But now... well, I’m retired, managing hot springs, resorts, and hotels. It’s a fine life, if I may say so myself."
"Your cowardly act might suggest otherwise, but you’re clearly powerful... That’s why I ca here. I want to learn more about you and make a request."
"...What is it?"
"Soon, a war will determine Babylon’s fate. Many worlds will collapse, and I won’t stop until I reach the summit and end this endless cycle. Soone up there holds a grudge against after realizing they couldn’t use to eliminate soone from Yggdrasil. I also have soone they abandoned by my side, so this is their revenge as well."
"H-Huh?!"
"I’m asking for an alliance, Shuten Douji. You’ve seen my power, haven’t you? With a single thought, I could consu your entire soul, yet I haven’t. I’m benevolent, far beyond what others with even a fraction of my power could claim. I’ve forged an alliance with the outer gods. I’m offering you a chance to join the winning side."
"I-I...! Is this for real?! I... I don’t know... I’ve already been allied with Thebes! Unless you plan to ally with them."
"That’s unlikely. They don’t strike as the type to form alliances unless they dominate their partners. I might end up at war with them too."
"Then I cannot really... well... I wish to remain neutral. This Realm wasn’t built for war, but for people to find entertainnt and respite from battle-riddled worlds. I once fought across countless battlefields and defeated dozens of Kami, but I no longer wish to tread that path."
"I see... neutrality, huh? Very well, I’ll try to spare your world when the ti cos, but I can’t make promises. You may tell Thebes about this or keep it secret. I don’t particularly care."
"You don’t fear them?!"
"No. The tyrants of the upper floors are all my enemies."
"Y-You really are... quite sothing... Hm."
Shuten Douji rubbed his chin, studying Maria intently. The darkness he sensed in her, coupled with her alliance with the Outer Gods—monstrous beings powerful enough to warp reality and who had sought to invade Babylon for eons—revealed much about her nature.
"I... perhaps, if you... well, if you provide enough incentive. If you promise to protect my world and my people... I will help."
"Agreed. I’ll place a protective ward here, strong enough to repel even gods. Thebes won’t suspect our alliance until the ti cos. Then, you can decide whom to support based on which faction gains the upper hand. How does that sound?"
"Sounds great! Haha! I suppose we have a deal! Let’s make the contract."
"Very well, a Soul Contract, correct?"
"Yes."
"Here are my conditions."
"And mine."
"Hmm... I’ll adjust this one. Are you fine with it?"
"Sure, fine..."
Maria and Shuten Douji shook hands, their souls binding in a special contract, agreeing to cooperate under specific conditions and circumstances.
"I may not be able to do this with every world, depending on the willingness or availability of their rulers, so you’re fortunate, Shuten Douji."
"Oho... Well! What’s your plan, Maria? Our contract forbids discussing this openly, so I’d like to know more."
"I suppose you can learn about the truth of the Tower and its Administrators."
Maria sat down, sharing sake and sushi with Shuten Douji. They discussed her plans, the Demon King’s past life, and how he beca the Kami’s greatest adversary before retiring to this small, touristic realm of relaxation and exquisite cuisine.
She inquired about the other floors and whether any shortcuts to Earth existed. Shuten Douji replied that he had never visited another world and had no knowledge of such paths.
However, his Spirits constantly spied on visitors, relaying daily reports that provided him with extensive knowledge about other worlds and what awaited Maria on the higher floors.
She also gleaned vital details about Floor 20, a realm strikingly close to Earth. It was a vast divine domain, ford from the fragnts of a destroyed world.
This world, nad Zipangu, was governed by two primary Kami: Amaterasu, the Empress of the Sun, and Tsukuyomi, the Emperor of the Moon, who were siblings. Beneath them, nurous other Kami oversaw various elents and authorities, making Zipangu the first world humans would encounter with such a multitude of gods.
Regarding Floors 2 to 18, Maria uncovered a shocking truth that surprised her. These floors constituted a "trial" within the Tower itself, not a teleportation to parallel worlds.
"As far back as I can recall, Floors 2 to 18 form a massive dungeon called Labyrinthos. Each floor is a level with its own boss monster, growing more difficult as you ascend," Shuten Douji explained. "Humans from Earth who reach this point face one of their greatest challenges: the seventeen floors of Labyrinthos. Its final boss is a formidable foe, requiring a team of up to twenty people to defeat. Such raids often result in nurous casualties and deaths. Yet, it’s necessary to weed out the weak. Only the strongest advance to Floor 19 and beyond. Labyrinthos serves as both a filter and a crucible, transforming even the weakest humans into capable warriors."
"Huh, that sounds grim but intriguing... I just hope my mother and sister never set foot in this cursed place... Now, tell , Shuten Douji, about that other world you ntioned spanning multiple floors."
"That’s a strange one. It spans Floors 21 to 23 and has no official na, but it’s called ’Bulkvoid.’ It’s a twisted, endless void that unifies three floors into one vast expanse. I don’t fully grasp it, but visitors describe it as an infinite convenience store filled with faceless beings wandering about," Shuten Douji said. "It’s peaceful during the day, but at night, when the lights go out, the ’staff’ turn hostile and attack."
"W-What?! That’s straight out of a creepypasta... Oh well, I’ll see it for myself when we get there... Thank you for all the valuable information, Shuten. You’ve earned the money I gave you."
"Heh, don’t ntion it! Godspeed... I didn’t fully agree with you earlier, but after learning more, perhaps this Tower must fall... This endless cycle stole my original world and displaced countless other refugees."
When morning arrived, Maria vanished, reuniting half of her soul with the other half she had left at the hotel, where she rejoined her family for breakfast.
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