The Sky Labyrinth.
Just as the name suggests, it is a fortress floating in the sky.
You can reach it through Space-Time Magic teleportation from the surface labyrinths. It is set to be my dungeon's final line of defense. If they get past this, it means a direct fight with me.
Nooo. I don't want to fight.
First, there's the huge maze surrounding it. That is made of ordinary stone, so the shadows are dark. And no, I didn't build it just because it makes the glass castle look better.
Being a few hundred meters up and looking down through the gaps in this intricate maze is absolutely terrifying, honestly. Anyway, that is not the only reason, either.
Traps are set throughout this aerial maze too. If I had made it out of glass, the mechanisms would be completely visible. The entrance to this maze is the "Snake's Path."
By the way, the reason this Sky Labyrinth is anti-flight is because the surrounding area of this massive "Snake's Path"—which covers my entire dungeon—has Gravity Magic, one of the Ancient Magics, applied to it.
In other words, this floating maze is under intense gravity. Ten times gravity on top of the maze itself. Clearing it requires either great physical ability, or a huge mana pool and barrier techniques. It's already an unreasonable challenge at this point, but outside the maze—out in the open air—the gravity is nearly a hundred times stronger than on the ground. Flight? Not even an option.
I couldn't save the gravity on the maze any higher than that. It would have made travel completely impossible. The surrounding area doesn't matter for travel, and it's also anti-cheat, so the hundred-times gravity was doable. That's about the best I can manage.
And since ghost-type monsters with zero weight—unaffected by gravity—also spawn here, you have to fight them too. We have blown past "hard mode" and have one foot firmly in "impossible mode."
Danger level: 7.
On top of that, the outer walls of the fortress also have anti-flight measures.
Believe it or not, these walls have an automatic interception system. Try to force your way in, and the walls start shooting. Naturally, even invaders in the corridors become targets, so this dungeon will burn through your extra lives faster than you can stock them up.
Various Supreme Attribute Magic attacks anything that gets close, relentless and indiscriminate. That should take care of anyone trying to fly in. Even if, by some miracle, you made it this far through the air, that gravity-slower speed would make passing through nearly impossible—assuming you could even fly under a hundred times gravity.
And since everything is made of glass, the mechanisms are completely visible.
Danger level: 9.
The interior hasn't been neglected either. Various traps await, and monsters are already stationed throughout.
In some places, the mechanisms inside the glass are fully visible. But try to avoid or disarm them, and the transparent traps made entirely of glass components trigger. Or ghost-type monsters phase through multiple walls to attack you from the other side. It is an extremely dangerous setup.
By the way, once I create a monster with my smartphone, as long as the dungeon is maintained, they will respawn in their positions even if killed. Well, "respawn" isn't quite right—a different monster of the same type is summoned. Even the remains left behind after they are killed and harvested for materials can be recycled into the dungeon's maintenance energy. Very eco-friendly.
The interior of the fortress has a Danger level of 10—the maximum—and I have put a lot of thought into it. Honestly, if someone clears this? I will gladly accept my death and praise them for their effort. That is how confident I am in this masterpiece.
'If I may say so—and I realize this is rather late—this dungeon is quite beyond anything reasonable.'
Andre's voice carried something beyond admiration. It was almost like exasperation.
I mean, yeah, I probably went overboard. But what else was I supposed to do?!
I'm the weakest Demon Lord in history!
I had to raise the dungeon's difficulty as much as possible and pile on as much creativity as I could, just to get to a point where I could feel even a little safe. And even after all this, I still worry that I've missed something.
What if there's some hidden loophole I overlooked?
Is this really enough to stop them?
Should I just cut my losses and run while I still can?
I catch myself thinking things like that. But there's nothing I can do about it now, so I might as well give up. I will give up and build an even more brutal dungeon.
I'll do everything I can.
That's all there is to it.
Yeah. That was a good thing I said.
"Alright! Let's check on the existing dungeon, then. What is the monster encroachment rate?"
'Currently, monsters have increased to twelve percent of the dungeon. The mana pools across all sectors are also in good condition. There must have been a fairly powerful mana storm.'
Well, that was apparently God's doing.
'Though I have said it many times before, your approach is remarkable. Rather than using "Summoning," you intentionally created mana pools to allow monsters to spawn naturally, then use them for dungeon maintenance and invader countermeasures. Mana pools are pure mana, so they are easy to maintain, and compared to "Summoning," you can use monsters at a significantly lower cost. The downside is that the monsters that appear are random, but since monsters that suit the environment are produced, the Great Wall Labyrinth is seeing an increase in flying monsters—just as you intended, Master.'
Apparently, the ones that can't fly fall off the walls and turn into energy.
'You certainly live up to your title as Dungeon Master.'
"Aw, you're gonna make me blush~?"
'Ah. Perhaps I flattered you a bit too much. As they say, even a pig can climb a tree with enough flattery—but with you, it seems a single compliment might send you flying straight into the sun, wax wings and all.'
I just smile and let Andre's jabs roll off my back like always.
After all, there's still plenty to do.
Summary:
The Demon Lord explains his Sky Labyrinth's three-layer defense system—a gravity-heavy maze, auto-targeting walls, and trap-filled interior—each with escalating danger levels from 7 to 10. Despite his over-engineering, he admits anxiety about possible loopholes. Andre arrives to report on monster encroachment, offering backhanded praise that both reassures and subtly mocks his master.
Trivia:
The maze's gravity is 10x on top, 100x outside—making flight impossible for invaders while ghost monsters ignore it entirely.
The glass construction makes every trap mechanism visible, but triggers additional hidden traps if you try to disarm them.
Monsters respawn via "summoning" of a different individual of the same type when killed, not true resurrection.
The Great Wall Labyrinth specifically generates flying monsters due to environmental adaptation.
The Demon Lord can create monsters using his smartphone—a modern touch in a fantasy setting.
Mana pools are cheaper than direct Summoning and produce monsters naturally based on environment.
Danger level escalates from 7 (outer maze) to 9 (walls) to 10 (interior).
The walls automatically target ALL intruders—even those in corridors, not just aerial attackers.
The Demon Lord admits he would accept death if someone clears his dungeon—showing both pride and fatalism.
Andre's proverb about pigs and trees implies the Demon Lord is easily manipulated by flattery.
Notes:
• Andre - A demon of the sixty-fifth rank in Solomon's seventy-two demons, appearing in the form of a peacock. Acts as a conductor of sophistry and a support interface for the dungeon master. Bestows knowledge of surveying, astronomy, and geometry. Displays a formal, refined demeanor with hidden warmth and genuine concern for her master's safety, though she expresses frustration through sharp lecturing. Colleague of the narrator. Speaks to the Demon Lord without fear. Blunt and sarcastic. Uses insults casually but reveals underlying care through actions. Functions as the straight-man tsukkomi character. The protagonist's smartphone companion who serves as both advisor and voice of reason. Speaks with polite, respectful deference while occasionally expressing exasperation at the master's priorities. Questions the safety of dungeon designs and serves as a grounding presence to the protagonist's whims.
• God - An ancient, divine benefactor and guide to the protagonist, this deity oversees departed souls with a paternalistic yet playfully childish personality. Speaking with casual, modern exasperation, they act as a protector who grants power while maintaining a rational, persuasive demeanor. Though appearing only as a voice, they frequently apologize for their intimidating presence while seeking favors in return.
• Master - The dungeon master and protagonist of the story. A self-aware individual who acknowledges his own laziness and tendency to prioritize comfort over dungeon management. Possesses absurdly high stats and a vast array of skills despite being Level 1. Maintains a casual, modern internal monologue with self-deprecating humor.