“During the festive season, the celebratory atmosphere swept through Gotham City. Characters usually only heard about in news reports from other cities started appearing—perhaps for the festivities, or maybe with side missions in tow. However, players were too busy grinding through the event’s generous but demanding activities to strike up conversations or trigger missions with these characters…”

At times like these, Vivi wished she could play six accounts simultaneously—five for grinding activities and one just for fun.

She sent her Professor Diamond alias to team up with Damian at the Strange Circus, while her main account queued up for the sewers.

“Queued up.”

Even as mayor, Vivi couldn’t micromanage everything. She delegated tasks, with others handling execution. The Goat Cabin had seemingly splintered into multiple locations. After all, a maze with only one exit could easily have multiple entrances, right? Those managing the East District discovered several entry points and, after some experimentation, came up with an idea: why not turn the sewers into a limited-time attraction during the festival? After all, when else would tourists get a chance to explore a sewer in another city?

And Gotham’s sewers were immaculate—no stench, spacious, and pristine. Of course, the inmates of Blackgate Prison and Penguin’s gang probably had different opinions.

Almost every East District local had participated in the sewer construction project at some point—those who hadn’t were likely in prison. Upon completion, many former low-level mobsters transitioned into construction workers. Anyone trying to return to their criminal roots inevitably ended up back in Blackgate. As unemployment dropped, more idle hands found work, and the police increased security in the East District (mainly because nobody could beat the precinct chief in a fight). As a result, crime rates plummeted.

For the people of the East District, the sewers represented a shared pride and rebirth of their neighborhood.

Walking through the bustling crowds, Vivi overheard a tourist exclaim, “Wow, look at all these roses! Are they for sale?”

Roses were indeed for sale… but they should thank their luck that Poison Ivy was busy at the lumber mill in Bristol County and not here.

Vivi’s rose estate lay deep in the Bristol forest, an area once ravaged by excessive logging. Poison Ivy recently unearthed the roots of a rare ancient tree species there and had been working to rejuvenate it ever since.

Elsewhere, after the Wayne family memorial was demolished, Bruce “Batman” Wayne decided to convert the site into a flower shop and superhero merchandise store. The once-bloodied ground now bloomed with flowers, where tiny figurines of heroes fluttered about like fairies. Rumor had it that on the night of the demolition, Batman lingered nearby for hours as gargoyles hovered around him. But then again, what was unusual about Batman being in the East District?

The tourist’s voice interrupted Vivi’s thoughts again: “Huh? Why are there so many kids here?”

A small gargoyle zipped past, clutching a bag as it darted into the underground passage. Cameras clicked and shutters snapped as onlookers captured the scene, still unaccustomed to Gotham’s unique sights.

“Did you see the bag the gargoyle was carrying?” someone explained. “It’s filled with cookies that can shrink you into a child for an hour. But you can only get them by entering the maze. That’s why I’m in line—I already tried once!”

The tourist sighed, “That sounds fun. Turning into a kid… but why can’t you just buy the cookies?”

Vivi: Obviously, it’s to boost participation so I can earn more gold and diamonds.

The Goat Cabin promised gold cards, a prize Vivi couldn’t resist hoarding. But the maze only allowed 100 entrants per session, requiring a full group to unlock. Players needed to complete the maze within an hour for the best rewards, but even those who exited early would stay in their shrunken state until the buff wore off.

Most of the kids wandering around were likely those who entered just to explore and exited without much effort—necessary for triggering the event.

Vivi tucked her hands into her sleeves, eavesdropping on snippets of conversation. Nearby, clusters of children walked by, cursing Batman under their breath.

Vivi: “…”

Since the maze opened, Batman seemed to be receiving an unprecedented level of verbal abuse.

What exactly was happening in that maze?

In truth, the AI periodically deleted maze guides to preserve the event’s mystery. Vivi wanted players to experience the novelty during the early stages of the event, even if guides became inevitable later. She herself avoided looking at any walkthroughs—maintaining her own excitement for the game.

Still, hints slipped through the crowd. Phrases like “Batman might be the boss” and “You’ll be grouped into random teams of four” piqued her curiosity.

After an hour of waiting, Vivi finally reached the front of the line.

A black goat emblem adorned the entrance. Uniformed officers managed the crowd, some of whom were suspiciously small. Were they… child-sized police officers? Were even the cops playing this game?

She bit into a cookie, noting its tomato flavor.

【Big Kid Cookie, Cost: 3 Sparklers】

【Upon consumption, the user and their belongings will transform into a child approximately 5–15 years old, age randomly determined. Effect lasts for 1 hour.】

【Because big kids deserve to celebrate Children’s Day too!】

3 Sparklers for a cookie that, after just one game, could earn Vivi 30 to 100 fireworks sticks in rewards. If someone completed the maze… well, oddly enough, nobody had managed that yet.

The moment Vivi swallowed the cookie, her hands shrank significantly, and her perspective shifted. She had transformed into… a shorty? She looked down at her short limbs and realized she was now a tiny bean of about seven or eight years old. Following instructions from others, she reached out and pressed her hand against the door. The scene before her shifted.

Taking a step forward, Vivi promptly fell flat on the ground.

Then, she bounced back up.

Vivi: “?”

Nearby, a companion who was already waiting there seemed unfazed. With a calm, guiding tone, he said, “The gravity here is different, and the floor is very springy. Little girl, don’t struggle. Slowly find your balance and stand up.”

“If you really can’t manage that,” he paused, “you could crawl.”

Following his advice, Vivi cautiously stood up, wobbling slightly as she adjusted. Opening her map, she wasn’t surprised to find it blank.

After all, this was a game. If her map worked here, it would be considered cheating.

The short boy next to her reached out a hand to steady her. He carried a round shield that could bend and snap back into shape. He wore a blue cowl with little wings, and his snug outfit was emblazoned with the stars and stripes. But he was clearly only about five years old—shorter than Vivi.

It seemed age here was randomized.

Vivi tilted her head. “Are you… Captain America?”

The boy turned and smiled faintly. “Yes, I am.”

“Everyone else thinks I’m… uh, a Captain America fan because I’m dressed like this,” he explained, fiddling with his iconic shield, which now flexed and warped like rubber. “And my shield’s properties seem to have changed in this maze.”

“Maybe they just can’t believe Captain America would come play a game,” Vivi mused. “Just call me Vivi, Captain. Is this how things work here? No instructions?”

They were in a green, square room, with a simplistic rainbow painted on the ceiling. Apart from Vivi and Steve, the space was empty—no doors, no exits.

Little Steve explained warmly, “Once we have four people, the walls will open, and we’ll be able to choose a random direction to enter the maze. As for guidance…”

He hesitated, his expression turning a bit wry. “The instructions here are provided by Batman. Since there are real kids participating, they opted for voice-over instead of lengthy text.”

Steve seemed familiar with the setup and began explaining further. “Participants can’t fight each other in the maze, and we won’t get hurt. The maze is enormous, but there are enemies—”

Before he could finish, another person dropped into the room.

This one also had a shield.

Diana, Wonder Woman, raised an eyebrow. “Captain?”

Diana looked about twelve years old, the tallest among them.

Fortunately, the transformation only adjusted participants to look like “normal human children.” Vivi reminded herself that Gotham wasn’t short of odd individuals—like those divine beings whose ages spanned millennia.

After introductions were made, the fourth participant joined them—a black-haired boy wearing sunglasses and a mask.

Vivi: “…”

Steve: “?”

Diana: “Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?”

The boy hesitated before responding, “… You can call me Jack.”

The name was extraordinarily generic, and the boy’s outfit—a jacket paired with the mask and sunglasses—completely obscured his face. His silence and demeanor screamed “suspicious character.” What if, as an adult, he turned out to be a creepy old man?

The two women quickly gravitated toward each other. Meanwhile, Steve, ever composed, nodded at “Jack” and asked, “Can you even see where you’re going with those sunglasses on?”

Jack, real name Jason Todd—known by his “stage name” Red Hood—remained silent.

He couldn’t see well with the sunglasses, but he’d planned to take them off once inside. Who’d have guessed he’d run into this group?

Jason, currently on the run from assassins, had crossed paths with this troublemaking little girl, Vivi White, before. After their encounter at Rothschild Manor, Jason found himself pursued relentlessly.

Seven or eight waves of hitmen had targeted him in just a few days. Though he suspected this was part of his plan to test the forces behind Gotham’s mayor, Rothschild herself had been careful. She only dispatched internationally renowned mercenaries without any personal ties. Meanwhile, she had flown to London to oversee her schemes personally.

Rothschild’s “soul-swapping” project remained a closely guarded secret, known only to her and the League of Assassins. She wouldn’t send the League’s deadly Talons after someone like him unless absolutely necessary.

Perhaps he was lucky—or maybe not. Jason had avoided a Talon ambush but discovered League operatives moving in Gotham. Though they were his former employers, Jason wouldn’t tolerate anyone meddling in his city.

He’d decided to investigate under a new identity. But being hunted made things tricky, so he’d hatched a clever plan.

He came for the cookies.

Children could infiltrate places more easily than adults. Even if his combat abilities were diminished, no one would suspect a kid. All he needed to do was enter the maze and let himself get eliminated.

… But now he was stuck with Vivi White, Captain America, and Wonder Woman—all of whom would definitely remember his face.

Luckily, this was a maze. Jason figured he could find a chance to separate from the group later.

Just as “Jack” entered, the walls around them slid open, and a small figure descended from above.

Steve: “…The game guide has arrived.”

Everyone quickly realized they could talk but not move. The one experienced player in their group explained, “We have to go through this scripted sequence first. After that, we’ll be able to explore the maze.”

As the small figure approached, they noticed—

“Batman?”

It was a chibi version of Batman, standing barely 60 centimeters tall with a round, adorable two-headed figure. His cape looked more like actual bat wings, and his pointed ears twitched slightly.

“Greetings, brave warriors,” Chibi Batman said in a soft, cutesy voice. “I am the embodiment of Batman’s goodwill. Thank you for answering my call to help defeat the Bat Demon King and rescue your kidnapped teammate. During your journey, you’ll find various helpful items scattered across the maze, and Gargoyles will assist you. Once you regroup with your team, the Demon King will appear, and you’ll be able to launch your attack—”

Diana interjected, “Wait, we have teammates? Aren’t all four of us already here?”

Steve: “…Not for long.”

As if on cue, a tall, ominous figure—the real Batman—appeared behind Chibi Batman. Towering over them, his presence made the group feel even smaller in comparison. The situation escalated into a dramatic, RPG-style confrontation. Chibi Batman, despite his best efforts, was defeated. The towering Dark Knight then randomly selected one of the “heroes” to kidnap, carrying them off to another corner of the maze. The remaining teammates would have to regroup and reach the maze’s end to confront the Demon King in a final showdown powered by “love and courage” to claim a treasure chest.

“Jack!” Vivi shouted dramatically.

Poor “Jack” was the unlucky one plucked from their group.

The dungeon storyline went like this: after yet another defeat at the hands of a villain, Batman began doubting himself. Though he eventually recovered, his internal turmoil manifested as a split between his “good” and “evil” sides. The evil grew stronger over time, culminating in the creation of this maze. Now, the players had answered Chibi Batman’s call to restore balance by defeating the enemy.

Chibi Batman nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry. I’ll go help your friend. Let’s hope we can reunite soon—time is running out.”

With a few flutters of his bat-like wings, he flew off and disappeared around a corner.

This left Vivi, Steve, and Diana alone.

What a thoughtful maze, Vivi mused, even considering whether the “little one” forcibly separated from their group might feel lonely.

…Except the “little one” wasn’t lonely at all.

Jason, now bound and dumped in a dead-end corner thanks to the “evil Batman,” hadn’t had much time to process his situation before Chibi Batman arrived again. The tiny guide immediately untied the ridiculously simplistic knots.

“Don’t worry, brave warrior,” Chibi Batman reassured him. “I’ll stay with you and protect you. Batman never abandons anyone.”

Jason, looking conflicted, got to his feet, stashing away his sunglasses and mask. Then, he turned to face a nearby wall.

For a long moment, Chibi Batman watched him silently before finally asking, “What are you doing, brave warrior?”

“…Trying to bash my head against the wall.”