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https://kakuyomu.jp/works/822139844414118669/episodes/822139845811352983
――A few days later, the day of the dungeon raid.
I woke up feeling warmth and weight. Peering through half-closed eyes at my chest, I saw a familiar head of light brown hair. Breathing softly and steadily, Liene was holding me tightly in her arms.
Perhaps because today was the day of the dungeon raid, she felt anxious, so we slept in the same bed just like on the first day. And this is the result. The grip of those arms—which usually swing a greatsword with ease—was surprisingly strong, and it looked like it would take some time to free myself.
(……Sorry.)
I gently loosened her hold and carefully slipped out of the bed, taking care not to disturb the blankets. I adjusted her sleeping position, tucked the covers back around her, and then—after finishing my preparations—I quietly left the room.
(I can’t very well wake her up.)
For the past few days, she’d been swinging her greatsword more than anyone else.
Under the Knight Commander’s guidance, she’d been re-learning the basics and swinging a literal hunk of iron—one with increased weight—aiming to balance speed and destructive power.
It didn’t go as smoothly as usual at first, but I still clearly remember how the instructors were amazed when, after just two or three days, she was able to handle it just as skillfully as her own weapon.
The same goes for Yu and Ciel. Just like me and Liene, they visited the Knight Commander or went to see the adventurers, pushing themselves to their limits.
Elisia was reworking her strategies, eliminating unforeseen variables, and trying to raise the overall survival rate even slightly. On top of that, she never neglected her own training and kept the other students motivated—I really think she’s something special.
I also saw Rio countless times, clutching her toolbox as she rushed busily all over the academy—making final adjustments to magical tools, inspecting golems, and so on. That small back of her was always on the move.
Everyone has made up their minds.
Everyone is trying to fulfill their role.
(Then I have to—do my best too…)
If I told them, they’d surely try to stop me.
Liene, of course, and Elisia would definitely try to stand by my side. Even Yu and Ciel—though we haven’t spent much time together—would likely say they’d come along too. If Rio found out, he’d probably come to stop me as well.
With such thoughts in mind, I quietly made my way down the hallway.
Outside the window, the sky was still indigo. It was the boundary between night and morning.
Muffling my footsteps, I slip out of the dormitory and into the morning dew. I walk alone through the silent capital.
The cobblestones are wet with night dew, my breath is white, and the air is thick with tension. In the distance, I make eye contact with a patrolling knight; I return their bow and continue on my way.
Once I left the capital, I traveled by carriage. I climbed into the carriage that had already been arranged for me, closed my eyes, and let the rocking motion carry me.
By now, Liene must have woken up. I wonder if she’s noticed I’m gone. —She’s probably panicking. She’s probably crying. Even without being there, I could picture her reaction, and I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile, filled with guilt.
Eventually, the carriage came to a stop, and the door was opened by the knight sitting in the driver’s seat.
Just as before, a vast abyss spread out before my eyes. It was as eerie as ever. From the bottomless chasm, sounds resembling screams still echoed ceaselessly.
“……”
Turning my gaze to the side, I saw a temporary base that hadn’t been there during my previous inspection.
A simple tent had been pitched, and various magical tools were lined up around it. They must have been preparing all night. A few lights were still flickering faintly.
In the center of it all—stood the Academy Head.
“Right on time, I see…”
“Yes.”
Responding briefly to the low, subdued voice, Dietrich tapped the ground lightly with his staff.
“The main force will advance in one hour.”
“Understood.”
After my brief reply, Dietrich narrowed his eyes slightly.
“The core of this one is presumed to be a ‘weak specimen’… but that is merely an estimate based on past records. Its internal structure changes every time. The number of floors, the scenery, the shape of the passages, and the placement of the monsters as well.”
“…That’s right.”
In gaming terms, that means its appearance changes randomly.
In fact, when we first conquered the Primordial Labyrinth in the game, the size and types of monsters varied by floor. There were grassland-like areas where mysterious lights shone from the ceiling, as well as lava zones with flowing magma. In some cases, there were even areas resembling ruined cities.
If we end up in a labyrinth-like, intricately winding area, we’ll likely face a tough time.
“I don’t know how long it will take the main force to reach the core. At best, it could take half a day; at worst, it might take several days or more. During that time, you’ll likely be attacked by countless monsters. …Are you still going?”
When asked that, I briefly lowered my gaze toward the abyss.
Bottomless darkness. Gushing winds. A ceaseless creaking that sounded somewhat like human screams. It all felt like the labyrinth’s will, rejecting me.
That was precisely why I stood tall, chest out, and answered with a smile.
“I’ll go.”
When I replied like that, Dietrich fell silent for a moment.
He stared at my face for a while, then finally spoke quietly.
“…I see.”
I could tell that many emotions were mixed within those few words.
Since coming to the academy, I’d had several opportunities to exchange words with him. Coordinating the decoy operation, inspecting the training grounds, discussing the strategy for conquering the labyrinth with Elisia, and so on.
Every time we spoke, a shadow would fall across his face.
Whenever he saw students training with all their might, crying out in the training grounds, his expression would darken.
I’ve also seen him glance repeatedly at the casualty reports from past dungeon expeditions, exhaling deeply each time.
I remember how, every time I witnessed him like that, my impression of the Headmaster crumbled before my eyes.
He wasn’t just a figure who stood on the podium to speak of the Hundred-Year Cycle.
He wasn’t merely a leader who calmly decided on conquest strategies.
He was nothing less than a single educator living in this world.
“Regarding the decoy operation… I officially approve it.”
He stated it briefly, but clearly.
“Under normal circumstances, as headmaster, I should not approve a strategy that intentionally sends a single student into a danger zone. However, considering the predicted casualties, past precedents, and the anticipated large-scale spawning… after weighing all these factors together… this strategy has the highest probability of minimizing fatalities.”
His words faltered ever so slightly.
“—Therefore, I will authorize your solo infiltration.”
He spoke without even trying to hide the pain in his expression.
His voice carried the weight of his decision.
“…But don’t forget.”
He said this in a low voice, then turned his gaze toward the Primordial Labyrinth.
“…Your mission is not annihilation. It is to draw the labyrinth’s attention. There’s no need to force your way deeper into the levels. —As you likely already know, the threat level of the monsters skyrockets the further down you go. It would be best to halt your advance at a certain point and engage them there.”
A rational order. But behind it lay something else.
‘Do your best to return alive.’ That must be all he meant.
I gave a small laugh at those words.
“Understood. I’ll try not to fight too deep inside.”
With just those words, I turned my back on him and stepped into the labyrinth.
The moment my feet touched the stairs leading into the abyss, I turned only my face back toward him and said,
“I’ll definitely come back.”
Upon hearing that, Dietrich let out a slight sigh.
“…Of course. If you don’t come back, I’ll regret this decision for the rest of my life.”
A quiet, honest confession. Hearing that, I turned my gaze back toward the Abyss.
The wind continued to howl as before, and eerie sounds echoed around me. The moment deep darkness enveloped my body—a surge of magical power erupted from the bottom of the Abyss.
“……!”
The air trembled. It seemed the labyrinth had recognized me.
A sense of vigilance, hostility, and hatred gushed forth from the abyss and slammed into my body, and I found myself smiling involuntarily.
(That’s right, look only at me. Don’t take your eyes off me! …Be wary of me alone!!)
Suppressing the rising fear with the conviction of “success,” I stepped into the darkness.
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