Chapter 51 – Evil Star

“…Eliaernes, you were right. That place where we took our entrance exam wasn’t a real labyrinth after all.”

It was evening, after the day’s regular lectures had ended. Stella, busy scooping up beef stew, suddenly whispered this out of the blue.

“What are you on about?”

“Well, we had a class about labyrinths today, and it just reminded me of that time…”

“I told you, the real thing is on a completely different level. In a genuine labyrinth, the Magi is so dense that even breathing properly is a challenge.”

“…You sound like you’ve experienced it firsthand?”

“That’s what I’ve heard.”

“Last time you said you read it in a book.”

“I’ve read about it in books too.”

“Hmm…”

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Stella, who had been gazing at me with an annoyingly smug smile, let out a chuckle.

“It’s just funny hearing you talk about it like it’s a given, when you’ve only read or heard about it.”

“What? Are you implying I’m lying about experiencing it?”

“I’m not saying that, but I have experienced it. And unlike what you said, breathing wasn’t that difficult; it was just a bit uncomfortable.”

“Guess you got trapped in some pathetic excuse for a labyrinth.”

“W-what?! No way! When I got out, the adventurers outside called it a level 5 labyrinth!”

“Wow. So impressive.”

“…You’re really frustrating, you know that?”

In the past, I would’ve outright dismissed Stella’s words, but now, I take them at face value.

I had just attended a lecture on labyrinths as well.

And in that lecture, I learned a shocking fact I’d never read about at home.

The Labyrinth had created its own followers.

From Black Magicians to demons and apostles.

Her followers, the Black Magicians, only started appearing about 15 years ago.

But judging by their level, it seems they received the Authority from the Labyrinth much earlier than that.

Even so, the creation of followers was a recent event.

After almost 300 years of silence, why would she suddenly start doing that?

What in the world possessed her to create followers?

Trying to understand the mind of a high-ranking demon, especially a commander, is madness, but there should be some way to speculate.

Yet, I can’t fathom any of the Labyrinth’s eccentric actions.

This woman, who always prided herself on the perfection of her labyrinth, would even dissolve it at a whim if she found a single thing unsatisfactory, despite ambushing us with it.

Why would such a Labyrinth suddenly…?

It’s obvious that if the followers who received the Authority of Sloth tried to create labyrinths, they’d end up with pathetic ones.

Moreover, the Empire started categorizing these randomly appearing labyrinths by levels.

From Special to Level 7.

Special is the highest, while Level 7 is the lowest.

From the professor’s explanation, it seems it would take at least three 6th rank individuals to clear a Special labyrinth.

To me, they’re all just pathetic labyrinths.

Compared to the ones that the Labyrinth herself created, these are nothing but child’s play.

Has that Labyrinth really gone senile?

“What are you guys talking about?”

At that moment, Yurasia arrived with her dinner and sat across from Stella and me.

And Pina, who had followed Yurasia, took a seat beside her with sandwiches in both hands.

“We’re talking about labyrinths.”

“Labyrinths?”

“Yeah, remember the one from our entrance exam? Stella here was so scared, thinking it was a real labyrinth, that she started bawling—”

“Aaaah! Stop! Stop!!”

“Geez, what’s with the screaming?”

“No! No!! Don’t spout nonsense!”

“It’s not nonsense. You were practically about to wet yourself if you’d gone any further in there.”

“Aaaah! Aaah! Shut up, shut up, shut up!!!”

With a loud scream, I shoved a huge piece of eggplant into Stella’s open mouth.

“Mmgh?! Mmph…”

She went quiet instantly.

Eggplants are always nasty.

As I watched Stella retch repeatedly, Yurasia smiled wryly, tied her long hair up neatly, and tilted her head in curiosity.

“So, Stella really has been trapped in a real labyrinth before?”

“Ugh, cough… yeah. A long time ago.”

“My goodness… weren’t you scared?”

“Hmm? Scared? Of course not! There’s no way I’d be scared! I’m a certified 1-Star Silver-rank adventurer! How could someone like me be scared of just a labyrinth? Hmph.”

“She was absolutely terrified. She shivers whenever she talks about it.”

“Hey! Stop it! Why do you keep doing this to me?!”

“Hmm hmm hmm…”

“You… ugh… ugh!!”

I let out a snort at Stella, who clenched her fists in frustration, and popped a cherry tomato from Yurasia into my mouth.

“So you made it out in one piece? How was it? Was it totally different from the labyrinth in the entrance exam?”

Yurasia, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, leaned in as if eager to know more about labyrinths.

“Well… yeah, it was different. In the labyrinth I was trapped in, the air was filled with Magi, making it feel… sticky and suffocating.”

As Stella explained, Pina, her cheeks puffed out, also started to show a gleam of interest in her eyes.

“And because of the Magi, mana manipulation became a bit sluggish too. Hehe, well, you know, I’m a silent caster, right? Heehee. So when it comes to spellcasting, heh, I’m faster than anyone else. But even for me, casting spells was a bit challenging in there. Not that it was a problem, of course!”

Clap, clap, clap—Pina applauded.

Yurasia, too, let out a “Wow…”

With each clap, Stella’s shoulders rose higher, and she launched into an even grander retelling of her exploits.

Finding her enthusiasm rather endearing, I kept my mouth shut.

Seeing that I had no intention of interrupting her, Stella seemed even more animated, chattering away enthusiastically.

“—and so, I escaped! Hmph. What do you think? If you remember everything I said, you’ll be able to escape any labyrinth you get trapped in.”

“Hearing Stella’s story makes it seem like every party needs a mage.”

“Yeah, given the versatility of magic, it’s essential! Heh.”

I agree with that sentiment.

In Gevihenum, a mage is indispensable.

They’re needed to start fires, cast ‘Silence’ for sneaking into places, keep watch with spells, raise earth barriers during rain, shield against hurricanes, bridge cracked ground, and even teleport away if the sky falls.

In that kind of environment, magic doesn’t just aid combat but entirely changes the quality of life in Gevihenum.

“Then… why didn’t the hero’s party have a mage?”

Yurasia suddenly brought up a highly sensitive topic.

I had planned to ask this question only after getting closer to Stella, uncertain of how she might react to it.

But Yurasia just went straight for it…!

“It’s hard enough on the mainland, but Gevihenum is an extremely barren land. I wonder how they managed without a mage…”

I tried to keep my expression neutral, glancing at Stella’s face.

Stella…

“…Yes, actually, I’ve been wondering about that too.”

It seems she really doesn’t know.

Is she completely in the dark about her ancestors?

“So, I have a theory.”

She didn’t doubt it at all.

With that characteristic smug but naive expression, she continued.

“Maybe the Saintess fulfilled the role of a mage.”

“…Hmm. Could be, right?”

“Well… I’m not sure. The concept of holy power isn’t widely understood. But if you look up various records, it’s said that she purified plants nourished by Magi to use as food. So… maybe she achieved things beyond what magic could.”

Rather than purifying Magi, we had simply reached the level where eating such things didn’t affect us.

“I even heard she turned Magi-soaked water into wine.”

It wasn’t turned into wine; it was actual alcohol.

“In a demon realm where not a single tree grows for firewood, she’s said to have started fires for camp. The Saintess’s miracles might have truly been miracles.”

We’d actually used demon corpses as firewood. And it wasn’t for survival but for our campfire parties.

To begin with, we were a simple hero’s party…or rather, we were different from those who merely called themselves a hero’s party.

The self-proclaimed hero parties would hire a porter to carry around artifacts and had a minimum of 10 members.

They’d visit the Empire every two weeks to buy supplies, purchase preserved food, and purify the Magi in their bodies.

The slightly stronger self-proclaimed hero parties would at least stop at outposts near the outskirts of the demon realm to do minor repairs.

On the other hand, we didn’t bother with repairs.

We just used, not looted, the supplies the demons had and ate the monster meat, while Luna purified the Magi.

The main reason was that we just found it bothersome.

Instead of wasting time going back and forth, we’d rather spend it killing more demons.

“So, Eliaernes, what do you think?”

I gulped down the piece of meat I was chewing and looked at Stella.

“Why ask me?”

“Because you’re the one here most interested in the hero’s party.”

“I’m not.”

“Come on. You look up books about the hero’s party every night.”

“…How did you see that?”

“W-well, I wasn’t spying! I just happened to see! Anyway, what do you think? Was there really no mage in the hero’s party? Or…”

Stella lowered her voice and muttered, looking around.

“…could it be that the mage died, and they erased the records?”

Seeing her seriously entertain this theory, it’s clear she truly knows nothing about her ancestors.

“You know, they might’ve hidden it to avoid dampening morale. What do you think? Makes sense, right?”

It’s not just ignorance; it’s as if she doesn’t think at all.

…Was I the only one on guard all this time? Against someone this clueless?

A wave of self-doubt washed over me.

When I continued staring at her with a dry expression, Stella scrunched her face and snapped.

“…What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re looking at me with such a rude expression.”

“What rudeness? Still, I think they probably did have a mage. Even if they didn’t, the hero’s party would’ve been strong.”

I shook my head lightly, giving a nonchalant response, and finished off the remaining cherry tomatoes.

And then—

Ding. Ding. The bell chimed, marking 7 PM.

“Ah… it’s already 7.”

Yurasia got up with a regretful expression.

“You’re going to the Arant Museum?”

“Yes…”

She had to go to the museum because of an assignment the professor for tomorrow’s polearm lecture had given.

Classes hadn’t even fully started, yet there were already assignments.

How awful.

“Should I go with you if you’re bored?”

“Hehe. No, I’ll be fine! I’ll be back by 9 at the latest!”

“Really? Then bring me a tanghulu.”

“Uh… If you eat sweets before bed, you’ll get cavities.”

“I brush my teeth well.”

“Hmm… then I’ll bring you just one.”

[Take care, Lady Yurasia!]

“Hehe. Thanks, Pina! You work hard too!”

“Take care, sis.”

“Mm, thank you.”

Yurasia, her face brightened by the offer, waved as she walked away.

Then—

“Pina, let’s get going too.”

[Yes!]

Stella, who had agreed to help Pina with her studies starting today, also stood up.

“Pina and I are heading to the Mana Training Room. What about you?”

“I’m going to the private training ground.”

“…The private training ground? Can first-years use that?”

“Normally, no, but the Vice Headmaster gave me permission.”

“…Really?”

“What, jealous? Want to use it too?”

“…No, not really? I don’t want to use it.”

She was looking at me with envy just a moment ago.

With a chuckle, I picked up my plate and stood up.

“Really? I was going to invite you along if you wanted, but it seems the Mana Training Room is more comfortable for you.”

“…Uh, what?”

“Anyway, good luck. See you in the morning.”

Leaving behind Stella’s bewildered expression and Pina’s excitement about studying with her friend, I walked away.

***

Three hours later.

A labyrinth appeared at the Arant Weapons Museum, where Yurasia had gone.

The sacrifice for the labyrinth was a 6th Rank swordsman.

The designated level:

Special.