NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52
Blink.
The moment I blinked…
Everything changed.
Yurasia’s blue eyes scanned her surroundings.
A dim interior. Sticky liquid seeping out, walls giving off a fishy smell. The floor wriggling with an uninvited life of its own. An alien atmosphere.
And… magic.
“…What is this?”
A labyrinth.
Just a few seconds ago, it had been a museum, but in the blink of an eye, it turned into a labyrinth.
There was no time to be surprised. No need to ponder.
She assessed the situation. Rather than thinking about what was happening, she needed to focus on her next steps.
‘There’s magic permeating the labyrinth.’
She recalled Stella’s proud expression when she said that.
‘So, if we get trapped in the labyrinth, we must quickly surround ourselves with mana to block the intrusion of magic. That should be our top priority.’
Blue mana erupted from Yurasia’s body. It wrapped around her like a thin veil, blocking the invading magic.
Next, she tied her hair back and drew the sword strapped to her waist.
A pitch-black blade. It looked sharp enough to slice the user if not careful.
It was the black iron sword gifted to her by Eliaernes.
At least that was fortunate.
Though personal equipment couldn’t be worn inside the academy, there was no problem outside.
Of course, other students hadn’t brought their gear. On the other hand, Yurasia had a habit of bringing her equipment.
Not that she had packed over ten knives and daggers, but she had the most important items.
Even if there were no rations, no food, and no auxiliary gear, one sword was enough.
With both hands gripping the sword, Yurasia calmed her turbulent thoughts. She suppressed her emotions and steadied her breath.
There was no trace of a smile. Her face wore a sharp expression, not her usual lighthearted demeanor. Her blue eyes radiated a fierce glare.
She quickly found her first task.
It wouldn’t take long. A knight’s duty was singular.
And there was only one path ahead of her.
No more thought was necessary.
Once everything was over, she would return to her master’s side.
That was the one duty she, as a knight serving her master, must uphold.
Thud!
Steps moved forward without hesitation.
Without delay, there were no obstacles. With a clear goal, she stood firm. Her footsteps were unwavering, oriented solely toward the front.
Sharp eyes locked onto what lay ahead.
Dozens of monsters were in sight.
At that moment.
Swish!
A sharp sound reverberated once.
In response to that sound, dozens of blue slashes shot out. Where the slashes passed, the bodies of monsters lay scattered.
Having not realized their own deaths, their wriggling arms and legs, squirming tails and entrails created a grotesque scene.
Yurasia paid no mind. She exhaled a second breath and swung her sword again.
Crash!
A deeper azure of energy sliced through every monster in the room.
*
“…Your Highness. This is…”
“A labyrinth,” she replied.
Silina, caught off-guard by the sudden change in scenery, quickly assessed the situation and looked around.
A room surrounded by sticky walls.
Two doors in front and back.
And people thrown into a state of confusion.
Several students in academy uniforms were visible, and they too were lost in chaos.
The reason for the sudden appearance of the labyrinth was unclear. Understanding the behavior of those who accepted magic was a ridiculous task.
Silina let out a small sigh and collected her emotions.
She didn’t want to show any signs of panic to avoid revealing weaknesses to others.
Wearing the same mask she always did, she turned to the guard knight who had been by her side since she stepped outside the academy.
“Give me an axe.”
“…What?”
“Didn’t you hear? I said axe.”
“That’s not my—”
“Do I have to say it three times?”
“…I’m sorry.”
At Silina’s sharp voice, the knight called Untla handed her the two axes strapped to his waist.
With that, only two short swords remained on Untla’s waist, but Silina paid no mind as she moved forward.
She had spent 17 years in a bloodstained royal family.
A time that could be seen as short or long.
During that time, Silina witnessed, heard, and felt countless deaths.
Thus, in a situation where the surroundings were blocked and anything could happen, she knew she could only rely on herself.
Even just watching the guard knight wield an axe was enough for her.
Understanding that at any moment, one could face unknown challenges, she had chosen a guard who was proficient with the axe and kept him close.
So she could use the knight’s weapon if needed.
That didn’t mean she thought lightly of the guard knight or would sacrifice him.
Barely a year had passed, so trusting him was a leap, but she knew he wasn’t the kind of knight who would die easily just because he didn’t have an axe.
It was better to die by her own choice than to be betrayed by an unreliable human.
That was Silina’s thought and decision.
Finally, standing in the middle of the chaotic room, Silina clashed her axes together loudly to gather attention.
“We are currently trapped in a labyrinth. To escape the labyrinth, we need to find the core. For that, we must move forward.”
No need for introduction. Her platinum hair and eyes spoke for her status.
“And I am here to protect you all. Those who wish to follow me, please do. Those who wish to stay here may remain.”
She cut to the heart of the matter.
“But if you stay here, I cannot guarantee what may happen. Choose wisely.”
She wouldn’t go into endless explanations about the labyrinth’s dangers. Those who understood would know; those who didn’t wouldn’t need to.
It would only increase the chaos unnecessarily.
“There isn’t much time. Three minutes. Make your decision and come to me if you choose to follow.”
Checking her pocket watch, Silina wrapped up her speech and moved toward the door—front or back, she didn’t care.
One minute later.
A total of thirteen people gathered around Silina.
“Let’s depart.”
With that, a group of fifteen, including Silina and her guard knight, moved forward together.
*
After parting ways with Stella and arriving at the personal training grounds, I began my warm-up and training just like usual.
The footwork I learned from Leona.
The movements of the upper body that stem from that footwork.
Flow, breath, techniques, stances.
I still hadn’t mastered the techniques Arisa used or the stances and principles either. I didn’t even understand how such strength could be generated.
So I focused on training the techniques and stances I could manage for now.
Clear rules amidst irregularity.
Slow yet strong, fast but weak movements.
Breaths punctuated by scattered exhalations. Movements and the flow of mana mixed in between.
I still hadn’t completely grasped the intricacies hidden within. But that didn’t matter much.
If I lacked something, I would fill it. If I needed more, I would add it.
Experience, memories, and sensations overflowed.
Thus, one hour passed.
I moved without stop, recalling Leona’s movements.
Two hours.
I hastily gathered my hair and tossed away the sweat-soaked bra and training clothes.
Feeling much lighter than before.
Dressed only in a thin sleeveless shirt and shorts, I continued my training.
By the time three hours had passed…
Tap, tap!
I heard a small sound from the training ground window.
Tap, tap, tap!
The sound of a stone colliding. No, lighter than that, it was like a bird’s beak tapping.
That sound caught my attention.
“…A crow?”
Outside the window, a crow flapped its wings and was diligently pecking at the glass.
But this wasn’t an ordinary crow.
I felt an unholy energy.
A trace of magic slipped from it.
Dark magic.
A dark mage’s familiar.
“…Adelia Baros?”
CAW! CAW!
The crow began to chirp joyfully as if affirming the correct answer. It then presented a scrap of cloth tied around its ankle and stuck it to the window.
[Please open the window.]
“I’d rather not.”
Caw-caw-caw!!!
As if it expected that response, the crow cawed loudly before pulling out another piece of cloth tied to its other foot.
[Yurasia is in danger.]
Yurasia is in danger.
The moment I read those words, I shoved aside any trivial calculations in my mind and quickly opened the window.
In came the crow, scanning me up and down with its beady eyes.
“What do you mean Yurasia is in danger—”
[The labyrinth has appeared.]
“…A labyrinth?”
[The location is the Arant Weapon Museum.]
The Arant Weapon Museum.
That was definitely where Yurasia was headed.
I turned my head to check the clock.
10 o’clock.
Yurasia said she would come at 9.
At the same time…
The device I had casually thrown behind me began to blare loudly. Not the usual calm alert, but rather an urgent alarm.
Once. Twice. Thrice.
It didn’t stop ringing.
There was no time to properly dress.
I hurriedly pulled on the fallen training outfit.
[Listen while you go.]
I zipped myself up tightly and stepped forward.
[The academy’s professors are trapped.]
“What do you mean?”
[The research building where the professors are staying has been severed from the outside. Remember when you visited my lab, and the door was locked? It’s the same magic; a space has been entirely sealed off.]
“So they can’t get out?”
[…Yes. It seems it will be tough for a while. The professors from the magic department are trying to break through, but it will likely take at least an hour.]
BANG!
I kicked the door of the training grounds and stepped outside.
Panicked students were rushing toward the dormitory in the opposite direction. I kept walking without stopping.
I passed by them and continued on.
[Do you know why a labyrinth is created?]
When a labyrinth reveals itself…
“Sacrifice.”
You split open the sacrifice’s belly, take out the insides, and unfold it into the shape of the labyrinth. You then insert long iron rods into the limbs and strip away the skin. That skin also becomes a shape of the labyrinth. A magic circle is drawn with bones and blood.
The brain becomes the core of the labyrinth.
The state the sacrifice reaches becomes the labyrinth’s difficulty.
And that occurs while the sacrifice’s consciousness is awake.
They can’t die, nor lose consciousness; they feel that pain with clear awareness.
And when the core of the labyrinth is destroyed, that sacrifice will die immediately.
No matter what you do, you cannot save them.
That’s the most twisted aspect of the labyrinth.
[…I didn’t think you’d really know. That’s right. The sacrifice is a 6th Rank swordsman.]
At last, I emerged outside the Signia Hall.
Thick, smoky air lingered at the edge of the path.
Once familiar, now foreign air surrounded my entire body.
Magic.
Faint traces of magic lingered in the atmosphere.
[The grade is special. This labyrinth is not something Eliaernes can handle alone.]
I ignored it as it was unnecessary to listen and walked on.
“E-Eliaernes!”
Just then, I turned at the voice calling from behind.
It was Stella.
Stella, wearing a hood, and Pina, pale and clutching her tail, stood there.
The clothing peeking out from under Stella’s hood caught my eye.
Adventurer’s clothing, the same as I had seen during the entrance exam.
She had multiple artifacts dangling from her wrists, and the jingling of glass bottles revealed potions.
They seemed ready to head out, knowing Yurasia hadn’t returned.
How commendable.
I immediately turned and walked toward Stella.
“Y-Yurasia hasn’t returned yet—”
“Cast Silence.”
“…What?”
“No time. Quick.”
“…Okay, got it.”
Nodding, Stella’s fingertips glimmered with purple mana.
“Next is Oculus.”
As soon as I finished speaking, purple mana surged around my body.
“Got it.”
“Now take it off.”
“…Huh?”