And so, Yujin began traveling with the party.
“……..”
He carried with him an air of subtle mystery, both on Earth and in this world. Here too he seemed slightly out of place. He was walking a step apart from the rest of the group as they moved forward.
As the party members proceeded ahead, none of them started a conversation with Yujin; instead, they were casting cautious glances his way. It was a situation Yujin had grown quite used to.
However, Yujin wasn’t entirely walking in silence. Always by his side, in spiritual form and fused with him, was the Transcendent being called Tiamat.
It was she who spoke to Yujin.
[Yujin, why did you choose to accompany them? We could find the exit on our own, you know.]
Oh, you mean that?
Tiamat’s question was a reasonable one.
Yujin didn’t necessarily need a guide to lead him to the exit. Finding the way out of the labyrinth was something he could easily manage on his own.
Even if he had refused the party’s help and gone ahead by himself, there would have been no issue with him leaving this place. Nevertheless, he had deliberately chosen to accept their help and travel with them.
It’s nothing special. If I had to explain, I’d say there’s no harm in forming at least one connection while I’m here.
[A connection?]
Yes.
There was something Yujin had not yet revealed to Tiamat. He was, in fact, an otherworlder.
A person from Earth who had been transported to this labyrinth, an entirely different world.
At first, he had wondered if he was still inside a gate, with Tiamat’s tomb having been manifested within it, or if he had simply crossed over through a gate to this place. But by now, he was certain.
He had crossed over to another world. This fact was clear from this very party alone.
The presence of non-human races, such as the dwarf, among the group made it clear. Even their discussions implied that this place was a labyrinth.
Above all, the sheer size of the labyrinth made it more plausible that he had crossed into another world than the labyrinth itself having somehow passed through a gate to Earth.
In conclusion, Yujin fully realized that this was indeed another world.
So, what was the problem?
First and foremost, it was his lack of common knowledge.
Yujin had played the game called Labyrinth Academy which was set in this world.
The issue, however, was that he had breezed through the story, background, and lore without paying much attention; he was what one might call a “story-skipper”.
“Labyrinth Academy” was a game where understanding the story wasn’t necessary to enjoy playing.
It was basically a roguelike game based on labyrinth exploration. Its core loop involved navigating the labyrinth, collecting resources and treasures, and progressing further.
As the name “Labyrinth Academy” suggested, there was a story centered around the academy. However, Yujin often ignored or skipped the games’ story. He spent most of his time simply playing the game in the labyrinth to kill time.
Because of this, he lacked basic common knowledge about this world. From the start, he had been a newbie who didn’t know much about the game itself. In fact, he had only started playing Labyrinth Academy less than a week ago.
Even then, he only played occasionally to pass the time. By nature, Yujin was someone who led a busy life as an awakener and a hunter, so he hadn’t devoted much time to playing Labyrinth Academy.
Given that, how much could he possibly know about this world? He only had a basic understanding of how to navigate the labyrinth, nothing more.
As a result, he needed to familiarize himself with this world’s common knowledge in advance.
Of course, there was Tiamat, but since Tiamat existed as a Transcendent being thousands of years ago, it was obvious she wouldn’t know much about the current era. That’s why he needed to find someone else to rely on.
And so, he chose the current party.
However, there was one more problem.
The second problem was that, being in another world, he had no acquaintances here at all.
To Yujin, the world of “Labyrinth Academy” was simply a foreign world with no connections to him. Naturally, there was no one he could know.
Of course, even back on Earth, Yujin hadn’t had many close friends. Still, he had at least been able to depend on the social systems there and interact with others to a certain extent.
However, this place was basically set in a medieval culture. The society and institutions here were dominated by monarchies and social hierarchies.
A brutal medieval fantasy world that valued power and authority above all else. To have no connections in such a place was a big disadvantage.
Yujin realized he would have to adapt to a world without the moral and ethical framework of Earth’s society systems, upon which he had relied.
Therefore, he decided to try building connections in his own way. The first step was this party.
And above all…
Lady Tiamat, are you familiar with the concept of “Impermanence”?
[Impermanence…? What is that?]
It means that everything in the world is formed by relationships, constantly changing and never staying still.
“Impermanence”. It was a fairly well-known Buddhist term.
As Yujin explained, it refers to the fleeting nature of all things. Everything ultimately changes because of connections, which symbolize the impermanence of worldly affairs.
It refers to the fleeting nature of worldly affairs, so in some ways it seems to support nihilism, but… that’s not quite the case.
[If it’s not, then what is it really about?]
It means that while everything inevitably changes, it doesn’t imply that everything is meaningless. Instead, it says that anything can become something else. Let’s use a bowl as an example.
Yujin continued speaking.
We don’t say a bowl is meaningless just because it’s empty. That bowl could hold water, soup, or even wine. It may be empty, but precisely because of that, it can contain anything.
[Ooh…]
Everything is like an empty bowl, capable of becoming anything. If a bowl meets water, it becomes a bowl holding water. If it meets wine, it becomes a bowl holding wine. If it meets poison, it becomes a bowl holding poison. In this sense, relationships are like what the bowl encounters; they are connections, or what some might call causation.
[An interesting insight. But how does that relate to making connections? Does it mean you want to change yourself or something like that?]
No, it’s not necessarily about having to change or wanting to change. It’s more about understanding that everything inevitably changes. It’s about not clinging to things as they come and go, because what we think of as ‘mine’ will one day cease to be ‘mine’.
Yujin who was speaking with the detachment of an immortal sage continued with a calm smile.
But this isn’t the same as the extreme thinking of nihilism. The conclusion here is to accept change while appreciating and cherishing what you have in the present, knowing that it will one day disappear. Isn’t that how everyone feels? Rather than clinging to something forever, we value things more because we know they won’t last.
[…I see.]
Tiamat was somewhat astonished. While it didn’t seem like a realization a mere human could have reached, it was not an incomprehensible one either.
At its core, the idea was truly simple. Yet its depth was extraordinary.
It was like a lake, endlessly clear to the point where you could see through it, yet so profoundly deep that its bottom remained unseen.
Tiamat was amazed at how far a mortal’s understanding of life had developed.
[Everything changes through relationships, so anything can become something else…]
And this type of enlightenment was a shortcut to elevating one’s soul.
Hwaaaa…!
…Hmm?
[Thank you, Yujin. Thanks to you, I’ve advanced to another level.]
Yujin felt Tiamat’s presence within him grow noticeably stronger and was slightly taken aback. Meanwhile, Tiamat expressed her gratitude for the advancement of her soul’s essence.
[Now I understand why you are free from greed and attachment. Since everything is destined to change like flowing water, there’s no reason to cling to anything.]
For Tiamat, it wasn’t a difficult realization to accept. After all, it wasn’t easy for someone to hand over their bones and heart to a complete stranger without hesitation.
She wasn’t someone leaving the mortal world but a being still alive as a soul within her heart. Even so, she had passed her heart on to Yujin without any attachment.
Because of that, the Buddhist teaching of Anattā (the doctrine of “no-self”) was not something foreign to her. She had already demonstrated it by letting go of what was once hers without clinging to it.
…Haha, it’s nothing much.
Yujin who sensed that Tiamat’s soul had grown said this with a modest smile. Somehow, his words seemed to have granted her some kind of enlightenment.
Tiamat spoke.
[I’m genuinely surprised. To have such wisdom even as a mortal….it’s no wonder you could be so mature.]
You’re too kind.
Yujin replied with a smile, and Tiamat asked him another question.
[Is forming connections here also an extension of that wisdom? Treasuring even fleeting bonds, is that it?]
It’s not for any lofty reason like that. It’s just that this too is a connection, so I see no reason to avoid it. That’s all.
[Hmm… I see.]
Of course, my bond with you, Lady Tiamat, is incredibly precious to me.
[H-Huh?]
Tiamat was flustered by his words. Yujin continued.
I mean it. Honestly, since my parents passed away, you’re the first person I’ve been able to open up to like this. Because of that… I can’t help but feel that the time I spend with you is incredibly valuable.
[…I-Is… is that so?]
Yujin was still walking ahead while keeping his eyes forward since he was concerned about the possibility of revealing Tiamat’s presence to the party or being thought of as a mentally ill person. Meanwhile, Tiamat was floating behind him and following closely. So he couldn’t see her expression at the moment.
However, through his senses, he could tell that she was flustered and blushing. With a slightly awkward tone, he spoke again.
Uh… Was that too embarrassing of a thing to say?
[N-No… Not at all. It’s just, well…]
Haha, you don’t have to be considerate of my feelings. Now that I think about it, it was a bit embarrassing to say. Just forget I said it.
[R-Right, okay.]
Yet, despite saying that, Tiamat felt she wouldn’t be able to forget those words. Even for a Transcendent like her who was capable of erasing memories at will, it seemed this memory would remain.
Silence hung momentarily between Yujin and Tiamat before the party’s scout Mirien suddenly spoke.
“Stop.”
“Mirien, is something there?”
“…Yes, eight… no, eleven.”
At Hugo’s question, Mirien began counting the nearby enemies. Yujin too was already aware of them.
The group had entered a forest after leaving the open plains. Except for the scout Mirien and the transcendent Yujin, the rest of the party hadn’t noticed the approaching enemies.
The tension among the party members began to rise. Even Elly and Shia, who were just academy students, started to prepare themselves.
Gulp!
Shiver, shiver…
Perhaps they were overly tense. Mage Elly trembled slightly, while priestess Shia who looked to be timid and faint-hearted also seemed on edge.
Yujin glanced around, thinking to himself that there were some rather delicate companions among them.
At that moment, Hugo spoke to Yujin for the first time since their initial introduction.
“Mr. Eugene, please remain in the center. Like I mentioned before, we are escorting academy students, and it would disrupt the test if we deviated from our assigned roles.”
“Of course. Though, if it comes to it, I hope you won’t mind if I at least protect myself.”
“Naturally, that much is only fair.”
The party members had completed their preparations for battle.
It began with Mirien.
She quietly nocked an arrow, aimed it at a corner of the forest, and let it fly.
Thunk!
“Ugh!”
A piercing sound rang out, followed by a death cry.
Where Mirien’s arrow had struck, a green-skinned dwarf-like creature collapsed. The dwarf-like creature was impaled by the arrow.
It had long ears like an elf but with rough green skin, an ugly face, and a large nose.
It was a goblin.
“Kieeeeek! Kieeeeek!”
“Kieeeeek!”
The goblins realized their ambush had been discovered and began to appear one by one.
Monsters in the labyrinth had no survival instincts. Even when their ambush was detected, and one of their kind was killed, they showed no fear, only hostility.
Seeing this, Hugo stepped forward and banged his shield with the flat of his sword.
Clang! Clang!
“Hey, you monster freaks! Look over here!”
[Taunt]
The essential skill of any tank. Taunt.
As soon as the skill was used, the goblins’ eyes shifted in unison toward Hugo.
Hugo called out to the rest of the group.
“Mr. Krom, move freely! Miss Elly, prepare your magic! Miss Shia, cast a shield on me! Hans, stay in the center with Mr. Yujin! And Mirien, intercept the ones throwing stones from a distance!”
The orders were issued quickly and efficiently. Krom immediately stepped aside and began moving freely while swinging his axe. Elly, though nervous, started preparing her magic. Shia chanted a protective shield spell, and Mirien began sniping the goblins throwing rocks from afar.
Meanwhile, Yujin who was positioned in the center alongside the porter Hans watched the scene unfold and muttered to himself.
The coordination is impressive.
Though the instructions were simple, the dwarf named Krom moved swiftly and started disrupting the goblins’ formation, while Mirien intercepted them with precise ranged attacks. Hugo fulfilled his role perfectly as the tank; he blocked the goblins advancing toward the center like an unyielding wall.
It was clear this party had worked together for a long time.
However, trouble arose just then.
“They’re coming from the 9 o’clock direction! Five of them!”
“Mr. Krom!”
“On it!”
Krom, who had been moving freely, immediately dashed toward the 9 o’clock direction. Since he had been disrupting the formation near Hugo, this made Hugo’s role more difficult, but the latter showed no signs of strain.
The real issue arose elsewhere.
“Uh, uh…”
Mage Elly finished preparing her spell and seemed to be scanning the area, trying to decide where to aim. The problem was that she, as a novice, attempted to make the judgment herself without waiting for the leader’s instructions.
“F-Fireball!”
As a result, she hurled the fireball not in Hugo’s direction where the number of goblins had already decreased, but toward the 9 o’clock direction where Krom was rushing. Krom who saw this grew flustered.
“Shit!”
Both Krom and Hugo, who had heard the incantation, were taken aback and turned to look. They hadn’t expected her to be so clueless as to recklessly launch a spell without any instructions.
To make matters worse, the fireball struck the direction Krom was heading. Instead of assisting Hugo, who was holding the front line with a shield, the novice mage had targeted the area where Krom was freely moving. At this rate, Krom was in danger of being injured.
At that moment, Yujin quietly extended his hand.
Fwoosh!
A barrier of mana spread around Krom and shielded him. Then—
Boom!
The fireball exploded in the direction where newly arrived goblins were charging.
“Krom!”
Hugo shouted, seeing that Krom had been caught up in the blast. He hadn’t noticed Yujin’s subtle gesture or the mana shield protecting Krom.
Because of that, when the flames dissipated and Krom emerged unscathed, Hugo couldn’t hide his confusion.
“Huh?”
And then, it happened.
Taking advantage of Hugo’s momentary distraction, a goblin darted past him, heading inside. It rushed straight at Elly.
“Ahh! Aahhh!”
The novice mage Elly who had fired the spell, squeezed her eyes shut as the goblin charged at her. Then—
“This…”
Thunk!
“Shrieeek!”
“Huh… huh?”
Expecting pain, Elly flinched but instead heard the wet sound of impact followed by the goblin’s scream. She cautiously opened her eyes.
In front of her stood a goblin trembling and collapsed with a crude dagger clenched in its right hand and a small knife embedded in its shoulder.
When the goblin fell, a calm and refined voice reached Elly’s ears.
“It seems you lack experience. So… Miss Elly?”
“A-Ah…”
When she turned around, she saw a handsome young man with narrow eyes silently gazing down at her.
He approached her with an inscrutable smile.
“But it’s all right. Experience is something you can build over time.”
As he said this, he placed something into her hand.
It was a dagger.
“This… is…?”
“A battle mage can’t rely solely on support from the rear. Sometimes, you’ll find yourself in danger, and you’ll need at least some equipment to protect yourself. For example, when a small monster slips through that the tank couldn’t intercept, you’ll need a weapon like a dagger to respond quickly.”
As he spoke, Yujin gestured toward the goblin trembling on the ground nearby.
“Stab it.”
“…Huh?”
“Miss Elly, this is your first time taking a life, isn’t it? Not with magic, but with a weapon. Plunging a blade directly into an enemy, I mean.”
“!”
Hearing those words, Elly flinched and started trembling slightly. She looked up at the man with half-closed eyes and asked hesitantly,
“How did you know…?”
“Haha… Who knows? How could I possibly know?”
In reality, anyone could tell at a glance that she’d never had such an experience, but Yujin replied playfully to ease her tension.
“Hic!”
But coming right after being told to end a life, his words only made her more nervous. So nervous, in fact, that she involuntarily let out a hiccup.
Whether he noticed or not, Yujin continued speaking.
“You need experiences like this. The sensation of ending a life with your own hands… You need to feel it vividly. And you need to grow used to it.”
So that when it happens during battle, you won’t freeze.
Though he left that part unsaid, she began trembling even more.
Yujin looked at her and repeated,
“Go on. Stab it.”
“But… but…”
“Do it.”
Although Yujin encouraged her gently, Elly trembled even more and shook her head.
“I-I can’t do it…”
“…I see. It can’t be helped.”
At those words, Yujin gently grasped Elly’s hand which was clutching the dagger and guided it forward.
He had seen people like this many times before. While crossing gates as an Awakener, he often encountered those who were too fragile of heart to properly do what needed to be done.
Such individuals needed this kind of forceful experience to guide them.
Slowly, he led her hand holding the dagger…
Squelch.
“Ugh, ugh…”
He drove it into the neck.
“Gah… Guh…”
Warm blood began to flow, and the final notes of life’s swan song started to play.
Even though the monsters created in the labyrinth were fundamentally different from true living beings, they were not so unlike them. They bled, and they breathed.
When a blade pierced their throats, they could no longer breathe, and their blood would spill.
And so, slowly… the flame of one life began to extinguish.
“Gah…”
“Ah… ahhh…”
“And to make sure it’s finished…”
Then, Yujin decided to take it a step further.
Crunch!
“Ahhh!”
“This is how you twist the blade to make sure it’s over.”
“Hah… hah…”
With that, the goblin was completely dead. Fully and utterly dead.
Only then did Yujin release his grip on Elly’s trembling hand.
“Well? It’s not so difficult, right?”
“Bleergh!”
Her answer came in the form of vomit.
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