The life of an elf was, for the most part, dreadfully boring.
The World Tree and the Great Forest that surrounded it were always abundant, so there was no need to work to sustain life.
Thanks to the energy of the World Tree, there was no need to fear wild beasts or monsters; it was a peaceful life of simply eating and drinking.
Of course, one could hone their martial skills to protect against threats from other races, but such matters were typically left to the soldiers, not ordinary citizens.
Above all, the elves had spirits who were children of the World Tree and companions to the elves. These spirits allowed an individual elf to wield magical power surpassing that of an average human mage without needing personal training.
Moreover, with an average life expectancy of over 1,000 years, their daily life was unbearably slow.
A life that was not only peaceful but also boringly dull.
Mirien was one of the young elves who had grown weary of such a boring life and chose to leave the embrace of the World Tree and the Great Forest.
By coincidence, there was a mysterious space known as the Great Labyrinth outside the forest. A place said to have been built by the gods. Mirien decided she would spend her remaining years in the labyrinth rather than endure the boredom of the forest.
When she first arrived in the city near the labyrinth, she felt somewhat uneasy.
To hide her long ears from the lecherous eyes of those who noticed that she was an elf, she wore a hood over her head. But even that wasn’t enough to ward off the pests drawn to her elven beauty, so she resorted to covering her face, leaving only her jaw exposed.
If she had not later met a reasonably decent party and adapted to life in the Labyrinth, she might have developed a disdain for humans.
One way or another, life in the labyrinth left no room for boredom.
Endless trials and adventures, and the rewards they brought, made life in the labyrinth so hectic that the monotonous days of the forest were but a distant memory now. At the same time, she found great satisfaction in this new way of life.
Although she initially found it uncomfortable to work with other races in a party, she eventually grew accustomed to it, even developing a sense of camaraderie.
In fact, the leader of her party Hugo was a reasonably decent human, and the dwarf warrior, Krom had a surprisingly friendly personality for someone of his typically gruff race. Her discomfort faded quickly.
It was during this time, when she had settled into and was enjoying life in the labyrinth, that her party leader Hugo brought news.
– The Academy has sent us a request related to their students’ test. They’re asking us to escort and evaluate two students….a mage and a priestess down to the fifth floor of the labyrinth.
– Oh, the Academy? Looks like we’re starting to get some recognition.
Labyrinth Academy.
A top educational institution established by humans near the labyrinth.
The story goes that high-ranking humans who were troubled by their children’s uncontrollable sense of adventure and greed for the Labyrinth decided, “If we can’t stop them from venturing into the Labyrinth, let’s at least educate and train them properly so they can enter it safely.” With this in mind, they pooled their money and built the Academy.
Humans who were typically stingy with their investments not only funded this institution themselves but also received donations from empires and kingdoms. It was an institution of a massive scale.
Due to its immense size, the Academy which was originally designed to teach and train students about the Labyrinth became known as a prestigious institution that also offered education in a wide range of disciplines and skills. For nobles, it was a place they had to attend to enhance their family’s prestige, while for commoners, graduating from the Academy was a dream come true and a gateway to a successful life.
At its core, however, the Academy remained a training ground for future heroes eager to conquer the labyrinth.
In addition to teaching about the labyrinth, it also tested students on their knowledge and abilities related to it.
One of these tests was the labyrinth experience.
At the Academy, students were placed into randomly selected parties and sent to experience the labyrinth. The original party members would explore the labyrinth with the students, evaluate their performance, and assign scores.
Since these parties were tasked with guiding precious children and students of the Academy, they were carefully selected based on their skills and character. Being chosen for this Academy test brought not only a sense of honor but also a generous payment from the Academy.
In short, it was a good request that would bring considerable benefits if they performed well.
Of course, there were occasional cases where noble students tried to manipulate evaluations using their status. However, the Academy employed a form of confession magic to make sure accurate assessments, so such tactics were useless. Additionally, the Academy implemented certain protective measures for the parties, so incidents of disturbances caused by such issues were rare.
This test, with its surprisingly long-standing tradition, was a welcome opportunity for the party when they learned they had been selected.
– Then, I’ll take that as everyone’s agreement. Tomorrow, we’ll meet the Academy students, and three days from now, we’ll complete our preparations and head for the labyrinth.
Mirien and the other party members agreed to take this request. After meeting the students, they set off for the labyrinth.
The students assigned to join them this time, a mage and a priest, were, to be frank, not very reliable. To put it kindly, they were still inexperienced novices. From the moment they first met, it was obvious they lacked confidence.
As the party advanced through the labyrinth, Mirien found herself doubting there would be anything worth giving a good evaluation for. However, while moving through the grasslands of the third floor, she spotted someone.
Standing alone in the middle of the grasslands, for reasons unknown, was a single man.
He had black hair, narrow eyes that revealed nothing of his gaze, and a beauty that made her wonder if there was someone as beautiful among his race.
There was something very suspicious about the man, and Mirien noticed him faster than anyone else in her party.
At the same time—
“…….!”
– Beep! Beep-beep!
– Whoooosh…!
– Kuu…! Ku…!
Around her, colorful light spirits began swirling in confusion, making strange noises. Mirien couldn’t help but feel slightly alarmed at the sight.
…The spirits?
Mirien was the party’s scout and archer, but at the same time, she was also an excellent spirit mage as an elf.
Though she hadn’t disclosed to her party that she was an elf, let alone a spirit mage, she was skilled enough to handle even intermediate-level spirits.
Even when they entered the labyrinth, the spirits who were uncomfortable with the space filled with the power of Transcendents had never tried to flee…
Now, however, they were gripped by terror and were desperately trying to escape.
What’s more, the closer they moved toward the man, the more intense this reaction became.
Hugo suggested they couldn’t just leave the man alone and seemed inclined to bring him along. But to be honest, Mirien felt uneasy.
This wasn’t just about the suspicious man whose intentions were impossible to read. He was someone her spirits feared to such an extent.
Was it really necessary to take him along?
She wanted nothing more than to keep her distance from that man, but since Hugo, the leader, had decided it was best to include the man, it would only disrupt the harmony of the party if she voiced her opposition.
Reluctantly, she allowed the man to join while keeping her discomfort to herself and refraining from opposing Hugo’s decision.
***
The man who introduced himself as “Yujin” was consistently polite.
Not only did he always consider the party’s needs, but he also maintained a friendly demeanor. He spoke respectfully and showed consideration for others.
However, it was unsettling because it was hard to know what he was thinking.
It felt like an act, as if he was hiding something.
As it turned out, her unease proved to be justified during a battle that occurred later.
That’s…?
Right before Krom was about to be injured by a spell cast by the novice mage Elly, she saw it.
Yujin raised his hand and, without casting any spell, created a shield around Krom.
The issue wasn’t just the act itself; it was the nature of the mana he used.
A peculiar mana of black and red colors, completely unlike the usual blue glow of ordinary mana.
As an elf blessed by nature and attuned to the flow of energy, she felt it clearly.
“……!”
An overwhelming mana that could force everything around it to bow. A violent, tyrannical power that sought to subjugate all underfoot.
Yujin’s mana felt like a tyrant’s power.
It was then that she realized.
So that’s it.
She finally understood the source of the spirits’ terror.
***
From that point on, she secretly kept an eye on Yujin.
Although calling it “keeping an eye” was an exaggeration, she merely checked from time to time to see if he acted strangely.
But Yujin did nothing suspicious.
While helping prepare the camp, he only gathered magic ingredients, and even after finishing his tasks, he showed no unusual behavior.
However, this only deepened Mirien’s doubts. How could someone with such immense power behave so ordinarily?
Why had he joined their party in the first place? Was he harboring some ulterior motive?
Her suspicions grew as these questions lingered, and then it came time to assign the night watch.
Since the group had grown larger, they decided to pair up for the watch, and Mirien was assigned to spend two hours with Yujin.
It was a perfect opportunity. With the other party members around, there was no way she could interrogate Yujin, who had seamlessly blended into the group. But if it was just the two of them, with no one else around, she could make her move.
And so, she decided to take a rather bold approach.
…It was only later that she realized this was a mistake.
***
“What are you?”
“……”
She pressed a cold dagger against the man’s neck.
Anyone who valued their life would have felt the gravity of the situation.
A blade pressed at their throat, one wrong move could slit it open.
But the man’s expression remained completely relaxed. His eyes, hidden beneath his hood, made it impossible to read his thoughts, and his face maintained its ever-present smile.
As if everything was happening exactly as he had anticipated.
That calmness unsettled her. Why was he so calm?
Then he spoke.
“Is this how elves usually greet people?”
“!”
His words suggested he had seen through her.
She faltered for a moment. But only for a moment.
“How did you know?”
She had concealed every feature that might identify her as an elf. Even her face was hidden except for the lower half.
So how?
“Haha, who knows? Maybe I just couldn’t help but think so because you’re so beautiful.”
But Yujin brushed off her question with a sly response, which only further frustrated her.
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“A joke, you say… Ah, yes. That’s right.”
The man smiled. His expression was filled with hidden meaning.
“If I were to pull a little ‘joke’ of my own right now, would it lighten the mood a bit?”
“What? What are you…”
[Isolation.]
The incomprehensible word fell from the man’s lips.
It sounded almost alien and foreign.
And then—
Boom!
“…….!”
The world shifted in an instant.
Everything around her turned pitch black.
It felt as if she had stepped into a canvas painted entirely with black ink.
In the midst of it all, the man standing before her was vividly clear, even in a place devoid of any light source.
At the same time, the spirits were nowhere to be felt. The only ones present were Yujin and Mirien.
“Wh-What is this…!”
“Haha, what a funny expression.”
The man, who had somehow risen from his seat, pressed his index finger gently against the dagger she had held to his neck and lowered it.
It was a light gesture, but she felt an overwhelming force in that seemingly effortless action, a force so immense she couldn’t resist it.
What kind of strength is this?
Was he really a mage? Her arm trembled uncontrollably, yet she could do nothing to stop it from lowering. It felt as though a massive weight had been placed at the tip of the dagger.
“The oppressive mood is gone now. That’s better, isn’t it? So, how about we have a healthy conversation without any threats?”
The oppressive mood is gone? Did he not realize that the very atmosphere he created was more oppressive in itself? Or was he mocking her intentionally? She felt it was closer to the latter.
The man began to speak.
“First… Ah, yes. You asked how I knew you were an elf, didn’t you?”
“Ugh…!”
“It’s simple. I don’t know much about elves, but I sensed the spirits. The ones hovering around you. It was my first time seeing them, but I recognized them at a glance.”
He recognized the spirits? That meant he had known she was an elf from the beginning, as the spirits had always been by her side.
“The spirits that elves are known to command… Ah, and the energy you possess also felt distinctly different from other races. The refreshing energy of nature and mana purer than that of humans… I believe I’ve heard those described as elven traits.”
“…….!”
“Above all, my senses are rather sharp. Simply covering your ears slightly with a hood wouldn’t diminish them enough to miss the physical traits of an elf.”
In short, he was saying it was blatantly obvious she was an elf. Her face flushed red with embarrassment.
“And… Oh, you also asked what I am, didn’t you?”
The man who was still wearing a relaxed smile spoke directly to her.
“Care to take a guess?”
“…What?”
“Go ahead, try to guess who I am.”
As he said this, the man subtly opened one eye.
“……!!!”
At that moment, her entire body froze.
Yujin’s half-open eye came into view.
Blood-red eyes.
A mesmerizing color that seemed as though it could pull her in if she gazed at it for too long.
At the same time, it was utterly terrifying.
Between the eyes, like a lake of blood, was a vertically slit pupil.
The reptilian-like pupil stared at her intently.
Sssaaah…
Dark red energy swirled around the man. The overwhelming majesty and dignity of the power radiated through the air and pressed down on her with such intensity that she felt as if it could crush her completely.
Shudder…
As the dragon’s Fear began to emanate, terror consumed her reason. Her body started trembling uncontrollably, and she couldn’t stop it.
He placed a finger gently to his lips and spoke.
“Tell me who I am. You already know the answer, don’t you?”
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