Meanwhile, at the Labyrinth Academy.
In a room that appeared to be both a laboratory and an office, Hugo’s party sat in a line, facing a sharp-eyed woman.
She sat in front of them, wrote something on a document, and then began to speak.
“…It seems the escort itself went smoothly. Well done.”
“Th-Thank you, Professor.”
Hugo bowed his head in response to her words. He looked visibly tense, but the professor’s words brought him a measure of relief.
Indeed, he was currently at the Academy, reporting to the professor in charge of the escort request for the labyrinth experience exam. This was the moment when his report had just concluded.
Talking about joining up with Mr. Yujin and going through the demon’s trial took a bit of time, but thankfully, it doesn’t seem like she’s planning to interrogate me further.
Normally, Hugo wouldn’t have mentioned Yujin at all, but the situation had been somewhat unique. The Academy’s exams were known for their careful oversight, and failing to report even minor details about the exam could result in intense investigation from the examiners.
There were even stories of confessional magic being used… in any case, Hugo had done his best to avoid unnecessary complications.
Although Mirien had tried to deflect some of the questions about Yujin, the report had been wrapped up successfully. After all, Yujin hadn’t interfered with anything directly related to the exam itself.
When the professor in charge of the exam used her lie-detecting magic, Hugo’s truthful story had apparently satisfied her, and she had moved on without further issue.
The professor spoke again.
“The payment for the escort request has been sent to the administrative office. You can collect it there. Thank you for your hard work.”
“It’s nothing. Then, if you’ll excuse us.”
“…However, may I ask you one question before you go?”
“…Huh?”
Just as Hugo rose to leave, the professor stopped him.
She asked,
“Setting aside the exam itself, I’d like to ask you a little about the demon’s trial on the fifth floor.”
“……”
At her words, Hugo paused in silence for a moment, then slowly sat back down.
It was certainly something worth being curious about. A demon appearing on the upper floors. Not in the middle or lower floors, but on the fifth floor of the upper floors….and even giving them a trial.
This had already been verified as fact through lie-detecting magic. However, given the lack of precedent, it was only natural that such an event would spark curiosity everywhere.
“May I ask what exactly you’re curious about?”
Most of the details regarding the demon’s trial had already been conveyed. A demon had possessed the body of an orc, an intermediate-level monster, and gave a trial to the party. The demon had a conditional immortality ability, and when it boasted of its victory over the party and explained the conditions for its ability, Yujin who had joined the party midway, exploited those conditions to kill the orc hosting the demon.
That was the extent of it. So, what was there to be curious about?
“Was there something peculiar about that devil?”
“Peculiar… Well, I’m not sure. Our party isn’t skilled enough to descend to the lower floors, so this was the first time we’ve encountered a Transcendent being.”
“…I see. Then, was there a dark mage in the vicinity?”
“A dark mage?”
Dark mages.
They were mages who used “demonic power” not magical power.
Since demonic power originated from demons and the knowledge used to wield their magic also came from demons, dark mages were widely regarded as vile and corrupt. In fact, those confirmed to be dark mages often faced extermination orders worldwide.
They were occasionally found in labyrinths, and if a criminal was discovered in such places, there was a high chance it was a dark mage.
Since they had demonic power coursing through their bodies, it was nearly impossible for them to live in normal society.
Using their powers would expose their nature, so many resorted to becoming criminals, often in the labyrinth where their actions could go unnoticed.
In the Eastern Continent, there were rumors of a cult known as the “Demonic Cult” that revered a demon called the “Heavenly Demon”. This group reportedly had demonic power like aura and used it directly in battle. But that was a separate matter altogether.
Hugo thought for a moment at the mention of dark mages, then shook his head.
“No, I didn’t sense any dark mages. But why do you ask about them?”
“We’ve recently received reports that dark mage factions are becoming increasingly active in the shadows across the world. It’s possible that a demon making its way to the upper floors of the labyrinth might have something to do with it.”
“Is that so?”
This was the first Hugo had heard of such news. The rise of dark mage factions… wasn’t this a rather serious matter?
“Of course, I must ask that you refrain from discussing this matter recklessly with others. It’s the sort of story that could unnecessarily worry the public.”
“…I understand.”
“Now, for my next question. Is it possible that the mage named Yujin is connected to any of this?”
When she asked that, a small circular magic circle appeared above one of her eyes.
It was a lie-detecting spell. Seeing this, Hugo’s expression hardened. He answered firmly.
“No. That’s absolutely not possible.”
“…I see.”
“…And if I may, I’d appreciate it if you would refrain from asking such questions. Of course, as an outsider, you may naturally have doubts after hearing our story. But Mr. Yujin is our benefactor. Questions that seem to test or doubt our benefactor feel deeply unpleasant to us.”
“…I understand. My apologies.”
Seeing Hugo’s visibly stiffened expression and Krom’s displeased frown, the professor closed her eyes briefly and bowed her head slightly.
Though, of course, it was only an outward gesture…
“……”
She cast a glance and her sunken eyes rested on Mirien who was silent throughout the talk.
“……”
After a moment of watching Mirien, the professor raised her head and spoke.
“That concludes my questions. You may leave now.”
“…Understood. Then, we’ll take our leave.”
With that, Hugo’s party began to leave the room.
Once the three had exited, the professor let out a small sigh and stood up before walking over to a nearby desk. She picked up a document.
[Report on the Rise of Dark Mage Factions]
[Currently, incidents involving the detection of demonic power in various regions…]
[Interrogations of captured agents reveal the organization’s current target to be the Second Imperial Princess, Elicia von Arcedium…]
“…Haah.”
She skimmed through the report before carefully tucking it away beneath the desk.
She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and rested her body against the backrest.
The rise of dark mage factions, Her Highness the Princess, and the demon that appeared on the fifth floor…
Perhaps all of this was connected.
As that thought crossed her mind, she recalled the party that had just left the room.
…That elf, she seemed to know something.
She thought of Mirien, who had been seated beside Hugo, the leader of the party.
Mirien had kept her hood up, and Hugo, who had handled most of the reporting, had glossed over the fact that Mirien had revealed her true identity and used spirits during the demon trial. She hadn’t left any room for suspicion that she might be an elf. However, the academy professors were all highly skilled individuals.
They weren’t so incompetent that they would fail to see through such a meager disguise. From her perspective, that elf “Mirien” had…
When I asked about the mage named Yujin, she clearly knew something.
The trembling pupils, the complex emotions, and the fear buried within them…
Hugo and Krom might not have noticed, but Mirien definitely knew something about “Yujin”.
A mage who supposedly secluded himself for research and only recently arrived in the labyrinth city… It’s all too convenient. Even if he had conducted prior research, his familiarity with the labyrinth went beyond mere knowledge; it is suspicious.
A mage capable of spatial movement and powerful enough to kill an orc possessed by a demon in an instant without casting a spell… While Hugo and Krom seemed to place unshakable trust in him, from her standpoint as a third party, he was suspiciously mysterious. Almost unnervingly so.
Should I investigate?
An academy professor was no ordinary professor. They were professors at an educational institution that was built with unprecedented investment and was more advanced than any other in the world. They were famous individuals in their respective fields.
Furthermore, the professors who trained and supervised aspiring heroes who faced the labyrinth were themselves powerful figures and heroes worthy of their reputation.
The professor here, Reina Sahart, was no exception.
The rise of dark mage factions is tied to Her Highness the Princess. That alone is sufficient justification for an investigation. It wouldn’t look good to summon the individual and interrogate him outright, so I’ll start with an inquiry into their background…
And so, she began to devise an investigation plan in her mind.
***
Meanwhile, Hugo’s party had left the academy.
“Honestly, what an unpleasant person, to suspect others so casually like that.”
“She’s a third party, after all. It’s not entirely unreasonable.”
“Even so, how could she doubt someone like that?”
Krom continued to vent his frustrations about the female professor as they headed away from the academy, and Hugo seemed to be trying to calm him down, but he also secretly agreed with him.
Meanwhile, Mirien followed behind the two, lost in her thoughts.
A dark mage… Could it be? No, surely not.
She recalled the time she had encountered Yujin.
– Tell me who I am. You already know the answer.
“…….!”
The memory made her tremble involuntarily. She genuinely wondered if he could be a dark mage, but…
…But he saved us.
As she remembered how he had saved them, her thoughts became a tangled mess.
The image of him standing calmly behind the cleaved orc, gazing down at her with composed eyes, surfaced in her mind.
…Huuu.
A complicated mix of emotions welled up in her, but she quickly shook her head.
She didn’t want to let herself give in to baseless suspicions over something uncertain.
“…Mirien, what’s wrong?”
However, Hugo was quick to notice, and he observed her trembling and shaking her head and asked.
“Huh? Oh… It’s nothing…”
“Hmm? Is something bothering you?”
Krom too glanced at her curiously, sensing that something was amiss.
“Now that I think about it, Mirien, you’ve been unusually quiet. What’s going on?”
“…It’s just…”
She hesitated for a moment, wondering what to say. While it wasn’t the issue she had been thinking about, there was another small matter regarding the two that had been bothering her, so she decided to bring it up instead.
“…Neither of you has asked me anything about being an elf.”
“…Is that all?”
“Haha, I thought it was something serious.”
The two chuckled awkwardly.
“Well, I was a bit surprised to find out you’re a pointy-ear, but so what? We’re comrades who’ve fought side by side, aren’t we?”
“You must have had your reasons for hiding it. In the end, you trusted us enough to reveal it, right?”
“…Krom, Hugo.”
Aside from her previous worries, Mirien felt slightly moved by the reactions of the two.
Krom spoke up.
“So, let’s not sweat over things like that. Or what, are you saying that now we know you have pointy ears, we can’t be in the same party anymore?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then it’s settled. Anyway, we made a good haul today, so let’s go grab some drinks.”
“Krom, you spend way too much on alcohol. Don’t forget, we also have a meal planned with Mr. Yujin next time. Try to hold back a bit.”
“Eh, I guess I don’t have a choice, then. Well, in that case, I’m tired, so let’s just head back and get some rest.”
“Let’s do that. Mirien, come on.”
“…Okay.”
And so, Hugo’s party who were now closer than before made their way to the guild’s lodging.
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