Earlier that afternoon, before the practical combat training class.
After parting ways with Elly, Yujin suddenly appeared.
“Good day, Professor Sahart. I hope you were able to get some rest in my absence. Haha.”
“……”
He had disappeared with nothing more than a brief remark about stepping out for a moment. And now, he shamelessly returned, speaking as if he had merely gone for a short stroll.
Reina stared at him intently and asked,
“…Where have you been all this time?”
“Oh, nothing special. I just took some personal time. Had some business to take care of, too.”
“And what exactly was that business?”
“Oh my, are you prying into my private life? I didn’t realize we’d become that close already.”
“……”
At his brazen response, Reina fell silent and simply continued to glare at him.
Well, she hadn’t expected him to answer honestly anyway. He was merely toying with her and treating this like a game, all while never losing sight of his true intentions.
Besides, just because they were co-instructors didn’t mean they had to be together all the time. Their connection was purely professional, and there was no real reason for her to interfere beyond that.
Of course, that was only if she ignored Yujin’s insufferable antics.
Then he spoke.
“Anyway, it’s about time for class, isn’t it? This afternoon’s lesson is practical training, right?”
“…Yes, that’s correct.”
“Sounds fun. Let’s go, then.”
With that, Yujin headed toward the training grounds.
***
Whether it was a mage’s practical training or a warrior’s, the fundamental framework remained the same.
Combat, at its core, was exactly what the word implied. It was real battle. And in battle, firsthand experience and personal growth were far more important than listening to theoretical lectures dozens of times.
That was why practical combat training classes were always centered around actual battle. The students had already endured endless theory lessons in previous classes, so here, they were expected to apply that knowledge and engrain it into their bodies through direct practice.
Of course, it was only natural that warriors and mages had different approaches to combat.
Warriors fought at the front lines, while mages mainly supported them from behind, whether by providing magical reinforcement, firepower, or other forms of assistance.
While warriors relied on their instincts, senses, and intuition in battle, mages needed precise calculations and cold, logical judgment to respond appropriately at the right moment.
That was why mages had to maintain a calm and composed mind at all times. Losing their composure would disrupt their ability to construct magic spells properly, weakening both their calculations and their decision-making.
And yet…
Paang!
“Ack…!”
Right now, Elly’s performance was far from what was expected of a mage.
As her repeatedly drawn magic circles crumbled apart, her friend Sera turned to her with a concerned expression.
“…Elly, what’s wrong? We may not be the top of the class, but we’ve never been this bad before.”
“Th-That’s…”
“Did Professor Reina say something to you and make you too nervous?”
Ever since Reina had pulled Elly aside for a secret conversation, Sera had been pressing her nonstop, demanding to know what they had talked about.
Naturally, Elly couldn’t reveal that Yujin was a dark mage. Not even to her closest friend. So, she simply claimed that Reina had given her a serious warning after seeing her poor grades.
Upon hearing that, Sera gasped in shock, as if she had just realized how dire Elly’s academic situation was.
– Wait, if Professor Reina personally came to warn you, doesn’t that mean your grades are so bad you’re at risk of being expelled?
– M-Maybe…
When Elly recalled the conversation she had back then, she still felt a pang of guilt. But now, she thought it was a relief that she had said what she did.
And for good reason. Sera had assumed that ever since Reina had spoken to Elly, she had been overly nervous, to the point where she couldn’t even perform at her usual level.
Of course, that wasn’t the real reason. After all, it had been a lie from the start. It was just that…
“…Hmm.”
So scary…!!!
Ever since the practical training class had started, Yujin had been watching her from a distance, and the way he kept an eye on her made her feel unbearably pressured….and terrified.
He had already been someone she found incredibly difficult to deal with, but after learning he was a dark mage, that fear had doubled.
Of course, Yujin wasn’t watching her for that reason.
Elly doesn’t seem to be in good shape today.
It was that common thing. How teachers tended to pay more attention to struggling students rather than the ones who were either average or exceptionally skilled and could handle things on their own.
Besides, from Yujin’s perspective, Elly was someone he had known even before becoming a professor, so naturally, she caught his interest more than others.
On top of that, she seemed constantly tense and afraid, and now she couldn’t even cast magic properly. Seeing her struggle like that, his eyes kept drifting toward her.
Is it because of the trauma from that day?
Yujin still believed that Elly was having a hard time because of the memories of the massacre during the labyrinth incident. He assumed that her discomfort around him stemmed from the fact that he was the one who had forced her to witness it firsthand.
We’ll be seeing each other often from now on, so staying awkward like this isn’t good… Maybe helping her out a little wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Yujin decided to give Elly some guidance, just as he had during the labyrinth incident. Besides, now that he was a professor, it was only natural for him to assist struggling students.
It would be a chance to ease the awkwardness between them while also helping her overcome the trauma that was still weighing her down. With that in mind, he started making his way toward her.
Just then, Elly was attempting to use magic again.
Wooooong.
As the spell was constructed, a circular magic circle formed in the air. She then aimed it at Sera who stood opposite her.
The area was bustling with live combat training, and Elly and Sera were no exception. The training involved students pairing up and dueling with magic while protected by a barrier.
In truth, first-year training at the beginning of the semester was nothing impressive. Most students were still far from grasping the theories of combat, let alone its basic concepts.
The world was currently in an era of peace, with no wars taking place. Although dark wizards occasionally stirred up trouble, dealing with them was the responsibility of law enforcement within each faction, not the young students enrolling in the academy.
As a result, it was extremely rare for first-year students to have any real combat experience. While second-years, who had spent some time navigating the labyrinth, were a different case, first-years only went through the most fundamental training in their first semester.
Simple sparring, basic exercises, and foundational drills… nothing more than the essentials.
Even now, similar training sessions were taking place all around them…
…Oh, he’s coming?!
Elly, however, was far more preoccupied with Yujin than the training. The moment she noticed him not only staring at her but actually approaching, her concentration shattered in an instant.
Paang!
Her magic circle collapsed once again. Elly let out a dazed groan.
“A-Ah…”
“Oh my, student Elly. You seem to be having trouble focusing.”
Despite her earlier resolve, her body trembled uncontrollably. When Yujin addressed her, she froze as if her breath had been caught in her throat.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“…I-I, um…”
“Ah, hello, Professor!”
Meanwhile, Sera, though slightly tense at Yujin’s sudden approach, managed to greet him stiffly. Yujin turned to look at her.
“Ah, hello there. What’s your name?”
“I-I’m Sera! I don’t have a last name!”
“I see. Nice to meet you, Student Sera. How is your training going?”
“Ah… well…”
At his question, Sera hesitated and glanced at Elly. Honestly, anyone could see that things weren’t going well.
“Seriously… You’ve got your barrier up properly, so what’s the problem?”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“You really don’t look well… Are you sure you’re okay, Student Elly?”
Yujin stared at her intently as he asked his question. With a warm smile, he truly looked like a professor who cared about his student. But the moment she remembered that he was an incredibly powerful dark mage, she couldn’t stop the shiver that ran down her spine.
“…I-I’m really fine!”
Still, she forced herself to recall her promise with Reina and her own determination, trying to respond confidently. It would have been better if she hadn’t bitten her tongue in the process.
Meanwhile, Reina who had been silently watching the students’ training found herself admitting that she had been too hasty.
I was too careless…
She had revealed unnecessary information to a student. Even if there had been no progress in the investigation, she now regretted acting so rashly.
She had told Elly not to show any suspicious behavior in front of Yujin, yet the girl was now visibly more terrified of him than before.
For a moment, Reina hesitated.
Should I step in and separate Han Yujin from Elly right now? But wouldn’t it seem unnatural if I suddenly intervened?
At least for now, Yujin didn’t seem to suspect Elly. It was possible that he simply thought she had always been afraid of him.
But if things continued like this, the clumsy Elly would inevitably give herself away. Since Reina was already wary of everything about Yujin, she figured that even if she interfered and kept him from approaching the student too freely, it wouldn’t seem too out of place.
With that thought, she was about to step forward.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Yujin placed a hand on Elly’s shoulder. And then…
…Huh?
Elly felt an unfamiliar sensation, as if the mana within her body had started moving on its own.
…How?
Was it even possible for someone to interfere with the mana inside another person’s body? And yet, Yujin was doing it effortlessly.
Her hand stretched forward of its own accord. Her mind raced faster than ever before.
Then, in an instant, a magic formula took shape above her palm, and a magic circle unfolded before her.
The speed was incomparable to when she normally cast magic.
And then—
Whoooosh!!!
A fiery explosion erupted in Sera’s direction. The magic that struck Sera’s barrier was several times more powerful than the magic Elly usually used. The sudden blast sent waves of shock through those nearby.
“Ah…”
Elly who had been staring blankly at the scene before her suddenly cried out in alarm.
“S-Sera?!?!”
“…Huh…? Oh? D-Did you just call me, Elly?”
“…What?”
Yet, Sera’s voice rang out from within the flames. Sure enough, when Elly looked closer, she saw Sera standing there unharmed.
Elly let out a dazed sound at the unexpected sight, and Yujin who had placed a hand on her shoulder spoke.
“I adjusted the power so that only the barrier would break.”
“…Oh.”
“Haha, did I scare you? Despite how I may seem, I am a professor, after all. I wouldn’t make such a careless mistake, so there’s no need to be so shocked.”
With those words, Yujin removed his hand from Elly’s shoulder and continued.
“Elly, more importantly. What did you feel just now?”
“H-Huh? Well, that is…”
“Please be honest. If everything happened too quickly for you to grasp, it’s fine to say you don’t know.”
At his question, Elly momentarily forgot her fear of Yujin and instinctively responded.
“I-It felt like I had suddenly become an Archmage! My mind was working incredibly fast, the flow of my mana was completely different… B-But beyond that, I’m not really sure…”
“I see. In that case, make sure to remember that sensation.”
Yujin smiled faintly as he spoke.
“It’ll likely serve as a valuable clue for your growth.”
…What …?
Was he actually a good person?
For a moment, Elly completely forgot that the man before her was a dark mage and found herself wondering.
It was such a careless thought that was so very like her.
***
Later, during practical training, the students who witnessed Elly’s magic were so shocked that they all turned to Yujin for help.
The students had no choice but to realize that Yujin must have done something. After all, Elly who was both a commoner and had poor grades, had just cast a spell several times more powerful than usual. And at an incredible speed, no less..
However, Yujin did not extend the same help to the other students.
“In this case, I made an exception because Elly was in no condition to properly participate in the training. However, from now on, I will select one particularly outstanding student per lecture and offer them some help.”
If he didn’t set this rule, every student would come begging for his help, and Yujin couldn’t afford that.
Faced with his firm stance, the students had no choice but to swallow their disappointment and step back.
Soon, the practical training session came to an end. Though Reina remained wary of Yujin, she still proceeded to announce the schedule for the next lecture.
“For our next class, we will head to the labyrinth.”
—!
“I’m sure you’ve all already reviewed your grades from the labyrinth exam. Next time, we will take a brief moment to reflect on and address your weaknesses. Since all of you managed to reach the fifth floor of the labyrinth, we will meet there directly.”
As expected, the next lecture would take place in the labyrinth.
***
Meanwhile, somewhere inside the labyrinth…
“…Hey, Hugo.”
“…What is it, Krom?”
“Don’t you feel like this has happened before?”
“…I’m not sure. Mirien, what about you?”
“…Don’t ask.”
Hugo’s party, the same group Yujin had briefly joined, was still exploring the labyrinth.
And right now, they were all experiencing an eerie sense of déjà vu.
“Ah, shit! This is actually the labyrinth? The very same labyrinth from Labyrinth Academy that I played?! What the fu—”
“…Another person who’s ended up alone in the labyrinth.”
Hugo scratched his head awkwardly as he looked at the man standing before him.
The man appeared to be in his thirties. He held a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, with armor covering his body.
He seemed quite skilled.
As Hugo observed him, he soon turned to his party members and began whispering.
“He doesn’t even seem to realize that this place is a labyrinth.”
“…He might be insane. The things he’s saying don’t make any sense.”
“So, what do we do? Just leave him be?”
“……”
After a brief moment of contemplation, Hugo turned back to the man and spoke.
“Hmm… Considering what happened with Yujin, we might as well take this as fate and go together.”
“Shall we?”
“…….”
Mirien looked uncomfortable, but Krom who still had a good opinion of Yujin agreed without hesitation. As for the man…
“…Wait a second. What? Did you just say Yujin?”
As if he had misheard something, he stopped cursing at the air and turned to face the party.
“…He’s here too?”
He spoke as though he knew Yujin.
Hugo looked at the man and asked,
“Huh? Do you know Mr. Yujin?”
“A-Ah, no… I do know someone named Yujin, but let’s first make sure we’re talking about the same person. Black hair, usually squints his eyes, looks suspicious as hell. Is that him?”
“How did you know? Ah, did you perhaps read about him in the news…?”
“Goddamn it! That bastard ended up here too?!”
Grabbing his head in frustration, he shouted into the air.
“Why the hell is he here?!”
Lee Han-chul, 32 years old.
He was the first party leader of the Hanul Guild, the guild Yujin belonged to when he was on Earth, and the guild master’s younger brother.
Now, he had fallen into this world too.
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