The Treasure's Unexpected Victor
Murmurs reached my ears. It was something that happened often when following traces of people. I slowly approached the direction of the voices, emitting mana as a signal that I wasn't hostile. They'd already noticed me; a few probing spells whistled past the Turtle.
In a wide open space formed by intersecting corridors, a group of sword wielders had gathered. I stepped off the Turtle and greeted them. Most were focused on honing their blades with mana, barely sparing me a glance. But a few waved back. One muscular brute, towering a good three heads above the rest, was especially enthusiastic. He'd introduced himself as Goro during our first meeting. Goro popped out from the group with a grin. A thick metallic tang wafted from him, laced with the deep reek of blood.
"Hey, good to see you!"
"Same here. Relieved to run into fellow swordsmen in a place like this."
I scanned them roughly. The group, originally over twenty strong, had been halved. The labyrinth had worn them down; everyone looked ragged. That fierce-looking woman was gone—probably fallen behind somewhere.
"Looks like it was rough getting this far."
The man gave a wry smile. "We got ambushed a few times midway. Right in the middle of fighting off monsters, other mages jumped us. Bet those bastards brought the beasts with 'em. Anyway, we all scattered in the chaos and just regrouped here to talk."
He flashed a savage smile, cold as if hung from a sword's edge. Amid the iron scent clinging to him, I caught the heavy undercurrent of spilled blood.
"Of course, we chopped off their limbs and left 'em scattered. At first, I held back a bit, but wandering this maze taught me something. The ones who look like they're gonna die anyway just drop out on their own, y'know? Stragglers and all. Takes the guilt out of using people up."
"Oh, really? That's the suggestion I made to the professor. Glad it helped."
"No wonder you clicked with me from the start! Thanks to you, Ron, I vented real good."
"I was just doing my part for the students' convenience."
"Gratitude's gratitude— just know I appreciate it. And we've already decided to keep killing any attackers from here on. We've talked it over with the boys: every time we come here, we slice off a limb or two. So I'm asking you—any problem with planning ahead for the next lecture like this?"
"No issues at all. We respect all our students' choices."
I forced an awkward smile. This is why I hate making enemies. Especially with sword nuts like these. They loved ganging up. To them, grudges were a team sport—nothing like us individualistic mages. Who the hell had ambushed these guys? Couldn't wrap my head around it. Did they think swordsmen were pushovers since they couldn't kill each other? I hadn't expected the straggler system to loosen their leashes this much either. Whatever had gone down, the eyes of these resting fighters burned with unquenchable killing intent.
But it wasn't my business. This was all part of the lecture, right?
I scanned the surroundings slowly. Safe with them around, but better safe than sorry. Last time, resting among mages, a horde of monsters swarmed us out of nowhere. Total panic—I grabbed the Turtle and bolted without my unpacked gear. Everyone else did the same. I quietly parked the Turtle nearby. These guys seemed capable of handling it if it happened again.
Then I checked the Turtle's condition. It had saved my skin big time so far. Constant connection made it feel more natural than my own limbs now. I stroked its shell. It was covered in wounds—scars from monsters and traps. Following others' paths dodged most dangers, but not all. Rearguard traps or hidden beasts kept popping up, battering the poor thing.
I channeled mana to mend its wounds. Incredibly inefficient. Even dumping all my mana wouldn't heal half. But no choice—space pouch materials were all used up getting here. This was the only fix left. I scraped together whatever I had, patching it to last a bit longer.
How much time passed? A signal from the coffin doll pinged. It was approaching slowly along my backtrail. The coffin itself was half-holed—rough shape. The doll had taken a beating too. Only about fifty puppets remained tucked in laps; over a hundred hadn't returned. Roughly fifteen. Either unreachable zones or lost in the maze's shifts.
So I didn't expect much from this one either. My constant wandering had tanked survival odds for stashed mages anyway—most timed out as stragglers. But I couldn't linger anywhere long. The maze teemed with diverse monsters that charged humans like maniacs. No confidence fighting them, so running was it.
I opened the coffin without hope. Shockingly, a live one inside. Familiar face: Jun. Tough bastard. Fifth time already. How did he keep surviving? Impressed, I leaked a tidbit on the treasure—not enough to piss off the professor, just vague guesses. He lit up, bolted off hunting, and came back coffin-bound. Borrowed another doll. Perfect cycle. Win-win.
Curious once, I asked why keep challenging. He said scouting traps and magic circles helped his craft immensely. Explained the reckless wandering. But it'd end soon. I healed him quick, checked time. Under two hours left. Few stragglers now; coffins mostly empty. Everyone hunkered in safe spots, conserving energy. Third change incoming. I'd mapped most of the maze bodily—no doubt. Traps nearly gone, paths to the end multiplying. Reaching one triggers change, like the first two times. Plenty would pounce then.
"So, heading to the clearing too?"
Goro, watching me fiddle with the Turtle, asked. He knew. Anyone sensing that fight could guess the treasure spot. Second change: Hongryeong and crew seized the clearing, booted other mages. As change hit, massive mana erupted there nonstop. Felt it maze-wide. Change ended, maze stabilized—but shrunken from battle fallout. Hongryeong's group held the clearing, no entry. So everyone else wandered. But like these swordsmen, all planned to rush in when fighting started. Mages gonna mage.
"Haha, nah. Not for the likes of me. I'll just hole up in some corner till time's up."
I waved it off.
"Shame. We'll head out first then. Feels imminent."
He eyed the clearing's direction. Anticipating battle, sharp sword aura flared from his belt blade. Others too—all prepped to go. I waved them off, tweaking the Turtle. Am I nuts? Go to the clearing? I'd get crushed under rocks for sure. No way—even if dead. But I went anyway.
The maze began changing as I hunkered safely, just breathing. Suddenly, monsters swarmed. New this time. They fixated on me. Their eyes screamed it: professor-sent. I'd come here thinking distance weakened her influence from the clearing. Didn't expect a monster horde. Chased straight to the clearing. Felt herded, but no choice. Turtle, wrecked, back in my arms; I dumped dolls to barely hold. Then stepped into the clearing.
Massive mana swirled. Space tore, people surged. I flattened. No time to react—a thick pillar dropped from above. Targeted trap, obvious. Crushed flat under it. The spell was bizarre: body exploding, dying—yet no death. Magic endlessly regenerated me while smashing again. Endless regen-death cycle of agony. This is why I hated the clearing.
Mind fraying. Then flung out of the maze. Pain drowned thought. Sudden cheek slap—strong mana snapped me alert. Cracked eyes: Irian crouched before me, face twisted in a grim smile.
"Fun times? Earned lotsa points?"
I nodded blankly. Real or dream? Her eyes flickered with eerie blue flames.
"Then time for punishment."
My soul ripped out. Reality hit. Those "flames"? Rage-built mana flow. Too late to beg. Magic shot from her fingertips. Soul shattered under spells, screaming. In flickering illusions, screams faded. Thoughts blurred, memories vanished. Pieces of me slipped away, leaving pure torment.
How long? Back in body somehow. She dusted hands, mood improved. I lay stunned. Unspeakable pain. Couldn't pass out—she kept restoring my soul, looping from start.
"Not getting up?"
She smacked my head with mana. I stroked the spot, rose. Mind exhausted from torture, but body and soul vibrantly fresh. The disconnect tormented. Felt like hours; clock said under a minute. Her room: massive bed ringed by hovering mirrors. Few leaked light; rest held black fog. Lit ones showed students battling over treasure. Buried deep in the maze's open clearing ceiling—accessible to all.
Guessed clearing early, confirmed when traps only dropped there.
"So... really okay handing that to them?"
I asked cautiously. She grumbled, displeased—but eyes sparkled at the kill-fest.
"Not much of a treasure anyway. Too cheap for my warehouse. Wouldn't have noticed without it eating Floor 6."
She smirked wryly. They bled for it; to her, junk. First hearing its backstory—mixed in during other treasures, too weak for the sealing barrier to detect. Yet devoured Floor 6, birthed this powerful maze. What counts as real treasure then? Oh, right—I'd seen one. Those eyes. Still ached recalling. If that was treasure-grade, this box was trash indeed.
I steadied, watched. Victor emerged: not great house, not swordsmen, not third mage group. Shockingly, the scrawniest weakling: Jun. Slipped past via space jump, snatched the box. Unthinkable—Seedling mage barely past completion using space magic. His hidden ace.
Box rebelled fiercely. Maze mana raged, flames charred him, winds tore flesh. Yet he pumped mana amid disintegration. Box yielded fully—maze halted. All ejected. To 2nd-floor infirmary. Bodies restored instantly: limbs regrew, guts mended. Time-reversal miracle. Tower's explosive mana rewound targets to a point. Professor's work.
Asked her principles once during tower maintenance. She laughed: magic I'd never grasp, don't bother. She was never wrong; I nodded.
"Can I head down? Gotta wrap the lecture."
She nodded. Post-fight, motivation gone, sprawled on bed—but pleased. Solid lecture. Good—no more punishment. Dragged to 2nd floor. Mind near-collapse, but duty called. Recovered students followed pre-written notices to classroom. Stragglers waited too. I entered amid murmurs. Shouting, glaring, mana bristling. Center: Jun, tenderly stroking his box, ignoring it all.
"Lecture's over, folks. How was it? Fun?"
Arguees paused, glared. Only Jun smiled. Stings everywhere. I grinned back.
"Treasure's got an owner. Sell it, use it—yours now."
Gazes shifted to Jun. Rules forbade theft. He knew, stole boldly. Would he sell? Unclear.
"Seeing you all so chummy, glad the lecture succeeded. Don't be bummed—grab next treasure yourselves. Next one's in three months; visit the tower freely till then."
I released mana. Coffin dolls flew from survivors to me. Left amid renewed buzz. Needed rest bad.
Some left, some stayed. Back in my 5th-floor room, I fiddled with the ring. Score popped up: just over two thousand points.
I chuckled. Excluding Hongryeong's gift, near seven hundred earned. Minus materials spent, less—but still. Stroking the ring, I blacked out.