Labyrinth and Puppets (1)
“Hmm…”
Right before stepping out of the dormitory, I gazed at the potion Hori had handed me last night.
The thick green liquid, reminiscent of endless mud, exuded such an intimidating aura that just looking at it felt like it could poison me.
'This potion will significantly boost your physical abilities, but the side effects are just as potent, so please time its use carefully!'
I knew full well those side effects weren't some unavoidable accident during creation, so I'd given Hori's head a good smack.
Hoping I'd have a chance to use it, I tucked the potion into my pocket and left the dormitory.
Naturally, I headed to the park between the S-class building and the general academy buildings, where the labyrinth breakthrough exam would soon take place.
The park, usually a spot for students to stroll, was spacious enough to accommodate large crowds, making it a frequent gathering point for mass teleports like this.
When I arrived, Marina hadn't shown up yet, but plenty of students were already clustered in groups, buzzing about the upcoming exam.
I sat on a nearby bench and eavesdropped. They were discussing who to team up with for the test.
'Jessica and Rain's names aren't coming up, surprisingly.'
The names I heard belonged to what I assumed were A- or B-rank scrubs. Neither mine nor theirs was mentioned.
'At their level, they've probably already locked in partners and aren't bothering to ask around.'
Either way, I had zero interest in a test where first place was already decided.
My sole focus was one thing: the demonic cultists who might crash the party midway through.
These cultists were all at least Sword Master level if swordsmen, or 7th-circle grand mages at minimum if wizards.
In the original story, the protagonist struggled hard in their first encounter, so I had high hopes for any who might show up here.
'Please come… please!!'
Don't discriminate against middling talents—come for Rain, damn it.
If they did, it'd be my chance to finally unleash Wolf Fang (Nanga), prepared specifically to cut them down…!!
As if sensing my burning desire for the cultists, Nanga couldn't hold back anymore. It trembled and let out a baritone growl.
I stroked the fidgety Nanga to calm it, then leaned back on the bench, steadying my own mind.
How much time passed like that? About five minutes later, murmurs rose from afar. Pushing through the crowd came Jessica—her hair longer now, though not quite back to its original twin-roll glory.
Surrounded by her followers for the first time in ages, she wore an imperiously smug smile befitting a roll-bread-haired noble lady.
But the moment she spotted me, that smile crumbled.
She started to bolt, but seeing me alone sparked some mischief. She led her entourage right over.
“Hey, Jessica.”
“...You planning to take the exam solo? No one to team up with?”
Her words sounded concerned, but the mocking tone gave her away.
A few days ago, she'd have ignored me outright. Guess a month of quality time had built up some tolerance.
“I told you before. I'm doing it alone. It's more efficient that way.”
I couldn't drag around dead weight when demonic cultists might show. Even without that, tethering myself to slower teammates beat racing solo to the core as fast as possible.
Jessica, oblivious to my reasoning, covered her mouth and snickered.
“Hehe…! So you do have no one?”
Her laughter prompted her followers to join in, but a single glance from me shut them up.
“Jessica, looks like you've got some surprisingly wise underlings.”
“Ugh…!”
She whipped around and glared at them; they coughed awkwardly and averted their eyes.
“But their skills still seem lacking. No real crises in this exam, but if one hits, they won't cut it—so I'll come save you!!”
“What nonsense… How do you plan to 'help' in a tangled labyrinth? Or are you just gonna chase my ass around?”
“Nah, the labyrinth's twisty, but if I follow that sour smell, I'll definitely find you, Jessi—”
“Aaaah!! Sh-shut up!! Shut it!!”
Jessica flailed her hands, yelling. Her screen of followers started whispering.
“Di-did the lady just say 'shut up'…?”
“Forget that—what's this 'sour' business…?”
“Sour smell?”
“Ughhh…!!”
Grinding her teeth at their careless echoes, Jessica fled before suffering worse humiliation.
I shouted after her retreating back, every bit the loser's posture.
“Sour!! Call if you're in danger—I'll help!!”
“Grrgh…!!!”
Her pace quickened, vanishing from sight in seconds.
Teasing Jessica really flies by. Should've gone easier?
Mulling regret, I lounged on the bench. Moments later, snow-white hair appeared center-park with Marina.
Peter should be with her, but he was still holed up, so only Marina and a few knight-class instructors were present.
“Everyone, gather up.”
She didn't raise her voice much, yet it carried far.
Students flocked to the center. Marina tapped the ground with her staff.
“...Seems we're all here. I'll briefly explain the exam.”
The test: break through Marina's created labyrinth to its core.
Fail to reach the end? You get credit based on depth achieved.
Traps and phantom beasts en route, but all illusions—if ruled non-combat viable, you're sent back safe.
“Entry order by team average rank, lowest first.”
As sole S-class, I entered last. Jessica must've planned her team around that; they went in sooner than expected.
'Wonder what place Rain's in?'
Scanning for Rain's entry, most teams were A-rankers—hers slotted near mine, late.
Once all vanished into Marina's magic, I stood before her. She eyed me pitifully, like seeing her past self.
“Something wrong? Flashback to the old days?”
“...No, nothing. Ready? I'll send you now…”
I relaxed, dropping my anti-magic defenses to max vulnerability.
A unprecedented floaty sensation filled me. In a blink, scenery shifted.
“Whoa…”
Eyes open: no park, but gray maze lit by wall torches.
Game-like scene stunned me briefly. Then I touched the wall.
“Hm…”
All Marina's magic—walls illusory bricks. Read mana flow, map the whole damn labyrinth without moving.
Grand mages hide their mana well, but the test assumed flow-reading cheats.
'Protagonist cleared it this way too.'
Characters changed plenty, but this part held.
Mapped shortest path to core, bolted down it.
Fastest route meant most traps and phantom beasts, but illusions couldn't touch Battōjutsu.
'Core first, then backtrack for more exploring?'
No demonic miasma yet. Nanga at my waist waited silently, unsensing any.
'None here? Or too far to detect?'
Labyrinth oversized for a mere exam—too elaborate.
If cultists infiltrated per canon, targeting Rain, they might be wandering lost hunting her.
Decided: core first. Hurried, soon reached the sole path down.
But couldn't proceed.
Because…
“……You've finally arrived.”
Something—katana at its waist—blocked the only way to the core.