96. Labyrinth

"Insane, insane... How can you just hit people so easily?!"

"When did I hit anyone?"

"Just now!! You hit that old guy on the back of the head! You just—just smacked him!"

"I didn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hit him. I struck an acupoint. It probably didn't even hurt. And if you're going to make such a fuss, couldn't you have just handled it with magic?"

"Wh-where would I find magic that knocks someone out in one go... No, I mean, it does exist, but if I used magic like that, we'd get tracked...!"

"Which is why I did it. If there'd been a guarantee we wouldn't get tracked, wouldn't you have done it?"

"...I-I wouldn't do something like that."

"Sure you wouldn't."

I snorted at Stella's fussing and pulled my hood down a little harder.

It was a perception-inhibiting hood—and not just any perception inhibitor, but one with circuits painstakingly etched in by an 8th Circle Wizard.

Sara had prepared it for me in case of an emergency, and if I wasn't going to use it now, when would I?

At this level, most Wizards wouldn't be able to recognize me or Stella.

"But this outfit is seriously cute."

...It's a cloak with a slightly cute design, but since it hides our identities... it's tolerable.

"Do you like this kind of design? Like with fluffy fur and stuff?"

"Shut up."

"Honestly, that mouth of yours..."

Pouting, Stella grumbled and munched on the macaron I'd given her back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in my room.

And I sharpened my dulled senses as much as I could and scanned our surroundings.

No crows... in sight.

There didn't seem to be anything tailing us, and I couldn't sense any traces of familiars or summoned creatures either.

No one was following us.

Still, I didn't let my guard down.

Adelia Baros.

I had no idea when that woman's eyes might catch us.

Under normal circumstances... there was a high chance Adelia would have been the first to report Pina's abduction.

Before I set the scheduled message, I'd checked Adelia's profile, and the green light had been on.

That meant she was at the academy.

But there'd been no word from her.

Why?

Because this was the work of a Black Wizard bound to her by a Restriction?

Or was it possible Adelia simply hadn't seen it?

No, that couldn't be. From our conversations, Adelia knew far more information than I'd expected.

There was no way someone like that had simply missed it.

Then I could consider other possibilities.

Maybe someone had diverted Adelia's attention.

Or maybe she was watching this whole situation unfold for reasons I couldn't grasp.

"Eliarnes. But... why did just the two of us come out here?"

"Who else would I bring?"

"No, I mean... there are plenty of trustworthy professors at the academy. So why... did you set a scheduled message for two days from now and come out? Couldn't you have just asked a trustworthy professor from the start?"

"A trustworthy professor... I wonder."

In the current situation, how many professors could I actually trust?

No professors. Only the Dean and the Vice Dean.

But Leona, Pina's guardian and the person I suspected was the strongest at the academy, was away.

Sedil looked like he didn't even have time to breathe.

The off-campus ban would be lifted soon. But the possibility of a Demon attack on the Imperial Capital still remained.

In that situation, Sedil was the academy's representative responsible for student safety.

So it was unavoidable that he was busy.

When I considered all of that one by one, the timing was exquisite.

Of course, even if I'd had the chance to ask, I wouldn't have.

If that "door" opens because of me.

And if beyond that door there's a clear trace left behind by Arisa.

And if people learn that it was left there for "me."

I couldn't even begin to imagine how things would unfold after that.

Well... it might not go the way I expect.

But there's no harm in being careful.

I didn't plan to hide the fact that I was Ronan forever. Someday, even if I had no choice, I would reveal it.

But that would be when I had become stronger.

It had to be a moment when I could act without tiptoeing around like an idiot anymore.

So for the time being, I had to keep it hidden.

Even if it's a little reckless.

"There's no one like that."

"From what I've seen, that's always your problem."

"What are you bitching about now?"

"Eliarnes. You don't trust people enough. Doesn't living like that exhaust you?"

I glanced at Stella as I kept walking briskly.

"Isn't it better than trusting every Tom, Dick, and Harry like someone and ending up a sucker?"

"...You're... talking about me right now, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"Hah, ha... haha! Hey! I don't trust every Tom, Dick, and Harry, okay?! I... I choose who I trust too!!"

Stella shrieked at the top of her lungs, then chewed on her lip.

She'd yelled pretty loudly this time, but no one was looking our way, so the hood's effect seemed excellent.

"A-and... if I, huh? If I supposedly trust every Tom, Dick, and Harry... then that makes you a Tom, Dick, or Harry too, you know?"

Stella's cheeks flushed pink.

"What? You trust me?"

"Hah, you... you really...! I don't know, you jerk!! Get lost! I don't trust you!!"

With a hmph!, Stella turned her head and stomped off at a fast pace.

Then a moment later.

She slowed her steps slightly and looked back at me.

"A-aren't you coming?!"

*****

"...Is this it?"

"Yeah. Looks like it."

The place where we stopped was the lowest point of the Mirinae.

It was the entrance to the underground waterway where all the sewage passed through.

An iron grate that looked like one wrong scrape would give you tetanus and kill you on the spot, and the thick stench of the sewer already wafting out made my face scrunch up.

"Ugh... I feel like the seaweed soup I ate earlier is about to come back up..."

Stella was already dry-heaving.

"You can still turn back."

"Ugh... hek, n-no. I'm going... I'm going with you."

"Why are you being so stubborn?"

"Last time I couldn't do anything. Eurasia was in so much danger... because of you! So this time I'm going to do something."

"Even if you don't, I'll handle the rescue myself."

"The result is important... hmm... Of course the result is important. But the process matters too."

Violet Mana sparkled at Stella's fingertips.

That Mana climbed up the nape of her neck and seeped into the tip of her nose.

Then Mana from Stella's other hand seeped into the tip of my nose as well.

The pungent stench faded.

The air seemed a little clearer too.

There was also a subtle mint scent.

"...What is this?"

"Hehe! How about that? Helpful, right?"

With a triumphant look, Stella squared her shoulders and made a V with her index and middle fingers.

"The air purification barrier around the academy. I interpreted it in my own way and recreated it. It's not as effective as the one at the academy, but it can still block this level of stench. And that's not all! It even has a scent! Mint! Hehe!"

This is... kind of impressive.

Most Wizards mainly used magic that was publicly known. Once their Circle rose and they reached the 6th Circle, their Intent became mixed into that magic.

From that point on, they went through the process of reinterpreting pre-existing magic and making it their own, like this—but Stella had done it at only the 4th Circle.

By layering just four spells.

"Ehehe, even if you stare at me like that, I can't explain it. This is, hehe... how should I put it. A product of my genius? This is the sense of a genius? Instinct? That kind of thing! So even if I told you, you couldn't do it."

But since she kept strutting like that, any desire to praise her completely vanished. The saying that you got at least half credit if you just kept your mouth shut seemed to be true.

"Yeah, I'm Tier 5."

"Ugh... It's only a difference of one anyway!"

"Is your Circle system the same as our Tier system, you scrub?"

"Eek...! Hey! Would it kill you to praise me a little?! Huh?! Why won't you just say I did a good job?!"

"So you wanted me to coo over you and tell you you did well? Fine, I'll do it. Come here and I'll pat your head."

Stella's face flushed red and blue by turns.

"G-get lost!! I don't need it!!"

Stella screamed at the top of her lungs.

Even so, she didn't release the purification magic she'd cast on me.

Seeing things like this, the kid really was kind.

Chuckling, I walked past Stella and said quietly.

"Good job. This magic is pretty impressive. The mint smell is nice too."

"Hehe, no, ahem. I said I don't need it. And it's already too late, you know?"

As she said that, Stella's lips curled up at the corners.

Yeah... the kid really was kind.

The problem was that she was a little—no, a lot—of a goofball.

Swallowing a sigh, I started wrapping the bandages I'd brought around my hands. Starting with my thumb, then over the back of my hand, past my wrist, my wrist, my fingers.

I'd been worried the bandages would be too long because my fists were so small, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but somehow the length worked out perfectly.

Was that a miracle or what?

I smirked and wrapped the other hand the same way.

"You wrap bandages really well. Did you learn how?"

Did I learn? Should I say I learned?

"No. I just watched someone and copied it."

"Who?"

With my neatly bandaged hand, I tapped Stella on the head.

"Guess you didn't investigate that?"

"...Ugh."

I moved Stella, who let out an awkward sound, back behind me.

"Step aside."

"Wh-why? What are you going to do?"

"We have to go inside, don't we?"

"I can do this quietly with my magic—"

"No. That would be pointless."

Crack, crack—a clear sound rang from my tightly clenched fist. Tap—my lightly springing feet were light.

"Pointless? What do you mean?"

"We don't need to hide anymore."

"Huh?"

Stella tilted her head.

At the same time—tap, my foot touched the ground.

"Those bastards already noticed us. So—"

My pink twin tails fluttered in the wind and swept across my vision. Slowly, I shifted my weight onto my left foot and began to turn my body. I twisted my hips. Lowered my center of gravity. Lifted my right foot naturally.

"—we're going in loud and proud."

Then, the moment I put strength into my left foot planted on the ground, into my ankle, into my leg, and spun—whoosh! Cherry-blossom-colored Mana burst from my entire body. Pushing away the sunset glow that lay over the area, cherry-blossom-colored Mana filled the whole world. It settled into my leg.

Then, the moment my heel touched the iron grate.

All the power in my body was transmitted into the grate.

A thunderous roar like a lightning strike slammed into my eardrums. Broken ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fragments flew in all directions. They scattered in the wind and were blocked at the same time.

"A-are you insane?! Are you trying to announce to the whole neighborhood that we're here?!"

It was blocked by the barrier Stella had erected with magic.

Beyond that barrier, I stared into the pitch-black darkness.

Inside the underground waterway.

Not some pathetic Labyrinth I'd encountered before.

Inside a true Labyrinth.

I could feel several terrifyingly powerful presences.

And among them, the most fucking irritating presence.

Smiled at me with a fishy grin.