Teppern's Labyrinth (1)

Marcelo stood at the center of the Crystal Hall. Countless mages gazed at him. It wasn't his first time in such a position. Yet for some reason...

'The emotions run deeper this time.'

The world of adventurers had changed much since he'd fallen into it. But the greatest catalyst for change was surely Hoyeol.

Marcelo recalled his first meeting with Hoyeol.

—"I believe there are unnecessary steps in your exploration process. What do you think, Chief Mage Marcelo?"

A chuckle escaped him ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even now. It had been an utterly shocking debut. He never imagined he'd end up sharing the chief mage position with him.

But...

'It would have been impossible without His Excellency.'

He had no regrets about bringing him to the Mage Tower. Without Hoyeol, he wouldn't have uncovered the deceptions of Karim Jeba and the other demon worshippers. Nor would he have rectified the Mage Tower's original sin.

Of course, even without such grand events...

'I know he shared my burdens.'

Pre-verifications, regular conferences, smoothing relations among the seniors. Thanks to him, there were far fewer worries on his plate. It had been ages since he'd had real rest.

Wasn't it said that true character stems from leisure? His temperament had softened. The venom had faded from his eyes. The rumors about him were proof enough.

'Though I wonder what His Excellency thinks of it.'

Until recently, Marcelo couldn't guess Hoyeol's thoughts. How could he? An Akkshan survivor stepping up for the Mage Tower? Embracing the Goddess Church—the enemy commander of the Holy War—with such magnanimity?

Even putting himself in those shoes, he couldn't comprehend it.

'But it matters not.'

His doubts never turned to worry. He'd witnessed it himself: Hoyeol mourning Senior Mage Senios.

—"Senior Mage Senios..."

Hoyeol had found him before anyone else. It was action enough to dispel needless questions.

So Marcelo had no fears.

'I can rest easy.'

His Excellency would surely rebuild the Mage Tower. And see his own research to a successful end. That belief sustained him.

But if one lingering regret remained...

'Never seeing the Tower Master again.'

Marcelo knew his time was short. Thus...

'Paving the way for His Excellency's path.'

With little time left, he had work to do. It was the weight of the chief mage he bore.

Marcelo recalled Hoyeol's words.

—"Hiding is contrary to pride."

Yes, as His Excellency said. To avoid repeating past mistakes.

Marcelo opened his mouth.

"We begin the Round Table Conference with the matter of the Mage Tower's great sinners: Elder Mage Karim Jeba and two others. First, let us open with a moment of silence for Elder Mage Senios."

...

Senior healing mage Bellie Yusia sensed the solemn air permeating the Mage Tower.

"...It had to come out eventually."

All the facts had been revealed at the Round Table Conference. Even knowing them in advance, Bellie felt the shock anew just recalling them.

"Everyone..."

She could only imagine the impact on the skilled and apprentice mages.

But Bellie knew: the mages of the Mage Tower were no ordinary folk.

Apprentice mages might be treated like fledglings within the Tower, but their abilities spoke volumes—from the acclaim they'd earned before entry.

Pride of magical families, reincarnations of great mages, raw gems of talent...

And the skilled mages? They rivaled the continent's finest. Depending on their specialty, they could raze a city—or rebuild it.

'Though it's odd for me to say it...'

Senior mages were more than human—superhuman.

Bellie was aware: she and her peers wielded magic beyond mortal imagination.

That was the Mage Tower. A gathering of those with immense potential, those honing it, or those who'd already bloomed.

"It might be confusing now..."

Having passed through apprentice, skilled, and senior stages herself, Bellie could empathize. They'd come to feel as she did.

Yes—they couldn't ignore demons deceiving the Tower, turning Arcana Continent to ruin.

That solemn air stemmed from it. Yet it bred worry too.

The assembled might of the Mage Tower carried grave responsibility. If misused...

The mere thought chilled her; Bellie furrowed her brow.

But immediate concern was unfounded.

'Marcelo, and Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol.'

Two co-chief mages led now.

She bit her lip.

"For now..."

Bellie knew Marcelo's time was short. That's why he'd elevated Hoyeol as successor.

'...No need to spell it out.'

Years of watching Marcelo. His choice was Hoyeol. Doubts had vanished; Hoyeol's feats spoke volumes.

And finally...

"An inner self unlike the exterior."

A neck never bowed—yet bowed in mourning for Senios alone.

Bellie smiled bitterly.

"Chief Mage Marcelo. Truly discerning eyes for a chief."

The right call. Marcelo's best judgment.

But not for her.

"...I'm just making my own best judgment."

Her smile faded. She picked up her quill.

Scritch—

She wrote diligently. At least one worry was lifted.

"Cley, thanks to you, one less concern."

Cley's advice came to mind as she gripped the quill.

—"Above all, that purpose! Purpose seemed key!"

The outing application. Writing her purpose, Bellie murmured low.

"Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol. Whatever you think, no purpose matters more to me."

──────

Damn, I'm drained.

Truth be told, all I'd done at the Round Table was sit quietly in the Crystal Hall.

...Mental shock, they say.

Who could've guessed I'd hear such blatant gossip about myself!

Someone might ask why I'm whining when communities, TV, even family chats buzz with "bottomless darkness" talk.

'That's different from this.'

If I must analogize... it's like your private life splashed across the office where you kept work and personal separate.

And that private life? A horrific black history you hate recalling...!

Yet despite the agony, I showed no sign.

Whoosh—whoosh—

I twirled my teaspoon and spouted shamelessly.

"The judgment of others matters not."

One line sufficed, yet I added,

"Only the pride within the heart counts."

...Utterly shameless. I admire my past self. Sincerely.

But thanks to this composure, I'm whole today.

Look—even now, brazenly flipping books as if nothing happened.

"Reading nourishes the soul."

Uttering pompous lines as usual.

Yes, mortifying... but I've been like this plenty. And will be again.

'...Bottomless darkness. Time to get used to it.'

Enough lamenting. Urgent matters press.

I tilted my teacup, eyes on the quest.

Once daunting. Tilting teacups until a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠[Teppern's Labyrinth] rift popped in a regular update?

But I had experience.

The [Demon King's Castle] rift. Predicting that regular update.

It gave certainty.

'Regular updates aren't random.'

They follow patterns.

In Grandfell's tongue:

"All things have their procedures."

Regular updates too. Likely the biggest ongoing event on Arcana Continent rises.

Like [Demon King's Castle].

So I could guess.

"A labyrinth. The day draws near."

[Teppern's Labyrinth]. Possibly this week's update.

Ample basis. Demon King subjugation quieted demons temporarily. Few cataclysms left.

'Thorough prep essential.'

[Teppern Enclosure]. I'd checked forces there. Lv.450, holding amid scarecrows.

A loose class. For a demon hunter, I'd grown decently.

'Half stats' merit, sure.'

Class quests, precious elixirs. Decent payoff for struggles.

Know your place, Hoyeol.

My class remains demon hunter forever.

"All have strengths and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flaws."

No gloating. Spitting in my face, ultimately.

Not wrong, though.

'Demon hunter.'

Always grounded. Dug wells for flesh pockets early.

[Teppern's Labyrinth]. Low Predator-Prey Relationship odds.

True full prep needed.

One reassuring item: [Vampire Count's Orb].

Trophy from Askyura. Lv.400 restriction once terrified me. Would I survive to use it?

That day arrived.

'Extra damage modest.'

But utility depends on use. High proc per attack? Just attack more.

'Even small damage accumulates.'

Rare skill, but I have magic.

Exploiting to multiply performance? Confident.

Ideally, demon king loot. Epic demon items...

[Command Baton Tainted by Evil]

[Map of Oblivion Drawn in Blood]

[Pupil Burning with Malice]

No demons, unavoidable.

'At least not alone.'

Explorer Alliance bound by interests. Labyrinth experts supreme.

I gripped my quill.

"Opportunity seldom knocks twice."

Scritch-scritch—

"See that you prepare thoroughly, lest you squander yours."

* Explorer Alliance Leader, Fabian Delong.

"Oho!"

The returned letter. Clear purpose, no greed—Hoyeol's signature approved joint Teppern Labyrinth expedition.

Good so far...

Reading on, Fabian muttered.

"...Thorough preparation?"

Not just any—thorough. What did it mean?

Confusion crossed his face.

"!"

First explorer trait: insight. Fabian intuited.

Eyes closed, he thought from Hoyeol's view.

"I am the bottomless darkness..."

Holder of vast achievements. What thoroughness from him?

Fabian nodded resolutely.

"You've said this much. No choice."

Time to tap the Alliance treasures.

Myriad magical tools stored league-wide. Brag before a chief mage? Laughable.

But theirs excelled for exploration.

Rare, thus treasured across generations.

Yet Fabian decided. Hoyeol's message unnerved.

Fabian spoke cautiously.

"Consider it consideration of sorts."

Opportunity given—repay fittingly.

Tension rose. Fabian shrugged.

"Can't disappoint. Must peak condition."

Then the P.S. caught his eye.

...What? Riddle?

Fabian squinted, pondering.

"...Emphasizing time's value?"

Seemed so. Half-doubting—stressing time meant little left.

"How know when Teppern's Labyrinth appears...?"

Doubt lingered, but he shook it off. Prep included no such queries.

He rummaged treasures—then froze.

"...Did he know of the treasures too?"

Nah, impossible. Ultra-secret: leader and few executives only.

Even Hoyeol couldn't know.

That thought lasted days.

Thursday. Yusra Kingdom. Golden Calf Tavern.

Moving murals on walls. TV broadcast regular update.

"Alliance Leader Fabian! Teppern's Labyrinth rift appeared!"

"?!"

Days after Hoyeol's time warning—Teppern's Labyrinth rose.

Had he foreseen it all?

"How?!"

Bottomless indeed. His limits unfathomable.

Cold sweat beaded Fabian's brow anew.