Chapter 27

Chapter 27

A Brief Interlude of Rest

The conference room where the instructors had gathered.

It was something they did by habit every morning, but because there was a little more to discuss today, their meeting was dragging on.

“The boring theory is gradually coming to an end... and this year, the ‘Labyrinth’ will open without fail again. Headmaster Juliut suggested that, ‘specially’ for this year’s first-year students, we allow entry at the same time as the students of other years.”

Edward said this, the corners of his mouth rising high as if he was looking forward to it.

“The Labyrinth? Isn’t it still a bit early for first-year students...?”

Kaliman, stroking his rough beard, answered with concern.

“What do the other instructors think?”

Edward did not yield and asked while looking at the others.

“Priscilla will be busy enough when the Labyrinth opens, and if even the first-years enter at the same time... I think Priscilla will have a hard time, no? It’s obvious the number of injured will increase.”

Reina worried about her old friend, Priscilla. In Reina’s mind, she could clearly picture Priscilla growing furious when they drank together.

Edward silently looked at the old instructor sitting there.

He was an excellent teacher who had spent many years as an instructor at Innocence Academy, and he had also once been the instructor of Edward, Kaliman, Reina, and Priscilla.

At present, because Edward had unexpectedly become an instructor, he had given the position of Class C’s homeroom instructor to Kaliman.

Since his own disciples said they wanted to become instructors, he only found it admirable and had no complaint about it.

“The headmaster must have his thoughts. It does not look bad for the students to gain experience even a little faster. Expectations for this year’s group are rather high as well... I will speak to Priscilla properly.”

At the old instructor’s following words, Edward clapped.

“Excellent. There is still some time left until the Labyrinth opens, so there should be enough time for the required education.”

For whatever reason, Edward left the conference room in high spirits.

The other instructors were used to it.

It was not their first time seeing Edward get that excited.

“I want to enjoy myself a little while working too...”

In the conference room Edward had left, only the sighs of the remaining instructors lingered.

***

Edward, who had called the students to the classroom, said the Labyrinth would soon open. This time, unusually, it would be opened to first-year students at the same time as everyone else.

Edward said there would be required education to enter the Labyrinth from now on, and today he gave the students a basic explanation of the Labyrinth.

“The Labyrinth... Wasn’t it supposed to be opened to first-years a little later? Haa.”

After Edward’s class ended, Yuri beside me focused on brushing through her red hair and braiding each strand, as if wanting to clear her mind.

Not only Yuri, but the other students were also each talking about the Labyrinth.

“Originally, yes...”

The Labyrinth.

It was a unique dungeon located inside Innocence Academy.

There were many who said the academy might have been built here because of this Labyrinth.

Every year, the structure of the Labyrinth changed, and the rewards changed.

This dungeon, with a fairly familiar structure where the difficulty grew higher the deeper one descended, was one of the places in the game where one could obtain experience through a route other than classes.

Originally, since first-year students had never experienced the Labyrinth, the method was to let the first-year students enter only after the senior students’ exploration of the Labyrinth had progressed to a certain degree.

The player in the game did not have such a wait; unusually, the first-year students also began at the same time.

“This appears to be exactly the same as the game, without fail.”

Well, it was not as if I could not understand the academy instructors’ thinking.

This year’s first-year group was skilled enough to be called a golden generation... so it was not very strange to send them in a little earlier.

In the end, skill was everything.

They must be trying to ignite competition with the senior students.

Of course, from the player’s perspective, it simply felt like a new place to gain experience was opening.

“Perhaps it’s because this year’s group is receiving many expectations.”

I answered Yuri, who had been staring intently at me.

For reference, Sierra had gone back into the pendant before class began, saying something about reaching her limit.

I did not know when she would pop out again, but after the cursed blade was made, it was certain she would be able to wander around for longer than this.

So far, no one had noticed Sierra’s existence.

Since she was a soul... unless they were a high-ranking priest or necromancer of considerable level, it would be difficult to notice her existence.

“Edward’s class today gave little experience again, so...”

The Labyrinth opening was a welcome thing.

The Labyrinth was a dungeon with peculiar magic applied to it, so there were no cases of dying inside the Labyrinth.

Of course, injuries could happen as much as one liked, but there was leveling worth bearing that degree of risk, and even things like hidden pieces existed, so it was an advantageous situation for me.

At around this time, it seemed possible to make the cursed blade before the Labyrinth began.

If I could quickly equip the cursed blade, I would be able to level faster and collect hidden pieces more easily.

Above all... there was one troublesome enemy lurking in this Labyrinth.

“Eisel, as a regressor, should know of that guy’s existence too.”

However, she probably had little interest.

Whether she judged that guy was not getting in her way, or whether it was because he had nothing to do with the demons she hated, Eisel in the game had not intervened in this incident.

Eisel’s face entered my sight, her eyes seeming to think of nothing in particular.

For me, since I knew there was a reward for defeating that guy, and various quests would appear in relation to him, if I had to say it, it was better for Eisel not to intervene.

There would be fewer variables, after all.

“Quests related to the Medical Technology Exchange Group will appear too...”

By treating the students injured by that guy, I could receive experience and some compensation. Money aside... experience was always good to collect.

Thinking that I would become extremely busy again, my body felt strangely stiff.

There was still time left until the Labyrinth opened, so I should go find the blacksmith in advance.

“Before that... let’s rest today. Just one day...”

Because I had not slept properly for several days, even if my body was fine thanks to the bracelet, I could feel that I was mentally exhausted.

Sierra and the coachman’s chatter might have influenced it too.

Having decided that I would rest deeply today, I rose from my seat.

When the homeroom instructor’s class ended early, students received what was called autonomous training time, which was literally time during which they could do whatever training they wanted.

At this time, they could go find an instructor with a technique they wanted to learn, and after the Labyrinth opened, they could go to the Labyrinth during this time.

Until now, I had been busy making the cursed blade, or training mana operation all night in the training ground.

“They said there’s an exploration ranking too, right? I wonder if we first-years can even get onto the rankings...”

Yuri, who rose along with me, muttered.

“We might. The rewards are good too.”

I intended to enter that ranking as well.

The monthly exploration ranking was calculated across all school years, and the rewards were generous, so there was no reason to refuse.

“Once the Labyrinth opens, things are going to get busy.”

***

After training until late at night, I was only now able to return to the dormitory.

Mana operation.

I was still lacking in many ways.

The sensation of handling mana was far too unfamiliar.

At this rate, when would I ever be able to infuse mana into a weapon?

It only felt bleak.

Though I said I would rest for a day, I could not neglect training. As long as I did not leave the academy at night, that much was enough rest for me.

“I’ll go to the blacksmith tomorrow, so...”

This time, I intended to sleep deeply.

Sierra had not come out of the pendant since class.

Then again, from the carriage to the tour of the academy, she had maintained her form for quite a long time for someone contained in a pendant.

When I opened the door and entered the room, I happened to feel Sierra’s energy beginning to pour out from the pendant.

Thick smoke flowed out of the pendant, then began taking shape.

[ I thought I would die of boredom inside the pendant....Though I am already dead, that is. ]

Suddenly, Sierra, having fully formed, stretched and threw a joke at me.

“Does she move at night and go in during the day...?”

Somehow, Sierra seemed to have become nocturnal.

However, today, there was no reason to go outside.

“I plan to sleep well today, so perhaps you could return to the pendant...”

I spoke in a firm tone to Sierra, who was looking around the room as if wondering if there was anything interesting.

[ Hm? What about the cursed blade? Were you not going to visit the blacksmith today? ]

“I can’t push any further. I’m going to rest for just one day. Because the troublesome matters were resolved quickly, I thought resting for a day should be... all right.”

I answered Sierra while unpacking my backpack in the room.

Sierra floated around the room, then approached me, and her characteristic calm voice rang inside my head.

[ Then again, the materials for the cursed blade must have been rather difficult to obtain... Then have you been moving all night without resting until now? ]

“That’s right...? There were reasons for it. I also wanted to meet you quickly, Master.”

I needlessly played coy with Sierra, who had been worried about me.

Soon, after hearing my smooth words, Sierra trembled and headed toward the bed.

[ Pfft, if nothing else, you know how to flatter. ]

Sierra said that and lay down on the bed.

“She lies down as naturally as flowing water.”

To be precise, it was hard to describe it as lying down. Sierra passed through objects. So right now, she was pretending to touch the bed while maintaining a floating state in the air.

“You’re not planning to watch your disciple sleep for a long time, are you?”

[ I have no intention of watching, you see...? ]

Sierra’s languid voice rang out.

“Wouldn’t you be bored?”

I said this while changing into comfortable clothes in a place where she on the bed could not see.

When I returned toward the bed, Sierra was still lying on it.

“And... pretending to lie down will only be uncomfortable for you.”

When I hit the mark, Sierra seemed to have been uncomfortable, because she grumbled and moved away from the bed.

[ The inside of the pendant is boring, I tell you... ]

Only then could I lie down.

Since I had no memory of when I collapsed after drinking before, the soft sensation of the bed somehow felt like it had been a long time.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can be your conversation partner any longer today.”

I said this to Sierra, who was staring at me from beside me in a burdensome way.

Sierra paused after hearing my words, then soon opened her mouth.

[...Could you lend me your shoulder for a moment? ]

After saying that, Sierra came closer to me as I lay in bed.

Her voice was trembling slightly.

Then, without even waiting for my answer, she leaned against my shoulder.

“Ah...”

Her skin lightly touched my arm.

[ After decades of being unable to touch people, being able to touch someone even like this makes my heart feel needlessly at ease... ]

Sierra, who had leaned against my shoulder, said this in a soft voice.

“Um... yes...”

[ It is fine even if you do not understand what my words mean. For now, like this. I wish to stay still like this. ]

I left Sierra as she was.

I did not go out of my way to touch her.

Sierra had her eyes closed.

I did not know whether she could sleep, but that expression... looked incredibly peaceful.

It seemed proper sleep was out of the question today as well.

But it did not feel unpleasant.