2 weeks Till the Labyrinth Of Lethe
Ryo was back at it again. Determined to make the most of his limited time, he focused on preparing for the Labyrinth of Lethe. He decided to skip parts of his usual routine, like the early morning workouts. "I probably don't need to sweat it that much," he thought. The more he trained and employed his scenario traits, similar to what they practiced in Kardia's beast-hunting training, the fitter he became. His muscles were already toned and in perfect shape.
Instead of training with Mei, he had Kaito take the lead. During the recent attack, Ryo had learned that Kaito and his maid were out shopping. They had rushed to safety, and Kaito initially insisted they should fight. However, realizing how timid his maid was, he quickly changed his mind and led her to the nearest shelter, fortunately just around the corner.
Afterward, though, they faced some consequences. Emily was particularly singled out by Ms. Florence, the fierce head of the maids. Ryo couldn't bear to make eye contact with her. He often saw her with Sir Helianthus, and her fierce demeanor was hard to miss—she was the only maid without a mask, her eyes glinting with a threatening intensity.
Emily was visibly terrified, teetering on the verge of tears as she apologized profusely. Despite her pleas, Ms. Florence dragged Emily away for punishment for leaving the isle without permission. Kaito awkwardly scratched his cheek, feeling guilty for insisting she come along. He wished he could stand up to Ms. Florence, but her intimidating presence made him shrink back, leaving him feeling both defeated and emotional. He later confided in Ryo about the incident.
Ryo couldn't help but feel sorry for poor Emily, who was forced to obey someone who often acted without thinking.
The adjustments Ryo had made to his routine were mainly to avoid Mei. To this day, they hadn't spoken to each other, and he was the one avoiding her. Whether at the training grounds, lectures, or the halls, he always averted his gaze whenever their paths crossed. Mei couldn't shake the feeling that she had somehow upset him. Beside her, Svetlana did her best to distract her, sensing that what she'd said to Ryo during the attack might have contributed to the tension.
...
*Knock*
"Sir, breakfast is ready. Shall I bring it in as usual?" Ravenna called from outside Ryo's room.
"Yes, I'm coming. Let me just grab a towel first," Ryo replied.
Just moments ago, he had finished showering and was now heading toward the door. He had cleaned himself up in a hurry, and his hair was still damp, with water trickling down his face as he opened the door.
"Oh, pardon me! I didn't realize you had just gotten out of the shower. If you'd like, I can wait until you're ready before coming in," Ravenna said, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Before this, at this hour in the morning, Ryo would still be somewhat lazy about getting out of bed. But ever since he returned, he had been proactive, this was actually the latest he had taken to get ready. It was refreshing to see him so motivated, or so she thought.
"No, no, I don't mind. Please come in, Enna," Ryo gestured with a wave of his hand.
He stepped aside to allow her in, and Ravenna seemed a bit flustered by the invitation, but she did her best to keep her usual emotionless expression.
"Right, then. Pardon my intrusion," she said.
As she gracefully entered and placed his meal on the table, Ryo continued to get ready. After finishing, she turned around just in time to see Ryo, stark naked, pulling on his underwear.
"Forgive me! It was never my intention to—" Ravenna exclaimed, quickly covering her eyes in embarrassment.
"No, it's my fault; I wasn't thinking," Ryo said, feeling a wave of panic.
Crap, this probably looks bad. I must seem like the biggest jerk right now. It was as if he was coming on to her out of nowhere; this was not how he had planned his morning to unfold. Ravenna was undeniably beautiful and voluptuous, he couldn't deny he had had some indecent thoughts beforebut he never intended to ambush her. Ryo could be absent-minded about these kinds of things. He had been so lost in thought lately that it felt as if he was mechanically going through his days. In fact, even after inviting Ravenna in earlier, he had probably forgotten she was there as he got dressed. His ignorance had led him into this awkward situation.
"No, it's quite all right. After all, it's not strange for masters to expect that kind of thing from their servants," Ravenna said, her arm instinctively covering her lips as she turned her head away. Even through her mask, he could see her embarrassment, her cheeks flushed.
"No, Enna, this isn't like that, I swear! I won't deny I've seen you as a member of the opposite sex, but I never intended to make you uncomfortable," Ryo said, desperation creeping into his voice.
He quickly finished putting on his underwear as he spoke.
She's never going to trust me again, is she? He felt his shoulders slump under the weight of the situation, but Ravenna regained a bit of her composure.
"I—I understand, sir. If you don't mind, I will wait for you outside the room now," she stammered softly.
After she left the room, Ryo's expression fell. He finished getting ready, had a quick meal, and set out once again.
As they walked together, the air around them felt awkward, but Ravenna trailed him as usual.
Ryo's routine began with attending the classes he thought would be essential for the upcoming Page. He enrolled in Kardia creature studies, which taught him about various types of Kardia beasts, including their possible uses, weaknesses, attack patterns, and how to defeat them. He also took a few language classes, which they were required to begin since the start of their training. In this world, there are six known languages: the Universal Tongue, which everyone across the four continents is required to learn for diplomatic reasons and to accommodate foreign races, particularly in Elyria, a melting pot of cultures. There, several races coexist, much like in Griown, a nation established by the race known as New-mans, the local term for humans.
The other languages included Florakian, Tegardian, Valen, Glacien, and Demi-newman. Ryo had only picked up a bit of Glacien and Tegardian, as they were the easiest to learn. However, he still struggled to become fluent in either. The Universal Tongue was the common language spoken by everyone upon arriving in this world, so there were no classes for that, obviously.
In addition, Ryo attended Labyrinth and Tunnel exploration classes, which he focused on, especially with the upcoming Page expedition to a Labyrinth.
After these classes, Ryo spent considerable time on self-study. In a world full of unknowns, he understood that knowledge was power. Though he hadn't been particularly studious in his previous life, the topics reminded him of RPGs, fantasy light novels, and web novels he used to read, making them easier to engage with.
Later, Kaito would tutor him in combat, and then in the afternoon, he would participate in the general training that everyone else did. Lately, the focus had shifted to mastering scenario traits and hunting Kardia beasts. They took the Lilies, which included Ryo, into a simulated forest created by a high-ranking member of the Magus Isle. It perfectly replicated Kardia beasts and their strength, and Ryo thought the mage responsible must be incredibly powerful.
After a long, hard day's work, Ryo used the remaining hours of the evening to rest.
...
Ravenna and Ryo were making their way back to his room when Ryo decided to take a breather at the cafeteria. No one was around at this time of day; dusk was settling in, and the sky was transitioning from a vibrant orange to a darker hue.
"Sir, I understand you're tired. Would you like me to prepare your dinner and bring it here? You skipped lunch, so it's no surprise that you're exhausted and hungry," Ravenna suggested.
She offered this out of habit; Ryo had been coming into the cafeteria more frequently when it was empty, seeking solace and sustenance in the quiet of the night. In moments like this, he would appear drained, as if everything he had been bottling up inside was finally surfacing. Ravenna recognized the sensitivity of this situation. She planned to make his meal, present it to him, and then sit across from him with a plate of her own, keeping conversation to a minimum to avoid disturbing his thoughts.
This was Ravenna's way of showing care for her master's state of mind, especially since he had been considerate enough not to burden her during their busy days.
Ryo sat on the long bench, dazed. At the far end of it, a vision of Koki appeared, blood soaking his clothes, but he seemed animated and very much alive, despite looking like a corpse. Of course, this wasn't the real Koki; the real Koki lay in a coma back at the Cleric Isle. This was a figment conjured by Ryo's mind, yet in this moment, he couldn't tell the difference.
"Today was the same as always. I just couldn't talk to her—or to any of them, really," Ryo admitted.
"Did you at least try this time, Ryo?" Koki's ghost asked.
Ryo stretched his arms wide, resting them casually at the top of the long seat.
"Nah, I couldn't even make eye contact," he said, chuckling self-deprecatingly.
"Eh? What about Tadashi? Didn't you want to tell him what happened when you vanished? I thought you were going to at least share that," Koki pressed.
"We had a recent sparring match at the training grounds. I lost to Tadashi again, but I wasn't angry this time. I could see how hard he trains every day. It's not like I performed poorly; I gave it my all. I'm now ranked number seven among the Lilies, which is a significant improvement. But I just get the feeling that with the way Tadashi is now, I wouldn't feel comfortable telling him anything. And since I initially avoided him, he started avoiding me too. He didn't even think twice about our second duel; he just crushed me," Ryo explained, his expression blank.
Ryo's eyes rolled toward Koki, who mirrored the gaze.
"Look, in just a few days, you guys will be thrust into another life-or-death situation. You need to man up and settle things. You might never get the chance again, just like me," Koki said, his tone turning serious.
Ryo's brow furrowed at Koki's words.
"Don't be ridiculous, Koki. Come on, you're right here, right now, aren't you?" Ryo's voice trembled as he spoke.
Koki slowly shook his head, disappointment etched on his face.
"These conversations have to stop. You'll destroy yourself if you keep doing this. You can't keep turning a blind eye to everything around you just to avoid pain," Koki said firmly.
Ryo's head slumped, his gaze fixed downward, hiding his expression.
"Come on… don't say that. You're making it sound like you're not really here, like I'm just imagining this whole conversation," Ryo replied.
"Just stop moping around and stay positive, Ryo. You won't accomplish anything if you keep wallowing in despair."
At those words, Ryo raised his head. He turned to look at Koki, expecting to see him there—but the space beside him was empty. He ruffled his hair and let out a wry grin.
"What am I doing?"
Ravenna watched the scene unfold in silence, familiar with Ryo's incoherent mumblings to himself. Deep down, she sensed that this moment of self-confrontation was delicate for him, so she chose not to intervene, simply accompanying him in his struggle.
†
Arakawa Mei
The night before the mass page which was the labyrinth of Lethe, Mei lay in her bed, unable to find peace. Ever since she woke from her coma, every night had been the same: haunting nightmares. But they weren't nightmares at all; they were old memories—memories she desperately wished she could forget, memories that had tormented her for far too long.
With dark circles under her eyes from another sleepless night and tears streaming down her cheeks, she left her room. Her butler was absent; all she wanted was some fresh air. She made her way to the same hallway where she had previously encountered Ryo, who had been hiding away from the world.
"This time, maybe I can finally fix things," she muttered to herself as she gazed out the window, the moonlight bathing her in its glow. She felt visibly downcast and raked her fingers through her hair to calm her nerves. Her heart pounded in her chest.
Things were starting to look different—hopefully, that was a good sign,
but she couldn't help wondering why Ryo wouldn't talk to her anymore. Had she offended him somehow? Maybe Lana's suspicions were right; perhaps he was still held captive by her harsh words.
"Of course it's never that easy with him. This is so frustrating!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in anger. "What is it about him that makes him shut people out?"
After a moment, she took a deep breath, letting the anger dissipate and her expression soften. No, that wasn't the real reason for her frustration. She realized she was just getting cold feet. After all, the time was almost upon her.
With her thoughts beginning to gather resolve, she turned and headed back to her room.
†
▪︎Petal of salvation "15th Ventus "5:00Am (Page: The Labyrinth Of Lethe)
It was morning in the city of Griown as well as on the Dark Isle. Ravenna approached Ryo's room, knocking softly to wake him up. Lady Florence had instructed every servant of the Lilies on the Isle to prepare their masters and gather them at the designated area.
"Sir! Are you awake? It's time to get ready for your Page," she called out.
After knocking for quite some time with no response, Ravenna hesitated. Normally, barging into a room would be overstepping her bounds. However, today was particularly important, and she felt a surge of determination.
"I'm going to let myself in now," she said calmly.
With a gentle creak, she opened the door and stepped inside, only to find Ryo peacefully sleeping. This was the second time she had caught him in such a deep slumber; the first was when he rested his head on the lap of his friend. In moments like these, he looked so innocent and at peace, a sight that made a warm smile spread across her face.
"He looks so peaceful," she murmured.
Part of her wished he could remain this way, free from whatever burdened him, wearing that gentle expression. But today, she knew she couldn't simply enjoy the view.
Gently, she tried to nudge him awake, but he didn't budge. So, she applied a little more pressure, and he began to stir, mumbling incoherent nonsense. Seeing him like this tempted her to tease him, but she held back, remembering her place. Still, she couldn't resist leaning closer.
"Sir, if you don't wake up, I might just have to play with you," she whispered playfully.
Half-awake, Ryo grabbed her arm and pulled her into bed with him, as if he were dragging a body pillow closer. Ravenna squeaked, feeling utterly trapped.
"Eek! S-Sir, what are you doing? Control yourself!" she stammered.
Ryo wasn't fully awake yet; he merely tightened his grip around her, mistaking her for something soft and comforting. Her face flushed crimson as she realized the situation.
"Please, Sir, calm down! If you intended to take me before your departure, you should have mentioned it before today. Wait, what am I saying?" she squeaked in embarrassment.
All this noise had finally jolted Ryo awake for real. His eyes blinked open, and he found himself face-to-face with a beautiful woman, her expression a mix of surprise and nervousness. As the fog of sleep cleared from his mind, he began to comprehend the scene unfolding before him.
Beside me, cradled in my arms, was a beautiful goddess in a maid outfit. Why this divine being had chosen to descend to my side was beyond my understanding. Today was the day I ventured into the Labyrinth, and perhaps she was here to guide my soul before my body faced its doom. But could it be possible that I was already marked for death in the eyes of the gods? Was that the reason this sweet-smelling goddess had come to me?
She was soft against me, and I could feel the warmth of her curves pressing against my chest. This wasn't such a bad way to go, really. I'd much prefer this over marching into a dark and dirty Labyrinth. Finally, luck seemed to be on my side; I had been chosen by this goddess for the most peaceful passing imaginable. I was the chosen one. Had I known the goddess of death could be so captivating, I might have considered ending my life much sooner.
The goddess squirmed slightly in my arms, and I held her tighter. No, I wasn't letting her go. If I did, I'd risk a tragically mundane fate. "Don't leave me, please take me away, goddess!"
"S-sir, we don't have much time, please... ah!" she exclaimed.
Her voice was so sweet that I instinctively drew her closer, burying my face in the scent of her beautiful brown hair. It was pure bliss. But wait, that voice sounded familiar... Yes. It was all too familiar.
Could this goddess truly be Enna? No, that couldn't be right. Had she been hiding her true identity from me all along? This bit had dragged on long enough.
Ryo finally jolted awake, and to his surprise, he found himself holding none other than his loyal masked maid, Ravenna. She looked a bit disheveled, and for a moment, little Ryo felt an unexpected surge of energy at the sight of her chaotic appearance.
Calm down, Ryo. We can still ease our way out of this,
he thought to himself, finally releasing Ravenna from his embrace. She promptly stood up, avoiding his gaze as she straightened her dress and rearranged her hair.
"I must say, sir, this was inappropriate," she said, anger lacing her words, though a hint of fluster remained.
"I know, I'm sorry! I thought you were a goddess... or rather, a pillow," he corrected himself, almost letting that last term slip.
To his surprise, Ravenna composed herself completely. Her expression shifted, taking on a cryptic quality.
"Um, sir, I know you were half asleep, and I'm sorry for my poor behavior. I really don't want us to be at odds, especially not today," she said.
To his surprise, Ravenna forgave him—and so quickly, too. It seemed she wanted to give him a proper send-off, which made him chuckle.
"You know, for a masked maid, I can pretty much read you like a book," he joked.
She turned slightly, her cheeks flushing a bright red, and quickly changed the topic. "You're expected to join the others before seven o'clock, so please get ready, sir," she said, pouting a little.
"Yeah, yeah, sure," he replied nonchalantly.
He stood up from the bed, stretching as he did. She took the hint and excused herself to prepare breakfast as quickly as possible.
"Hey, Ravenna," he called out.
"Yes, Master?" she responded.
He ruffled his hair sheepishly with his left hand. "Uh... I'm definitely going to come for dinner," he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
She smiled softly. The man she had first met five months ago would never have said something like that; he used to be so detached, always walking on eggshells around people, doing his best to avoid forming connections. And yet now...
"Sir, you've matured quite a bit during your time here," Ravenna remarked.
"Haven't I always been mature?" he replied dryly.
After their exchange, she headed off, and he prepared himself for the day ahead.
...
"Before you venture into the labyrinth, take these," said Helianthus.
He had come to send the Lilies off, and they stood in the training grounds where a massive magic circle had been drawn, accommodating every Lily present. Helianthus handed each of them a map, a compass, a watch, a key, and instructed them to pick up the backpacks in front of them. Ryo observed these items and recognized their significance; they would be essential for tackling the labyrinth.
"These will assist you on your journey in various ways; how you use them is up to you." He paused, scanning the faces before him, meeting their anxious gazes.
"What you're about to do is unprecedented. You are venturing into one of the 18 major labyrinths in the world. We cannot guarantee your safety, nor can we supervise you down there. But that's what these past five months have been for—you have trained rigorously, and I have no doubt that the effort you've put in will pay off once you enter. Ideally, you all will make it back, though I'm sure you know the odds are against you. People will die; in fact, there's no telling if any of you might return."
As he spoke, worry etched itself on their faces.
"However, remember this: the ones who overcome obstacles aren't necessarily the strongest or the smartest. They are often the ones who refuse to give up. It's not about raw power or intelligence; it's about determination. Those who push through challenges aren't superhuman; they're humans who have learned to harness their struggles and turn them into fuel. So, if you face a wall, don't fixate on how high it is. Focus on finding a way around it, over it, or breaking it down. Your capacity isn't the issue; your commitment is."
After sharing those words, he stepped back, and several figures emerged before them. It was the messengers—Ryo had almost forgotten about these bothersome creatures, especially Aetherion.
"Alright, the objective this time is simple," Aetherion announced. "In two months, conquer the Labyrinth of Lethe, descend to the 50th layer, and defeat the Remnant there. After that, you will have completed your Page."
They all spoke in unison, as if sharing a single voice, and then Aetherion stepped forward to add,
"You will all be scattered across the first three floors of the labyrinth, alongside every newly summoned Lily from the Isles. Be sure to form balanced parties to prolong your lives and work together to complete this page. Every five days, the party in the lead will receive a special item to aid them on their journey. So while I encourage you to cooperate, remember that a little competitive spirit is crucial. The party that successfully defeats the remnant and conquers the labyrinth will gain the most favor from the Grand Narrator, bringing them closer to fulfilling their wishes in a single run. Your rank will also improve here, but I can't imagine that'll mean much to you," Aetherion said coldly.
"There are three rules you'll need to follow. First, do not stagnate. If you remain in one place for more than two days, you will be killed on the spot by one of us. Second, do not directly kill one another. And third and most importantly, do not engage with the remnant; your only task is to eliminate it," Aetherion continued.
The group exchanged puzzled glances, bewildered by the bizarre rules imposed on their expedition. Both Ryo and Mei were deeply concerned about the nature of this page, but they knew they had to push forward, no matter the cost.
"Oh, and one more thing—the difficulty of this page is 'Certain Death,'" Aetherion added, a malicious grin spreading across its face.
With that, each of them vanished into thin air as the portal activated.
"Goodbye for now, Ryo, Mei. I truly hope you make it back," Aetherion said.
As Ryo felt his consciousness slipping away, he caught a fleeting glimpse of Sir Helianthus's pained expression, a stark contrast to the confidence he had projected earlier. But it was gone in an instant, leaving Ryo with an unsettling feeling.