The following morning, early at dawn, everyone had gathered in the plaza before the main entrance of the Great Orcus Labyrinth. There were some who felt tense, some fearful, and those filled with curiosity. A variety of emotions in a nutshell.
"Kaori, are you okay? You went out for some air last night and came back a bit late... are you sleep-deprived after all?" Shizuku asked.
"Ah, yeah, well, actually..." Kaori stammered in response.
Nanami interjected, "It's because she went to Nagumo-kun's room late at night to talk, and since I'd just returned from the labyrinth, I happened to discover them. So I gave them a lecture."
At Nanami's words, Shizuku glanced toward Hajime. True enough, he also seemed somewhat sleep-deprived.
"What were you thinking...?" Shizuku sighed.
"Ehehe, sorry," Kaori apologized.
"If you're pushing yourself too hard, I can talk to Meld-san for you, so it's fine to rest at the inn, you know?" Nanami offered, feeling somewhat responsible for the situation.
At the offer, Kaori turned to Hajime, asking if he was still going to the labyrinth. Hajime confirmed he was going, so Kaori refused to go back to the inn, saying she was also fine.
"Besides, I made a promised," she added.
"Is that so... Then be careful not to push yourselves too hard. Well, that goes for everyone else as well," Nanami said, then went over to Meld at the front to do a final check on the training plan.
After that, Meld gave some encouraging words to the students, then they set off. The interior remained unchanged and and was still as explorable as when Nanami had seen it.
"Already, huh," Nanami noted.
From a crevice in the wall, probably the monster's nest, a gray, bipedal rat-like monster appeared. Though it was a bipedal rat, it had zero of the cuteness associated with the character from a certain animation studio.
Its upper body displayed ripped abs and bulging chest muscles with hairless skin, as if to flaunt them, which was creepy. In fact, several students recoiled at the sight.
"I defeated those yesterday too, but what are they?" Nanami asked.
Meld replied, "Hm, that is–"
But Hajime explained fluidly before he could finish, "That's a Ratman. It attacks with quick movements, but its attacks themselves are mostly monotonous, and its attack power is low. Even amateurs can defeat these monsters easily once they get used to them."
The fact that Hajime answered so fluently seemed surprising to Meld, and also to Kouki, who, though he didn't say it out loud, had been viewing Hajime as weak and contemptuous for not training to compensate. So he was also surprised by Hajime's knowledge.
"The fruits of your daily studies. If anyone wants info on monsters, ask Nagumo-kun. He has information on pretty much all the monsters," Nanami said, giving him a light pat on the shoulder and praising him, which made Hajime blush.
"Now then, as you heard, fight as you have been trained," Nanami instructed, "However, if you judge that you cannot win, fall back immediately. At that time, I will handle the opponent."
Hearing his words, they snapped to attention and charged, annihilating the Ratmen. That was fine, but it was overkill, making mana crystal retrieval impossible. Mana crystals were important items in this world, used even in daily goods, so they should be collected. Destroying a monster along with the crystal rendered it somewhat pointless.
"Then, let's rotate and continue. And I said not to get carried away. Maintain tension," Nanami said, admonishing the students who were getting elated from defeating the labyrinth monsters as they proceeded.
Not all students participated this time. Some still waited at the castle, too scared of battle to join monster training.
"Tch, the guys who didn't come are missing out! Those cowards!" one of Hiyama's friends said, mocking.
"Totally! This is a piece of cake!" another added.
Hiyama's group drew harsh looks from other students for being insensitive.
"The fear of death is a natural human instinct. They made the correct decision in not coming here. And also, didn't I tell you not to get carried away?" Nanami admonished them in a quiet voice, his face impassive.
The Hiyama group, especially Hiyama himself, glared at Nanami, but he didn't realize that every time he did so, he was becoming more disliked by Kaori, the girl he admired.
Continuing on like this, they descended the floors without issue. They passed through the 11th and 12th floors that Nanami had visited yesterday. Thanks to Hajime's explanations, they knew the movements and weaknesses of the monsters along the way, so everyone progressed smoothly.
When Hiyama and his group ignored Hajime's explanations, rushed ahead, and nearly getting into trouble, Nanami immediately defeated the monsters, after which they quietened down.
"The area ahead the 20th floor, right?" Nanami asked.
"Ah, yes. It's the place that separates the first-rate from the rest. Combat-wise, these kids still lack experience, but well, they should be fine," Meld replied.
"I'll leave the traps to you," Nanami said.
'I suppose I'll observe as much as I can too,' he mused.
There had been several lethal traps along the way, but they could be detected using an artifact called a Fair Scope, which was capable of detecting the flow of mana.
Even without it, however, Nanami was also able to detect them. He had the skill to perceive mana, Sense Mana, and he was more proficient at using it than Kouki. By observing the flow of mana as if looking for the residual traces of cursed energy, he could tell where the traps were located.
'As metaphysical energies, mana and cursed energy are similar yet different, I suppose,' Nanami thought as they proceeded.
The location with the stairs leading to the 21st floor was this expedition's goal. From here on out, monsters coordinated in groups.
Thinking of the students, both Meld and Nanami thought that while the difficulty would increase, they'd likely win, though some would still struggle a bit.
However...
"Those monsters coordinate in groups, but there's a leader. Take that one out first from a distance, and their formation will collapse. That one should be taken out last. It has high defense but almost no means of attack, so while you're attacking it, other monsters might strike. That one can't do anything if you close the distance. Keep closing in and attacking," Hajime explained.
With his explanations, born from cramming monster knowledge into his head for survival, they broke through easily. By this point, the nickname 'Monster Professor' had stuck to Hajime, and even Kouki was impressed and grateful.
"I never imagined he had studied to that extent," Meld murmured.
Knowing that Hajime scored above average despite sleeping in class, Nanami added, "If possible, I'd like him to focus properly in my classes too."
The others chuckled at this, and Hajime perceived it wasn't meant mockingly, so he just blushed.
They progressed smoothly and neared their destination ahead of schedule.
Just as Meld was about to call for a stop, Hajime called out first, "Wait! That looks like a camouflage. If I'm not mistaken, I think... yes, it's a Rockmount!"
Just as Hajime started his explanation, the monster, Rockmount, realized it was exposed, so it moved.
"Rockmounts have tremendous strength, but their movements are sluggish! And they tend to attack the relatively stronger opponents in battle!" Hajime warned, "Amanogawa-kun, be careful!"
Just as Hajime said, the monster leapt to attack Kouki and the others, who happened to be the stronger members of the vanguard group. It didn't attack Nanami probably because he was in the back to protect Hajime and the rest of the rearguards.
However, with Hajime's concise commentary on the monster, they managed to defeat it easily... though Kouki had unnecessarily used a big move in the process, which earned him Meld's scolding.
Nanami followed suit, "Sigh... Amanogawa-kun, you could have won that without using such a big technique. Even with the Hero title, please exercise more restraint."
Scolded by both Meld and Nanami, Kouki apologized sheepishly.
"Now then, this is the goal for today, but I will descend to the 21st floor. That said, I'm just going to check the situation, so I'll be back immediately, so please wait here. Meld-san, guard and protect them."
"Understood. And this is not to keep an eye on you or anything, but please take them along too," Meld said, gesturing at Parnes and Mard, who had gone with Nanami yesterday.
The two knights approached Nanami, brimming with enthusiasm.
"They've really grown attached to you," Meld whispered to Nanami.
'They're your subordinates, is that really okay?' Nanami thought, but didn't say it out loud, and began his descent.
The moment Nanami and the others' figures disappeared from sight, Kaori, one of the students who had time on her hands, glanced at the wall that had crumbled from the earlier attack and spotted something, "Hmm? Check out that jewel! It's so sparkly!"
Meld looked to where she was pointing and remarked, "Hoh~, that's a Glanz Crystal. It's quite a big one too. They're rare."
The crystal that would trigger tragedy sparkled brightly.
...
Unaware of this, Nanami descended the stairs and reached the 21st floor.
Just then, a monster was there and attacked, but...
"Instant kill, as expected... I'm already used to this sight," Mard remarked.
"Of course, it's Mr. Kento after all!!" Parnes added.
Ignoring their admiration, Nanami observed and analyzed the monsters here:
'The Rockmount from earlier moved somewhat cunningly, but it was still around weak Grade 3... And so far, the monsters in this floor aren't much of a threat either. However...'
Reflecting on the kids' fighting today, Nanami considered a certain training regimen, but, 'It will be quite harsh... I should discuss it with Meld-san first.'
Then, as they ascended the stairs back, a strong light came down the stairway from above. Wondering what was happening, the three ran up.
Nanami shouted, "What's happening?!"
"Huh?! Kent–" Meld's voice echoed in response, before coming to an abrupt silence.
A magic circle, similar to the one that brought them to this world, appeared at the feet of everyone on the 20th floor. All of them, including those who had been trying to escape, were enveloped in a white light.
When the light faded, everyone had vanished...
"That was teleportation magic!" Mard exclaimed as they reached the 20th floor.
"Damn!! That's it!! It was definitely that Glanz Crystal..." Parnes cursed, pointing at the crystal on the crumbled wall, "There must have been a trap on it... Sh*t!! What were they even doing?! They had the Fair Scope with them, and they didn't even use it?!"
Nanami immediately touched the crystal as well, hoping to trigger the teleportation again, but...
"It's no use," he realized.
The trap had already been activated, and it was now just an ordinary crystal.
"It's undoubtedly teleportation magic. Judging from past records, they've probably been transferred to a floor considerably lower than here," Mard stated.
"I see," Nanami nodded, then he instructed the two, "Parnes-san, please cast protection spells on me and head back to the surface with Mard-san. I need you to request reinforcements and a medical team. I will continue descending from here."
Parnes protested, "That's too dangerous!! Moreover, considering past records, it's highly likely they are on a floor below the 47th, which is the last floor that has been fully mapped. So finding where they are..."
"I can tell," Nanami interrupted.
At his words, the two tilted their heads in confusion, "Huh?"
"The magical traces of the trap on this crystal... you could call it residual traces. I can perceive that. Following that flow should lead me there, more or less."
They were astonished that he could detect such things. If what he said was true, following the flow would really lead him to them. But the two were anxious; the lower one went, the stronger the monsters became, and protection spells wouldn't last long.
"Their lives are important to you too, right? Please believe in me," Nanami urged.
Though they hadn't spent that much time together, knowing Nanami's status and strength, the two decided to trust him.
""May fortune favor your blade,"" they said together.
After Parnes cast the spells on Nanami, the two headed headed up, and Nanami turned back to descend the stairs.
He muttered, "Now then, I better get going."
———— ——— ——— ———
Note:-
From here on, original settings will start appearing little by little.
Original Characters:
- Parnes
- Mard