"All right! Starting this afternoon—we're heading into the Great Labyrinth!"
After covering monsters, I taught basic explorer mindset and role concepts until noon.
"Huh—really...?"
"Yeah. Education's fully delegated to me. Sitting in lectures all day from the start would bore you—and you want to move your bodies, right? To decide future direction—I need to see your real strength again."
I planned to let them eat lunch in the dining hall—but instructed small portions.
When they asked if I wasn't eating—I said I'd have my portable rations, so it's fine.
They got curious about the rations—so we all ate them together.
My rations prioritized nutrition over taste.
I'd improved them to "not bad"—but definitely not delicious.
All three froze the moment they tasted it.
"What is this?! It doesn't taste—mmph!"
"It's delicious, Master! To make something like this—you're amazing!"
Caroline tried honest feedback—Logan covered her mouth to salvage it.
"Pfft! You'll die!"
"Haha... I know the taste is meh—no need to force it. Want to switch to dining hall food now?"
"N-No! We can't waste what you gave us!"
Not just Logan—the other two insisted on finishing too.
No need to push yourselves here...
◇
After lunch—we arrived at the 11th floor of the Great Labyrinth.
"Now—each of you fights solo. Show me how far you can go alone. If anything goes wrong—I'll protect you absolutely. Give it everything. Also—wear this necklace around your neck during fights."
Solo vs. trio—monsters would likely target the trio.
So I had them wear the necklace I'd used against the black dragon.
First up—Sophie.
Opponent: five slimes.
"Sophie—good luck!"
"Here I go! ...**Fire Arrow**!"
Slimes rank among the weakest monsters.
Still—high physical resistance, tiny hard-to-spot core in the center.
Newbie swordsmen struggle.
But Sophie was a mage.
Five slimes—no problem.
She chose **Fire Arrow**—mid-tier fire spell, slime weakness.
She calmly kept distance as they approached.
Maintained safe range—took them down one by one.
Parallel construction would speed it up—but for a newbie, spell choice and positioning were solid.
Definitely teach her parallel construction next.
◇
Next—Log's fight.
Opponent: four goblins.
As enchanter—ideally, Log should focus on buff management, not attacking.
But with only three members—he had to contribute offense.
Wish we had a newbie who could keep up with these three...
Log instantly cast **Rock Needle** and **Fire Arrow**—turning goblins to stones.
Confirmed it again.
Log could parallel construct.
Exploration Management taught basics—not upper-rank skills like parallel.
So—self-taught? Or learned from someone?
Either way—reaching parallel at his age...
Logan had attitude issues—but his explorer skill was already fine.
What to teach him next...
◇
Finally—Carol's turn.
Opponent: two white wolves.
White wolves—fast, powerful bites.
Carol—as always—stuck close, dodging while countering with daggers.
Definitely suited for frontline attacker.
As my student—I won't let her become evasion-tank defender (highest death rate).
Too risky.
But currently—no one else can frontline.
Party without defender—fatal.
For now—forced into it. But only until mid-layers.
Lower floors—she switches to attacker.
Need a defender who can keep up with these three.
Carol toyed with one wolf—slashing while dodging.
Focused on one—left her back open to the second.
"Danger!"
Sophie cried out.
I instantly built and triggered **Reflective Wall**.
Gray semi-transparent barrier.
The wolf hit it—flew backward.
I tripled **Agility Up**—closed instantly.
Mid-air wolf—defenseless.
I bisected it.
◇
"Carol—fighting solo means watch your surroundings too?"
I cautioned—careful not to sound too harsh.
"Hmm? I knew it was coming from behind. That's why I left my back open."
...What?
"How? That could've seriously hurt you?"
"Hmm? I don't get hurt."
Conversation not aligning.
She casually slashed her wrist with her dagger.
Blood flowed heavily.
...Huh?
Momentary confusion—then I started building **Heal**.
But before I finished—the wound closed rapidly.
(What the...?)
"Here's my ability. Any injury—heals instantly! I can't die! I'm used to pain—no worries!"
She beamed—full smile.
No way that's reassuring!!
This kid's too unbalanced.
Can't take it slow anymore.
This ability explains her reckless charges.
Skewed thinking + this ability.
Need to correct that mindset fast...
Thanks f