The Academy’s Labyrinth (1)
“……an escort request for me?”
“Eeh. There are still a couple of days before the Prince of Celia comes, right? Until then is fine. I plan to return by then as well after all”
It’s the midst of the 11th month; when the sun sets earlier and the night becomes longer. It’ll be the winter break in about two weeks, and there’s a calm mood in the air of the academy.
A week has passed since I last went to the mansion. Marco has also already departed the Royal Capital. We also went to meet and sent him off before his departure.
It appears that Arabella-neesan will stay behind in the Royal Capital. Rather, it’s more like Marco made her stay behind. Arabella-neesan was looking sorrowfully at the carriage Marco rode.
He probably didn’t want to bring her to a battlefield. I understand those feelings so I couldn’t say anything.
Amidst the slightly gloomy days, today, right when the lessons finished and I was about to go home, Aerith turned up in the classroom and summoned me; to the Student Council Office.
And then it returns to the conversation just now.
“But why me? If it is an escort, there are the Royal Palace’s Imperial Guards, as well as others, no?”
“There’s no way I can use the country’s soldiers for personal affairs, right? Furthermore, it’s completely private this time around”
“In that case, how about going with the Student Council’s people during winter break?”
“There’s nobody in this academy who’s more capable than you, right? Well, it looks like everybody else don’t quite agree though”
She says and glances to her right. A bespectacled man, Brook・Koelmilly, was standing over there. This academy’s Student Council has the Student Council President at the top; two Vice-Presidents; and the Treasurer, Secretary, and General Affairs each have several people. It’s a council with about 20 people in total.
As a general rule, one has to be a second-year student or above to enter the Student Council; other than me, everybody here is an upper-classman. On top of that, other than Aerith, President Marina and several people, the rest are directing gazes that are filled with something close to killing intent at me. ……did I do something?
“President! As I thought, let us go by ourselves without relying on a man like this! Coddling the Hero will just get in our way!”
“Brook! I won’t forgive you if you insult Lei! You don’t even know Lei’s capabilities!”
Aerith, who’s on the opposite side, snaps when that Vice-President Brook criticises me. Both of them then glare at each other. They dislike each other that much huh.
“Brook. This is a decided matter. I will have him accompany us. The members are me, Brook, Aerith, Mewcroul, and Berg. Including you, Lei, we’ll go with the 6 of us.
The Headmaster also said that it’s not a problem since the Student Council probably has pretty much no work around this time and gave me permission. I’ll have the remaining members stay behind though; I’ll be counting on you on the other duties, alright”
“””Yes!”””
Somehow, it has been decided before I know it though…….
“Come to think of it, what are we doing?”
I didn’t know the objective so I asked and
“About that……”
◇◇◇
“A dungeon only the Student Council can challenge huh~”
The next day, I turned up before the unique labyrinth that’s used for the competition previously. It’s a labyrinth that one of the originators of this academy created, but it seems out of playfulness, (s)he created a dungeon that only the Student Council can challenge. It seems it can be challenged once a year, at this end-of-year period.
It seems the reason that it’s once a year is related to the Magic Power. Well, it seems quite a significant amount of Magic Power is required to create the labyrinth, manifest monsters inside, and teleport us just in case something happens; it’s at the end of the year that the Magic Power accumulates. It seems there are various kinds of monsters as well.
“But I wonder how it’s manifesting the monsters?”
“By creating their shapes through Magic Power”
“Shishou”
As I’m muttering by myself, Shishou turned up from behind.
“It’s because after all is said and done, that weirdo thinks about the children. (S)he thought that if by any chance something happens, one just have to stop the Magic Power’s supply; (s)he thought that if that’s the case then (s)he just has to create everything through Magic Power. The result of that is this labyrinth. Well, to that extent, quite a significant amount of Magic Power is required to enter each time though”
‘Well, I don’t really know the details about it though’, Shishou says and laughs. Rather, judging from the way she speaks just now, Shishou is acquainted with that originator huh.
As I’m talking to Shishou in such a manner
“You’re early huh, Lei”
the Student Council’s members turned up. At the back is Aerith; Brook; Mewcroul, a bow-carrying green-haired elf girl; and the guy called Berg. Vice President Brook is glaring at me though.
“You’re here huh, Marina. Are you prepared?”
“Of course. Our generation will clear it for you to see”
This unique labyrinth takes place every year, but it seems it hasn’t been cleared in recent years. The last time it was cleared was Alexia’s generation 3 years ago. As one would expect huh.
“The boss during Alexia’s run was the Attribute Golem, was it? Its attribute is Fire”
That’s another bothersome monster huh. If I’m not wrong, it’s an A-Rank monster with a large, sturdy body that comes close to 3 metres. Furthermore, it’s affixed with various kinds of attributes, if I remember correctly. It’s a troublesome monster because the method to deal with it differs depending on its attribute. Well, I guess Alexia would’ve ended up cutting it up.
“So are you ready? Well, you can come back even if you die, so take it easy. Alright then, hold hands”
Although it’s true, I wish you didn’t say that. Of course, I don’t intend to die though. Like the time during the competition, we held hands, so we don’t get separated. It’s just that
“……President Marina?”
Aerith is holding my right hand. Which is fine, but President Marina is holding my left hand. And then
“Pre, President! Why are you holding hands with that man! Please hold hands with Aerith and Mewcroul at least!”
Vice President Brook gets angry. Well, this is the one time that I agree with Vice President Brook though.
“It doesn’t matter who I hold hands with, does it. Alright, we’re going”
However, President Marina didn’t look especially bothered by it, and we carried on to enter the labyrinth. I feel uneasy about our destination.
