The Academy’s Labyrinth (5)
“It’s the Headmaster’s doings?”
“Eeh. It is my guess though”
In the morning of the fourth day, I talk about the matter that came to my mind yesterday while eating breakfast. What came to my mind was; the fact that maybe Shishou is fiddling with the workings of the labyrinth.
I’ve heard about the labyrinth every now and then thus far, but there haven’t been any strong monsters like the Orc King yesterday that appeared in the labyrinth thus far. Even if they’re strong, the highest they went was A Rank. Besides, the location they appeared was on the fifth floor as the Boss, and yet it appeared as an irregular yesterday.
“I wonder, maybe she circulated the Magic Power that would originally appear as ordinary monsters to the boss? I heard all kinds of things when I talked to Shishou before coming here, and she sounded like she’s acquainted with the person who created this labyrinth”
“……I see. In that case”
“There ought to be some kind of monster on the fifth floor as well”
“I got it. Let’s proceed with that in mind. We have to proceed regardless, so there’s nothing we can do about it even if we dwell on it. Just knowing that there’s something like that around is more than enough”
That’s true as well. Everybody else also nods to President Marina’s words. However,I didn’t talk about why Shishou fiddled with it. From what I think, it’s probably because I came. That’s the only thing I can find if I have to say the difference between the labyrinth clearances thus far.
While thinking about something like that, we each eat our breakfast, and us guys put away the tents that we pitched for camping. At that time
“……Leivelt”
Vice President Brook spoke to me. That’s rare. Even though he usually only speaks to me after a fight; I wonder what’s the matter. After all, Berg-san is smirking at the back.
“Uーh, what is the matter?”
When I ask Vice President Brook, Vice President Brook looks around like he’s having a hard time getting his words out. He then took a deep breath, perhaps having resolved himself,
“I am sorry”
and bowed. ……eh? Why?
“I had been insulting you the whole time, saying that you’re useless. ……it looks like I was way more useless. We’d have probably died if you weren’t around yesterday. Thanks”
And then he left. I didn’t even have the time to say anything.
“Well, forgive him. That fellow has plenty on his mind as well”
While saying and cackling, Berg-san goes back to putting away the tents. Well, I wasn’t particularly bothered by it, so it’s fine though.
Besides, I think it’s my fault this time around. It’d be the same old labyrinth had I not come along, and everybody in the Student Council would’ve probably cleared it. Well, there might be Shishou’s intention of training in it as well though.
“Haa, Haa”
“……”
The gaze from behind hurts. I turn around and over there,
“Are we doing it!”
“……we are not doing it”
a bloodshot eyes Mewcrowl-san was standing. ……while holding down on her lower body with her right hand. And when I reject her, she makes a terribly dejected look. Even if you make a face like that to me…….
“Don’t say something like that. I’ve been aching helplessly since yesterday. So……”
Mewcrowl-san says and extends her hands out at me. She’s like a zombie, extending her hands out and walking wobblily. ……you’re drooling, you know.
“Ah! Mewcrowl! You’re coming onto Lei again!”
Aerith showed up just at the right time over there. She steps in between Mewcrowl-san, who approaches, trying to grab me, and me, and intimidates Mewcrowl-san.
“Don’t be so obstinate, Aerith. Just the tip, alright?”
I don’t think that’s normally something that comes out a woman’s mouth though. Despite such things happening, we, who finished putting away the tents, went down the stairs and arrived at the final floor, the fifth floor.
◇◇◇
“……not a single monster is appearing?”
“Why aren’t there any! Even though I was planning to vent!”
President Marina raises a curious voice and Mewcrowl-san raises a disgruntled voice. It seems she’s trying to vent her anguish of being left untouched by defeating monsters. It’s better than being watched by her bloodshot eyes.
President Marina and Mewcrowl-san raised their voices because it has almost been an hour since we came down to the fifth floor, and not a single monster has appeared. All we can hear is our footsteps. This quietness feels needlessly ominous.
“As I thought, is it exactly as what Lei said?”
Aerith tilts her head, but nobody answers her regarding that. It’s because nobody can answer.
But, if monsters are not appearing to this extent, I wonder if the Magic Power of the ordinary monsters that were supposed to appear on the fifth floor, is all being circulated to the boss?
If that’s the case, isn’t something worse than the fourth floor’s Orc King’s subspecies going to appear?
We walk for about another hour while I’m thinking of that.
“This is the final room huh”
As I thought, we ended up arriving at the final location without encountering even a single monster. It seems that originally, the last boss is here, and the inner room opens when it’s defeated. It seems the teleportation circle for leaving this labyrinth is there.
“We will walk in front. Please follow behind us”
Vice President Book says and proceeds; followed by Berg-san and Aerith. I follow along as well, and President Marina and Mewcrowl-san follow behind. And when we go inside
“”””GAaaaaaAA!””””
In the place that’s roughly as spacious as the Tokyo Dome, there was a considerable number of Ogres. I guess they number at about 200?
But, it’s different from having 200 goblins or Orcs. It takes more or less ten goblins to take on an Ogre. If I take into consideration that ten of them can take it on, not defeat it, then this is quite bad.
Furthermore, amongst the Ogres, which generally have grey skin, some have crimson skin. Subspecies again huh. And then at the very back
“GURURUu”
there was an Ogre that’s entirely black from head to toe, shouldering a preposterously large battle-axe that resembles one that an executioner uses, and standing there. Receiving a blow from something like that will end up decimating the body.
“……there’s only one thing we can do huh”
President Marina mutters with a shaky voice. And then
“Chaos Inferno!”
It’s the same Magic that Aerith used during the goblin subjugation at the Baron territory. A pillar of black flame arises at the centre of the open space. It’s quite powerful, but it only managed to defeat about 10 of them. Although the Ogres that were around and were dragged in have burns, they weren’t fatal.
And then the black Ogre that noticed our existence points its battle-axe in our direction and shouts. The Ogres that were around also look in our direction and start running.
“I will protect the President!”
“I’m getting pumped up!”
“Lei! Let’s go to the dormitory after this is over!”
“Not on my watch!”
……they don’t have any sense of nervousness. However, it’s easier like this. I look in President Marina’s direction
“Let’s clear it, President Marina”
and smile. President Marina also looks in my direction and nods. The goal is 40 Ogres per person!
