Chapter 2: The Labyrinth Trial

It was the second day of school and lectures were proceeding smoothly. Sain and his classmates listened intently to their teacher, diligently transcribing her every word into their notebooks. The topic of the day was instrumentology: The study of weapons, armor, and items used as catalysts for magic.

“By the way, everyone, have you ever thought about what the strongest weapon is?” Elina asked.

A studious-looking boy in the front row raised his hand.

“I think it’s either the holy sword or the doom sword.”

“Correct.”

Elina flipped a page on her textbook, and the students followed suit.

“The holy sword refers to the blade that received the blessings of Her Holiness, and the doom sword to the blade blessed by His Holiness. There exists a widespread misconception that these can only be bestowed upon us by the gods, but the truth is that these weapons can in fact be crafted by the hand of man. In particular, research into the holy sword has been progressing...”

“—Hm?”

Elina continued her explanation, but Sain’s note-taking hand no longer scrawled across the page.

“Maid.”

“Yes?”

“That doesn’t sound like the holy sword I know of.”

“It sure doesn’t. I was wondering about that too, actually.”

It seemed he wasn’t the only one who had some doubts about what he was hearing.

“Would you like to share your conversation with the class?”

Their focus was pulled back to the front of the room where Elina stood, fixing the two with an intimidating glare.

“Teacher, I have a question. It appears that the holy sword I know and the holy sword you know aren’t the same. Does the concept of the holy sword differ between regions and races?”

His sudden question seemed to take Elina by surprise, as her eyes widened a little.

“...Now that you mention it, you transferred in from the Holy Kingdom of Lightridge, right? Okay, then let’s spend a little more time talking about the holy sword. To put it simply, your understanding of the term does indeed depend on where you come from. The idea that these swords can be forged by mankind is dependent on non-religious definitions; if you believe in Vicitaelism, for example, then you would only recognize the blade bestowed by Her Holiness as the holy sword. So, under this criteria, you wouldn’t call a man-made weapon the holy sword, even if it did receive her blessing. Since Vicitaelism is the state religion of Lightridge, it’s likely everyone there has the same perception.”

Sain nodded in silent agreement. In the Holy Kingdom of Lightridge, calling a man-made weapon the holy sword was a blasphemous act.

“On that note, I believe the current holy knight comes from Lightridge.”

“Ha-wha—?!”

This time, Sain was the one taken by surprise. In his panic, he had managed to conjure no more than a nonsensical cry.

“You’ve probably met him before, haven’t you?”

“N-N-No, I haven’t! Nope! Never seen the guy!”

Despite his excessively panicked reaction earning him a suspicious glance from Elina, she didn’t pry any further. Meanwhile, their exchange had caused a wave of hushed commotion to spread through the classroom, as students fervently shared rumors of the esteemed holy knight.

“You know the holy knight’s supposed to be the same age as us?”

“You serious? Someone who’s saved the world a bunch of times is our age? Man, talk about living in a different world.”

“Yeah, because he’s there, Lightridge doesn’t get attacked by anyone. And monsters stay away from them, too. He’s like a symbol of peace.”

“Well, he is the strongest knight in the world. Would you really go pick a fight with the guy?”

“Man, I wish I was like that.”

Sain could feel his skin crawl more with each successive statement.

“Ms. Elina, who’s stronger? The holy knight or the dark knight?”

“Hm... That’s a tough question. It’s widely known that the two knights are a paired existence, equal and opposite. What isn’t really made public, however, is what kind of powers they actually have. What we do know is that the holy knight is the highest ranking lightkind, and the dark knight is the highest ranking darkkind. You’ve already learned about affinities between elements, yes? Can anyone tell me how the relationship between light and darkness works?”

“Um, they’re weak to each other. Their powers cancel one another out.”

“That’s correct. The powers of the two knights follow this same principle as well. The inherent properties of light and dark magic mean their effects would be nullified. Therefore... should the two knights ever attack each other, both of their attacks would be negated.”

“So, the fight would never end?”

“If they were equal in strength, I suppose so.”

The student who’d asked the question nodded, having seemingly grasped the concept.

“The holy sword and doom sword bestowed upon us by the gods are one of a kind, and are currently in the possession of the holy knight and dark knight, respectively. The ones created artificially, on the other hand, are much more prevalent. Technically, they’re under the control of the state, but their possession and use isn’t heavily regulated. Considering a couple of the swords produced in ancient times have already gone missing, it’s clear that they’re not always under state supervision. Furthermore, these man-made alternatives vary greatly in terms of quality. Both represent the strongest weapons there are, but remember that only a small handful are truly exceptional.

“Ah, by the way—I should mention that, under permission from the Kingdom of Loribania, Jenifa Royal Magic Academy is, in fact, keeping a few holy and doom swords within its premises. This has been done to stimulate a sense of competition among the students. They’ve been placed in various spots throughout the labyrinth, and it’s finders keepers, so we encourage you to try your hand at finding them.”

While Elina spoke of the labyrinth in a fairly casual tone, traversing it was anything but. To take on its challenge was to put one’s life at risk. Labyrinths were, in a nutshell, the lairs of monsters. They had existed since time immemorial, and were terrifyingly threatening structures that continuously and endlessly spawned savage beasts. Normally, these monsters would spend their entire lives within the labyrinth, but when their numbers grew too large, it wasn’t uncommon for some to overflow into the outside world. In order to prevent this from happening, people would occasionally be sent inside to curb their numbers.

Labyrinths were, without a doubt, dangerous areas for humans to enter. Some cunning monsters were even capable of laying deadly traps to catch less experienced intruders unawares.

But what made that danger worth facing was the opportunity to reap significant reward. As the headmaster had described during the entrance ceremony, a variety of resources lay hidden within the depths of a labyrinth. Defeating monsters yielded valuable materials; oftentimes, monster essences could be extracted from the minerals and plants that dotted their walls, and some of these resources could only be found within labyrinths. As a result, they had become an accepted part of modern society.

Regardless, that did not make them any safer, and they were certainly not playgrounds for students.

Sain wore a difficult frown as he considered the implications of venturing into the labyrinth. His classmates, however, seemed less concerned, and another hand shot up.

“Ms. Elina, what about the sword in the labyrinth? What’s it like?”

“Let me think... I believe the one placed most recently was a holy sword that strengthens light magic.”

Elina had barely finished her sentence when a wide-eyed Alicia leapt to her feet.

“Alicia? Is something wrong?”

“Oh! Um... No. Sorry.”

Having been showered by gazes, she timidly sat back down. Her hands, however, were balled into tight fists.

+ + +

“Sain! We’re going to find that holy sword!”

“...I knew you’d say that.”

While Alicia was excitedly announcing her intent, Sain’s face was twisted as though he’d bit into something very bitter.

“You heard, right? About the holy sword in the labyrinth? She said it strengthens light magic! If I can get my hands on that, I might be able to use light magic!”

Sain was glad to see this enthusiasm in her; he appreciated the sight of her chasing single-mindedly after her dream. Yet, despite that, he couldn’t bring himself to go along with her plan.

“Miss Gold, I know you don’t want to hear this, but... Count me out.”

“Why?!”

“Because I have no interest in it whatsoever! I refuse to spend my time looking for a freakin’ holy sword!” Sain yelled. All that talk during the lecture had left him rather disgruntled, and he couldn’t help but take the opportunity to vent some frustration. To him, holy swords were anathema. He wanted nothing to do with them, so the thought of going hunting for one was absolutely out of the question.

“Uh-huh... Oh, I get it. You’re scared, aren’t you?”

“...That’s not true.”

“Then what?”

“...Hmph. It’s none of your business.”

Sain’s secretive attitude caused Alicia to scowl.

“Seriously? After getting me excited with all that pep talk, you’re just going to walk away?”

“Gah! Okay, that’s true...”

Admittedly, she had a point. He had cheered her on just the other day. It was perhaps a tad irresponsible of him, but circumstances were circumstances—and his were especially prohibitive.

“Okay, first of all, why are you even asking me? You’re from here! Go ask one of your other friends!”

“Th-That’s because I figured you were lonely! I-It’s not like you have any friends either!”

“Wh-What? I-I’m not lonely! Who said I’m lon— Wait, did you just say ‘either’?”

“Huh? U-Uh, no? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“...Hah, I see what’s going on. You’re lonely, too.”

“Aha! You said ‘too’! I heard you loud and clear! Which means you’re also a loner! Mm-hm-hm. But, don’t worry. I’m a loner, too!”

“Gah! Stop making it sound like a shared interest! We’re not loneliness buddies, okay? I chose to embrace my solitude!”

“Oh, so we’re not buddies now? What happened to us being two of a kind, huh?”

“I didn’t mean it like that!”

Their battle of words grew more heated with each pointed comeback. Ultimately, it was the realization they’d become the focus of a steadily growing audience that put a stop to their argument. Breaking out in a cold sweat, they both looked at each other.

“...Let’s take this somewhere else.”

“...Fine.”

As they looked for an area away from the prying eyes, Sain felt the haze of ire clear from his mind, and he broached the topic again in a calmer tone.

“Look, my point is, I’m not going. And it’s not because I’m scared. Holy swords and me, we’re like water and oil. We don’t mix well. ...In fact, it’s worse than that. We’re more like fire and oil. If I even go near them, my seals will break.”

“...Seals? What are you talking about?”

“Hmph. And, at last, we’ve come to this topic. You see, sealed within my soul is a forbidden—”

“Hey, Melia. What’s he talking about?”

“Probably one of his past traumas. Like the time he—”

“Stuff happened, okay?! Just... stuff happened. And let’s leave it at that,” urged a flustered Sain, who sensed that Melia was about to get a little too specific.

“Basically, Master Sain’s allergic to holy swords. If he touches or gets close to one, all sorts of things happen to his body.”

“Geez, what kind of weird condition is that? Ugh, whatever. Fine. I get that you don’t want to go. But, still, you’re the only one I can ask. Please?”

“No. There’s nothing in it for me.”

“Pretty please?”

“Absolutely not!”

“Please! Just do me this one favor! I’ll owe you for life!”

“No means no!”

No matter how much Alicia continued to grovel, Sain refused to budge. Upon realizing her attempts were having little effect, she paused, deep in thought.

“...Hey, didn’t you say you’re trying to become the dark knight?”

“Yeah? What about it?”

“Don’t you want a doom sword, then?”

“Huh?”

Despite having resolved to refute her efforts mere moments ago, the words “doom sword” caused Sain to perk up.

“You heard Ms. Elina, right? It’s not just holy swords in the labyrinth. There are doom swords, too. I’m after the holy swords, but, you know... There’s no guarantee we’ll find what I want, right? What if we happened to come across a doom sword in the process?”

“Hnngh... Hnnnnnnnngh!”

“If there’s a holy sword that strengthens light magic, then there might be a doom sword that strengthens dark magic, right? The doom sword is a symbol of the dark knight, after all. It seems like a good opportunity for you, in my opinion.”

“Y-You do have a point...”

Alicia was absolutely right. For Sain, who was cripplingly incompetent when it came to dark magic, such an item would be a godsend—almost literally.

“Also, artificial holy and doom swords are apparently made with pretty similar materials, and the crafting process isn’t all that different, either. I heard that a skilled blacksmith can take one and reforge it into the other.”

“Seriously?!” cried Sain in a voice so loud it actually startled Alicia.

“Y-Yeah,” she nodded; “I’ve looked into holy swords a few times before, so I’m pretty sure.”

“How could I have not known about this! I’m a fool...”

Sain shook with frustration at his own ignorance. But then, he stopped. His frown became one of contemplation rather than anger.

“Wait a minute... Let’s calm down and work through the logic here... There’s no way I could be lacking in knowledge about holy swords. Man-made or god-made, as long as it’s holy, it’s my turf. Which means...” Without warning, he launched into a loud and impassioned tirade. “That goddess! She kept it a secret from me on purpose! Gyeeeeeeeeh! Unforgivable! That damn woman and her shady ways! The lengths she’d go to to keep me from becoming a dark knight!”

“...Hey, Melia, your master is a total weirdo.”

“Don’t hold it against him. He’s sort of this”—she twirled an extended index finger through the air—“in the head.”

Sain’s angry ranting continued while the two girls tattled about him. He didn’t seem to hear them, nor did he seem to notice the weird glances he was getting from everyone nearby.

Suddenly, his cries had stopped, and he produced a book from seemingly nowhere. Carved into its deep green cover was the shape of a cross. He flipped aggressively through it, looked up, and started shouting again.

“It’s... It’s not even in the bible! So much for signposts! It’s got none of the stuff that I actually need to know! Gah! Stupid book! I’m gonna rip you to shreds!”

“Ah— Master Sain, that might be going a little too far.”

“Silence, maid! All who stand in my path shall meet their end by my hands!”

“If you rip up the bible, the only one who’s going to meet their end is you.”

“I don’t care! Maybe this’ll teach that damn woman to behave! Let’s see what she does if I— Ow! What the—? Hot! It’s so hot! Why is it turning so hot?! Gah! Hnnngh... Damn you, goddess! I know you’re watching! Damn youuuuuuuu!”

Sain slammed the book down as he yelled up at the sky. The book, now red hot, hit the ground amidst a cloud of steam, bounced, and melted into the air. A heavy silence fell upon the room, broken only by his intermittent gasps for air.

It was only once he’d caught his breath that he turned to a flabbergasted Alicia.

“...You see, this is the kind of tragedy that happens to me when I’m around holy swords.”

“Uh, I’m pretty sure none of that had anything to do with holy—”

“Anyway! If you don’t mind more mishaps like this, then I’d be glad to accompany you. I won’t touch any holy swords, but I’ll help you look for them. Like you said... I do want a doom sword.”

“Well, thanks for making me a lot less sure that bringing you along is a good idea... Still, you’re all I’ve got. Let’s do this. I need a pretty specific holy sword, so if we find one that’s not quite right for me, you can have it. In return, you’ll do everything you can to help me look for it. Agreed?”

“Agreed! Just leave it to me!”

Sain pounded his chest in a show of reassurance, but the gesture only caused Alicia to eye him even more suspiciously. Her lack of friends, however, left her with no choice but to rely on him. Their newfound alliance was built more on circumstance than any kind of goodwill.

After concluding their discussion, the three headed back to class. On the way there, Sain looked up at the sky with an oddly pleading expression and said, “Just so we’re clear, I want a doom sword. Not a holy sword, okay? A doom sword.”

“Who are you talking to?”

Sain was, of course, speaking to a certain woman whose excessive worrying had recently taken on a tinge of jealousy.

+ + +

Having resolved to explore the labyrinth, Sain and the girls moved quickly to prepare.

“First, the shopping trip!” declared an energetic Alicia once class had ended.

Labyrinths were swarmed not only with ferocious monsters, but also lethal traps. While the one owned by the academy was of a more student-friendly difficulty, the risk of death was nonetheless present.

Even so, the three headed to the nearby town to purchase necessary supplies.

“So, what are we looking for here?”

“Well, pretty much everything you need to explore a labyrinth. Maps we can get from the academy, so that leaves medicines and weapons and stuff. If we have some extra cash, I wouldn’t mind getting some monster traps as well.”

“A-Ah, yes, of course. Maps and... um, stuff. I knew that.”

“...Did you really?”

“...I’m sorry. I lied. I have no idea what I’m doing. I’ve never actually explored a labyrinth before.”

“Oh, come on. How old are you again? That’s just pure laziness now. You’d better step it up if you want to become the dark knight.”

Though Sain hung his head in shame, his confession wasn’t entirely true. He’d explored labyrinths, just never properly. Improperly—that is, by cheating—he’d done it too many times to count, but taking the time to explain just didn’t seem worthwhile.

“Oh, by the way, what weapon do you use, Sain? A sword?”

“Hm? Yes, how did you know?”

“I figured as much because you had a sword with you when you put on that get-up of yours during the magical assessment.”

“Oh, actually, that sword is ornamental. It can’t be used in combat.”

“At least hold a normal sword! Geez! No wonder it looked so bulky...”

Alicia let out the kind of heavy sigh that tended to come after a long day of soul-draining work. Then, with tired eyes, she looked to Melia.

“And you? Any weapon preferences?”

“Mmm, I can use pretty much anything with a sharp edge. For the record, this is what I’m using right now.”

She reached behind her skirt and pulled out a dagger. It was cheap and mass-produced, but it was also one of the many she always carried on her.

“All right... Melia’s also good at magic, so she can handle either the front or back. I don’t have weapons since I only fight with magic, so I’m probably better off as the rearguard.”

“That means I’ll be in the front, then. Understood. With that said, my repertoire is pretty thin when it comes to decisive blows, so I’ll be counting on you to finish the job. My speciality is support, so I’ll handle things like stalling or confusing the enemy.”

“Got it.”

After working out how she was going to coordinate with Melia, Alicia turned to Sain.

“And you,” she said in a dull tone. “You’re moral support.”

“Okay, now that’s just being mean.”

“I’m kidding. You two are all I’ve got, after all. I’m going to need you to scout for us.”

“Scouting, you say... So, my job is to preemptively investigate the terrain and determine the enemy’s numbers. Very well, then.”

“Can you handle it?”

“Of course I can. There is no job I can’t handle. I shall be the perfect scout.”

As usual, Alicia eyed him with doubt, and as usual, this didn’t stop Sain from brazenly pushing out his chest.

“Hm? ...Wait a minute.” Remembering their conversation in the cafeteria, Sain continued with some hesitance. “Miss Gold, is your magic, uh... you know, going to be useful in the labyrinth?”

It occurred to him that Alicia’s fire magic, despite its intimidating appearance, was incapable of burning anything. Intimidating was literally all it could do.

“Don’t worry. My magic works on monsters.”

“What?”

“Don’t ask me why, but it burns monsters fine.” Alicia raised her shoulders into a shrug. “So don’t worry. Unless you get into a scuffle with people, that is. Then I can’t help you.”

Sain scratched his chin. He was aware he was less informed than his peers, so he turned to Melia with a quizzical look, as if urging her to take the lead. Melia shook her head.

“Now, let’s go buy Sain his weapon.”

Alicia led the two into a store. At the top of the doorway was a large sign that read “Bresmel Workshop.” As soon as they stepped in, Sain’s eyes lit up.

“W-Wow! So this is a weaponsmith shop!”

“Now that you mention it, this is your first time in a place like this, isn’t it, Master Sain?”

Rows upon rows of weapons were on display, all vying for his attention. It was indeed his first visit to a weaponsmith, and he could barely contain his excitement.

“We’re taking on a tower-shaped labyrinth this time. In general, the hallways and rooms are all pretty big, so assume there are no weapon restrictions. Even if it’s a little big, there’s probably still enough space to swing it around.”

With Alicia’s advice in mind, Sain began to consider his options.

“Hey, Alicia. Welcome.”

A girl waved to them from behind the counter. Her orange hair was held up with a bandana, and her clothes were stained by sweat and soot. Judging by her appearance, she worked here.

Alicia returned a smile.

“Yeah, been a while, Cisca. Get any good weapons in?”

“Some okay ones, I guess. Every year, around this time, the academy and the knights start focusin’ on training their newcomers, so they start cutting off access to monster materials. We still get ores, but sales definitely drop off a bit... By the way, who’re the other two?”

The girl motioned to Sain and Melia.

“Right. So, this is Sain, and this is his attendant, Melia.”

“Oh? Mmm... Pleasure to meet you. I’m Cisca. I’m a blacksmith here.”

“Pleasure’s all mine.”

“Likewise,” Melia droned.

Sain had figured from her appearance that she wasn’t just a pretty face, but, as it turned out, she wasn’t even an apprentice. She was a full-fledged blacksmith, which meant some of the weapons he’d gawked at earlier had probably been crafted by her.

“So, what’s the deal, Alicia? Pretty rare to see you with friends.”

“What?! Th-That’s not true!”

“Oh, it totally is. I mean, up until last year, your only two choices were hanging out with me or being a complete loner.”

“Ahhhhhh! Stop! Don’t say that! And you two, stop listening!” screamed a flustered Alicia.

Sain watched her pityingly.

“I’ve gotta admit, though... What’s that saying again? Birds of a feather stick together? No offence, but your friends are, uh, pretty unique, too... Hey, how’d the two of you get to know her?”

“We met at the academy the other day, and we’ve been with her ever since.”

“Oh, you’re both students at the academy?”

“Hm? Yes. Look at us. What else could we be?”

“Wait... That’s your school uniform?”

Sain nodded as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. It wasn’t, of course, considering how ridiculously customized it was. And it was perhaps a testament to Cisca’s skill as a blacksmith that she managed to notice.

“By the way, are you going to explore the labyrinth in that get-up?” asked Alicia.

“Absolutely.” Sain pulled open his coat slightly and showed her the inside. It was lined with layer upon layer of black, scale-like objects. “This is called a spellbinding coat. Countless fell dragon scales are woven into the lining. They feed on the wearer’s dark energy and amplify its power. Such a coat may only be worn by the chosen, for its powers are too great for the common man. Should those of weak will lay their hands upon it, it could wreak havoc upon their minds and, indeed, their very sanity—”

“Cool. Here, let me see that.”

“Ah! Damn it! Stop, you stupid— I just told you not to touch it!”

“It’s fine. I’ve got plenty of mental fortitude.”

“Lies! You wouldn’t be such a loner if that was true!”

“Huh?! What do you mean?! I— I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

Sain would have told her that was the reaction of someone who had a very good idea of what he was talking about, but before the words could even pass his lips she’d grabbed the coat by the collar and yanked it open. Her fingers traced the lining as she examined its scaly texture.

Seeing that the coat hadn’t wreaked havoc on Alicia’s mind nor her sanity, Cisca edged closer for a look as well.

“Sain, mind if I try feelin’ it too?”

“N-No! Are you people even listening? I just said it’s really dangerous—”

“Oh, c’mon, enough with the posturing. Look, Alicia’s got her hands all over it and she’s fine.”

“S-Stop! I mean it! Don’t touch—”

Sain’s desperate warning fell on deaf ears as Cisca leaned in anyway, hand outstretched. However, just before her fingers touched his coat, she quickly pulled back.

“Whoa. Yikes... You were being serious, huh? This really is some nasty stuff.”

“What are you talking about? Don’t tell me you actually believe him. Half of the stuff that comes out of his mouth is nonsense.”

“No, like, this actually is some dangerous stuff. I’m serious. In fact... I’m surprised you’re okay.”

“Huh? ...Oh, I get it. You saw a chance for a prank and you jumped on it. I’m not falling for that again. I’ve been tricked by you enough times already!”

“No, I’m— Okay, sure, so maybe I’ve had some fun with you in the past, but I’m serious about this.”

“Nope! Not falling for that again! I learn, okay?”

Seeing Alicia’s refusal to believe her, Cisca scratched her head and turned to Sain.

“Hey, Sain, just so I’m sure—You really shouldn’t touch those things, right?”

“Absolutely not. Very few people can handle touching these. But...”

“Okay, can you both stop it with this joke already? It’s not funny.”

“It really isn’t...” said Melia.

Hearing Melia come to her defense, Alicia turned to thank her, only to be shocked by her next words.

“It’s not a joke at all.”

Even Melia, whose face was always a mask of indifference, was wide-eyed with surprise.

“Hey, Cisca! If you’ve got time to yap with customers, come over here and give me a hand!”

A rough male voice rang out from the back of the store.

“Sorry! Comin’!”

Cisca spun round with a start and called back, matching the man’s volume.

“Sorry, I’ve gotta go. Call me when you’ve figured out what weapon you want. Oh, and let’s just say you all get an Alicia discount. Twenty percent off across the board!” Cisca pushed the words out briskly as she scurried to the storeroom, then disappeared from sight.

Sain shot Alicia a sideward glance.

“Close friends, I see.”

“Well, yeah. We’ve known each other since we were in the junior division.”

“Junior division? She’s a student, then?”

“Was a student. She quit last year.”

“Quit?”

“Yeah. Apparently, learning magic was always just one aspect of her blacksmith training. After a while, she said she’d learned enough and the rest was irrelevant. And then she left the academy, just like that.”

“I see... She used the academy as a stepping stone, huh.”

The thought had crossed Sain’s mind as well. He might end up following in Cisca’s footsteps. Apparently, Jenifa’s reputation for having students with unique ideas about career paths was well-deserved.

“Well, let’s not loiter. Come on, time to choose a weapon.”

“Right.”

Sain promptly began trying out weapons. He picked them up one by one and ran them through his usual routine: Feel their weight, swing them around a little, strike an awesome pose or two.

“Miss Gold, I’ve found a few candidates. Do you have any preferences among these?” he said, holding up three swords.

“They’re all black.”

“Mmhm. Aren’t they beautiful? Their blades are as dark as the night sky; a black so deep it could swallow you whole. Ah, it truly is the color that speaks to my soul. So? Which one do you think looks best on me?”

“There’s a difference?”

“Come on, stop messing around!” Sain whined. He was choosing weapons as frivolously as one might pick clothes. The irony was entirely lost on him.

“Well, this one’s pretty expensive. Can you afford it?”

“The weapon I choose I shall be trusting with my life. Money is of no concern.”

“All right, I like how you think. In that case, I recommend this one. It’s not the sharpest, but it looks durable, so a beginner like you can swing it around without having to worry about breaking it.”

“Good point. I had my eye on this one as well. It’s decided, then. This will be my purchase.”

Sain rang the counter bell. Cisca appeared again and, with a practiced motion, pulled the corresponding sheath from a shelf behind her and slid it onto the sword.

“Thank you very much! Come again!”

Once he’d paid, Sain walked out of the store with a satisfied grin. His new sword, black from blade to sheath, glinted with an ominously dark lustre.

“Huh. It’s getting late,” he said, noticing the orange tint of the sky.

“Do you want to grab something to eat before we call it a day?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Neither do I.”

“Good enough for me. Let’s go, then.”

Alicia took the lead, Sain and Melia following behind her. They passed through streets lined with all sorts of general stores until they eventually came to the food district. The sweet aroma of roasted herbs immediately overwhelmed their senses, and their stomachs grumbled in eager anticipation.

After a quick scan of their surroundings, Alicia stepped toward a building where clouds of hot steam drifted from the windows.

“Well, if it ain’t li’l Alicia! Come in and grab a seat!”

A friendly voice from the kitchen greeted them as soon as they stepped inside. Alicia replied in kind, placing herself on an empty seat.

Sain followed suit, slumping into an adjacent chair before noting, “You’re like a minor celebrity around here.”

“During our junior division years, Cisca and I spent a lot of time fooling around in this area. Clearly we made a lasting impression. By the way, this is where I used to work part-time.”

“Oi, Alicia, I’m up to my neck in orders ’ere! You mind givin’ me a hand?”

“The minute I step in! Geez! You’re a real slavedriver, you know that?”

“Gah ha ha! Sorry, but you know how it is! I never have enough hands round ’ere!”

“Then hire some!”

Sain watched quietly as Alicia got up from her seat. Despite the unmissable annoyance in her tone, there was a subtle skip in her step as she hurried off to the kitchen. Along the way, a number of customers and staff smiled and waved in her direction.

“Well, so much for all my worrying...” he mused. “Look at you. You’re loved by plenty of people.”

It was possible that Alicia had never told these people about her background and the Clan of Light. If so, it made their fondness for her all the more significant, all the more genuine, because it suggested there was something else they appreciated about her. Here, she was more than just her magic. While she might be spurned at the academy, she had found a place where she was accepted—where she belonged.

Sain found himself relieved at the thought. After all, she was no longer a stranger. She was someone who shared the same struggles and pursuits.

“Master Sain.”

“What is it?”

“Do you think the labyrinth trip will go smoothly?”

Sain took a sip of water before responding in a whisper:

“You think we’re missing some firepower?”

“Yes... And I’m not sure how much I trust Miss Alicia’s magic, to be honest. I’ve never heard of magic that only works on monsters...”

“Don’t worry. Everything Miss Gold said is true.” Sain held out his left hand; in his palm was a silver, ring-shaped seal. He shook his head at it, a wry smile on his face. “See? It’s broken.”

“...What’s going on? How did you manage to break two in the span of a few days?”

“It’s not because they were faulty, I can tell you that much. Anyway, don’t worry about the seal. I can just ask the headmaster for another replacement. Now, back to the firepower issue. I think we’ll be fine, actually. How smoothly things will go probably depends on how much work you put in, but making it back out in one piece shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Well, if you say so.”

“It might be because of the broken seal, but I caught a glimpse of Miss Gold’s power earlier. I wasn’t able to fully identify it, but she’s definitely from the Clan of Light. My guess is that, because she has an extremely unique power, she hasn’t figured out what it is.”

“...And are you going to help her figure it out?”

Seeing that Sain had fallen silent, she continued.

“Master Sain, do you remember what you told me when we left Lightridge? You told me that my job was to keep an eye on you, and to do everything in my power to stop you if you ever strayed from your path. Miss Alicia’s power... It’s not the kind of thing a normal person would notice she had, right? If you’re not careful about what you say, you’re going to blow your cover.”

“...I know.”

If Sain’s true identity was discovered, his newfound freedom would be greatly restricted. In effect, it would drive a stake through his dream. Melia’s opposition was, in fact, a testament to her loyalty; she was doing exactly what Sain had told her to do.

“It would be sheer arrogance on my part to help her. I’m in no such position right now. Still... She’s my friend, and I want to do something for her. That is my honest wish, and I want to stay true to it.”

Melia rolled her eyes and let out an exhausted sigh, though Sain was certain he’d noticed her lips curl into a smile.

When Alicia returned, she was holding platters of food in her hands. She’d apparently been roped into helping out with everything from kitchen duty to waiting tables.

When the atmosphere eventually settled, the three were finally able to begin their dinner. A little while later, after Alicia had said her goodbyes, the trio left the diner to take a stroll along the river.

A pleasant evening breeze grazed their cheeks.

“Miss Gold,” said Sain, his voice calm, “would you mind showing me some of your light magic?”

The request caught Alicia by surprise. She stared at him for a moment, then turned her eyes to the ground.

“...I don’t want to.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t! Because...” Her expression grew sad. “You’ll just think I’m stupid.”

“Miss Gold, do you think my dream is stupid?”

“I...”

“Okay, look at it this way. Like you said, neither of us have very many friends. So... we have to work together. Let me just take a look. Despite my image, I actually know a thing or two about light magic.”

Sain’s gaze drifted across the river toward the end of his sentence. He didn’t notice, but his words had enticed Alicia into a weak smile.

“Do you? Well... I guess, in that case...”

She slowly turned her palm up and, for a while, nothing happened. Sain waited, fully aware she was still struggling to convince herself. Eventually, she made up her mind, and cast a spell.

“Lighto!”

An orange flame appeared. It glowed with the same hue as the “Flagus” she’d shown during her self-introduction. She wasn’t lying—even when she cast light magic, it ended up becoming fire magic.

The fireball wavered for a moment before disappearing into the wind.

“Well, that’s it... Just like I said, right?” She forced out a dry chuckle; any traces of a smile had faded alongside her flame.

Sain, however, did not reply.

Magic was an aspect of one’s individuality. Two people casting the same spell would produce different results. Her “Lighto” did indeed turn into fire, but it didn’t simply become a “Flagus.” It had too clear of a contour and flashed into existence, almost as though it had been there all along. In addition to that, the flame’s luminance was subdued, and it was dense at the center.

In general, fire magic was best described by the word “intense.” It was inherently an aggressive type of magic. Alicia’s flame, however, was different. It blazed with a firm but tranquil light that almost seemed to shield her with its glow.

“Allow me to give you one piece of advice: Don’t spend any more time on light magic. Stop focusing on it.”

“...What?”

Alicia glared at him, clearly misinterpreting his meaning. He re-explained, still speaking calmly.

“I’m not telling you to give up on light magic altogether. However, at your current stage, it’s meaningless to obsess over it any further. Master your fire magic first. Once you do, your talents will truly come to fruition.”

“...How can you possibly know that?”

Sain shrugged.

“Maybe I don’t. Who knows? I’m just a student, after all. Believe me or don’t, it’s your choice.”

He shot Melia a glance that seemed to say, “Is this careful enough for you?”

She replied in kind, adding a small gesture that Sain read as, “Sure. Feel better now, nice guy?”

His response was a quick grin.

Meanwhile, Alicia was staring at her own hands as if trying to see through them. They were empty now, devoid of even her own light, but his words were still fresh in her mind—that something greater might lie hidden within. For now, she simply had to believe.

“All right. I believe you.” She closed her hands in a small show of resolve. “I don’t care how unlikely it is. If the possibility exists, I’ll go for it.”

She met the two with a smile that was different from before; this time, her eyes were brimming with confidence.

Sain felt a rush of gratitude surge from his chest. It was truly a stroke of fortune that their paths had crossed.

+ + +

It was the first weekend since school had started. On weekdays, students had classes, which was a significant drain on both time and stamina. Weekends were therefore preferable for exploring labyrinths.

Sain and Melia headed to the main school building where they had arranged to meet Alicia.

“Ah, Miss Gold. Were you waiting long?”

The girl turned around at the sound of his voice, her golden locks trailing in an elegant wave behind her. As soon as she saw them, however, the warm smile on her face froze.

“Wh-What the heck are you wearing, Sain?!” she blurted out, wide-eyed with shock.

Compared to the previous day, Sain’s appearance had changed in two ways. The first was his sword, which he now wore on his waist. The pitch-black blade resting in an equally dark sheath swallowed the sun’s rays like a black hole. Alicia knew about the sword, though. She had, after all, been at the store yesterday when they bought it.

The cause of her reaction was the second change. From head to toe—neck, wrists, fingers, ankles, even on the front of his coat—Sain was covered in thick chains. In addition to that, his accessories had increased in both size and number. He’d already jangled like a pouch of coins everywhere he walked, and now he jangled like three.

“Heh. What does it look like I’m wearing?”

“Um... Chains, I’m pretty sure? Like that one going down across your chest.”

“Exactly. And what are chains used for? Restraining untamed beasts. The rest, I assume, is self-explanatory.”

“You assumed wrong.” Alicia turned to Melia. “Translation, please?”

“Master Sain’s into bondage.”

“N-No no no! What’re you talking about?! I don’t have a crazy fetish like that!” Sain shook his head in fervent dismissal. “Damn it, maid! Everything I just said was true, wasn’t it?”

“Well. Technically yes, I suppose.”

Untamed beasts aside, the restraining part was indeed accurate.

“Look, we’re exploring the labyrinth today, right? So I’m wearing sturdier gear than usual. Nothing out of the ordinary about that, right?”

“I don’t know what is ordinary about you to begin with...”

It would be a serious problem if his broken seal streak followed him into the labyrinth, so, as a precaution, he’d prepared an even sturdier set of seals.

“Also, those look pretty heavy. Can you even fight in those with your E-rank stamina?”

“Hah. Let me put your concerns to rest. So long as I have this power... Th-This... power... Hnnnnnngh!”

A series of uncomfortable, constipated grunts followed as Sain strained to demonstrate his power. His breathing grew ragged, and sweat began to bead on his forehead. Eventually, he managed to produce a bolt of darkness in his palm. It was no larger than his thumb.

“Haaa... Haaa... Haaa... Phew. So... As I was saying... I have... this power.”

“...Should I just assume you’re going to be completely useless?”

“No! I told you I’ll be useful, and I will be!”

The two girls rolled their eyes at him, but neither bothered to voice any further doubts. They had both spent enough time around him to know it would likely be futile.

“Anyway, let’s go get permission from the headmaster first.”

The labyrinth was home to all sorts of deadly hazards that could be fatal for the unprepared. In order to ensure students did not expose themselves to excessive danger, they had to first obtain permission from the headmaster.

It was true that the excessively competitive environment fostered by Jenifa Royal Magic Academy bordered on the precarious, but conflating this with a disregard for student well-being would be a misunderstanding. In fact, the reality was quite the opposite. For each group of students who wished to enter the labyrinth, the headmaster would personally gauge their readiness.

Public opinion was split on the system; detractors argued it was an administrative annoyance, while supporters saw it as a necessary peace of mind.

In the main building, at the top of a flight of stairs, they came to the headmaster’s office.

“Excuse me,” Alicia called before opening the door. “My name’s Alicia Remia. I’d like to receive permission to explore the labyrinth, please.”

“Oh ho ho, how diligent. The school year has barely begun and you’re already— Hooooooh?! S-Sir Kni—”

“Gaaaaaaaah! Headmaster!”

“Hoooh?! S-Sain! I meant Sain! That was your name! Oh ho ho, it looks like my memory is still as sharp as ever!”

The two forced a hearty laugh, discreetly wiping the sheen of cold sweat from their foreheads. Had Sain not jumped in mid-sentence, their peaceful relationship as student and headmaster would have come to an abrupt end.

“Now, permission for the labyrinth, was it?”

“Yes! Please!”

Alicia’s brimming enthusiasm was met with an unexpected frown from the headmaster.

“Hm... And you are requesting permission for... the three of you?”

“Yes!”

“Then no.”

“Thank you very— Huh?”

The headmaster’s cadence was so natural it took Alicia a moment to realize she’d been denied.

“Wh-Why?!”

She lunged forward, slamming both hands down on the table. Her outburst, however, elicited no reaction from the headmaster, who continued speaking with a frown.

“Alicia, you’ve been a student at this academy since the junior division. You must know, then, that, in addition to my permission, there is one other item that is required before one can head into the labyrinth.”

The question seemed to perplex the young girl, who directed the headmaster a strange look before responding.

“You need a will.”

“That is correct. Every student who enters the labyrinth must write and submit a will. Therefore, giving you all permission would require I made you all write a will...” He paused and waved Sain to his side, then whispered: “And my head is going to roll if I make you write a will.”

“Hm. I see we both have our difficulties.”

“We do indeed, so I’d appreciate if you were a tad more considerate about such things.”

The headmaster let out a deep sigh and slumped back in his chair.

“I see. My apologies. Regardless, though, I have to enter that labyrinth. If you need a will, then I can write one right now.”

“But—”

“This is why I left my homeland in the first place. To do this. Besides, do you really think it won’t be a problem down the road if I’m the only one who keeps getting denied permission? It’s a rock now or a hard place later. Might as well bite down and get it over with.”

“Hnnnnngh, there are procedures you’re supposed to follow... But fine. I’ll give you permission.”

“Yay! We got permission, Sain!”

“Indeed. Our headmaster is a man who can be reasoned with. Henceforth, I shall refer to him as ‘His Wise Majesty King Kaiser of the Academy.’”

“Please don’t,” grumbled the old man. “I would appreciate it, however, if you explained to me what you plan to do in there. Why the rush?”

“Certainly! We want to find the holy sword!”

“The holy sword? And... you’re going along with this, Sain?”

The headmaster was understandably perplexed, as Sain was the last person he would expect to be looking for holy swords. After all, he could make them on demand.

“What I’m looking for is a doom sword, but I’m also curious about these man-made holy swords.”

It seemed likely to Sain that only holy swords that were man-made to begin with could be reforged into doom swords. The blessing of the goddess, while a potent power, was not something a blacksmith could work with.

“That’s a rather odd thing to be curious about... Oh well.” The headmaster spoke in a conciliatory tone as he pulled three sets of documents from his drawer and placed them on the table. “Anyway, sign here.”

The large “Will” spelled out at the top of the page made the purpose of the documents clear. Alicia seemed completely unfazed, and immediately began filling out the form. Sain, however, hesitated.

“It’s all right. If things get really dicey, I’ll protect you,” Melia reassured him.

“...Not exactly the most encouraging statement, but thanks. I needed that kick up the backside. After all, I’m your master. I can’t be getting cold feet here.”

Encouraged by his attendant’s perfect composure in the face of potentially great risk to life and limb, Sain picked up his pen as well.

A few minutes later, all three had completed their wills.

“Hm. Fair enough. The completion of your wills has been duly noted. Now, take these.” After accepting the documents, the headmaster handed them their labyrinth permits. “Ensure they are not passed to others. They must remain in your possession and your possession alone.”

“Mm. Understood.”

Just as they were about to leave, Sain heard the headmaster call his name.

“Sain, a moment please.”

“What is it, King Kaiser?”

“Let’s stick with ‘headmaster’ for now, all right? Listen... Don’t go too crazy in there, okay? I need that labyrinth for classes, and the budget can’t really handle a round of extensive repairs.”

Sain turned his head just enough to allow the headmaster a glimpse of his sharp gaze.

“Well... That’s up to them.”

And then he pulled the door closed behind him. It was, he thought, a perfectly executed exit. He’d just achieved the epitome of coolness and spent a moment basking in his own glory.

“Who’s ‘them’?”

“Who cares? Whatever happens, it’s not like Sain can do anything about it anyway.”

“Would you just let me have my moment? Ugh! Come on, let’s go,” he groaned, stomping off in a childish fit of annoyance.

Once the girls had finished mercilessly raining on Sain’s parade, the trio left the school building and made their way to a structure at the corner of the grounds.

The interior was a wide-open space, devoid of any furniture. It contained nothing except a series of three-dimensional magic circles which sat in the center, bathing the room in a soft, pink light.

The academy’s labyrinth did not physically exist within the academy. While the potential excavation of treasure was an undeniable merit, labyrinths were not devoid of risk—in particular, extended periods of neglect would result in monsters emerging from their depths. As a result, they were rarely found within cities. There did exist labyrinth towns—communities that developed the area surrounding a labyrinth and primarily concerned themselves with activities related to its exploration—but those were by far the exception rather than the rule. Most places where people lived were purposefully located far away from labyrinths to avoid their potential dangers.

This created a conundrum: The merits of labyrinths necessitated frequent access, but they were often located in places that were difficult to reach. Some were in the middle of deserts. Others were at the bottom of the sea. There were even labyrinths in the sky. And so, in order to provide convenient entry to these locations, people invented a teleportation apparatus known as a “labyrinth gate,” which took the form of a series of magic circles.

“Well then, let’s go,” said Alicia before stepping into the center of the labyrinth gate before them. The permit she’d received from the headmaster reacted with the gate, and its magic circles welcomed her with a faint glow. Then, they began to rotate around her, their light growing stronger with each revolution.

When they finally dimmed, Alicia was gone.

“I’ll go next, then. We can’t have Master Sain taking the lead in something. It just doesn’t feel right.”

“Do you have to say something mean to me every time?! Just go already!”

Melia stuck her tongue out at Sain before hopping into the gate. He scowled back, but couldn’t help but smile after she’d vanished. Her sharp tongue and flippant behavior toward him masked a strong sense of loyalty. Even now, she was scouting ahead for danger at their target location. She was always faithfully and inconspicuously looking out for her master’s interests.

“Now, if she could only give others even a fraction of the attention she gives me, she’d be perfect...”

Melia made every effort to be by his side at all times, so having Alicia go first was probably a part of her plan. Sain, however, wished she would give Alicia an equal amount of concern.

The thought gnawed at him as he walked into the labyrinth gate, but as soon as the magic circles activated, he was forced to push it to the back of his mind.

Something felt wrong.

The strength of his seals meant he currently had no way of fighting enemies or even protecting himself—he was quite literally powerless.

But this didn’t mean he was helpless. The seals did not dull his instincts. Forged through years of experience and countless brushes with life-threatening danger, those instincts were currently screaming at him to be careful. He knew in his gut that something wasn’t right.

“Geez! What took you so long?” shouted an impatient Alicia as he stepped out of the teleporter. In his effort to investigate the cause of the strange sensation, he’d resisted the effects of the gate, which ended up delaying his arrival.

He could feel the sensation of soft vegetation underfoot, and before him stretched a vast expanse of grassy plains dotted with hills.

He’d heard that the gate would bring them to a hilly area in a different continent, and it appeared to be true. While it should have been early morning in Loribania, it was high noon here in these hills. The sun shone brightly overhead, imparting a golden lustre on the land and sky.

“I know I’ve seen it before,” Alicia remarked as she gazed up at the structure before them, “but it sure is big.”

A massive tower loomed over the hills, rising into the clouds like a gray pillar that held up the sky.

This was the labyrinth they were going to explore, and, being owned by the academy, it was meant for beginners. Considering its already-imposing appearance, one could only imagine what labyrinths for veterans looked like. There was something about things that were big—very big—that spoke to humans on a very basic level. Sheer size alone was enough to strike awe into the hearts of beholders.

But Sain’s intense forward gaze was not one of awe. His eyes narrowed. Something was there. He had felt its presence.

“Miss Gold, when you teleported here, did you feel anything?”

“Huh? No, not really.”

“...And you, my maid? Did you feel anything?”

“Hmm. There was a bit of a tingle.”

His gut was right. There was indeed something there—something that didn’t belong. He sighed with frustration, lamenting how bad his luck was. Even after leaving his kingdom and coming all this way, he wasn’t free; his troubles had followed him here.

“Master Sain, is that what I think it is?”

“I think the odds are pretty good.”

After confirming Melia’s suspicions, he turned to Alicia.

“Miss Gold, before we begin exploring, there is something I need to warn you about.”

“Wh-What?”

The sudden change in his tone caught Alicia off guard. Realizing he was serious, her expression sobered as well as she awaited his next words.

“If you ever see a monster the deep red of blood... Run.”