Short Break

The instructors gathered in the conference room. It was a morning ritual, but today they had a little more to talk about, and their meeting was dragging on.

"The boring theories are coming to an end… The Labyrinth will be open as usual this year, and Headmaster Juliut has asked me if we could 'specially' allow the first-year cadets to enter at the same time as the others."

Edward said, the corners of his mouth turning up in anticipation.

"The Labyrinth? I think it's a little early for first year cadets…"

Kaliman replied with concern as he stroked his rough beard.

"What do the other instructors think?"

Edward asked, undeterred, glancing at the others.

"Well, Priscilla's going to have her hands full when the Labyrinth opens, and if the first year cadets start coming in around the same time… I don't think Priscilla's going to be able to handle it, and the number of injuries is bound to increase."

Raina worried about her old friend, Priscilla. In her mind's eye, she had a clear picture of her drinking with Priscilla and how she would lose her temper.

Edward stared at the old instructor without speaking.

He had been an instructor at the Innocence Academy for many years, a great leader, and had been Edward, Kaliman, Raina, and Priscilla's instructor in the past.

Currently, due to Edward's unexpected arrival, he has given up his position as Class C instructor to Kaliman but had no complaints about it, as he was thrilled that his students would be teaching.

"I don't think it's a bad idea for the cadets to gain experience a little sooner. There's a lot riding on this one… I will speak to Priscilla."

Edward clapped at the old instructor's next words.

Very well. We have some time before the Labyrinth opens, so we'll have plenty of time for the necessary training."

Edward walks out of the meeting, not sure why he was so excited but the other instructors were accustomed to it since it wasn't the first time they saw him acting this way.

"I wish I could have some fun at work…"

Edwards' departure was met with a collective sigh from the remaining instructors.

***

Calling the cadets into the classroom, Edward tells them that the Labyrinth will soon open. This time, unusually, it would be open to first-year cadets at the same time.

Edward explains that there will be mandatory training to enter the Labyrinth in the future, but today he gives the cadets a basic explanation of the Labyrinth.

"The labyrinth… I thought it opened a little later for first years, haha."

After Edward's lesson, Yuri sat next to me, running a hand through her red hair as if to ease her nerves, concentrating on braiding each strand.

Yuri wasn't the only one, the other cadets had their own stories to tell about the Labyrinth.

"It was supposed to be…"

The Labyrinth is an unusual dungeon located inside the Innocence Academy. It is often said that the academy was built here because of this labyrinth.

Every year, the structure of the labyrinth changes and the rewards change.

The dungeon was one of the few places in the game where you could earn experience outside of class, with the difficulty increasing as you descend.

Originally, first-year cadets were not allowed to experience the labyrinth until the older cadets were well into their exploration of the labyrinth.

In the game, the player doesn't have to wait for that, and unusually, the first-year cadets start at the same time.

'This looks exactly like the game.'

Well, it's not like the academy faculty didn't understand.

The quality of the cadets was so high that this first-year class was called the Golden Class… There was nothing wrong with sending them a little faster.

In the end, it's all about skill and to spark competition with the senior cadets.

Of course, from the player's point of view, it's just a new place to get experience.

"I suppose it's because there's a lot of expectation for our year."

I replied to Yuri, who was staring at me intently.

On a side note, Sierra decided she had had enough and disappeared into the pendant before class started.

I'm not sure when she'll come out again, but I'm pretty sure she'll spend a lot more time wandering around after I make the Spectral Sword.

So far, no one has noticed Sierra's presence. She's a spirit, after all…and it would be difficult for anyone other than a high ranking cleric or command mage to recognize her presence.

'Edward's class gave me little experience today, so…'

The opening of the Labyrinth was a welcome sight.

Labyrinths are specially enchanted dungeons, so it's impossible to die in them. Of course, you can get injured, but I've leveled up enough to take that risk, and there are things like Hidden Pieces, so it's a win-win situation.

At this point, I'm going to try to build The Spectral Sword before the Labyrinth opens. This will allow me to level faster and get to Hidden Pieces more easily.

Most importantly…A tricky enemy lurks within this labyrinth.

'He exists… I'm sure Aizel, the Regressor, knows of his existence.'

She probably doesn't care, though.

Whether it's because she doesn't think he's a nuisance or because he's not associated with the demons she despises, the in-game Aizel hasn't intervened in this case.

I can see Aizel's face in my mind's eye, her eyes seemingly unconcerned.

I know there's a reward for defeating him, and there are quests related to him, so I'd rather he didn't get involved. There will be fewer variables that way.

'There will be quests for the Medical Technology Club…'

I'll be able to heal cadets who've been injured by him, earning experience and a small reward. Money aside… It's always good to have experience but the thought of being busy again makes me cringe.

There's still time before the Labyrinth opens, so I need to visit the blacksmith.

'But first… Let's rest today. Just one day…'

I haven't slept in days, and while my body is fine thanks to the bracelet, I can feel the mental exhaustion.

The chatter between Sierra and the coachman might have had an effect on me too.

Deciding that I needed a good night's rest, I stood up.

When the instructor's class ends early, the cadets have free time to literally do whatever they want to do, called independent practice time.

This is a good time to visit an instructor who has a skill you want to learn, and if the Labyrinth was open, this is a good time to visit the Labyrinth.

I'd be busy making the Spectral Sword, or I'd be up all night practicing mana manipulation in the performance hall.

"They said there's an exploration ranking, so I wonder if we, first years, will be able to make it…"

Yuri muttered as she stood up after me.

"We can, right? The rewards are good."

I think I'll try for the rankings since the monthly exploration rankings are for the entire school year, and the rewards are generous.

'I'll be busy once the labyrinth opens.'

***

After training late into the night, I finally made it back to my dorm.

I was still lacking in many ways when it came to mana manipulation since the sensation of mana was unfamiliar to me and wondered when I would finally be able to infuse my weapons with mana.

I was stuck.

Even though I had a day off, I couldn't neglect my training but my day off was enough to keep me from leaving the academy at night.

'I'll visit the blacksmith tomorrow…'

I plan to sleep well this time.

Sierra didn't come out of the pendant since class. Well, from the carriage to the academy grounds, she'd held her form for quite a while.

As I opened the door and entered the room, I began to feel Sierra's energy radiating from the pendant. Smoke billows out of the pendant, and it begins to take shape.

[ I thought I was going to die of boredom inside the pendant. …but I'm already dead. ]

As if on cue, the fully formed Sierra stretches out and throws a jab at me.

'You come out at night and go in during the day…'

Somehow, Sierra had become nocturnal. Today, however, there was no need to go outside.

"I'm going to have a good night's sleep, so you might as well go back to your pendant…"

I said in a firm tone to Sierra, who was looking around the room for something interesting.

[ Hmm? What about the Spectral Sword, weren't you supposed to visit the blacksmith today? ]

"I can't do this anymore so I'm just going to take a day off. Since the tricky stuff was resolved so quickly I thought it might be a good idea to rest."

I replied to Sierra as I unpacked my backpack.

Sierra floats around the room and comes close to me, her soothing voice echoing in my head.

[ The ingredients for the Spectral Sword must have been hard to come by… so you've been on the move all night without a break ].

"Isn't that right…? There was something that happened and I couldn't wait to see Master."

I blurted out to Sierra, who was worried about me.

Sierra, who was worried about me, shudders and heads towards the bed.

[ Phew, you're good at flattery ].

Sierra laid down on the bed while saying.

'You lie down as naturally as water flows.'

Well, maybe not exactly lying down. Sierra passed through objects so now she was floating in the air, pretending to be in contact with the bed.

"You're not going to be watching your apprentice sleep for a long time, are you?"

[ I wasn't planning on watching… ]

Sierra's languid voice rings out.

"Wouldn't you be bored?"

I say, changing into more comfortable clothes out of her sight.

Turning back to the bed, I see Sierra still sprawled out on it.

"And… You're uncomfortable when you pretend to lie down."

[ I mean, it's boring in the pendant… ]

I hit the nail on the head, and Sierra grumbled about her discomfort and moved away from the bed.

I lay back down, I couldn't remember the last time I'd stretched out after a night of drinking, so the feel of the fluffy bed somehow felt like a long time ago.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I'll be able to keep you company today."

I said to Sierra, who was watching me nervously from the side.

Sierra paused at my words, then spoke up.

[ …I was wondering if you could lend me your shoulder for a moment.]

After saying that, Sierra moved closer to me on the bed. Her voice was a little shaky. Then, without waiting for my response, she leaned against my shoulder.

"Ah…"

Her body lightly touches my arm.

[After decades of not being able to touch people, it's a strange relief to be able to do so… ]

Sierra, who was leaning against my shoulder, spoke in a languid voice.

"That… Yeah…"

[ It's okay if you don't understand what I mean, I just want to stay like this for now. ]

I let Sierra be as she was and didn't touch her in any way.

Sierra's eyes were closed. I don't know if she could sleep, but she looked… so peaceful.

I don't think I'm going to get much sleep tonight either. But that didn't make me feel bad.