Chapter 27 - Short Break Between Interludes

Chapter 27 - Short Break Between Interludes

Conference room where instructors gather.

It was a matter of habitual gathering every morning, but today their meeting was getting longer because they had a lot to talk about.

"The uninteresting theory is coming to an end... The 'Labyrinth' will be held this year as well, so why don't Principal Julliut allow the 1st year cadets 'specially' to enter at the same time as the cadets in other grades? You said."

Edward said, the corners of his mouth rising in anticipation.

"Labyrinth? I think it's too early for first year cadets..."

Kaliman, who was grooming his rough beard, continued with a worried answer.

"What do the other instructors think?"

Edward asked, looking at the others undeterred.

"If the Labyrinth opens, Priscilla will be busy, but if the first year cadets enter at the same time... I think Priscilla will be in trouble? It's only natural that the number of injured people increases."

Reina was worried about her own old friend, Priscilla. In Reina's mind, she had a clear picture of her raging with Priscilla as she drank her drink.

Edward looked at the old instructor who was silent.

He is a great leader who has spent many years as an Innocence Academy instructor, and he was also an instructor for Edward, Kali Mann, Reina, and Priscilla in the past.

Currently, because Edward unexpectedly joined as an instructor, Kaliman has been given the position of instructor in charge of Class C.

He said that his disciples would be instructors, but he was only admirable, so he had no complaints about him.

"The headmaster must have an idea. It doesn't seem like a bad thing for the cadets to gain experience even a little faster.

Edward clapped at the words of the old instructor.

"Okay. There's some time left before the Labyrinth opens, so there should be plenty of time for essential training."

Edward runs out of the conference hall, wondering what he is so excited about.

The other instructors were used to it.

Because it wasn't the first time Edward was excited like that.

"I want to have some fun while working..."

In the meeting room Edward left, only the sighs of the remaining instructors hung over the room.

***

Edward called the cadets into the classroom and said that the labyrinth would open soon. This time, it is unusual for first-year students to be open at the same time.

Edward said there would be mandatory training to enter the labyrinth in the future, and he explained the basics of the labyrinth to the cadets today.

"The labyrinth...Wasn't it open a bit later to the first year students? Ha ha."

After Edward's class, Yuri, who was next to him, concentrated on braiding each strand of his red hair, combing it as if he wanted to ease his nerves.

Not only Yuri, but the other cadets were also talking about the labyrinth.

'It used to be like that...'

Labyrinth.

It is a unique dungeon located inside Innocence Academy.

Many say that the academy was built here because of this labyrinth.

The structure of the labyrinth changes every year, and the rewards change.

This dungeon, which has a rather unfamiliar structure in which the difficulty level increases as you go down, was one of the places in the game where you can gain experience through other routes besides classes.

Originally, as the first year cadets had never experienced the labyrinth, it was a method of letting the first year cadets in once the senior cadets' exploration of the labyrinth had progressed to some extent.

The players in the game didn't have to wait, and the first year cadets started at the same time, which was unusual.

'This is the same shape as the game without fail.'

Well, it's not that I don't understand the thoughts of the academy teachers.

The level of the cadets was high enough that this freshman jockey was called the golden jockey... There was nothing very strange about sending it a little faster.

In the end, skill is everything.

It must be to ignite the competition with the senior cadets.

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

"I think it's because this jockey is getting a lot of expectations."

I replied to Yuri who was staring at me intently.

By the way, Sierra seems to have reached her limit, she said, and she went inside the pendant before class started.

I'm not sure when she'll pop up again, but once she's done her urethra, it's clear that she'll be out and about more than this.

So far, no one has noticed Sierra's presence.

As she is a soul... It would be hard for her to notice her existence unless she was a high ranking priest or a necromancer.

'Edward's class gave me a small amount of experience today...'

It was nice to see the labyrinth open.

Since the labyrinth is a dungeon with a special magic, there is no case of death in the labyrinth.

Of course, you can get injured as much as you like, but there are things like hidden peace as well as leveling enough to take that risk, so it's a situation that is beneficial to me.

At a time like this, I would make a urethra before the labyrinth begins.

If the yodo is equipped quickly, you will be able to take care of the hidden piece more easily with faster leveling.

More than anything... There is a tricky enemy lurking in this labyrinth.

'Even the regressor Eisel knows about its existence...'

But there won't be much interest.

I don't know if he judged that he didn't get in the way or because he had nothing to do with the demons he hated, but Eisel in the game didn't intervene in this incident.

Eisel's face with thoughtless eyes comes into her eyes.

For me, I know that there is a reward for defeating him, and there will be various quests related to him, so it would be better if Eisel didn't intervene.

That means there will be fewer variables.

'There will also be quests related to medical technology exchanges...'

You can receive experience points and rewards while treating the cadets who have been injured by him. Even if it's money... It's good to always take experience points.

When I think about being busy again, my body feels sluggish.

There's still time left before the labyrinth opens, so I'll have to visit the blacksmith beforehand.

'Before that... Let's rest today. Just one day...'

I haven't slept properly for several days, so I don't know if my body is fine thanks to the bracelet, but I can feel that I'm mentally exhausted.

Sierra and the coachman's chatter may have had an impact.

Deciding to take a good rest today, I stood up.

If the instructor's class ends early, the cadets have time to practice what they want to do, as it is called self-training time.

At this time, it is good to visit an instructor with the skill you want to learn, or after the labyrinth is open, it is good to visit the labyrinth at this time.

Until now, I was either busy making a urethra, or I used to practice mana management all night at the gymnasium.

"Didn't I say there was an exploration ranking? Can we, freshmen, really get into the ranking..."

Yuri, who stood up after me, murmured.

"Can I do it? The reward was fine."

I'm thinking of listening to that ranking as well.

The monthly exploration ranking ranks the entire school year, so there is no reason to refuse it as the rewards are generous.

'I'll be very busy when the labyrinth opens.'

***

After training until late at night, I was finally able to return to the dormitory.

Mana management.

It was still lacking in many ways.

The sense of handling mana was too unfamiliar.

So, when should I infuse mana into a weapon?

I was just stumped.

Even though I said I was taking a day off, I couldn't neglect my training. My rest was enough that I didn't leave the academy at night.

'Because the blacksmith will visit tomorrow...'

I'm going to sleep well this time.

Sierra hadn't gotten out of the pendant since class.

Well, from the carriage to the tour of the academy, it maintained its shape for quite a long time compared to what was contained in the pendant.

When I opened the door and entered the room, I began to feel Sierra's energy emanating from the pendant just in time.

A cloud of smoke escapes from the pendant and begins to take her shape.

[She thought she was dying of boredom inside the pendant. ...Already dead, though. ]

Suddenly, Sierra, fully formed, threw a joke at her as she stretched.

'Active at night, go in during the day...'

Somehow Sierra seems to have become nocturnal.

However, she had nothing to do today.

"I'm going to sleep well today, so go back to the pendant..."

She said in a firm tone to Sierra, who looked around her room with her eyes wondering if there was anything interesting.

[ Hmm? What about Yodo, wasn't he going to visit the blacksmith today? ]

"It's impossible. I'm going to take a day off. I thought it would be okay to take a day off because the tricky things were quickly resolved."

She answered Sierra as she unpacked her backpack in the room.

Sierra floats around her room, comes closer to me, and her signature calm voice echoes in her head.

[Hey, Yodo's ingredients must have been quite difficult to obtain... So, you've been moving all night without resting? ]

"Right...? There was something about it. She also wanted to meet Master quickly."

I shuddered at Sierra, who was worried about me.

Sierra, who had heard my remarks, trembled and headed toward her bed.

[Puheup, Abu is shaking well. ]

Saying so, Sierra lay down on her bed.

'She lies down naturally like water flows.'

It was hard to even describe that she was lying down. Sierra passes through objects. So now she's pretending to be touching her bed, she's supposed to be floating in the air.

"You don't intend to watch your disciple sleep for a long time, do you?"

[I don't intend to watch it...? ]

Sierra's languid voice echoes.

"Aren't you bored?"

Out of sight of her on her bed, she said as she changed her clothes into comfy clothes.

When she went back to the bed, she saw Sierra still lying on the bed.

"And... Pretending to lie down is just uncomfortable."

[It's boring inside the pendant...]

When I got to the point, she moved away from the bed, grumbling that Sierra was uncomfortable.

Then I was able to lie down.

I had no memory of the last time I stretched out after drinking, so the feel of the soft bed felt like it had been a while.

"I'm sorry. I don't think I'll be able to talk to you anymore today."

I said that to Sierra, who was staring at me uncomfortably from the side.

Sierra took a moment to listen to me, and she soon opened her mouth.

[ ...Can you lend me your shoulder for a moment? ]

Having said that, Sierra comes closer to me who is lying on her bed.

Her voice was trembling a little.

Then, without hearing my answer, she lay down on my shoulder.

"Ah..."

Her skin lightly touches my arm.

[After decades of not being able to reach people, being able to reach them at least like this makes me feel at ease... ]

Sierra, who was lying on my shoulder, spoke softly.

"Swing..."

[It's okay if you don't understand what the original woman means. As it is now. I want to stay still like this. ]

I left Sierra alone.

She didn't touch her on her own.

Sierra had her eyes closed.

I don't know if she can get her sleep, but it looked... Very calm.

I think it's wrong to get a good night's sleep today.

But it didn't feel bad.