The wind howled behind me, but there was no sign of anything pursuing us. Whether that was due to the lingering effects of my magic or merely the Labyrinth’s whim, I couldn't be sure. Regardless, I judged the coast clear and sprinted up the final flight of stairs toward the surface.
"Rai!"
"Master Rai!"
The moment I burst into the light, the two of them rushed to my side. At a glance, neither seemed to have any visible injuries.
"Are you both safe!?" I asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," Elysia replied.
"Are you hurt anywhere, Master Rai!?" Lene cried.
"No problems here."
My clothes were scorched and my hands had a few minor burns, but they were trivial. My mana reserves were still surprisingly deep, especially considering I’d just unleashed a massive wide-range wind spell, and I didn't feel the slightest bit of mental fatigue. I didn't want to sound arrogant, but having the highest mana capacity in this world wasn't just for show.
"How about you two? Truly, no injuries?"
"We are unharmed," Elysia said. "Only because you took it upon yourself to act as our rear guard."
"I... I am unhurt as well..." Lene whispered.
They both spoke the words, but unlike the composed Elysia, Lene was trembling visibly. It was understandable. Until today, her skill with the greatsword had allowed her to cleave through any monster in a single strike. In the Primal Labyrinth, however, her techniques had been utterly useless.
And that was despite the Ability Reinforcement Magic I had placed on her.
I gently drew Lene's shivering form into a hug, and she immediately wrapped her arms around my waist, clinging to my back. As I stroked her hair, trying to soothe her terror, Elysia hugged me from the other side.
"I was frightened as well, you know?" the princess murmured.
"...I know."
I gave a wry smile and pulled them both closer. I held them for a long moment, feeling a profound sense of relief that they were both safe.
"—As I suspected, the Primal Labyrinth definitely possesses an ego," Elysia muttered into my chest, her voice low and grave. "The moment you reached that central hall, an army of high-tier monsters fell upon us. I cannot believe for a second that it was a coincidence."
Her voice was steady, but I could hear the sharp edge of caution beneath her words.
"You're right," I agreed, nodding.
The difficulty spike had clearly been a Level Adjustment tailored specifically for me. Moreover, the monsters had been relentless, ignoring the two of them as they fled to focus entirely on me. I had felt a palpable, murderous intent—a determination to end my life right then and there. Honestly, I’d been breaking out in a cold sweat the entire time.
Silence settled over us for a while, broken eventually by Lene’s small, trembling voice.
"...Will we have to keep fighting things like that from now on?" Her voice was thin and raspy. "It was the first time... I cut them, but they wouldn't go down..."
Up until now, no monster had ever survived her blade. Not the Grave Hounds, nor any of the others. As my personal maid and guard, she had mowed down every horror in our path, her greatsword clearing the way like a force of nature.
But this time...
"I swung with everything I had. I intended to kill them in one blow, just like always... but they just kept standing. They wouldn't stop..." She choked on her words.
She was clearly reliving the nightmare—the sight of an unstoppable tide of monsters that ignored her best efforts. Beings so far beyond her level that she couldn't even feel the impact of her steel against them.
"My sword didn't work at all... I was so scared..."
With that quiet, honest confession, Lene’s fingers gripped my coat even tighter.
Elysia let out a soft sigh and looked up at me. "In any case, our first priority is to report this. We must inform the Headmaster of the Labyrinth’s sentience, and the fact that it has identified you, Rai, as a dangerous entity."
"Agreed. Let’s head back to the capital."
The two of them nodded.
When I looked back one last time, the entrance to the Primal Labyrinth was as silent and still as if nothing had happened. Yet, I could have sworn that the groan-like echoing from the depths of the spiral staircase leading to the Abyss had grown just a little bit louder.
Upon our return to the capital, we bypassed all rest and went straight to the academy.
We climbed to the top floor of the school building and gave the door to the Headmaster’s Office a firm knock. Once we received permission to enter, we pushed open the heavy doors.
Inside, the Headmaster—Dietrich Weissberg—sat behind his desk, watching us with a piercing, quiet gaze. It was the first time I’d seen him since the school assembly.
"We have a report to make," Elysia stated.
We began our explanation, going through the events in chronological order. We told him how several of the sealed doors deep within the Labyrinth had been open, how an army of high-tier monsters had ambushed us the second I stepped into the center, and how their movements were focused entirely on me. We held nothing back, and when we finally concluded with our theory about the Labyrinth's Ego, Dietrich slowly closed his eyes.
"...As I thought."
He wasn't surprised. In fact, he looked as though we had simply confirmed his expectations.
Elysia had mentioned records of a student reaching the Core five centuries ago; there was no way the Headmaster wasn't aware of that history. That previous explorer had been blocked by an army of high-tier species at the very last moment, so Dietrich must have already suspected this possibility.
"The Labyrinth is likely screening its intruders," Dietrich said, tapping a finger on his desk. "It permits the weak to pass with ease, but the moment it identifies a strong individual, it bares its fangs."
His voice remained calm and analytical. "It is lenient toward the small and overreactive toward the powerful. It seeks to eliminate anything that might disrupt its internal balance. ...In a way, it is like a child throwing a tantrum because someone is messing with its favorite playground."
I felt a surge of respect for the man. He hadn't been given the title of Headmaster for his age alone. To grasp the essence of the situation with such limited information was impressive. In the original game, he’d had so little screen time that I’d barely remembered him, but facing him in person, his sheer presence was breathtaking.
"At any rate, I am glad the three of you are safe. Return to your dorms for today and rest."
Elysia and Lene bowed at the dismissal and turned to leave, but—
"...Rai?"
Realizing I hadn't moved, the two of them turned back with puzzled looks.
"Could you go on ahead? There’s something I want to discuss with the Headmaster privately."
Lene’s eyes wavered, and Elysia watched me with a silent, searching look. Finally, Lene squeezed out a question in a tiny voice.
"...Will you be back soon?"
"Yeah," I said, giving her a reassuring smile.
They hesitated for a moment but eventually left the room. With a final, quiet "Excuse us," the door clicked shut, leaving me alone with Dietrich. Our gazes locked.
"...Well then, what is this matter you wish to discuss?" the old man’s deep voice echoed.
"A continuation of the previous topic."
I walked up to the desk. Dietrich’s gaze sharpened, radiating a quiet pressure that felt like a mix of reproach and sympathy.
(Does he already know what I'm going to say?)
Taking a breath to steady myself, I spoke. "The Labyrinth rejects the strong. Its reaction to a perceived threat is almost excessive."
"Indeed."
"Then there is a way we can use that to our advantage."
Dietrich’s eyes narrowed to slits.
"—I want you to use me as a decoy."
The air in the room grew heavy. Dietrich’s reaction was unnervingly still. He looked up at me as if he had been waiting for those exact words.
"...Be specific."
"I will go into the Labyrinth ahead of the others and engage in large-scale combat. I’ll make sure its hostility is focused entirely on me."
As I spoke, the "Alertness System" from the game flashed through my mind. It was a mechanic where the Labyrinth’s hostility would rise if you killed too many monsters or entered an area while being over-leveled. As the Alertness Level rose, the enemies became stronger, more numerous, and higher in quality.
On its own, it was a system you’d want to avoid. However, a high Alertness Level wasn't purely a disadvantage. If the Labyrinth concentrated its primary forces on a single "maximum threat," the pressure on everyone else would be significantly reduced. In short, the survival rate of the other students would skyrocket.
(I remember this from the game. The random students who gave you items or rushed in to help during the Core boss fight... I can't count how many times I was saved by those nameless NPCs...)
Beyond that, fighting high-tier monsters would ensure that any drop items would be of the highest rarity.
"The Labyrinth concentrates its resources on whatever it deems the greatest danger," I continued, pushing my past-life memories aside. "So, I’ll go in first and intentionally provoke it. Not just a little—I'll push it to the limit."
"...And while you do that, the main force will advance?"
"Yes," I nodded firmly.
Dietrich’s gaze remained heavy. "Do you truly understand the level of danger in the proposal you are making?"
"I do."
I didn't hesitate for a second.
After a long, weighted silence, Dietrich finally leaned back in his chair. "...Summarize the details of your plan in a formal document," he said, his voice low but lacking rejection. "I will review it. We will decide whether to proceed after that."
"...Thank you, sir."
I bowed and turned toward the door.
"Rai Arkberg."
I stopped with my hand on the doorknob and looked back. Dietrich was still enveloped in that solemn atmosphere, but the sharpness was gone from his eyes. Instead, they held a touch of melancholy—and an unmistakable trace of guilt.
"...My apologies."
"There's no need for that, Headmaster. This is something I'm choosing to do."
I gave him a faint smile and finally left the room.
Lene and Elysia were waiting anxiously down the hall. The moment they saw me, they both let out audible sighs of relief and started running my way.
"As long as I can protect everyone, it doesn't matter how much I get hurt..."
I whispered the words to no one. Then, I spread my arms to welcome the two girls as they reached me.