A heavy silence filled the Headmaster's Office.
Sitting behind a massive, ornate desk, Dietrich kept his eyes fixed on the reports spread out before him. After a long moment of flipping through pages, he finally spoke.
"First and foremost—you both did well."
He looked up, his low, steady voice carrying a hint of uncharacteristic softness.
"This expedition to the Primal Labyrinth was a grueling ordeal for every squad involved. Despite that, most of the students were able to return to the academy on their own two feet. I could not have asked for a more gratifying result."
Dietrich paused, letting the weight of his words settle. His gentle gaze shifted first toward Elicia.
"Elicia Loewenhart. I have reviewed your squad’s report. Maintaining the front lines, managing the evacuation of the wounded, and your final decision to withdraw—your judgment was calm and precise throughout. You have more than fulfilled your duties as Student Council President."
"Thank you, sir," Elicia replied, her back straight as she gave a crisp, respectful bow.
Having acknowledged her, Dietrich’s gaze slowly moved toward me.
"And—Rai Arkberg."
Hearing my name, I instinctively corrected my posture.
"Your performance as a decoy, continuously drawing the labyrinth's malice, was undoubtedly a major factor in this success. To be perfectly honest, I could not bring myself to agree with that plan until the very end. However, the results speak for themselves; many students were able to operate safely by avoiding unnecessary combat."
He gave a small, approving nod.
"Excellent work."
"Thank you, sir."
"However..." Dietrich’s eyes suddenly sharpened with a reproving glint. The soft atmosphere evaporated, replaced by a sudden tension. If it wasn't my imagination, I felt a strange, chilling pressure radiating from Elicia beside me as well. "According to the report, you descended all the way to the Innermost Chamber where the Core was located."
"Only to the threshold of the depths, sir. Past that point, the labyrinth’s rejection was too intense for me to proceed."
The memory of that moment flashed through my mind.
Naturally, the further one delved into the labyrinth, the more violent the interference became. The quality and quantity of the monsters shifted entirely. That remained true even when the Alertness System—the game mechanics—was baring its fangs.
As the Alertness Level rose, the spawn rate for Strong Entities skyrocketed. As the floors got deeper, the base rank of the monsters increased accordingly.
If the labyrinth was going to perceive me as a threat and throw its strongest guardians at me the deeper I went, I had every reason to keep pushing. That was the whole point. By drawing the labyrinth’s focus toward me, its forces would concentrate on the "greatest threat" rather than the other students.
That was how I had reached that door—the one I recognized from the game.
(Well, the door didn't actually open for me, though...)
No matter how much high-tier magic I unleashed or how many times I struck it with reinforced fists, the massive gate refused to budge. The impacts only echoed dully through the halls, leaving nothing but minor dents on its thick surface.
It showed no sign of breaking. I could only stand there, helpless, while the eye-like motif carved into the gate stared me down.
'I will never let you, and you only, pass beyond this point.'
I could still remember that sensation—as if the labyrinth itself were looking down on me with loathing and mockery. Once I realized nothing I did would open that door, there was no point in staying. I eventually turned back and spent the rest of the time engaged in flashy combat around the Middle District.
"I see," Dietrich murmured, letting out a soft sigh. He leaned back into his chair, keeping his judging gaze fixed on me. "I believe I instructed you not to push beyond a certain depth, but rather to hold your position and intercept the enemy there..."
His voice was quiet. He wasn't shouting, and there was no trace of rage in his tone. Yet, that calm delivery made his words pierce my chest even harder.
I reflexively averted my eyes. It was a fact that I had disregarded the Headmaster's specific orders.
(I have no excuse.)
It had been my judgment call. I knew the danger would spike if I went deeper, but I had decided it was the most rational way to keep everyone else safe. To ensure the labyrinth's total attention remained on me, I couldn't afford to play it safe at a shallow depth.
If I found myself in the same situation again... I’d likely make the same choice.
I kept that thought to myself, however. I wasn't so thick-skinned that I’d say it out loud while being scolded.
A brief silence hung in the room. Dietrich watched me intently for a few moments before sighing again.
"From now on, please value your own life a bit more."
He spoke with a tone that felt less like a formal reprimand and more like genuine concern.
"Yes, sir," I answered simply.
He gave a small nod, signaling the end of the lecture. He returned his attention to the report and flipped the page, the sound of rustling paper echoing through the quiet office.
"According to the records, the Primal Labyrinth enters a period of dormancy after its Core is destroyed. It is believed this is to allow the interior to undergo Reconfiguration—shifting its structure and redistributing the monsters."
He paused for a beat before continuing.
"For the next month or so, the labyrinth is unlikely to bare its fangs in any significant way."
Beside me, I heard Elicia let out a soft breath of relief. The tension she had been carrying seemed to evaporate, if only slightly.
"The Medical Wing is at capacity, and our Recovery Mages are completely overwhelmed. We need time to reorganize our forces and replenish our supplies," Dietrich continued, his eyes still on the pages. "At the very least, we’ve been granted a window of time to recover."
I nodded in agreement.
In the game "CHOICE//MAZE," this period of dormancy was crucial. It was the calm before the next storm, a brief window for preparation.
There was plenty to do during this time. One could study new techniques under the instructors, spend time self-improving by diving into other dungeons, or visit the Workshop District—a hub for specialists—to upgrade equipment, magic tools, and items.
And, of course, there was the matter of which heroine you chose to spend your time with. That was one of the most important aspects of this phase.
(In other words, the Free Action Period has begun.)
How you spent this month would drastically change the difficulty of the next conquest. However, if you grew too strong and exceeded the Recommended Level by too much, you’d run afoul of the Alertness System. It was a period that required delicate balancing; one had to grow strong enough to survive, but not so strong as to trigger the system's scrutiny.
"Now then—there is one more matter to address."
Dietrich looked up again, catching my attention.
"Regarding the girl discovered in the Innermost Depths..."
Elicia straightened her posture at the mention of her.
"The report states that she was engaged in combat with a monster when you found her?"
"Yes," Elicia answered quietly. "She was already in the heat of battle when we arrived. She was fighting in the Innermost Grand Hall, but she lost consciousness immediately after taking a hit from the enemy. We defeated the monster and took her into our protection shortly after."
Dietrich remained silent for a moment, looking back down at the text.
"I see." He flipped to the next page. "As for her condition, she is currently being cared for in the Medical Wing. She sustained several injuries, but none are life-threatening. However... she has yet to regain consciousness."
Elicia knit her brows with concern. Dietrich tapped the edge of the report with his fingertip.
"We are currently investigating her identity, but she does not appear on the academy's Student Registry. We are proceeding under the assumption that she is either an outsider or someone with a deep connection to the Primal Labyrinth."
Dietrich’s words were measured, but he couldn't entirely mask the underlying suspicion.
(Well, that’s to be expected.)
An unidentified girl found in the deepest reaches of a legendary labyrinth—it was only natural for the academy to be on high alert.
For me, however, it wasn't a surprise at all. Her appearance was a scripted event—the New Heroine Encounter Event.
In the original game, Yuu was supposed to rescue her after she collapsed during the battle in the Grand Hall. I’d worried that my meddling might have derailed the plot, but it seemed the story had managed to stay on track.
"Once she wakes up, we will need to hear her side of the story. Until then, she will remain under our care in the Medical Wing." Dietrich looked up at us. "Normally, I would restrict contact with an unidentified individual, but since you two were her rescuers, I will permit you to visit her."
His tone was gentle as he looked back down at the documents.
"I won't force you, of course. For now, prioritize your own rest."
"Yes, sir," Elicia whispered.
With that, the debriefing in the Headmaster's Office reached its conclusion. The stifling atmosphere finally began to lift.
(The Medical Wing, huh?)
That girl was there right now. If things continued to follow the game's flow, the story would soon move into its next phase. And the person standing at the center of that narrative wouldn't be a villain like me.
It would be Yuu—the protagonist.
As the midday sun streamed through the office windows, I let out a long, quiet breath.