Here I am, in Shiva Mode, standing in the headmistress’s office.
Theresia Montpellier sent a message to me through Professor Tear. She wants to see me for something.
She starts off with an “As I’m sure you already know…” but I have no idea what she’s talking about. But when I hear what she has to say, it all makes sense.
“…so, in conclusion, I’m asking for your help to ensure that Alexei Guberg, Charlotte Zenfis, and the others are able to safely complete their expedition in the ruins.”
Things sure took a weird turn while I was asleep.
I don’t know what Alexei’s scheming, but I guess an expedition tournament in the Olympius Ruins is a relatively peaceful solution.
Then again, the rules allow the teams to interfere with each other. Wouldn’t that make it more or less the same thing as a straight-up duel? In fact, wouldn’t it be more dangerous since there are gonna be monsters in the mix?
“Very well,” I nod. “I’d hate to see youngsters get recklessly heated and endanger themselves.”
By them, I mostly mean Char.
“Thank you for accepting my request. The Academy will take measures to ensure that any interference between the teams is conducted safely. May we rely on you to monitor the situation and intervene in the event of an emergency?”
To be more specific on the safety rules, the students are only allowed to use weak spells that won’t result in injury, and they’re to wear special protective gear that reacts to magic attacks.
Kind of like an airsoft match? Not that I’ve ever been in one.
Sounds like my job will be to shield them with barriers from monsters or from each other in case they get carried away and use lethal magic.
Basically, if I cast some strong magic defensive barriers on everyone─Numbers included─that should solve pretty much any problem.
On the other hand, we’re talking about a labyrinth teeming with monsters. I should take some safety measures on that front, too. After all, not even the school staff can control the monsters.
Here I am at the Olympius Ruins. Long time no visit.
‘You really are overprotective, aren’t you?’
The exasperated voice chimes in through my communication barrier. It’s my advisor, Professor Tear.
“It’s just a game; we don’t want anyone getting hurt. Especially with Char involved.”
‘That’s what I mean by overprotective─anyway, just like last time, I don’t see any monsters around. I can’t imagine the headmistress isn’t already aware of this situation.’
Ever since we came here on a mission to retrieve some legendary weapon, the monsters have been prowling only in the deepest level of the labyrinth.
Since that hasn’t changed, the place isn’t all that suitable for an expedition game.
But the headmistress didn’t mention anything about it. And I forgot to ask.
Eh, whatev. I shrug it off and continue my way.
Right when I’m about to reach the last level, I see a shadowy figure up ahead.
“What’s he doing down here…?”
Zipping through the passageways and heading straight for the lowest level is Alexei Guberg. His back is turned but I can tell it’s him.
I make myself invisible and follow him. I also envelop myself in a soundproof barrier so he won’t hear my voice.
‘He might be possessed by the Devil Lord, right? I wonder what business he has on the lowest level,’ Professor Tear muses.
“Let’s just watch what he does for now. I’m undetectable. He won’t know I’m here.”
We descend to the final floor.
This layer is crawling with monsters, but Alexei hardly glances at them as he rushes off.
‘The monsters do acknowledge him as prey. But the boy seems to have no interest in fighting them.’
I almost bump into one of the beasts. They can’t see me, so they don’t try to get out of my way.
Suddenly, Alexei kicks one of the monsters near the wall and sends it flying. This is his first act of aggression on them. He then turns his back against the wall, and with a wave of an arm, he knocks over all the monsters around him.
The agitated beasts are keeping their distance. Alexei simpers and touches the wall behind him with one hand. Vwah! A bright light bursts under his palm as a black stain rapidly spreads in the center of the wall. Alexei disappears into the dark hole.
‘It’s some kind of entrance. Want to check it out?’
“Obvi.”
I leap into the shadowy hole before it shrinks away.
We’re in a dimly lit room. The walls, floors, and even the ceiling are covered in strange inscriptions.
There’s an enormous crystalline globe about seven feet in diameter hovering in the middle of the room. It gives off a bluish-white glow. Ribbon-like rings of magic circles are slowly orbiting it.
“What is this place?”
‘…’
My advisor offers no response to my question, so I turn my attention to Alexei.
He holds both arms out to the crystal and chants in some language I’ve never heard before. Must be Ancient Language.
The rings of magic circles start whirring as they rotate faster and faster. The crystal starts to illuminate.
A smile rises to the corners of Alexei’s mouth.
Too bad he’s not the type to think out loud.
Several translucent windows appear around the crystal. When the young man waves his hand in the air, words begin to stream across the screens. Every now and then, a segment of the text blinks.
I watch in silence for a while.
Then, one by one, the screens in the air disappear. “Perfect,” Alexei nods and leaves the room through the same black spot in the wall.
I send a monitoring barrier after him and stay in the chamber.
“Did you see that, Professor Tear?”
‘I saw it all right.’
“So this crystal is some kind of controller for the labyrinth?”
‘Yup. And he seems to have registered himself as the master operator. He commanded the monsters in the deepest level to spread out to the other layers.’
I see. I guess, in his own way, he’s trying to make the expedition tournament more entertaining?
“What are you trying to do?” asks Professor Tear as I wave my hand in front of the crystal the way Alexei did.
“Oh, I wanna contribute to making the game more fun, too.”
‘I think you’re completely misinterpreting his intention… Eh, I won’t stop you, though. Oh, but if you take over, he’s bound to notice when he’s lost control.’
If we’re both helping out to improve the game setup, what does it matter if he notices?
But I see her point.
Alexei-senpai’s putting his time and effort into making this project a fun experience for everyone. I don’t want him to feel like I’m stealing credit.
Plus, he’s trying to be discreet about it. If he finds out that I know, he might feel embarrassed.
I know we’ve got that whole Devil Lord issue going on, but maybe he just wants to have fun like everyone else.
“Fine, then. I’ll be discreet, too.”
The giant crystal flashes and the transparent windows appear. I tweak the information on the screens.
‘Can you read Ancient Language, Haruto?’
“More or less.”
It’s full of grandiose expressions so it’s kind of hard to follow, but I can read it.
I mess around with the script a bunch.
“Done. I registered myself as the system admin and Alexei as a user. This way, he can still control the labyrinth. It’ll be a while before he notices that I interfered.”
If he gets carried away and tries something dangerous, I’ll be able to pull the brakes.
‘Truly anything goes with you, huh.’
Professor Tear sounds exasperated but I decide to take her remark as a compliment.
Now that the big scary monsters are under my command, the labyrinth’s safety is secured.
Job well done. I go back to my room and sleep.