Something strange is going on.
As Alexei Guberg advances through the underground maze, he gets a nagging sense that something is off.
They ran into a swarm of Flame Mummies on the ground floor of the temple. These guys don’t normally spawn until the middle levels of the labyrinth. He certainly hadn’t summoned them.
Once underground, Numbers continues to run into unexpected monsters.
After Alexei had seized operational control over the dungeon, he’d stationed just enough monsters along their path to not arouse the headmistress’s suspicion─which is going according to plan. However, they also keep running into monsters he didn’t assign.
I’m still the master controller. It’s not like someone else has seized command…
And yet he doesn’t have full control. The fact that he’s unable to tame the unexpected spawns makes it evident.
Is the mechanism itself malfunctioning? Is Shiva interfering somehow?
The first scenario seems totally possible─it’s an old structure. When the devil Melcuemenes pulled the crazy stunt of gathering all the monsters to the lowest level, she could’ve screwed something up.
However, the second scenario is also extremely likely.
But how could Shiva be controlling the labyrinth without revoking my authority over it?─no, there’s no use even trying to figure it out. He doesn’t seem to be bound by the same constraints the rest of us have.
There is one more possibility. An extremely slim one, but a dreadful one, nonetheless.
Could she be interfering?
Queen Gizelotte’s psyche is melded with the Devil Lord Lucifyra’s “main entity.” Perhaps it resents Alexei’s existence. He’s an irregular fluke, after all.
But even if Gizelotte isn’t willing to help us, why would she support Charlotte’s team─effectively siding with Shiva?
It doesn’t seem like anyone’s trying to kill him. The monsters they’ve been encountering are barely a threat.
“Hey, Alexei! Snap out of it!” the burly guy barks. A monster shaped like a huge worm is bearing down on them. Countless rows of fangs gleam in its O-shaped mouth.
A Rock-Eater. It’s not as terrifying as the giant version, but the venom it spews is extremely dangerous.
Alexei thrusts out one hand and conjures a defensive magic circle.
The beast headbutts into the circle and─Splak!─its round mouth suctions onto its surface. Alexei blasts a round of dark missiles into its gaping hole.
The creature’s head blows off, and its meat and blood splatter everywhere.
“You’re supposed to be our leader. We can’t have you lost in la-la land in the middle of a battle.”
“I’m sorry. I was thinking about something.”
Once the flock of monsters clear out, the team’s only female fighter approaches Alexei.
“There’s something strange going on. Not just with the monsters, but with you.”
“If you’re upset with me in some way, please don’t hesitate to speak up.”
“It’s not that I’m upset, Alexei. It’s just… Since when do you have affinity to Darkness? Plus, long-range magic control isn’t something you can learn overnight.”
The other members of the team eye him as if they’ve been wondering the same thing.
Given the spectacle he’s been putting on, their suspicion is well expected. Alexei had never demonstrated Dark spells before, and even the Flash Princess wasn’t capable of long-range maneuvers when she was still in school.
“I can’t share the details because it’s a family secret, but both are the effects of a specialized magic device. Its existence was meant to be confidential at least until I graduate. However, I decided that the situation was dire enough to warrant its use.”
“Oh! A secret heirloom of the Guberg family? In that case, no wonder we didn’t know about it. And you’ve decided that now is the time to put it to use─well, I’d say that really demonstrates your commitment!” Gullible Number 4 flashes a hearty grin at his leader.
But Number 12 and the other members of the party don’t seem convinced.
Number 1 takes charge. “We’ll fall behind if we stand around here arguing. Let’s keep moving.”
“But I don’t see how we’re going to find the treasure by blindly foraging around.”
“We can deduce its location to some extent,” asserts their commander.
The others frown suspiciously.
“The underground labyrinth is an ancient ruin─ruins are manmade structures. If we profile the architect and trace his thought process, we can predict where certain rooms might be located.”
Alexei already knows the layout. He’s only offering a reasonable-sounding explanation as a cover.
“Once we draft a basic blueprint, we’ll be able to surmise suitable hiding places─hiding places that Headmistress Theresia would find suitable, that is.”
Alexei already has this information, too.
It wasn’t easy to pull one over on the headmistress, but Alexei was able to gather where Mija’s Crystal is hidden.
“I’m sure you have your doubts about this plan. But if we want to move quickly, we’ll have to agree on a strategy. There isn’t much time for debate. Are you willing to trust me on this?”
The rest of the group is silent, unsure how to respond. Finally, one boy grows impatient and shouts, “Fine by me! You’re the leader, Alexei. I trust you!”
The other members follow suit and nod in agreement.
✦ ✦ ✦
Too bad. For a moment there, it felt like there was gonna be a falling out. But in the end, Numbers resolved to move forward as a unified team.
By the way, is it just me or does Alexei-senpai seem to know where the treasure is hidden?
I decide to ask the person next to me.
“Headmistress Theresia, is there any risk that someone could’ve found out the location of this Mija’s Crystal?”
“That’s an interesting question. What do you think? My aim is to give both parties an equal and fair chance, always.”
Dang. Did she somehow find out about our team’s Labyrinth Simulator training?
If so, it’s possible that she’s decided to turn a blind eye to Alexei’s chicanery.
Ms. Zero Tolerance my ass.
Are Char and the gang gonna be in trouble now? I check out their screen.
Char: ‘Nom! This red bean-filled mochi is so yummy♪’
Iris: ‘Such a curious texture! And the black filling inside is sweet and tasty.’
Marianne: ‘I’ve never had anything like this back at the castle. It’s delicious!’
Laius: ‘This tea is good, too. Hard to believe Flay made it…’
Flay: ‘Chomp! Om-nom-nom-nom!’
A tea break?
Laius and Marianne eye Char suspiciously.
The prince whispers, ‘By the way, where did this table and tea set come from?’
His sister replies quietly, ‘It appeared as though she pulled them out of her purse…’
‘But that’s physically impossible…’
Char’s handy dandy “4D Purse” can store anything.
The crew is relaxed and blissful. Before long, even Laius warms up to Char’s mellow vibe and starts savoring the tea and snack.
As far as solidarity goes, they’ve definitely got Numbers beat.
But…are they getting a little too soft? Nah, I should know better than to doubt Char.
At this point, nobody could predict that my little sister’s about to really put the pedal to the metal.
‘May I have one more, please?’ Char asks politely.
Seriously, Char. Can I really trust you?