Chapter 13

Life as an elf is usually boring as hell.

The Great Forest, cradled around the World Tree, is always so abundant that there’s no need to work to sustain life.

Thanks to the energy of the World Tree, there’s no worry about wild beasts or monsters, leaving just a peaceful life of eating and drinking.

Sure, you could hone your martial skills to protect yourself from other races, but that’s mostly the job of soldiers, not ordinary citizens.

Most importantly, since the children of the World Tree and friends of the elves—the Spirits—are around, elves don’t even need to train themselves. A single elf can casually wield firepower surpassing that of an average human mage.

With a lifespan exceeding 1,000 years, each day feels leisurely beyond measure.

A life so peaceful it borders on being monotonously dull.

Mirien was one of the younger elves who grew tired of this boring existence and left the embrace of the Great Forest and the World Tree.

Just outside the Great Forest lay the Great Maze, a mysterious space built by the gods. She decided she’d rather spend her remaining days exploring the maze instead of wasting away in the monotonous forest.

When she first arrived at the nearby town close to the maze, she felt somewhat uneasy.

She kept her long ears hidden under a hood to avoid attention from those who’d leer at her because she was an elf. Even then, due to her elven beauty, swarms of pests followed her, forcing her to cover most of her face, revealing only her jawline.

Had she not met a decent party later on, she might’ve developed a hatred for humans.

One way or another… Life inside the maze never gave her time to be bored.

Endless trials and adventures, with ample rewards to boot.

Life in the maze was far more eventful than the tranquil days in the Great Forest. Simultaneously, she found great satisfaction in it.

Though mixing with other races in her party made her uncomfortable at first, over time she began to develop a sense of camaraderie.

In fact, Hugo, the leader of her current party, wasn’t a bad guy, and Chrome, the grumpy dwarf warrior, had a surprisingly amiable personality, which quickly eased any discomfort.

Living contentedly in the maze, Hugo brought them news one day.

“The Academy has entrusted us with a commission related to testing. We’re supposed to take two students—a mage and a priest—and escort them up to the fifth floor while evaluating their performance.”

“Hmm, from the Academy? Guess we’re finally getting some recognition.”

Labyrinth Academy.

The premier educational institution near the maze, established by humans.

It’s said that influential figures troubled by their children’s insatiable desire for adventure in the maze decided that if they couldn’t stop them, they should at least educate and train them properly to safely navigate the Great Maze.

This ambitious project was funded not only by private investments but also supported by empires and kingdoms, making it an enormous institution.

Because of its size, it evolved into a prestigious center of learning, teaching various subjects and skills beyond just maze exploration, becoming famous as a top-tier academy. For nobles, attending it was essential to uphold family honor, and for commoners, graduating was like stepping into a dream life.

At its core, however, it remained a training ground for aspiring heroes eager to become legends within the maze.

It was also a place where students were tested on maze-related knowledge and practical experience.

One such test involved sending students into the maze with random parties selected by the Academy. The original party members would guide and evaluate the students, assigning scores based on their performance.

Since the students were often precious offspring of noble families, the Academy carefully vetted the participating parties for skill and integrity. Those chosen gained both prestige and substantial payment.

In short, completing the task well meant significant profit.

Occasionally, noble students tried to manipulate evaluations using their status, but the Academy countered this with confession magic, ensuring fair assessments. Plus, protective measures were put in place for the parties, minimizing disputes.

Being chosen for this tradition-rich test was indeed good news.

“Alright, I’ll take that as everyone’s agreement. We’ll meet the Academy students tomorrow and prepare to enter the maze three days from now.”

Everyone agreed, and after meeting the students, they set out for the maze.

The mage and priest students accompanying them this time didn’t exactly inspire confidence. To put it kindly, they were inexperienced beginners oozing lack of self-assurance from the start.

Thinking they wouldn’t earn high marks anyway, Mirien continued deeper into the maze until she spotted someone unusual in the third tier grasslands.

In the middle of the meadow stood a lone man.

Black hair, half-closed eyes revealing nothing, and a strikingly handsome face that made her wonder if she’d ever seen such beauty among her own kind.

Something about him seemed off, radiating an unsettling aura.

Among her party members, she noticed him first.

Simultaneously…

– …!

– “Peeeek! Peeeek!”

– “Whoooooo…”

– “Grrr… Grr…”

Around her, colorful lights flitted about erratically, causing her slight confusion.

‘…The Spirits?’

As both the scout and a powerful Spirit summoner among the elves, Mirien was no ordinary practitioner—she could handle mid-level spirits effortlessly.

But something was different now.

Even though the spirits had been uneasy entering the maze due to the overwhelming presence of Transcendents, they had never fled outright—until now.

Now, they were trembling in sheer terror, desperate to escape.

And the closer they got to the man, the stronger this reaction became.

Hugo suggested they shouldn’t leave him behind, but Mirien felt uneasy.

Beyond his mysterious nature, why were the spirits reacting so strongly?

Did they really have to bring him along?

Though she wanted to stay far away, opposing Hugo’s decision would only disrupt the party’s harmony.

So, despite her inner reluctance, she allowed the man to join without protest.

***

Introducing himself as Yujin, the man remained impeccably polite throughout.

He was considerate of the party’s situation, always smiling and showing respect to others.

Yet, his true intentions remained elusive.

His behavior felt too calculated, almost like an act.

This suspicion was confirmed during a battle later.

‘What is…?’

Just before Chrome, the dwarf warrior, was injured by Eri’s high-grade magic, Mirien saw something extraordinary.

Yujin cast no incantation—just a flick of his hand—and erected a protective barrier around Chrome.

The issue? The mana’s color and power.

An unusual blend of black and red mana, contrasting sharply with the usual blue hue.

And as an elf attuned to natural energies, Mirien sensed it immediately.

‘…!’

Overwhelming mana radiated from him, oppressive and tyrannical.

For the first time, she understood.

This was what terrified the spirits.

***

Afterward, Mirien covertly monitored Yujin.

Not exactly spying, but checking for anything suspicious.

During camp preparations, he merely collected magical herbs, and afterward, showed no suspicious behavior.

But his normalcy only deepened her suspicions. Why would someone with such immense power act so ordinary?

Why did he join their party in the first place? What was his real motive?

While pondering these questions, it was time to assign watch duties.

With the new member, they paired up for two-hour shifts. Mirien and Yujin ended up together.

Perfect timing. She couldn’t confront him with the whole party around, but alone? No problem.

Thus, she decided to take a bold step.

Though she’d soon realize it was a mistake.

***

“What are you?”

“…”

She pressed a cold dagger against his throat.

A tense situation where anyone would feel the threat to their life.

A blade at his neck, capable of cutting it with the slightest movement.

Yet, his expression remained calm. His eyes still concealed, his smile unwavering.

As if everything was going exactly as planned.

She disliked his composure. Why was he so relaxed?

He spoke.

“Is this how elves usually greet people?”

“!”

His words pierced through her disguise.

She had hidden all telltale signs of being an elf, even covering most of her face.

How did he know?

“Haha, well, maybe it’s just because you’re so beautiful I couldn’t help but assume.”

But Yujin smoothly deflected, irritating her further.

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“Joking… Ah, yes, you’re right.”

With that, he flashed a meaningful smile.

“If I were to play a ‘prank’ here, would it lighten the mood a bit?”

“What? What are you…”

“『Isolation』.”

A word incomprehensible to her.

As if speaking an alien tongue, he uttered it, and the world shifted.

BOOM!

“….!”

Everything turned pitch black. It felt like stepping into a canvas painted entirely in black.

Despite the darkness, the man before her remained vividly clear, even without any light source.

At the same time, the spirits disappeared. Only Yujin and Mirien existed in this space.

“Mu, wha…!”

“Haha, you have an interesting expression there.”

He calmly pushed down the dagger she held to his throat with his index finger.

Despite the seemingly light action, she felt an immense force pressing against her.

‘What kind of… power?’

Was he even a mage? Her arm trembled uncontrollably, feeling as if a massive weight had been placed on the blade.

“Much better now that the threatening atmosphere is gone. How about we have a proper conversation without threats?”

Threatening atmosphere gone? Was he unaware—or mocking her—that he had created a far more intimidating one?

He continued speaking.

“First… Ah, yes. You asked how I knew you were an elf, right?”

“Guh…!”

“Simple. Though I don’t know much about elves, I sensed the spirits. The ones hovering around you earlier. I recognized them instantly, even though it was my first time seeing them.”

Recognized the spirits? That meant he knew she was an elf from the start since they were always around her.

“I’ve heard that spirits are commonly associated with elves… And your energy felt distinctly different from other races. A refreshing, natural aura and purer mana compared to humans—it reminded me of what I’d heard about elves.”

“….!”

“And besides, my senses are quite sharp. Covering your ears with a hood isn’t enough to hide the distinct features of an elf.”

In other words, it was obvious she was an elf. Her face flushed.

“And… Ah, you also asked what I am, correct?”

The man smiled leisurely and addressed her.

“Want to take a guess?”

“…What?”

“Go ahead. Tell me who you think I am.”

As he spoke, he slowly opened one eye.

“….!!!”

Her entire body froze.

Yujin’s partially opened eye revealed itself.

A crimson pupil, blood-red like the ocean of death.

Its hypnotic allure was mesmerizing.

And terrifying.

Etched into those blood-red pools were vertical slits resembling reptilian eyes, staring directly at her.

SSSSHHHH…

Pitch-black mana swirled around them. Its regal and authoritative presence weighed heavily upon her, making her feel as if she were being crushed.

SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE…

The Dragon’s Fear aura consumed her reason. Her body trembled uncontrollably.

The man… it… raised a finger to its lips and whispered.

“Tell me who I am. You already know the answer, don’t you?”

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