"...Well, this is unexpected."

What a ridiculous situation.
After entering a Gate, I found a door bearing the exact same inscription as a trap room from the game. Stepping through it, I ended up in a labyrinth straight out of the game itself.

How was I supposed to process this?

"The rest of the squad… doesn’t seem to be here. Did I get separated from them?"

Speaking with the polite tone that had become second nature to him, Yujin stood and surveyed his surroundings.

‘If it’s like in the game… there’s no way there’s an exit, is there?’

In the game, this was a place you only accessed through a trap room. There was no conveniently designed escape route.

Moreover, the game had a return system—a feature that allowed you to leave the labyrinth, even from a trap room. Most players simply used it when they ended up in one.

‘The problem is that I can’t do that.’

For Yujin, the return system was off-limits.

In the game, the return system was a blessing granted only to those who entered through the labyrinth’s official entrance. It was said to be a mercy bestowed by the gods to ensure mortals could survive and return.

But Yujin hadn’t entered through the labyrinth’s entrance—he’d come through some mysterious door in a Gate.

Even if it had been the entrance, there was no sign he’d received any sort of blessing. In the game, receiving the blessing was marked by a glowing tattoo on the back of your hand.

And Yujin’s hand was clean—completely unmarked.

"This is… inconvenient."

He didn’t have any particular reason to cling to life, but drying up and dying in an unknown place wasn’t exactly how he’d planned to go.

Determined to find something, anything, Yujin began searching his surroundings.

The space was vast, filled with countless stone coffins and bones, but little else.

"If I’d known this would happen, I might have paid more attention in the game."

Even his phone was gone. All he had were the clothes and equipment he’d been wearing when he entered.

Letting out a long breath, Yujin moved forward. While he could have inspected the other coffins, the altar nestled within the rib-like structure of bones caught his eye first.

He decided to check that out.

As he approached the altar, Yujin saw something resting atop it.

"...What’s this?"

It was a gem-like object radiating a dark crimson energy.

Its surface scattered a beautiful red glow outward, while its core seemed to absorb light like a black hole—a swirling abyss.

Drawn to it as if hypnotized, Yujin stepped closer.

When he reached the altar, he placed his hand on the gem-like object.

『At last, you’ve arrived.』

"!?"

A voice echoed.

It was dignified, almost tender, and sweet enough to melt one’s brain.

Suppressing his surprise, Yujin stared at the object under his hand.

"...Who are you?"

『Hoh? I’m impressed. Most mortals would be panicked and defensive right now… but you, child, you’re remarkably composed.』

“Haha… well, encountering the inexplicable isn’t a common experience, but it’s not entirely new to me, either.”

Forcing a smile, Yujin responded. The voice, sounding amused, continued.

『Interesting… child, may I ask you a question?』

“If it’s something I can answer, I’d be happy to oblige.”

『Hehe… very well. Then, child, who do you think I am?』

Yujin fell silent for a moment.

Who was the owner of this voice, speaking through the gem-like object? And what was this thing, anyway?

It wasn’t like any gemstone he’d ever seen—its beauty resembled the cosmos itself, yet it emanated an ominous energy.

Yujin looked up.

Surrounding the altar were massive, arch-like structures of bone.

And then, the name of this place came to mind.

Finally, Yujin spoke.

"...Tiamat."

In Maze Academy, Tiamat was the leader of the dragons, a transcendent figure during the ancient war of the gods. This tomb was named for her.

『...Hah… Ahahahaha!』

At the mention of her name, the voice laughed.

It was a clear, ringing laughter, full of genuine amusement.

『Ahahaha… yes, you’re perceptive and quick-witted. I like that.』

"...That’s an honor, I suppose."

It was as good as a confirmation.

The voice had essentially declared itself to be Tiamat.

A being regarded as the god among gods in the history of Maze Academy.

She asked,

『Hehe… but doesn’t it surprise you, child? That the owner of this voice you hear was once the leader of an entire race in the war of the transcendent beings?』

"...It is surprising, this whole situation, really."

Then again, entering a space from a game was already beyond comprehension. At this point, Yujin figured it was easier to accept things as they came.

That was his reasoning as he spoke, but Tiamat’s voice still carried curiosity.

『Truly remarkable. How can you remain so calm, even as you face me? Or is it that the remnants of a defeated being in a long-forgotten war don’t impress you?』

“It’s not that. It’s just… humans tend to become calm when confronted with things beyond their understanding. It feels… unreal, I suppose.”

『No, child. You are different. Your heart is so still, so peaceful… almost as though you’ve emptied it entirely.』

"......"

"Is that so?"

Though Yujin thought of himself as nothing special, hearing such words from a being of immense power made him reconsider.

『You’re fascinating. After all these long years spent dormant in this tomb, the one who finally arrives is far more interesting than I expected.』

"I don’t know how long you’ve been here, but if you’ve been asleep since the Great War, anyone showing up might seem interesting to you."

『Haha, perhaps. But if they acted too much like ordinary mortals, I’d grow bored quickly. It might be entertaining at first, but predictability sets in soon enough.』

"That’s probably true."

A life where everything is predictable sounded dreadfully dull, and Yujin nodded in agreement.

『By the way… child, what is your name?』

"My name?"

『Yes, consider it an honor. When a transcendent asks a mortal for their name, it’s because they deem them worthy of being remembered.』

Yujin fell silent for a moment before speaking.

"Yujin… Han Yujin."

『Han Yujin?』

"Yes. Is that strange?"

『Hmm… Yujin is your given name, and Han is your family name?』

"That’s correct."

『I see. Your appearance does resemble that of an Easterner. Are you, by chance, part elf?』

"If you mean elves, like the forest dwellers, no. I have no connection to them."

Elves—often referred to as forest spirits—were humanoid beings known for their beauty and longevity. They were the stuff of legend, and on Earth, they simply didn’t exist. Naturally, Yujin couldn’t possibly be part elf.

『I see. Still, compared to other mortals, your skin is fair, and you’re quite… cute.』

"C-Cute…?"

It had been a long time since anyone besides his parents had called him cute—and that was when he was a child. Could his appearance have changed in this new world?

Yujin pondered the idea, but his appearance hadn’t changed at all. Even in his past life, he was someone people avoided due to his inscrutable demeanor and suspicious aura, but his looks were objectively flawless.

Dragons, while having different aesthetic preferences, shared a general understanding of beauty. Just as humans could find cats or dogs cute, dragons could recognize what was attractive in mortals.

To Tiamat, Yujin was particularly handsome.

"Well… thank you, I suppose."

『I’m simply stating what I see. By the way, child, do you have any questions for me?』

"Questions…?"

Yujin considered her offer. The fact that she was casually allowing him to ask questions suggested she might genuinely find him interesting—or that she’d been terribly bored.

"First… what is this thing?"

Yujin gestured to the gem-like object he’d placed his hand on.

"When I touched this, I heard your voice, Tiamat. But…"

『Ah, that.』

"Yes. I can tell it’s no ordinary item, but I’m not sure what it is."

At his inquiry, Tiamat responded nonchalantly with an unexpected answer.

『It’s my heart.』

"…Your heart?"

This gem-like object was her heart? Its appearance and composition seemed far removed from any heart Yujin had ever seen.

Sensing his skepticism, Tiamat elaborated.

『A dragon’s heart isn’t like that of other creatures. It’s often called a "core"—an organ that generates infinite magical power. It’s the source of a dragon’s abilities, their very essence.』

"I see… That’s extraordinary. And to think, this is the core of the leader of dragons."

The heart—no, the core—was the source of a dragon’s powers.

"Then why did touching your heart allow me to hear your voice, Tiamat?"

『…Hmm?』

"…Is something wrong?"

Sensing her hesitation, Yujin asked. Tiamat replied,

『It’s nothing. I’m just surprised. You called it extraordinary, yet rather than coveting it, you’re simply curious about how it connects us. Most mortals would’ve already claimed it as the greatest treasure of all.』

"Haha… coveting something beyond one’s means is the shortest path to an early grave. Besides, since it’s connected to you, Tiamat, I’d be wary of any punishment that might follow if I took it carelessly."

『Even so, most would feel at least a flicker of greed. Yujin… you truly are fascinating.』

Tiamat’s tone seemed to grow warmer, as though her interest in Yujin had deepened.

『Hmm… right, you were asking why you can hear my voice. It’s simple—I sealed my soul into my heart before I died.』

"A seal…?"

『During the Great War, I was defeated, and my body ultimately perished. But I couldn’t just let myself die quietly. Even if I accepted my defeat, I wanted to ensure there was a future to prepare for.』

In other words, Tiamat had survived by sealing her soul into her heart, planning for the future even in defeat.

『I intended to pass my heart to whoever found my tomb—provided they proved themselves worthy of following me. By consuming my heart, they would become a new dragon. A dragon’s heart is the source of all their power. Whoever consumed it would inherit my strength, becoming a dragon with unparalleled potential.』

"I see."

She wanted to create a new dragon by entrusting her heart to a loyal follower. That made sense.

"But I’m curious—if someone consumes your heart, how do you ensure their loyalty? It feels like simply following you might not be enough."

『...?』

"Is something wrong?"

Yujin noticed Tiamat’s moment of confusion. She asked,

『Did you hear everything I said?』

"Yes, I did."

『Whoever takes my heart becomes a dragon. Even a mortal can ascend to the level of a transcendent being.』

"Yes, I understand."

『…And you still don’t want it? You’ve practically met the conditions already.』

"But I don’t follow you, Tiamat."

Tiamat had said she would give her heart to someone who followed her, transforming them into a new dragon. But Yujin wasn’t her follower.

Meeting the conditions seemed dubious at best. Yujin had no desire to become a transcendent being.

He had no lofty ambitions. His ideal life was retiring before 30, growing bonsai trees, and living peacefully until the end.

He had no reason to aim for power or transcendence, just as he had no reason to seek death.

For Yujin, being a transcendent or a dragon was irrelevant.

『......』

Tiamat had no words. For the first time, she was rendered silent.