NoveLight ™
"The Second Princess, Your Highness?"
Hugo spoke with surprise, and it was understandable...
"Isn't that some kind of misunderstanding? The Second Princess, Your Highness, is renowned for her martial prowess, capable of personally venturing into labyrinths. Moreover, even if something unfortunate were to happen, as a member of the royal family, the Saint or Saintess could be summoned to heal her."
Indeed.
Elicia von Arcedium, the Second Princess, was the bloodline of the emperor of the Arcedium Empire, the most powerful nation on the Western Continent.
Her talent in martial arts was so exceptional that it was said even the captains of the royal knights couldn't best her.
For someone so strong to fall ill? Even if it were true, the Second Princess was by no means neglected by the royal family. If there were a problem with her health, they would undoubtedly summon a Saint or Saintess to heal her. If not, they could always consult the royal archives.
Yet, the rumors of her condition persisted... It was hard to believe. Eri spoke up again.
"It's just a rumor, but it’s not entirely baseless... After returning from the labyrinth, the Second Princess briefly left the academy to return to the palace. Since coming back, she hasn’t appeared much in public."
"Hmm..."
"The last people to see Her Highness after her return said she was covering one of her eyes, as if she had lost it. That’s all I know. The royal family has silenced anyone who might know more."
"Silenced them?"
"Yes. They wouldn’t admit it outright, but you can tell from the circumstances. People sense there’s something going on. And considering Her Highness did return to the palace after her journey to the labyrinth, it adds weight to the speculation..."
"So, people believe the Second Princess might be unwell, but they dare not investigate further for fear of royal retaliation. Hence, it remains an open secret."
Yujin’s remark made Eri flinch, her complexion slightly pale, but she nodded in agreement.
"Yes... that’s why, when I heard about a panacea, I immediately thought of Her Highness..."
"Hmm, I see."
This was news to Yujin as well. He was, after all, a novice when it came to the game Maze Academy.
Perhaps progressing through the story would have revealed these details, but frankly, it wasn’t something Yujin concerned himself with.
Somewhere in the world, someone was dying every day. Even if the rumors about the princess were true, from Yujin’s perspective, she was just another among them.
The only difference was that unlike those who vanished without a name, she held a position so high that everyone knew her.
As Yujin dismissed the thought, the dwarven warrior Crom spoke up.
"Haha! If that’s true, maybe this friend here could cure the princess’ illness! After all, the name is 'panacea,' so it must be worth something!"
It was an abrupt statement that caught everyone off guard.
Eri protested.
"Mr. Crom, what are you suddenly talking about..."
"What? Did I say something strange? It could very well happen. Didn’t Hugo here ask earlier if his goal was to make a panacea? If that’s true, then it’s not impossible, is it?"
Crom seemed to be speaking as if he were making a casual joke over drinks. Yujin responded with a laugh.
"Haha, that’s a bit of an overstatement. I’m just an ordinary mage, and the panacea was just an analogy, not an actual goal."
"Hmm, I see. That’s a pity."
Whatever he meant by “a pity,” Yujin just smiled lightly.
In any case, as the atmosphere settled and everyone finished their meal, Hugo spoke.
"Then, let’s get ready for sleep. What about the night watch?"
"How about pairing up, since the academy ladies are with us today? It feels a bit risky to have just one person on watch at a time."
Crom’s suggestion, though blunt, wasn’t met with much opposition. Eri and Shia exchanged sheepish smiles but didn’t argue.
"Then let’s go with Crom’s suggestion... but since there are seven of us, one person will be left out."
The party consisted of:
With seven people, pairing up would leave one person unaccounted for.
"Ah, then I can take the watch twice," Yujin offered, stepping forward. Ever since becoming a dragon, he no longer needed sleep.
"Would you really do that?"
"Considering how much accommodation I’ve already received, it’s no problem for me," Yujin replied with a light smile to Hugo's question.
"Thank you, Yujin. In that case, we just need to assign the pairs… hmm…"
Hugo glanced between Eri and Shia. It was clear neither of them had experience keeping watch, so pairing them together wouldn’t be ideal.
He considered pairing one of them with himself or Mirien. However, as the party leader, Hugo was perceptive enough to notice that while they were all women, Eri and Shia didn’t seem particularly at ease around Mirien.
It was likely due to Mirien’s taciturn nature, as she rarely spoke except when necessary. Perhaps it would be better for Hugo or Crom to pair with them—or even Yujin.
Yet, Eri and Shia seemed even more uneasy or uncomfortable around Yujin than they were with Mirien. In that case...
"Here’s how we’ll do it. Eri will pair with Crom, I’ll pair with Shia, and Yujin can take turns with Mirien and Hans."
This arrangement put Eri with Crom, with whom she seemed to have developed some rapport, and Shia with Hugo. Meanwhile, Yujin would alternate between Mirien and Hans for his watch shifts.
"Does anyone have any objections?"
"...No."
"I’m fine with it."
"I-I think it’s okay."
"Me too… um, I’m fine with it."
"Well, I’m okay with it as well."
"Haha, then let’s all do our best."
And so, the watch schedule was set.
Before long, the group settled in for the night…
***
As Yujin was taking two shifts, he was assigned the last one—or more specifically, the third watch.
He would first keep watch alongside Mirien during the third shift, then pair with Hans during the fourth, and finally depart with the group the following morning.
Hugo had made sure to spare Yujin from the most grueling second watch as a gesture of consideration.
After lying down for a brief rest...
"Yujin, it’s your turn," Hugo gently roused him. Yujin, with his heightened senses and mental acuity, woke up almost instantly.
"Haha, thank you for waking me."
"It’s nothing. Good luck with the watch."
With that, Yujin stepped outside while Hugo headed to wake Mirien, who was asleep in a corner of the tent.
Outside, Yujin took a moment to breathe in the cool night air before settling into a folding chair near the tent.
...Rustle.
After a short while, he heard the sound of someone stepping out of the tent. Looking up, he saw Mirien emerge, her hood pulled low over her face.
"......"
As she stepped outside, Mirien fixed her piercing blue eyes on Yujin from beneath her hood. After a moment of silence, she took a seat on another folding chair beside him.
"Did you get a good rest? The third watch can be just as grueling as the second," Yujin remarked.
"......"
Mirien said nothing, her silence cold and resolute. Yujin, undeterred, kept his relaxed demeanor, gazing ahead with a faint smile.
And then—
Shing.
"...Who are you?"
"Hmm?"
Her sudden question was accompanied by the chill of cold steel pressing against his neck.
Yujin calmly turned his head to the side.
"...What are you?"
"......"
Mirien’s icy gaze bore into him, colder than a winter storm. In one hand, she held a dagger, the blade poised against his throat.
"......"
Yujin, still smiling, met her glare without flinching. He finally spoke.
"Is this how elves customarily greet people?"
"!?"
At his words, Mirien’s eyes wavered.
"Elf"—a term referring to one of the Aein races, also known as the forest folk.
A race blessed by nature, renowned for their longevity and their beauty, often exceeding that of humans.
At the mention of the word, Mirien pressed the dagger closer against his neck.
"How do you know that?"
Her words, though sharp, were an admission—a confirmation of her identity as an elf.
Yujin chuckled lightly.
"Haha, who knows? Perhaps I just thought so because you’re so breathtakingly beautiful."
His glib remark made Mirien scowl, her elegant brows knitting together as she leaned in closer, her expression threatening.
"Do I look like I’m joking?"
"A joke, you say... Ah, yes."
At the mention of the word "joke," Yujin’s smile deepened into something enigmatic.
"If I were to play a little 'joke' here, do you think it might lighten the mood?"
"What? What are you—"
"『Isolation』."
Boom!
"...!"
In an instant, the world changed.
The entire space turned black, as though someone had drenched a blank sheet of paper in pitch-black ink.
There was nothing around them—just Yujin and Mirien, standing alone.
Despite the absence of light, their forms stood out vividly, impossibly clear in the void.
"W-What...!"
"Haha, that’s quite the expression you’ve got there."
Yujin had risen from his seat at some point. With a deliberate motion, he pressed a finger against the dagger in Mirien’s hand, gently pushing it down as he continued speaking.
"This takes care of the threatening atmosphere, doesn’t it? Now, how about we have a civil conversation without any needless intimidation?"
His smile remained unchanged, serene yet unnervingly confident.