That night, most of the class had been paired up and assigned rooms. Laughter and muffled chatter filtered through the inn's wooden walls as people settled in with friends or trusted partners. Selena, however, found herself alone.
Not that she minded. Solitude had always been a strange sort of comfort—like an old cloak, worn thin but familiar. It gave her room to breathe, to think, to quietly sort the chaos in her head without anyone watching.
Before retiring to her room, she'd passed Hajime in the hallway. He was lingering outside his door, clearly wrestling with his thoughts. Selena had slapped his shoulder lightly and given him a quick, knowing wink. A silent promise that things would be fine.
He'd tried to smile back, but it was a fragile, strained thing—more a mask for the knot of worry he couldn't quite hide. She didn't push. They were all tense. Tomorrow would be their first dive into the labyrinth, and no amount of pep talk could truly cut through the uncertainty hanging over them like a storm cloud.
Alone in her room, Selena lay atop the thin futon, staring at the wooden beams above. The faint scent of tatami mixed with the cool night air drifting through the paper screen window. She shifted, pulled the blanket up, but sleep didn't come.
Midnight crept closer, the inn settling into stillness—until faint murmurs began to bleed in from the adjacent room. At first, Selena paid them no mind—soft enough to be the usual restless talk between classmates.
But then she caught the gentle creak of a door sliding open, followed by a hushed, distinctly feminine voice. It was faint, but familiar. Kaori.
Selena's brow lifted slightly as the quiet exchange continued. She didn't strain to listen; she didn't need to. The cadence, the warmth in Kaori's tone, and the soft reply that could only belong to Hajime told her enough.
"I believe Kaori is about to have her heart-to-heart with my bro," she overheard, a faint chuckle following the words.
Selena sighed softly, realizing rest wouldn't find her anytime soon. Feeling a strange compulsion, she rose from her bed and quietly made her way down the hall to Shizuku's room. Pausing briefly, she hesitated before knocking softly.
A muffled voice responded from within, tinged with surprise. The door creaked open, revealing Shizuku dressed in casual nightwear, her hair slightly tousled yet framing her face beautifully.
"Hey Shizuku, fancy meeting you here," Selena said awkwardly, her gaze shifting downward as her index fingers nervously twirled around each other.
Shizuku laughed softly, leaning against the doorframe with a teasing smile. "Haha, is that your killer opening line?"
Selena's cheeks flushed deeply, her typically tomboyish and confident demeanor evaporating in an instant. She glanced out of the nearby window to avoid Shizuku's gaze, noticing how the moonlight spilled into the room, softly illuminating it with a gentle, ethereal glow.
"Well, it is a lovely night," Selena murmured, fidgeting slightly, clearly struggling to find words.
"What's on your mind?" Shizuku asked knowingly, sensing Selena's unease and clearly not falling for her weak attempt at small talk.
"Um," Selena began, stumbling over her words as she felt her heart inexplicably quicken. She took a deep breath, desperately searching for something safe to discuss. "Well, do you think Kaori will get into Hajime's heart?" she finally blurted out, grateful for the convenient diversion.
Shizuku tilted her head slightly, examining Selena with thoughtful eyes. "Mmm, well, you know you could always help her out with that."
"Haha," Selena deadpanned immediately, regaining a sliver of her usual sass. "I'm not about to push my friends into something they don't want. If he chooses to respond, that's entirely on him. My job's just to support him."
Shizuku nodded appreciatively, clearly respecting Selena's thoughts. With a gentle smile, she stepped aside, patting the spot next to her on the bed. "Come, sit down."
Selena hesitated only briefly before happily flopping onto the bed, relief washing over her. Shizuku laughed, playfully poking Selena's side. "You're not fooling me, you know."
Selena squirmed slightly under Shizuku's amused gaze, her heartbeat echoing loudly in her ears. Gathering her courage, she reached into her pocket, pulling out a delicate necklace she'd impulsively purchased in town earlier that day. It was a simple pendant shaped like a star, its silver surface catching the moonlight beautifully.
"Here," Selena whispered shyly, her cheeks turning vividly red as she offered the necklace. "I, um, thought you might want to wear this tomorrow—for good luck."
Shizuku looked momentarily startled, eyes widening slightly at the heartfelt gesture. Her expression quickly softened into a gentle smile, though a hint of color rose in her own cheeks. "Are you sure?" she asked softly, clearly uncertain how to gracefully decline such an earnest gift.
"Yeah, please take it," Selena insisted softly, her voice almost pleading as nervousness twisted her stomach into knots. "I want you to have it."
Unable to refuse Selena's hopeful, vulnerable expression, Shizuku gently accepted the necklace, her fingers brushing Selena's briefly. "Thank you, Selena. I'll wear it proudly tomorrow."
Selena's smile brightened instantly, her relief and happiness palpable. "Good! Let's do our best out there."
Shizuku chuckled, shaking her head fondly at Selena's sudden burst of enthusiasm. "Agreed. We'll face whatever comes together."
There was a brief silence as the two girls settled into the moonlit calm. Then Shizuku gave Selena a knowing look. "Alright, what's really bugging you? You've been off since you walked in."
Selena stiffened, her gaze drifting away. "Just last-minute jitters, I guess," she muttered, refusing to meet Shizuku's eyes.
Before Shizuku could press further, the door suddenly burst open.
"Oh, how daring to wear that for Hajime," Selena giggled as Kaori stood in the doorway, eyes wide.
Kaori pointed an accusatory finger. "Don't tell me you're trying to steal my best friend, harlot!"
Selena grabbed a pillow and chucked it at Kaori's face before dashing out of the room. "Goodnight!" she called out over her shoulder, leaving Kaori huffing at Shizuku like she'd been gravely wronged.
Selena closed her door behind her with a laugh, heart still racing from the chaos. She flopped into bed, staring at the ceiling. "Guess I better rest up," she whispered to herself. "Big day tomorrow."
The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, the students gathered in the wide plaza that served as the entrance to the Great Orcus Labyrinth. The stone square was already bustling despite the early hour. Merchants lined the surrounding area with hastily assembled stalls, their voices rising in haggling banter as they peddled weapons, potions, and supplies to any willing adventurer. Prices had surged in preparation for the looming war—an effort to balance profit with preservation. After all, too many dead adventurers before the fighting even began would be a waste of both lives and investments.
The students, still clad in the uniforms of their otherworldly school, stood in uneven lines. Excitement, anxiety, and fear mingled in the air like smoke. Some fidgeted nervously with their weapons. Others whispered among themselves, their voices hushed but charged with nervous energy.
Hajime stood among them, his gaze fixed on the yawning black entrance at the foot of the stairs. It should have been thrilling—his first real dungeon dive—but the moment he saw the ominous archway and the suffocating darkness beyond, something tightened in his chest.
His expression soured slightly, brow furrowed.
Selena, standing beside him, noticed the shift immediately. With a faint smile, she bumped his shoulder, casually but with warmth. "You'll wear out your face if you keep frowning like that," she said softly.
He blinked, then glanced at her. Her golden eyes were playful, but her tone carried reassurance. "Reminds me of Orario," she added. "You know, the city built on top of a labyrinth. Same air—thick with nerves and excitement. Just missing a few gods causing chaos."
Hajime gave a short laugh, the tension easing from his shoulders. "So you've done this before?"
"Something like it," she said with a wink, then patted her stomach. "I even ate double today. Can't go dungeon diving on an empty stomach."
Their light exchange helped distract from the ominous aura of the labyrinth's entrance. But soon enough, Captain Meld called for order, and the students began moving in formation. To Selena's surprise, they did so with surprising coordination—like a trained unit. She narrowed her eyes slightly.
Either they've been drilling harder than I thought, or they're all just too nervous to step out of line.
Meld led from the front, flanked by a few of his knights and Kouki's party. Their group was chosen to lead the descent into the dungeon, and Kouki, ever eager to prove himself, strode with pride.
The atmosphere shifted drastically once they crossed the threshold. The cool air outside turned dense and heavy, filled with the scent of earth and something faintly metallic. The narrow stone corridor of the first floor was barely five meters wide—enough for two people to walk side-by-side, but not ideal for full-party combat.
"This place isn't made for large-scale fighting," Selena muttered, her hand resting on the hilt of her weapon. "More like a kill box."
Meld raised a hand to signal for a stop. "Stay in formation. Kouki's party will engage the first monsters. Watch carefully and learn."
It didn't take long.
Roughly nine minutes into the descent, a red-eyed rat monster, about the size of a dog, scuttled out of the shadows, baring needle-like teeth. Kouki gave the signal, and the mages in his group overreacted. With flares of light and concussive blasts, they launched high-tier spells that obliterated the rat—along with the mana crystal it would have dropped.
Selena raised a brow, unimpressed. "A bit excessive for one rat."
Meld chuckled good-naturedly, waving off the mistake. "It's good to see everyone so eager, but next time, try to preserve the crystals. They're valuable. That said, this is training. Mistakes are expected."
As the floors passed, Kouki's group continued to lead—until the torch passed to the second team. Selena watched Kaori glance toward Hajime with a hopeful smile, clearly still taking the promise she'd made to him seriously. But Hajime, visibly flustered, averted his eyes and stared at the wall like it held secrets.
Kaori's smile faltered, her pout forming instantly. Selena hid a smirk and pulled her bangs back, exchanging a quick smile with Shizuku. Kaori, still harboring feelings from the night before, latched onto her best friend and pulled her away in a huff, dragging Shizuku along without a word.
Selena rolled her eyes fondly. "Girls and drama. Some things never change."
But the levity vanished quickly.
A few of the knights—clearly testing the students' ability to improvise—discreetly released a pair of monsters toward the back of the formation. Hajime and Selena, expecting this, sprang into action. It was part of a plan they'd discussed earlier.
Selena dashed forward, her boots kicking up dust as she led the monsters deeper into the corridor. With graceful footwork, she baited them toward a section where Hajime had quietly set a trap.
The floor gave way.
Both monsters fell into a narrow pit Hajime had carved using Transmute. One managed to latch onto the edge, but before it could recover, Selena moved. Her sword swung down caving into the skull of the monster. As she went to remove it, she found that it was stuck. So with a swift kick, she was able to dislodge her sword while also launching the corpse into the hole. Hajime, without hesitation, moved the earth around the second monster's torso, trapping it in place. Selena walked over to Hajime and held the hilt of her sword towards him. Taking the hilt, Hajime walked over to the trapped monster before stabbing it repeatedly, killing it.
It was over in seconds.
The knights watching from the shadows exchanged surprised glances. They hadn't expected much from Hajime—certainly not this level of coordination or cunning.
"Damn," one of them muttered. "That kid's using his Transmutation like a proper combat style…"
Selena stepped back from the edge of the pit, dusting her hands off. "We make a good team," she said to Hajime.
He offered a small smile. "I'll take that as a compliment."
She glanced back toward the rest of the class, who were still unaware of the brief skirmish.
"We'll let Meld know once we regroup," she said. "But next time, they're going to throw something worse. Be ready."
Hajime nodded. "Always."
"Man, it's hard to keep up those transmutations in quick succession," Hajime panted, leaning forward slightly as he popped a mana pill into his mouth. His chest rose and fell in heavy breaths. "Burns through mana like crazy."
Selena smirked, resting her sword on her shoulder. "Well… now you've got food for thought for the next training session." Her tone was light, almost teasing, but her eyes glinted with pride.
Around them, the assembled knights exchanged murmurs, impressed by the display they had just witnessed. Even the Hero Party, so accustomed to brute force and charging headlong into fights, took note. The bait-and-switch tactics Hajime and Selena employed—pulling enemies out of position, cornering them, and striking with precision—were a far cry from the reckless heroics the students had favored until now.
Ryutarou, Shizuku, and Kaori watched with genuine smiles. To them, it was a relief to see Hajime and Selena doing so well, especially after the class had dismissed them as weak or unreliable.
Not everyone shared that sentiment.
Daisuke's eyes followed the pair like a hawk, jealousy burning in his chest. It grated on him—seeing Kaori's eyes warm with pride for Hajime. He wanted that look for himself. His gaze shifted to Selena, who happened to glance back at him. He met her eyes and gave a faint, mocking sneer.
With all the glaring he does, you'd think he's trying to burn a hole straight through us, Selena thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
As they descended further into the labyrinth, Captain Meld began explaining the use of a magical device called a fairscope. The tool shimmered faintly in his gauntleted hands. "It allows you to detect magic traps embedded in dungeon walls and floors," he said. To demonstrate, he lobbed a rock into a narrow passage; the moment it crossed an unseen boundary, a burst of fire erupted, disintegrating the stone. At other times, he'd casually toss a monster into a trap to activate it, dispatching it instantly.
Hours later, the party reached the 20th floor.
Selena's stomach tightened, a strange mix of anticipation and unease. This is it… She knew this section well enough to suspect what was coming. Her eyes darted along the walls, searching for movement among the rocks.
The moment the last of their group stepped into the passage, it began.
From the shadows above, rock monkeys screeched and hurled filth down onto the frontliners. The knights raised their shields in disgust, blocking the foul projectiles. In the chaos, one of the monkeys hoisted a boulder—not at the frontliners, but at the unguarded backline.
Mid-flight, the boulder split, revealing a twisted, crazed humanoid form with limbs bent at unnatural angles. It dove in a swan-like arc straight toward Kaori.
The backline panicked. Chants faltered. Spells fizzled in the air.
Selena's body moved before thought could catch up. She sprinted forward, sword flashing from its sheath. With a sharp pivot, she stepped into the monster's path, letting its momentum carry it straight into her strike.
Steel met flesh with a wet shhk. The creature's eyes went wide for a fraction of a second before its body split cleanly in two, each half falling away from her on either side. They slid across the stone floor for a short distance, leaving thin trails of dark blood before coming to a stop.
Selena exhaled slowly, already scanning for the next threat.
"Backline, focus!" Meld's voice cracked like a whip, snapping the casters out of their stupor.
Kouki, seeing that his friend was almost in danger, clenched his sword. "You almost hurt Kaori!" he barked at the empty air before turning to the remaining rock monkeys. He began chanting, ignoring Meld's sharp, "Kouki, wait—!"
"Celestial Flash!"
A brilliant arc of light roared through the chamber, obliterating the last few monkeys—and carving a gaping hole in the dungeon wall.
Kouki sheathed his blade and turned, beaming at the girls. "Never fear, ladies. I got them all for you."
Selena's eye twitched. She strode over and rapped him hard on the head with the hilt of her sword. "You idiot. What if that had caused a cave-in?"
Their bickering drew a few chuckles from the knights, but Kaori's attention was elsewhere. She peered up at the newly exposed wall, her expression lighting up. "Ooh… that looks pretty."
A faint glow pulsed from a crystalline formation nestled in the rock.
Meld followed her gaze. "Well, I'll be damned. That's a glanz crystal—and a large one, at that. Quite rare." He stepped forward, examining it closely. "They're often cut for jewelry or crafted into magical components…"
His voice faded into background noise for Selena. Her hand had drifted to her sword's grip, fingers tightening until her knuckles went white. She stared at the crystal, an unspoken weight settling in her chest.