The slashing attack I unleashed while turning around was blocked midway by something.
No one was visible in my field of view. Yet my senses insisted that someone was definitely there...
(Was that a magical barrier that stopped my slash? No... it was something far more advanced than that...)
It should have been difficult for a magical barrier to block my current slash.
Even if it had been a barrier reinforced with my unique ability [Mana Convergence], the result should have been the same.
Yet this thing—something extremely close to a magical barrier—had effortlessly deflected my attack.
Just who was it?
『Seriously, swinging at me out of nowhere—what's your problem?』
While staying on guard and thinking, an unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed inside my head.
I was familiar with the phenomenon of voices resounding in my mind.
It was Selma-san's [Telepathy].
But the sensation just now felt somehow different from [Telepathy].
Was it just because my senses had changed after pushing ki to its limit?
『Swinging at me out of nowhere and then ignoring me? That's harsh. Or wait—did you sense my presence but still can't hear my voice?』
The voice continued to echo in my head.
There was no disturbance in the airflow.
That meant it wasn't using [Hide] to conceal itself.
But when it came to mana, I felt something... alien.
(Hm? Mana...? Could it be—)
"...I can hear you too."
I spoke toward the empty space—toward the presence that was definitely there.
『Oh? Then respond quicker next time. Here I am graciously speaking to you.』
"Are you a fairy?"
In simple terms, a fairy is sentient mana.
Humans cannot perceive mana.
Only those with abilities that interfere with mana—like [Mana Convergence]—can faintly sense it, though the degree varies.
But even then, it's impossible for humans to perceive fairies, which are highly advanced forms of mana.
Because of this, their very existence is uncertain, and in the wider world, fairies that appear in fairy tales are considered fictional.
In fact, fairy tales never explicitly state that fairies are sentient mana.
In my case, because I had Luna—who was uniquely able to communicate with fairies—I was able to learn the truth about their existence.
『...Heh. You figured it out fast.』
The fairy affirmed my murmur.
There was no hostility in its tone.
"Are you an acquaintance of Luna's?"
『Luna...? Ah, you mean Luuko. She's the only human I've ever taken a liking to.』
I had heard from Luna before that there was a fairy who called her "Luuko."
According to Luna, that fairy had fought alongside the Hero of legend against the Evil God and survived. It was said to be the queen who stood at the pinnacle of all existing fairies.
"Then you must be Titania."
『Correct.』
I had heard that Luna had been helped by Titania several times in the past.
From the way this one spoke, it was clearly on Luna's side—but that didn't necessarily mean it was on mine.
Still, I didn't sense any hostility. Maybe I could lower my guard a little.
(I never thought I'd actually have a conversation with a fairy...)
Though the sudden development caught me off guard, I desperately organized my thoughts and accepted the situation.
Maintaining ki activation in parallel was taxing, but unless combat broke out, I felt I could sustain this state.
"Even though it was sudden and surprising, I'm sorry for swinging at you without warning."
『Indeed. But it's fine. I forgive you.』
"Thank you. There's one more thing I'd like to ask—may I?"
『Go ahead. Whether I answer depends on the question.』
"...Lately I've had the feeling of being watched. Was that you watching me?"
『Lately? What are you—oh, I see... Yes, that was probably me.』
Titania seemed to realize something at my question and answered casually.
So the gaze had been Titania's.
But why had it been watching me?
The only major recent event I could think of was that battle with Oliver.
But would a fairy take interest in a human over something like that?
If it was going to take interest in anyone from that incident, wouldn't it be Oliver instead?
The [Mana Convergence] Oliver had displayed back then was so far beyond normal.
"Is watching someone like me really that interesting?"
『Interesting or not—if we're talking about that, then no, it's not. But this is just something to pass the time.』
To pass the time...
Well, fairies live incomparably longer than humans.
Since they're essentially mana, the concept of lifespan might not even apply. It wasn't unthinkable that they could grow bored and seek entertainment.
More importantly—why was I able to converse with a fairy?
I had thought only Luna, with her unique ability [Spirit Dominion], could communicate with fairies.
Was that wrong?
I had first sensed Titania's gaze—meaning I had perceived a fairy—when I activated ki.
Could it be that any human who activates ki can communicate with fairies?
Hart-san hadn't mentioned anything like that, but given his secretive nature, he might have deliberately withheld it.
Luna had told me there were only a handful of fairies in the entire world.
If that was true, the chances of encountering one were practically zero—so perhaps he simply never brought it up.
『Well then, may I ask you something in return?』
As I drifted in my sea of thoughts, Titania spoke up next.
"Sure, if it's something I can answer."
『Why did you take such a dangerous gamble?』
The dangerous gamble—it was referring to [Seal Release].
Indeed, it had been dangerous.
Just because the me in the dream had done it didn't mean the real me could.
I'd had a vague feeling it might work, but I didn't have detailed knowledge and certainly no guarantee.
In the worst case, I could have lost myself like Oliver had that day and gone on a rampage.
Of course, I had judged the risk extremely low and taken countermeasures before attempting it.
"The answer is simple. To become stronger. To never lose to anyone again. To protect what I want to protect—I still need more power. —I don't want to have regrets."
『No regrets? That's impossible.』
The tone of Titania's voice seemed to change after hearing my answer.
"Titania?"
『It's impossible not to have regrets. As long as you live, you will regret things. That's true for fairies and humans alike.』
Titania's powerful voice echoed in my head.
Those words carried the weight of experience.
Perhaps Titania carried some great regret from the past as well.
"...Yeah, you're right. No one lives without regrets. But the 'regrets' I'm talking about aren't the little ones that happen day by day. I mean the total sum—the moment I die."
When I lost to Oliver and faced death, I regretted.
If only I had done this, if only I had done that.
Having experienced that emotion, I became determined never to feel that way again.
I never wanted to go through that again.
"Humans die someday. That's unavoidable. But the path leading up to that end depends on the person. When death comes, I want to face it satisfied with my life. To do that, I have to keep winning. If I die having lost, I will definitely regret it."
『...Die having lost... I see. So that's why my master—』
I couldn't catch the sorrowful murmur that wasn't carried through sound.
"Did something happen?"
『No, it's nothing. As expected, humans can only be understood by humans. One of my questions has been answered.』
When I asked worriedly, Titania returned to its previous tone.
"What do you mean?"
『That's a secret. Well then, I'll go wander off again to find something interesting.』
As Titania said that, its presence gradually faded until I could no longer sense it at all.
Had it gone somewhere?
"...What in the world was that?"
Though the unexpected encounter with a fairy left me bewildered, there was also joy in having spoken with a supernatural being.
Perhaps in the future, I might have contact with fairies other than Titania.
That was something to look forward to—but for now, training ki took priority.
I refocused my mind and continued fighting inside the labyrinth for a while longer.
I still needed to devote a great deal of concentration to maintaining ki, so for now, layered buffs allowed for more advanced combat.
But in this state, I could also use advanced and top-grade magic.
The potential here was clearly higher.
In the long run, I wanted to shift fully to this—so I would keep working hard.
◇
After dawn, I led the members of Twilight Moonbow back to the labyrinth entrance.
"Labyrinth investigation time~! Let's do our best~!"
"Yeah! Let's do our best to help Orun-san!"
"...Master, please guide us."
"Right. As I mentioned briefly earlier, first I'll explain the basics of labyrinth investigation to all of you. After that, we'll move together for a while, but eventually I want Twilight Moonbow to handle the full investigation of an entire floor on your own. Listen carefully with that in mind."
"Yes!!!"
"Luna, please back them up as needed."
"Understood. Basically, let the three of them take the lead and step in if something happens, right?"
"Yeah. Feel free to join in for combat. Once we return to Tsutorail, we'll resume great labyrinth conquest—so it's a good chance to check coordination now."
"Got it. All right, everyone—let's do our best!"
"I'll make sure not to burden Lu-nee too much!"
After finishing what needed to be said, we stepped into the labyrinth.