Capítulo 45: Solo Play (2)
'Witch of the Freeze'. The place where Noah von Trinity transported prospective students via [Forced Transmission]. It has a special name.
It's called [Noah's Pre-Fab Labyrinth].
The reason. Because Noah can rebuild it as she pleases.
However, contrary to its toy-sounding name.
With the freedom to place demons, traps, and more, it's safe to say that this is a more dangerous place than a regular dungeon.
For one thing, it's a huge island, about 1500 square kilometers in size.
The second is that its structure changes only in response to Noah's magic.
In one of the scenarios, there is a section that focuses on this labyrinth....
That's where you first see Noah get angry, and you can't say things like "small" or "kid" in front of her.
At least not in front of a deployment that would risk its life over a trivial joke.
'Noah is dangerous, but she can be a great ally if you handle her right.'
Of course, at first, Noah and I won't get along too well.
I'm the noble spawn of a scheming duke, and winning her over is likely to be a more arduous process than you might think.
But I know this from hundreds of runs and 27 clears.
Of all the characters in Inner Lunatic, there are three swordsmen and four sages.
That they are not to be turned against in any way.
They are as close as you can get to a monster that is impossible to defeat. If you antagonize them now, not at the end of the scenario, you will not die gracefully.
...Now that I think about it, I'm reminded of my own past.
The me that stood up to Theo and told him to stay away from my people.
I must have been crazy back then, I think.
'By the way, he seems to be following along.'
I cut off the thought and use my magic to sense the feeling.
For the record, I'm being followed. You glance behind you and see a girl with light blue hair.
The one who failed the first test and was carried away on a stretcher.
In other words, she was one of those who couldn't make it through the [forced transmission] and collapsed and was taken out.
You might be thinking, "Is she a spy?"….
During the first main story, it's extremely unlikely.
That person's real identity is the Dean. Noah von Trinity.
She just wants to see the talent of the prospective students.
She's also following them in plain sight to see if they can sense her…?
Anyway, I'm not particularly interested in her peeping.
Right now, my priority was to get deeper inside and head upwards quickly.
'I can feel the air getting colder.'
As expected from the Frost Witch, her magic of the [Transmission] class had a trace of ice in it. As you climb higher into the forest, a chill seeps into the air.
[Talent 'Amphibian Chill' comes into play].
[Player's all stats drop and movement slows].
"I knew it…."
This damned sickly Nox body never fails me.
It's not like it's just a little bit cold, you can tell by the way he breaks out with [Crippling Chill].
How can a human body do this….
I couldn't be bothered to think about it, so I lightly raised my magic power.
Boom!
(Hwaleug)
[The negative trait is temporarily alleviated].
[Player's stats are restored].
I use my practiced [Fire] to light the way with warmth.
It's dark in the den I followed the kobolds into, so it's not too bad.
It's comfortable, but… I wonder if it's a bit of a mana drain.
But it shouldn't be a problem.
I've played enough games to know that I'll be at the top of the island soon enough.
Meanwhile, the Dean, disguised as a girl with light blue hair, is following Nox cautiously.
Noah was trailing behind him at full speed.
'He wasn't even knocked out by my magic, and he's already learned to articulate… I think we've got a more interesting kid than I expected, but… the top floor. I wonder if it's possible to be so relaxed after knowing what's at the bottom…!! I'm looking forward to this…!!'
Noah gave a small laugh with an excited look on her face.
* * *
"Hmph… It seems like it's going to be difficult for us to outrun all the demonic beasts, Princess, why don't you take a break for a while…?"
One of the team members from the Noble Faction party said with a glance.
A party composed entirely of nobles. Each and every one of them was quite talented, but they were not used to traveling around the island and climbing mountains like this.
As a result, they are slow and suffer from low stamina.
The nobles don't say it, but that's what most of them are thinking.
The only one who remained unaffected was Talia.
She hadn't neglected her training as a knight, so it was possible.
"Oh, there's something moving over there…!"
"We'll have to check it out, everyone, stay alert. It could be a demon."
Talia nodded at Echidna's words and walked ahead. She swallowed hard as she cautiously approached the bushes.
She swallowed hard as she crept closer and closer to the source of the rustling.
Tense, not knowing what might jump out at her.
'Stay calm… If I stay calm, I'll be able to do anything, I've been training so hard…!'
But her thoughts were cut short. What popped out was enough to startle Talia. Talia's butt hit the ground with a thud.
"Hmph! It's a, it's a, it's a spider…!"
A large, jet-black spider leapt out of the grass.
Expecting an enemy, they dropped their weapons with a sinking feeling.
Talia was horrified to see the spider almost cling to her face.
Echidna clapped a hand to her face.
"Hah… I forgot, you've always been afraid of spiders...."
"Oh, no… that's… I thought I was all right now...."
"A would-be knight is afraid of spiders, I'm worried."
Echidna let out a small sigh. Talia watched her anxiously.
But contrary to what Talia thought, Echidna didn't see her as a burden at all. For now, she had no one else to trust but Talia.
The nobles here. They'd been brought in for their own sifting and selection, but only for their backgrounds and magical talents.
Talia longed to be a knight, so she worked hard at her training, but others were not so stubborn.
Most of them had a modicum of knightly training, swinging a sword or poring over magical theories.
As a result, they lacked the stamina to climb mountains and quickly tired of dealing with enemies. Their pathetic demeanor prompted them to ask for a break.
It was a terribly impolite thing for those entrusted with escorting the Empress to say.
"Ridiculous, that will not do."
Echidna said, shaking her head.
"No, no. I can't. I haven't found the jewels I was looking for yet, and the Princess should always be given only the finest. There is still time."
Her dark pink hair fluttered. In contrast to her warmly colored hair, her stubborn tone was as cold as ice.
The noble boy who had spoken up immediately dropped his head.
Penelope shook her head in concern.
"That's… I'm fine, Echidna. If others are having a hard time, we can stop here…."
"No, I'm sure you'll make good progress if you try harder, and there really isn't much left now, is there?"
The color of the gem they currently obtained was purple.
The highest grade except for black.
But Echidna was not satisfied.
"Somehow, I have to get Princess Penelope the best one possible.
She had a kind of compulsion. To put Penelope at the top. To put her in the best seat in the house.
Penelope, a good girl by nature, seemed to think it didn't matter what she did in the exams… but Echidna couldn't allow it.
What is an emperor, what is a princess, what is an empress?
A benevolent being, a beacon of light for others.
And a vassal who is loyal to them.
It is her duty to advise Penelope.
'I may be loyal, but the current state of the Arkheim Empire is rotten to the core… House Xenos and the Empire need an ally. An ally like you, Princess Penelope!'
Therefore, she supported Penelope.
Only she could restore the Empire to its former glory, and to do so, she must stand at the top.
Up there, where no one else can look up.
"Let me escort you, Princess Penelope, please."
Echidna said, slicing through the small demon that stood in her way.
Penelope followed her, shaking her head with a somewhat bitter expression.
* * *
[You have reached the top of 'Noah's Prefab Labyrinth'].
I exhaled lightly, extinguishing the flame in my hand.
I look around and see the view from the top of the mountain.
I can clearly see a field frozen white by the freezing magic. This is the top of the mountain, and the end of the prefab labyrinth, just as the system described.
This is the location of the most difficult boss in this scenario.
The boss monster is an Ice Troll.
It is rumored to be a frosty creature with a tough life force.
Krrr....
(Keuleuleu)
I start to hear the voices of 'them' around me.
I slowly pulled my sword out of subspace and struck out.
The flowing motion became quite natural. I guess I'm finally getting used to this damn world.
…I'm afraid that's not good news.
Grunt.
(Seuleung)
'One on the left, one on the right… and one on the ground.'
It doesn't take long to identify the three enemies.
I'm starting to get a better feel for the enemies, whether it's because of the increase in my magic stats or the aftermath of studying magic in earnest.
Apparently, I wasn't wrong about magic being an advanced discipline.
If I continue to improve my skills, I'll be able to do better in future battles, which is definitely a good thing for me.
Boom!
(Kuung)
Just as I'm thinking this, the mace of the Ice Troll rumbles through the ground.
I feel the ground shake and my vision falters for a moment.
But my genius trait quickly adapts to the situation, and I activate my skills to awaken my combat senses.
I can see things I normally can't. Even the enemy's attack trajectory is clearly etched on my retina.
'Good. At this rate, I won't have to use [Time of Genius] until it appears.'
That's a good thing.
I've revealed my full hand, and there's someone watching my every move closely.
Noah von Trinity.
The Dean, who should have left long ago to attend to the others, continues to stare at me.
Why? I've never seen anything like it in the Inner Lunatic before.
I don't understand, but in the midst of battle, you can't afford to be distracted.
The intersecting enemy attacks are relentless.
Before I knew it, another Ice Troll appeared from my left, this one with a mace.
The two of them are attacking me as if in unison.
But I leap lightly and power up my sword in midair.
Chae-ae-ang!
I use my strength to deflect their attacks with precision.
Thud!
(Kung)
Both maces unexpectedly crash to the ground covered in pure white ice. Grinning, I slowly begin to energize the hand that grips my sword.
As I had practiced earlier, I summoned my primary element, Darkness, into one hand… and transferred it to the blade. The whole process takes only a fraction of a second.
A natural process, like the flow of water.
Afterward, the sword glows with black energy, lashing out at the enemy.
I dropped to the ground and swung the black sword at the creatures, who were slow to attack as they drew their blunt weapons.
[Ebony Dawn].
The light flashes and darkness cascades over the pure white ice.
The flash of light pinpointed the foe's location and slashed at it twice.
[You have slain an Ice Troll].
[You have killed an Ice Troll].
CRACK…!
(Kwag)
But at that moment, the icy floor creaked, signaling an ominous harbinger of the battle to come. Just as suddenly.
Crack, crack, crack!
(kwakwakwakwa)
A beast rose up.
I already knew this one, so I reacted immediately.
A wyrm.
This one must have been hibernating… What should I do?
I've dealt with you guys before.
The wyrm's snakelike, slithering form slithers toward me.
The sight of it baring its teeth is disgusting, but I don't panic.
It continues.
Ziing…!
(jiing)
My sword sweeps in an arc, slicing through the night sky as it seeks the beast's blood.
A faint smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, and with that…
[Ebony Dawn]
[Ebony Dawn]
[Ebony Dawn]
Once again, the skill shines through.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
(seogeog)
What followed was an indiscriminate sword dance.
It took two minutes at most to take down all the enemies.
Thud!
(Kung)
The bodies of all three demons collapsed to the ground.
'That's how long it took… Good, we should be good to go.'
It was an encouraging result for someone who didn't use [Genius Time].
"Not bad."
I mutter to myself.
"Not bad," I mutter to myself, as if to someone who will be watching me from behind.
The moment I say it, I wonder why.
From somewhere, I heard a crunching sound of ice.
In that moment, I realized.
I realized that my plan had worked.
I thought, 'Okay, I've got that out of the way. Now all that's left is for the hero to break the main story and save the heroine….'
That's when I slowly started thinking.
Suddenly, I broke out in a cold sweat, and my body began to stiffen.
There was one fatal blind spot in my premise and plan.
"While I was looking through my insights, was there a guy who seemed to be the main character?
....
....
'Uh… No way.'
How could there be no protagonist in a game world?
Even if I tried to think positively about my maximized luck stats, this was an unprecedented event, to say the least.
How could I expect to see an ending in a world without a protagonist?
Inner Lunatic is a difficult game to play, even with all the perks.
It's rare to find someone who has cleared it, and even if I'm a dead person, there's a line. This isn't it… really.
Anxiety washes over me, making me dizzy.
I crossed my arms and pondered for a while, finally shaking my head and concluding.
On second thought, it looks like I'm still f*cked.
Oh, wait, didn't I recite a mantra before I went into battle?
'I am f*cked.'
I recited the belated incantation and began to quickly analyze the situation.
Pulling out the black gem from the heart of the defeated worm, I pondered for a moment. I think I'm in trouble…?
Without the hero, who the hell is going to save the heroine…!
I replied to myself with a dumbfounded expression.
Of course it's me, dammit.
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