Sword Saint Story: Starting from Zero Attack Power ~After being abandoned by my childhood friend, the princess, I enrolls in a magic school and ends up making a contract with the Demon Lord~ Volume 1 Chapter 1

Chapter 1:Eugene goes to the Academy

About a year ago.

“No way… My talent is only ‘white magic’…?”

I muttered in a daze from the platform.

The ‘Selection Trial’ of the Glenflare Empire’s Military Academy.

In the empire, where one is considered an adult at fifteen, passing the Selection Trial allows a student to officially become a soldier.

After enduring rigorous training, the academy’s fifteen-year-old cadets receive a ‘Blessing’ from the Goddess of Fate.

Through the ‘Blessed Talent’ bestowed by Goddess Ilia, one’s destined path becomes clear.

I—Eugene Santafield—held the top overall rank in the academy and was met with high expectations from those around me. I, too, believed in my own success.

I excelled in every subject—‘Swordsmanship,’ ‘Tactics,’ ‘Leadership’—standing at the pinnacle.

Day after day, I poured relentless effort into becoming stronger and achieving superior grades.

—And yet… why…?

I stared blankly at the ‘Selection’ card in my hand.

When held before the goddess’s statue, the transparent ‘Selection’ card reveals the bearer’s talent through guiding ‘colors.’ Mine was pure white.

Black signifies the talent for attack.

White signifies the talent for defense.

Gray signifies a balance of attack and defense.

The seven special colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple—each denote unique talents.

Those with many talents display multiple colors. The average person ends up with gray.But those with a ‘defect’ in their talent are marked with either pure white or pure black.

In other words… someone like me.

“Eugene-kun… I understand you’re upset. Stay strong,” said the teacher who had taken an interest in me, offering encouragement.

Yet, their eyes betrayed a clear glimmer of disappointment.

“Hey, others are waiting. Hurry up and get back to your seat!”

Massio, ranked third in the academy, sneered and shoved my shoulder.

Too unsteady to dodge, I stumbled away from the platform.

“Alright! I’ve got three colors!”

“Tch! Just two colors, huh?”

“Hey! They say someone got five colors!”

“No way!”

Cheers erupted from my classmates one after another.

I couldn’t think straight, my gaze drifting aimlessly into the void.

Even the voice of my childhood friend Airi, sitting beside me, failed to reach my ears.

A moment later, someone wedged themselves between me and Airi.

“Hey, Airi. Looks like your childhood friend’s a ‘dud.’ An elite like you, chosen by fate, shouldn’t be seen with him.”

Massio, fresh from his selection, smirked as he clapped a hand on my shoulder.

His card bore the colors ‘red,’ ‘green,’ and ‘gray.’

Three colors—an impressive mark of excellence. 

…Unlike me.

“Man, what a shame. To think the top student would draw a ‘failure’ white card,” he taunted.

“Seriously. A talent that can only defend? Does the military even have a place for that?”

“No chance! No one’s gonna hire a single-color defective!”

Massio’s lackeys joined in, piling on the mockery.

“You guys…”

I trembled with anger. But what they said was true.

‘White magic’ is the talent for defensive magic alone.A pure white card means I have absolutely no magical aptitude for attack.

At the empire’s military academy, I’d trained as a magic swordsman.

Magic swordsmanship involves infusing a blade with magical power. But with my ‘white’ magic, even if I struck an enemy, they wouldn’t suffer a scratch.

I was a defective swordsman, incapable of attack. Why had the goddess cursed me with only ‘white’ talent…?

If I’d had even a sliver of another talent, I was confident I could’ve made it work through effort…

“No way you can be a magic swordsman with just ‘white’ magic.”

“Why not become a ‘healer’ or something? I’ll hire you if I get injured.”

“Maybe a ‘barrier mage’? Spend your life wandering the countryside, reinforcing town barriers. Sounds fulfilling—though I’d never do it!”

“‘Hahaha!’”

“…Damn it.”

I had no retort. I could only hang my head in silence.

◇

Misfortune has a way of piling up.

I grew reluctant to attend school and started skipping classes. Then, one day, my childhood friend Airi showed up at my house. I assumed she’d come to cheer me up… but something felt off.

She wasn’t alone—she’d brought a friend. And she wouldn’t meet my eyes.

A bad feeling crept over me.

“…Yuu, I think we should take some time apart for a while.”

Airi, my childhood friend, always called me ‘Yuu’ as a nickname.

Her familiar voice felt as cold as ice.

“Huh…? W-what are you saying, Airi?”

I recalled the ‘Selection’ card she’d drawn during the trial the other day.

—Its color was ‘rainbow.’

The ultimate mark, signifying all seven talents.

A boundless wealth of ability, the polar opposite of my bottom-tier, single-color ‘white.’

The stark gap between us—and my own misery—had driven me to avoid her lately.

But for her to suddenly say something like this…

“Take some time apart… What do you mean…?”

My voice shook as I asked, but Airi only lowered her face sadly.

Instead, it was her friend beside her who spoke up.

“Hey, Eugene-kun, take the hint. Princess Airi’s entering an important phase now. She can’t have weird rumors spreading because she’s hanging around a talentless guy like you, right?”

“What!?”

Her blunt words ignited my temper. Who’s she calling ‘talentless’!?

Airi and I weren’t officially engaged, but our parents had approved of our bond.

Even her friend, a classmate, knew we’d vowed to be together someday!

“Airi’s got a marriage proposal from the second prince of some big federation country, too. A prince for someone with ‘rainbow’ talent—lucky you, Airi. You’ve got it all.”

“Wait! We agreed not to mention that in front of Yuu…”

Airi hurriedly tried to silence her friend, but her reaction confirmed it was true.

“Airi… a marriage proposal…?”

“No! It’s not like that! It’s just something my father arranged on his own…”

“Right. So it’s the will of Airi’s father—His Majesty the Emperor. You can’t blame Airi for this, Eugene-kun.”

“…”

Airi, a princess—her father was the ruler of this nation, the Emperor himself.

To the people of the empire, the Emperor’s word was absolute.

Even a three-year-old knew that.

“Airi… I… I wanted to be your ‘Imperial Sword’…”

The absurdity of my own words stopped me from finishing.

The Imperial Sword—the Emperor’s right hand, a blade that stands ever by his side, shielding him from all enemies.

…That had been my ultimate goal.

Airi cast her eyes downward sadly, while her friend smirked faintly.

“Pfft… An Imperial Sword with nothing but defective white magic…?”

“Hey! Don’t laugh at Yuu!”

Airi’s plea—“Don’t laugh”—tore into my chest.

“Sorry, sorry, Airi. Let’s go!”

“W-wait… but… o-okay.”

Pulled along by her friend, Airi left.

She didn’t… look back at me even once.

— The next day, I withdrew from the Empire’s Military Academy.

◇

“Alright, alright—so your childhood friend dumped you, you holed up at home, and then your dad knocked some sense into you and forced you into Lykeion Magic Academy. How many times have I heard this story, Eugene?”

“Shut it, Claude. A hero like you wouldn’t understand in a million years. Just let me vent.”

Now, I’m enrolled in the ‘General Studies’ division of Lykeion Magic Academy, located at the heart of the southern continent.

Lykeion Magic Academy is the premier institution of the southern continent.

The classes are brutally tough—and the students are just as exceptional.

After moping around, my father’s iron-fisted intervention landed me here.

Hardly anyone knows my past, so I’ve been able to enjoy a relatively carefree school life.

I’m genuinely grateful to my dad. It was harsh medicine, but it worked.

Walking beside me is Claude Percival, a student in the academy’s ‘Heroics’ division.

Possessing ‘five colors’ of talent, his profession is ‘Hero-in-Training.’

The elite of the elite.

In contrast, my professions are a dual role of ‘Healing Mage’ and ‘Barrier Mage’—the only jobs available to someone with nothing but white magic.

They say my lifetime earnings will be less than a hundredth of a hero’s… What a harsh reality. It’s enough to make you cry.

“Your childhood friend, Princess Airi, right? I hear she’s climbed the ranks to become one of the empire’s top ‘Sky Knights,’” Claude said.

“Tch, yeah. And she’s got a lover among her colleagues, apparently…”

Even here, in this distant foreign academy, rumors about famous figures reach my ears.

The marriage proposal from some federation’s second prince didn’t pan out, it seems. But word is she’s now romantically involved with a young elite general in the empire.

My childhood friend has forgotten all about me, happily living it up with her new lover…

…Irritating. Perhaps sensing my mood, Claude offered a sympathetic tone.

“But, y’know, you’re the only one I can trust to take care of my wyvern partner, Eugene. You’re a huge help.”

“That’s just ‘cause I’m in the ‘Biology Club.’ It’s my job.”

Most students at the academy join a ‘club.’

Clubs at Lykeion Magic Academy are akin to ‘guilds’ in the outside world.

Classes teach general ‘magic,’ ‘combat skills,’ and ‘knowledge,’ while clubs serve as a hierarchy of seniors and juniors, a place to network across grade levels.

I’m in the ‘Biology Club.’

Normally, students choose their clubs freely, but in my case, it was a direct appointment from the headmaster.

In exchange, my tuition’s waived.

Still, the club’s chores are a hassle far outweighing the perk.

Claude and I arrived at a massive cage. I unlocked its giant, seal-enchanted key—a specially crafted magical tool.

“Hey, partner!”

Claude called out. A stunning wyvern with glossy ultramarine scales landed nearby.

Krr-rr-rr! it purred, thrilled to see him.

“You doing alright?”

The wyvern chirped happily as Claude stroked it. Meanwhile, I refilled its food.

“Done, Claude,” I called to him and the wyvern.

—Krr-rr, rr-rr…

The wyvern nuzzled me too. I gave it a light pat.

Ever since I healed its injury with magic long ago, it’s grown attached to me.

Apparently, wyverns are usually quite temperamental.

“Partner, we’ve got an expedition tomorrow. Let’s fly together!”

Claude flashed a charming smile at his wyvern.

What a suave guy. And popular, too. Well, of course—he’s a hero.

I stepped out of the cage and headed deeper into the grounds. For some reason, Claude followed.

“Your business here’s done, right?”

“You’re going to ‘that cage’ next, aren’t you, Eugene? I’ll tag along.”

“…Fine, I guess. You’re a weird one. Just don’t push yourself.”

The Biology Club’s grounds at Lykeion Magic Academy are vast.

The headmaster’s fondness for rare creatures means we house a ton of unusual magical beasts—some even classified as ‘disaster-level’ threats.

The deeper you go, the more dangerous the ‘Sealed Zone’ becomes. The air grows stagnant, the miasma thickening. For an ordinary person, breathing alone would be unbearable.

As a ‘Barrier Mage,’ I’m fine, but…

Glancing beside me out of concern, I saw Claude’s face had paled. Told you so…

“I said don’t push yourself, Claude.”

“I-I’m still… fine…”

I slowed my pace to match his, and eventually, we reached a massive black metal gate.

— ‘Forbidden: The Seventh Sealed Prison’

Beyond this gate writhe the academy’s most perilous ‘mythical creatures.’

It’s said that a mere glance from them could drive a normal person mad.

A dirty job only a barrier mage can handle.

Tending to them is another duty of the Biology Club—no wonder no one wants it.

“S-sorry, Eugene… I can’t go any further…”

Claude stopped completely, cold sweat beading on his face.

“You got pretty close today.”

“Yeah… The legendary Demon Lord. I’d love to see her someday, but… this miasma’s still too much for me…”

“Don’t overdo it. See you later, then.”

I opened the heavy sealed door. Miasma trapped inside spilled out.

“Guh…!”

Claude dropped to one knee.

“Here—mental recovery.”

I cast a healing spell on him. He staggered to his feet.

“Hey, Eugene, I’ve always wondered—how are you totally fine in this miasma…? Even I, a hero-in-training, can’t handle it.”

“‘Cause I’m a barrier mage. How many times have I answered that?”

“The ‘Sage’ on our expedition team who uses barrier magic passed out way before even reaching this black gate…”

“They just need more training.”

“That doesn’t add up…”

“Later.”

I waved and shut the gate from the inside.

“You’re definitely not normal…”

Claude’s muttering slipped through just before the gate closed.

What’s that supposed to mean, ‘not normal’?

◇

— Lykeion Magic Academy: ‘The Seventh Sealed Prison’

Every creature here is a ‘disaster-designated’ ‘mythical beast.’

If even one escaped, it’s said an entire town could be wiped out in an instant… or so they claim.

Since none have ever actually broken free, it’s unclear if that’s true.

Why are such dangerous beings kept here, you ask? It’s the headmaster’s hobby.

That eccentric certainly lives up to their reputation.

Each cage is layered with multiple seals, impossible to open without following the precise procedure.

Even so, this underground prison is a magical domain where the sheer volume of arcane energy—leaking out as miasma—cannot be fully contained, even by the strictest seals.

An ordinary person stepping inside would be reduced to a husk in moments. Even Claude, a hero, was in that sorry state earlier. No fool would dare sneak in.

I carefully followed the tedious steps required to enter each sealed cage.

But dawdling too long would make her angry.

(Guess I’d better hurry…)

With a slight sense of urgency, I pressed deeper inside. At the very end, the nameplate on the innermost cage read:

— ‘Fallen Sovereign’ Erinyes

I stepped slowly into the miasma-filled cage.

As I crossed the threshold, the thick, syrupy miasma clung to my skin.

This dense miasma is a poison—any normal human exposed to it would lose consciousness in an instant.

To prevent that, my body was enveloped in layers of ‘barriers.’

A ‘Barrier Mage’ specialized in the defensive ‘white magic.’

That’s precisely why I was chosen as the ‘Demon Lord’s caretaker.’

“Eugene-kun, take pride in this! You’re the first student in a hundred years to set foot here!”

I vividly recall the headmaster’s ecstatic words.

Shortly after, I was forcibly inducted into the Biology Club.

With a sigh, I moved deeper into the spacious cage.

Inside, the furnishings were lavish, like something out of a noble’s chamber.

I approached the massive bed at the far end.

“You’re finally here. You’re late,” came a voice.

Lying on the bed, bound by thick chains, was a woman.

“It’s the usual time, isn’t it?”

I tossed out a casual remark as I turned my gaze toward the speaker.

(…No matter how many times I see her, she’s absurdly beautiful.)

A thousand people could look at her, and all thousand would agree.

Her refined beauty was otherworldly.

(Well, she’s not human, so that makes sense…)

I muttered to myself.

Snow-white skin, lips as red as blood.

A figure that blended youthful innocence with seductive allure.

Sprouting from her back were a grand pair of wings—proof she once served the goddess in the heavens as an angel.

But those wings weren’t pure white; they were a tainted, pitch black.

Her name is Erinyes, the Fallen Sovereign.

Once a grand archangel in service to the celestial goddess, she incurred the goddess’s wrath and was cast down to the mortal realm.

After her fall, she descended into corruption, becoming a fallen angel, and eventually earned the title of ‘Demon Lord.’

In ancient times, she was one of the Demon Lords who ruled the southern continent.

Now, defeated by a legendary hero, she remains sealed here.

“Come, fulfill your duty.”

“…Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

I approached the massive bed. It creaked under my weight.

The stunning Demon Lord stripped off my clothes and straddled me.

“It’s been a week, hasn’t it?”

“I brought food and a change of clothes, too, you know.”

“That can wait!”

Her eyes gleamed with hunger as her beautiful face drew closer.

Then, she claimed my lips.

— A sacrifice offering life essence to the Demon Lord.

That’s the most critical task assigned to me in the Biology Club, required once a month.

◇

“Man, I’m beat…”

I stretched my arms out with a groan. Beside me, the Demon Lord lay wrapped in a thin blanket.

I thought she might’ve fallen asleep, but she was staring up at me intently.

“Hey, Eugene.”

“What is it, Your Demon Majesty?”

“Stop calling me ‘Your Demon Majesty.’ I told you to call me Ellie when it’s just the two of us, didn’t I?”

“Alright, alright, got it. So, want something to eat? I’ve got bread, ham, cheese, and some wine, but that’s about it.”

“I’ll eat. The wine’s red, right?”

“Yep.”

I pulled the food from the basket I’d brought and arranged it on a plate. Ellie—Demon Lord Erinyes—devoured it eagerly. I gazed absently at her beautiful profile.

The sultry aura from moments ago had vanished, and she reminded me of a cat we used to have back home.

“You’re not thinking something rude, are you?”

“N-no, it’s just your imagination.”

Sharp as ever. Sealed or not, she’s still a Demon Lord.

“…You used to be cuter back then.”

“Back then? You mean a year ago?”

Shortly after I enrolled in the academy, Demon Lord Erinyes—who’d slumbered for centuries—suddenly awoke. Fresh from her nap, she was in a foul mood and went on a rampage.

Fearing the seal might break, the panicked headmaster ordered all sorts of offerings presented to her.

As a barrier mage, I was sent into the cage to deliver them—and ended up being appointed her errand boy.

There, the Demon Lord took a liking to me over the offerings and forcibly drained my life essence.

Still reeling from the heartbreak of being dumped, I’d been in a self-destructive spiral, but even I freaked out at that.

That said, when the Demon Lord herself declares, “I’ve taken a liking to you!” there’s no escaping it.

Since then, I’ve been serving Ellie weekly. Thanks to that, my body’s been feeling heavy as hell.

Offering my essence to Ellie leaves me utterly drained…

“Time to head out. I’ve got to check on the other cages too.”

“Ehh? Stay ‘til morning!”

She pleaded in a cute, whining tone.

“I’ve got school tomorrow…”

Unlike Her Demon Majesty, who’s on eternal vacation.

“Boo! Eugene, you’re so cold!”

Ellie pouted, then swiftly wrapped her arms around me from behind, whispering in my ear.

“Hey, hey, how about letting me out of here soon?”

With an adorable, upward glance, Ellie suggested something terrifying. It’s a conversation we’ve had dozens of times already.

“I can’t break the seal here. Only the headmaster can do that.”

The headmaster personally reinforces this special seal periodically. There’s no way a mere student like me could undo it.

“Make a ‘pact’ with me, and you’ll gain the ‘Demon Lord’s power.’ Then you could overpower even the headmaster. Kill them, and you could rule this place, Eugene!”

“…You casually say some horrifying stuff, you fallen angel.”

Sure, the headmaster’s saddled me with plenty of headaches, but I owe him a lot, too.

There’s no way I could do that. Besides, even with Ellie’s power, I doubt I could beat the headmaster. That person’s a genuine monster.

“But if you gained power, you could show up that childhood friend who dumped you.”

“…”

I fell silent. It was a story I’d carelessly vented to the Demon Lord about long ago.

The bitter memory of the ‘Selection Trial.’

The painful recollection of being abandoned by my childhood friend Airi.

“Maybe she’d fall for you again and come crawling back?”

“…Not interested.”

A lie. Even now, I sometimes wake from dreams of the day Airi left me.

That moment left a scar on my heart. Pathetic, I know.

“Hehe… You’re tempted, aren’t you? Make a pact with a Demon Lord. Then you could reclaim everything you’ve lost…”

Erinyes smiled seductively.

The sweet whispers of a devil—no, the temptation of a fallen angel who corrupts humanity.

(Well, this is just our usual banter anyway.)

“Alright, work’s done. I’m heading back.”

I stood from the bed.

“Wait, wait! I was kidding, just kidding!”

Ellie clung to me desperately.

“Then stop saying weird stuff.”

“I’m sooo booored!!”

Demon Lord Ellie flailed her legs dramatically. The regal air of a Demon Lord from moments ago had completely evaporated.

“If you’re bored, why not use that relay device over there to watch what’s going on in the labyrinth?”

I pointed at a massive screen inside the cage that could project images.

It was currently blank, but by channeling magic into it, it could display the outside world—a handy magical tool.

That said, it could only show scenes from within the labyrinth known as the ‘Zenith Tower.’

“I’m tired of it,” she groaned. “The same old boring people show up in the labyrinth anyway. I’d watch if you were in it, Eugene.”

“Now that you mention it, I haven’t gone labyrinth exploring in a while.”

I’d once considered making a name for myself as a labyrinth explorer.

But in the end, I gave up because of my lack of ‘talent.’

The handicap of being unable to attack was just too much.

“Why not give it a shot? I’d cheer you on, Eugene,” Erinyes said, flashing a cute smile that didn’t suit a Demon Lord.

“Unfortunately, I’ve only ever made it to the ninth floor.”

For a swordsman who can’t attack, conquering a high-difficulty labyrinth is a tall order.

“If you used a magic sword, you could take on the floor master of the tenth level, right? Why not try it?”

“I gave up swordsmanship. All I can use now is ‘barrier magic’ and ‘healing magic.’”

Back at the Empire’s Military Academy, I’d majored in swordsmanship.

I even earned a master’s certification in the eastern continent’s renowned sword techniques.

My dream had been to become a magic swordsman, wielding a magic blade alongside my childhood friend for the empire’s sake.

But since the day of the ‘Selection Trial,’ I haven’t touched a sword.

Out of lingering attachment, I still swing a wooden stick for practice, though…

“If you made a pact with me, you could wield powerful magic swords to your heart’s content,” Ellie purred, her voice laced with seductive charm. It was her sales pitch for a contract.

Honestly, her offer was tempting.

A pact with a ‘Demon Lord’ would probably solve a lot of my problems.

But…

(A contract with a demon is ‘absolute obedience,’ after all…)

In a deal with a demon, breaking your promise means having your ‘soul ripped out.’ It’s a vow you have to keep.

—And Ellie’s wish is to be freed from her seal and step into the outside world.

In other words, it’d mean unleashing Demon Lord Erinyes, who ruled the southern continent a thousand years ago.

Yeah, no way. Absolutely not.

“I’m heading back. If there’s an emergency, use that ‘magic bell’ over there.”

“Aw, you’re so distant…”

Demon Lord Erinyes pouted adorably.

“I’ll come back in a week.”

“See you then! ♡”

Ellie waved with a bright smile. Looking at her like this, you’d never guess she was a Demon Lord.

After that, I made my rounds through the underground prison’s magical creatures.

Most of them were slumbering due to their seals, though—the only lively one was the Demon Lord.

I finished my patrol in about an hour.

◇

(Another exhausting day…)

I trudged back to my room with heavy steps.

As always, tending to the Demon Lord sapped my stamina completely. On the flip side, my magical energy felt overflowing…

(…I’m beat. Time for a nap.)

Just as I reached the door to my dorm room—

—JIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRI…!!!!!

A sudden, ominous alarm blared across the academy grounds.

—“An abnormality has occurred in the Final Labyrinth ‘Zenith Tower.’ All explorers ranked D or higher, assemble at the labyrinth entrance immediately. I repeat…”

I glanced down at the explorer badge pinned to my chest.

It read ‘D Rank.’ I’m one of the targets, so I’ve got to go.

(Guess I’ve got no choice…)

Looks like that nap would have to wait.

I left the dorm and headed for the Final Labyrinth.

(Well then…)

I looked up at the impossibly massive tower stretching into the heavens.

Its sheer size could swallow a modest city whole, and it’s said to extend across a thousand floors.

No one in human history has ever reached the thousandth floor.

Naturally, it’s not something humans could’ve built—it’s called a training ground from the gods, a place of trials.

— Commonly known as the Final Labyrinth: ‘Zenith Tower’

Located at the heart of the southern continent, it’s the world’s largest labyrinth.

The magic academy I attend—heck, even the city-state it’s part of—is practically an afterthought to this colossal labyrinth.

Drawn by the promise of its treasures, people flocked here, shops sprang up, and a town was born.

That town grew and grew until it became a city-state—known as the city-state of Karaf, or the ‘Labyrinth City.’

Explorers living in the Labyrinth City are duty-bound to prioritize any anomalies in the Final Labyrinth, no exceptions—not even for academy students.

Right now, a few dozen explorers had gathered in the plaza at the labyrinth’s entrance.

(Pretty small turnout…)

The Labyrinth City has thousands of explorers. It seems the higher-ranked ones are all out on missions.

Well, top-tier explorers are always off adventuring, so it’s not surprising.

My explorer rank is ‘D.’ It’s proof I can at least explore solo.

Most of the people gathered here are probably D-rank too.

“Everyone! Thanks for coming!”

A loud voice rang out from a ‘labyrinth staff member’—a city official tasked with monitoring the Zenith Tower and aiding injured explorers.

“A labyrinth destroyer has appeared inside the Final Labyrinth! This is an urgent situation. Everyone, look at the relay device!”

Even without being told, the assembled explorers were already staring at the giant screen showing the labyrinth’s interior.

Their faces were uniformly grim. The fifth floor was a sea of flames.

(What the hell…? The first nine floors are supposed to be lush grasslands and forests…)

The Final Labyrinth is a gargantuan structure spanning a thousand floors, with the scenery changing dramatically every ten levels.

I’ve climbed up to the ninth floor myself, so I could tell at a glance how abnormal this flame-engulfed scene was.

“A fire of this scale couldn’t occur naturally! Someone—or something—set it ablaze! We’re currently working to extinguish it, but the flames show no sign of dying down. We need your help to investigate the cause and put it out!”

The staff member announced the mission details.

…Hey, come on, that’s asking too much.

…We’ll die in there.

…Flame-resistant gear’s expensive, you know.

Murmurs like that rippled through the crowd. For low-tier explorers, this was a brutally tough job.

“That said, we’re providing flame-resistant robes for free. Anyone who needs one, come get it. Also, everyone who assists in the exploration will receive a ‘reward,’ regardless of results…”

I stopped listening midway and started walking toward the labyrinth entrance.

Some explorers hesitated, others lined up for flame-resistant cloaks—reactions varied.

Someone approached me.

“Eugene! You’re going in?”

It was a familiar labyrinth staff member—an older guy I knew.

“Yeah, it’s urgent, right?”

“You’re a lifesaver. It’s an emergency.”

“Labyrinth staff have it rough, huh? I just need to sign here before heading in, right?”

“Yep. Alright, you’re officially logged as an explorer. Oh, and take this—it’s an old one of mine.”

The old man handed me a slightly worn flame-resistant robe.

“I don’t need it since I can use barrier magic, but…”

“Don’t say that. Preparation’s key for explorers. Plus, there might be stragglers who didn’t escape—better safe than sorry.”

“Got it. Thanks, old man.”

I thanked him and stepped into the first floor from the labyrinth entrance, heading straight for the center.

At the labyrinth’s core stood the ‘Labyrinth Elevator,’ an ancient relic.

No one knows when it was made or how it works.

It’s just convenient, so everyone uses it. Its quirk is that it only takes you as far as you’ve reached on your own.

For me, buttons up to the ninth floor were lit up.

I pressed the ‘fifth floor’ button. The ‘Labyrinth Elevator’ ascended slowly.

Soon, I arrived at the fifth floor. When the doors opened, I was greeted by a raging storm of fire.

The area near the elevator was protected by a labyrinth barrier, keeping the flames at bay.

But beyond that, everything was engulfed in fire.

Several explorers were already on the fifth floor… and stuck in place.

“Hey… we’re supposed to go through this?”

“No way I’m doing that…”

“Visibility’s awful. If a monster attacked, we wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Could a monster that can handle these flames even exist on the fifth floor…?”

“No clue. This is an anomaly, after all.”

The fire’s intensity had everyone frozen in their tracks.

I, however, started walking toward the direction with the fiercest flames.

“H-Hey! Where’s your flame-resistant robe!?”

“I’m fine—I can use barrier magic!”

“N-No, even if you’re a barrier mage, this fire’s insane!”

“That’s reckless! Come back!”

The other explorers shouted in concern, but I waved a hand from within the flames to signal ‘no problem.’

“““…”””

They seemed to get it. I pressed deeper and deeper into the roaring blaze.

—Walking through the thundering flames.

With every step, the charred remains of trees crumbled into ash like sand. Thanks to the ‘barriers’ around my body, I didn’t feel the heat.

Even so, being surrounded 360 degrees by fire was anything but calming.

Could anything even survive in a place like this?

Nine times out of ten, this was caused by a fire-attribute monster.

A beast from the upper floors must’ve gotten hungry and descended to the lower levels.

That said, I’d never heard of anything—floor masters included—capable of this between the first and tenth floors…

Then—

…hic… hic… hic… hic… hic… hic… hic… hic…

Amid the crackling of wood bursting in the flames, I faintly heard someone’s voice.

(A girl’s… crying?)

A stranded explorer, maybe? But in this fire?

I’d think crying leisurely wouldn’t be an option here…

It could be a monster mimicking a human voice to lure me into a trap. Can’t let my guard down.

Though I’ve never heard of a monster smart enough to do that on the fifth floor.

So, just a human then? Something doesn’t add up. But I can’t ignore it.

I cautiously approached the source of the sound.

(…Someone’s there.)

I spotted a figure. The heart of the blaze.

In the spot where the flames burned most fiercely, a lone girl sat, crying as she burned.

——.