I’m Not the Mastermind

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Meanwhile, at the Labyrinth Academy.

In a room that looked like a research lab or possibly an office, the Hugo party sat side by side, facing a sharply featured woman.

She sat down with them and began to write up a document before speaking.

“It seems you’ve managed the escort quite well. Thank you for your efforts.”

“Th-thank you, Professor.”

Hugo responded, bowing his head, visibly tense until her acknowledgment eased his nerves a bit.

Right, he was at the academy to report to the exam supervisor about their maze experience trial. They were just finishing up the report.

‘It took some time to cover everything from joining Yujin to the demon’s trial, but thankfully she doesn’t seem too interested in probing.’

Under normal circumstances, Hugo wouldn’t have mentioned Yujin at all, but the situation was somewhat special. The academy exams were notoriously strict, and if they failed to report every detail, the clients could come down hard on them.

There had been previous talks about using a confession spell… Anyway.

Mirien had skirted around the topic of Yujin a bit, but in any case, the report went smoothly. Yujin hadn’t really interfered in the exam at all.

When the exam supervisor in front of him used the truth detection magic, Hugo spoke honestly, and she seemed satisfied with his answer.

The female professor said,

“The reward for the service will be passed to the administration office, so you can collect it there. You’ve all worked hard.”

“Not at all. Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

“But before you go, may I ask you one question?”

“…Yes?”

The professor stopped Hugo as he was about to get up. She asked,

“Apart from the exam-related details, I’d like to ask about the demon trial that occurred on the topmost 5th layer.”

“……”

Hugo paused at her words and sat back down.

It certainly was something she might be curious about. Not in the mid-layers, but the very top layer, where demons had appeared and issued trials.

This had been confirmed as truth through a truth detection spell. However, since it was unprecedented, it was likely to raise questions everywhere.

“May I ask what you’re curious about?”

They had already conveyed most of the details about the demon trial. A demon possessed an intermediate-level orc and gave the party a trial. The demon had conditional immortality, and as it boasted about the conditions of its victory, Yujin, who had joined the party midway, killed the orc possessed by the demon to meet the conditions.

That’s about it. What could be so interesting?

“Was that demon unusually special in any way?”

“Special… I’m not sure. Our party doesn’t have the skills to go deeper than the middle layers, so it was our first encounter with a Transcendent.”

“I see. Then was there a Dark Sorcerer nearby?”

“A Dark Sorcerer?”

A Dark Sorcerer. A magician who uses ‘magic’ from demons rather than the typical mana.

They were regarded as wicked and vile due to utilizing magical energy derived from demons, and anyone identified as a Dark Sorcerer was often condemned to death worldwide.

They occasionally turn up in the Maze, and if crimes occurred within it, it was almost always a Dark Sorcerer at play.

Since they carry dark magic within them, it’s generally impossible for them to live among regular societies.

If they use their powers, it reveals they possess dark energy, so whether they like it or not, if they’re labeled criminals, it follows that they’ll act as such in the Maze.

In the Eastern Continent, dark magic is often treated like aura in combat, and there are even factions that worship demons known as ‘Celestial Demons’… But that’s a different story.

Hugo shook his head after pondering the mention of Dark Sorcerers.

“No, I didn’t sense a Dark Sorcerer. But why do you ask…”

“I’ve recently received reports that Dark Sorcerer factions are stirring in the shadows across the world. It wouldn’t be unusual for a demon to reach the top layer, and I’m merely speculating that it could be connected.”

“Is that so?”

This was news even Hugo hadn’t known. Dark Sorcerers on the rise… That sounded quite serious.

“Naturally, don’t go discussing this carelessly. It could stir panic among the populace.”

“…I understand.”

“Now, for the next question. Is there a possibility that the mage Yujin could be connected to this?”

As she asked, a small circular magic circle appeared above one of her eyes.

This was truth detection magic. Seeing this made Hugo’s expression tighten. He declared,

“No. There’s no way.”

“Is that so?”

“…And if I may say, I’d appreciate it if you refrain from asking such questions. Of course, as a professor, it’s reasonable for you to question as a third party, but that individual is our benefactor. Questions that imply suspicion about our benefactor are quite unpleasant for us.”

“…I see. My apologies.”

Observing the stony-faced Hugo and the displeased expression of Chrome, she lightly bowed her head with her eyes closed.

Of course, that was just a show…

Mirien, holding a strange silence, was being scrutinized with her sunken eyes.

After a moment, the professor raised her head and said,

“That’s all for my questions. You may return now.”

“…Alright, then.”

With that, the Hugo party began to exit the room.

Once the three stepped out, the professor let out a sigh, stood up, and picked up a document from a nearby desk.

[Report on the Rise of Dark Sorcerer Factions]

[Current incidents of magical energy detection across various regions…]

[Interrogations of captured accomplices reveal that the current target of the organization is the Second Princess ‘Elysia von Arsedium’…]

“…Huh.”

She skimmed through the report and neatly tucked it away under her desk.

Then, sitting on her chair with eyes closed, she leaned back against the backrest.

‘Dark Sorcerer forces on the rise, the princess, and the demon appearing at the fifth layer…’

Could it all be connected, perhaps?

As this thought crossed her mind, she recalled the party that had just exited.

‘…The elf seemed to know something.’

She thought of Mirien, who had sat beside Hugo.

Wearing a hood, and since Hugo, who handled most of the reporting, had glossed over Mirien showing her identity and using spirits during the demon trial, there hadn’t been much chance of discovery… Yet, all professors at the academy were highly skilled individuals.

It wasn’t possible that they couldn’t see through such a small disguise. To her, the elf ‘Mirien’ seemed…

‘When I asked about the mage Yujin, she appeared to know something.’

The trembling pupils, complex feelings, and the fear lurking within… Hugo and Chrome were unaware, but Mirien knew something about ‘Yujin.’

‘A mage who just came to Maze City after holed up studying in a room… It’s too convenient a setup. Moreover, even if we assume she did research, it’s suspicious how well-versed she seems about the maze.’

She could even teleport and instantly kill an orc possessed by a demon without casting a spell… Although Hugo and Chrome appeared to have unwavering trust, from her perspective as a third party, she was an alarmingly suspicious presence.

‘Should I investigate?’

Professors at the academy were not just any professors. Established through an unprecedented scale of investment, they are well-known individuals in their respective fields.

And the professors who nurture aspiring heroes or supervise exams are strong, fitting their renowned reputations.

Professor Reina Sahart was no exception.

‘The rise of Dark Sorcerers relates to the princess, too. I have enough justification to investigate. It wouldn’t look good to bring the involved party in for interrogation right away, so I’ll start with a background check…’

With that, she began to secretly devise her investigation plan…

***

Meanwhile, outside the academy, the Hugo party emerged.

“I can’t believe she dared to accuse someone without reason. What an unpleasant person.”

“The professor is a third party, after all. It’s not too outrageous…”

“Still, how can you suspect someone like that?”

Chrome ranted about the female professor while heading outside the academy, and Hugo reluctantly added to his complaints.

Meanwhile, Mirien followed behind, thinking inwardly.

‘Dark Sorcerers… No way, right?’

She recalled her encounter with Yujin before.

‘Tell me who I am. You know the answer, don’t you.’

‘…!’

As these memories resurfaced, Mirien trembled. She wondered if he truly was a Dark Sorcerer, but…

‘…But he saved us.’

Recalling how he had rescued them, she became utterly confused.

Standing behind the split orc, that nonchalant look he had while looking down at her…

‘…Huh.’

A whirlwind of emotions swirled within her, but she shook her head to dispel them.

She didn’t want to dwell on doubts over something she couldn’t be sure of.

“…Mirien, what’s wrong?”

However, the observant Hugo noticed her trembling and head shaking and asked.

“Huh? Ah… It’s just…”

“Hmm? What’s going on?”

Chrome looked at her, curious as well.

“By the way, Mirien, you’ve been strangely quiet, what’s up with that?”

“…Well…”

She hesitated briefly but decided to mention something that had been bothering her about the two, even if it wasn’t what she was originally contemplating.

“…You both haven’t asked anything about the fact that I’m an elf.”

“…Wait, was that it?”

“Haha, I thought it was something serious.”

The two chuckled lightly.

“Well, finding out you’re an elf is a surprise, but what does that really change? We’re still comrades fighting side by side, right?”

“You’ve probably had your reasons for keeping it hidden. In the end, you trusted us enough to reveal it, didn’t you?”

“…Chrome, Hugo.”

Setting aside her previous worries, Mirien felt a little touched by their responses. Chrome said,

“So let’s not stress about that. Or are you now saying that since we know you’re an elf, you can’t stay in the same party with us?”

“No, it’s not anything like that.”

“Then it’s all good. Anyway, we made a good haul today, so let’s go grab some drinks.”

“Chrome, you spend too much on drinks. We need to save some for our meal with Yujin, so hold off, alright?”

“Ugh, then I guess I have no choice. Well then, let’s head back and get some rest.”

“Let’s.”

With that, the Hugo party headed back to the guild’s accommodations, now even more tightly knit than before.

 

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