Joyful Demon Palace Breakthrough

Midra Penin.

Each of them had suspicious qualities galore.

When he and I made eye contact, he grinned slyly.

Since that explosive statement he made that day, I hadn’t made any deliberate contact with Midra.

I figured there was nothing good to be gained from actively seeking him out.

The information he possessed was invariably… special.

There was nothing to be gained from making an enemy of someone like that.

“G’day to ya!”

Midra greeted us with his usual energetic tone.

Hania glanced at Midra, then a smile bloomed on her face.

A falsehood only I, her ex, could truly discern.

“Welcome. Midra, I heard the news about you joining our team.”

“Yes, though I’m but a fraction of the Third Princess’s strength, I’ll do my utmost!”

Midra shot me a sidelong glance, grinning like a cat.

Still, I couldn’t stomach the guy.

“Senior, ah, Teaching Assistant.”

Just then, Aisha approached, offering a greeting.

She usually calls me “Senior” comfortably when it’s just the two of us.

She still stumbled occasionally, unaccustomed to my official title.

“T-Teaching Assistant Vikamon, I-I’ll work hard!”

Next, Poara, standing before me, gave a spirited reply.

I hadn’t revealed my true identity to Poara, hence the timid reaction.

“Good, I’m counting on you all.”

With the arrival of the first-years, the entire team was assembled.

I surveyed everyone.

While the three of them chatted, our elite personnel had gathered around us.

Naturally, they were all familiar faces.

Nodding, I stepped forward to address them.

Vikamon, yes, but in the capacity of a Teaching Assistant.

So it fell to me, quite naturally, to lead this team.

“You’re all aware we’re the first entry, yes?”

They all nodded vigorously in response to my question.

“The Magic Labyrinth breach team.”

Just then, Veganon called us over.

It was time to enter the Magic Labyrinth.

The heavily fortified Labyrinth entrance force caught my eye.

This winter, the Magic Labyrinth risked the ascent of an Apostle.

Thus, the Empire, and indeed the entire world, had poured their resources into the Labyrinth.

‘Even though the Magic Labyrinth opened early, they were prepared.’

They must have been pre-positioned, ready to move depending on the situation.

Which also meant they had left the Imperial Palace unattended for a longer period.

Among them, I spotted the Knights Commander of the Empire.

The Imperial Knights consisted of five Orders in total.

The Second, Third, and Fourth Orders were currently stationed before the Magic Labyrinth.

The Azure Magic Tower and the Golden Magic Tower had also provided support.

Seeing them, one could truly feel the urgency of the situation.

And the situation in the Imperial Palace also worried me.

‘I hope there aren’t any issues.’

I had forewarned the First Prince and Baekmok-gong beforehand.

They, too, would be preparing.

Perhaps they even summoned Iris for just that reason.

‘We have no choice but to trust that side.’

Skipping the Winter Magic Labyrinth wasn’t an option.

Especially this time, with a Magus’ Ascension predicted, it had to be confirmed firsthand.

Bad endings also occurred within the labyrinth.

Complete annihilation inside the labyrinth meant a bad ending, plain and simple.

That, above all else, had to be prevented.

As we moved, the gazes of the students locked onto us.

First-years, second-years, even the third-years were watching.

We were granted entry to the labyrinth even before the third-years.

No particular objections arose among them.

A regrettable tale, but their will to challenge the labyrinth had been broken after losing Nikita.

Vice-President Nikita’s presence affected them more than one could imagine.

That absence, like the absence of a leader in the Azure Sky generation of the past, weighed heavily on the third-years.

Perhaps that was why, among those attempting to clear the labyrinth this time, there were first-years but no third-years.

Then, suddenly, I realized that most of the third-years’ eyes were fixed on me.

Wondering why, I pondered for a moment.

And then I understood the meaning behind their gazes.

‘Come to think of it, there was one third-year after all.’

That was me. The third-year force.

Well, technically, I was a former Academy student.

But seeing as I was from the same generation as the current third-years, it wouldn’t be wrong to say I was representing them.

Somehow, I’d become the third-years’ last vestige of pride.

In truth, the third-years seemed to be projecting their feelings onto me instead of participating themselves.

“Vikamon!”

Just then, someone called out to me.

As I turned, a familiar face stood there.

My eyes widened at the sight of him.

The former Boycott President, Rosamin.

His disciplinary confinement for the boycott had ended, so he was with the third-years.

“Do your best!”

He must have heard that I spearheaded the boycott as Iris’s confidante.

And yet, he was sending me words of encouragement.

He genuinely considered me a friend.

Because, even during the boycott, I was sincere.

So even if I was Iris’s confidante, he didn’t doubt that sincerity.

The first friend I’d made in my Vikamon persona.

I looked at him and offered a small smile.

“I’ll be back.”

With that, another step was taken towards the Demon Realm.

Almost immediately, the surrounding scenery began to shift.

The Winter Demon Realm, opened early.

Unlike the Autumn Demon Realm, entry was achieved without incident.

First floor of the Demon Realm, the Azure Zone.

It was yet another Demon Realm, transformed in its aspect.

A sidelong glance at Sharin revealed a languid smile gracing her lips.

The tap of her staff suggested Sharin was responsible.

‘She even accounted for spatial transposition within the Demon Realm.’

That genius felt almost monstrous.

Incredibly grateful, I was.

*Kooong!*

The moment we stepped through, a demonic beast manifested.

A bizarre creature, its entire form saturated in azure.

But its appearance was fleeting.

Here stood the elite forces of the Jerion Academy.

The azure beast was rent asunder the instant it appeared, torn apart by those who had leaped into action.

The goal of this Demon Realm Campaign: reach the ninth floor and confirm the Apostle’s Ascent.

The Winter Demon Realm Campaign, within a scenario gone chaotic.

It begins.

* * *

Winter Demon Realm Campaign, the Demon Realm Breaching Party.

This party comprised a total of three combined teams.

[Team 1]

Bikerman Niflheim [Martial Arts]

Isabel Luna [Martial Arts]

Theron Parmia [Martial Arts]

Sharin Sazarius [Magic]

Sirmiel Sung Eden [Divinity]

Three martial arts students, the absolute firepower of Sharin.

And Sirmiel, the Saint, supporting them all.

[Team 2]

Hania Lepidaia [Martial Arts]

Midra Penin [Martial Arts]

Eve [Martial Arts]

Dorara Corazin [Magic]

Berencia Keyes [Curse]

Iris had been removed from the original Iris Team, replaced by Midra.

A team that had consistently achieved high scores, even without Iris.

Furthermore, Berencia had recently developed curative abilities through a reversal of her curse.

They could advance through the 8th floor without issue.

[Team 3]

Ban [Martial Arts]

Aisha Vizbell [Martial Arts]

Poara Shyllin [Spirit Arts]

Beakiring Monem [Spirit Arts]

Yoachim [Divinity]

The steadfast vanguard of the indolent genius Ban and the greatsword iron-man Aisha.

Following behind them, the two of the highest echelon in Spirit Arts.

Finally, Yoachim, a second-year Divinity student formerly of the Iris team, was responsible for healing.

A team balance that was beyond reproach.

Until the 8th floor, these three teams would combine their strength and push forward.

And we unreservedly demonstrated why we were the Jerion Academy’s strongest force.

Before we knew it, the 5th floor – the Sky of Emptiness.

Mist surrounded everything.

Within this fog, traps lay hidden.

One careless step onto a snare, and you’d be dragged into the sky, so one had to be exceedingly cautious.

But that was the story for typical parties.

“There, and there too, traps.”

Shyllin possessed the Mirinae.

The Mirinae was an ability that allowed her to perceive everything in the world through magic.

The traps laid within the Sky of Emptiness all radiated magic.

Therefore, they could not escape Shyllin’s gaze.

As soon as Shyllin pointed them out, the demolition personnel swiftly destroyed the snares.

We weren’t the only ones entering the Magic Palace.

Additional personnel were coming from behind as well, so clearing the path as we advanced was a good thing.

More than anything, we had to consider the return journey, making the removal even more convenient.

“Prince Sweet Potato, from the 5th floor onward, it merges with other academies, right?”

Just then, Seron, who was beside me, spoke up.

As she said, from the 5th floor, it connected to other entrances.

“That’s right.”

“Where are the other academy brats? I don’t see even their hair tails .”

Seron squinted, peering into the fog.

As she said, no members of other academies were anywhere to be seen.

The reason was simple.

“Our breakthrough speed is abnormally fast.”

The Empire had more talented individuals than other nations.

As Flame Butterfly’s main backdrop was the Empire, its talent pool couldn’t help but be superior.

“How sluggish .”

Perhaps knowing that fact, Seron snorted with a dismissive laugh.

I must have sounded a bit like a villainess just now.

“More importantly, if you keep using my nickname like that, the others will catch on.”

“Ugh, I know. But it’s stuck in my mouth.”

Seron was aware of it, it seemed.

Well, he did keep his mouth shut except when it was just the two of us.

‘Ah, that’s probably just because he isn’t close to anyone.’

Seron’s lack of social skills was just unfortunate.

“You were thinking something annoying just now, weren’t you?”

“I was thinking your forehead doesn’t lose its shine even in the fog.”

“Is that your excuse!”

“There, be quiet please.”

Hania pointed out with sharp eyes, and Seron shut his mouth.

Even so, he didn’t forget to poke my side, repeatedly.

Meanwhile, I kept a close eye on one of them.

Midra, who was in charge of hand-to-hand combat for Team 2, along with Hania and Eve.

He was skilled in combat, but sometimes made small mistakes befitting a first-year.

Each time, Hania and Eve adequately supplemented, and Midra apologized, never repeating the same mistake.

His skills are good.

Right around the second-best in first-year martial arts.

That’s why he drew my attention even more.

Because I saw Midra suddenly disappear in front of me, as if teleporting.

‘I still can’t figure out what this guy is up to.’

I wish I could find out this time, but the opportunity isn’t coming easily.

“Assistant Instructor Vicamun, it’s almost the end.”

Just then, Ban knocked on the wall at the end of the fog.

As he said, we had reached the end point of the fifth floor.

“Dorara, the time.”

Dorara, second in her class of second-year magic, immediately checked the time.

“8:45 PM.”

Perhaps because I was her senior and an assistant instructor, Dorara answered me politely, unlike usual.

If it were Hanon, he would have made all sorts of fuss, but it’s good to see him being docile.

“Let’s rest here for today.”

The Labyrinth breakthrough should be expedited, but rest should not be neglected.

The further down we go, the more unexpected situations will arise.

So, we decided to rest here tonight and move again tomorrow morning.

The children skillfully prepared for camping.

Everyone was so familiar with the Labyrinth that they were doing it quickly.

There is one essential condition for Labyrinth camping.

That is night watch.

Two people in total.

Given we have fifteen souls amongst us, we can arrange a watch rotation that allows for ample rest.

“Isabelle and Eve will take the first watch tonight,”

I briefed, sticking to the schedule we’d established earlier.

“And the second…”

Here, I cast my lot.

“Midra and I will stand guard.”

Time for a serious chat, I thought.