We continue forward through a seemingly endless cave.

Currently, we are on the third floor. The second floor before this posed no real challenges, and we cleared it without issue. Now, with only a little distance left to reach the fourth floor, we haven’t encountered any other factions since our run-in with that group of perverted women.

Compared to the upper layers, the monsters on the third floor are significantly more dangerous, but that hasn’t stopped us from making steady progress through the labyrinth.

“This is the end!!”

“SHEEEEEEESHI!!?”

Just now, we had effortlessly dispatched another attacking mantis-like monster────a Crazy Mantis.

“We’re almost at the room that leads to the passageway to the fourth floor. Let’s take a short break before proceeding.”

“Understood.”

Though we haven’t struggled, and each battle has only been a minor strain on our nerves, when those battles stack up, the situation changes.

No matter how careful we are, fatigue builds up from constant combat, making it reckless to push forward without resting. This is especially true now that the number of monster attacks has increased significantly since arriving on the third floor.

────Something is clearly wrong…

We have passed through the mid-section of the third floor and are approaching its final stretch. This Labyrinth Conquest is about to reach a critical moment.

It wouldn’t be surprising if another faction had already advanced ahead of us and seized the crown, our objective for this mission. In fact, by this point, it would be expected. As time passes, the sense of urgency grows. The deeper we go, the more unsettling the increasing frequency of monster encounters becomes. We sit down cautiously, forming a circle as we face one another.

“Shouldn’t we hurry up?! If we don’t, another faction will beat us to it!!”

Freesia, clearly uneasy in a different sense, voices her impatience. She has a point. Under normal circumstances, this would not be the time to leisurely take a break────

“Calm down, Freesia. Something’s not right on this floor. We need to proceed carefully.”

Given the situation, caution is the only option, and even His Highness agrees with me.

“Indeed, the frequency of battles has risen dramatically since we entered the third floor. It’s enough to make me suspect some external interference…”

“Yes. There’s a possibility that the academy set up some kind of trap for the selection process, but if that were the case, we should have seen evidence of traps by now.”

“Um… maybe they’re just really well hidden?”

Weiss offers a hypothesis, but I shake my head.

“Even if that were the case, something still doesn’t add up. The only way to lure monsters is through an incense-type trap that relies on scent. If such an incense were placed, we’d be able to smell it. The fact that there hasn’t been even the slightest trace of such a scent means it’s highly unlikely that this is a trap.”

“Then…”

Weiss seems to have realized the abnormality of the situation. I nod deeply in agreement.

“Someone… or rather, some faction is deliberately sending these monsters after us to eliminate us.”

“!! W-What…!?”

The hero springs to his feet in shock. The others also look at me, waiting for further explanation.

I can guess what they want to say. Even though Labyrinth Conquest allows for almost anything, this crosses an ethical line. The idea of controlling monsters to sabotage other factions isn’t something a normal person would even consider, let alone execute. And as for who would be capable of such a ridiculous feat—there’s only one person I know who fits the bill.

────What an absolutely troublesome magic.

I never imagined that their charm ability could extend to monsters, which can’t even communicate like humans.

“────”

Just as I was about to voice the answer, that same feeling of unease I had experienced multiple times before returned. Weiss and the others must have sensed it as well.

“This is…”

“Again, huh? This is starting to get annoying. Let’s deal with these pests quickly and take out the mastermind behind this monster ambush.”

We ready ourselves for battle. Every step of the way, they’ve been annoyingly indirect, yet efficient and cunning. This relentless harassment is infuriating. Honestly, I’ve had enough. Fortunately, we’re close to the room that leads to the passageway to the fourth floor. That’s where we’ll wait for the mastermind behind this.

“More monsters! Clay! Let’s see who can take down more!”

“Heh, sounds good────”

The battle maniac, who had looked bored moments ago, now lights up with excitement. Normally, I’d sigh at her challenges, but given the circumstances, I’ll play along.

────After all, if we wipe out all the monsters they’re sending at us, the real enemy will have no choice but to reveal themselves.

Even before the fight begins, my blood is already boiling with rage.

“GRUUUAAAAA!!”

A flood of monsters surges toward us.

Now that we’re certain of their intent, the sheer number of attacking monsters feels nothing but unnatural. Towering before us are monsters among the strongest on the third floor────, formidable beings ranked in the upper-middle tier. Normally, they are solitary creatures.

They do not form packs. They wander the labyrinth relying solely on their own strength. Yet here, multiple of them────six in total────are charging at us together. This level of blatant irregularity is something even an idiot could recognize.

────They’re seriously trying to kill us.

It makes sense. We’ve survived every ambush so far. The one orchestrating these attacks must be panicking, desperate to eliminate us… or rather, eliminate me, even if it means leaving behind undeniable proof of their involvement.

“That’s two down! Looks like I win this time!?”

Unfortunately for her, she picked the wrong person to compete with.

“Too bad. I got three.”

“No way!?”

Beheading the demon with a single strike, I glanced at its regretful, battle-hungry expression.

The opponent was a mid-to-high-ranked monster, one that should not be so easily defeated. But that was only true for ordinary warriors. For us—warriors of the Fourth Rank, composed entirely of bloodline magic users—fighting it was no different from slaying any other monster.

────If you truly wish to kill me, you’d best charm a dragon and set it upon me.

Well, even then, I’d still kill it.

“A-Amazing…”

“Yeah, he seems pretty pissed off.”

“Furious, indeed…”

I took down three, Freesia two, and Weiss and the others handled the last one. We caught our breath.

While fending off the demons, we also managed to move forward. Now, we stood in a room with a passage leading to the fourth floor. This was a safe zone. Here, no monsters could be deliberately set upon us, and those bastards had no choice but to pass through this room. Now, all we had to do was wait.

“Why are you just standing there, Clay? Aren’t we moving forward?”

“Not yet. One more fight first. Freesia, get ready.”

“I see… Understood!!”

As I calmed down the battle-maniac, who seemed only vaguely aware of the situation, I stayed on guard. Then, just as before, I sensed a familiar magical presence lingering in the air.

“────Hey, how long do you plan to keep messing with us from the shadows? Why don’t you just show yourself already?”

I shouted. They were close—just a stone’s throw away. They had hidden themselves well in the darkness, but if I really wanted to, I could find them in an instant.

Perhaps realizing this, they revealed themselves surprisingly easily. As expected, standing before us was a certain detestable woman, surrounded protectively by four male students, led by none other than Rail Braysicle—the Sword Strike Faction.

“So it really is you guys…”

“……”

Yet, all of them had vacant eyes, as if they were lifeless puppets devoid of will. Even Rail Braysicle, who should have been their ace, was the same. As if to distract from that fact, the detestable woman spoke.

“P-Please don’t be so angry… Let’s talk this out peacefu—hiiiii!!?”

As expected, she had already decided to throw caution to the wind and recklessly abuse her magic.

She had completely turned Rail Braysicle into a puppet and orchestrated this monster ambush. In that case, I had no reason to show mercy. Ignoring her shriek, I lunged at her—only to be intercepted at the last moment by one of the knights.

“Tch…”

“────”

Staring into those lifeless eyes filled me with irritation. To mask my frustration, I turned my gaze to the fallen woman and asked:

“Choose. Will you reveal your true reason for hunting me down—even if it means death? Or will you stay silent and die miserably?”

“────!!”

“Yeah, I figured as much.”

Before she could answer, one of the knights stepped in front of me. A knight… though calling him that seemed a bit generous. He had no will of his own. But perhaps, in this shitty world, a mindless, obedient pawn is exactly what people mean by ‘knight.’ Truly, the world is garbage.

“Well then, shall we see how this ends?”

“!!!”

And with that, Rail Braysicle unleashed two gleaming blades.