The brawl disguised as a meeting among the senior professors finally subsided after nearly half a day.
Zion, who had remained at his seat the entire time, wore a relieved expression as if having shaken off all worries and anxieties.
It wasn’t because he had come to tolerate the Nomages’ quarrel with a magnanimous heart, but rather because he had spent that time productively—communicating with the Awakened, discussing theories of magic and martial arts.
The mages had not simply left Zion alone for such a long time.
The length of the meeting was precisely because they were deeply considering how to treat Zion. Â
From midway through, Zion occasionally interjected his opinions, and the conclusions reached were as follows:
First, the Jewel Tower shall treat Zion and his group not as mere visitors but as peers on the level of at least full professors of magic.
Second, Zion’s group may enter the Labyrinth at any time without any restrictions and intervene freely in any Monster outbreak.
Third, all resources and byproducts acquired by Zion’s group in the Labyrinth shall belong entirely to them.
[On the surface, these conditions seem radical… but such terms probably don’t cost them much.]
There were other minor rights granted, but Zion never really wanted such privileges in the first place.
All he wanted was for them to admit that the Monster outbreak was deliberately caused to spread unnecessary sacrifices, to pay the price, and to promise never to do it again.
But even mentioning similar topics, they cunningly dodged and gave nothing but excuses.
Zion realized that trying to uncover the truth here would be futile. Â
[Still, it’s not without some gains. It doesn’t look like they intentionally caused the Monster outbreak.]
[I agree with you. If it were related to their research, no matter how urgent, they wouldn’t have tried to make an outsider like Zion share the burden. If, by any chance, this is all just an act to deceive Zion and they’re still sharpening knives behind his back… well, then we’ve been played.]
[I don’t think their schemes are that sinister, though.]
[I also believe the chances are slim. But as long as it’s not zero, we have to keep it in mind, right?]
Zion took Crooks’ words to heart.
Though lacking clear evidence, the three mages before him were all provisional enemies. Â
He would overlook this for now but never forgive them.
He would not quietly condone any further underhanded schemes. Â
But for now…
[Good timing. Let’s take this chance to dive into the Labyrinth, hunt Monsters, and level up a lot.]
“Level up? The way you put it, sir…”
[What? What’s wrong with my expression? These days, all the youngsters talk like this.]
“That trend died out at least ten years ago.”
[…Really?]Â Â
Zion intended to make good use of this rare opportunity to grow stronger.
The joyful time of tackling the Labyrinth had arrived.
***
Jolt Tagion frowned, clutching his head in frustration as he read the report sent by his subordinates monitoring Zion’s movements.
“Already breached the 15th floor? That’s impossible…!”
The Labyrinth’s difficulty rises sharply every five floors.
Below the 5th floor, even trainees can form squads to practice hunting Monsters and collecting resources.
But beyond the 5th floor, trainees are completely out of their depth. Â
Only at least assistant-level mages working in teams of six or more, with clearly divided roles, can systematically attempt to clear these floors.
As for beyond the 15th floor, even full professors find solo expeditions difficult, treating it as the deep zone.
‘I wish I were dreaming.’
Jolt, who despised superstition and any uncertain elements like dreams or hallucinations, involuntarily thought such thoughts out of sheer disbelief.
In just five days, Zion had casually broken through the 5th floor, then the 10th, then the 15th.
He surfaced briefly to sell a small amount of Labyrinth resources, then dove back in, completely unharmed and vigorous.
‘This is not within the range of normal human strength. Can we really handle this?’
Jolt doubted even his initial plan to persuade Zion through hypnosis and suggestion would work.
Yet, amidst his burden and skepticism, he found another self rejoicing in the fact.
Zion’s source of strength—the unknown power that enabled him to use both magic and divine arts simultaneously—was undoubtedly the origin.
‘We must establish an equal partnership with him, or even treat him as a superior if necessary, just to stay close and uncover the secret of his power. That power is the key to humanity’s evolution!’
The anxiety washed away, replaced by an almost fanatical desire.
That had always been his nature.
To realize his long-cherished wish, he would use any means. Â
His human emotions were mere trivialities.
‘There’s still hope. Zion will likely remain at the Tower until the Labyrinth’s anomaly is fully resolved.’
There was ample time.
Whether he could completely win Zion over depended entirely on his own ability.
‘He’s still a boy. No matter how powerful he is, there must be some weakness in his mind somewhere. If I can find and exploit that…’
He wasn’t optimistic, but neither did he deem it impossible.
Humans are inherently fragile.
The more power one possesses, the more unstable their mind becomes. Â
Even more so for a boy who hasn’t fully matured.
A faint smile crept onto Jolt’s lips as he found a glimmer of hope.
-Professor Jolt.
But it did not take long for that smile to vanish.
-I-I have… something to report…Â Â
The secret communication device used within the Lab’s inner circle, rarely employed, suddenly buzzed to life.
The caller was one of the Lab’s assistant professors.
But something was off.
His voice trembled as if terrified. Â
Jolt scowled at the unexpected visitor but answered the call.
-Didn’t I tell you not to use this line unless absolutely necessary? Â
-S-Sorry, professor, but I couldn’t report this any other way…Â Â
-What is it? Be brief. Â
-Th-that…Â Â
After a long hesitation, the assistant swallowed dryly and finally spoke.
-Experimental Subject K has escaped.
-Huh? Experimental Subject K? Â
The term was unfamiliar.
Not entirely new, but Jolt repeated it several times in his mind, searching his memory. Â
‘Experimental Subject K, Experimental Subject K…’
-Damn it! You’re telling me this now?! Â
Finally recalling what Experimental Subject K was and how serious this was, Jolt slammed his desk unconsciously.
-Contact all professors affiliated with the Lab immediately! Search the entire Tower thoroughly! Recover it as soon as possible before other factions notice! Â
***
Experimental Subject K moved skillfully with a black, gelatinous body, flowing like slime, wandering without direction.
His tentacle-like senses reached out in all directions, everything new and fascinating.
Until recently, his world had been the nutrient broth filling the glass container, the cramped Lab outside it, and the few mages who occasionally visited.
Subject K never pitied his situation but now that he was out, he realized how unfairly he had been treated.
He bore no grudge against the mages—they were too small, weak, and fragile to be resented.
He was simply moved by how vast and wonderful the outside world was.
‘Where should I go now?’
Due to the harsh experiments conducted by the mages, Subject K’s memories were incomplete.
Yet he didn’t feel regretful about the lost memories.
He was certain of himself without relying on such unstable things as memory.
Even though he’d forgotten his own name for now.
‘Hehe. This is fun.’
One thing was clear: Experimental Subject K was not really Experimental Subject K.
‘Experimental Subject K is not Experimental Subject K! Hehe, hehehe!’
Joyfully, like a child delighting in his own thoughts, Subject K kept moving forward.
His ingrained homing instinct led him on in place of the lost memories.
That was proof his essence had not changed.
No matter how much the mages cut, removed, manipulated, or even mixed his body with others, he remained unchanged.
Therefore, Subject K accepted the mages’ experiments without complaint.
‘That guy looks really strange. Maybe he’s not human. I wonder if he can understand me? Should I say hello? Maybe if he answers, we could be friends!’
Whether Subject K’s essence was truly unchanged, or if he had just become a child who believed it was, was a question to ponder.
‘We’re getting closer. My memories are coming back! Actually, nothing’s coming back! Hehe.’
Unable to contain his curiosity, Subject K glanced around repeatedly while steadily descending deeper underground.
He was now past the midpoint, nearing the depths.
The mages called this place the 17th floor.
‘Oh? Eh? Waaah!’
The sound of metal clashing echoed.
He sensed a living being falling lifelessly after breathing its last, and felt its power mercilessly absorbed by another.
Feeling that a new, unprecedented experience was about to unfold, Subject K trembled all over.
Even his homing instinct disappeared entirely.
Such was the intensity of his curiosity.
Subject K moved forward as if possessed.
‘It’s a human! Or not?’
The creature was physically human-shaped, but its inner essence was somewhat alien.
Parts of it were human, and parts were not.
And Subject K knew exactly what the “not human” part was.
‘What was it again? I forgot!’
So, he had once known the answer.
“Is anyone there? …Monster?”
The being—uncertain whether human or not—spoke.
At first, Subject K did not respond—not because he ignored the voice, but because he did not realize it was addressed to him.
No creature he passed while descending sensed his presence.
“If you don’t answer, you will be considered a Monster. Show yourself immediately.”
After hearing the voice a second time, Subject K was startled.
This creature clearly knew he was here!
‘This time, I think I can make a friend!’
Overjoyed, Subject K clumsily revealed himself.
Only then did he realize he was at a disadvantage.
Normally, creatures communicate using physical vocal organs.
Though his flowing body was convenient for movement, it was inconvenient for conversation.
‘I need to form hands, a neck, a mouth… or better yet, just create a new head!’
From his soft surface, a tiny hand suddenly appeared.
Then the surface bubbled, and a boy’s face with an innocent smile emerged.
“Hi! I’m Experimental Subject K! Actually, that’s not my real name—I don’t even know what it is! Please be my friend!”
“…What?”