Published: March 21, 2026
Two days ago I was bedridden with a cold, and yesterday I fell asleep before I could post an update.
If anyone was waiting for it, I'm sorry.
I'll do my best to update once a day.
"...Everything is so that I can survive."
When I said that, commander saran sighed. A deep, weighty sigh. I braced myself for a scolding, but she lifted her face and smiled.
"Understood. If it's for your survival, I will do my best as well. ...However, even if I put my all into it, it won't be enough to defeat that minotaur. Lend me your strength."
"Of course. There are still a lot of things I want you to teach me."
"Good. ...And I would also like to hear more about that smartphone and airplane of yours."
"I'll teach you as much as you want. If we survive here, that is."
I left it at that and activated presence concealment. Commander saran, who has the Demon Eye, could still see me, but the minotaur could no longer sense me. Even so, the minotaur was probably too preoccupied with the knights order to pay attention to us, but I was being cautious.
"If we fail, it will be difficult for everyone here to get out of this safely. Be careful."
"I understand."
Using the superhuman jumping ability granted by the Assassin profession, I vaulted over the minotaur's head and went straight to its rear. The knights order who'd been holding it back realized what the invisible me and the seemingly concentrating, magical-power-raising commander saran planned and fled at once.
A sensible decision. When we practiced this coordinated move during training with commander saran, I couldn't fully control it and nearly wiped out an entire forest.
Even though the minotaur was facing away, it was right in front of me; still, I closed my eyes.
"Master, grant me strength, grant us the power to root out all enemies that obstruct us... 'Thunderlight.'"
A bolt of lightning descended upon the minotaur, scorching its furry hide and blinding its eyes.
"Guuaaaaaaaaa!!!!"
It was the first time an attack had landed properly on the minotaur. My classmates cheered.
"...Now!!"
At commander saran's call, I opened the eyes I'd kept shut.
I held my hand out.
"...'Shadow magic' activate."
Shadows exploded.
Not literally rupturing, but shadows spread across the area, instantly staining the labyrinth—illuminated moments before by the Thunderlight—black. The stronger the light, the denser the shadow. Yet, strangely, even in that darkness one could still look around. The minotaur only looked a bit puzzled and then moved to strike commander saran standing before it.
"Drag it in."
At my words it halted mid-step. To be precise, it was forced to stop; from the side it probably looked like I had held the minotaur back.
"Gu-!?...Gwoooooo!?"
As I had commanded, the minotaur was pulled into the shadow.
Leaving only its head behind.
............
The shadow that swallowed the minotaur shrank as if its job was done, finally becoming about the size of one person—my shadow—settling at my feet.
My classmates who had watched everything didn't cheer; they just stared dumbfounded at the place where the minotaur's massive body had been.
The knights order and commander saran exhaled in relief at the success.
"...Hah, I want to go home."
I muttered that and turned my presence concealment on again. I didn't want my classmates poking me. And I didn't like being looked at strangely.
Sensing that, commander saran gave a wry smile and clapped her hands twice. The clear sound of her applause brought my dazed classmates back to their senses.
"Even though the greatest threat is gone, we are still inside the labyrinth. We don't know what else might be here. We'll stop here for today and return, so do not let your guard down on the way back."
The knights carried the minotaur's head, the hero was carried by friends on his back, and they exited the labyrinth. I followed behind, thinking about what to do next.
I can no longer hide my true strength. The real question is how quickly the king will be informed and how strong they'll report me as being.
After the hero's curse is lifted, it might be best to disappear for a while.