The Academy Regressor is Obsessed

A monster who reached transcendence and gained a god-like view. A ruler who attained the realm of immortals that mortals could never reach even if they looked up to it for their entire lives.

It was clear that he had caused the current situation.

“…!”

The moment Asel realized this, the space in front of his eyes began to shatter like a breaking mirror. The cracks spread to the surroundings in an instant, and as they all broke at once, Asel was led into a dark space.

His vision changed in an instant. Without time to perceive it, he was thrown into a space of darkness. In that place where not even a sliver of light existed, Asel felt as if he was lying in water. Confusion that made it impossible to know whether he was actually lying down, or if it was an illusion caused by mixed senses despite standing up, swirled in his head.

And at the same time, a voice began to resonate directly in Asel’s mind.

[The simplified labyrinth is a space I created directly to find my successor.]

It was a confusing voice so mixed that it was impossible to tell if it was male, female, old, or young. However, ironically, that confusing voice began to slowly calm Asel’s mind.

[At the moment when death drew near. A sanctuary and tomb of my own that I created by pouring out all my remaining magical power. I modeled it after a labyrinth not for any great reason, but because I thought that form would be most suitable. There need to be appropriate trials and rewards for many to challenge this place.]

Asel’s wide-open eyes narrowed sharply. He concentrated his mind to focus as much as possible on the voice in his head.

[While creating the tomb, I heard that an Academy would be established here. It was a stroke of luck. Since an Academy is a place where all sorts of talented individuals gather, there was no reason to refuse. I immediately went to the Chancellor and requested that my tomb be opened to students. The Chancellor made a troubled face but eventually allowed the opening in exchange for not announcing that this was my tomb. It seemed like a good condition, so I accepted his proposal.]

The word “tomb” digs into Asel’s mind. The words “Sage’s tomb” engraved on Aleph suddenly come to mind.

[As I said, I created the simplified labyrinth to find a successor. Whatever happens to my tomb doesn’t matter. Rather than foolish magicians unnecessarily blocking outsiders’ entry calling it a sanctuary, it might be better for it to be known simply as a simplified labyrinth. The future is unknown, but I couldn’t help but have some expectations.]

[But the visit of the Demon of Possibility was completely unexpected]

The Demon of Possibility. Its name is mentioned again. Now it’s impossible to even guess where it doesn’t intervene. It’s suspicious enough to wonder if it might be the demon with the greatest influence.

Even amidst this, the voice continued.

[He was quite an異質的 demon. A transcendent who sits guarding a large black tree in a void space somewhere between the present world and hell, never moving, rather than living in hell. He has no interest in killing humans, and rather acts as if trying to protect them, an oddball. Perhaps that’s why I conversed with him. The exact reason, I don’t remember anymore.]

[He proposed to me that he would bear a ‘fruit of possibility’ to allow someone with even more excellent talent than me to visit the simplified labyrinth someday. The price was my soul. Breaking the cycle of reincarnation and entering eternal rest. I gladly accepted his proposal.]

[It’s a life that doesn’t have much time left anyway due to a chronic illness. If I could obtain a certain future, I could give up my life as much as needed. I don’t know the exact timing, but nonetheless, I dedicate my life to the future.]

As the voice continued, Asel’s mind settled calmly. He gently closed his eyes while feeling his own pounding heartbeat.

[This is my final message and will that I leave just before my death. If the Demon of Possibility hasn’t betrayed me, surely someone will be able to hear these words. I set the condition as magical sensitivity and control similar to mine.]

[I hope that whoever is hearing my will, whether they be a magician like me or a swordsman as a result of their talent, will inherit my will.]

[Kill the Demon of Birth. And save the world.]

The voice cut off once, then soon changed to an impersonal tone and was heard again.

[You have escaped from the simplified labyrinth. A reward will be given for that.]
[Escape point: 16th floor.]
[The ‘Sage’s Will’ is given as a reward.]
[Good work.]

Whoosh!!

As the voice faded, Asel’s vision began to brighten. When full light finally returned to the world.

“Huff!”

Asel exhaled and opened his eyes wide, sitting up. Reine, who was sitting beside him, jumped in surprise at his sudden awakening.

“Kyaa! Y-You startled me. You wake up quite noisily, don’t you?”

At Reine’s sudden voice, all of Asel’s senses returned to reality. He glared at Reine while panting and sweating profusely. Reine flinched at his rather fierce gaze.

“Um… sorry?”
“…Senior. Where is this?”

Asel asked that first in a cracking voice. Reine cleared her throat and answered:

“It’s the bedroom behind the club room. Surprise~”
“…Bedroom?”
“The simplified labyrinth actually happens in a dream~ They say it’s because succubi were involved in the creation process. We just took care of you while you were asleep and laid you down here.”
“…In a dream. You’re saying it was in a dream.”

Asel muttered that and covered his face with his hands.

He had suspected it might be a dream since there was no pain from the burns, but he never thought it would actually be true. If so, the momentary loss of consciousness when first entering was likely all part of the process of entering the dream.

It was natural that even Asel couldn’t notice it beforehand if it was the power of succubi. No matter how high one’s magical sensitivity, it’s impossible to detect abilities carried out on a racial level unless one directly sees the remnants. Unless one is of the same race, it would be difficult for Asel.

…His thoughts wandered for a moment. Asel exhaled a long breath and recalled the Sage’s will. What was important now was not the fact that the simplified labyrinth was in a dream, but organizing the newly obtained information.

‘It’s true that the simplified labyrinth is the Sage’s tomb and final work. I understand that its purpose was to find a successor.’

It was easy to accept since he had expected it. But the word “successor” made his head quite complicated.

The Sage who flung his talent to future generations through a contract with the Demon of Possibility. A transcendent whose price was having all reincarnation and rebirth cut off, his soul completely disappearing from the world. An eccentric magician who had now completely embedded even his traces in the simplified labyrinth.

It was easy to guess where the talent he was looking for currently was. Asel looked down at his own chest and grimaced.

‘It’s me.’

There was no room for doubt. The future talent that the Sage had wished for, dedicating even his past and future lives, was himself.

Magical sensitivity and control comparable to the Sage’s. The fact that he heard the will that could only be heard with those qualities meant that Asel was the future talent the Sage had wished for.

The certain future established through the Sage’s contract with the demon.

Could it really be a result of randomness that Asel exists in that future? Could it really be just a result of simple coincidence that he heard the Sage’s will instead of a genius who might have existed in the past or might be born in the future?

That couldn’t be. He was a transcendent strong enough to engage in battle with gods. Surely there must have been some plan for passing on the Sage’s will to Asel.

“……”

It was a plan he couldn’t even guess at this point. According to the Sage’s will, he was an oddball demon aiming to save humans, so it was clear that it must be related to that. The rest… he wasn’t sure.

But one thing was certain.

The Demon of Possibility.

He is setting up some kind of scheme.