After leaving the A rank party, I aim for the deep part of the labyrinth with my former students
“It feels like the space itself has been replaced.”
“Like the skip is happening sideways…?”
“Exactly.”
As I listened to Nene’s scouting report, I looked out over the expanding space.
The “Achromatic Darkness” was a labyrinthine dungeon where using stairways caused vertical floor skips.
But inside this “World Tree,” an entirely different set of rules seemed to apply.
If this place spreads sideways with the same nature as a floor skip… then it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this an infinitely expanding, field-type labyrinth dungeon.
“No, but… I see.”
“Don’t just understand it by yourself—share it.”
Poked by Jamie, I nodded and spoke up.
“If we walk a bit more, we might see it more clearly.”
“Then I’ll guide us back to the point where I turned around.”
“Any monsters?”
“A few, yeah. But we can avoid them.”
We all followed Nene as she began to walk.
There were no footsteps to be heard, but the sensation underfoot with each step felt nothing like soil.
It was almost as if we were walking across the polished marble floors of a royal palace.
As we advanced through this distorted forest, I began to feel a growing certainty.
I stopped and turned to face the others.
“I think the concept of ‘forest’ is still shared here. It's not as chaotic as the Achromatic Darkness—there’s some structure, some simplification to it… that’s the impression I get.”
The object-like trees standing around us changed form at regular intervals.
Scrubby woodlands, evergreen forests, vine-covered jungles.
Lifeless and inorganic, their presence lacked the vibrance of a real forest—but it was still, unmistakably, a forest.
A simplified, artificial reconstruction of forest information.
“That way, I think.”
I locked my eyes in a certain direction, following my hypothesis.
“How do you know it’s that way?”
“Because I see the Amber Forest.”
Over the past few days, we’d become familiar with the Amber Forest that covered Vilmuren Island.
And now, a nearly identical forest spread out ahead.
If we follow that area, I’m sure we’ll reach it.
To Silk—to the place where the Abyss Gate lies.
“Got it…! Rain, give me the heading. I’ll scout ahead and secure the route.”
Understanding my intent, Nene checked the direction shown by the Seeker’s Compass, and stepped into the simplified, inorganic Amber Forest.
I watched her go, then slowly took a deep breath and reached out with my senses.
Something felt… off.
No, I mean—I understand that the Abyss Gate in the World Tree doesn’t seal “Oblivion” like the one before, so differences are to be expected. But why did this labyrinth dungeon suddenly activate?
It’s strangely quiet, even eerily stable.
There’s a peculiar sense of rejection, a distortion, a faint ripple—but no malice, no sense of hostility trying to devour the world.
So why did the World Tree suddenly spew Achromatic Darkness onto Vilmuren Island?
I have no idea.
And then there’s what Ilwen said about the True King of the Forest and the “new world”—I don’t understand that at all either.
There’s not nearly enough information to even start forming a theory. It’s frustrating.
But judging from Ilwen’s behavior, it’s probably nothing good.
Using the Abyss Gate for anything likely means twisting the laws of the world.
Silk plans to control it with her Amber Eyes—but can something like that truly be controlled?
Even Silk’s true intentions remain unclear.
She seemed a little strange, yes, but I didn’t get the sense she was being coerced or manipulated.
…If we catch up to her, maybe I can ask directly.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’ve secured the route—and found the target.”
Nene’s voice pulled me back to reality.
Hearing her report, Marina’s face lit up.
“You found Silk?”
“Yep. And I found it too—the Abyss Gate.”
Nene’s expression turned slightly bitter.
I understood how she felt—my own memories of that thing are far from pleasant.
Because of it, my hometown was erased. My uncle died. We lost Niberune.
That’s exactly why I can’t let it be used lightly.
It’s a dangerous artifact—no one knows what might happen if it’s misused.
“Let’s go, Yuke.”
“Yeah.”
I nodded at Rain, who took my hand, and turned my toes toward the inorganic Amber Forest.
◆
Beyond the forest, there was a clearing.
Unlike the previous inorganic, simplified areas, this circular plaza was filled with hedgerow-like trees and colorful flowers, bearing a faint resemblance to the garden of Elder Elran’s estate.
And at the center of that circular garden… it stood.
A magical artifact with a smooth, arch-shaped door.
The frame was intricately carved with reliefs of trees and flowers, resembling a valuable piece of craftsmanship.
However, from the slight opening of the door, a chilling breeze from another world quietly flowed out.
At the edge of this world—directly in front of the door—stood two figures.
Silk, a dark elf girl clad in a pure white chiton, and Ilwen.
Silk was chanting something like a sacred rite over Ilwen, who knelt solemnly before the door.
At their feet, flowers bloomed and withered in an endless cycle, creating an otherworldly scene where it seemed as if the seasons turned only in that spot.
When we took a step forward, Silk’s chant ceased.
She slowly turned, then gave Ilwen’s shoulder a small tap.
“…To barge into our chamber, Yuke Feldio—how unsophisticated can you be?”
I ignored the insufferable light elf’s words and called out to Silk.
“Silk, tell me—what are you trying to do? Why are you pushing us away?”
“Yuke… this is something I must do. Please don’t interfere.”
“That’s not like you. You’re being far too vague.”
Just as Silk, eyes lowered, began to speak, the meddlesome elf man stepped forward.
“I must ask you to stop acting on your own. Silk is my other half. She doesn’t belong to you forever.”
“Is that true, Silk?”
I questioned her over Ilwen’s shoulder.
Only her voice, devoid of visible expression, echoed through the tranquil garden.
“Yes. That’s how it must be… it has to be.”
Her words struck me with more than a little shock.
Yet the sense of duty in her tone seemed to carry inner conflict.
“I intend to fulfill my responsibility. It’s something only I can do.”
“Well said. As expected from my Silk.”
Ilwen caressed Silk’s cheek from behind.
His overly familiar gesture nearly sparked my anger, but I managed to suppress it, barely.
“So, what exactly are you trying to do? Be specific.”
Perhaps sensing my silence as hesitation, Jamie stepped forward.
“If Silk truly chose this herself, that’s fine. But we—we can’t just stand by and ignore it.”
She pointed toward the half-open Abyss Gate.
The edge of the world—the bridge to Oblivion.
Whether open or closed, that artifact could only lead to disaster.
“…We will choose a king. The True King of the Forest—one who can establish a new order that all elves can accept.”
“And of course, I am the one most fit to be that king.”
Ilwen gave a vile grin, far removed from anything kingly.
“This door is necessary for that. The World Tree’s power isn’t quite enough on its own yet.”
“If you do that, Oblivion will awaken!”
“That’s why we have the Amber Eyes, and why we need the True King of the Forest. I’m not foolish or thoughtless like the rest of you. If something can be used, we use it.”
Ilwen pranced like a jester, rather than a king.
“Now then, everything’s ready. Let’s begin the birth of the new king, shall we, Silk?”
Silk nodded at his words. Her amber eyes shimmered, and she quietly resumed her sacred chant.
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