Chapter 32: Retrieval and Resolve

A humid breeze swept over me.

I squinted slightly, surveying my surroundings.

The cracked walls were covered in damp moss, spreading in patches here and there.

An endless silence loomed, wrapping the space in an eerie stillness.

The torches mounted on the walls flickered and swayed, unable to fend off the darkness.

“So, this is what the professor has been working on so excitedly for the past month,” I muttered to myself.

The atmosphere in this place, painstakingly crafted by the professor’s hand, felt less like a tower and more like a labyrinth buried deep underground.

The path ahead was already littered with the remains of broken traps.

It was clear that other students had forced their way through.

Following that path, I walked slowly.

The heavy magical energy around me deepened the ominous air of the labyrinth.

***

After walking for what felt like ages, the distant sound of voices reached me, echoing from beyond the walls.

I followed the noise cautiously until I emerged into a wide open space.

It was large enough to hold hundreds of people.

Many individuals milled about, some pacing restlessly.

‘Why aren’t they moving forward?’ I wondered.

Carefully threading my way through the crowd, I discovered the source of the delay—a path blocked by two groups radiating intense magical energy.

The two sides stood in a tense standoff, their threatening shouts the source of the commotion that had drawn me here.

As I approached, the shouting ceased, their eyes turning to me as if sensing my presence.

‘I didn’t expect the sixth floor to change this much,’ I thought, recalling the mischievous grin the professor had given me earlier.

Right now, I was nothing more than another participant among them, and likely the weakest.

No doubt, the professor was eager to see me struggle amidst this chaos.

But to these people, I wouldn’t appear as just a participant.

To them, I would seem like a guide who had brought them here, or perhaps a staff member running this course.

Surely, they would mistake me for someone of authority.

I decided to lean into that misconception.

Plastering a bright smile on my face, I raised my hands high above my head.

“Hello, everyone! Why are you still here?”

I quickly scanned the two groups.

One was composed of swordsmen.

From what I had heard, they were supposed to have advanced far ahead by now.

Wielding a sword often implied speed and decisiveness, but here they were, stuck in the early sections of the labyrinth.

It was clear why—they were being blocked by the other group.

A quick glance revealed this second group consisted of people from noble families.

The core five of their group were nowhere to be seen, leaving the rest to barricade the path.

“Are you here as well?” the most imposing swordsman asked.

He was a muscle-bound man whose very face seemed carved from muscle.

“Yes,” I replied lightly.

“It seems someone needs to keep an eye on you all. But don’t worry—I have no intention of touching the treasure. Feel free to focus on your objectives.”

That, of course, was a lie.

Well, partially.

I didn’t intend to steal the treasure outright.

If I could take it quietly for myself, I might, but otherwise, there was no need to antagonize anyone over it.

After all, I’d be teaching this course for the next five years.

Making enemies right from the start wasn’t conducive to long-term survival.

Avoiding grudges was paramount.

The muscular man sighed, gesturing with the massive sword in his hand toward the group blocking the path.

“They’re standing in the way, letting no one through. And I can’t just kill them.”

“Hm, overcoming obstacles like this is part of getting the treasure, don’t you think? Best of luck to you all!”

I walked away, leaving them to their stalemate.

There was no reason for me to mediate their quarrel.

My only concern was my own goals.

This open area seemed safer than the rest of the labyrinth, and the gathering crowd offered an opportunity.

In the middle of the open space, I began setting up shop.

Pulling items from my dimensional pouch, I had my dolls construct a small tent.

They formed the frame with their bodies, draping fabric over it to complete a simple shelter.

As I worked, more and more eyes turned my way.

Smiling, I hung a sign at the tent’s entrance.

[Evron’s Doll Workshop]

A surge of pride filled my chest.

It was the same sign I had once hung outside my workshop beyond the university.

To hang it here, within the university grounds, felt deeply meaningful.

Someday, I would hang this sign again outside a shop in the capital city—not in some slum’s outskirts, but in the very heart of the empire.

That dream fueled me.

As I lost myself in happy thoughts, more dolls emerged from my pouch—varied and specialized.

One doll was equipped for emergency care, another inscribed with explosive magic, and yet another designed for customer service.

After arranging them against the tent walls, I pulled out a compact workbench from the depths of the pouch.

It was a simplified model, brought specifically to craft dolls in this labyrinth.

Though I had brainstormed various designs over the past month, I had yet to decide on the perfect product.

What I displayed now were just tools for my safety and convenience, not intended for sale.

What I needed was to rekindle my old instincts—the sharp, unerring sense for profit that had guided me before.

My rigid artisan mindset had dulled that edge, but standing here, I felt it stir again.

The theme of this dungeon was clear: a labyrinth, filled with traps and monsters, with a hidden treasure waiting to be found.

The journey would test both wit and resilience.

‘What kind of dolls would be most useful in a labyrinth like this?’

‘Dolls to trigger traps instead of their owners? Ones to create safe zones? Or perhaps dolls to restore magical energy?’ All seemed like good ideas.

I sketched designs for each but quickly crumpled and discarded them.

‘Too predictable. Other magicians likely already have ways to handle these problems. These ideas lack uniqueness and appeal.’

What I needed was something groundbreaking—an item tailored to the labyrinth, irreplaceable by any alternative.

As I toyed with various concepts, a strange sound broke my concentration—a voice, whispering faintly as if directly into my ear.

[One dropout detected. Remaining participants: 200.]

‘Huh, so they even set up notifications like this. Didn’t expect a dropout this soon,’ I thought.

Considering the caliber of these students, it was surprising someone had been eliminated within thirty minutes.

The traps must be exceptionally cruel.

The concept of “dropping out” had been designed jointly by me and the professor.

We agreed to stop just short of fatality—each student would be pushed to their very limit before being forcibly ejected by the professor’s intervention.

It was a fate everyone here likely dreaded.

Suddenly, a distinct scent wafted to my nose—the smell of opportunity.

At the same time, an idea took shape in my mind.

The professor couldn’t kill these magicians, only torment them to the brink of death.

Similarly, the two groups outside couldn’t kill each other, leaving them locked in a stalemate.

‘What if I rescued them just before they crossed that brink?’

A doll designed for retrieval, one that could salvage individuals teetering on the edge of defeat.

I quickly sketched a design, considering its form.

‘A humanoid shape? No. Bipedal structures are too risky for navigating traps in this labyrinth.’

‘Then perhaps an animal?’ Quadrupeds could offer speed and stability, even carrying a person on their back.

But this, too, felt inadequate.

A quadruped would still have vulnerabilities, particularly in ensuring the safety of those it rescued.

‘What if it had a shell, like a turtle? No, a turtle’s slow speed and lack of maneuverability in traps make it impractical.’

I needed something better.

Something unparalleled.

‘Then I’ll add more legs,’ I thought. ‘I’ll make it resemble an insect—multiple legs attached to a large, sturdy capsule capable of holding a person. If I enchant the capsule with various supportive spells, anyone inside will remain completely protected.’

This concept felt promising.

The critical component now was the material for the capsule.

Simple wood wouldn’t suffice to hold all those enchantments.

As I rummaged through my stockpile of materials, my hand brushed against the turtle shell attached to my chest.

Stroking the shell, I noted its sturdiness and immense capacity for holding magic.

‘This shell is perfect for the capsule. Just a small piece will do.’

The turtle let out a faint, pitiful cry, seemingly aware of its fate.

Its sound tugged slightly at my conscience, but I pushed those feelings aside.

The shell would serve a greater purpose.

Crafting the dolls with the shell didn’t take long.

The quality of the material allowed me to maximize its potential without excessive effort.

In the end, I produced thirty capsules, carefully carved from a single layer of the shell.

Now, it was time to sell them.

***

“Ladies and gentlemen, before venturing deeper into the labyrinth, why not secure some insurance for yourselves?” I called out in front of the tent.

In the brief time I’d spent inside the tent, the atmosphere outside had grown heavier.

The swordsmen weren’t the only ones pressing against the barricade—the other magicians had joined in, radiating palpable tension.

‘Why don’t they just start fighting already?’ I thought, glancing at the two groups in deadlock.

Smiling at the onlookers, I held up one of my prototypes—a small, rectangular capsule that fit in the palm of my hand.

“I’m sure you all heard the earlier announcement. In this labyrinth, you only get one chance. If you’re eliminated, the opportunity to claim the treasure vanishes entirely.”

With a flick of my wrist, I tossed the capsule into the air.

It grew as it fell, expanding to a human-sized container with eight articulated legs.

The lid of the capsule opened, revealing a magical array etched inside.

The doll moved quickly, scaling the ground and walls with ease.

“This is the Retrieval Doll. It will remain hidden in your possession until activated with your magic. Once activated, it will envelop you, bringing you safely to me.”

I gestured toward the dolls inside my tent, demonstrating their capabilities.

One doll was specifically designed for emergency care, skillfully repairing another I had intentionally damaged earlier.

The restored doll functioned perfectly again in moments.

“This gives you a second chance,” I continued. “Of course, there’s a risk the doll could be damaged while navigating the traps, but it’s designed to endure a significant amount of strain. Think of it as an extra life.”

The capsule doll shrank back to its portable size, and I held it high for all to see.

“So, what do you think? Wouldn’t it be wise to carry one of these with you? I’m renting them for just two points each!”

The heavy tension in the air broke, replaced by an awkward silence.

Undeterred, I shook the capsule gently and resumed my pitch.

Not long after, one of the swordsmen stepped forward—no, it wasn’t a man, but a woman.

She was the one I’d noticed earlier, her expression somewhat vacant.

Slowly, she approached me.

“Mister, I’d like one, please.”

She extended her hand, and I placed the capsule into it.

Her face looked oddly familiar, though I couldn’t pinpoint where I had seen her before.

Without showing my curiosity, I tapped her ring with mine to receive the points.

She inspected the capsule carefully before tucking it into her belongings.

Bowing slightly, she returned to the swordsmen.

‘Who is she?’ I wondered but dismissed the thought.

What mattered was my first sale.

Smiling brightly, I shouted again.

“Anyone else? Even if your comrades abandon you, this loyal doll never will! Stock is limited, so get yours while you can!”

Gradually, more magicians began approaching.

By setting the price low, I had ensured that even cautious participants would see value in purchasing one.

Soon, all thirty Retrieval Dolls were gone.

While small to them, their combined points were a mountain to me.

In total, I had earned 60 points—already exceeding my previous total wealth.

And this wasn’t the end.

Since the dolls were disposable, those who benefited from them would undoubtedly return for more.

Assuming they survived to come back, of course.

Satisfied, I began introducing other types of dolls.

Though they garnered less enthusiasm than the Retrieval Dolls, a few magicians purchased them at low prices.

***

Suddenly, the labyrinth began to tremble.

At first, it was so faint I thought I had imagined it.

But the tremors quickly grew, shaking the ground so violently it was hard to stay upright.

I secured the items inside my tent with magic and swallowed nervously.

When the shaking finally subsided, new pathways had appeared in the open space.

The magicians, previously lingering indecisively, darted toward the new routes.

The swordsmen followed suit.

The muscle-bound leader spat on the ground and glared at the group that had blocked their path.

“You won’t pull this off next time,” he growled.

The malice in his voice sent chills down my spine.

Watching grudges form always had a way of unsettling me.

This university wasn’t particularly favorable to swordsmen—prohibiting lethal force was a severe restriction for those trained in the art of killing.

Even so, their raw power was undeniable.

From the path they chose, I could hear the slicing wind and feel the chilling intent.

They must have already broken through a significant distance in the short time since entering.

With both groups gone, the open space emptied quickly.

Even the barricading magicians dispersed after a hushed discussion.

***

An hour had passed since I arrived on the sixth floor.

The labyrinth’s sudden change was undoubtedly the professor’s doing, likely out of boredom.

Without their intervention, such drastic shifts wouldn’t occur.

But I had no intention of leaving the open space—at least not until the professor forced me out.

With 23 hours remaining, I planned to gather as many points as possible.