MTLNOVEL Chapter 973: No Excuses
Back on the surface, Professor Whitaker's expression had twisted into a dark scowl.
When she witnessed how Merlin was thrashing Edward, she couldn't help but assume that he was trying to kill him.
But more than that, she was astonished to see the greatest talent from the Tower of Daybreak being defeated so one-sidedly by a nobody.
Her heart was gripped by a foreboding feeling. If Edward were to die during the First Trial, the relations between the Tower of Daybreak and Saratoga Castle would undoubtedly deteriorate.
And with the threat of the Cult of Bones looming nearby, that was the worst possible outcome.
Just when she thought of intervening personally, she saw Merlin hand over the magical key to Edward before swimming into the depths of the maze.
She frowned.
Just what is he planning on doing?
One moment, she thought that Merlin was about to kill Edward; the next, he gave him the prized key and allowed him to pass the First Trial.
She was truly perplexed. However, what truly astonished her was the fact that Merlin was heading into the heart of the maze.
Why is he…
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed as realization dawned upon her.
Don't tell me… has he discovered—
Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt when a sudden commotion drew her attention.
On the banks of Marian Lake, Edward was suddenly thrown out of a portal, looking utterly battered and miserable.
His expression was deathly pale, and his bloodshot eyes spoke of sheer exhaustion. He quickly rolled over and vomited several mouthfuls of water he had swallowed.
Only then did he feel the pressure ease slightly, and he let himself fall onto his back, staring blankly at the blue sky with a lost, distant gaze.
It didn't take long for the people from the Tower of Daybreak to rush toward him and surround him.
They were completely panic-stricken earlier, thinking to themselves that he wouldn't make it out of the lake. That would have dealt a severe blow to the morale of the Tower of Daybreak.
The greatest talent to have ever come out of their prestigious institution, yet unable to make it past the First Trial of the Grand Magus Tournament? What a joke!
These people heaved a collective sigh of relief as they surrounded the blue-eyed youth and checked to see if he was alright.
Apart from the fact that he had nearly choked on water, he appeared to be fine… at least physically.
The words of the people surrounding him did not register in Edward's mind. His mind was somewhere else entirely—more specifically, on what that stranger had said to him earlier.
Your brain must have rotted for you to prioritize a woman over the First Trial's objective.
You abandoned the key for what? A woman? And look where that brought you… at my feet, at my mercy.
Did you think she couldn't take care of herself?
Did you think you were some knight in shining armor who was going to save her and complete the trial's objective together?
Or were you simply just insecure?
You placed something else above magic, and for that… you should be ashamed of yourself.
For a Magus, nothing should be more important than magic. The moment you place anything above magic… is the moment you cease to become a Magus.
Especially, the last few words. They continued to echo within Edward's mind, making him rethink his life choices.
"Eddie! Eddie, are you alright?!"
Suddenly, a blonde young woman reached out to him and gently caressed his cheeks. Lisa's eyes were filled with concern as she gazed at his pale face.
Edward turned to her with a complicated look on his face.
"…So you made it out, after all," he murmured.
Lisa frowned. "What does that mean? Of course, I made it out. But what took you so long? Were you surrounded by a large group of those crab-centaurs? Just... what happened down there?"
Edward ignored her question, then turned back towards the sky.
Yeah… why did I choose to look for her instead of the key? He wondered.
Lisa is perfectly capable of taking care of herself, so then why?
Am I really... insecure?
Once again, the stranger's words echoed inside his head:
You placed something else above magic, and for that… you should be ashamed of yourself.
Edward's lips quivered. He truly was ashamed of himself.
Right at that moment, Edwin's cold words drifted into his ears, causing the rest of the people to instantly quiet down.
"You're the last to pass the trial," he said, his tone laced with disappointment. "What took you so long?"
Edward turned to his grandfather. He wanted to say a lot of things, but in the end… only a few words escaped his lips.
"...I have no excuses."
Edwin deeply looked into his grandson's eyes. Then, he shook his head and turned around, silently walking away.
Edward, however, was lost in his own thoughts. He kept repeating the stranger's words in his mind.
For a Magus, nothing should be more important than magic. The moment you place anything above magic… is the moment you cease to become a Magus.
These words continued to repeat over and over again.
***
After swimming for several minutes at his fastest speed, Adam finally arrived at the heart of the labyrinth.
Contrary to his expectations, the center of the maze revealed a vast stretch of land, and at its heart stood an enormous castle… nearly as large as Saratoga itself!
Most notably, this castle also seemed to be made out of coral.
What the…
Adam was absolutely stunned. Not even in his wildest dreams had he imagined a coral castle lying at the heart of Marian Lake.
The coral castle rose from the lakebed, vast and alien, its crimson and violet spires glowing with a faint, ominous light.
Twisting archways and kelp-shaped windows hinted at a design not meant for human dwellers—or any creatures of similar size, for that matter.
Its halls were wide and winding, built for something that glided rather than walked.
Surrounding the enormous castle, sirens, crab-centaurs, and other magical creatures stood guard, their movements synchronized like a living defence system.
These countless underwater creatures were staring at Adam with open hostility. He could even sense dozens upon dozens of these creatures having strength equivalent to the Mana Vortex Rank!
Just what are they guarding?
Adam couldn't help but wonder solemnly.
But he was certain of two things. First, if he took even one more step forward, the underwater creatures would attack him or perhaps even kill him—or try to anyway.
Second, whoever—or whatever—resided within the coral castle was closely tied to the labyrinth itself. That much he had concluded after carefully studying the maze.
Fine, I've satiated my curiosity. Time to leave, he thought as he reached out for the last magical key on him.
He was about to infuse mana into the item and teleport away when suddenly he froze.
Through his Sphere of Resonance, he sensed shadowy figures shifting within the castle's depths.
And then, a moment later…
A pair of titanic eyes fixed their gaze upon him.