20 - Hidden Dungeon
“Climb up carefully!”
After completing the dorm contract through Yeriel, I followed her. We ascended creaky stairs to the second floor, where my room came into view.
“You can use this room. I cleaned it again just in case…”
It was a Western-style house straight out of a typical fantasy tale. Spotlessly maintained, probably thanks to regular care. The building's age showed, though—it wasn't luxurious by any means. Still, compared to the modern conveniences of the Blue Dorm for author convenience's sake, this place had a vibe I liked. Like stepping from a sleek penthouse into a well-preserved hanok.
“Even if it's a bit uncomfortable, just bear with it…”
“It's got roots and it's great. What's not to like?”
“Huh?”
“It's serene and nice. Reminds me of my grandma's place.”
“…I see.”
Oh right. That last bit was my personal aside.
“…Yeah.”
“?”
Yeriel nodded repeatedly in confusion before handing me the key.
“If you need anything… just let me know! And about meals…”
Come to think of it, trekking to the academy cafeteria from here might starve me.
“Um… you're supposed to cook for yourself, but I'll help today! Come down at dinnertime…”
She brushed her long white hair behind her ear and smiled once more. An angelic smile, fittingly. Preparing dinner for a rumored bad guy like me. Was she just that good-natured, or thrilled to have a resident in the dorm?
Yeriel left the room shyly, leaving behind a faint floral scent.
Level 2 Surveillance Magic has been dispelled
“Huh?”
Surveillance magic levels: 1 means no clue on the target's location—only big mana use or life-or-death situations ping. Level 2 pinpoints to building-scale. A real pain, but with Aria's mana pool, maintaining it constantly must be tough.
So, hidden dungeon run—now's my chance!
I unpacked lightly, grabbed the Mermaid's Scream, and bolted from the Selafi Black Dorm.
“…”
Yeriel checked ingredients for two while prepping dinner. He'd dashed out moments ago, saying he had something to do.
“Does he not like the dorm after all?”
She harbored doubts about Lev Denek.
“No. That can't be… he'd have taken his stuff.”
Most Clarice cadets avoided Selafi Black Dorm anyway. This was her first semester as dorm warden, so she'd prepared eagerly… but reactions were similar.
—Thanks, seen enough.
—Too far out…
—Food? You grow your own?
—Heard it's for troublemakers or dropouts…
—Shh, quiet. She'll hear.
Poor location, outdated facilities, inconvenient for academy perks. Made sense if you wanted pure study focus.
Lev was different, though. Penalized beyond limits, no other dorms took him—pushed here. Rumors of picking fights, harassing girls, total outcast. Clean freak too, picky as hell.
Yet he acted naturally. Casual, like it was no big deal. Praised the dorm genuinely.
—It's got roots and it's great.
—Serene and nice. Reminds me of grandma's.
First like him. Maybe flattery, but it warmed her then. Reason she stayed: her grandparents were wardens here. Pre-academy, pre-purification of this fallen sanctuary—their memory spot.
Did he sense that too?
“Not bad for a bad guy…? So calm…”
His offhand tone showed no deep interest, nor rebuttals— just steady. She judged by experience, not rumors or looks.
“Living together means we'll cross paths… yeah.”
Rationality turning romantic was unforeseen, but first resident deserved a welcome dinner.
A long eastward walk via loop train led to a lake where sunlight shattered on emerald waters. Stunning.
Who'd guess a dungeon lurked here? Dark under the lamp.
This clear lake hid an instance dungeon: underwater cave with Naga—half-human serpents. Original dwellers from fallen sanctuary days, aiming to revive Sea Dragon for clan revival.
Sea Dragon spawns in Chapter 2, Harfan's mana sensing class. Melissa ignores matchup, trusts flames—gets wrecked. Kaeran saves her; inferiority flips to affection.
Anyway, Chapter 2 Sea Dragon—Posedaros—links side characters. Sabotaging this opportunity dodges my Kaeran ending goal?
Pre-revival—prime time.
Rarity: C-
Allows underwater breathing. Lasts 30 minutes.
—Pop!
I uncorked the vial and downed it in one go.
…
* * *
…
🏛 Difficulty: D
📍 Time Limit: 5 hours 39 minutes
—Drip.
In the dark, damp cave, only my crossbow twanged.
—Shwick!
—Thwack!
—Shaaa…
The status popped as they crumpled silently.
Recluse
[Aggro: 9]
*Aggro reaches 100: Enemies detect you
Random stat +0.05
*Luck stat unchanged by Luck
I sniped unseen, sneak archer style, slinking deeper.
—Shwiiiick!
—Thunk!
—Sluuuurp…
[Aggro: +8]
[Aggro: 17]
Random stat +0.05
Forced assassinations let me solo EXP. Even hell mode: one-shot crits ease aggro.
Common, Hidden D+ Rank Monster
Humanoid
Danger: Mildly Low
Traits: Adult. Guarding some 'greater cause'?
Nagas outvalue F-rank hobgoblins but, deep-sea dwellers, weak to land poison despite snake evolution.
Enchant: Poison
Uses Left: 25
D- Poison-coated bolt. Reduces healing 30%, fixed damage over 5s.
Hazel's poison enchant counted uses game-like—I exploited it fully. Hidden monster + Luck + EXP solo synergy? Insane.
Random stat +0.05
Random stat +0.05
Random stat +0.05
Nearly every kill netted rare stat bonuses. Limited spawns were the pity.
My growth ignited.
[Strength]: 1.75 → 1.9 (new)
[Vitality]: 2.0 → 2.2 (new)
[Agility]: 1.4 → 1.55 (new)
[Mana Power]: 1.0 → 1.05 (new)
[Mana]: 1.0 → 1.10 (new)
[Mental]: 1.25 → 1.30 (new)
[Sensing]: 1.0 → 1.05 (new)
[Luck]: 2.6
Specialty: Circle Magic (1), Crossbow - Proficiency (5)
“Tasty.”
Not just stats.
Proficiency increased
[5]
Max range 90%: min accuracy +97%
Crit chance +4%
Crit damage +10%
(Hidden) Crossbow: Bonus damage proportional to Agility
“Delicious…”
No long-term crossbow plans, but sweet hidden passive: Agility-scaling damage. Reincarnated Hero archer/rogue skills favored Agility. Luck dipped mine, but balanced stats? Milk this safe play.
…
Dove deeper, U-swam up—found the last, the leader.
—Grrrrowl…
Named E-Rank Monster
Humanoid
Danger: Moderately High
Traits: Spell stacks x3 success → Promotes to D-Rank. EXP near max! Promotes in 2 hours.
Emerald Naga in white robes, befitting a priest. Game-labeled rare, but hell mode named it.
“One-shot or bust…”
Traits confirmed: stacks → D-Rank. D-named = A-B normal. Even crossbow grandpa couldn't kill then. Evolves in 2 hours—game system growth.
Too late for retry.
Quitting now sucks.
Named kill: pick from 3 new traits. Plus that gleaming Sea Dragon essence behind… tempting.
Drool.
Luck weak spot? One-shot. Fail? Full sprint escape?
Then I'm dead?
In-game, mercs for instances—safe, efficient. Solo downside.
Pondering quit, skills flashed.
Wait…
Perfect solo skill.
Mainhwa.