44 - Dungeon Investigation Practice (2)

I pondered. Were there any truly good people in Reincarnated Hero? By the late game, Edwin and the main heroines were on the side of justice, while Kaeran and the author's pet characters were villains... At least, that's how it looked from my root gamer perspective.

So where did that leave Lev Denek? And why had Aria asked if I was a good person?

"Who knows. I just follow my gut."

The words that slipped out were vague. In a way, I was a third party in this story, someone intervening to change it. I might not be bad for Edwin's side, but to Kaeran's crew? Definitely.

Aria lowered her gaze slightly.

"...I see."

And the familiar silence returned. Amid ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the awkward tension,

-Shiiik.

only the sound of my crossbow echoed. For some reason, Aria was still there. It wasn't long before she spoke.

"I'm looking for the great demon Andras."

"...Yeah?"

I nearly blurted out, I killed that thing. But I swallowed it down. Too soon to say it. No proof, no way to explain.

Still, I was surprised. Aria opening up about her past was way later in the story.

"Can you help me find him?"

"..."

I was speechless. Then her words triggered a popup.

In fanfics, characters have awakening chapters and main events. Aria's awakening ties directly to settling things with Andras. Telling her his whereabouts meant more than "he's gone"—I'd have to admit I inherited his power.

And in this world's lore, inheriting a demon's power meant one thing: not a necessary evil like in the original game, but absolute evil.

Aria's eyes trembled faintly. This was her testing me. She never asked for favors easily. It wasn't really about helping find Andras. It was a plea: If you know something, if you're connected to him, tell me now.

300 points on a platter, or Aria's favor...

I had to admit it again. This world wasn't a game. She and I were real people. My goal was simple: stop the Kaeran ending. That's it.

I decided. Looking at Aria, I said,

"I'll help."

She gave a faint smile, as if she'd expected it.

"...I spoke out of turn. Forget it."

* * *

After talking with Aria in the archery range, I checked my bet winnings back in the dorm: the Ashen Scatterbolt.

A crossbow with a faint blood-red sheen. No abilities unlocked yet, so it looked plain—almost ordinary aside from the dark hue.

Diena had fretted about the missing string and it being a demon artifact, hard to use... but

As a gamer, no issue. Combine.

In Reincarnated Hero's closed beta, crafting didn't require tools for smooth testing. I could level proficiency myself, but the success rate... S-grade item at Lv.1 proficiency? Just 1%.

But this too...

My diligently stacked luck, first crafting bonus from the test server, and that black market crafting potion for 3,000 gems... should cover it.

-Ding!

Still 7% short... Failure would make me wanna off myself. I'm no gambler. One shot left. Time for true all-in.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Mainhwa.

Pump luck one more time. Is Lev a good person? Aria's words flashed, but no choice. Bear with me just once...

As I focused and activated Mainhwa,

-Whoooosh!

sinister mana seeped into my body.

-Ding!

[Luck: 3.4 → 4.09]

Fitting for an ultimate. Always the missing piece when needed—a love-hate skill.

-Ding!

[Proceed with crafting?]

Now a 1-in-1,000 suicide button. No hesitation.

"Craft."

. . .

* * *

. . .

-Kwang!!!!!!

"Phew."

A sigh of relief escaped. Why'd I get so worked up...?

As I relaxed, status windows popped up seamlessly.

100 points fitting a main quest. Crafting this at this stage? Insane speed.

An S+ item. In-game, a late-game fantasy rare you'd be lucky to craft one or two of. But high-rarity gear locks special abilities if your stats don't match. Fair balance—if item power was everything, I'd have gem-farmed gear first.

With my current stats, equipping it would only be a slight upgrade. But I chose this demonic Ashen Scatter for one reason: 'Chosen by demons' in the tooltip.

Mainhwa should unlock all its powers.

I wanted to test it now, but two Mainhwas would drain mana too fast—Aria and Yeriel would notice.

Preparations complete. Now I was set for raid-grade beasts.

* * *

Time flew. Dungeon practice day arrived. Portals to similarly difficult but different dungeons buzzed with cadets at the magic tower.

"Senior Yeriel, thanks. I couldn't even form a party..."

"No more 'senior'! Casual talk's better for me too!"

Edwin thanked Yeriel for the invite.

"Ah, got it... Got it, Yeriel."

"Looking forward to it, Edwin!"

"Y-Yeah..."

Yeriel offered her hand with a smile; Edwin stared like he'd met an angel.

Already smitten...

Fine. Canon. Their bond starts here.

Then sub-instructor Bella approached with one more cadet.

"Party 16, all present."

Balanced classes: one each. Our party ended up...

Bella explained.

"Normally, you'd get an S-rank ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠frontliner, but numbers didn't match, so this composition."

"Ahem!"

Brown twintails, wide-brim mage hat. Somehow, the A-rank dragon tamer Lily Forzet—the one I'd awkwardly confessed to—joined as our frontliner.

Not impossible. Lily was originally a summoner with golems for tanking. Dragon tamer comes post-awakening, so this fit now. Plus, S-rank candidate. Solid skills.

"Ahem ahem! Be grateful I came! It was Kaer... no, Senior Yeriel's request!"

Kaeran, huh... In Reincarnated Hero, Melissa, Abelin, and Lily fall for him. I'd seen them fight over partying with him in seminar.

"Dungeon info's with the elder. Follow her lead, Yeriel. She's evaluating too—no slacking just 'cause no profs. One more thing: not super dangerous, but real combat. Stay sharp. Dismissed."

Bella vanished for the next group. True to the academy's battle-ready rep.

Alone now, Lily glared at me.

"Ugh, why're you here?"

First time since Gailon? Classic third-rate villain treatment!

Hands on hips, she scolded from her short height.

"Lily's frontline, and backline's this lame? You're a burden to everyone—realize that?"

Cute. Even third-person fits her.

"Lily. Evaluation's starting. Mind the infighting?"

"Sure~. But following frontline Lily's your mid/back duty, right?"

Undeterred by Yeriel,

"Special order for a scrub like you: backline means shoot arrows. You know 'do nothing, get mid'? Shut up and obey!!"

"..."

"Answer me!!!"

This dungeon: raid beast, Edwin and Yeriel's awakenings. Key event—I'd planned to play nice...

No. This bratty loli needs a tearful lesson.