I'll Treat You to the VIP Course, Seniors
“I’ll treat you to the VIP course, seniors.”
At the command of Sisen Alencia, leader of the subjugation team, the entire unit came to a crisp, disciplined halt.
They had warped from the Academy through a portal to the western part of the kingdom—Count Felicia’s territory. As the Academy’s subjugation team operating directly under the king’s authority, they had unilaterally reported their breakthrough into the count’s lands per royal decree. After that, they rapidly advanced to the location where the dungeon entrance had manifested.
All of it had taken a mere thirty minutes.
While this was officially planned as training for the second-years, the dungeon they were about to enter was undeniably the real thing. It was training, yet at the same time, it was live combat.
“Vice-leader, make contact with the guards and prepare for intervention.”
“Understood.”
Evinel, my senior, nodded and headed toward the instructors acting as gatekeepers, carrying the subjugation orders bearing the king’s seal. One might have expected at least one person to turn their head and follow his movement, but not a single member of the subjugation team did so.
They all understood it on a visceral level. From this point forward, if they didn’t stay razor-sharp, death would sink its teeth into their necks and refuse to let go. They had to complete their assigned mission without fail. Only by focusing solely on that could they hope to leave the dungeon alive.
“Don’t be nervous, second-years.”
The president of the 92nd student council. The eldest daughter of the Alencia ducal house. And, in this moment, the commander leading the subjugation team.
Sisen Alencia’s voice rang out toward the tense unit.
“You may be the only ones wearing combat uniforms here, but there are twenty seniors here to protect you, along with five professors. No matter how many mistakes you make, there is zero chance you will die and be carried out.”
Her volume was slightly insufficient to command all thirty-three people excluding herself and the vice-leader. Yet Sisen Alencia’s low, measured voice reached every single ear without fail.
“Therefore, there are only three things you need to do.”
Her tone made it feel as though she were locking eyes with each person individually—those blood-red eyes that seemed to pierce straight through them.
“Obey my orders faithfully. Actively seek ways to complete your missions as the situation demands.”
And finally…
Sisen Alencia’s crimson pupils flashed with a predatory gleam.
“You are the future that will lead this kingdom and the proud students of the Academy. You have spent half a year preparing for today. Even though this is your first dungeon and your first subjugation mission, there is no reason whatsoever for you to make mistakes. And naturally, I have no reason to tolerate them.”
Thud.
Sisen Alencia drove the flag symbolizing the subjugation team into the ground. Even though the forest was sheltered from strong winds, the banner fluttered gracefully, as if obeying her command.
“The one leading you is none other than me, Sisen Alencia. The ones I lead are none other than you. There is no reason to be nervous. There is no reason to make mistakes. There is no reason you cannot succeed.”
Therefore—
“Obey orders faithfully, actively seek ways to complete your missions, and do not make mistakes. That is all.”
Sisen Alencia rejoined the ranks as if nothing had happened. Once she finished speaking, she turned to face the same direction as the rest of the team—toward the gate.
But.
“……Hah.”
The small sigh that escaped proved her words carried an undeniable weight that could not simply be brushed aside. The arrogance and ferocity that boldly proved every epithet ever attached to her. Yet the overwhelming charisma that made everyone accept it as only natural.
They were holding it in. The anticipation, excitement, thrill, and joy of being able to stand beside the promised success that Sisen Alencia intended to display. Furthermore, the admiration, single-minded devotion, awe, and respect they felt toward the person known as Sisen Alencia.
Every member of the subjugation team clenched their fists tightly, barely managing to suppress it all by letting out shaky breaths.
‘Wow, sis… you were actually really good at giving speeches?’
I had thought she wasn’t particularly dangerous because she’d been harassing Sien in such petty ways. That was clearly a mistake on my part. Who would have guessed she possessed this level of charisma to lead people?
‘So an Alencia is an Alencia after all.’
I was pondering how to adjust my assessment of her threat level when Evinel returned.
There was no need for words. It meant they were about to enter the dungeon.
“Commander Sisen, preparations are complete.”
“Open the gate.”
“Open.”
Evinel echoed Sisen’s command. The silver portal that had been shining brilliantly before the subjugation team suddenly collapsed from the top down, pouring away like sand amid an intense burst of light.
Boom. Rumble—
Where the portal had completely crumbled, the sound of massive rocks colliding and shattering erupted. Then, a door so enormous that calling it a “gate” felt insufficient rose from the ground—fifteen meters tall and six meters wide.
The doors were covered in what could only be described as grotesque imagery.
Some things resembling human forms. Their arms and legs were twisted in anatomically impossible ways, and above all, their enormous faces were meticulously detailed with smiles so unsettling that merely looking at them made one’s skin crawl. And there weren’t just one or two—there were hundreds.
The background was equally unclear in what it was meant to depict, yet it radiated a profound sense of discomfort that made one instinctively frown. Most striking of all was the hooded skeleton that appeared to command them. Its appearance was obscured by shadow and blur, making it impossible to discern clearly, but it was simply revolting.
———Of course, no one else could see the bizarre drawings on the doors.
This was a fragment of fate rendered in image, visible only to those who had reached the Truth.
……Huh? Isn’t that fate even harsher than in the original world…?
———I’m screwed.
‘Starting today, I’ll believe in you, so please, while I’m still alive, don’t let me run into those grotesque things.’
I clasped my hands together in prayer toward the rather exhausting truth of this world.
“Hehe, even someone like Mr. Rain finds dungeons scary, I see. I’ll guard you well, so please don’t worry.”
Keith, who was also assigned to the front line, gave me a gentle smile.
“Rain just needs to stay behind me. Nothing will be able to touch you.”
Sien stood with a reliable expression, slightly revealing the sharp edge of her blade as she made her vow.
…It’s not exactly that, but thanks anyway, you two.
Creak—
The bolt on the door leading into the dungeon released. With an eerie sound like it might collapse at any moment, the doors swung open on both sides, revealing an abyss of pure darkness that welcomed us to an unknown destination.
May 11th. Count Felicia’s territory. D-rank dungeon, ‘The Whisper of the Evil Spirit.’
“Vanguard team, deploy.”
The dungeon raid had begun.
Date: May 11
Location: Count Felicia’s Territory
Dungeon: D-rank — 『The Whisper of the Evil Spirit』
“Spearhead, confirmed.”
“Ace, confirmed.”
“Benef, confirmed.”
“Communication status normal.”
A dungeon was an unknown extradimensional space where anything could happen at any time. While dungeons generally followed the same physical laws as the real world, they were not entirely identical, which made reliable communication the most basic and essential element.
The forward liaison, rear liaison, and team leader. The moment all three liaisons received confirmation that the vanguard team’s physical condition was fine, they completed their communication checks.
One minute. Everyone spent one minute regulating their breathing and activating their mana circles to adapt to the dungeon.
During that time, Evinel took out an artifact no larger than the palm of his hand and kept checking something through it. Before long, a message arrived via the dedicated communication device.
> Spearhead, appear on command. Sign: Head.
> Spearhead appearing.
> Dungeon status?
> Much darker than expected, but fully coverable with prepared artifacts. Will proceed with mission.
> Approved. Vanguard team to begin mission as scheduled. Over.
“…So everyone, prepare for combat.”
Evinel gave the order with a small chuckle. Starting with a burly senior holding a shield, everyone drew their respective weapons.
“We’ll save the artifact for reconnaissance for later. Our role is to draw aggro, but going beyond what we can cover would be exhausting.”
Evinel shrugged and pulled out his staff. His gaze turned toward me, and the others began watching me with tense eyes as well.
It was so dark that taking just ten steps and turning around would make the entrance disappear from sight. On top of that, simply activating mana circles revealed how chaotic the mana flow here was—so turbulent that it couldn’t even be analyzed with aero-type magic.
Of course they were worried. It was only natural to still be suspicious. No matter how many seniors and professors were waiting beyond the gate to rescue them if something went wrong, the so-called instant death scenario remained. If you lost your life on the spot before being rescued, it would literally be a dog’s death.
Trust and distrust. Emotions split in two by a single seed of doubt.
———Which made this an incredibly good opportunity.
“Sien. Cover me.”
An opportunity to show everyone just how outstanding and reliable the person named Rain truly was.
“I’ll treat you to the VIP course, seniors.”
An absolutely perfect chance that I could not afford to miss.