Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 28
I left the scheming behind and headed straight for the dungeon.
It had wasted some unnecessary time, but fortunately, the dungeon wasn't far from here.
A taxi ride took just an hour.
"There's more people here than I thought..."
"Of course there are. You must be new around here, young man."
"Ah, yes. That's right."
Through the taxi window, I spotted a group clad in armor.
They radiated intense mana and fighting spiritplayers, every one of them. They didn't look particularly strong, but that aura was unmistakably a player's.
As I watched them intently, the taxi driver asked,
"If you're coming here, it must be for the dungeon, right?"
"Obviously, to clear it."
"Hahaha, I've carried plenty of customers like that. It's been about three years now, I think."
The driver let out a hearty laugh at my mention of clearing the dungeon.
It didn't feel like he was mocking me; he just seemed genuinely amused by what I'd said.
We still had a bit of time before reaching the dungeon's main entrance, so I struck up a conversation to satisfy my curiosity.
"Have you had a lot of customers like me?"
"Oh, sure! Clearing an unclimbed dungeon draws so much attention."
"And that attention turns into wealth and fame."
"Hahaha, you young folks know a thing or two! You can't even imagine how many players have flocked here like moths to a flame for that very reason."
The taxi driver must have been here many times before.
And each time, he'd probably seen players boasting about clearing Efnel's Flower Garden. That explained his laugh from earlier.
"But really, do you think you can clear that dungeon? No offense, but you look a bit too refined for it."
"Why do you say that?"
"I've got experience. I've ferried everyone from F-rank to A-rank players, and they all came back empty-handed. With that slender build of yours, it seems tough."
It was a perfectly reasonable point.
Not even A-rank players had cleared it. Any sane person would think it was impossible for me right now.
If it were a normal dungeon, anyway.
"Do you really need brute force to clear a dungeon?"
"Huh?"
"Nothing. They say you should do the hard stuff while you're young, right?"
"Hahaha, fair enough. Guess this old man's too cynical."
"Here we are."
By the time I'd finished chatting with the driver, we'd arrived at the dungeon.
I handed over a card and paid.
As I opened the door to get out, he rolled down the window and waved.
"Give it your all! Clear it so this old man has a good story for drinks later!"
He didn't wait for a reply, closing the window and driving off right away.
Quite the unique, chatty guy, but I didn't mind him personally.
I wished my regular driver was someone like him instead of that rude jerk.
A pointless what-if. I headed toward the dungeon entrance.
Since Efnel's Flower Garden wasn't private property of any guild or corporation, anyone could enter with a simple application.
That meant a decent crowd was gathered at the entrance.
They all had baskets strapped to their backs.
If not for their auras, I might've mistaken them for herb gatherers.
Of course, not everyone had a weak presence.
One stood out with an especially strong aura. He carried a large basket, a small hand axe, and a neatly pressed uniform.
'A uniform...?'
White dress shirt and black pants.
Over it, a red tie and a tailored jacket embroidered with a golden apple tree.
Anyone in this line of work would recognize it instantly.
Because
"why's a student from our school here?"
That was Chilseong Academy's uniform.
Just to be sure it wasn't fake, I enhanced my eyes.
My pupils slit vertically, and my amethyst irises sparkled.
Demon Eye.
My sharpened vision examined the uniform's fabric.
The verdict: authentic. That uniform was definitely from Chilseong Academy.
The academy uniforms came enchanted with basic defensive and recovery magic, making counterfeits nearly impossible.
And judging by the sparse enchantments on it, he hadn't borrowed it from a sibling or bought it secondhand.
As I eyed the student's uniform, my gaze drifted to the name tag.
Two characters in neat handwriting.
Lee Ji.
"Lee... Ji?"
Surname Lee, given name Ji?
Lee Ji. Quite an unusual name.
Was there someone like that among the first-years?
I racked my brain, but nothing came up. At least he wasn't the important Jo Joo-yeon.
Probably just an extra like me.
"Hey, move! I said move!"
See? Total extra vibe in that attitude.
Lee Ji shoved forward using his uniform as leverage, cutting in line to enter the dungeon.
He boasted that he'd clear this dungeon, that all the herbs inside were hispure bluffing.
"...Hey, who's that brat with the nasty temper? Know him?"
"Can't tell? That's Chilseong Academy."
"Oh, the one with the recent scandal."
"Poor kid. Let's cut him some slack."
The reactions around him were sympathetic.
Maybe because Chilseong Academy had been all over the media lately; they let his bluster slide with gentle indulgence.
I got it, toohe looked like he could use some kind eyes.
I closed my eyes for a moment and joined the line for dungeon entry.
I could've pulled out my TA credentials from my back pocket and cut like Lee Ji, but no need.
Clearing the dungeon wouldn't take much time anyway.
With eyes closed in meditation, my turn came quickly.
A shimmering blue rift hung in the air.
I placed my hand on it, and the system responded.
[Would you like to enter the dungeon 'Efnel's Flower Garden'?]
A blue window popped up with [YES] and [NO].
I hit accept without hesitation, and my vision flickered.
* * *
Whooshmy body floated, and my mind blurred for a moment.
When I opened my eyes, I was already inside the dungeon.
That odd sensation must've been the entry process.
I scanned my surroundings immediately.
It was dark and damp all around.
Tap tap. Knocking on the wall echoed everywhere.
Thud thud thud.
Thud thud thud thud.
"A cave, huh."
The echoes suggested it was pretty deep.
I ran my hand along the rocky wall to get my bearings. The air was humid, the walls slick with moisture.
'...Guess I should head out first.'
I gazed into the cave's depths as I thought.
I had a rough idea of my location. Exiting the cave should lead to a lush forest or vast plain.
If so, this was the spot I knew.
Of all places to drop me, here.
"Lucky me."
This cave was the most crucial location for clearing 'Efnel's Flower Garden.' If I wanted, I could wake the thing deep inside and end the dungeon right now.
Grab the hidden piece and seal it immediately?
Or scout for usable materials outside first?
As I pondered, a certain fact hit me.
"Oh, right. If that academy kid cuts in, it'll be a headache..."
What was his name again?
Something pretty unique.
I wasn't in the habit of memorizing names, so it slipped my mind fast.
But picturing his small build and the axe brought it back.
Lee Ji. Yeah, that odd name.
'Waking that thing here would drag him in too.'
So clearing right away was out.
I'd secure Lee Ji's safety first.
Couldn't lose a student pointlessly in a place like this.
Decision made to head out. I conjured a flame in my palm.
Whoosha tiny spark etched the floor like a laser, leaving a mark. My mana-made signpost.
Heading toward the cave mouth, I saw light ahead.
I squeezed my eyes shut, then peeked out to a breathtaking sight.
Plants everywhere.
Not like the Amazon or a real rainforest, thoughdon't get the wrong idea.
This was a dungeon, a nexus of unrealities.
The fields brimmed with every kind of flower, trees towered like something from a game. Beneath them, animals and insects scurried.
Snakes, toads, birdstons of critters. Bugs? Not worth mentioning.
"Peaceful."
A gentle breeze welcomed me.
Warm sunlight from above, a vibrant ecosystem below. Not a hint of danger.
That was how Efnel's Flower Garden led people to their deaths.
Step step. I moved toward the flower-filled field.
Then a flower swayed in the wind, brushing my foot.
Fwoosh!
A blade of flame sliced the flower that touched me.
It matched what I remembered. Like monster info, I'd studied plants and animals here via papersvital knowledge.
Not a dangerous flower, really.
Hmm, was I overreacting?
'Can't help it. This dungeon can flip in an instant.'
People without novel knowledge treat Efnel's dungeon as safe. But I knew better, so my reaction was inevitable.
Walking the field, I ran into those folks from earlier.
All busy gathering plants.
Some native plants here were rare or pricey, so players often came just to harvest.
Their goal wasn't clearing the dungeonit was foraging.
Pretty hilarious.
Players, who're supposed to explore and conquer dungeons, picking herbs for cash.
Then again, most join guilds for money, not heroism. Totally normal.
I couldn't help feeling sorry for them.
Passing them, I walked the field and halted.
A remote spot. One flower bloomed there.
It glowed so brightly, "blazing" fit perfectly.
A flame-shaped flower, just like you'd imagine.
It truly embodied fire.
Its heat kept grass from growing anywhere nearby.
Just that lone, magnificent blaze.
"Rarer than I thought. Wonder what it'd fetch?"
Among the plants from papers, this was top-tier rare. Official name: Flame Flower.
Straightforward, but its value was huge.
Hard to cultivate or breed due to its fiery nature.
So wild ones onlyand the heat burns everything around, leaving it isolated and easy to spot.
Didn't expect to find one here.
Didn't need it, but maybe take it?
That very moment
"Move, move! That's mine!"
Someone lunged desperately to hug the flame flower.
Blocking it with his body to stop anyone else.
Small frame, but no burns transferred.
The kid's got weird habits, but he's a legit Chilseong Academy student.
"Hey, mister from earlier! I reserved this flower. Can't give it to anyone!"
"Maybe if you'd stuck by it, but suddenly yelling it's yours? Hard to buy that."
"C-Couldn't help it! To touch this, you need these."
Lee Ji clutched white flowers in his fist.
Unnamed weeds. But their effect was potent.
Even I, versed in papers, found them unfamiliar.
Lee Ji squeezed them casually, juice dripping to dampen the flame's heat.
"You know your plants?"
His botany savvy suggested a plant-handling mage.
But his mana was too weak for thatbelow average even for his year.
Not a mage, then.
How'd he learn all that?
Lee Ji spoke up right on cue.
"You gonna give it up if I tell you?"
"That's some thug thinking. A flame flower that size? At least ten million won."
"Fine, won't tell. No point wasting effort on something worthless."
"Whatever. Not like I care about money anyway. Do what you want."
The Heavenly Fox Baek Family's wealth was immense.
I didn't know my allowance, but selling this wouldn't make a dent.
I backed off the flame flower, and Lee Ji beamed.
Naive or just took me at face valuehe harvested it and pocketed it. I glimpsed the other plants inside.
Among them, a striking blue one caught my eye.
Curious, I looked closer: moon dew flower.
The kind I'd gifted teachers beforeeasy to recognize.
Didn't expect it even in the novel.
That'll fetch a nice price.
Whatever. Lee Ji pocketed the flame flower raw.
"...?"
"Why keep staring? Mad I won't spill?"
"Not hugely interested in your knowledge..."
"Then what? Want me to like you or something?"
I didn't care much about him.
His plant smarts were just a fleeting curiosity.
So why was this kid, who knew stuff even I didn't, acting like this?
"Won't carrying that flame flower around long be bad?"
"What, risk of burns? I know. Got precautions."
"No, you'll get flame poisoned quick."
Lee Ji, who'd been ignoring me, whipped his head around.
His face wasn't shockedjust pure disbelief.
What, he really didn't know?
"Not burnspoison? What do your eyes see this as?"
"A flame flower."
"Right. A flower of pure, endless flame."
"And a crystal of fire poison to boot."
"...What?"
Lee Ji's face flushed red then pale.
Excited by the revelation, he leaned in ranting.
"No way! Poison? This is a paradise of herbs! Efnel's Flower Garden!"
"Since when was paradise this sketchy?"
"Sketchy? Where?!"
"If you don't get it, look closer."
Everything was green.
Grass, flowers, treesplants galore, animals hopping between.
Seemed peaceful at a glance, but scrutiny revealed oddities. Dew drops sliding down leaves.
The moment one hit a flower
Sizzle.
A burning sound, hole punched in the petal.
Proof the dew was poisoned.
"Wh-Why the hole...?"
"No dungeon's a real paradise. This is hell disguised as a garden."
"H-How do you know this...?"
Silly question.
I'd picked it up from Eve yapping about the novel nonstop. Big guilds knew too, since it's unclimbedbut they hoarded info to claim glory first.
"Anyway."
Rustle rustle. I rummaged my pocket.
Pulled my academy ID card from my wallet.
Wasn't planning to, but his attitude grated too much.
"Show some respect to a TA, you little punk."
I shoved my TA badge right in Lee Ji's face.
His expression twisted in horror.
Performance review season was coming up.
Professors made the questions, but TAs graded essays.
You're screwed now.