Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: There's Plenty to Be Surprised By
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"There's a lot to be surprised about."
"Wh-why did you pick someone like her? She's just going to get in the way of what you're trying to do..."
"What are you talking about? I owe you so much from our time in the military."
"Owe me? That's too generous for someone like me who can barely do any healing!"
Barely healing. Not like I'm downplaying healers or anything.
After accepting her follower request, if she acts this humble, what does that make me for choosing her?
"Hasn't your dungeon phobia gotten better?"
"That's..."
After the Church of the Main God's scandals came to light, Mina resolved to conquer dungeons no matter what.
As long as she bore the title of Saintess, she needed some form of atonement, she said.
And she succeeded in conquering it.
By steeling her mind with Zoun Grass doping, taking down one monster, catching her breath, then taking down another—the so-called hit-and-run method.
'Her followers must have had it rough.'
"...It was all thanks to Inia, who adjusted everything to fit you and me."
"You pulled it off in the end. Don't undervalue yourself so much. It puts the people who value you in a tough spot."
But the fact that she "somehow conquered it" was the best news I could ask for.
'I chose her precisely because I factored in her dungeon phobia.'
Mina was a core member absolutely essential to the Jongwon Academy team.
Just having her in the party drastically increased survival rates against anything short of instant-death attacks.
To squeeze more out of her, I needed to cure her dungeon phobia as soon as possible.
Waiting for her to overcome her trauma on her own like in the original story would take way too long.
So I'd been dragging her into dungeons bit by bit, helping with recovery...
But her taking the first step on her own meant recovery would be much easier now.
Strictly speaking, the timing wasn't off at all.
In the original, she joined the party right after conquering the Doll Dungeon.
It was just accelerated a ton.
After conquering the Doll Dungeon, the third and fourth Doors of the Abyss opened simultaneously.
The Undead Dungeon and the Demon Dungeon, respectively.
These two dungeons were vastly different from the others.
'This section's the only one with level scaling.'
The third and fourth abysses scaled in difficulty proportional to the player's level.
The first one you enter gets easier, while the later one gets harder.
You pick one to enter, but starting the conquest of one locks you out of the other.
'Vacation's going to be busy. I want to clear up to the third abyss by then.'
And I planned to tackle the Undead Dungeon during the special training period.
It was the dungeon that gave Mina her trauma, so I'd feel bad for her, but it couldn't be helped.
With Mina in the party, the Undead Dungeon was a cakewalk.
The monsters there were designed to take fatal damage from her healing arts.
"And why do you think the special training will be dungeon-related? It could be herb gathering or healing practice. Then you'd outshine me."
I said that, but it was probably going to be dungeon-related.
Even if not, I planned to drag Mina along anyway.
"...No way. The academy has high expectations for you, Haribal. Look, even now."
"It's probably nothing special. Maybe they called me because I'm top of the class."
"Then they would've called Cecilia too."
I shut my mouth at Mina's words.
No good counterargument.
Right now, Mina and I were heading to the faculty office.
The instructors had summoned me after follower matching ended.
Just me, not Cecilia, like Mina said.
That meant they had business with me personally.
'What the hell is it?'
When we entered the faculty office, waiting for me was someone I wasn't thrilled to see.
"Come in. Good to see you again, Dirge Sword."
"Hello, Duke Grace."
"Saintess, welcome. It's been a while."
"Ah... Yes. It's been a while, Duke."
Victor Grace, Duke of Grace.
He greeted us with a meaningful smile.
"You've had some great news lately, haven't you? Care to share with me?"
'...Right. I forgot about him.'
The Church of the Main God's scandals weren't in the original.
So in the original, even after Aren conquered the Doll Dungeon, the church held the reins.
But thanks to my meddling, the church's influence plummeted.
The nobles filled the vacuum, balancing the imperial and noble factions.
Perfect setup for Victor to stir up trouble.
I hoped it wouldn't jump straight to civil war scenario.
Mina and I sipped the tea he'd prepared, exchanging empty chit-chat on pins and needles.
Victor nodded along with "Oh ho!" and "I see!" to my words, but he probably knew it all already. Maybe even the church's corruption.
Finally, he got to the point.
"An upperclassman...?"
"Indeed. The academy's measure to protect you. There was that church attack, and who knows what they'll do next."
'This is too sudden.'
According to him, the whole school was assigning me an upperclassman, making us a trio for follower classes.
Of course, the justification was ironclad again.
"The board has already decided. I'd appreciate it if you accepted, even if you're not thrilled."
Victor glanced at Mina as he added,
"Saintess, are you alright with this?"
"......I..."
"Who's the upperclassman assigned?"
I cut in before Mina could answer.
Frankly, hearing "trio" made me cheer inwardly.
More party members meant more usable turns.
It'd make conquering dungeons that much easier—dungeons we'd originally have to do with just me and Mina.
The issue was who.
There weren't any standout playable characters among Ruidel's upperclassmen right now.
Per original lore, the real talents were dispatched to academy branches on the frontlines, not Naveil HQ.
If they stuck me with some mediocre hack to hinder dungeon runs or drag me into politics, that'd be trouble.
This guy seemed just the type to do it.
"Well..."
Victor was about to answer.
"Kehehet."
A bizarre laugh echoed from behind the sofa.
"I'm the one assigned to your group for this special training."
With a languid, seductive voice, a red silhouette leaped from behind the sofa and sat across from us.
The woman crossed her legs naturally, her red hair tousled as if she'd rushed out.
"Haribal Belder. Been months, hasn't it? Ever thought to prioritize me in that time?"
"...Greetings, Princess."
"Princess? Isn't this Ruidel?"
Her ruby lips curved alluringly.
"Call me Senior casually. We'll be in the same group for a while."
The princess of the Cyrus Empire and current Ruidel student council president.
A playable character who normally joined in year two.
Alicia Cyrus.
She'd appeared boldly.
"Ahem. As you see, Dirge Sword. Her Highness has personally taken charge of your protection and guidance. Quite the honor."
"Kehet. Protection? Sounds grating."
Alicia brushed off Victor's words lightly.
"I'm just a regular upperclassman assigned by the board. Why the face? Don't like your new senior?"
"...My apologies, Prin—Senior. Just surprised."
No. Honestly, very surprised.
I hadn't expected her to join at this point.
"Kehehet. Plenty to be surprised by. And even more surprises ahead."
She stood and whispered in my ear.
"You and I have private business, don't we?"
"......"
Plenty.
I'd been name-dropping her left and right.
"Know Cafe d'Amour?"
"The one in town?"
"Good if you do. Come alone after classes. We have much to discuss."
I nodded slightly, and Alicia smiled satisfied, glancing around.
Soon her gaze fixed on the window.
'Ah, she's really doing it.'
"Tomorrow morning, at sunrise, seventh training ground. Don't be late, juniors."
Whoosh.
Alicia vanished out the open window after those words.
A faint pained groan came from outside, like she'd bumped into something.
"......?"
Mina and Victor stared in bewilderment.
I was used to it.
It was Alicia's trademark in the original.
She was the type who prized "impact."
Hence her entrances and exits always featured antics like that.
'Seeing it in person, it's kinda cringy.'
Now the faculty office held just me, Mina, and Victor.
Victor, who'd stared out the window forever, cleared his throat and forced a smile.
"Anyway, that's that."
'Anyway.'
Victor wasn't the type to be vague like that.
He always tried to move everything to his tune.
Meaning even he hadn't expected Alicia's addition.
'Snowball effect again.'
Victor, regaining composure, said to us,
"Well then, off you go. I look forward to your special training with Her Highness and your future exploits."
I bowed lightly in response and left with Mina.
As we walked the hall, Mina cautiously asked,
"Um, Haribal... What was that? Is the princess always like that?"
"No idea."
"......Maybe suggest changing followers now? I don't want to be a burden to you or someone like Her Highness."
"No need to worry."
'In my eyes, you're the normal one.'
After parting with a simple goodbye to Mina, I prepped to head out.
To keep my appointment at the place Alicia mentioned.
Heading to the main gate, I spotted a familiar silver-haired back.
Cecilia.
She wasn't with her new follower, Aren.
As I raised my hand to call her—
"Ceci—"
She heard my voice, turned to confirm it was me, and froze.
Then, the next moment, she strode straight toward me.
With murderous intent etched on her face.