Chapter 55: Dungeon Practice (5)
Chapter 55: Dungeon Practice (5)
Finally, the day of the dungeon practice arrived.
For that reason, everyone was gathered in the Central Plaza instead of the lecture halls.
Among the crowd, I could see individuals who looked like knights and students wearing priest robes that bore the Academy’s logo instead of their usual uniforms.
This was because it wasn't just the Magic Department students I’d grown familiar with; students from the Knight and Holy Departments had gathered as well.
While each department's Class A only consisted of about fifteen people, with all three departments combined, the total number came to just under forty.
With so many people present, the surrounding chatter was louder than usual.
—Hmph! Even if it’s just for practice, I can’t believe it’s a lowest-grade dungeon.
—Don’t underestimate it too much. I heard from my older brother that the professors set the traps themselves.
—Even so, there are three of us. Besides, we aren't even allowed to touch the boss; we’re just dealing with the small fry.
Right.
As expected, the atmosphere was one of overconfidence rather than concern.
I could see what Iona meant when she said that every year, some arrogant brat insists they can handle it alone.
If the Knight Department was like this, then the Magic Department—with its unnecessarily high pride—would surely produce someone stubborn enough to try going solo.
…At least, that wouldn't be the case this year.
Familiar faces, who had matured unintentionally, looked at the idiots from the Knight Department with pathetic eyes.
Indeed.
The Academy wasn't stupid; they wouldn't have planned a practice session that was completely meaningless.
Those guys were in for a rude awakening when they realized the reality was different from their expectations.
Well… that didn't mean I needed to be overly tense, either.
I had packed everything I’d specially ordered from Fay for today, and I’d learned quite a lot in the meantime.
It felt a bit lonely not having Carla, who had been glued to my side until now, following me…
But it couldn't be helped.
Instead, I gave a light wave to Carla, who was watching from among the attendants.
In response, Carla made a face brimming with emotion, looking at me with a mix of pride and worry—as if she were watching a small child go on their first errand.
We’ve already cleared the Gepp City dungeon together, which is way harder than this practice dungeon, so why is she acting like that…?
I chuckled at Carla’s fuss and thumped my chest to show her I’d be fine.
Only then did her expression soften in relief.
However, it seemed my display of confidence had rubbed someone the wrong way. Someone started poking my shoulder.
What now?
I turned around with a hint of annoyance… but that quickly turned into pure curiosity.
The person standing behind me was none other than Elisha.
She probably wasn't here to tell a commoner like me to stay in my place; she likely had something to say.
"Lady Glenziel?"
"Good morning, Yandel. By the way, what was that just now?"
"It was nothing. Carla seemed worried about me, so I was just reassuring her."
"My. I feel this every time, but your master-servant relationship is truly beautiful. I’ve looked into it since the entrance ceremony… and it seems ordinary masters and slaves aren't usually as close as you two."
"Well, that’s true."
I was well aware that Carla and I didn't have a normal master-servant relationship. I wasn't sure what to call it, though.
Since she brought it up, I decided to test the waters.
I shrugged and continued.
"Aside from classes, I’m also learning magic separately from Carla. Since she’s doing things beyond what a normal slave does, I shouldn't treat her like one."
"I suppose so. Your nonsensical growth rate didn't just come out of nowhere, after all. Mm-hmm."
Elisha nodded with a gentle smile.
No, say something about the Mana Core. I’m dying of curiosity!
But perhaps my internal scream didn't reach her.
Elisha simply shook her massive drill curls—I had no idea how she maintained them—and patted my shoulder.
"Then, as you always have, I hope you show us a good performance in this practice as well."
With those words, Elisha walked away with her followers.
In the end, she didn't even mention Carla’s Mana Core today.
…Is this actually a scheme to drive me crazy with suspense?
Of course not, but it was frustrating enough to make me think so.
I let out a deep sigh and scratched the back of my head, but only for a moment.
I snapped my head up at the sound of a familiar voice.
"Everyone, quiet! Quiet! I’m going to say something important now, so keep your mouths shut and your ears open!"
"…Professor Iona. These students are adults; is it really necessary to treat them like children?"
"To me, even Professor Jason is like a little baby, you know?"
"Ah."
Iona tilted her head with her usual beaming smile, while a bald, muscular giant of a man looked like he’d been struck after trying to scold her.
Between the two of them, an elderly woman in a nun’s habit intervened.
"Let’s leave it at that, both of you. The children are watching."
"Right, right! It’s just like Professor Christina says! Why are you interfering, Professor Jason!"
"You’re blaming this on me?! Argh! Fine! I’m the youngest, so I’ll do the explaining! You two seniors can just rest in the back!"
Huffing, the bald professor stepped forward in front of the statue of Hero Rahim, the center of the plaza.
If Iona was the professor in charge of Magic Department Class A, then Jason, who was stepping forward now, was for the Knight Department, and Christina, the elderly woman with the kind expression, was for the Holy Department.
"Ahem! Can you hear me? Then, before we head to the dungeon, I’ll briefly explain the rules!"
His voice boomed through the plaza, perhaps bolstered by Aura.
However, the content was stuff I already knew.
Basically, we’d take a teleport gate to the dungeon entrance, where parties would be assigned.
The dungeon was a field-type forest dungeon. We could hunt as many mobs as we wanted, but we weren't to touch the boss.
Once inside, we were free to roam and fight, but fighting other parties was forbidden.
Points would be awarded based on monster loot and hidden treasures placed throughout the dungeon. The top-scoring parties would receive rewards from the shop.
When the time limit was up, a signal would be sent from the exit, so we were to gather there immediately. Tardiness would result in point deductions, and so on.
I’d already heard this from Iona once, and these were the same dungeon practice rules I’d grown sick of back in my H&A days, so I let it go in one ear and out the other.
More importantly, I needed to figure out how to naturally lead my party members to where the hidden pieces were…
As I was running through various plans in my head, Iona stepped forward, switching places with Jason as the explanation ended.
An immense amount of mana began to pour out of her.
"Whoa…"
"Is she planning to open the teleport gate by herself? That’s strategic magic."
"Is this the power of a Lord-class vampire who survived the War of the Gods…?"
Students from all departments were struck with awe. I was no different.
It was a simple pressure of mana without any ill intent, so I could withstand it better thanks to my own significant mana pool…
But even so, I couldn't help but be momentarily overwhelmed.
Come to think of it, was this the first time I’d seen Iona use her power properly?
In the game, she’d just say a line and poof, a gate would appear, so I never thought much of it.
Seeing it in person made me realize.
Excluding the Principal, who was an Archmage, the claim that she was the strongest in the Academy wasn't just talk.
With a serious expression unlike her usual self, Iona’s lips moved incessantly before she finally reached out her hand.
Wrooom—
Vast amounts of mana gathered at her gesture.
Then, a small cluster of red light appeared in the air.
The light, which spat out sparks like a constant firework, suddenly stretched like a rubber band and fixed into a large oval.
…Maybe it was because the color was red, but it looked like a gate leading to hell.
However, the scenery visible through the blood-colored oval wasn't a place where flames flowed like rivers and monsters roamed in packs; it was a small base with people moving about.
Academy staff members probably stayed there to manage the dungeon periodically.
Despite the students' dazed expressions, Iona struck her usual boastful pose.
"What’s this? What’s this? Why is everyone just standing there? I was amazing, right? Huh? Right? Then hurry up and clap! And shout 'Professor Iona is amazing!' as you go in!"
"…"
It didn't take long for the students' awe to turn into awkwardness.
*
After everyone passed through the gate while offering a word of praise to Iona, I met my party members in front of the dungeon… and they defied my expectations in a good way.
First, there was Vincent Grenadin from the Knight Department.
A knight from a typical martial family, he had great skills but was weak in actual combat, often failing to show his true potential.
Since I was the type who excelled in real combat, my guess that at least one person weak in that area would be assigned to me was correct.
The important part came next.
Her hair, tied back for ease of movement, sparkled with a golden hue like sunlight.
Her beautiful features held a gentle smile at all times, making one feel at ease just by looking at her.
Finally, a woman wearing a white priest’s robe instead of a uniform, with the Academy logo pinned to her ample chest.
Helena.
She was a student from the Holy Department assigned to my party…
And she was also a Saintess Candidate for the Church of Righteous Light.
I had been wondering how to get in contact with the Church of Righteous Light, and to think I’d meet her like this.
Thinking I was lucky, I was about to open my mouth to introduce myself.
Helena stepped toward me first, her golden eyes sparkling.
"Brother."
"Oh, yes. What is it, Sister?"
"Do you happen to know how to fight?"
"???"
Why was she picking a fight all of a sudden?