Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Dungeon Field Trip Duty
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It was Friday, just before the weekend, after the exchange sparring matches had wrapped up.
With no classes that day, Philip holed up in the faculty office as soon as he arrived at the academy, planning to handle a bit of paperwork and head home early.
He wasn't even a professor—just an instructor—so the workload felt like child's play to him.
His "duties" amounted to checking the training manuals or jotting down any notable student issues.
With focus, he could knock it all out in under two hours.
He flipped open his ever-present notebook and began transcribing his memos onto official forms. A short while later, a voice called out to him.
"Instructor Oswald. What are you doing here? Didn't you hear you're supposed to go to the research lab?"
It was Professor Felicia Oswald. Confirming Philip was the only one in the office, she approached him.
"I asked the other instructors to call you. Did no one come get you?"
Philip tilted his head. No one had come looking for him.
"Nobody showed up."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie? I didn't have much to do anyway, and if you'd called me, I'd have come running out of curiosity."
Felicia's expression hardened slightly at his words.
"What's wrong?"
"Haron Babe. That guy's hopeless. I specifically told him to fetch you..."
Instructor Haron Babe was the one who'd picked a fight with Philip before. With anyone else, Philip might chalk it up to a mix-up, but Haron? There had to be more to it.
Felicia jabbed Philip's shoulder with her finger.
"This is your fault, Philip. Back then, you should've beaten him senseless, even if it meant getting chewed out by me. You went easy on him, and look what happened."
"Now you're making it sound like it really is my fault. So, why'd you need me?"
"We need a swordsmanship instructor for the third-years' outdoor training, and ours is the only department without classes today."
"Outdoor training? Oh, you mean the dungeon that just got discovered."
For the magic faculty, where classes were mostly research and theory, "outdoor training" meant dungeon exploration.
"Yeah, the one beyond the lake. Professor Evelyn from magic scouted it last week. It's not too dangerous—just a few basic traps and guardian monsters like goblins or skeletons."
"So I just tag along?"
Felicia nodded.
"Yeah. The other instructors will brief you, but basically, just watch the kids and step in if things look dicey."
"Sounds straightforward. Where do I go?"
"The magic faculty office—they should be prepping by now."
"Got it. I'll head over."
Philip stood and got ready. For a low-level dungeon like she'd described, he didn't even need his armor.
As he moved to leave the office, Felicia grabbed his hand.
"What?"
"...Just... come back safe. No causing trouble. Got it?"
She's so cute sometimes.
"What could go wrong on a quick low-tier dungeon run? I'll be back."
Philip replied reassuringly and left the office.
The magic faculty office was a whirlwind of activity as they prepared for the excursion.
Unlike the tidy, minimalist swordsmanship office, this place was chaos—magic tools and half-read books cluttered every desk and floor space.
"Ah, Instructor Philip... We heard you'd be joining us for the training."
Philip spotted a familiar face. It was Instructor Perek, who'd pulled duty with him before.
"Feels like ages, right?"
"Tell me about it. Thanks for helping out today. Hold on—Instructor Priscilla! Why are you packing flare spell scrolls for a dungeon trip? Those go off inside, and you'll kill all the students! Put them away now!"
"Ah... Sorry!"
At Perek's sharp command, the robed female instructor scrambled in panic, her pretty face tinged with a vague airheadedness.
That's not the image I had of him.
The Perek Philip knew was a bit timid. But barking orders at a junior instructor? Not quite.
"Sorry for yelling, Instructor. Priscilla's new this term and still green—she requires constant supervision... No, please, just pack the essentials. We don't need trap spells in the dungeon. If you have a problem with me, say it outright..."
Perek pinched his temple like he had a migraine.
"...Really sorry, Instructor. I'll get ready quick!"
Watching this, Philip realized it wasn't Perek's personality. His junior was just that clumsy.
"This won't do. I'll help her pack so we can speed things up. Wait just a moment, Instructor."
Philip nodded and stood by patiently.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The magic faculty's outdoor training typically involved groups of five or six students at a time.
Dungeons and remote ruins couldn't accommodate thirty kids all at once.
Philip loaded a backpack of magic tools onto the wagon at the central plaza. Perek let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Thanks for the help, Instructor."
"No big deal. When do the kids arrive?"
"I told Priscilla to bring them, so any minute now."
Perek looked utterly drained.
"...I always thought I'd never snap at anyone. Turns out 'never' doesn't exist. I know I'm probably making it worse—the more I push her, the more she shrinks."
"Nobody's perfect from day one. Give her time; she'll get the hang of it."
Philip tried to console him, but Perek shook his head.
"I'll be the one breaking first—stroke, epilepsy, something awful."
As they talked, students approached from afar: three boys and two girls.
Third-year magic students rarely crossed paths with Philip. Still, he recognized one face.
Isn't that... Cheryl?
The curly-haired girl in round glasses spotted him, blushed, and quickly looked away.
Perek scanned the group and frowned.
Someone was missing.
"Everyone, where's Instructor Priscilla?"
A boy answered.
"She said she forgot something and told us to go ahead."
"I see. Hang tight, then. Oh, and it's over an hour by wagon—watch out for motion sickness."
Forcing a smile like a broken doll, Perek directed the students to the plaza benches.
Professional and smooth. If he'd lost his temper here, Priscilla would've lost major credibility as an instructor.
Thankfully, she arrived at the plaza minutes later.
"Alright, everyone. Time to head out."
Perek gave the signal. After loading the students, he whispered to Philip.
"I'll ride with them, so take the supply wagon with Priscilla. Facing her might make me snap again..."
"Understood. Good luck."
"...Thank you. You're a saint, Instructor."
Philip didn't mind. Priscilla was Perek's junior, not his.
Their wagon was for cargo—no passenger seats. A bit rough, but only an hour's ride.
Philip boarded first and offered Priscilla his hand.
"Here, hop up."
"Ah... Uh... Th-thank you."
She fidgeted awkwardly before taking his hand and climbing aboard. The student wagon pulled out, followed by theirs.
"..."
An awkward silence settled in.
No seats meant perching on crates. Every bumpy jolt drew a yelp from Priscilla.
"Eek!"
"...You okay?"
"Ah... Y-yes... I'm fine."
Seizing the opening, Philip steered toward conversation. Staring blankly for an hour was boring.
"If it's not too rude, mind if I ask your age? You look about my age."
"I'm... twenty-two this year."
"Same as me."
"You're... twenty-two too, Instructor?"
Her speech was slow and hesitant—potentially frustrating, but Philip smiled and nodded.
"So let's get along from now on. I'm a newbie too, so we probably have a lot in common. Actually, why not be friends starting today? Share troubles, lean on each other—that kind of thing. What do you say?"
"Y-yes... Huh?"
Perfect timing.
He needed an info source in magic faculty anyway. Befriending her was a win.
Plus, she seemed like the type who'd spill everything if gently prodded.
Philip knew from experience: with people like her, keep the pressure on—no pauses to think.
As she hesitated, he feigned disappointment.
"Don't want to?"
"N-no! It's not that... Just so sudden..."
Priscilla finally clasped his hand. In that instant, Philip felt a sharp jolt of dissonance.
...What?
Indescribable, but real. It faded fast, yet he sensed he'd overlooked something crucial.
"...Instructor?"
Her voice snapped him back; he released her hand.
"Ah, sorry."
What was that just now?
He studied her again—no odd vibes.
Her shaky eyes and quivering lips seemed genuine, not acted.
Must've been my imagination.
If she were hiding something, Philip would've detected it. Besides, she wasn't in his database.
"...I was wondering if I could drop the formalities. If it's rude..."
He kept chatting to build rapport, mind racing.
Maybe use the Dragon's Hornpipe on her first.
It's suspicious—an academy instructor never appearing in the game.
The Dragon's Hornpipe revealed an object's or person's true nature. If she was hiding anything, it'd likely be her identity itself.
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