A Place Full of Memories - 2
According to academy regulations, cadets weren't allowed to enter dungeons on their own without special qualifications or in non-emergency situations. Those special qualifications came from passing the dungeon conquest exam as part of the curriculum. We hadn't even taken that exam yet, so even with the dungeon right in front of us, we couldn't go in. And we shouldn't.
No matter how Elizabeth was with us, this wasn't an artificial dungeon. Venturing inside now could lead to who-knows-what. Sure, we might clear it, but avoiding unnecessary risks was just common sense. Maybe later when we were stronger, but not now. All we had to do was take down the monsters coming out of the dungeon. That was it.
In the game, when these events triggered, you just had to hold out until the exam period—specific time limits and all. So we'd do the same.
"I reported it. Can you hold out a bit longer?"
"Ohohoho!! Of course!!"
She swung her sword wide to block the jade ogre's attack, then thrust forward, piercing the blue wolf that had been harassing her from the side. As the blue wolf crumpled under her sharp strike, screeching, I nocked an arrow.
Good thing I brought the bow.
-Screeech!!
The arrow sliced through the air, striking the leaping jade ogre in the head. But maybe because the damage wasn't that high, the thing that had been blocked from reaching Elizabeth turned toward me with a growl.
"Hey?! Elizabeth! It's looking at me!!"
"Not on my watch!!"
I had to pull some aggro too. Elizabeth unleashed Taylor Swordsmanship at the jade ogre glaring my way, swiftly dispatching it before turning to me.
"Don't worry!! I'll handle this side!!"
Music to my ears. Truth be told, I was a little scared. My basic combat skills were lacking, leading to issues like this. I'd have to sort it out before meeting Azazel somehow.
-Kraaaah!!
-Grrrrowl!!
Two blue wolves lunged at Elizabeth. She sliced one mid-leap while my arrow hit the other's body. The charging wolf flinched and slowed, giving Elizabeth the opening to cleave it down.
"Huuuuh..."
That batch was done. As Elizabeth let out a sigh, my communicator buzzed.
"Association here! How's the situation over there?!"
I'd made an emergency report to the Association via communicator when the dungeon first appeared. This must be them following up.
"A dungeon has spawned at the entrance to Bukchon Hanok Village. We're holding off the monsters, so..."
"You're holding off the monsters? By any chance..."
"Academy cadets."
"Got it! That's a relief! Heroes will arrive within five minutes!"
Five minutes left. I cast Thousand Li Gallop and a heal on Elizabeth before putting the communicator away.
The rift was blue. A step up in danger from green dungeons. Considering the jade ogres and blue wolves pouring out were just the trash mobs of a blue dungeon, whatever came next would be...
-Thud!!
A heavy thud echoed from the dungeon. I swallowed hard, and Elizabeth raised her sword.
"...Troll."
A D-rank monster. Tough to handle with its insane regen and brute strength. A mage could whittle it down with sustained damage, but we couldn't count on one right now. I scanned the area just in case—no civilians in sight. At least that was something. Everyone must have evacuated.
"Let's hold out for five minutes."
"Ohohohoho!! Just hold out? That's too easy for the eldest daughter of the Taylor family!!"
Her confidence was infectious. Laughing boldly, Elizabeth charged the roaring troll, sword flashing.
-Slash!!
Golden aura cloaked her blade—the light from Taylor's advanced swordsmanship, the same that had cut through Kim Yeonha's wind barrier before. Elizabeth zipped around, severing the troll's arm.
-Kraaaaaagh!!
The log-like arm hit the ground as the troll bellowed. But she didn't stop. The other arm, legs— in seconds, the troll was limbless, screaming as it tried to regen. Elizabeth plunged her sword into its heart.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
She was exhausted, sweat dripping as she panted. I reapplied Thousand Li Gallop and timed Blessing of the Holy Spirit perfectly.
"Huuuuh... Thanks."
The buff steadied her breathing. Elizabeth stared at the troll's corpse, then gripped her sword and closed her eyes—trying to recover even a little.
-Grrrrowl...
Another growl from the dungeon. A jade ogre. Elizabeth was resting, so...
"Hup!!"
I loosed an arrow, nailing the emerging jade ogre in the eye.
-Keeeaang!!
It rolled on the ground, screeching. Whoa! Critical hit! Its face twisted in agony as it tumbled. The crit didn't do massive damage, but it pulled aggro perfectly—and stalled it long enough for Elizabeth to stand.
Good enough.
"Haha. What're you staring at?"
-Kroooargh!!
The jade ogre roared and charged, but Elizabeth was faster. Her sword gleamed, and it collapsed.
"That was dangerous!!"
"Gotta earn my keep as a hero. More coming."
She snapped at me but shut her mouth at my words. I healed her again, pointed at the dungeon, and she grumbled with a pout.
"We're talking after this!"
Aw. We can talk all you want once it's over.
"You held up great!!"
The long, short five minutes ended with a shout from behind. Heroes armed with swords and spears.
"Impressive!! Cadet!!"
"Holding a blue dungeon with just two? Incredible."
They marveled at the monster corpses littering the ground. I shrugged.
"Elizabeth's the impressive one."
"Haha. But these arrows everywhere mean you pulled your weight. And Elizabeth... Elizabeth Taylor? Of the Taylor family?"
Of course—her name rang bells even among active heroes.
"Not an official hero yet, but I've heard she hunts monsters worldwide with Taylor heroes... Her skills are no joke. Even took down a troll?"
The spear-wielding woman hero gaped at the corpse, others eyeing Elizabeth in awe.
"I didn't do it alone! Without Yohan, it wouldn't have been this easy!"
Not easy, but doable. I shrugged off the looks.
"Anyway, good work. We'll take it from here. Hyungwoo! Yesen! You two stay; rest of you, push in!!"
"Yes, sir!!"
If I had any mental energy left, I'd buff them, but I was drained. The red mark on the lead hero's chest marked him B-rank. Clearing a blue dungeon would be a breeze for them.
"Any injuries?"
"No, ma'am."
"Good. Thanks for this—we had thin coverage since no dungeons hit Bukchon Hanok Village... Now we need to divert forces here too."
She sighed heavily. Hero shortages were public knowledge; Yesen looked beat.
"If it's Hero Yesen..."
"Oh, sweetie. Just call me sis."
She grinned, patting Elizabeth's shoulder, then eyed me.
"So, friends? Or..."
"F-Friends! Friends!"
"Oh? Hehe. Bukchon Hanok Village's great for dates... Ah. More incoming. We'll talk later if there's time. Thanks to you, minimal damage—and the Association will reward you. We'll notify the academy, so head back."
"Ah. Okay."
"Elizabeth Taylor and...?"
"Kim Yohan."
"Kim Yohan? W-Wait... You don't mean the one who caught that sword demon...?"
"Yes."
"Whoa~. What a promising junior. That sword demon was total trash. Good riddance. Bright future ahead? You're a healer, right?"
"Yeah. Well."
I was about to say I healed, shot arrows, and buffed when more monsters spilled out.
"Anyway, you two go."
"I'll help!!!"
"Nah, this is nothing. Can't have cadets bailing us out. Off you go."
Yesen brushed it off lightly, teaming with Hyungwoo to smash the monsters. Years of synergy showed—they cleared fast.
"Nothing more we can do here, right?"
"...Y-Yeah...?"
"Exactly. Let's head out."
"Yes!"
We left the scene. Control agents had arrived with the heroes, evacuating stragglers.
"Training when we get back?"
"...Yeah. But Yohan."
"Hm?"
"Weren't you scared... at all?"
"Huh? Of what?"
"It was your first time. I've got experience, but you... and yet..."
"Hm..."
"How could you stay so calm?"
Her eyes bored into me, no room for jokes. Time for the truth.
"Why would I be scared with an amazing dealer by my side?"