I went from an F-rank to an E-rank student. (4)
I went from an F-rank to an E-rank student. (4)
D-rank Dungeon.
From D-rank monsters onward, they basically have a Mana Barrier emanating from their Magic Stone, so human chemical weapons don't work on them, and unless it's an attack infused with mana, you can't pierce that Mana Barrier.
That's why every student has to hone their Mana stat as well.
The dungeon training session runs from Class 7, the last class, all the way to Class 1, over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The place we're challenging is a dungeon-type Glass World. Unlike the field-type Glass World where you roam a wide area hunting monsters, the dungeon-type has fewer monsters so the rewards suck, plus it's riddled with traps and mazes everywhere, making the mental stress no joke—clear time is fast, but it's an unpopular Glass World.
"Even if you die inside the dungeon, it's fine. Elixirs are prepared, so challenge it without worry, with confidence!"
The homeroom teacher, who had lined up about 30 students, bellowed at us in a booming voice.
Elixir.
In game terms, it's like a revival stone item that recovers status ailments like lethargy and listlessness you feel after dying in the Glass World and returning to the real world.
Pretty sure each one costs around 500GP.
"First up, Group 1! Group 1, Leisha and four others, come forward!"
At the homeroom teacher's call, a total of five students stepped forward.
Leading them was the British exchange student with blonde hair and sea-blue eyes—Leisha stood out.
'She's the one who was number one in popularity rankings, right...'
I recalled the commenters who always shouted Leisha over A-young whenever I posted.
Those guys have no idea how badass our A-young is.
Anyway, Leisha's looks were no slouch either.
'Whoops... did I stare too long?'
Lost in thoughts of my original world for a sec, looks like I stared way too long. Leisha turned her head, maybe sensing my gaze, and our eyes met. She locked eyes with me for a brief moment, then lost interest and looked away.
"Teachers will be stationed on each floor, so if you want to give up, just tell the teacher there anytime and exit the dungeon under their guidance!"
"Yes."
As expected, Leisha seemed to be the party leader and answered on behalf of the group.
Leisha's party slowly crossed the entrance of the Glass World and entered.
Soon, a massive hologram appeared next to the entrance, relaying Leisha's party's dungeon conquest live.
They must've trained hard for the practical—they entered the Glass World and immediately started scouting the surroundings without much chit-chat.
One guy with plain black hair and black eyes. He seemed to be this party's Pathfinder.
He said something while pointing in a direction with his finger, and Leisha's party started moving through the dungeon following his lead.
They seemed to find the right path pretty accurately, advancing smoothly without a hitch, until the Pathfinder sensed a trap and halted the party.
They looked around the area for a bit and discovered one of the stone floor tiles was pressed down.
"Indeed, Student Geon-woo's search skills are quite impressive."
"Yes, in a dungeon-type Glass World, Student Geon-woo's abilities might even outshine Student Leisha's."
The teachers, sitting behind the students watching the hologram footage, papers in hand as they jotted notes and chatted among themselves—their voices brought a deep silence over the students.
Knowing they'd soon face their own evaluations, most looked tense or uncomfortable, but a few radiated confidence.
Me? Just thinking "let's do well." A-young, on the other hand, had eyes like she was eager for her turn to come sooner.
Anticipation.
It hit me again just how amazing she was.
'Hmm... first off, I need to get search skills like that Geon-woo guy...'
My scouting ability didn't show terrain or traps like Leisha's party's Pathfinder—it only revealed enemy positions.
[Would you like to acquire Search (Lv1)? Scouting ability will merge and disappear. Cost: Vitality 700]
As expected of a skill used over a wide range for enemies, mazes, traps, etc., it required a hefty chunk of Vitality.
I used up all the Vitality I'd gained from last night's sex with A-young to acquire the skill.
First time seeing single-digit Vitality since coming to this world—my chest stung a bit, but miss this chance and who knows when the next one comes.
On screen, the first battle finally kicked off.
Probably the 1st floor boss—stairs to the lower level visible behind the monster.
"Grryak!"
Hunched back. Blue skin and jagged, disgusting protruding fangs.
An F-rank troll monster—nothing special except its high regeneration, worse than a goblin.
The fight ended in a flash.
Leisha drew her thin rapier in an instant, bisecting its torso, and they headed to the 2nd floor.
"As expected of a student who reached B-rank in just three months—agile, with excellent movement."
"No, it's too early to judge. Even D-rank students can bisect a troll in one strike."
From behind came a stern voice from another teacher, denying the previous one, sword at his side.
Wish they'd speak quieter.
∴
On the footage, Leisha's party finally faced the boss on the 4th and final floor.
The 4th floor boss was a stone golem with a sturdy body using its massive bulk as a weapon.
It attacked first.
How the hell does it swing that filthy heavy stone arm so fast? It swung quickly at Leisha up front.
As expected of a monster with developed instincts, it instinctively targeted the biggest threat.
But the golem's first and best attack was blocked pathetically by a solid shield.
Leisha's silver-haired knight, Chloe, calmly raised her shield to block the golem's attack, then spoke to Leisha.
Probably asking if she was okay.
Leisha nodded without batting an eye.
You could feel her trust in Chloe.
Leisha drew the rapier from her waist and swung it.
But unlike with the troll.
It was like watching a beautiful dance—soft yet strong and elegant footwork, stepping into her stance as she swung, and from the blade's trajectory, a small red rose bloomed.
The rose petals scattered on the wind, then gathered back together, slashing the golem once more along the sword's path.
One swing plus follow-up strikes.
As if that was plenty, Leisha sheathed her rapier, and with a crunch...! the golem split in half started crumbling.
"Ooh..."
I let out an admiring gasp without thinking, and the other students, who had been silent, burst into similar exclamations.
'Fucking cool as hell.'
Felt like a scene from a goddamn perfectly made fantasy movie.
Of course, this was reality.
"Hmm. Excellent."
The instructor with the sword from earlier—who'd said it was too early to judge after the troll—nodded in satisfaction.
A D-rank golem. Considering her B-rank, not a tough opponent, but finishing it in one hit was another story. And her swordsmanship was elegant and precise.
After a short wait, Leisha's party members started exiting the Glass World one by one.
"Good work. Now watch the other parties' conquests."
"Yes."
The homeroom teacher gave them brief praise, and Leisha bowed her head in response.
"Wait a moment, and the stealth instructor will come out after installing the camera. In the meantime, we'll do feedback."
The stoic stealth instructor, who'd been standing silently, entered the Glass World with a Magic Stone-powered camera.
At best D-rank monsters won't notice a skilled stealth instructor.
The feedback that followed was basically nonexistent.
Since they sent the top Group 1 first, it was mostly explaining their strategy with a bit of advice added.
The other parties, me and A-young, listened to the homeroom teacher while waiting our turn.
∴
"Finally, Group 7, Kim Si-woo and one other, come forward."
At the command, me and A-young stood from our seats and walked to the Glass World entrance.
"You've heard the precautions ad nauseam by now. Enter immediately... and don't disappoint."
"Don't worry."
The homeroom teacher spoke softly so the other students couldn't hear.
No need to worry. My confidence was overflowing.
From behind, chatter started among the students.
Their turns done, tension released.
Sneering laughs, disdainful stares.
They never get tired of it, huh.
'That's all she wrote.'
I was dying to see their reactions when me and A-young came back from conquering the dungeon. Way in the back, Seo-in—who'd been so quiet I almost forgot she was there—watched me with worried eyes.
Me and A-young felt the familiar dizziness and entered the Glass World.
[Grade: D-rank Dungeon-type]
[1st Floor 1/1]
As expected of a Glass World that resets when people exit and enter, new monsters had respawned—and there was only one.
Mana +62
Search +6.
Using 97 Mana, I cast Search Lv7.
Feeling my field of vision widen, a green line appeared like it was guiding us: this way.
"Let's go this way."
"Yeah."
As planned, she and I aimed for a quick clear, following the green line forward.
Search was surprisingly simple and convenient.
Traps that made Leisha's group pause and hunt for were marked red—I told A-young each time, bypassing safely without stopping, straight ahead.
Not long after advancing, we reached the 1st floor boss room.
"Kerruk..."
1st floor boss: the hobgoblin that supplied our main Magic Stones.
"Grun."
This was an underground stone dungeon—the domain of Grun, the earth spirit.
A-young called his name briefly, and sharp stone spikes erupted from the stone ground where the hobgoblin stood, killing it instantly.
And the next floor, 2nd.
Not much different from the 1st.
Just more traps, more complex maze, occasional monsters.
Of course, nothing to hinder us.
The 2nd floor boss, big snake, turned to dust from my Magic Missile.
And 3rd floor.
The 3rd focused more on monsters than mazes or traps. Skeleton warriors, mad hounds, black trolls—E+ to D- rank monsters appeared, and Grun pulled his weight each time.
3rd floor boss: 5 black trolls.
Each D- rank, so not easy for our grades... but our skills were beyond grades now.
Sealed space with no water or wind flow, so A-young couldn't use spirits besides Grun, but Grun was enough.
In the end, A-young took out 2 black trolls with Spirit Arts, and my Magic Missiles put air holes in the heads of the other 3.
And final 4th floor.
No maze, monsters, or traps—just a straight path.
At the end, a sturdy iron door closed like the final room.
"Si-woo..."
A-young grabbed my hand tensely, calling my name.
I clocked the camera for a sec, but luckily not visible from its angle.
"It's fine. Let's finish quick and go back. Gotta show 'em, right?"
"Yeah...!"
A-young nodded at my words and eyed the iron door.
-Kkiiik.
The firmly shut door opened surprisingly easily, revealing a wide cavern, followed by the sound of something flapping.
"Gargoyle...!"
A-young said in surprise.
'Gargoyle's D+ rank, I think.'
[Gargoyle has awakened from sleep to block the intruder!]
[Time to reach 4th floor under 20 minutes.]
[Glass World difficulty upgraded from D-rank to Special D-rank.]
Using Search, I sensed the stealth instructor right by the 4th floor stairs.
As expected of a stealth instructor, no presence, but seemed no intention of coming here.
'Wants to see our skills, huh.'
"A-young, you got this?"
"Of course!"
Shocked briefly by the gargoyle, A-young now burned with resolve like it never happened.
Besides the gargoyle, a small pond-like puddle and a blue golem beside it—had to split forces.
"I'll take the gargoyle. A-young, you handle the blue golem."
"Got it...! I'll finish quick and help!"
No clue who'd finish first, but A-young meant it, commanding Mist and Grun together against the blue golem.
Water rose from the puddle into whip form, binding and lashing the blue golem repeatedly. Stone spikes from floor, walls, ceiling assaulted it too.
FWIW, she'd hit Spirit Arts Lv2 just 2 days after contracting the spirits.
"Then I'll get started too."
-Mana +50
-Agility +20
-Stamina +12
-Magic Missile Lv4 up
Buffs set, I glared at the gargoyle hovering mid-air, staring me down.
Felt arrogant, like it was giving me first strike chance—pissed me off.
"Fine. You asked for it."
Used Magic Missile.
Five times.
White orbs of condensed Mana floated behind me.
Attack using about 20% Mana.
Seeing my Magic Missiles, the gargoyle panicked slightly and moved to attack.
"Too late. Dumbass."
I wasn't arrogant like the gargoyle.
Soon as prep done, fired all 5 Magic Missiles—they hit, small explosions.
'Still not enough?'
As expected, D-rank with Mana Barrier's different—unlike mad hounds dying to one shot, it floated on.
But took big damage—stone fragments from its body crumbling visible.
"That's what you get for letting your guard down."
I looked up at the gargoyle and sneered.
Big damage or rage, whatever—watching it tremble felt fucking great.
Prepping another Magic Missile, it flapped wings this time, hurling sharp stone chunks.
Dodged quick, but got some small scratches.
"Tch... that hurt, asshole. Heal."
Used Heal to mend the bleeding scratches.
My turn to get careless.
No hesitation, fired Magic Missiles again; gargoyle hurled stones back.
Brief skirmish.
And the winner: me.
Final Missile severed body from wings—gargoyle plummeted.
-Thud...!
Big crash as it hit ground, stones crumbling to dust around.
Glanced at A-young—near end, blue golem missing one arm, kneeling.
[Special D-rank Glass World cleared!]
[Reward: 50(+300) points]
∴
"...Good work."
As we finished battle and headed out, the stealth instructor by the 4th stairs spoke.
"Especially your search skills. Even without my stealth skill, if I'd been careless, you'd have sensed me—high level."
Thought he was the quiet type, but chatty when he wants.
"Ah, thank you."
Praise or sarcasm? Probably praise.
Felt good either way, so I bowed slightly.
"...Well then."
He turned, retrieved camera from gargoyle cavern.
Me and A-young watched his back briefly, then climbed stairs out of Glass World.
"Impressive. Even got praise from Stealth Instructor-nim."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Stealth Instructor-nim's super taciturn—rarely praises or scolds."
This premium on praise? Not bad.
Chatting idly, we reached Glass World exit and jumped in.
Back to reality.
Looked around.
Dead silent.
Opposite vibe from before we entered.
Other students' faces: not scorn or mockery—bewilderment, shock, tinged with regret.
'Should've been nicer all along.'
Karma's a bitch.
I glanced at A-young, then Seo-in.
A-young grinned happily; Seo-in stared in admiration.