Tutorial Cleared: Awakening and the Heroes' Banquet
The tutorial boss had finally met its end. Towering at least three meters tall, with a cow's head atop a hulking human-like musculature, its entire body etched in black patterns. The upper-floor boss monster, the Minotaur, let out a bellow.
Hot breath snorted from its nostrils. It dragged its double-bladed axe across the floor before hoisting it high.
"GRRRRAAAAAHHH!!"
The eardrum-shattering roar violently shook the air in the boss room. Dust rained down from the ceiling.
"Pila! Get ready! Elena!"
"Yes!"
The moment the order dropped, I kicked off the ground and charged straight ahead. I gripped the hilt of my magic sword Vitalia tight. Mana coated the blade. The Minotaur's bloodshot eyes locked onto me.
Yeah, take out the man first.
Its axe came crashing down toward my skull.
BOOM!
The floor shattered, debris flying everywhere. I'd twisted away just before the axe hit, leaping into the air and using its arm as a springboard for another bound. I slashed straight across its thick shoulder. The blade barely cut deep, leaving only a shallow gash on its skin. Tough. Incredibly so. Pure muscle. Its physique was leagues beyond a standard Minotaur. Even compared to an ogre of equal rank, the quality of its muscle was on another level.
A monster sealed in the dungeon. I needed to figure out why.
"GRRRRAAAAAHHH!!!!"
"...!"
Elena slipped into a perfect blind spot. Her sword plunged precisely and deeply into the back of the Minotaur's knee—the soft tendon that couldn't be toughened by training.
"GRRRK?!?!"
It screamed in agony, losing balance and staggering wildly. I didn't miss that split-second opening as its massive body tilted.
"Here goes!"
Pila shouted. On her cue, Elena and I pulled back from the Minotaur. Pila raised her staff high.
"Explode!"
A fierce red light flashed from the ground beneath the Minotaur's chest. A deafening boom left my ears ringing as a pillar of earth erupted from its muscular pecs, slamming into the ceiling. Thick hide burst open, spilling dark red innards.
"Grk... grrrlk..."
Foam bubbled from the Minotaur's mouth as it flipped over, propping itself up on the floor. Its gaze fixed on Pila. It shoved off the ground, horned head lowered to charge. I stepped right in its path.
Lion's Maw.
I gripped the magic sword with both hands, raising it high to unleash a lion's mane of sword aura fluttering wildly. I brought it down on the Minotaur's head. Its skull seemed to hold for a moment, but the blade tore through hide, cracked bone, and delved into the brain matter. Before it could accelerate, its body—blocked by the sword—pushed me back slightly and halted.
The Minotaur's red eyes rolled back white. It slumped to the floor, its massive frame going limp as all life ceased. A pool of dark blood spread beneath the corpse.
"Got it."
Elena and Pila cheered their victory.
The Minotaur's enormous body had fully breathed its last.
"Incredible. It was over in an instant."
Pila caught her breath, relaxing her tension. She opened the mouth of the backpack in her hands and swallowed the Minotaur's corpse whole. A magic backpack. The spatial expansion enchantment sucked in the hulking monster in seconds. The heavy carcass vanished from sight.
With the boss dead, the room began to change. The arena floor the Minotaur had wrecked writhed. Shattered pieces reassembled into their original form, restoring themselves. The red magic circle etched into the floor trembled faintly, then gathered toward the center like sand in a sand art display. The red grains solidified into a single crystal.
"That's..."
Elena murmured cautiously as she approached. A fist-sized red gem pulsing with a subtle glow like a heartbeat.
"A dungeon core."
Pila pushed up her glasses, which had slipped down her nose bridge.
"It's a kind of barrier stone. That's why no one discovered this dungeon until now—thanks to the core's effects. It's a system that seals away monsters too powerful for them to handle, providing permanent energy. Lost technology from an ancient civilization."
Pila's eyes gleamed with a mage's thirst for knowledge.
"But dungeons aren't perfect. Over time, monsters multiply, mana saturates inside, and the core goes critical. The dungeon gate opens. That's the whole story of monster waves."
In short, that rock was the culprit.
"So smashing it ends everything?"
Pila nodded at Elena's question.
"Yes, exactly. It might respawn, but destroying it calms the gate, ends the wave, and resolves the situation."
Pila adjusted her glasses again.
"Just one thing." She held up a finger. "The tool used to destroy the dungeon core absorbs some of its power. That tool becomes extremely—extremely valuable, so be careful. We can't waste this chance, right?"
Elena's gaze naturally shifted to my magic sword at those words.
"Uncle's weapon seems best. Mine's just a common sword. Using your magic sword would make it way better, right?"
"Elena."
I cut her off.
"Grab it with your bare hand."
"Huh?"
Elena blinked. She tilted her head, not grasping my words. Pila freaked out first.
"E-Eck! No way!"
Pila's face drained white in an instant.
"You absolutely can't touch a dungeon core barehanded! It looks like a gem, but it's a lump of hyper-concentrated mana! Touching it would make you explode on the spot!"
Pila's hands trembled. Her eyes quivered, but her resolve was firm. She was utterly sensible.
"Elena."
I ignored Pila's warning and stared straight into Elena's blue eyes.
"Grab it."
"Ahh, seriously, no. Books say dozens died trying that. E-Elena? You don't have to if you don't want. I'll explain it to Eck properly..."
Pila fidgeted, trying to dissuade Elena on my behalf. But Elena only hesitated briefly before calming down.
"If Uncle says grab it, I'll grab it."
"Ahh... I-I can't watch."
"Uncle's never asked me to do something I couldn't. This'll be fine too."
Elena approached the dungeon core without hesitation. Pila turned her head aside, squeezing her eyes shut and covering her ears. She trembled behind me like small prey facing a predator.
Flash!
As Elena reached out, the core shot out red light beams. Blinding light poured out, forcing my eyes shut. When it faded, Elena stood unharmed. The core she'd touched was gone, and unabsorbed power surged from her. Physical force shoved the surrounding air hard.
Pila, huddled on the floor, squinted through the gust.
"M-Mana's surging! E-Eck, th-this is really okay, right? You had some reason to tell her, yeah? If not, I'll regret not stopping it forever!"
"It's fine."
"R-Really?"
Pila clutched my leg, observing the changes.
Elena instinctively folded the storm-like power. Layer by layer, it sank into her body and vanished. The gale disappeared as if it had never been.
Elena clenched and unclenched her fists, staring blankly.
"...."
She dazedly felt the power filling her. Awakening complete. No dramatic, intense prologue like in the original game. Elena now matched a seasoned multi-run veteran—strong and reliable. My Elena was complete.
It's really over.
I finally exhaled long. The moment I'd perfectly wrapped up that damn tutorial.
Days after the monster wave engulfed the city. The grand ballroom with its ornate chandelier. The Lord's Castle brimmed with people today. Dozens of nobles—rarely seen even one—sat in rows, with guild and clan executives filling the seats behind them. All the big shots in Leator City watched us.
I stood side-by-side with Elena and Pila on the stage, red carpet underfoot. The lord, in splendid attire and stern expression, stepped before us.
"...."
"...."
Beside him, Lady Lijet smiled elegantly, winking at me.
"I assume no one here is unaware of why we've gathered today."
The lord's voice boomed heavily through the ballroom.
"Days ago, this city faced an unprecedented calamity. Hordes from the northern mountains threatened to devour us whole. A disaster of historic scale."
Leator's wave was among the worst compared to other cities. Without prep, walls would've crumbled in spots.
"Leator—we stopped it perfectly!"
Nobles raised heads as one, applause erupting at the lord's words. Nobles clapped first, commoners joining after. The ballroom filled with thunderous cheers.
"And the heroes who led this victory stand here."
The lord, pleased, gestured to Lijet, then us. Elena, Pila, and I stood center stage, drawing eyes. Elena was composed, but Pila looked pale enough to faint.
"Master of explosion magic and my direct mage, Pila Emson!"
Pila's shoulders twitched at her name.
"She obliterated massive low-rank hordes swarming the walls with overwhelming blasts. Without her magic, monsters would've never thinned on the ramparts!"
Murmurs rose among nobles. Old mages and nobles debated explosion magic's practicality, eyeing Pila skeptically. But some mages recognized her, applauding—and it spread.
Pila bowed her head deeply, at a loss.
"Next, Elena!"
Elena stepped forward. Her blue eyes shone lively, undaunted by noble pressure.
"At the forefront of wall defense, she fought alongside knights, slaying high-rank monsters and plugging defense gaps, earning all's praise. Despite scant experience as an adventurer, her valor on the field is a model for all!"
Admiration burst from nobles. Elena's feats were already legend among wall knights. Barie applauded fiercely from below stage, knights following suit.
Elena stepped back, meeting my eyes. Puppy-like gaze seeking praise.
Good job.
I nodded shortly; her lips curved ear-to-ear.
"Finally."
The lord's eyes settled on me.
"Dungeon survey team leader, Eck!"
Murmurs rippled at my name. Not in a good way. Eck's infamy was widespread. Aware nobles dismissed it as not their business; unaware ones heard from commoner underlings. Commoners glared openly. But my notoriety hadn't reached nobles—no harm done to them. Just a grubby adventurer on stage. Mild displeasure at most.
The lord recited my feats.
"Outside the walls, he felled a basilisk and multiple A-rank monsters, breaking the wave's vanguard and preempting horrific blows to our main force!"
Basilisk. The name of the "living fortress" monster stirred shock through the hall. Soloing it beggared belief for nobles and knights alike. Even Eck's foes muttered if they'd misheard.
Formal applause echoed as the lord finished.
"Once more, lavish praise on these three."
The hall thundered again.
"Also, as members of the dungeon survey team founded by my beloved daughter Lijet, they closed the dungeon gate and returned safely. Thanks to them as her hands and feet, Leator enjoys peace today."
The lord turned to Lijet with a dad smile.
"Thus, in the name of Revaton van Leator, I bestow special honors!"
At his words, attendants brought velvet-wrapped rewards. Gold coins and medals emblazoned with the territory's crest—official lord recognition. For honor-bound nobles, no greater reward.
Wearing it to their homes meant nobles must welcome us to save face.
Attendants offered goblets; I took one. The lord raised his high.
"Leator will advance henceforth. Today! A new chapter in Leator's history begins!"
The lord drank deep; all followed, signaling the feast's start.
As servants brought drinks and food, the stiff mood loosened. Off-stage, nobles swarmed Elena and Pila for talk.
"Hm."
No nobles approached me. Vulgar, flighty adventurers were mere limbs of Lady Lijet, huh. Elena could handle herself—polite enough despite lacking court etiquette, and they'd overlook slips now. Pila, ex-noble, managed gracefully.
Whatever, more free time for me.
Dealing with nobles tired me just watching. I set my goblet on a random table, back to the wall, waiting out the boredom.
Clack. Clack.
Footsteps toward me. The red-haired lady in a lavish dress approached, Barie trailing. Lijet glided elegantly before me.