Super Gacha and Club Invitation
Kiiiiiing───
The golem's core, which could be called its heart, cracked open. With its movements grinding to a halt, it began to collapse right then and there.
"Huh?"
Jinwoo looked utterly baffled. All he'd done was open the door and step inside, yet the golem was crumbling in an instant. Unlike him, the rest of us—including me—were panting heavily as we stared at the wreckage.
"...Boss. You said that was the weakest one?"
"...I didn't expect it to be this strong either. Who knew it would be this powerful just from activating."
Even just standing up had given off an overwhelming sense of wrongness that felt like it could burst our hearts simply by looking at it. Pure terror. If I hadn't shattered the core right at the start, we all would've been dead. I was certain of it.
"Good thing it ended well. Everyone okay? No injuries?"
Once I was sure the golem was completely neutralized, I scanned the surroundings and checked on the others. Youngje was breathing raggedly after pushing his mana to the limit. Sea-a had collapsed in a heap, her legs giving out. And Choi Yeon... her face was strangely flushed.
...Why's she like that?
At any rate, no one seemed seriously hurt.
"Eugene. Does this mean we can all get out now...?"
Sea-a asked weakly from where she sat on the floor.
"Yeah. Portals should open soon on each floor, letting us exit. Once that's done, the other kids and instructors trapped here can escape too."
The villains' terror attack was effectively over. I approached the fallen golem leisurely and rummaged through its remains.
"Here it... is."
This was the mana clump that powered not just the dungeon, but that massive body too. The Dungeon Core. Condensed from the rampaging mana stone's output and all the ambient mana accumulated in the dungeon, it was the ultimate reward.
◈ In pristine condition—better than any core from the game
◈ Condensed mana from the entire dungeon
"Whoa."
Maybe because it turned into an overlapping dungeon? It looked in way better shape than any dungeon core I'd gotten in the game.
After securing the core, I returned to the exhausted group.
"Haa, I just wanna lie down and sleep right here."
"Same, I'm wiped. Feels like I scraped every last drop of mana."
"Me toooo..."
I gave them some motivating words as I looked at them.
"Really? You don't want the rewards?"
"Rewards?"
I pointed at the room that screamed "exit" just by looking at it.
"Ooh..."
Jinwoo started walking toward it like he was mesmerized. The others, intrigued now, followed slowly behind.
A core was a core, and rewards were rewards. Given the difficulty, something beyond imagination was surely waiting.
When I opened the reward room door and stepped inside with the others...
"Here it... is! Boss! Over here!"
A massive chest appeared before us. Red body with gold decorations, screaming "I'm valuable!" It was even flashier than the dungeon rewards I remembered.
"N-No way a chest that gaudy is the reward! It's a mimic! That's gotta be a mimic!!"
Sea-a next to me had already lost it. To prevent more chaos, I gathered the kids.
"For the rewards, everyone grab what you need most. We'll divvy up the rest back at the club room later. Any objections?"
I checked their faces, but no one spoke up.
"Alright, then. Don't get your hopes up too high—it's random. Here... I go."
As I slowly lifted the lid, a golden aura bloomed, illuminating the surroundings.
Golden light... and rainbow hues.
"Holy...!"
Isn't this the super gacha success effect?
The others stared at the chest, entranced by the spectacle.
Pop! Pop pop!
Fireworks burst as a projector beam shot upward from the chest.
Congratulations!!
A man's face appeared before us.
"Hey! Underclassmen! If you're seeing this, you've cleared the highest difficulty of my dungeon, right? Congrats for real!"
The kids looked confused at the unfamiliar man's face. I'd seen this message plenty of times, so I casually found the button inside the chest and pressed it.
"Skip."
Highest difficulty cleared────zzzt.
Phew. Much quieter now.
The kids behind me tilted their heads.
"Boss. What was that?"
"...Didn't seem important, so I turned it off. Probably just rambling congrats."
In the game, it just gave a phone number or something and ended. Even if it was billed as a highest-difficulty message, it was really just minutes of self-praise. No regrets.
"Anyway, inside... oh."
As expected, various items were piled up inside.
"Plenty here. Even if we each take one, leftovers."
Seemed like this room followed the theme too. A quick scan, and I could guess what each kid would want.
"I wanna recommend items here since I have the appraisal skill. Cool with that?"
To be precise, it wasn't a skill, but I wanted them to get stuff that suited them.
"Right, boss has that appraisal skill. Sweet, no need to go to an appraiser."
"I'm good too. Safer if you divvy 'em."
Choi Yeon and Sea-a nodded, no objections.
Then let's get started.
First item was a familiar one.
Rare
Plunge into sunlit earth to summon 3 golems.
"Obsidian Dagger of Summoning. Stick it in sunlit ground to summon three golems... This one's for you, Sea-a. Suits your rear support style."
Youngje was hit-and-run with versatile close-range magic, so better for Sea-a.
"An item that summons summons! Those go for a fortune on the market! I love it! Absolutely!"
"Then that's Sea-a's. Next... Cloak of Ambush? Hide in shadows once a day. Jinwoo, this one's yours."
"Huh? I just opened a door—it's okay to give me something this good?"
A stealth item that massively boosted ambush chances was valuable, but I had Maestro's suit, Dis Pater. I already had stealth covered. Jinwoo, being relatively lacking, would use it better.
"You worked hard. It's enough."
"Boss...!"
Next was a bracelet wrapped in a blue band. Another familiar game staple.
Rare
Increases spell cast speed and mana recovery.
"This is the 'Mana Circuit Bracelet'."
Boosted cast speed and mana recovery—perfect for Youngje, who lacked mana relative to his versatility.
Then Choi Yeon.
"...Mine too?"
"Thanks to you, we cleared this. You're qualified."
"...Thanks."
Rare
Wraps hands; reduces impact shock, eases fatigue, slight strength boost.
I gave her the 'Ancient Warrior's Tape,' which reduced palm impact like a bandage. Warrior staple.
Finally.
"I'll take this."
I picked up the red ring tucked in the corner.
"...Pretty. What's that item?"
Sea-a's eyes sparkled at its gleaming red hue.
◈ Stores user's spilled blood to enhance physical abilities
◈ Some power seals its true potential
"Ring of the Ancient Berserker. Stores my spilled blood to boost physical stats."
Right in front of me, the info window popped up.
Sealed or not, didn't matter to me. I'd used it in the game and knew how to unseal it.
"But boss, you okay with the lame one?"
"What?"
"Y'know. You never bleed a drop in fights—that's your style."
Ah... right.
They don't know my real combat style.
Misunderstanding from how I fought hitmen vs. at the academy.
"Just felt right for me."
"Well... if you say so."
They seemed guilty, like they'd hogged the good stuff. This was actually the rarest.
Anyway, time to wrap up and head out. After handling one thing first.
"Choi Yeon."
"Yeah?"
"Wanna join our club?"
"Club? The one you're president of?"
Direct invitation.
One member slot left in the club system. Couldn't think of anyone better right now. Plus, trust from the lake event and this fight's risen favor.
"...Club. Lemme think about it."
Sudden offer, so she looked unsure. No point pushing.
"Sure, you can decide after we get out."
Put her answer on hold, stored the rest in my cube, and eyed the exit door and its lever.
"Let's go."
Time passed; others probably out. Might be waiting outside, so time to leave.
Pulling the upward lever down, the stone door rose, revealing a warping portal.
We'd defended a main scenario, the 'Academy Terror.' Crisis averted.
Sent the others through first, then stepped in. Dizziness hit as my body shifted outward.
Thought that was it...
Wuuung── Wuuung── Wuuung── Wuuung──
Signal caught; phone vibrated fiercely. Checked it—dozens of messages stacked up.
And the contents...
...Huh?