Sewer Dungeon (1)
I woke up feeling refreshed that morning.
The muscle soreness from yesterday was completely gone. All that remained was the flow of mana wrapping around my injured muscles.
"As expected, you need muscle pain for real growth."
Of course, there wasn't much in this body that you could call actual muscle. But in terms of mana, I'd definitely bulked up.
I slipped into my uniform with light movements.
Then, as I was buttoning my shirt, I paused for a moment.
'Leaving the top button open definitely helps with mana circulation.'
After agonizing over it, I ultimately left the top button undone, just like yesterday.
…It wasn't for style or showing off skin. It was purely to maintain optimal condition as an awakener.
The sensation of handling mana from the training the day before yesterday and the magic practice yesterday—it was addictively intoxicating, hard to break away from.
It had only been four days since I'd fallen into this mana-filled world. Yet I couldn't imagine a world without mana anymore.
With that self-hypnosis, I stepped out of the house.
When I arrived at the academy, I spotted a familiar black ponytail in the distance.
Our Hayeon.
"Hayeon!"
I waved happily and approached, but today, Hayeon's vibe felt strangely different.
'...Isn't her outfit a bit shorter?'
Hayeon's uniform had always been extremely modest.
Her skirt was so long it made you worry if it even complied with academy rules.
But now it felt a little shorter, clinging more tightly to her body.
Sensing my gaze, Hayeon's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Eunha, hi. D-do I look any different?"
'She's asking that here?!'
I couldn't bring myself to point out her outfit.
Saying it in this situation would make me look like one of those guys who always stares at her legs.
But aside from that, I couldn't spot any other changes.
"Not sure? Did you change how you tie your hair...?"
"Huh? You really don't notice? You were staring so hard earlier..."
Hayeon gave me a meaningful look as she asked back.
She drew even closer, our distance much shorter than before yesterday.
The faint shampoo scent from her made it hard to think straight.
I gave an awkward laugh and took a step back.
"Haha... sorry I didn't notice. Lunch is on me today instead!"
"No need. You don't have to treat me all night for that. And... I've already gotten my gift."
"...?"
"There's dungeon practice this afternoon, right? See you then."
"Ah, yeah..."
Hayeon left those cryptic words and headed to the special class building.
'Was Hayeon always like this?'
In the original story, she seemed quieter.
No, it wasn't right to judge her based on the fragmented scenes from the original.
Adult games were like that anyway. With most of the budget poured into illustrations and voice acting, everyday dialogue and inner thoughts for the heroines often took a backseat.
Her 'timid girl' trait might've just been a lazy script tag.
I settled on that conclusion and headed to class.
The morning classes were the usual boring lectures.
The real deal was the afternoon practice, as Hayeon said.
Today was dungeon practice day. Combat class did the hands-on, special class observed.
Since it was experience week, we wouldn't enter a real dungeon. Practice was in the virtual dungeon training ground under the academy.
'Finally, combat practice.'
Tension and excitement mixed inside me.
This body had talent, sure, but whether I could handle it was another matter.
Especially the weight of killing a living being—that was no light thing.
'Gotta steel myself. I'll have to kill real monsters eventually.'
And that time didn't seem far off.
I planned to test if I was ready for a real dungeon today.
"Today's virtual dungeon practice. The monsters are all mana puppets, so no death risk. But you can still get seriously hurt, so be careful! Class 1, follow me in order!"
The teacher led the students into the virtual dungeon first. We watched Class 1's practice on monitors outside.
"Watch closely. You'll be next."
Park Dusik, in charge of our Class 2, said that.
'Of all people, why him for our class.'
I felt the urge to break his arm again, but I sat quietly and watched Class 1.
Their practice was... a total mess.
It made sense, thinking about it. Awakenings happened at random times. Even academy students mostly awakened suddenly.
Kids who were normal people just weeks or months ago couldn't fight properly.
They just flailed wildly and blasted mana.
So the teacher handled most monsters, while students trembled.
'It's a bit extreme...'
They chose to enter the academy voluntarily—shouldn't they show some guts?
Lost in that thought while staring blankly at the monitor, someone approached me.
Park Dusik.
He spoke to me with his usual lecherous grin.
"Seo Eunha. Two days, huh. Been well?"
"...Yes. What is it?"
"Hey, no need to be so cold. I reduced your demerits—aren't you grateful?"
"If it's nothing, I'd like to focus on practice."
Ignoring my icy response, Park Dusik sidled up close to me.
The musty stench from him wrinkled my nose instinctively.
He glanced around, then whispered lewdly in my ear.
"You wouldn't be in dress code violation again today, right?"
"I know dungeon practice has no uniform rules. Everyone else is in school clothes too."
"No... I mean underwear. You wouldn't be wearing any today, would you?"
'Do I look stupid enough to fall for the same trick twice?'
After that day, I'd memorized the academy rules.
No gym clothes required for dungeon practice, but bras are prohibited.
I answered confidently.
"I'm wearing one. No, wait—I'm not. Per the rules."
"What?"
Park Dusik's eyes widened at the unexpected reply.
"No way...! Then take off your clothes here!"
"Pardon? Why me? You leave other girls alone but single me out—why?"
"You violated rules alone last martial arts practice too. Can't help suspecting you."
"... "
A teacher suspecting a student first. Unbelievable.
Infuriating, but actually a good situation.
Chance to prove my innocence and escape his grubby clutches for good.
I scowled and unbuttoned the middle of my shirt.
"...!"
"There. Happy? Don't suspect me over this again."
"Uh... yeah. My mistake."
"Isn't it our turn soon? You should prepare."
He'd hoped for my humiliation, but I turned his logic against him head-on.
Park Dusik's face turned red with rage. He turned away without a word.
"Class 2, enter! Follow me!"
Finally, our turn.
I grabbed a wooden sword and stepped into the virtual dungeon practice room.
As I'd seen with Class 1, it was more like a field trip.
Various monsters appeared; teacher explained and dispatched them.
Fewer than ten reached us.
No need to swing properly—situation resolved quickly.
With over twenty students flailing punches in panic, low-grade monsters couldn't withstand it.
Instead, I observed Park Dusik's combat.
'...Can't win if I fight him now.'
Even as a perverted martial arts teacher, his moves were clean.
The stat gap was huge. His casual punches were too fast to follow, exploding air on impact.
I'd broken his arm last time because he hadn't used mana.
Sensing my gaze, perhaps? He glanced back with a sinister smile.
'...That's the face he made before groping my chest.'
My prediction was spot on. Park Dusik suddenly slowed against front enemies.
"Oops, hand slipped! Seo Eunha, heading your way!"
With his shout, dozens of slimes poured from the passage he'd guarded, like a wave.
Slimes. In an adult game, they meant one thing: melting clothes or sticking lewdly, trapping the heroine.
Park Dusik's intent was obvious. He wanted me screaming, covered in slimes, looking pathetic.
Other students were already backing away in fear.
But I thought differently.
'...Chance.'
I'd been dying of frustration. With Park Dusik hogging kills, no chance to test new skills.
Unlike others, I stepped forward.
Mana Armament (A)
Blue mana swirled around the wooden sword. I launched myself at the oncoming slime wave.
Schwaak! Pop!
Each swing burst slimes like balloons.
Combat Swordsmanship (A) worked perfectly; strikes precisely sliced the cores, smaller than my fist.
"Hah!"
A long horizontal slash sent a mana blade slicing air, bursting over a dozen slimes at once.
Sticky liquid splattered my body, but these were just mana clumps.
Unlike real slimes, no melting clothes or aphrodisiac effects.
It was a massacre.
No scream like Park Dusik expected.
Only the whooshes of monsters annihilated and my ragged breaths, lips curled in delight.
One minute.
Dozens of slimes vanished without trace.
Floor covered in liquefied mana residue.
I swept back sweat-matted hair and looked at Park Dusik.
"Thanks, loosened up nicely. Feel free to slip more next time, sir."
Park Dusik's face twisted in disgust.
Seeing it felt like ten years of pent-up frustration dissolving.
Unfortunately, he didn't send more in rage.
He'd realized it'd just repeat the slaughter.
I had no choice but to idly observe monster shapes.
Thus, the dungeon practice ended somewhat anticlimactically.
As soon as we exited, Hayeon, who'd been observing, ran up with sparkling eyes.
"Eunha! I saw from outside! That was amazing!"
"Aw, it was nothing."
I shrugged sheepishly, grinning. Felt like those gym mirror flexes from my past life.
I shrugged again, pretending nonchalance, but Hayeon's gaze was odd.
"Anyway, you okay? Your clothes are soaked..."
"Huh? Clothes?"
I followed her worried eyes down my body.
"...Kyaaak?! W-what the hell!"
A scream burst out involuntarily.
Virtual slimes were mana clumps. But residue was still sticky.
Mana turned transparent liquid, clinging to my body.
My thin white shirt, soaked... no, slime-drenched, turned paper-thin and see-through.
And per rules, no bra.
"Uh, uhh..."
As battle adrenaline faded, surrounding stares pierced me.
Some even gulped audibly.
'Fuck! Mana circulation my ass—this is too much!'
I hurriedly crossed arms over my chest, but damage done. Face burned like it might explode.
"Eunha, let's change first...!"
"Ugh... yeah! Sir, bathroom break!"
Arms shielding chest, I sprinted full speed to the changing room.
Meanwhile, in the now-empty practice room.
Park Dusik stared at the slime liquid Eunha left behind, then secretly scooped it into a bottle he'd brought.
"Seo Eunha. Cocky bitch, but leaking some potent mana, huh."
Virtual monsters were pure mana puppets.
Their fluids clung to her body, mixing with her mana.
Meaning, this floor liquid shared properties with Eunha's mana.
"With this... I can have some fun."
Vile desire flashed in Park Dusik's eyes.