Chapter 12

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 12

Chapter Title: Artificial Dungeon Practice (2)

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Ding—!

'Oh... I had a feeling, but a quest window really popped up for me too?'

Ever since I got that life-or-death sub-quest from the system on my first day of possession, I had somewhat expected it.

Me, a mere extra and not the protagonist, receiving a main quest.

Of course, I wasn't unhappy about getting the quest.

For someone like me who had to keep intervening in the main story from now on, it meant I could claim quest clear rewards.

Yeah, that part was fine.

But why did it have to throw in a Heroine Gift Package—a reward I'd never use in my life—right in the middle? It would've been perfect with just the generous SP and tasty gacha tickets.

'This damn system, are you messing with me? I can't even use that thing... Are you freaking insane?'

The Heroine Gift Package was exactly what it sounded like: an item that let you randomly draw gifts tailored to the tastes of heroines like Sophia, Yoon Seo-rin, or Wol Ha-yeon.

It was one of those cash gacha tickets designed to make it easier for players to boost affection levels a bit.

'That thing costs 50,000 won and I can't even use it... What a waste....'

If I had possessed Kim Do-yoon, the protagonist, instead of this extra Kang Hyun-sol, I would've cheered at getting it.

His face alone could skyrocket most heroines' affection, and adding gifts on top would halve the game's difficulty.

But right now, I was just an ordinary extra, with constraints slapped on top.

Forget boosting affection—not only would it do nothing, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but one wrong gift could even jeopardize my constraints.

Especially if it turned out to be something for Sophia, the most dangerous woman right now. That would plunge me into all sorts of agony.

'...Hah, what can I do? Guess I'll just let it sit in my inventory.'

I swallowed my regret, closed the quest window, and scanned our surroundings.

Our Group 4 had been teleported to the middle of the dungeon's forest.

The gently swaying grass blades, the damp earth scent, the wind rustling through the trees everywhere.

It looked peaceful at a glance, but closer inspection revealed clear goblin footprints scattered here and there.

"Whoa... It really looks just like in the videos. Amazing."

"They even perfectly replicated the smell? Incredible."

"No time for sightseeing! Let's find the other groups first."

Most of the students were chattering excitedly about being in a real dungeon, casually strolling deeper into the forest without any guard up.

And Yoon Seo-rin, who had been glancing around with her gun slung over her shoulder from the back, whispered just loud enough for Sophia and me to hear.

"...No signs of life nearby."

Sophia replied softly from beside her.

"What should we do? Look for other group students like the others said? Or take out the goblins first?"

"Hmm? I think securing goblin elimination points first wouldn't be bad."

As I drew the sword from my waist and made a fighting gesture, the two girls nodded without a word.

Just as I was about to suggest to the rest of the group that we handle the goblins first...

"Hey! Guys, there's another group ahead!!!"

The scout pointed excitedly, waving his hand.

Looking over, Group 6—who had entered before us—was already locked in combat with a goblin horde.

"Haha! This is a golden opportunity. Guys, let's ambush them from behind! We get monster points and knock them out—two birds with one stone."

"Yeah, pretend to help and smash their backsides hard!"

"How many points if we take them all?"

The three male students who had been showing off before entering the dungeon stepped up again, getting cocky.

With their desires plain on their faces, spouting nonsense.

"Hold up."

I blocked the group members about to charge out and shouted.

"I get it's a good chance, but blindly jumping in like that could be dangerous, right? If we mess up and get surrounded by goblins too, we all wipe—no points, just total annihilation."

"Hah, what does a last-place know? Know your place."

"Yeah, you just watch from behind. Us top-rankers will handle it."

Of course, my warning was dismissed outright.

Complete with rude attitudes.

"......"

'These fucking bastards are pissing me off... Hoo, calm down.'

Was I getting sensitive from all these constant variables?

The original me seemed pretty calm and patient, but lately, even a little scratch made it hard to hold back my anger.

Still, I barely suppressed my rage and tried persuading the group again, very politely.

"So, what I'm saying is..."

But Sophia—who had been quietly watching, arms crossed—glared at the trio and snapped, apparently annoyed by them ignoring me.

"What kind of attitude is that? Hyun-sol's right about everything, and you're telling him to shut up because he's last place?"

"She's correct. Even a moment's calm thought makes it obvious, but your attitudes are quite unpleasant."

Yoon Seo-rin calmly readied her gun and added.

"Maybe you three should be the ones knowing your place?"

"...."

'Ugh... Girls!! You're the only ones I can count on.'

The mood shifted completely with the two girls chiming in.

The three boys shut their mouths, grumbling, while the others busied themselves watching Sophia and Yoon Seo-rin's faces.

"Then let's split into groups of three, three, and four, and move to encircle the goblins from three directions."

"Sure."

"Got it."

Following Sophia's lead, the group members quietly spread out in all directions.

Sophia, Yoon Seo-rin, and I moved left, checking the situation again. What unfolded before us was...

"Krrr!!"

"Keeeek!!"

I thought Group 6 was fighting the goblins, but they were actually getting half-beaten already.

They clearly had some training—their individual skills looked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠decent.

But with little experience and poor teamwork, they couldn't break the goblins' encirclement and were being herded toward the center.

"Save me!! Block the back!!"

"Mage! What are you doing—cast now!"

"I'm gonna drop out like this!! Help!!"

Sophia whispered with a sly smile.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"...Hmm, not sure how many goblins are left, but at this rate, we could wipe Group 6 and still fight."

Yoon Seo-rin nodded agreement, aiming her rifle at one student's head before glancing at me.

"What'll we do? Take out the mage preparing spells under protection from the rear, and Group 6 wipes completely."

The other group members in position also seemed to await my decision.

'...? Suddenly making me the leader? Why are you glaring but staying silent?'

The three boys still looked dissatisfied, faces scrunched, but they waited obediently for my orders.

"...."

I didn't know how it happened, but the situation wasn't bad overall.

To maximize rewards, we needed to eliminate as many students as possible anyway.

If they were following me like a leader, all the better.

"...Sophia, magic ready?"

"Of course. Been casting since earlier."

Sophia shook her staff, its tip glowing red, in response.

"Okay, settled then. Seo-rin takes the mage—once their formation breaks, Sophia, wipe the rest with magic."

"Okay~"

"Got it."

Yoon Seo-rin nodded lightly and raised her barrel slightly.

Not a hint of hesitation.

Her finger smoothly pulled the trigger. In an instant, a mana bullet formed from her unique mana shot from the muzzle.

Bang—!

The sharp gunshot echoed through the forest.

Simultaneously, Group 6's mage—casting toward the goblins—teleported out with a protective barrier.

"Argh!! What was that!?"

"No!! Min-ah got hit!!"

"Kyaaah!! Block here!!"

Losing their mage in a blink to the sudden ambush shattered Group 6's formation.

With the threatening aura from the rear gone, the goblins charged with shrieks again, plunging the students into chaos.

"Now!"

At my shout, Sophia raised her staff high and finished casting.

A swirling beam of brilliant light formed into a massive fireball flickering with forest-incinerating intensity.

Kaboom—!

The fireball surged toward the goblin horde and remaining Group 6 students. With a massive explosion, everything there vanished.

"Hah... Hah...!"

"Guh!"

"No, please...!"

A few students who barely survived Sophia's magic tried desperately to flee, but our group had already tightened the encirclement.

One by one, two by two.

In the end, the survivors from Group 6 were forcibly teleported out, wrapped in shimmering blue protective barriers by Group 4's attacks.

The three male students, confirming all goblins and students eliminated, shouted excitedly.

"Whoa! How many points is that!!"

"See? Told you we'd win!"

"Hng~"

Sophia lifted her staff slightly with a grin.

"It was all thanks to Hyun-sol's command, right? Without him, you three would've charged in blindly, excited, and gotten surrounded."

"......"

'Sharp. So sharp.'

Yoon Seo-rin wiped her barrel, agreeing quietly.

"Obvious without looking. Especially you, Lee Se-hyuk—you nearly got ambushed by a goblin in the chaos."

"...Sorry. Thanks for the save."

"......"

The fact-bombs from the two girls left the three boys biting their lips, speechless.

The mood had completely soured, and everyone's eyes naturally turned to me and the two heroines.

"Anyway, everyone calm down first..."

I figured arguing more would do no good, so I tried mediating.

But right then.

Ding—!

The system screen popped up with a sweet chime.

'Oh... 135 SP from the first fight? Sweet.'

"Whew... Yeah, now's not the time for us to bicker."

Sophia brushed back her hair with a bright smile.

"Anyway, the first fight went better than expected. Keep this up, and we can snag an A+ easy."

"I think we finished without issues thanks to Hyun-sol's sound judgment."

Yoon Seo-rin slung her gun back over her shoulder and added curtly.

Her calm tone carried clear trust.

'...Wait, but I barely did anything. Why's everyone trusting me so much?'

The others' reactions made sense, but I couldn't figure what about me clicked with Yoon Seo-rin.

From what I remembered, in group activities like this cooperative class, if she disliked anything even slightly, she'd voice it bluntly.

Even with affection built up, she'd mercilessly leave the protagonist if he kept making bad calls or repeating mistakes.

That's why I stuck to careful, minimal suggestions without pushing.

Yet Yoon Seo-rin was showing excessive trust, and most of the group had no complaints.

No—looking at the flow, they seemed ready to let me lead from here on.

The three boys still looked grumpy but couldn't pick a fight anymore.

Unlike their big talk before the fight, they'd panicked first in the crisis.

'...I'll think about this after the evaluation's done.'

Knowing more doubt wouldn't help, I sheathed my sword, looked at the group, and said.

"Assume you're handing command to me, then... Let's head to the goblin village center. All the other groups will converge there anyway."

"Got it."

"Alright, let's move?"

Sophia and Yoon Seo-rin nodded in unison, and the group checked their weapons one by one, readying to depart.