Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Dungeon Practical Training
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Thursday's first class was the dungeon practical training everyone had been waiting for.
Victoria Academy's motto was always training that mimicked real combat.
Because if you only did safe training, you wouldn't be able to perform the same moves in actual battle.
That's why they conducted a lot of practical sessions in real locations rather than simulations, and dungeon practical training was one of them.
The previous first practical was just a taste, so this one could truly be called a real dungeon practical training.
This time, it was also a cave-type dungeon.
Of course, the difficulty level was completely different from last time.
The passages were narrower and more winding, the paths tougher, more monsters appeared, and each one would be trickier to deal with.
That's why every group except ours was discussing strategies and boosting morale.
"…."
"…."
"…."
'Fuck.'
This familiar silence.
Lee Byung-hoon, the other guy in our group. Seeing this bastard after a while didn't make him any more welcome.
Nam Da-eun was quietly staring at her smartwatch, and Lumi was looking at me.
Lumi and I locked eyes and started a conversation with glances.
'What should we do now?'
'Just wait around. We couldn't come up with a strategy anyway.'
'Got it.'
After hashing out a strategy with Lumi through eye contact, I closed my eyes and entered meditation.
We were waiting at the assembly point.
Eventually, the professor would show up, lecture passionately about the dangers of dungeon practical training, and the cadets would pretend not to listen.
Today, a real accident would happen, so I needed to pay close attention.
Swoosh.
Suddenly, Nam Da-eun quietly stood up and left the waiting area.
"I'll be right back from the bathroom."
"Sure."
I followed her discreetly, using the bathroom as an excuse.
Nam Da-eun headed to the same secluded spot where she'd had that call last time.
Probably talking to her little sister again.
Her love for her sister was truly profound.
Last time, I'd luckily overheard a bit of the call, but unlike then, she hadn't started talking yet. According to neuroscience, she wasn't focusing her attention on the call, so getting closer now might get me caught.
I stopped following and returned to my spot.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In a secluded corner of the academy, a girl was on a video call.
- Unnie! What's today like?!
"Today we're going into the dungeon. They say it's more dangerous than last time."
- Gasp! Are you okay, unnie???
"Of course. You know how strong unnie is."
Nam Da-eun smiled and struck a pose emphasizing her muscles.
- Yeah! Uncle Min-gyu said you're the strongest in the academy! As expected!
Uncle Min-gyu.
Hearing that name filled Nam Da-eun with despair.
Uncle Min-gyu, the head of the Buyer Guild who had taken care of her and her sister since childhood.
Nam Da-eun had lived incredibly happy days. Kind guild members, fun school life. And her sickly but hardworking little sister.
Her sister's medical bills weren't something a student could afford. Yet Uncle Min-gyu and the guild members had generously offered to cover them, and she was always grateful.
She had planned to repay those kind people someday... but even the dutiful Nam Da-eun never imagined she'd receive a slave contract the moment she entered high school.
The childcare costs from raising her and her sister since childhood, plus her sister's medical bills, totaled about 2 billion. And over 20 years, interest had accrued without her knowledge, ballooning the total repayment to 50 billion.
She protested the unfair contract, of course, but it was already too late.
Her sister was hospitalized at a Buyer Guild-affiliated hospital, and who knew what they might do to her.
She couldn't even try to take her sister out through procedures, and reporting to the police would put her sister at risk.
These scum had targeted her body from the start.
The ringleader was none other than Uncle Min-gyu, whom she'd trusted.
The shock was even greater because he'd always looked after the Nam sisters.
But in the midst of misfortune, fortune smiled: when they demanded her body, her aptitude test revealed she had Awakener talent.
Anyone whose Awakener talent was discovered upon high school entry was obligated to receive Awakener training.
The Buyer Guild sent her to the training center, thinking the contract was just delayed, but Nam Da-eun's talent was beyond that.
She topped her cohort from training center days, caught eyes, and earned a recommendation to Victoria Academy.
And her beauty and skills made her famous.
When things went awry, the Buyer Guild changed tactics.
They took the future S-rank hunter's little sister hostage.
The Buyer Guild's demands were two.
First, promising prospect Nam Da-eun, contracted with Buyer Guild, would take 1st place in all practical exams, elevating the guild's prestige upon graduation.
Second, after graduation, sign a lifetime contract with Buyer Guild.
Those were the repayment terms for the debt.
With talent but no connections, terrified of harm coming to her sister if she sought help, Nam Da-eun had no choice but to comply.
Acting as rudely as possible to tarnish her image as Nam Da-eun was her only rebellion.
- Unnie?
"Yeah, Uncle Min-gyu. Right. Don't worry, unnie's super strong."
- Okay! Love you, unnie! When can I see you next? Uncle Min-gyu said you're too busy with academy classes to come.
"...I'll come in a month. Sorry, classes are packed...."
This was another ploy to minimize contact with her sister.
But she couldn't show it.
She didn't want sadness clouding her innocent little sister's face.
"Unnie really has to go now. I'll call again next time."
- Aww. Okay. Call tomorrow too. It's so boring here with nothing to do.
"...Yeah. I will."
Even the daily call time with her sister was limited.
Nam Da-eun gritted her teeth and ended the hologram call.
"Haa...."
Bam!
Nam Da-eun's fist slammed into the hallway wall.
"I'll save you. I promise. I'll save you...."
Nam Da-eun whispered those words to herself, but no one was there to hear.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ When I got back, the professor was standing in the center of the waiting area.
"Alright, everyone gather up."
I quickly returned to our group.
"Unlike last training, all groups will enter at once today. The primary goal is escape, but the group that kills the most monsters or finds the most artifacts will get bonus points."
That one mention of bonus points from the professor led to more groups acting independently, and more cadets suffered from the terrorism.
In this dungeon practical, going solo was absolutely forbidden.
"Today's dungeon has some pretty strong monsters. You can't let your guard down for even a second inside. But since it's training, healer teams will back you up. No life threats, but too much healing means deductions."
Nam Da-eun returned to our group while the professor continued.
"Prepare to enter. Entry starts from Group 20 backward."
We were Group 13, so it was about time to get ready.
"Guys, let's prepare."
I thought they'd all stand and start prepping at the group leader's words...
Everyone except me was already ready.
Not much to prepare anyway. Hmm.
"Next! Group 13, enter!"
"Yes, sir!"
Honorary group leader that I was, I led the group from the front.
After passing through the portal, I could see several groups already inside.
Since everyone started at once this time, they were all waiting.
"Ho-yeon-ssi. Are you going to stick with Nam Da-eun again this time...?"
"Hmm, well."
Honestly, I needed to stick with Baek A-young, so I didn't care how we cleared it.
Still, Lumi needed to stay as close to Nam Da-eun as possible.
That way she'd be safe even if the dungeon rampaged.
She wasn't a bad person at heart, so she wouldn't abandon Lumi if they got isolated together.
"For now, stick close to Nam Da-eun. This isn't about quick escape—it's about grabbing treasures and killing monsters before escaping, so she won't bolt like last time."
"Yes! Got it!"
Watching Lumi reply with a bright smile made my conscience sting a little.
'Sorry. But no choice.'
I had several women to seduce ahead—feeling guilty over this was ridiculous, right?
I approached the healer team waiting after entering the dungeon.
"Hello. Is the Saintess here?"
"Oh, what a cute kid. Sorry, but you can't just meet the Saintess whenever you want. Come back next time."
I asked the nearest chubby-looking healer about Baek A-young and got turned away.
"Wait, she's a friend of mine."
"Oh, sunbae? Is that so?"
Fortunately, Baek A-young, who was talking to someone else, heard my voice and came over.
"Hello, A-young-ssi."
"Hey, nice to see you. I always think this, but Ho-yeon feels so different here than at the orphanage—it's fascinating."
"A-young-ssi looks so pro at work, it's cool."
"Thanks. Hehe."
"By the way, which passage are you in charge of, A-young-ssi?"
I tossed her the question I wanted amid her giggling at my praise.
"Huh? I'm taking the widest passage. Might have two or more teams entering there."
"Ah, got it. Thanks for your hard work!"
"You too, train hard!"
I waved to Baek A-young and returned to my spot.
"All groups have entered as of now! Begin group explorations! If there's any friction between cadets, you're disqualified immediately regardless of reason—avoid that at all costs!"
All groups were in right on time.
Here we go.
The dungeon rampage happened about 30 minutes after training started.
The dungeon type was the same cave as last practical. Thankfully, having proven my pathfinding last time, they'd follow my lead—I hoped.
"Hey, let's check that narrow spot. Treasures are usually hidden in places like that."
"Which way should we go?"
Other groups were debating routes.
"Guys. This test isn't won by speed. We need max treasures and monster kills. Head to the widest passage first."
I led our group straight to the widest passage without hesitation.
Obviously because Baek A-young was in charge there.
'Clairvoyance.'
I activated Clairvoyance to avoid suspicion and scouted ahead while leading.
Grrr-
Soon, we ran into monsters.
Elves' nemeses: green-skinned humanoid orcs.
"No way orcs go 'grrr.'"
"What's wrong?"
"Orcs go 'chwiik'!"
"...Pardon?"
Lumi was pondering the meaning of my nonsense.
She could've just ignored it, but since it was my nonsense, she was trying to play along?
Grrr-
The two orcs crept closer, oblivious to my thoughts.
Our group was already conditioned to Nam Da-eun's hunts.
All three stared blankly at her, but Nam Da-eun didn't draw her sword for some reason.
Soon, an orc approached within 3 meters of my front.
"Nam Da-eun? Hey, what are you doing?"
"Ho, Ho-yeon-ssi. Just kill them!"
"Oh? Right. I can kill them too, yeah?"
Lumi awakened my hunting instincts, tamed by Nam Da-eun. Smart Lumi indeed.
Grrr-
Drool dripped from fangs protruding from its mouth.
I quickly manifested a magic circle and set the filthy orc bastard ablaze.
Whoosh!
Chwiik-!
Only then did the orc make the proper cry!
"See, appliances or orcs—they only come to their senses after a beating."
"...Pardon?"
"Nothing."
Chwiik-! Chwiik-!
The burning orc flailed toward the one behind for help.
Grrr!
The orc charged with weird cries, and I lobbed a fireball into its open mouth.
Chwiik-! Chwiik-!
The two burning orcs, screeching properly, made a final charge at me, but kwagwang! Pillars of fire erupted from the ground, reducing them to ash.
"Learned something good. Orcs only cry right when hit."
"Y-Yes!"
Lumi had given up and started playing along now.
Grrr rumble-
Rumble rumble-
"Wh-what's this!"
Suddenly the dungeon ground shook, and Lee Byung-hoon, who'd been watching quietly, yelled in surprise.
'It's here.'
The sign of dungeon rampage.
One minute after the ground tremors start, the dungeon rampages, mana surges, and people get forcibly teleported one by one, scattering.
If you're physically connected, you move together.
"Lumi! Grab Nam Da-eun's left arm and stay put! I'll report to the hunters and be back!"
"O-Okay! We'll wait!"
"H-Hey! Take me too!"
Lee Byung-hoon shouted in panic. Whatever, asshole.
Fortunately, Nam Da-eun didn't resist Lumi grabbing her left arm. Confirming that, I dashed to Baek A-young watching us from behind.
"A-young-ssi! The dungeon's acting weird!"
"Yeah, I know. This might be... a precursor to rampage. We should withdraw, prepare countermeasures, then re-enter..."
Kururung!
The dungeon shook violently as air mana density spiked.
No time to waste. I wanted to grab her hand naturally, but no time.
I just grabbed Baek A-young's hand quick.
"H-Ho-yeon?!"
Baek A-young panicked and tried to pull away, but luckily, the teleport timing hit.
And my vision went black.