Dungeon Practice (3)
When I spoke, Nam Da-eun stopped in her tracks.
Nam Da-eun, Rumi, and Lee Byeong-hun were all watching me.
"So, what are you going to do? There's no wind blowing here. Thinking about the monsters we met on the way, there aren't even any that leave traces on the ground."
That guy, Lee Byeong-hun. Surprisingly, he was smart.
He knew the basics of clearing cave-type dungeons well.
The flow of air and traces of monsters.
Of course, while there are basics, there are advanced and even deeper courses.
The characteristic of cave-type dungeons is high mana density.
Since it's a 'dungeon' that moves via portal, there's no entrance or exit, so the setting that no wind blows is also plausible.
But even if no wind blows, mana is still flowing.
Because the density is too high and the movements are subtle, most people don't feel it.
In reality, the method of finding the exit by observing the movement of mana is not used by even ordinary hunters. Not only is the accuracy low, but it's also difficult to attempt in the first place.
"Wait a moment."
But I'm different.
Mana Sensitivity and Insight.
I can feel mana and observe the flow, but it doesn't make sense to say I can't see the movement of mana.
'Insight'
—Zing—
My eyes turn golden as my pupils expand.
Observing the mana filling the space, the subtle flows of that mana.
"There."
Pointing with my finger to one of the ten passages.
The third passage from the left.
All mana is passing through there. That was the passage.
"What are those golden eyes? Sorry, but how can you be so sure it's there? It would be nice if you could explain at least roughly."
Lee Byeong-hun showed doubt at my words.
"...Even if I explain, you probably won't believe it. If I just say to go here, you won't go?"
"It's on the line of my performance. If it were you, would you overlook it?"
With my widened vision, I rolled my eyes and glanced sideways. Nam Da-eun was quietly looking at me.
It seems Nam Da-eun also doesn't intend to overlook without proper explanation.
Rumi was holding both hands in front of her chest and blinking rapidly. Since there was no complaint, Rumi seemed fine with anything I said.
"I read the flow of mana. All the mana in every passage passes through the third passage, so I judged it to be the third passage. Don't ask how I read the flow."
"No, isn't it ridiculous to say you can read the flow of mana at the beginner level...."
Lee Byeong-hun still didn't seem to believe.
But it didn't matter.
Our team leader seemed to think differently.
—Paba-bat—
Nam Da-eun ran ahead to the third passage first.
"Eh? Eeeet?"
I grabbed Rumi's arm and followed behind.
Lee Byeong-hun ran behind complaining 'Aah, shit. I don't know either.' while following.
After about 15 minutes of running, processing occasional monsters that popped out, and throwing magic in between to rack up scores.
Again, a fork appeared. This time, passages divided into eight branches.
"Fourth."
—Tadak—!
Pointing with my finger as I ran, Nam Da-eun didn't slow down and went straight to that path.
"No, really, if it's believable..., ah, okay. I'll follow. I'll follow."
Now, we were running the dungeon enough to be boringly familiar.
Of course, other teams didn't have time because they were on high alert for monsters, but our team had a monster-only bus driver.
"Rumi."
"Yes?"
"Put a shield on Nam Da-eun too. You have to get points too."
"Ah, I didn't think of that because you processed the monsters too quickly. It's basic, but...."
No matter how important a character is later, she's still a beginner.
Rumi is also in her first practice, so she can make mistakes.
Still, since Rumi's position is support magic, even just shielding should allow her to get some points.
I was guiding the way and throwing magic at one monster at a time when I saw an opening to rack up points.
Our team would still get all the points.
...Or not? It feels like I forgot something.
—Chwa-aak—
Nam Da-eun alone sliced through a single snake.
The snake was glaring with eyes as if not knowing it was dead.
Because she kept activating Insight to find the way, Nam Da-eun's movements were more properly visible.
The body of the snake she processed was neatly cut as if looking at a cross-section.
Many people think her authority is acceleration. They think that abnormal cutting power is a skill, but both are wrong.
Her authority is spatial domination.
Acceleration ability is making the time flow around her body rotate quickly.
It's not that Nam Da-eun is speeding up, but the space itself where she exists is speeding up.
Of course, to others, it looks like acceleration.
That abnormal cutting power is the same; it's the power to cut the space itself where her sword exists.
Up to this point, it's a fact I knew from the setting.
And no matter how crazy the creator in the game is, they don't describe the mana manipulation method of accelerating the space surrounding Nam Da-eun's body in the game settings.
So, I didn't think such a thing would be possible.
The possibility of using someone else's authority.
Authority is originally something a person is born with and others cannot use, that's the basic setting.
But in the end, the powers like authorities or skills all originate from mana.
The ability to dominate Nam Da-eun's space. Among them, the mana manipulation of accelerating space.
My Insight was reading her mana manipulation in real time.
Perhaps, I might be able to imitate her authority.
*
After the dungeon practice training was over, the cadets started gathering one by one.
Our team's breakthrough time was, of course, overwhelmingly first place.
It was a bit unfortunate that I couldn't meet Lee Jin-hyeok's lackey because we came out too fast.
Other teams had clothes torn, rolled on the ground, covered in dirt and dust, and some had visible blood, but our team was all clean.
At most, only a little monster blood on Nam Da-eun's clothes.
"Kueut. It hurts...."
"Don't act like a big shot just because you have some blood."
Injured students lined up in front of Baek A-young and waited.
Our team was in resting time after the dungeon was cleared anyway, so I approached Baek A-young to see if she had something to look at.
"Haeut, haeuh, haaaaa."
Baek A-young was healing the cadets while making strange sound effects just like in the game.
The sound is different from the groans of exhaustion that come out no matter how much you hear.
Others seem not to feel the discomfort, or perhaps the 'Saint' title doesn't connect to lewd imaginations, they don't feel it well.
"Thank you for your hard work."
I spoke to Baek A-young, who had just finished treating one person.
"Ah, Ho-yeon. No. This is my job."
Her mouth didn't leave a smile even as she sweated profusely.
"Your job satisfaction seems quite high? The healers I've seen all die."
Healing basically consumes mana and one's own stamina.
That's why healers who finish treatment are supposed to collapse from exhaustion, but Baek A-young wasn't like that.
"Yes. Helping and saving people is always rewarding. I really think it's my calling. I earn a lot of money too. Hehe."
The last part was playful, but from her words and actions, it was felt.
Baek A-young is a person who feels joy in the act of 'helping people' itself.
After treating all the injured, Baek A-young really looked exhausted.
Her pink underwear was visible through her sweat-soaked blouse in her suit.
Sweat droplets were flowing down the deep cleavage.
—Gulping. I unconsciously feel lust rising.
Wait, isn't that strange?
She's sweating profusely and making lewd moans, but since it's treatment, no one suspects, so is the situation only strange to me?
Am I the only one making it trash?
Unconsciously staring at Baek A-young's chest, I lifted my gaze, and our eyes met.
Shit. Caught.
"Eh, eh. Good, good. I tried not to get hurt so you wouldn't have to work hard, A-young."
"Thank you. Hoo...."
I somehow naturally turned the conversation, and luckily, she didn't notice the vibe.
...She probably didn't notice.
*
After all teams' dungeon practice training ended, the cadets gathered again like at the beginning and waited.
There were cases where teams that seemed close earlier became rivals, and teams that were not close became best friends.
Our team surprisingly remained the same.
- 1st place Team 13. (Nam Da-eun, Lee Ho-yeon, Lee Byeong-hun, Rumi)
- 2nd place Team 7. (Seo Min-jun, Kim Seo-yeon, Jeong Ye-jun, Elise)
- 3rd place Team 8. (Do Ju-won, Ha Seo-yoon, Chae Su-ah, Lucy)
We were watching the hologram where the first input team was shown and the excellent performers were announced.
"All teams' videos will be uploaded to A-class SNS, so refer to the parts you need to refer to. In the next class, I'll point out what was good in the dungeon practice training and what needs to be fixed."
Team leader professor Kim Jin-hyeok said that and left the place.
The remaining cadets were bustling and scattered.
Our team was the first to leave, so I grabbed Nam Da-eun who was trying to disappear somewhere.
"Nam Da-eun."
"...?"
Even though we explored the dungeon together, she didn't ignore my words, perhaps because she got attached.
"We did well this time because of luck to be first, but if you keep winning alone next time, it will be hard to maintain first place."
"... That's something I can handle myself."
Nam Da-eun frowned for a moment and said that, then disappeared alone.
"Ugh, she doesn't listen even if I give proper advice."
Still, I should be grateful that her tone is less aggressive.
She's still a freshman, so even if her cooperation is low, it's appropriate to show some consideration, but if this happens repeatedly, it's natural to judge that there's a big problem in the cooperation part and give a low score.
Nam Da-eun will give first place in the near future.
Then, the consequence of that... I don't even want to imagine.
Only then do I regret, but right now, no matter how much I explain, she probably won't understand.
*
—Kwaang-! Paang-!
"Is that kid a freshman? We can send him to our guild's second team right away?"
"That's why the guild exclusive contract is already done. Rumors say they ignored even if they were offered three times the contract fee."
"Tsk. From what I saw, it's a weak point. The Buyer Guild's bad rumors are known in the industry, so why would they do exclusive contract?"
After all dungeon practice training ended, in the monitor room where dozens of monitors were broadcasting, professors were talking.
Their gazes were towards the video of a girl running ahead and three following behind.
"They don't even give other kids a chance to fight?"
"Indeed, they don't try to cooperate with teammates at all."
"Still, one talent is overwhelming. Even if she does that next time, we have to deduct points."
"It's still the first evaluation. We should be lenient."
Among them was A-class team leader professor Kim Jin-hyeok.
'Indeed, the personality part is lacking compared to her skill.'
Kim Jin-hyeok moved his finger over the hologram.
Next to Nam Da-eun's name, he wrote '95 points. But for the next evaluation, the personality part will be scored more strongly.'
- Ah, I don't know! Just kill them all!
- Ya, ya! Wait!
—Kwa-kwa-kwa-thud-!
Kim Jin-hyeok turned his gaze to the next monitor where magic explosion was happening loudly.
On the screen, the image of Lucy suppressing dozens of monsters at once was broadcast.
To express her combat style in one word, it was [Attack is the best defense].
A combat style like a shounen manga where you minimize your defense and take out the enemy before you fall.
Good to say it's shounen manga, bad to say it's stubborn combat style.
Currently, monsters fall before reaching Lucy's magic barrage, but it's a tactic that won't work against monsters above a certain level later.
I know that if combined with her younger sister Rumi, it would create huge synergy, but assuming they act together 24 hours a day is not good unless it's the case.
Eventually, Kim Jin-hyeok left a memo next to Lucy's name with 83 points.
"These new students really have a lot of goods~ Cute twins, Elise cadet, and Nam Da-eun cadet, all are gems."
"Yes. In addition, students like Jin-hyeok or Ho-yeon were also okay."
'Ho-yeon.'
Kim Jin-hyeok found Lee Ho-yeon's video more interesting than Elise or Nam Da-eun's.
The mana manipulation of inserting magic during Nam Da-eun's high-speed battles was good, but finding the way perfectly while saying he can read the flow of mana.
Reading the flow of mana at the cadet level is not unreasonable if there's a skill specialized in that direction.
Actually, the reason cave-type dungeons are difficult is also partly due to accumulated fatigue and stress from constantly entering and exiting, but by removing that, it could be considered a fairly big point.
Originally, since the team included Nam Da-eun, considering the other members are lower level, it could be seen as her performing better than her level.
She didn't show anything in terms of combat power, but she was a cadet who felt extraordinary.
"Hmm...."
Kim Jin-hyeok, after thinking, wrote a score of 86 points, 3 points higher than Lucy.
Kim Jin-hyeok liked talented students.
"Everything is good, but the mana capacity is a bit lacking. It's too small mana capacity. The mana circuits are narrow too. Isn't it that he really hasn't been in magic for a month? But if that's the case, the mana manipulation is too good. The mana purity is very high. Since he said there's a skill, is it a skill specialized in that direction? I should call him next time... But to do research, I have to do that kind of thing... Yeah, this is all for the sake of humanity...."
Muttering...
"?"
Kim Jin-hyeok turned his head to the side at the strange sound coming from beside.
There, Professor Lim Sol was looking at Lee Ho-yeon's monitor and scribbling something wildly.
"Professor? What are you doing here?"
Professor Lim Sol, who usually doesn't attend such places, was evaluating the cadets enthusiastically like this, so Kim Jin-hyeok felt curious.
Whether the rumor that Professor Lim Sol's interest in the student spreading in the academy was true was also curious.
"Ah, ahah... It's nothing!"
But the moment Professor Lim Sol's eyes met, she hugged the documents to her chest and ran somewhere.
"... What the hell."
At that moment, the reflection of Professor Lim Sol's face in his eyes was flushed red.