The Heroines in Crisis
Of the ten artificial dungeons, I used a touch of my reality manipulation to ensure my team and Arian's ended up in the same one. 'But the starting points being different is unavoidable.'
Even though we were assigned to the same artificial dungeon, with ten teams—100 people total—moving around, the starting points couldn't possibly match. The ten starting locations had already been preset for each team, so we had no choice but to begin where the artificial dungeon designated. Still, the interior was a twisting maze, and the distances were vast enough that even if all ten teams advanced from different directions, they would rarely cross paths. Though artificial, the dungeon was modeled after the original, making its interior incredibly expansive. 'An ordinary person would have needed days to cross it.'
Yet Mana Awakeners moved several times faster than ordinary people even while conserving power, and they didn't tire easily. Of course, combat would change things, but the monsters here were weak. 'If we activate the defensive gear, the instructors will rush in immediately… and it doubles as a tracker.'
The barrier-creating defensive gear each of us received was a bracelet. Infusing it with magic power and pressing the button deployed the shield. Since it belonged to the Academy, it had to be returned right after class. 'This won't help with what's coming next.'
It was only meant to survive against monsters, not against the villains who would soon attack. 'And among the teams that entered this dungeon, Lee Se-na is here too.'
Lee Se-na had been assigned to this dungeon on a different team, not with Seo Moon-hyun who was placed in another artificial dungeon.
3rd Dungeon Team 1: Me—Seo Moon-jin—along with Osada Saya, Choi Jae-hoon, and the rest.
3rd Dungeon Team 3: Arian Liberin and nine others.
3rd Dungeon Team 6: Lee Se-na and nine others.
Roughly arranged like this, not only Osada Saya—who had already followed my orders—and Choi Jae-hoon—who wanted employment at Yucheon Group—but the other seven students also showed strong signs of relying on me. During practical training, the Academy had deliberately kept me from sparring against top-ranked students. Yet after witnessing my overwhelming victories, they must have understood why I was chosen as the freshman representative. In short, I was regarded as the number one among first-years.
"Before we move, let's quickly sort things out. You all know my abilities, but I'm confident in both close combat and ranged attacks. Osada Saya's power is that of a supporter who can cast barriers on allies—we moved together last week—but how about the other eight briefly introduce your abilities?"
Asking for detailed abilities was taboo, as some students preferred to keep their trump cards hidden. Still, we couldn't coordinate without any knowledge, so sharing basic abilities was basic courtesy in a team setting. At my words, everyone introduced their powers without complaint.
"I can raise the defense of myself, my equipped armor, or the weapon in my hand."
"I can swing my axe with greater force."
"I have the ability to detect hidden things."
"I'm skilled with a bow."
After hearing their abilities, I made the assignments. I placed Choi Jae-hoon at the front, had Osada Saya cast light barriers on everyone except me just in case, and tasked Seo Jung-ho—who could search for hidden things—with locating traps or stealthy monsters inside the artificial dungeon. I could have handled everything myself, but letting others take the stage was necessary to avoid future complaints. 'At least during the dungeon conquest, I need to give them a chance to shine.'
Everyone followed the assignments without objection. My overwhelming skill made some of them think they could simply ride my coattails.
Krrk—
At that moment, Scavenger-Hyenas appeared ahead of us. Unlike Scavenger-Sharks, these monsters had heads closer to hyenas. They were real, not virtual-reality illusions. Getting hit by them could mean actual death. Still, thanks to last week's live monster-killing exercise, the students looked less tense than before.
"Monsters."
"We've finally met them inside a dungeon."
Yet they weren't entirely calm. No matter how weak, monsters were still monsters. The four Scavenger-Hyenas watched us warily while preparing to strike.
"Should I take care of them?"
When I asked, Choi Jae-hoon shook his head.
"No. I'll handle it."
Choi Jae-hoon, who had trained even before entering the National Hero Academy thanks to Yucheon Group's support, stepped forward with shield and flail in hand.
"Kihehehe!"
As he advanced alone, one charging Scavenger-Hyena had its head smashed by the flail. The sight was unsanitary, but heroes saw such things often. While we continued forward after dealing with the monsters, I began to sense something off.
'Intruders are here.'
They had infiltrated using advanced magic techniques to conceal themselves—enough to fool even the Academy instructors. Their stealth came from disposable tools, yet I could already feel their presence inside. 'They've split into two groups.'
The intruders had entered through two of the ten entrances. One group was heading toward Arian Liberin's team, entering through the same gate she had used. The other group, however, posed the real problem. 'Their entry point is unfortunately…'
The direction they were moving led straight toward the ten students that included Lee Se-na. If left unchecked, they would be attacked. 'I need to show up and save her…'
There could be no casualties. Letting students die meaninglessly here would leave a bad taste. 'If they die in accidents after graduation, that can't be helped, but dying right next to me would feel unpleasant.'
I had no intention of taking lifelong responsibility for them, yet I wasn't about to stand by and watch them perish. So, despite the distance, I secretly cast barriers over them. With that, they would survive the villains' attacks.
"Everyone, hold on a moment."
I stopped the nine team members first.
"What's wrong?"
"Seo Moon-jin, is something the matter?"
Nodding at their questions, I answered.
"Yeah. There seem to be intruders."
The word "intruders" made everyone's expressions harden. In this world, the term carried far more weight when villains were involved.
"No way… This is the National Hero Academy."
"How could they get in with instructors outside?"
"Who knows? Maybe they have some power to hide their presence."
Everyone grew visibly anxious. The possibility that the intruders were villains weighed on them.
"Are you sure?"
One student naturally doubted me.
"I'm certain. They're not coming this way, though, so stay hidden and don't move. Just wait here quietly. Understood?"
"Wait. Are you planning to go somewhere, Seo Moon-jin-nim?"
Choi Jae-hoon grasped my intent and asked.
"Yeah. I need to go help the others over there."
"Then… I'll come too. I'll fight with you."
It was a loyal offer, but honestly, Choi Jae-hoon would only get in my way. I couldn't say that outright, so I replied kindly.
"No, stay here. While receiving Osada Saya's support, protect the others left behind. You're the strongest in the team after me, so we need you in case something happens."
"…Understood."
"I'm counting on you."
Leaving Choi Jae-hoon, who accepted immediately, I moved out without wasting more time on explanations. Meanwhile, the villains who had charged in at full speed right after entering the dungeon now stared in bewilderment at the students collapsed on the floor.
They had easily subdued everyone, yet despite attacking midway, none of the students had died or even been injured. The barriers hadn't stopped the subjugation itself, so the villains had succeeded in restraining them—but the lack of wounds left them confused.
"These kids… none of them are hurt?"
"They fell, but something's protecting them."
"We subdued them, but we can't even wound them. Weird."
"Still, they don't look like they have the strength to resist. Let's just use all ten as test subjects or sacrifices."
One minute after I finished persuading my team and set out, I arrived.
* * *
Fear and despair. The students, collapsed and bound by ropes of magic power, had terror in their eyes. Two of the girls were outright sobbing. Only Lee Se-na, lightly biting her lip, glared at the intruding villains even while restrained.
"We came in case Princess Arian tried to escape… but this bitch is quite the catch too, huh?"
"Right? Looks-wise, she doesn't lose to Princess Arian at all."
"Heh, then how about we have a little taste? Leaving a bitch like this untouched would be stupid, wouldn't it?"
"Oh! Sounds good. I was just in the mood to blow off some steam. You want front or back?"
"Heh, obviously the back. Watching a pure-looking girl cry 'ang ang' while getting her rear pounded sounds way more fun."
Lee Se-na's face turned deathly pale. Hearing the villains' words, she realized she was facing the worst possible crisis as a woman.