Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Dungeon Practical (3)
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"You've prepared plenty for the exam, right?"
Claire's voice echoed out.
Not in the classroom like usual.
That's right.
This was the dungeon entrance that our Writer-nim had so desperately wanted.
...But something felt off.
She wanted it so badly, so why no reaction?
"Writer-nim?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Yes, yes?!] "What, were you sleeping?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [No?! J-just nervous. Heh, hehe...] Why was Writer-nim the one getting nervous?
Was that it?
Maybe she was feeling that heart-pounding thrill right before watching a movie she'd been hyped for?
As I pitied Writer-nim's pathetic state, Claire's voice rang out again.
"You all will now enter this place: the D-Grade Dungeon, Knossos Palace. Find your pre-assigned teammates and head in."
So its name was Knossos Palace.
Pretty grandiose for a D-Grade Dungeon.
But how strong was D-Grade, anyway?
No clue. I should just assume it's weak.
They wouldn't send students who just enrolled into a dangerous dungeon, right?
Writer-nim wouldn't label it D-Grade only to pull a "It's a double dungeon!" and make it S-Grade out of nowhere.
...Right?
Sudden anxiety hit me.
"...Writer-nim, this is just a regular D-Grade Dungeon, right?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Huh? A D-Grade Dungeon is a D-Grade Dungeon. What else would it be?] "Ah, got it. Nothing at all."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [?] Good thing Writer-nim wasn't that vicious.
Maybe she hadn't even thought of it.
I decided to chalk it up to her pure heart.
If she hadn't thought of it, that'd mean more suffering for me.
Time to find the protagonist. I scanned the area.
Luckily, it wasn't hard.
I spotted that familiar back of the head from afar.
He was pretty tall, too, making him easy to pick out.
Lucky bastard. If only someone chopped 10cm off those legs.
I'd never been that tall even as a guy, so it pissed me off a bit.
Annoying prick. Should I mess with him a little?
I crept up quietly.
Everyone was bustling around looking for teammates, so my footsteps blended right in. I slipped behind him without issue.
Tap tap.
I lightly patted his back.
"...Huh? Who...?"
Poke.
I jabbed his cheek just as he turned.
It might annoy someone I wasn't close to, but hey, protagonist.
A bit risky, but better to get friendly fast.
If he got mad, I'd apologize.
"Hi there?"
"Whoa! ...Oh, Arte."
No, what? Why so startled?
A little jump scare would've been fine.
...It was like he'd seen a horror movie ghost.
Terrified look on his face.
Why?
What did I do?
A slight sense of crisis washed over me.
If our relationship soured, the story would stall.
I couldn't stalk him every day forever.
To avoid awkward vibes, I tried a playful tone.
"You don't hate me that much, do you?"
"Sorry. You startled me."
"Hehe, it's fine. So, shall we go find the other teammates?"
"Y-yeah."
Does he have gynophobia?
No, no.
He talked fine with Amelia.
Not gynophobia, then.
...Does Yoo Siu just not have friends?
The thought flashed through my mind.
Come to think of it, aside from Amelia, he didn't seem close to anyone.
Sure, it hadn't been long since Academy enrollment, but...
Suddenly, it hit me: maybe he was the type who struggled to make friends.
"Here's your chance to get friendly with some new pals."
Whatever.
I said it knowing it was empty words—it wouldn't happen.
Friends? One was about to exit stage left, the other an extra. No time for bonding.
Protagonists don't need extra interactions.
Just befriend the mains and supports; the rest get a line and bounce.
Lost in those trivial thoughts, I found Laira and the other teammate with Yoo Siu.
The unremarkable guy and still-normal student Laira. We headed to Claire together.
"Good. Yoo Siu plus three. Confirmed."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Thump, thump...!] "Head in. Surveillance cameras inside will handle emergencies, so no worries."
Claire launched into her nagging routine.
Always so long-winded.
Writer-nim seemed forcibly calmed by the endless barrage too.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ugh... The PTSD from losing a comrade setting? Not great. Too much nagging.] I agreed completely. Way too much, for real.
...It's endless.
No choice. To cut the pointless nagging short, I headed into the dungeon.
Repeating the same thing three times crossed the line.
"We'll head in first, then."
"W-wait, Arte! I wasn't done!"
"Hurry up, everyone. Who knows how long Teacher will hold us?"
I barged right into the dungeon interior. The rest followed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [It's really starting! Hehe, can't wait.] As Writer-nim said, it was the start.
Not just the Academy exam.
Though that had begun too...
Something far more important had kicked off.
The main story of the novel we're crafting together with Writer-nim.
Yes, the world's chaos had begun.
Web novels always come with worldly chaos.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hup!"
Splatter!
Yoo Siu's sword gleamed under the light as red blood sprayed across the marble floor.
The green-skinned monster—a goblin's body crumbled. Moments later, its corpse turned to ash and scattered.
All that remained: a single purple gem on the floor.
...Yes, that purple gem everyone thinks of.
A Mana Stone.
Writer-nim ranted about it being next-gen energy or whatever in her lore.
Whatever. I'll just roll with it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Dungeons mean goblins! Dungeons mean Mana Stones! Kyaa, protagonist's so cool! Fight more!] Writer-nim cheered excitedly at the protagonist's feat.
Not like Yoo Siu could hear her.
Like yelling at a soccer player on TV, knowing they won't hear?
It reached me instead of him, so could she pipe down a bit?
With just four of us and no other noise, talking to Writer-nim would make me look insane. I just endured.
So damn loud.
"...Phew, not that tough."
"Right? Yoo Siu's carrying us."
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Why aren't you fighting?"
Here it comes.
Wondered when it'd start.
She'd looked pissed for a while.
"That guy's fighting up front with me, the other guy's scouting. ...What're you doing?"
"I told you: can't help watching our backs with ambushes possible."
Excuse, sure.
I threw out excuses, and since the scout and Yoo Siu nodded without complaint, it surprisingly worked.
Why slack off?
Because of Laira fuming in front of me.
My ability gets worse the longer I fight.
Cost skyrockets exponentially.
Starts with tame stuff like stockings or half-gloves.
Keep going?
...Don't imagine it.
I refuse to become a slut.
Anyway.
Knowing Laira would cause trouble here, no need for me to fight hard.
That set her off: "What're you even doing in the exam?!"
Fair point, but.
Aren't you quitting the Academy anyway?
Shouldn't Yoo Siu and the guy be mad, not you?
"Cut the crap. ...Can't take it anymore. Was gonna wait till the boss, but no."
Laira, who'd been scratching her head nonstop, drew her spear.
What, already?
...Patience that thin?
"L-Laira! Calm down, please...?!"
Clang!
Sparks flew as spear met sword.
Yoo Siu had blocked her lunge at the guy.
"...You're fast."
"Thanks. Hey, go tell Teacher quick? Traitor in the group."
"B-but you guys...!"
Glance.
Siu looked back at me.
...Huh, why?
Am I heroine material now? Huh?
W-what do I do?
Smile?
I gave Yoo Siu an awkward smile.
"...Go, hurry!"
"Got it!"
He steeled his resolve, face determined, eyes on Laira.
Ooh, protagonist vibes.
Pretty cool.
Evacuating the weaker teammate, facing the traitor with a pretty classmate girl behind him.
...Not quite heroine, but.
This setup's delicious.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [...] Scene deserved immersion—even forgetting to breathe.
Alright, Yoo Siu.
What's your move now?
Facing the Academy traitor gunning for you.
Pretty classmate girl at your back.
What choice will you make?
"Sigh, fighting together might've given slim survival odds. Idiot..."
"...Opening!"
"Huh? ...Hey! Where you going?!"
The protagonist Yoo Siu's choice blew past my expectations.
I figured he'd say fight together.
Or leave me and go.
Something like that.
Instead, he seized her lapse and bolted deeper into the dungeon.
Toward the boss room.
...Huh?
What about me?