Infinite Dungeon
Infinite Dungeon. Infinite Dungeon. It was PVE content prepared for players who'd cleared the game. Monsters stronger than the final boss, the Demon King, appeared starting from the 100th floor—and yet, no one even knew how many floors there really were. It was content designed to squeeze every last penny out of players.
'Why the hell is it here already?'
In fact, even in the game, players had bitched about the Infinite Dungeon popping up out of nowhere. How the hell does an impossibly deep dungeon just appear under the academy? The devs' excuse was this:
[It was planned content from the beginning.]
Who would've thought it was true? How could anyone have predicted this shit?
'...We're fucked.'
As I said earlier, the Infinite Dungeon was a demonic realm where monsters stronger than the Demon King burst out starting from just the 100th floor. And yet it was so deep, no one knew where the bottom was. The highest record players had reached was the 283rd floor. Even that was a miraculous feat achieved with cheat-tier summon combos, maxed-out stats per level-up, and the strongest grown summons possible.
For the people of this world, who couldn't even level up, this dungeon was nothing short of a pit of calamity.
"...And you're telling me this why?"
"Well, I asked the faculty to investigate... but none of them could even get past the entrance."
"Pardon? What do you...?"
But even as I started to speak, I had a pretty good guess. The Infinite Dungeon was content for players who'd cleared the game, and even the helpful NPCs were limited. It made sense that unqualified faculty couldn't enter.
"—So, you want me to investigate instead."
"Exactly."
"What about the second- and third-years?"
Why me? There was no reason it'd fall straight to me like this.
But the principal looked at me with an expression like she had no choice.
"Of course, I asked the second- and third-year cadets too."
"And?"
"They all refused."
"...Even with a request from you, Principal?"
"It's a request to enter a place where their lives might be at risk."
The principal made a bitter face as she downed her tea.
"No one knows what's inside."
"...How'd you even measure the depth?"
"We could gauge the depth with magic, more or less... but we have no idea what's down there."
"Magic, huh."
Come to think of it, there was such a thing. Magic. Useless compared to even a 1-star summon after a lifetime of study, but handy for everyday life.
I crunched on a sweet cookie and asked the principal.
"What if I refuse?"
"I'd ask the other first-years... but they'd probably all say no. Who'd take on a job the top student turned down?"
"And then...?"
"We'd just have to live on, oblivious to the massive dark secret coiled under the academy."
Silence fell for a moment.
I had no intention of refusing. But I wasn't about to accept just like that either.
This dungeon was one no one but me could enter anyway. The principal either wanted it gone entirely or its secrets uncovered.
"If I go in, what can you offer me?"
I grinned, and a smile bloomed on the principal's face.
"I can't say 'anything'... I can't break academy rules, and boosting your grades is off the table."
"Then?"
"The best the academy can do is the practical training rewards third-years get. Plus a personal reward from me."
"Personal reward—like, dinner with you, Principal?"
"Is that what you want?"
She asked without a hint of surprise, like a single meal was enough to seal the deal. If I'd said that to Stella, her face would've turned as red as her hair. Adult composure.
"Let me pick the dungeon party members."
"As long as they agree."
In the end, I struck a deal with the principal and agreed to enter the dungeon. The appointed day was this weekend.
Of course, the discovery of a massive cavern under the academy was top-secret intel, not shared with cadets. Those who'd refused the mission got secrecy spells cast on them, so even a duke's daughter couldn't know about the dungeon.
"...A dungeon?"
"Yeah."
So it was only natural for Stella Iritz to question Ian's words.
"Why's there one in the academy?"
"That's what we're going to investigate."
"Why tell me?"
"Too dangerous alone."
Ian casually sipped the cocoa Nellia had poured, putting on his most infuriating poker face. That smug look could kill a century-old love.
But this was definitely tempting. A dungeon? A nest made by beasts or demons. For a summoner, nothing was more honorable than slaying demons.
"Rewards?"
"Rewards?"
"Yeah. No way they'd send us into danger for free, right?"
But Stella didn't buy it so easily. Why would anyone do this for nothing?
Ian recalled his deal with the principal.
"They said we'd get the practical rewards third-years do."
"That pittance?"
"Pittance? You don't even know how much."
"A 1-star summoner gets about a million credits per outing... We're 3-stars, so maybe ten million. Pittance."
Ian did the math on ten million credits. In this pervy game world, credits were worth about yen. So ten million credits was roughly 100 million won...
'That's pittance?'
Living on zero allowance and academy welfare, it sounded like noble bullshit to him. Some folks scraped by without a dime, and 100 million was pocket change?
"...Why's that pittance?"
"What, even nobles have that kind of cash... right?"
"Nah."
"...No way."
Stella flushed, not expecting him to be broke. She didn't spend her own money either, so ten million credits hadn't seemed like much. Daddy brought home hundreds of millions to billions from the front lines, after all.
"Anyway, anything besides money?"
"Principal said she'd throw in a personal reward."
"What?"
"A date."
"...A date?"
Stella's face stiffened. That damn spinster hitting on a student, age gap be damned? And Ian jumped at it?
"The principal... said that?"
"Yeah. Said one meal's fine anytime."
"One meal's fine...? Sounds like you suggested it."
"I did."
Stella finally got it and fell silent. A crack formed in the girl's heart. But she couldn't show it outright. She forced a smile.
"Then me too."
"Huh?"
"I'll join you and the principal for that meal."
"That works?"
"Of course."
Ian didn't get why Stella was acting like this, but if a meal invite got her on the party, no reason to refuse.
"Weekend, then. Clear your schedule."
"You're not ditching me for that meal, right?"
"Haven't even set it up yet."
He left the dorm like that. Nellia saw Ian off, then returned to Stella and eyed her empty cup.
"More?"
"...No."
"Ian really doesn't get women."
"...Shut up. Don't badmouth Ian."
"Badmouth? What do you mean?"
Nellia giggled behind her hand. Seeing that, Stella fumed and stormed to her room, flopping onto the bed. For some reason, the surging irritation wouldn't quit.
After parting with Stella, I went to Noah and Sheera. Luckily, neither refused. Noah accepted blindly just because I asked, without even hearing details. Sheera was hooked on the intriguing underground dungeon idea.
Thus, the four-person party was set, and I submitted the roster to the principal.
"Hm, no issues."
The principal nodded at the lineup of all 3-star summoners and approved immediately.
And the weekend arrived.
"Still in uniform?"
"...Says the guy in that."
"What's wrong with it?"
I scanned Stella's outfit top to bottom. Sky-blue dress to the knees, cardigan over the shoulders. Anyone'd think she was picnicking, not dungeon-diving.
But she crossed her arms and snapped back.
"Nobles gotta look dignified anywhere."
"No one's around."
"The others are!"
Thankfully, only Stella dressed like that. Noah wore academy-issued gym clothes, Sheera casual and mobile attire. They stiffened at Stella's getup but didn't comment.
"All here?"
Leading the three to our meetup spot, the principal appeared at the entrance.
She paused at Stella's outfit too but didn't nitpick anyone's clothes. Just a word to all.
"...You all know why you're here, right?"
"Yes."
"Good. Whatever happens inside, we can't help from out here. If it gets life-threatening, ditch it all and run. Got it?"
The kids finally nodded solemnly at her words. I knew there weren't real threats inside, so I just faked a stiff expression.
"Then, I leave it to you."
With that, we stepped into the massive cave.
The moment my foot crossed the threshold, the air shifted completely, enveloping us.
"...Salamander?"
"Ack, why're you out?"
"Golem...?"
"—Master, you called?"
The instant we entered, uncalled summons popped out on their own.
Proof of incoming battle—and sure enough, monsters appeared right before us.
—Squeak, screee!
Dozens of gleaming eyes flickered from the unseen darkness. The cries alone told us rat pups lurked across the way.
"Rats?"
Realizing it, Stella ordered Salamander to spit fire.
Salamander spewed illuminating flames, revealing dozens of massive rats hidden in the shadows.
"Eek—!"
Seeing rats big enough to chomp humans, Stella yelped like any girl spotting creepy-crawlies, then commanded Salamander to burn them all.
Whoosh—!
Salamander unleashed flames that could melt steel, vaporizing the giant rats in seconds.
"...What? That was nothing."
Stella sighed in relief at the melted rats.
And at the same time, I checked Anna's status window.
'As expected, it's going up.'
Infinite Dungeon. Or, put differently: a dungeon for infinite EXP.