The Dungeon Practical

Imperial Year 1247, April 10th. The day of the dungeon practical training had finally arrived. I rose from bed and clenched and unclenched my fists.

'I've definitely changed.'

The hellish training with Adelia over the past few days, combined with the effects of 70% faith, had left my body feeling noticeably lighter.

'C-class... Just six days ago I was E-class.'

It was a remarkable leap in growth. I strapped the Guardian Dagger to my waist and tightened the laces on my Boots of Illusion.

'Today... I really have to be careful.'

The warning that came with the collapse of the main story. Something was definitely going to happen. I steeled myself and stepped out into the dormitory hallway. Just then—

Thud!

"Ugh?!"

The moment I entered the corridor, I collided with something soft yet heavy.

Thump.

I lost my balance and fell to the floor. A sweet lilac scent poured over me.

"Oh my♡"

When I opened my eyes, familiar golden hair ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and golden eyes filled my vision. It was Yuriel. Because she had fallen on top of me, her ample chest was pressing against my face.

"Ehehe♡ Junior~"

Instead of panicking, she smiled brightly and pressed herself even closer against my chest. Through the thin saintess robe, I could clearly feel her warmth and soft curves.

Press. Press.

"Oh my! You're quite healthy, aren't you?♡ First thing in the morning..."

"Ahem!"

My face burned at the physiological reaction. Yuriel's cheeks flushed red as well, but she pressed a finger firmly against my lips to stop me.

"Wait... I have something to tell you. Please come with me."

She grabbed my wrist and led me to her infirmary.

Click! Clack.

The sound of the door locking echoed loudly. In the sealed space, a strange tension hung in the air.

"Senior?"

When I turned around, Yuriel's eyes held none of their usual playful mischief. Only deep sorrow and desperate longing remained.

"Junior..."

She suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Huh?!"

There was no time to be surprised. Her soft lips crashed against mine.

'Mmph?!'

Our lips met, and soon her hot tongue slipped into my mouth. My mind went completely blank. As our tongues intertwined, a thrilling sensation like an electric shock raced through my entire body. A sweet, soft lilac scent lingered at the tip of my nose.

'Why is she suddenly...?!'

Startled, I tried to push her away. But Yuriel's hand gripped the back of my head tightly, refusing to let go as if she wanted to dive even deeper.

It was a passionate kiss that left me breathless. Just as my mind began to fade—

The moment Observer's Eye flickered, hot liquid fell onto my cheek.

Drip. Drip. Yuriel's tears.

Only then did our lips part. A transparent silver thread connected us before breaking.

"Haa... haa..."

Breathing heavily, I looked at Yuriel's face. It was a mess. Tears streaming down, she collapsed into my arms. I had been about to get angry, but seeing her expression, I closed my mouth.

"Yuriel, Senior...? What's wrong?"

"Hic..."

She clutched my clothes tightly.

"Hwaaaang..."

Gone was the dignity of a saintess, the composure of an older woman. She sobbed like a child in my arms, her entire body trembling like an aspen leaf.

"Senior?!"

Panicked, I patted her back.

"Did something happen? Tell me."

"Junior, I'm so sorry... hic... for suddenly... kissing you..."

She apologized in a trembling voice.

"Ah... it's okay. I'm really fine..."

"No..."

She shook her head vigorously, burying her face in my chest.

"This must have been your first time... I was... too selfish..."

The tears wouldn't stop. A bad feeling crept over me.

"Senior... what happened?"

"I... can't go."

She spoke through sobs.

"The dungeon practical... I can't go with you..."

Something ominous hung in the air.

"Why?"

"The Holy Kingdom... the Papacy called for me..."

"The Papacy?"

"Yes..."

With her face still buried in my chest, she nodded.

"They summoned me... because a saintess attacked people... and there were reports that she's been getting too close to a male student at the academy."

'That damn Helios bastard.'

My fists clenched. That bastard had finally separated Yuriel from me. It was clearly a move to remove my shield and isolate me.

"When... when will you be back?"

"I don't know..."

Her voice trembled even more.

"Two weeks at the earliest... if it takes longer..."

Her words cut off. She began sobbing again.

"Maybe... we might never see each other again..."

"Hic, uwaaaang..."

She cried with her whole body. The fear of separation consumed her. All I could do was pat her back.

"It's okay, Senior. You'll definitely come back. I'll wait for you."

After crying for a long time, she looked up at me with wet eyes. Her eyes were swollen red.

"I wanted to protect you..."

She forced a smile, but the tears wouldn't stop.

"Still... I'm glad I received a reward at the end."

"A reward?"

"Junior..."

She lowered her head shyly.

"It was my first kiss..."

"...!"

"I'll never... forget it for the rest of my life..."

More tears fell from her eyes. I wiped them away and held her for a long time.

Finally calming down, Yuriel took out a silver ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bracelet from her pocket.

"This..."

A cool metallic sensation wrapped around my wrist. It was a bracelet filled with holy power.

"I poured all my holy power into it. If you're in danger during the dungeon... use it without fail."

"Senior..."

"I feel uneasy for some reason. Promise me. Promise you'll come back alive."

Her eyes were desperate.

"...I promise."

"Junior..."

She whispered in a very small voice.

"I like you..."

My heart sank.

"I really... like you..."

She buried her face in my chest again and sobbed. I couldn't say anything. I simply stroked her trembling back.

Some time later, Yuriel wiped her tears with a handkerchief and took a deep breath.

"Hehe, sorry you had to see me like this, Junior..."

She smiled brightly. Her eyes were puffy, but she was still beautiful.

"It's okay. You still look pretty."

"...Hehe. Liar."

She walked toward the door. Her hand on the doorknob hesitated.

"Junior, have a good practical training."

Another tear rolled down her smiling cheek.

"Yes. You too, Senior."

Yuriel turned and walked away. I stood there as if nailed to the spot. A corner of my heart felt hollow and ached.

'Yuriel...'

My fists clenched. Sadness turned into anger.

'And... Helios...'

I gritted my teeth.

'That bastard... I'm going to give him one hell of a surprise.'

With a heavy heart, I headed to the classroom. As if my words had summoned him, a brilliant golden light pierced my vision in the middle of the empty lot.

Helios von Roengard.

The Crown Prince of the Empire. He stood blocking my path, accompanied by his S-class attendants. The air around us instantly grew heavy. Students passing by held their breath and pressed themselves against the walls.

"Worm, you look to be in quite a good mood?"

He looked down at me with a sly smile. His eyes regarded me as if I were a cockroach he wouldn't mind crushing.

"You're going to the dungeon today, aren't you?"

"......"

"Have fun. That is, if you can come back... and see me again."

He whispered quietly into my ear. A chill ran down my spine. His words carried unmistakable killing intent. It wasn't a simple curse. It was practically a death sentence: "You will die there today."

He patted my shoulder and walked past. His attendants followed with sneers. I glared at where he had disappeared and gritted my teeth.

"That damn bastard..."

He had clearly planned something. Removing Yuriel, today's practical training—everything was going according to his scheme. But I couldn't run away. The moment I did, Adelia would be in danger too.

When I arrived at the classroom and opened the door, a familiar scene unfolded. Adelia sat in the center seat, and the spot next to her was empty. Iris waved lightly from the window side. A small laugh escaped me. The seating arrangement was always the same.

"You're late, Extra."

Adelia spoke curtly.

"Sorry."

As I sat down, she glanced around and asked in a small voice.

"Did you... meet Yuriel? She looked sad earlier."

"...She can't come."

"What?"

Adelia's eyes sharpened.

"She was summoned to the Holy Kingdom... the Papacy."

"...!"

Her expression hardened. She clenched her fists and ground her teeth.

"Was it the Crown Prince?"

She whispered. I nodded.

"That person really..."

Adelia's hand gripped the desk tightly. The wood creaked as if it might break.

"We'll talk later."

I lightly touched her hand and shook my head. Her face flushed as she quickly pulled her hand away.

Just then, the classroom door opened. Professor Kane entered. As expected of a former A-class adventurer, his body was covered in scars, and his muscular physique spoke of real combat experience. His sharp face looked to be in his mid-forties. When he stood in front of the blackboard, the murmuring students fell silent.

"Alright, pay attention."

Professor Kane's low voice filled the classroom.

"This afternoon, we'll be conducting the dungeon practical. We'll divide into 8 groups of 5 students each."

He began writing on the blackboard with chalk.

"For safety, each group will be led by a supervising professor."

The students looked at the blackboard with tense expressions.

"Group 1: Professor Label from the Magic Department, Group 2: Professor Gray from the Swordsmanship Department, Group 3: Sister Maria from the Theology Department, Group 4: Professor Sylvia from the Spirit Department..."

Professor Kane paused briefly and struck his own chest.

"Group 5: Practical Combat Department, led by me, Kane."

He continued.

"Group 6: Professor Thor from the Defense Department, Group 7: Professor Shadow from the Assassination Department, Group 8: Professor Elena from the Healing Department."

"And an important note."

Professor Kane looked around at the students.

"We'll enter with a time difference. Group 5 goes in first, and when we're done, the next group enters in order."

One student raised their hand.

"Why not all go in at once?"

"The dungeon is narrow."

Professor Kane answered firmly.

"If 40 people enter at once, it'll be chaotic. It's more efficient to practice group by group."

The students nodded.

"The place we're going today is a D-class dungeon. It's inhabited by goblins."

Professor Kane drew a simple diagram on the blackboard. It was a cave-type dungeon layout.

"There are two main types of dungeons. First, fixed locations like underground caves or waterways. Second, alternate-space dungeons entered through gates."

He marked the gate with a circle.

"Today's location is the latter—a gate-type dungeon at Wind Hill."

"Since it's D-class, the danger level is low."

Professor Kane emphasized.

"But don't let your guard down. Every year, there are injuries even in D-class dungeons."

The students' expressions hardened with tension.

"For reference,"

Professor Kane wrote 'S-class' in the corner of the blackboard.

"The highest rank is S-class. There's one called the Abyss Dungeon in the north of our Empire..."

He glared at the students.

"Never go there alone, and don't even approach it. Even S-class adventurers can't get out without a team."

I smiled bitterly inwardly.

'...I hope everything goes okay.'

"Alright, let's announce the groups."

Professor Kane unfolded a piece of paper.

"Group 1..."

He read down the list.

"Group 5."

My ears perked up.

"Roy Banes, Adelia von Kreuz, Iris."

So far, it was the expected composition.

"Originally, James was supposed to be here..."

Professor Kane frowned.

"He took a leave of absence due to family circumstances."

The professor's eyes turned to Scarlet. Following his gaze, I saw a small girl with purple twin-tails enter. She had a cute face with freckles, but despite her small 156cm height, her chest was surprisingly voluptuous.

"Scarlet."

Professor Kane introduced her.

A murmur spread among the students.

"Isn't that the youngest Archmage?!"

"They say she can use up to 8th circle?"

"She's only 18?"

Scarlet grinned and looked our way. She even winked at Adelia.

"Hehe, Sis~!"

Adelia's face hardened instantly.

'That stalker... that crazy bitch...'

Her lips muttered something like a curse. It sounded terrifying, so I looked away.

"And Alan suddenly withdrew."

Professor Kane continued.

"Instead..."

Creak.

A girl opened the door and entered. She had short blue hair and a pretty, cute impression. Two daggers hung at her waist.

"Starting today, Priscilla will be joining our class as an exchange student."

Professor Kane nodded at her.

"Please introduce yourself."

Priscilla stood in front of the students and smiled brightly.

"Hello, I'm Priscilla."

Her voice was clear.

"I'm A-class. I mainly use daggers, and I've explored many dungeons before. Please take care of me!"

The male students applauded thunderously. But I instinctively activated Observer's Eye.

'61%? That's quite low...'

Up to here was fine. But then—

[Detailed information unavailable due to opponent's traits]

'...What?'

It says it can't be confirmed?

'Was this woman in the original story? Anyway, I shouldn't let my guard down.'

As Priscilla walked to her seat, she glanced at me. Her gaze was strangely sharp.

'Why is she looking at me like that...?'

A sudden wave of anxiety washed over me.

"Group 5 is composed as follows."

Professor Kane summarized.

"Roy, Adelia, Iris, Scarlet, Priscilla. Total of 5 people."

"Gather at the main gate at 2 PM. Make sure you're prepared, and I'll see you then."

Thud.

Professor Kane put down the chalk. At the sound, the students rose in a rush.

Scarlet ran toward Adelia.

"Sis~!"

She spread her arms to hug her.

Whoosh.

Adelia quickly dodged.

"Stay away, Scarlet."

"Aww~ Why~^^"

Scarlet pouted.

"It's been so long since we've been together!"

"Hmph, don't cling to me. I'm busy."

Adelia spoke coldly and looked at me.

"Let's go, Extra."

She grabbed my arm and pulled me along.

As we left the classroom, I looked back. Priscilla was still watching me. There was a hint of anxiety in her eyes.

'This woman... who is she really?'

When afternoon came, the academy's main gate was bustling with students and professors. A total of 8 groups—40 students and 8 professors—had gathered. Each group stood in clusters, their faces a mix of tension and anticipation.

"From now on, since this is actual combat training, we'll drop the formalities."

Professor Kane shouted loudly.

"Group 5, step forward!"

Roy, Adelia, Iris, Scarlet, and Priscilla stepped forward.

"The other groups, wait!"

Professor Kane raised his hand toward the other students.

"When we're done, you'll enter in order. Prepare within your groups."

The other groups' students stepped back. Their eyes were a mix of envy, worry, and indifference.

"Board the carriage."

Professor Kane pointed to a carriage. It was a large six-seater with the academy's crest emblazoned on its black frame, looking sturdy.

We boarded one by one. Professor Kane first, then Adelia, me, Iris, Scarlet, and finally Priscilla.

The coachman cracked his whip.

"Depart!"

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage began to move.

"Sis, I'm so excited for the dungeon practical!"

Scarlet chattered excitedly. In the narrow space inside the carriage, her voice sounded even louder.

"I'll show you my new magic! I just completed the 7th circle 'Thunder Spear' yesterday!"

"Let's be quiet, Scarlet."

Adelia sighed.

"Aww~ Why~"

Scarlet whined.

"It's been so long since we've gone together!"

"Ah, so noisy."

Adelia looked out the window and cut off the conversation.

I also looked out the window. Beyond the academy, a plain stretched out. The wind blew, making the grass ripple.

'Wind Hill...'

It was the location of the early dungeon practical in the original story as well. A D-class goblin dungeon. It was where the protagonist's party first built teamwork, but in the original, the group I was in had been sacrificed in an accident. But now the situation was completely different.

I glanced at Priscilla. She was looking out the window. Her expression was calm.

Iris poked my side.

"Hey, human."

She whispered.

"Yeah?"

"That girl is suspicious."

She pointed at Priscilla with her chin.

"I think so too."

"Be careful. Something smells off."

Iris, being an elf, had sharp senses. If she said something was wrong, there really was something.

"Yeah. I'll stay on guard."

The carriage continued on. Professor Kane had his eyes closed, as if meditating. It seemed like a routine for an A-class adventurer right before actual combat.

Thirty minutes passed.

Clatter.

The carriage slowed down and stopped.

"We've arrived."

Professor Kane opened his eyes.

We got out of the carriage. A strong wind blew, fluttering our clothes. And in the center of the plain—

A massive blue gate stood there. Five meters tall, three meters wide. An oval portal shimmering with blue light. Its surface rippled like waves.

"Wow..."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Scarlet exclaimed in admiration.

Seeing it in reality was overwhelming. The mana emanating from the gate vibrated the air.

Professor Kane took out a measuring device from his waist. It was a palm-sized mana measuring device, standard equipment used by the academy to determine dungeon ranks.

"Confirming."

Professor Kane brought the mana measuring device close to the gate.

Beep.

With a clear sound, text appeared on the device's screen.

"D-class confirmed."

My Observer's Eye reacted the same way.

'It should be fine, right?'

Professor Kane nodded as he looked at the readings.

"Alright, Group 5 goes in first. The rest, wait."

Looking at the rippling blue surface of the gate, my stomach churned. It wasn't an illustration from the original story but a real gate. Before I could even admire it, anxiety washed over me, but I steeled myself.

Just then, Iris whispered in my ear.

"Hey, human, don't be nervous. I'll protect you."

I chuckled and nodded.

"Alright, one, two, three!"

At the professor's voice, we stepped into the blue light.

A sensation of being pulled forward, and my vision distorted. Light flashed, and gravity seemed to flip.

Thud.

My feet touched the ground. When I opened my eyes, I saw the inside of a damp cave. The ceiling was high—easily twenty meters. The air was moist. The sound of water dripping echoed from somewhere.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

High ceiling, torches on the walls, rough stone floor. It was the typical appearance of a dungeon.

"Entry complete. Everyone here?"

"Yes!"

"Then let's move."

Five minutes had passed since we crossed the gate. I swallowed dryly. The inside of the cave was deathly quiet.

Step. Step.

Only the sound of our footsteps echoed against the damp cave walls.

"Something's strange..."

Scarlet, walking beside me, looked around anxiously.

"It's supposed to be a goblin habitat, right? Why isn't there even a single ant?"

I agreed with her. Normally, in a D-class dungeon, low-level monsters should be squealing and jumping out near the entrance. But here, there was no sign of life at all.

'What is this? I can't even hear breathing.'

A disturbing sense of silence, as if we had walked into the stomach of a giant predator, sent a chill down my spine. My hand gripping the dagger hilt at my waist tightened.

Just then, Professor Kane, who was leading the way, stopped abruptly.

"Professor?"

"......"

No answer. His broad back, illuminated by the torchlight, was trembling slightly.

'Don't tell me...?'

An A-class hunter. A veteran among veterans who had seen it all. And now he was trembling. The ominous feeling turned into certainty.

"Pro... fessor?"

Professor Kane slowly, very slowly, turned around. His face was deathly pale, and his unfocused pupils shook violently as if in an earthquake.

His lips trembled as he forced out a sound from his throat.

"Run."

"...What?"

I thought I had misheard.

"Run!!! Jump to the gate! Right now!!!"

It wasn't a command from the professor. It was the instinctive scream of a human desperate to survive.

"Run!!!"

Survival instinct overtook reason. At that moment—

Observer's Eye frantically warned me.

'This fucking... Abyss?'

We turned and started running like mad. Professor Kane pushed us from behind, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Don't look back! Run to the gate with everything you've got!"

My heart pounded as if it would burst. My breath caught in my throat. The path we had walked in five minutes now felt endlessly far on the way back.

Far ahead, the blue light of the entrance came into view. Hope.

"There it is! The gate!"

Scarlet cheered and reached out first. But—

Wuuuung—!

Just before we reached it, space twisted with a bizarre sound. The hopeful blue light instantly turned a dark blood-red. As if the maw of hell had opened.

Bang!

Unable to slow down, Scarlet slammed straight into the gate. Instead of passing through, she bounced back as if hitting a solid wall.

"Aah! What's wrong with this? Why won't it open!"

"Move!"

Adelia, who had followed, drew her sword imbued with aura ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and struck the gate with all her might.

Clang!

With a clear metallic sound, the sword bounced back. Not a single scratch appeared on the dark red surface.

"It's closed..."

Iris muttered in a despairing voice. Her legs gave out, and she sank to the ground.

Just then, Professor Kane, who had caught up, saw the changed gate and collapsed to his knees.

"This damn... damn it... damn, damn, damn it!"

He pounded the ground with his fists, cursing. Tears flowed from the eyes of the A-class adventurer.

"A gate mutation in a D-class dungeon... and that color... it's an S-class Abyss... hahaha..."

"S-class...?"

Priscilla asked, trembling. Her expression was one of confusion and despair, as if things had gone completely off plan.

I froze as I watched the professor react the same way as my Observer's Eye.

'Was this it? The price for twisting the original story?'

This damned world was trying to erase me as a foreign substance. A space of death that humanity should never set foot in, where the survival rate converged to zero. The world's restoration force was trying to kill us. More precisely, me.

Just then—

My vision was covered in red warning windows and began to go berserk. Along with a headache that felt like my head would split, a sticky, heavy killing intent dripped down from above.

I couldn't breathe. An overwhelming presence crushed us.

Sssss—

There was no sound. Not even a breeze. Something enormous descended silently from the darkness.

Professor Kane, who had been sitting on the floor, slowly raised his head.

"Ah..."

What his eyes saw was a primal terror that made even the thought of resisting impossible.

Thud—

A dull, wet sound struck my ears.

I doubted my eyes. The upper half of Professor Kane's body, which had been right in front of me, had evaporated. His head, shoulders, chest—gone without a single scream, cleanly erased as if wiped away with an eraser.

Thump.

Only his lower half collapsed powerlessly to the ground. Blood gushed like a fountain from the severed waist.

Gush, gush, gush—

Warm, metallic liquid splashed onto my face.

"......!"

No voice came out. My thoughts stopped.

I creakily raised my head and looked up at the being that had erased an A-class adventurer like an insect.

In the darkness, a single enormous eye burned red. A body the size of a house, surrounded by dozens of writhing black tentacles.

An overwhelming entity. Its massive single eye looked down at us insects and twisted its tentacles as if savoring the moment.

Adelia quickly stepped in front of me. Even her SS-class body trembled with tension.

Kiiiiiiek—!

With a scream that tore at the eardrums, the gates of hell opened before us.