The Lazy Devil's Dungeon Adventure
Asran Scape stood before his house, glaring at the two delinquents lounging outside like they owned the street.
"Weirdos hanging around again," he muttered under his breath.
"You called?"
Rai Redford stepped into the headmistress's office with perfect respect, addressing Celenas politely. But the way he dropped onto the sofa he'd always claimed as his own—like it was his personal spot—made her smile warmly instead of scolding him.
"How's the academy treating you lately?"
"It's fantastic. Being an instructor is such a dream job! With the break period, I get a full month's paid vacation for free. It's like another world."
After more than ten years of grinding through wars without a single day of rest, Rai's words rang true. It was his ultimate fantasy.
Seeing the genuine, happy smile on Rai's face rather than a mocking one, Celenas nodded gently.
"Once you climb to a higher position, you'll have to draw up the academy's annual plans and negotiate with all sorts of organizations. It gets busy."
"Rai, with your few years of experience, you'll have to get promoted, right?"
"Nope. I like being the eternal entry-level instructor."
"Even regular instructors get plenty of breaks for research or personal training. Speaking of which, Paul-san mentioned he wants to train together with you."
At the mention of Paul, Rai shuddered and shook his head.
"Why does that old man have to be so energetic? He could rest a little if he wanted."
"Even in old age, his stamina matches that of the young."
"It's not just matching—it's overflowing."
Paul, a veteran from the military with snow-white hair, was still bursting with energy. As the basics instructor, he took on the grunt work that students hated, earning the nickname "Big Guy" thanks to his booming energy and thick muscles.
After Rai had taken out those assassins, he became interested in Paul's training methods. Every meeting turned into nothing but training talk, so Rai avoided him like the plague.
After the light banter about Paul, Celenas finally got to the point.
"It looks like the Legandia Dungeon has dropped some Paniac."
"Whoa, that's rare. Good timing."
"Yes, the mana in the dungeon has changed, so it's been discovered recently."
Legandia had ancient ruins, and near the city lay a dungeon. The academy shared control, but they'd partnered with the adventurers' guild to grant exploration rights. Occasionally, the dungeon was used for student training.
Celenas explained that Paniac was an alchemical material with limited uses, but harvesting it was difficult, so its price was steep.
Rai nodded at the rare find but showed no real interest. Then Celenas's quiet gaze locked onto him. He stared back wordlessly, pointing a finger straight at her.
"... ..."
Celenas smiled and nodded.
"I didn't even plan to ask, but I'd be grateful if you'd help."
"I wasn't planning to either, but if you say so, I have to."
The two locked eyes and smiled. As Rai's master, he had to obey her command.
Rai looked reluctant, but since she'd always coddled him up to now, he had to show some goodwill.
When Rai stood up, Celenas handed him a new contract. A change of activity area meant another fresh document.
"This is annoying. Can't you just expand the contract to cover the Legandia region?"
"Oh, I can't. I want you by my side at all times."
With a flirtatious wink, she accepted the signed contract and slipped it into her drawer.
"Can't you just ask the adventurers' guild for this? They'd handle it better."
"It's too expensive."
Smiling sadly, she paused, then clasped her hands together in a plea.
"When we renew the guild contract next time, I'll add a clause about the material. Please suffer through this one for me."
"Sure, feel free to say whatever you want. If you order it, I'll do anything."
"Really? Then maybe I'll enjoy a good time tonight?"
"That sounds nice, but once we cross that line, the master-servant relationship will change."
Rai caught her teasing line, and Celenas giggled like she found it hilarious. She shook her head, saying it was too much.
After trading more pointless jokes, Rai said he'd bring it back in a few days if he got lucky and left.
"Ah, you need to register at the guild before entering."
"Eh? I'm not academy staff."
"Because of the complicated ties, academy students and instructors still have to register at the guild to gain entry."
"Got it."
Even as a ghost member, it was smart to register academy personnel. Rai disliked the guild's scheming but had to do it since she'd ordered.
The break period had begun. Students trickled out of the academy, heading home. Most had no homes in Legandia and were eager to reunite with family after years apart.
Some stayed behind to train privately, while others had reasons to remain.
Asran Scape fell into the latter category.
His father, who worked in the legal ministry and had no military background, had strayed from the family tradition of serving in the army. Asran's brothers worked in administration.
Only talented Asran had been born into the Scape military family. Everyone expected greatness from him, and the weight of that expectation crushed him.
Even his father, who had stepped away from the military line, disciplined him harshly, demanding excellence. Asran had no allies in the house.
So during the break, he didn't return home. The mansion still belonged to the family, but the servants and knights all swore loyalty to his father. They treated Asran the same way—under strict control.
"Get up. A lazy person doesn't even deserve a single slice of bread."
Asran, twisted by family expectations, lay beneath a huge tree in the garden and looked up.
Demian Rill—his lifelong swordsmanship instructor and the one who made him shiver. The words "What else can you do?" always stuck in his throat.
Demian looked down at him with polite but condescending eyes. Asran frowned.
"Stop worrying about what I'm doing."
"I have to. I'm your instructor. Your talent, your mediocre skill, even your rotten mindset—it's all my fault."
Asran laughed bitterly at the twisted blame and met Demian's savage gaze.
Most people would have looked away from such cold eyes, but Demian was a Scape family instructor. He was far stronger than Asran, who had never trained and refused to improve.
"You have the guts to wear those eyes, yet you lack the guts to swing a sword even once more? Pathetic."
Despite the biting words, Asran stayed silent. He didn't train because of Demian and the household's atmosphere, not because he didn't want to get stronger.
Seeing Asran unable to answer, Demian smirked and said he had won. Asran stood up.
"You want to train now?"
"Why would I?"
Asran copied the most irritated expression he knew—Rai's face—and grinned brightly. Demian's eyebrows furrowed.
That expression pleased Asran so much he turned and left the garden, waving at Demian from behind.
"Go all out yourself. No matter how hard you train, you'll just chase my tail your whole life."
Asran, who never lost a fight, hurled the most painful words as he left the house.
Once outside, he had nowhere to go. He thought for a moment, then walked back toward the academy. His friends Seiban and Delen had already gone home, and there was nothing else to do.
During the semester, friends surrounded him, but now the empty feeling in his footsteps felt heavy.
He considered abandoning everything and heading to the shops alone, but alone wasn't fun.
"Yo! Delinquent!"
Asran turned and saw Rai Redford laughing smugly. With Zeroa's awkward shoulder hugged by one arm, Rai looked even more like a troublemaker. Asran snapped irritably.
"You're the delinquent. Looking for a place to shake down?"
His tone was rough, but his face was bright. Despite the fierce eyes, Asran secretly craved company. The sight of Rai made him happy.
Rai walked over, slung an arm around Asran's shoulder, and continued down the street.
"What? Where are we going?"
"What else would a youth do?"
Asran thought for a second.
"... ... Girls?"
"You only have that on your mind? Adventure. Dungeon adventure."
"A pervert who openly reveals his sexual tastes in front of girls like that?"
"Whatever. Adventure. Dungeon. Today we're going into the dungeon."
Asran stared at Zeroa, who had been dragged along and shrugged awkwardly.
Shrugging off Rai's heavy arm, Asran followed. With nothing to do anyway, the thought of entering the dungeon with adventurers thrilled him secretly.
Suppressed by family pressure, Asran had once dreamed of being a free adventurer. But as he grew older and learned the harsh reality, the dream faded. Still, the word "adventure" and "dungeon" stirred something in him.
Before him stood a rundown house.
"... ... This dump is a dungeon?"
"Sorry... It's not a dump. This is where I live..."
"Eh? No, I meant it looks like a dump."
Zeroa apologized. Asran, flustered, couldn't respond.
"I came to fetch the map I used when I worked as an adventurer's porter."
"To plan the dungeon breakthrough too."
Rai's late explanation made Asran scowl. He followed Zeroa inside. The narrow, shabby house felt strangely warm thanks to the scattered signs of human touch.
Asran, used to his cold, large mansion, marveled at the cozy atmosphere. But he didn't say it aloud—teasing would only follow. He just thought it.
"Does this house have smokers?"
"No, we don't smoke."
Rai looked at the warm home and wondered if there were smokers. Asran watched him leave to grab cigarettes from outside, then trailed after him.
After they left, Zeroa searched for the map. He couldn't remember where he put it, so he rummaged through drawers.
The door burst open suddenly. His younger sister Kara rushed in.
"Oppa! Oppa! There are delinquents outside! Go chase them away!"
"What?"
"Two delinquents are smoking and staring at our house! They were watching me the moment I came in!"
Kara's eyes were wide with fear, but Zeroa kept a calm expression.
"Ah, they're academy people. I came with them."
"Eh?"
Academy connection jogged Kara's memory. She remembered the two men squatting in the alley near their home, smoking. The green-haired one had eyes so fierce they terrified her, while the other laughed arrogantly.
Worried they might be the infamous dark underwear thief who mocked Legandia's guards, she had run inside the moment they stared at her.
"One is a master instructor, and the other is a fellow classmate."
"... ..."
One was a master instructor? And from Legandia Academy? Kara couldn't process it, glancing between Zeroa and the closed door.
She grabbed his shoulder.
"Oppa, you're not causing trouble outside, right?"
"Huh? No, I was just thinking about going to the dungeon for a bit..."
"No! Not that!"
Kara was frustrated and yelled loudly.
"You're not causing trouble outside, right? Those guys bothering you? Gangsters?"
"No... Master Rai is giving me private lessons, and Asran is kind despite his scary eyes..."
"How can those eyes be kind? They look terrifying just from looking!"
Asran and Rai entered the house, having heard the commotion.
"Excuse me. Zeroa, you have a little sister? Hello, I'm Rai Redford, an academy instructor."
"Asran Scape."
Both men greeted respectfully. Kara hid behind Zeroa, pressing her chin to her chest and refusing to look up. Zeroa, too caught up in his own embarrassment to notice, smiled cheerfully.
"Kara's very shy. Kara, say hello."
At first glance, Kara seemed lively, but Zeroa pushed her back, and she answered in a trembling voice.
"Ah, hello... I'm Kara Bandes... Oppa... hehe..."
Looking up slightly, she met Asran's eyes and froze. Rai smacked Asran's head, telling him not to scare the kid.
Asran glanced at Rai with a displeased face, but then bowed to Kara.
"Sorry. My eyes are scary even from birth, so people misunderstand."
"Not just your eyes—your whole face is scary."
"What? Want me to make your face scary too?"
Kara cautiously lifted her head. Watching Asran apologize without fault and Rai tease him, she realized she'd unfairly judged people by appearance. The duo outside had looked like delinquents, but together they seemed almost pure.
Zeroa went back to searching for the map. Inside a small box his mother had organized, he found the map. Recalling his days as a porter, he smiled softly and emerged.
Rai was spinning Kara around, and she squealed with delight.
"Ahahaha! Spin faster, Rai!"
"Entering Tornado Stage Two~!"
Zeroa was shocked that Rai had bonded with his sister so quickly, but the laughter continued.
Asran warned her not to, but when Kara flew toward him, he caught her safely every time. A faint smile lingered at the corner of his mouth.
Feeling excluded because Asran seemed closer to his sister than to him, Rai grabbed Zeroa and suggested spinning him too.
"Eh? Eh? Wait—"
Zeroa barely finished before the world spun. Pain shot through his spine as he hit a pillar and fell. Looking up with tears in his eyes, Rai apologized while Asran shrugged and helped Zeroa up.
After the brief commotion, the family sat at the dinner table. Kara, sitting between Rai and Asran, giggled and played with them. Zeroa sat alone, feeling left out again, but Rai barely noticed, examining the map.
"You haven't done adventurer work for a while, right?"
"A year... maybe a bit more. Over two years?"
Rai nodded and checked the map for recent changes.
"What are you doing here?"
Asran asked. Rai didn't look away from the map.
"Planning."
"You need a plan just to enter a dungeon? You can just follow the map."
"Don't underestimate adventurers. Everyone explores according to their own plan."
"Is Rai going to the dungeon with us?"
"Sure. Want a gift? A golem head or something?"
Asran scowled at the pointless joke, but Kara answered brightly.
"No, just buy strawberry bread."
"Strawberry bread? That's delicious."
"Right! Delicious!"
Rai agreed, making Kara happy. He stroked her hair, gave Zeroa the map, and stood up.
"I'll go with my siblings to the dungeon. Tell Mom I'll bring back plenty of strawberry bread."
"Okay."
Zeroa followed without understanding why they spoke so casually. After Rai left with Asran and Zeroa, he promised to meet in three days.
Three days later, Rai, Asran, and Zeroa headed to the adventurers' guild.
