Chapter 42
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Enviable Guy (2)
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Before heading out on the dungeon mission, there was one thing Roin absolutely had to do.
He needed to lay eyes on the newest recruit, Luem, himself.
Remina brought Luem over personally and introduced him to Roin.
This is the Luem I mentioned earlier. And this is Roin.
The moment he heard Remina's words, Luem bowed at a perfect ninety degrees to greet Roin.
It's an honor to meet you, Lord Roin! I'm Luem!
His voice brimmed with energy and spirit.
Roin nodded impassively at the enthusiastic young man.
For a nineteen-year-old, he's got quite the build.
He must work out a lothis body was covered head to toe in muscle.
You like working out, huh.
Roin tossed the question out casually.
Luem nodded vigorously in response.
To be precise, it's not working out I likeit's building muscle.
Yeah?
Yes! Feast your eyes on these triceps! The second I heard I was meeting you, Lord Roin, I started pumping them up non-stop before coming. Haha!
Luem flexed, making his triceps pop.
But Roin's reaction was muted.
There were a few muscle-obsessed weirdos like this back in the day.
Among the knights who followed him, a couple had married muscle instead of reason.
The sight stirred old memories.
Got it. Anyway, let's do our best.
Yes, Lord Roin! I pledge my full loyalty!
Nah. No need to pledge loyalty to me.
Roin had only teamed up with them temporarily for the dungeon mission.
He had no intention of playing boss and subordinate.
The dungeon mission day had finally arrived.
The trainees stared at Barton, their faces taut with tension.
Barton's expression was especially sour today.
This left the trainees gripped by an inexplicable unease.
Had something gone wrong with the dungeon?
But that wasn't what was bothering Barton.
It was the humanoid tactical golems.
Before deploying them in the dungeon, Barton had tested them himself just to be safe.
No major issues had cropped up.
But accidents always happen where you least expect them.
They might pass tests fine, only to glitch in real combat.
It had happened during the apprentice knight selection test, after all.
With this wildcard tactical golem in play, Barton and the instructors' nerves were on edge today.
Hey! The training captain's about to speakcut the chatter!
S-Sorry!
Even the milder instructors were cracking down hard, ramping up the trainees' tension.
Amid all this, one person stood out.
No, just onethe only one: Roin, yawning lazily with a bored look in his eyes.
Dungeon, schungeon. Just wrap it up so I can rest.
Roin wiped his mouth after the yawn, thinking to himself.
Spotting this, Barton cleared his throat loudly and called everyone to attention.
Eyes front!
Time for the dungeon mission briefing.
You've all experienced a dungeon at least once during apprentice training. Back then, it was probably retrieving fire from a salamander's tail.
But the junior-level dungeon mission was a step up in difficulty.
There'll be a large stone door carved into the dungeon's central chamber. It's an area restricted to junior knights and above, normally locked tightbut today, it's open for you.
Barton paused, pointing toward the dungeon's depths.
Swallowed by darkness, that was where the trainees had to go.
Past the stone door, you'll enter a vast open space. Bring back the item called Inis's Sword from the far wall and show it to an instructorthat completes the mission. I trust you've all got it.
It wasn't much different from fetching a salamander's tail flame.
But they wouldn't make it easy to grab Inis's Sword.
Last time, magic traps had blocked the way.
This time, different obstacles awaited.
Unlike the imitation monster battles you've trained against, this one comes with real danger.
Murmurs rippled through the group.
What?
Danger?
As the trainees stirred, Barton clapped sharply.
Quiet down! Figured you'd be curious.
He finally revealed the threat.
Multiple tactical golems have been deployed in the clearing. Form your formations efficiently and prepare for combat. Understood?
The mention of tactical golems sent a wave of shock through the trainees.
There weren't any tactical golems in last year's dungeon mission.
Yeah, why all of a sudden...
Amid the panic, Remina quietly asked Luem.
No tactical golems before this?
No, Lady Remina. They used imitation monsters summoned by mages for mock battles. I've never heard of introducing tactical golems now.
Roin was in the dark too.
He'd done the junior dungeon mission long before Luemway back.
No sign of tactical golems then, either.
Tech wasn't advanced enough back then.
Even with today's improvements, unease lingered.
Accidents had happened, after all.
Why is that damn principal so obsessed with tactical golems?
Or maybe it was simpler.
Money.
Dig deep enough, and money was always involved.
Money was just a measure of human desire.
No wonder. That principal cozying up to Dian looked so sleazy.
How much kickback was he pocketing from the tactical golem makers?
It was obvious.
Barton raised his voice at the restless trainees.
Quiet!!!
His booming shout made them gulp.
Staring them down as silence fell, he stressed again.
I'll give you a quick rundown on the tactical golems' specsburn them into your heads. Know your enemy and yourself to boost survival odds. Got it?
Yes, sir!
Barton signaled Bermin.
She ascended the platform and unrolled a large scroll listing the tactical golem's specs: height, build, output, magic powerbasic data.
But her key point was elsewhere.
I'll reveal the power source location for these humanoid tactical golems.
Bermin pointed to her own chest.
It's in the heart. As long as that's intact, they'll keep attacking even if limbs are severed. Watch out in combat.
A surprise attack could be fatal.
She hammered that home.
Preparations complete.
First team, enter the dungeon. Get ready.
Roin's team was seventh.
Before the first team went in, Bermin fitted them with bracelets.
Magic items granting one teleport.
If they didn't return to start within twenty minutes of entry, the inscribed teleport magic activated, yanking them back.
No sword? Mission failed.
Got it? Success.
Everything in twenty minutes.
The time limit etched tension on their faces.
Enter!
Entering!
The first team echoed and plunged in.
Meanwhile, Roin slipped into the shade.
Remina scolded as he flopped under a tree.
You're not seriously planning to nap now, are you?
You know me. My favorite underclassman.
Roin slipped on a sleep mask and told her.
Wake me when it's our turn. Got it?
Sigh...
Remina had seen Roin's antics plenty, but they still threw her.
One team enters, next starts after fifteen minutes! First team, prepare!
Preparing!
The mission kicked off.
From first to third team, all dove inand all failed in sequence.
Emerging faces were stunned.
Some even teleported out unconscious.
Anxiety swelled with time.
How strong were these golems that even junior knights struggled?
In mounting dread, fourth team entered; fifteen minutes later, fifth.
Jerka's team.
They donned teleport bracelets and charged in, like the rest.
Five minutes after sixth entered, the magic circle glowed.
Twenty minutes upJerka and his team forcibly summoned back to the entrance.
Everyone but Jerka was battered.
Bermin asked Jerka.
Inis's Sword. Did you get it?
...
Jerka hesitated, then reached inside his clothes.
They expected the swordbut...
Just the scabbard.
Only the sheath, barely snatched.
Goal was the sword.
No points for sheath.
Jerka's team: failure.
Shock rippled through the others.
Even Lord Jerka...?
No way!
Anyone else, maybebut Jerka? Expected success.
Yet he couldn't breach the golem squad.
Jerka wiped grime from his face with his hand.
By then, Roin, Remina, and Luem approached the start.
Jerka caught Roin's eye briefly.
These ones are no joke. Tougher than the mercenaries we fought on the ship.
Tactical golem tech had leaped forward.
Early models were just big punching bags.
Times had changed.
Still, Roin brushed off the warning.
Same old, same old.
First time facing Nut's advanced golems, but Roin wasn't fazed.
Jerka smirked at Roin's words.
That's you, alright.
Roin, unchanging.
Before entering, Roin, Remina, and Luem donned teleport bracelets.
Bermin told them.
Good luck.
No successes yet.
She hoped they'd break the streak.
Leaving her cheers, the trio advanced into the depths.
Past the stone doorpresences stirred all around.
Shing!
Roin drew his sword.
Some welcome party's in store.
One corner of his mouth twitched.
The magic circle glowed, signaling sixth team's return.
All eyes fixedonly two emerged.
Far from fine.
One unconscious in bloodied rags, the other bleeding from the head.
The golem went berserk!
Damn it!
Bermin drew her sword and dashed into the dungeon.