Pre-Practicum 66
"Next week. Nature will appear on ."
"...! "
Dungeon Cleaner.
It was the biggest reason Nature had been training so hard lately.
Each of them made different faces as they braced themselves for the day when the problem of them collapsing on the floor and writhing in pain would finally arrive.
Harin seemed like the time had finally come.
Yeonhwa just looked calm, like it was something that had always happened.
And for Sujin...
"Hoo... is it that your body suddenly aches or something..."
"Ayoung will take care of you with all her might."
"If even Ayoung can't handle it..."
"A-rank healers can't even touch a disease like that. How common could it be?"
"But there are no guarantees..."
She was desperately doing reality-avoidance.
No matter how much, if reality came knocking and there was nowhere left to run, it would eventually hit.
In that sense.
"Today we're going into the dungeon."
"?"
They went to get the preemptive shot.
...
..
.
If we assume that everything on Earth is a plus, then dungeons are like a kind of minus.
Humans became awakeners and gained powers, so the pluses exploded exponentially.
Dungeons also grew rapidly to compensate for it.
Primitive regression theorists claimed that killing all awakeners would bring Earth back to the way it was, but that was all in the old days.
Now, under the Association's leadership, energy theories about dungeons were being used to control the number of dungeons.
If they removed too many, it would be uncontrollable, but if they left them alone, they would explode or something.
The dungeon they were going to go to today was one of the dungeons permitted by the Association.
"D-class dungeon. The main thing that comes out here are goblins."
They had even considered going to an E-class slime dungeon, the lowest level, but since those were the ones who had been rolling under them, they decided to trust them at least a little.
Since it was a dungeon run by the Association, they could get help if needed, and with an A-rank spirit contractor following right behind, it wouldn't turn into any dangerous situation.
"Hey, Instructor...?"
"Yeah? Why are you calling? Ah. Is it because of the weapon?"
"No, it's just that I have a small question."
Dungeon Cleaner, meaning they were entering the dungeon next week, but why were they entering it this week?
At Harin's question, I smiled wryly and answered.
"Harin-ah. Thinking logically, filming a variety show in a dungeon makes sense?"
"Yes? That's... "
Thinking logically. What did they call dungeons at the academy?
"...A place where anything could appear at any time."
"That's exactly it, Harin-ah."
You never know when something will blow up.
But if you send the awakeners under the company into a place like that, what if something happens?
The contract says they share responsibility, but in reality, that doesn't mean the spirit is different at all.
"At least, we take people who can handle at least one full person. That's our minimum standard."
"Hee... but if we easily clear the dungeon?"
"That's why the production crew prepared a dungeon that's not dangerous but hard to clear."
That's why slime dungeons were often rented out.
"'Kim Sunwoo' has been reserved."
"Confirmed."
In front of the dungeon.
They checked with an Association staff member guarding the gate and went inside.
Three people followed me into the dungeon.
"Hueup, hahahaha. The air here is just like always."
Dungeons were similar no matter the rank.
It felt like being buried under thick, slippery pasta.
Some just brushed it off as disgusting, but as spirit contractors, the advanced senses made them feel it.
'Very specifically, it feels bad.'
The difference was probably like from the front of the mouth to the back of the throat or Gordon X level.
The difference between frowning because it's gross and groaning because it's a stupid sandwich.
"Awoo... I feel weird..."
Sujin trembled, hugging the sniper rifle in her arms tighter.
Thinking about it, Sujin was probably having her first dungeon experience.
'Let's make the opening ceremony luxurious.'
Back then, maybe a C-rank awaker was with us.
Even he just stared blankly from behind, saying he'd leave it to us.
At the time I was mad, but now I understood.
'How bored must he have been.'
Even if one team wasn't enough, after going through multiple teams, getting your eyes burned and your mind screwed up was understandable.
"I'll be watching from behind. Do your best. Ah, don't clear it!"
"......... "
So, me slacking off from behind was just something that could happen.
The three looked at me a bit tired, but Yeonhwa took the lead and the others followed her.
Now all that was left was to wait.
I followed the three and checked the situation often.
"...! Three ahead! One in the small pit to the side!"
"Ooh"
The first to spot the enemy was Harin.
As a lightning spirit contractor, she detected the faint electricity emitted by living things.
Swa-ga-ga-ga!
Kiiieeeeeeeeeek!
"...Goblins don't have much taste."
Yeonhwa immediately stepped forward.
She swung her sword from left to right and instantly bisected the goblin charging at them.
But the moment after the attack ended was the most dangerous.
Kiiiseeeek!
"Sister Yeonhwa!"
Right next to the pit.
From where Harin had pointed, a goblin jumped out and lunged at Yeonhwa with its teeth.
Yeonhwa, knowing this, naturally lifted her foot to kick it away.
Ta-aang!
"Oh...?"
"Hi, hie...!!"
It pierced Yeonhwa's chest before even touching her.
Naturally, the gazes turned toward the other side.
"...Eh?"
Even she looked flustered and dumbfounded.
"Sujin-ah. Honestly, I was ready to get shot in the back a few times...!"
"Sister. I told you Sujin is the one who can handle it."
"Heu? H... hihih...?"
They praised her from around, so she liked it, but she looked puzzled herself.
There was nothing strange about it. They had made the battle feel like half a game.
'A solid front line. And then someone behind pulling the trigger.'
The effort I had drilled into Sujin every day for the last few days hadn't betrayed her.
Taang! Taaang!
"Huhi... huhihihihi!!"
The weird laugh starting to come out showed that the tension was completely gone.
Arriving at the boss room in such a good mood...
But...
Kiiieeeeeeeeeek!!!
"Ah, Sujin-ah!"
"Hi...?"
Harin was starting to lose strength and had missed a few goblins.
Seeing her teammates fall to bullets, she rushed straight at Sujin.
"Uu, uuuuuu!"
It was still okay for now.
Immediately she pulled the Desert Eagle from her hip, aimed, and fired.
Taaaarang!
"Kyauk!"
The strong recoil of the Desert Eagle messed up her body's balance.
But anyway, the immediate crisis was avoided. She quickly readjusted her posture and aimed at the next target.
Jijjin!
"Ayah...?! Eh, aaah?!"
She fumbled the recoil control.
Combined with unexpected pain and the weight of the heavy gun, the Desert Eagle slipped from her hand.
A situation that flipped in an instant.
Ki-sit, kiiieeeeeeeeeek!!!
"Hi...!!"
A goblin launched itself at Sujin.
Small body, but enough power to lay down an adult woman, since it was a monster.
Sujin fell backward and collapsed. The goblin, catching its momentum, immediately went for the kill.
Chjjik, chjjizzig!
"...Hik!"
The goblin's nails tore her clothes.
The bra snapped and her large breasts bounced wildly.
...Kiiiruk!
"U... hiueeeuk!!!"
"Ou. Ya-aar..."
By the way.
When awakeners hadn't stabilized yet, quite a few women who had been kidnapped and turned into breeding factories by goblins were said to exist.
So, that's it. From an angle, it wasn't very visible, but...
"I don't... don't... hi... hiya...!!!"
Instinctually. Following the instinct.
The hand moved more like breeding than killing.
"Many! Many! Samda-suuu!!"
She hurriedly called for a spirit to resist.
[Beep beep beep!]
Kiiiruk, kiiik!
[Beepkiyaak....!]
The spirit couldn't even use its power and was bitten and fell.
A pretty ridiculous scene that was hard to even watch, and probably enough for everyone to understand.
Buak!
Kerruk──?!!
"It's just doing what it does well. Yeah."
".......Eh?"
She kicked it away with her foot.
The goblin couldn't withstand the shock and fell over after dodging a few times.
I looked down at Sujin and asked.
"Didn't you say it at the shooting range? Water spirit contractors have to control their sanity. What happened? The spirit went into panic following the owner... well, it's admirable that you want to protect your owner, but where the hell did you learn biting with teeth from, National Geographic?"
"Mr. Lee...?"
"?. What's with that? Are you okay? How many does this look like?"
"....Heuuut!"
"Eww."
The kid had lost it.
Had I been too lax?
'But it's better to experience these beforehand.'
If it happened later, then it would be the goblin slave ver. yandere version.
Anyway, because one party member went crazy, Nature ended their dungeon run right there.
I had worried a little that this incident might have given Sujin a dungeon trauma, but...
Taaang!
"Huhihihi!!"
Whether good or bad, Sujin, who had no broken mentality to begin with, immediately recovered without much fear.
The things she said were like group violence was familiar or something.
'So, was that how she got used to it?'
What kind of life had Sujin lived, Sujin-ah.
I let out a small sigh and approached the wrist of the hurting Sujin and said.
"If you really want to use the Desert Eagle, make a water cushion. You're a water spirit contractor. If you use your ability well, you should be able to control recoil."
"Heuuut!"
"Sujin-ah?"
"Yes? E, um, that, ah, yes! I understand, Mr. Lee!"
"???"
And for some reason.
Since that incident, the kid often stared blankly whenever she looked at me.
'So, who the hell is Mr. Lee, you bitch.'
I could see the sea through the water, but I couldn't figure out the inside of a person at all.
By the way.
"You called me... right."
".........."
Hero Party. Seia's case.
──────
[Name: Lee Seia] [Potential: C(B) (Feature active)]
[Feature: Sunflower Wish]
Sunflowers raise their heads toward the sun. When there is a sun, sunflowers feel their own lives. However, when the sun disappears, they lose the meaning of life and bow their heads.
[Growth bonus (small) and potential amplification (large) when with a specific target]
[Growth bonus decrease (medium) and potential decrease (medium) when not with a specific target]
[Current target: Kim Sunwoo]
[Trainer level: 6 / 10]
[1) A disgusting tendril of arrogant pride remains on the slave's head. Re-ignite your own value through defeat pride. [1/1 (success)]
[2) A trace of lecherous desire for others remains on the slave's heart. Make it so you don't discriminate in pig play. [4/7 (in progress)]
[3) A sprout of hateful jealousy has bloomed in the slave's two eyes. Reaffirm your position through outdoor exposure training. [2/5 (in progress)]
[4) The slave's lewd womb is wide open and out of control. Cultivate patience through restraint abandonment anal double holes. [3/6 (in progress)]
[5) The slave's two feet are gradually drowning in despair. Show hope through love-whispering pleasure sex. [1/10 (in progress)]
[Evaluation: A slave who has already pulled out maximum potential. Growth efficiency is low and potential is not outstanding. The worst point is the feature. Rather than investing time in this slave's training, it seems better to focus on managing other slaves.]
[Training points: 653 p]
──────
'Worst case.'
So far, I had somehow dragged it with training points, but now I had reached my limit.
Its potential was already low, so how the hell had it even reached A-rank.
If this situation hadn't happened, I might have checked through the interview, but even then it hadn't shown such a steep decline...
'Throwing it away is right.'
In the previous loop, it had walked out on its own and died on its own terms.
No need to think deeply anymore.
"Yoo Jihye failed."
"Failed...? "
"Then you bring Kim Sunwoo to me."
"....Is that all?"
"Yeah."
There was no resistance.
Of course. Just looking at the status window, it didn't seem like she would refuse the offer.
"Externally, it's like the first-generation seniors are stepping down for the second-generation members of the Hero Party this time."
Elysia and Hwayi would be joining as well.
"Kim Sunwoo is going on a variety show called . Get a foothold there."
Absolutely.
Must.
Bring Kim Sunwoo.
".....Understood."
Seia nodded with a pouty expression.
At first glance, she looked very angry and irritated.
But the comedy was that her heart was actually happy because she could meet him again soon.