Social Evil (2)
...One hour ago.
The dungeon entrance had already been wrecked by the parties that went in ahead of us. I'd expected as much, but the progress was faster than I'd thought.
Judging by the tangled remnants of mana scattered everywhere, the first group in was probably Group A with Kyle. Having gone through that dorm incident last time, they seemed to be making fewer trial-and-error mistakes than in the original story.
"Everyone else is ahead of us. What if there's nothing left for us to hunt?"
"What do you mean 'what'? We keep going forward."
The dungeon took the form of a collapsed underground mall, so the entrance naturally narrowed to a single point. It was only natural that parties had gone ahead. As the latecomers, we had a clear path laid out like a highway—which was actually a good thing. But we had to remember this wasn't just a simple experiential activity; it was a form of evaluation.
Just like during the entrance exam, the professors were watching, and each group would be scored or penalized in real time.
Iri, who had been leading the way with tense determination, frowned in concern.
"At this rate, won't our group's contribution score tank?"
"It might, but this gap is fine. We can more than make up for it."
"...I hope so."
"You'll see when we get inside."
Iri's face was still pale, but there was no point holding back now. Dungeon entrances were always the easiest part by design. True to the concept of a multi-layered underground mall, this place got harder the deeper you went. More traps, bigger and stronger monsters.
The professors' main evaluation criteria weren't just about slaying the most monsters. They were more complex and abstract: party balance, handling of sudden situations, leadership, team communication, and so on.
The moment we stepped inside, the evaluation began. Every action from here on had to be careful and deliberate. Of course, professors were human too, and there were blind spots in the dungeon—no guarantees. In the original story, people even got caught lynching others in those blind spots.
...And our team had a wildcard: Rian.
That's why I'd placed Rian von Hildegaard and Rebecca in the rear. As long as he was in Rebecca's line of sight, he wouldn't try anything stupid.
-Rear guard... You mean Rian von Hildegaard?
-Yes. We'd like you and Senior Rian to cover our party's rear.
-Even in this situation, you keep calling me 'senior.'
-You are both seniors, after all.
Rebecca wasn't thrilled, but she accepted her role. Probably felt some debt for holding us up.
Rian von Hildegaard hadn't appeared in the original story—not even mentioned. But given his ties to Grander and Rebecca, his fate was easy to guess. Like the guy who was supposed to be Camille's lackey, Rian would probably get discarded too.
No, he already had been—kicked out of the student council he'd been part of.
-Rian von Hildegaard was booted from the student council during a staff reduction. Incompetent fool.
-Yet... he still seems to think he's part of it.
I don't know why a guy who said he'd return to his family is still hanging around Arsen, but that look he's giving you means he's definitely connected to you somehow.
-Any guesses? Sion Illeionhart.
...Unfortunately, no guesses. I knew he was aware of me, but the reason was foggy, like it was shrouded in mist.
If Rian had stayed in the student council—or even at Arsen—he would've shown up in the original story somehow. Why hadn't a guy bold enough to cause chaos in the first-year dorm appeared in a villain-themed tale like Grimoire Tales, which thrived on poetic justice?
Obvious. He'd died before the main story began.
Esperand's hit list even listed Rian's execution date as the day he left Arsen. His original fate was probably getting expelled from the student council, leaving Arsen, and running into an Esperand assassin on the way home.
...No way.
A few missing puzzle pieces clicked into place on their own.
In the original, Grander pushed Esperand out first. The trigger was Camille's overzealous lackey causing too much trouble, leading to his expulsion from Arsen—in Rebecca's name, as student council president.
Esperand used that as an excuse to cut all ties with Grander. Grander then used Hildegaard to seize control of Arsen as the Grand Duke planned.
That led to clashes with Kyle, escalating friction that simmered down after various incidents—until Rebecca emerged as the act one's final boss, twisting events unexpectedly.
That was the original act one's plot.
...But now, things were drastically different.
I hadn't acted like Camille's lackey or clashed with Grander. So while relations between Esperand and Grander were icy—like pouring cold water on them—they hadn't fully severed ties as in the original.
As a result, Grander had no reason to pay attention to Hildegaard.
Hildegaard, desperate for connections to the elite, was still wagging its tail at Grander. But Grander ignored them—no regrets.
Like any shady organization, their dealings stayed underwater, never public. In open spaces, they pretended not to know each other—a custom.
So the only legal link between the families was the two currently at Arsen: Rian von Hildegaard and Rebecca von Anastasia Grander.
The more desperate side clings harder, so Hildegaard was clinging to that Arsen connection at all costs—even if it was a flimsy tie—by linking Rian and Rebecca as "classmates."
-I don't know why a guy who said he'd return to his family is still hanging around Arsen, but that look he's giving you means he's definitely connected to you somehow.
Yeah, now I got it. Rian von Hildegaard hadn't chosen to stay at Arsen.
He couldn't leave.
After expulsion, he'd probably headed straight home, but his family rejected him. If Rian left now, it'd sever the families' link entirely.
In the original, Grander needed Hildegaard more, so they could afford to be bold. But now? Different story.
Rian had racked up penalty points for his dorm antics. Ways to clear them included events like helping with first-year dungeon raids—instead of cleaning the professor building, no doubt.
And unluckily, he ended up in our group. Coincidence or fate, who knows.
Thanks to my visit to Arsen, Rian was still here—and had survived a death that was meant to claim him.
Me too, but damn, Rian had a rough fate.
"Whoa...?"
"Let me see..."
Inside the mall sprawled a grand plaza like four department stores smashed together.
"I see warehouses and stalls in there. Maybe some stuff's left?"
"Probably."
But.
"Can't eat it, that's the problem."
"Eek...?"
"You didn't bring food? It's survival training."
"We didn't...?"
My head rang for a second.
This post-apocalyptic, rusted ruin wouldn't have usable supplies. Sure, canned goods might linger, but after all this time? Rotten.
We had to forage. Water too.
In that sense, dropping into an underground mall was lucky. Monsters aplenty, but also edible bugs.
Most bugs are palatable grilled. Parasites cook too, becoming hearty protein lumps.
If still gross, fry in oil. If inedible, firewood.
...How do I know? Experience.
Humans are tougher than you think. Survival instincts kick in, making the impossible possible—especially with food. I'd learned how primitive humans survived the wild the hard way.
No need for a third time, so I'd stocked my subspace with runes, water, and jerky at the guesthouse.
Anyway.
"You should see the system by now. Check it."
"The system? Oh?"
Rebecca, Rian, and Edel barely reacted—familiar with it. But Kazuha and Iri? Priceless.
"Just like it says. Goal's the boss on the lowest floor of the underground mall. Other parties are probably heading down already, so we hurry."
"Time limit's three days... We have to stay here that long?!"
I shrugged instead of answering.
Iri freaked; Kazuha took it in stride. She'd half-expected it.
"Only one class this week, so I wondered... Guess I was right."
"I thought we'd have two days off after..."
"...As if Arsen would do that."
Some cadets had heard rumors beforehand. I remembered a few with bulging backpacks at Georged Hall.
Prepping wasn't bad—better overpacked than under.
But our party? Only Edel di Bison had a backpack.
"Senior Edel."
"Y-Yes...?"
She clutched it, noticing my gaze.
"We need to reach the bottom as fast as possible. Feel anything?"
"I've sensed something since earlier... Hmm."
"Your senses are sharper than mine. Check around the floor as a starting point."
"Hold on!"
A ripple spread, thin mana fanning out. One spot in the circle twitched.
"Something weird below..."
I took Iri to the spot. Looked normal, but up close, my Watcher's Eye caught anomalies.
"Iri, slash here with your sword?"
"The floor?"
"Right here—hard, like smashing it."
She frowned at my odd request.
"No idea why, but... Okay."
She poised and stabbed down. Once wasn't enough; two or three strikes. Cracks spiderwebbed.
The ominous vibe made her flinch.
"This might collapse!"
"It's fine. Not yet."
"Not yet?!"
I stood in front of panicking Iri, aimed my Glock at the floor. Ten percent mana—most mimics here were sound-sensitive; too much might cause a ruckus.
Now it was luck. No idea what lurked below.
In the original, two options: shortcut to lower floor or mimic trap cluster.
Meant to collapse from nearby monster fights, but no strong ones yet—so overlooked.
Melee dealers wouldn't notice; deadly trap. But for a sniper like me? No issue.
"Step back two paces."
Hand signal given, I pulled the trigger.
Dust billowed; cracked floor caved.
No Watcher's Eye or Sense reactions.
Wind cleared dust: clean lower-floor corridor.
Lucky. Hand-signaled the all-clear.
No response.
"...They're not going down there, right?"
"Faster than circling around."
"Still, collapsed floor—dangerous?"
"Then entering the dungeon's dangerous. We need contribution points."
I gestured again; Iri sighed, approaching reluctantly.
"...Nothing weird below?"
"Faster to see for yourself."
"Fine, then... Eek?!"
Seeing is believing. I gave her a light shove first.
The cave-in made a natural slide.
Iri glared daggers from below. Next up.
"Senior Edel, and Kazuha."
They'd seen Iri's push, so they came willingly—and jumped.
"President Rebecca."
"......"
Student council president next. Blank-faced, she strode up and leaped lightly.
"Then..."
Last two left.
"Senior Rian."
"Sniper doesn't go first? I do?"
"I'm X-Group leader now too."
"Hah."
He glared silently, hunting excuses to refuse, but trudged over.
"You're really a dungeon noob?"
Right before jumping, Rian muttered passing by.
Couldn't see his face, but the question brimmed with doubt.
"First time."
"......"
No reply. Grimacing like he'd bitten rock, he jumped.
All team down confirmed, I glanced at the escalator. Regenerating gatekeeper monster sprouting back slowly.