Chapter 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Northern Duke (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Swordsmanship Department was full of students wandering around, each carrying various cold weapons.
A pink-haired woman walked down the department's corridor.
'Magic's one thing, but I just can't wrap my head around auras no matter what I do...'
I'd come to the Swordsmanship Department to meet the person who becomes the female protagonist's swordsmanship instructor in the original story.
Arriving at the department head's office, I knocked and stepped inside.
"Hello. I'm here to see the Swordsmanship Department Head."
"Ah, Elly. Come on in and have a seat."
A massive, muscular man greeted me warmly.
His bald head gleamed, complemented by a thick, bushy beard.
I swallowed hard at the unexpected appearance.
"Uh... I'm here to see the Swordsmanship Department Head..."
"That's me. So, you want to learn the sword?"
"Pardon? Aren't you Leonhardt Knight?"
I stared at the man sitting before me.
'He was supposed to have that mature, handsome middle-aged charm...'
I briefly recalled the Swordsmanship Department Head's description from the original story.
Unlike the classic handsome middle-aged character, the man in front of me looked like the burly leader of a bandit gang.
"Ah... Sir Leonhardt retired at the end of last year."
"What? Why?"
"It's a complicated story..."
The department head scratched his smooth scalp and continued.
"Just know he went to the eastern front. So, I—the former Great Sword Department Head—had to step in as Swordsmanship Department Head on short notice."
"He... won't be coming back, will he?"
"Doesn't look like it for at least five more years. I could teach you great sword techniques, though..."
The department head glanced at my arm.
When I first possessed this body, my arms had looked toned and healthy with subtle muscles.
But since I'd slacked on training, the muscle had melted away, leaving them sleek now.
'I thought I was working out pretty hard!'
I'd made some effort to exercise, but it clearly fell far short of the female protagonist's daily grueling regimen.
"Doesn't look like you'd handle a great sword anyway. Maybe the Rapier Department Head or Dagger Department Head..."
"N-No, that's okay! I'm actually pretty busy practicing magic these days!"
"Ah! Where are my manners? I haven't even offered you tea. Let's have a cup first..."
"I need to check on my club activities! Thanks for today!"
"Uh, alright then."
After the exchange, I left the office and headed back to my dorm.
A single bed, desk, and office chair came into view.
I pulled out last year's academy magazine from my drawer—the one my friend had given me around finals time.
The cover screamed in big letters about the appearance of an archdemon.
Flipping through, I spotted an article memorializing someone named Eric and detailing his exploits.
'Eric von Berg... didn't he die last year?'
I glanced around, then quietly called out.
"Status Window."
★ A virus has been detected. Find and kill the virus.
Virus: 4th Circle Space Mage Eric von Berg.
'Did the virus take over Eric's dead body? Or...'
I thought back to Lady Scarlet, who'd returned on the verge of mana exhaustion from practicing magic.
'Is this Eric guy... still alive?'
Turning the page, I read about Eric's actions right before the archdemon appeared.
'He prophesied the future?'
The info claimed he'd predicted the archdemon's emergence in advance and tried to stop it.
'No way... is there another person like me who got possessed?'
There wasn't enough information to uncover the truth.
As I pondered, my past life's final moments suddenly flashed in my mind.
'I had an incurable disease anyway—I wouldn't have lived long. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to save myself.'
I recalled the firefighter who'd died trying to rescue me from a hospital filled with toxic gas.
Needing a break from the headache, I headed to the vending machine for some sugar.
I'd thought my hospital bed was the pinnacle of misery.
But when the fire broke out, I discovered an underground basement beneath the floor.
'Being able to walk on my own two legs and buy tasty snacks whenever I want—what a massive blessing!'
For whatever reason, I thanked the god who'd granted me this second life.
Riding the carriage left outside the dungeon back to the mercenary guild, I was immediately summoned to the guild master's office.
Inside, a woman in a white mask and three members of the Karik Mercenary Corps sat in chairs before the guild master.
The unconscious captain and the archer complaining of sore ribs were nowhere to be seen.
"You're here, Eric. Sit."
I took the empty chair and eyed the guild master.
Middle-aged wrinkles creased his face.
But his body bulged with muscle, and the massive sword behind him radiated intimidation that belied his looks.
The head of the mercenary guild, commanding and managing fierce mercenaries.
"Tell me everything that happened after entering the dungeon. Leave nothing out."
His low, heavy voice filled my ears.
"First, after entering the dungeon, I used spatial magic to disguise myself and waited..."
No one spoke as my long explanation unfolded.
When my throat grew parched, I sipped water from the guild master's secretary and finished recounting everything up to leaving the dungeon.
"I registered the broken egg with the magic tool, found the ramp, and exited. It was fine to register a broken egg, right?"
"No issue. The test was just to see if you could reach the spider egg."
The guild master closed his eyes briefly, lost in thought after hearing my tale.
After a moment, he opened them and asked,
"Why did you hide right after entering?"
"Yesterday, the Black Boar Mercenary Corps' captain—Kane—provoked me. Can't have a threat at our rear while scouting the dungeon."
"The promotion examiner was watching."
"I didn't think they couldn't handle that much. I just didn't expect the examiner to side with Black Boar."
"Haa... Looks like that bastard Kedran really did betray us."
The guild master scratched his head with a sigh.
"Exactly! So, can I head to Karik now?"
The female mage, who'd listened quietly, stood up.
"Yes, sorry for the suspicion—it was necessary. Everyone else, you're dismissed. Oh! Eric and Ray, who passed the promotion exam, stay behind."
With business done, the Karik members left.
The guild master pulled A-rank mercenary badges from a drawer and handed them to us.
"Already prepared?"
"Check your recent mission completions. I knew you'd rank up ages ago and had them ready."
I examined the new badge in my hand.
The A-rank mark and the Northern Mercenary Guild's emblem.
Below: my name, birthdate, and the simple specialties I'd listed upon joining.
"So, you're heading to the dungeon the duke is tackling?"
"Yes. I'd like to leave right away if possible."
The white-masked woman sitting a bit away nodded.
She'd pushed back her hood in the office—long silver hair spilled over it.
"If it'd been just one passing solo, an executive would've escorted you. But two? Go together."
"The duke's base camp is on B3, right?"
"Yeah, exploration's done up to B3. Grab the detailed booklet from the counter downstairs. Now go."
Conversation over, we left the office.
I already had the info memorized, but I went to the first floor and picked up the booklet on the duke's dungeon anyway.
Outside the guild, a clear, melodic voice reached my ears.
"Is that true?"
The white-masked woman who'd followed quietly spoke up.
"Hm? If you're talking about the examiner's betrayal..."
"No, coming out of the dungeon in 30 minutes."
Caught off guard by the question, I answered honestly.
"Helping people on the way down and back took about 30 minutes. Compare when you arrived at the office and when I did."
Promotion challengers usually return together after everyone's done.
But with injuries this time, we'd used the spare carriage to return early.
Comparing the group's arrival with mine proved I wasn't lying.
The woman fell silent, biting her lip behind the mask—I could feel it.
I didn't wait for a reply and headed toward the highest-grade dungeon that had appeared in the city.
In the mercenary guild master's office, moments after Eric left.
The silent guild master finally spoke.
"Sera. Gather the executives."
"How many?"
"Kedran hit his fifth year as executive, right? Everyone fifth year and up."
"Yes. Everyone left at the branch too."
"Even those off at home."
His secretary left promptly.
"An executive pulls that crap, and no one knew? Right...?"
Until recently, he'd managed mercenaries under the duke's command.
He'd rushed back to the city upon hearing of the promotion exam.
"I was gonna head back to the dungeon with the new A-ranks... Guess it's time to tighten discipline."
Veins bulging on his face, the guild master cracked his knuckles and awaited the executives.
Approaching the Northern Duke's inner castle, the massive dungeon entrance loomed even from afar.
The highest-grade dungeon that had swallowed one of the castle's annexes.
Usually, a translucent barrier lets you glimpse inside.
But the pitch-black curtain visible in the distance revealed nothing, as if refusing all intel.
'That's the dungeon where the archdemon killing the current Northern Duke emerges, huh?'
Guards blocked civilian access around the dark barrier.
Showing our A-rank badges, we passed through.
Crossing the barrier, the chill vanished into sweltering heat as a dense jungle greeted us.
I shed my thick robe into a temporary sub-space.
'Feels like another world. To reach the next floor from here...'
"Let's split up now."
The white-masked woman spoke to me mid-thought.
"Huh?"
"We're heading to the 3rd floor where info's public. No need to go together."
Her face was hidden, but I sensed a mischievous smile.
"Dungeons are full of variables. And if we don't make it in a day, we'd need watches."
"What, no confidence?"
Blood rushed to my head at her words.
I like helping people, but I won't force it on someone who doesn't want it.
Even as a firefighter, I'd wanted to punch folks yelling about how late I was after risking my neck.
Not that I ever did—I held back.
"Wanna bet who reaches the 3rd floor first?"
No team leader to hold me back now, so I could act freely.
Her smile twisted—I could feel it.
"I won the promotion exam, so it's 1-0?"
"You're 4th Circle at 19. I'm 4th at 17. 1-1."
"Took you a year to hit A-rank. Me? Half."
"The giant dungeon popped up a month ago. I took my time since I wasn't rushed."
A bit childish, but considering the original plot, establishing hierarchy was wise.
She was the type to obsess over beating the heroine.
Unless I showed a clear gap fast, she'd keep hounding me.
Without a word, we turned in opposite directions.