Chapter 46: Rowene Dungeon(6)

The mage, Henrik, looked like he was having a terrible nightmare. Seeing this, Avalli intentionally raised her voice.

“You were going to pass me anyway, so why all the fuss?”
“…Huh?”
“You intentionally dropped your barrier, didn’t you, Henrik?”

The human mind was fragile. When faced with the incomprehensible, it would often distort reality as a defense mechanism. If presented with a plausible explanation in such a state—

“…Yes, that was an excellent spell.”

—the mind would accept it as truth. Of course, Henrik’s quick acceptance wasn’t solely due to his mind’s resilience.

It was because Avalli had said so. Though she hadn’t realized it yet, her words already held ‘power’.

“I’d have to write a report if I failed a mage like you.”
“Yay! I passed!”

Henrik stood up, dusting off his pants. He still looked dazed, but it was a vast improvement over the terrified expression Avalli had seen earlier.

“Congratulations!”, “Two amazing rookies in one day!”, “Finally, something to brag about for our branch!”

The onlookers, who had been puzzled by the sudden collapse of Henrik’s barrier, seemed to accept their explanation. No rookie, no matter how talented, could break Henrik’s barrier. So, Henrik must have recognized Avalli’s skill and yielded.

‘That’s what they all think…’

But Lucy had seen it.

‘That was Avalli’s doing.’

It wasn’t a clever counter-spell or an overwhelming display of force. She had simply… erased Henrik’s barrier.

How such a feat was possible, she didn’t know, but she knew it had happened. Lucy, being the only one aware of Avalli’s true nature, could recognize it.

“Hey, little missy, want a beer? My treat!”
“I’ll pass. I’m underage.”
“Underage…? Using big words like a mage. Don’t be shy, have a drink! It’s time you learned about alcohol!”

Excited adventurers surrounded Avalli.

‘…Before she causes any more trouble…’

Lucy had to get her out of there. Just as she thought this, Hans stepped forward.

“Excuse me.”

He effortlessly pushed through the crowd with surprising strength. A moment later, he emerged, holding Avalli’s wrist firmly, pulling her away.

“I’ll come visit you guys later!”

Avalli waved cheerfully as Hans dragged her away. Her nonchalant attitude made Lucy’s head throb.

“…Good work, Hans. Let’s go back for now. We can pick up our guild cards later, when the crowd dies down.”
“Alright.”
“Can we stay and play a little longer, Teacher?”
“A. Val. Li.”

Lucy enunciated each syllable of her name, and Avalli chuckled sheepishly.

“I’m kidding.”
“Avalli… you do remember why we’re here, right?”
“For bloody revenge! As per your orders, Teacher!”
“I never gave such an order!”

Lucy exclaimed, her face turning red. The nearby adventurers turned to stare, and she quickly pulled her hat down, hiding her face.

“This is all because of you, Avalli. …Although you are doing this for me… We should finish this quickly and get back. Arsene must be worried.”
“Okay, Teacher.”

Avalli shrugged nonchalantly, took both Lucy and Hans’s hands, and said,

“Just trust me!”

She was clearly enjoying this.

Thirty minutes later.

“…Why?!”

Avalli exclaimed, looking at the bronze guild card Hans had retrieved.

“You’re B-rank, and I’m only C-rank?!”
“Well, I beat the examiner fair and square. You… kind of cheated.”
“Th…That’s true, but…”
“Just try harder. Hard work pays off.”

Hans said with a serious expression, as if offering genuine advice to a younger sibling.

“…Are you making fun of me?”
“Not really.”

Hans said, pulling out his gleaming silver guild card and dangling it in front of Avalli. He was making fun of her.

‘Alright, I’m going to teach him a lesson.’

Just as Avalli decided to assert her dominance, Lucy, who had been listening quietly, clapped her hands.

“Alright, Avalli,”

“Yes?”
“As you wished, we’re both certified adventurers now. Which means we can finally enter the dungeon.”

Lucy had already obtained her adventurer certification years ago, when she explored a dungeon with Professor Clear Pel.

“So, what’s the plan, Avalli?”
“We’re going into the dungeon.”
“Yes, but what are we going to do in the dungeon? I still don’t understand how this is related to getting back at Sophia.”

Avalli paused at Lucy’s question, then smiled brightly.

“We’re going to clear it.”
“What?”
“Huh?”

Lucy and Hans stared at her, dumbfounded.

“Clear it? How are we, novice adventurers, supposed to clear a dungeon? That’s the knights’ job.”
“That knight has been mind-controlled by some monster and is attacking people.”
“That’s…”

It wasn’t just a storyteller’s exaggeration. It was happening right now, in the depths of the Rowena Dungeon. Now that they knew, they couldn’t ignore it.

“We’ll go to the deepest level and destroy the core. Three people clearing a dungeon? That would be a huge story! Then that Sophia brat won’t be able to look down on you, Teacher.”

She had initially considered more… direct methods of revenge, but after calming down, she decided it was too much. Just because she could do something didn’t mean she should, especially with her level of power. So, she settled on this plan to put Sophia in her place.

“Sophia is older than you, Avalli.”
“She’s still a brat.”
“…What does that even—”, Lucy began, confused.
“Don’t even try to understand, Lucy. Sometimes she treats even me like a kid.”

Technically, he was a kid. Despite her appearance, Avalli’s mental age was far greater than both of them.

“So, what do you think? Good plan, right?”
“It’s a terrible plan.”

Hans shook his head immediately.

“There’s no way we, first-time dungeon explorers, can reach the deepest level. This is life or death, you know! Right, Lucy?”

He looked to Lucy for support, expecting her to agree with his sensible assessment. But—

“…How long do you think it would take?”
“A day at most?”
“If our identities are revealed, and Elif tries something again—”

—“Just trust me, Teacher. You shouldn’t have to hide when you haven’t done anything wrong.”
“…Alright. They say there are evil spirits in the deeper levels, so we should buy some holy water, just in case.”

—Lucy was already making plans, instead of dissuading Avalli.

“Lucy!”, “Don’t worry. It’s hard to believe, but… Avalli’s a genius.”
“Huh?”

Hans looked at Lucy, bewildered.

“Avalli is far stronger than any adventurer here.”
“It’ll be fine. It’ll be over quickly.”

Avalli nodded, her usual playful expression unchanged.

“…Are you two messing with me?”, “No, we’re being serious.”, “I… don’t understand.”

Avalli sighed and patted Hans on the shoulder, looking at the confused boy.

“If you don’t believe us, I’ll show you. But… it’s a secret, okay?”
“…Are you challenging me to a fight?”
“Not a fight. Just… a demonstration.”
“If I win, you drop this crazy dungeon idea.”
“Sure, sure. Whatever.”

Avalli replied dismissively and left the tent, Hans silently following. They walked until they found a secluded spot.

‘How to fight a mage—’

Overwhelm them with speed before they can cast a spell. If that’s impossible, evade the first attack.

Recalling Arsene’s lessons, Hans placed his hands on the hilt of his sword.

“That’s it? That’s your weapon?”
“I can’t use a real sword against you, can I?”
“You know, that actually sounded pretty cool.”

Hans frowned at the whistling Avalli. She might act mature sometimes, but she was still just a kid.

‘…I have to protect them.’

That was what Arsene had asked him to do. He couldn’t let Avalli’s whims drag them into danger. He didn’t like it, but he had to stop her, even by force.

“Here I come!”

He shouted, taking a step forward—
—and then his legs gave way, and he collapsed.

“…Huh?”

He couldn’t move. He was like a marionette with its strings cut. He couldn’t understand what had happened. All he knew was that he couldn’t break free on his own.

‘What is—’

Avalli approached, giggling.

“Now you understand, Hans oppa.”

Calling him “oppa,” she poked him on the head with her finger. Her teasing tone was… strangely unfamiliar.
“I’m really strong.”

She sounded like a completely different person from the Avalli he knew in Asha Village.