Episode 58. Dungeon Practice Training (2)

When I opened my eyes, it was an unfamiliar ceiling.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

I pushed myself up from the cold cave floor. Next to me, Baek Ahyoung was tossing and turning, groaning.

Baek Ahyoung also seemed to have come to her senses, getting up and looking around.

“W-what is this… An indiscriminate battle, this is an unbelievable level of rampage…”

Kwoooong-

The dungeon’s scale itself grew larger and the mana density increased.

Naturally, the monsters that appeared would have become slightly stronger too.

“Ahyoung-ssi, calm down for now.”

I made eye contact with Baek Ahyoung, who was trembling anxiously like a wet puppy.

“Uh, uh-huh. I’m here. Don’t worry, Hoyeon-ah.”

“Ahyoung-ssi can’t fight, you know.”

“W-well, that’s true…! I can do the healing really well!”

Baek Ahyoung couldn’t hide the trembling of her body. Then again, even if it were me, I’d probably feel helpless if dropped in a dungeon with a single cadet.

Moreover, since she herself had no combat power at all, she would be even more anxious.

“Let’s move for now. Even though I might look like this, I’m actually quite strong. You saw me catch that Demon on the news, right?”

“Of course. You even received an award for it. But, wouldn’t it be better to just stay put here rather than wandering around? It might be dangerous.”

To get through this rampage quietly, staying still is the best option.

Because I knew that rescue teams would arrive in two days.

I need to take Baek Ahyoung’s virginity before then. To create the situation, moving around is better.

“Right now, there’s no time to wait for rescue. Rather, joining up with other cadets or a healer team seems better.”

“Ughh, okay. Let’s do as you say.”

Baek Ahyoung had a reluctant expression, but she went along with my words.

Since I was the one with combat power, she was respecting my opinion.

However, the anxiety on one side of her face couldn’t be hidden. It felt like she didn’t trust my combat power.

Perhaps, she might not trust me as a person. Honestly, I’m familiar with the Baek Ahyoung I saw in the game, but the Baek Ahyoung before my eyes hasn’t actually formed a relationship with me for long.

For now, I need to build trust with Baek Ahyoung.

I took the lead, and with Baek Ahyoung watching the rear, we slowly began exploring the dungeon.

“Just a moment.”

“Okay.”

Chyu chyu chyu!

Chajajak!

Not long after, a tremendous flapping sound was heard from the passage ahead.

“This sound… sounds like a swarm of cave bats. Let’s fall back for now.”

“We can’t escape anyway, since it’s a straight passage. I’ll just handle it.”

“We have to escape. Judging by the sound, there are over 20 of them.”

“I’m really okay. Just watch.”

I calmed down Baek Ahyoung, who was anxious from not knowing my strength.

Drawing out a little mana, I made a fireball and sent it flying slowly forward.

Hududududu!

Illuminating weakly as it went, the advancing sphere of fire collided with a huge number of bats and scattered into mana.

20? What are you talking about. This is over 50!

“Th-they’re way more numerous than expected! Run!”

Keureureu! Chyu chyu chyu!

The cave bat swarm now began to come into view.

Surprisingly, there were many. It was inefficient to deal with them just by burning.

‘This won’t do. I guess I’ll just go all out.’

Anyway, the only one watching was Baek Ahyoung, so it seemed okay.

Maybe I should raise my reliability a bit this time?

“Hoo, I guess I have no choice.”

“Hoyeon-ah! While I block them, run away!”

Baek Ahyoung blocked my path, spread her arms in an X shape, and squeezed her eyes shut.

Why is this person acting like this all of a sudden?

The bats, seeing us like that, charged forward.

At the same time, I created a whirlwind from my hand.

The small storm shot forward from my hand.

The flying bats couldn’t slow down and were sucked into the whirlwind.

Hwa-reureuk-!

And then, with my other hand, I made a dozen or so fireballs and shoved them into the whirlwind.

It was Double Casting.

The bats that flew in and got caught in the whirlwind became one giant flame and burned.

Occasionally, one or two bats that escaped were sniped and dealt with using fire spears.

“Huh…?”

With her arms spread blocking my path, Baek Ahyoung opened her eyes wide.

Her action of trying to take the hit instead of me was truly commendable, but the bats couldn’t even get close to me and all burned to death.

However, what surprised Baek Ahyoung wasn’t the sight of the bats burning to death, but my magic.

In the world, I am known as a fire attribute mage. This is because until now, I had intentionally only used fire magic.

Moreover, the Double Casting I’m learning is the dream magic any mage would want to learn. It’s such advanced magic that many active mages haven’t properly learned it.

These are my secrets that I had kept hidden from others.

Of course, this is only a tiny fraction among the secrets I’ve hidden, but from Baek Ahyoung’s perspective, just this alone would be a huge secret.

Having suddenly learned such secrets, it’s understandable she’s flustered.

If I were truly a bad guy, I might have killed Baek Ahyoung and silenced her.

Of course, I absolutely have no intention of doing so.

“Ahyoung-ssi. I told you to trust me, right?”

I gave a smile to Baek Ahyoung, who was flustered and unable to speak.

Baek Ahyoung only then relaxed her tension and opened her mouth.

“Hoyeon, you…! If it’s this much, we can definitely make it!”

Baek Ahyoung realized I was stronger than she thought and smiled as if seeing hope.

Success. Baek Ahyoung harbored hope towards me.

In other words, it means she’s come to trust me a bit more.

“Ahyoung-ssi. Please don’t speak of what you just saw outside.”

Looking at Baek Ahyoung like that, I hardened my expression.

Honestly, even if a secret of this level became known, it wouldn’t matter much. It’s not like it would become known that I can use all attributes, and having two attributes or so is surprisingly common.

Of course, Double Casting is a bit dangerous… but this too can be covered if Professor Im Sol steps in.

Anyway, becoming someone who shares a hunter’s secret is not such a light matter.

Unique skills or unique powers, etc.

Matters that could become weaknesses if others know are not shared among ability users.

Because it’s unknown when they might stab you in the back.

A portion of the power one possesses must be hidden.

Now, Baek Ahyoung has learned my secret.

“I trust you, Ahyoung-ssi. Although I haven’t known you for that long, I feel you’re a good person.”

Baek Ahyoung quietly listened intently to my words.

“I will do my best for the escape. So… let’s survive together.”

“Yeah. Don’t worry. I will do my best too.”

Baek Ahyoung, looking at me with bright, clear eyes, seemed to trust me a little more than at first.

*

How long had we walked? For quite a while, even though we had explored, the exit was not visible, let alone other people.

‘Fuck, is it normally like this?’

I too only knew the fact that I was transferred because of the terror attack, and didn’t know the detailed circumstances, so I was a little anxious, but since there were no monsters in this dungeon that could threaten me, I kept moving forward.

“Hoo… hoo…”

Baek Ahyoung’s breathing, following behind me, grew rougher.

Healers are originally weak in stamina.

Unable to help it, I stopped in an open space to rest for a moment.

“Ahyoung-ssi, I’m getting a bit tired. Would it be okay if we rested here for a moment?”

“Yeah, thanks. Haa…”

“No problem. I’m tired too.”

I settled down in the middle of the open space and began meditating.

On the way here, there were several battles, so I had used quite a bit of mana.

Kekekek… Keureureuk…

As soon as meditation ended, as if by appointment, goblins approached the open space.

“All the mana I just replenished will be used up again.”

Kkwagwang!

The goblins couldn’t even get close and turned to ash, disappearing.

“Hoyeon-ah, are you okay? You’re not overexerting yourself, are you?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

Although the dungeon has been strengthened, there are no opponents that could be a threat to me.

But that’s why it was a problem.

Baek Ahyoung’s preference is peculiar.

The ‘man’ whom she personally treated for severe injuries, weakened due to the treatment and unable to move even a finger, must assault her.

Moreover, even though Baek Ahyoung provided treatment, the setting requires that the man couldn’t control his rising lust and acted according to instinct.

Firstly, setting aside the psychological issues, there’s a physical problem.

I must sustain a major injury to the extent that Baek Ahyoung pours all her strength into healing it.

That level of injury would probably require most of my internal organs to be ruptured.

Fortunately, Baek Ahyoung’s stamina has decreased significantly while walking through the dungeon, so one major wound should suffice, but… getting suddenly hit by bats that I could burn away with just magic is strange, so I need to think about it.

“How did it end up like this…?”

Baek Ahyoung hugged her knees and said gloomily.

As for me, I knew I’d be rescued within two days even if it’s late, but from Baek Ahyoung’s perspective, she must surely be anxious.

Right now, there’s no food for us to eat, so we have to starve.

To prepare for such a situation, I intended to bring food, but there was a baggage check, so I couldn’t bring it.

“It’s okay. The future Archmage that is me exists. Somehow, we must survive.”

“… Tsk. Right. I’ll trust only you. I’m sorry for showing you such an immature side.”

“It’s alright. If I were alone too, I would have been very anxious, but thanks to you, Ahyoung-ssi, I’m not lonely.”

Baek Ahyoung still looked a bit strained, her breathing not steady.

However, I must not let her fully recover her stamina here.

She must treat me and then collapse from exhaustion.

To achieve that, her stamina must be reduced a bit.

“Shall we start heading out soon? I don’t have a watch, so I don’t know the time, but I think we need to leave quickly. Monsters are starting to find their way here too.”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

Baek Ahyoung stood up without showing signs of fatigue.

We started walking again.

Moving forward and forward, as we went further, what appeared was the same cave wall.

Even if I didn’t know the exact time, perhaps we had walked for several hours, but does it make sense that we haven’t encountered anyone?

The dungeon must have gotten damnably large, or something I don’t know seems to be there.

I don’t know exactly.

The conversation that often went back and forth between us also disappeared.

The cave forced such a static atmosphere upon us.

Like that, when only the sound of each other breathing could be heard,

“Kkwaaaaaak!”

Suddenly, a human scream was heard from afar.

I turned my head, made eye contact with Baek Ahyoung, and ran out towards that direction.

“Kkwaaa! Aaaaaak!”

Pwushook! Ppujik!

Along with the horrific screams, a sound like something being crushed was heard.

“Kkwaaaaaak!”

After a moment, the horrific screams were no longer heard.

However, another sound was heard.

Kung. Kung. Kung.

To my ears, the sound of a giant creature walking was heard.

Those steady footsteps made me guess its identity as a humanoid monster.

The direction was straight ahead, and the distance from which the sound was coming quickly narrowed.

Baek Ahyoung too, now hearing the sound, stuck close behind me.

“Kwoooor-!”

“O-oh, it’s an Ogre!”

An ugly and huge body filled my vision.

Its head is dull, but it is a high-class monster possessing great strength and vitality.

In one hand, it held the body of a cadet, torn in half.

Though it was a gruesome corpse I saw for the first time, my mental fortitude wasn’t that weak.

“Grrr-!”

The Ogre’s brute killing intent poured onto me.

Shwoook!

The Ogre threw the cadet’s corpse at me.

‘Cotton Guard.’

Blocking the filthy corpse, I looked back at Baek Ahyoung.

“H-Hoyeon-ah. Are you okay?”

Baek Ahyoung, being an active hunter, wasn’t surprised seeing the corpse.

Rather, she was worried about my mental state.

However, I was mentally sharper than ever.

Dugeun.

It’s a familiar sensation.

Dugeun.

The combat sense filling my body was telling me.

The Ogre before my eyes was damnably strong.

Dugeun. Dugeun.

As much as when facing Felix, no, even more so, my body grew hot.

The Ogre was stronger than Felix, the two-horned Demon.

In games, Ogres are strangely often depicted as strong. Honestly, I thought, how strong could a stupid bastard who’s just strong be, but meeting one in reality, it was damn fucking annoying.

The pressure coming from its huge size and menacing face is no joke.

No shit, if I get hit once, I’ll probably turn into a pancake.

Fuck. Why did they set it so strong, making it difficult.

Just make it weak, why not.

“H-Hoyeon-ah. This time, you really have to run. Really!”

“If I run, will I be able to live?”

“I’ll block it. While I do that, run away. You, being younger, must live!”

“Forget it. What’s the difference?”

This person really wants to seem mature.

Despite not being that old.

I pushed Baek Ahyoung back and stood in front.

“H-Hoyeon-ah…!”

I don’t know why that kind of monster is in this dungeon.

Perhaps, as the mana density increased, stronger monsters have appeared.

Anyway, I cannot run away leaving Baek Ahyoung behind.

If the heroine, Baek Ahyoung, dies, it’s a main quest failure, and I die.

So, I have no choice but to fight.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll take care of it quickly.”

Dugeun.

‘Eye Opening’

I drew up mana throughout my entire body.