32. Additional Evaluation and Dungeon Night (2)

The Dungeon entered as an additional evaluation. The atmosphere was different from the previous Dungeon.

“Count Yulian-nim! Instructor Mitterssi said this is a Type 2 Dungeon, right? It feels really ominous here. Don’t you think?”

Rosette said.

The moment I stepped into the Dungeon, I felt demonic energy piercing my entire body. So, Rosette, Chloe, and I were moving while avoiding confrontations with magical beasts and monsters as much as possible.

‘Of all times to enter the Dungeon, it had to be late afternoon.’

When I ranked 5th in Demon Subjugation, the additional Dungeon wasn’t this harsh.

But now, it’s the top 3 party. Accordingly, the instructors drastically increased the Dungeon’s difficulty.

I looked up at the sky. The sun’s altitude was already low. That meant night was coming soon.

So, I had to quickly find a place to spend the night first. Confronting magical beasts defenselessly at night would be suicidal.

I replied to Rosette.

“It seems so. The demonic energy feels different from the evaluation Dungeon earlier. We should hurry. More importantly, Rosette. Why the sudden honorifics?”

“Huh? Th-that’s… I have to use honorifics with you, Count-nim…”

Rosette glanced at me. Rosette was floating on her magic wand to my left, and Chloe was to my right.

‘Chloe must be on her mind.’

Rosette is a commoner. And a witch who was once treated very poorly.

But I am the heir to a Grand Duke and hold the title of Count. Chloe is also a Marchioness’s daughter with a very high status.

So, Rosette must think that her speaking informally to me doesn’t look good to others. She’s been like that not only in front of Chloe, but also in front of Aylin and Uriel.

I whispered into Rosette’s ear.

“If you don’t drop the honorifics, I’ll start using them first, Master-nim.”

Rosette was startled by those words. She almost fell off her magic wand.

“D-don’t say things like that! We agreed not to! I’ve never had an old student like you. I’ll drop the honorifics, so stop saying that. It’s burdensome.”

Rosette quickly dropped the honorifics. Master-nim, huh.

I briefly recalled the story of how Rosette and Yulian started speaking informally to each other, as remembered through Demon Subjugation.

Yulian had an incomprehensible world of art. Rosette was one of the few people who understood that nonsensical world of art.

Although it wasn’t an artistic approach.

‘To think that the delinquent Yulian would call her Master-nim.’

Moreover, Rosette further developed Yulian’s world of art with her innate magical talent. She reinterpreted that world of art with magic.

It’s disconcerting that the evolved result is the Black Magic Wand and a tentacle monster, though.

Anyway, last year, during our first year, Yulian insisted on being taught art and used honorifics with Rosette. Even as a delinquent, he was sincere about his art.

Rosette, feeling burdened by that, apparently compromised by becoming friends instead of having a master-disciple relationship. That’s why they started speaking informally to each other.

Whatever the beginning, judging from how Rosette treats me now, they must have actually been on good terms.

And Chloe, watching us treat each other comfortably from the side, had a subtle look in her eyes. She was covering her face with her fan, only peeking out with her eyes.

Then, she whispered quietly.

“Count Yulian-nim. Even if she’s your friend, it’s not a good thing for a mere commoner to speak informally to you. She lacks the manners of an Imperial subject. Very vulgar. This is why lowly commoners are like this!”

Rosette frowned at her words. No matter how high Chloe’s status is, she wouldn’t feel good being told that to her face.

And the demonic energy in this Type 2 Dungeon was very strong. The negative effects heightened their emotions considerably.

‘And the instructor bound their divine power.’

Right before entering this artificial Dungeon, the instructor bound their divine power with magic. Magic several levels higher than their own. So, they can’t dispel it themselves.

‘They really raised the difficulty.’

That meant they were directly affected by the chaos of the demonic energy. In fact, my divine power was also bound, but thanks to the newly enhanced Rosario’s effect, my mind was perfectly clear.

Rosette, unable to endure Chloe’s harsh words any longer, whispered in my ear. But her voice was loud enough for Chloe to hear as well.

“That Marchioness’s daughter has a really nasty personality. And Yulian, when did you get close to that scary lady? Didn’t you used to hate her? Calling her a crazy bitch.”

“Crazy bitch? What nonsense. Count Yulian-nim would never say that. Unlike you, he knows etiquette. As expected of a lowly commoner, making up ridiculous lies.”

“Ugh… Yulian. Say something.”

Of course, I used to dislike Chloe. But now she’s a docile lamb in front of me, so there’s no problem. I’ve already tamed her long ago. I replied to Rosette.

“Well. Did I? Anyway, you never know what happens between people. We went on a mission together as a pair, too.”

“Tch. Anyway. It’s not like the old days when commoners had a low status! Unilateral contempt for commoners is prohibited by Imperial law.”

In fact, Chloe didn’t originally openly despise commoners like this. I heard she was quite polite to Cecilia. It was obviously a provocation towards her rival.

“Oh my. What’s so great about being so talkative? For a commoner, that is. Well, she’s the least skilled student among the three of us here. Rosomething, you must be nervous. You’re probably chattering because you’re scared of the Type 2 Dungeon. Unlike the excellent me and Count Yulian-nim.”

Chloe said again, making sure Rosette heard. Chloe was feeling triumphant right now.

Her record in the evaluation Dungeon earlier was 2nd place. Although she lost to me, she seemed overjoyed just to have won against Rosette.

‘It was only a step’s difference, though.’

So, it wasn’t really fair to say she lacked skill. Rosette’s expression worsened. It was so gloomy that the students of the Magic Order would be horrified.

Anyway, being stuck between these two awkward people made me feel strange. Both of them will be in my party for the Nest raid. It would be nice if they got along well.

Chloe, the villainous young lady. It wasn’t easy for her to gain favor with other women. Especially since her status was different from Rosette’s.

‘But it’s even better that way. Her personality is perfect for stimulating Rosette.’

There’s no need for them to get along well. Competition will improve the party members’ skills. And it’s even better that this is a Type 2 artificial Dungeon.

And the time for them to chatter so energetically won’t last much longer.

It was as cold as winter here. The sun was setting in the sky. If the Dungeon was recreating winter, it would soon be night.

‘The recreation level is different because it’s a Type 2 Dungeon.’

Magical beasts that mimic all living things in Isrand. The Dungeon, a space dominated by those magical beasts, also imitates real-world spaces.

Dungeons with abundant demonic energy in their core, like Type 2, have a very high level of recreation. They even recreated the night, which isn’t present in lower-level Dungeons. Naturally, the Dungeon’s night is much more dangerous.

‘So, it’s no different from extreme training.’

Instructor Mitterssi asked the three of us to survive in this Dungeon. And, if possible, scout all areas of this Dungeon. He said it was a dangerous place that would take up to 2 nights and 3 days to scout properly.

‘Of course, I have to perfectly complete that scouting to get the reward.’

Meanwhile, the two’s argument intensified.

“This Dungeon is a really unpleasant place. Or is it because I’m walking with a rude commoner like someone?”

“I guess there’s an idiot who doesn’t know the school rule that Pantheon’s classmates are equal regardless of status. Especially the Golden Wings, they can even speak informally to Princess Lilia-jeonha in principle. Isn’t that right, Yulian?”

“Idiot? The idiot is the one who lost to me. You acted all high and mighty just because you use magic. You’re the last one among these three, aren’t you?”

“Ugh… Just because you came out a step faster. You saw it too, didn’t you, Yulian?”

“Losing is losing. Hehe. And they say red-haired witches are different on the inside and outside. You should be careful, Count Yulian-nim.”

“Tch. There’s a rumor that silver-haired, red-eyed people are descendants of vampires. You know that too, right, Yulian?”

Chloe spat out barbed words. And Rosette, through me, responded to all of Chloe’s words. It wasn’t like the kind Rosette she usually was.

It was probably proof that the two were being properly affected by the demonic energy.

According to the theoretical lectures learned at Pantheon, there were quite a few cases of allies killing each other due to the curse of that demonic energy. That’s how dangerous this place was.

‘Still, it’s getting more and more childish. It’s about time to stop.’

It’s already been an hour since we moved from the Dungeon’s starting point. As expected, the two eventually ran out of energy.

Chloe, who had been excitedly spouting words, became quiet. And the magic wand Rosette was riding on kept sinking towards the ground powerlessly. Both of them seemed to be exhausted.

‘Is it time to prepare for that?’

We can’t force our way through the Dungeon like this. Visibility will be extremely limited at night. And the demonic energy of the Dungeon and the magical beasts will become even stronger.

To survive the Dungeon’s night safely, we need to come up with something. Of course, I already had something in mind.

‘And stimulate Rosette even more with that.’

I confirmed it while stroking Rosette’s hair before. Rosette’s destiny grade is also A+. That meant she was a woman I needed to approach more deeply than I am now.

But compared to the other women I’ve already had a relationship with, Rosette and I are just friends. And since entering the academy, I’ve been so busy that I’ve hardly seen Rosette.

‘So, it’s difficult to suddenly advance our relationship.’

There’s no opportunity. So, this Dungeon was an opportunity to try something. I stopped the two of them.

“This seems like a good spot. The demonic energy is relatively low around here. Everyone knows what that means, right?”

The two, already exhausted, nodded obediently.

The place the three moved to was a low hill in the Dungeon. They made a campsite in that place with relatively low demonic energy.

No, it was closer to a shelter than a simple campsite. And even the word shelter felt a bit awkward. Chloe and I had built a small house among the bushes on that hill.

“As expected, alchemy is amazing. It can’t be compared to trivial magic. Don’t you think so, Count Yulian-nim?”

Chloe said triumphantly. As she said, the method used to create this mud house was alchemy. I used the remaining reward Mana to activate alchemy and create the basic framework, and Chloe refined the detailed internal structure.

Meanwhile, Rosette was assigned the role of guarding the surroundings.

The group came to a place where they felt the least demonic energy, so there were no magical beasts or monsters approaching nearby. It was no different from a screen.

“The weather is like a winter night. So, if it weren’t for alchemy, that commoner witch would have frozen solid at night. Hehe. That’s what magicians are like. They act all high and mighty, but they’re a bunch that can’t help at all.”

Chloe said, tapping her fan leisurely. She didn’t stop attacking Rosette until the end, even though she must have been tired.

Rosette’s expression was worth seeing. The alchemy mud house that Chloe and I created was of a very high standard. So, unlike Rosette, she seemed to be stimulated by it.

‘She was always the center of attention in the Magic Order, no matter what she did. Being ignored like this wouldn’t be common.’

And Chloe was showing off her skills more than usual, probably because Rosette was watching. But Rosette was not very helpful in her current state, as Chloe said. She became dejected.

“Yu… Yulian. Should I warm up the bathwater inside?”

Chloe answered in my place.

“Is that even a question? It’s something you should do, of course.”

Rosette, who was already short, shrunk even more and entered the mud house. She was probably going to use magic and spirits to heat the bathwater.

“Then, Count Yulian-nim. Let’s go rest quickly too.”

It was already midnight while we were building the shelter. And the night in the Type 2 Dungeon was as cold as a winter night in Essenmund.

But it was warm inside the shelter. The three of us luxuriously took a bath with the bathwater that Rosette had diligently heated.

“Then, let’s go to our respective rooms and rest. We need to recover our strength quickly so we can scout this Dungeon tomorrow.”

And we even created separate rooms inside the mud house by building walls. There was even a mud bed inside. Rosette quietly entered her room, still dejected.

‘Chloe did her part.’

If she felt anything, it was that Rosette felt frustrated losing to that villainous young lady. If that leads to growth, it’s a big benefit to me.

And if my guess is right, Chloe will help me one more time.

Three rooms placed side by side. I decided to use the middle room among them.

An arrangement with my intentions fully included. I will make Rosette conscious of me tonight. Not as a friend, but as a man.

Rosette is also an A+ destiny grade holder. Then, I had to approach her as the Demon King’s blood, that voice, was whispering.

As the ambitious night deepened. I wasn’t asleep at all, but when I was lying down pretending to be asleep.

Someone carefully opened my room door and entered.