36. Boss Area Reconnaissance (3)

Just before the tentacle touched me. The Kraken’s attack missed me.

Then, it let out a terrible screech and slammed its tentacle down again. The sound of the water exploding echoed in succession.

“Yulian!”

“Count Yulian-nim!”

I assured the two who were worried about me that I was safe through Sylph.

“I’m fine. You two keep the Kraken in check.”

The Kraken seemed to be filled with rage as its attacks repeatedly failed. As if it couldn’t believe it, it relentlessly swung its attacks to hit me.

But it couldn’t land a single effective hit.

It’s not like I disappeared from that spot using some kind of stealth magic. It’s a Type 2 superior monster. Even if I hid my body with stealth magic, it would be able to detect it with its sensitive senses.

However, even though I was right in front of its eyes, the Kraken couldn’t properly target me. So, it had every reason to be pissed.

‘This skill, Echo of Dreams. It’s just as I thought.’

——-

* Echo of Dreams

: You can faintly leave traces of dreams in reality. Only usable by a Nightmare.

——-

A new skill was created as the Nightmare trait evolved. As explained in this notification window, I was able to apply the properties of dreams to my reality.

A hazy and blurred dream. Like a daydream that quickly fades from memory even though it seems to linger in your mind. Using this skill, I made my very existence dreamlike.

‘That’s why that Kraken can’t properly recognize me.’

It’s a skill similar to a kind of perception-inhibiting magic. But its efficiency is higher.

Because it’s fundamentally a dream, not magic, ordinary dispel spells don’t work.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwang-

Chijijijijijijik-

In the meantime, Rosette’s lightning struck down once more. At the same time, Chloe’s alchemy was activated.

‘Both of them have become stronger in their attacks. They also aimed well at the Kraken’s openings.’

As expected of the representatives of the factions. Practical combat with a Type 2 monster, the Kraken. And competition in practical combat. If there’s anything to be gained here, it’s that the two of them will soon enter the 4th tier.

I couldn’t lose either. I raised my Ki-sense even further to find the Kraken’s weak point. The place where its numerous tentacles were subtly trying to defend. That must be its weakness.

‘I didn’t doze off during monsterology class, I studied hard.’

I kept cutting off the annoying tentacles with the Lionheart Sword. I persistently dug into its vulnerable parts.

Finally, I stabbed the Imperial Sword into the part where the Kraken’s tentacle and body were connected.

Keu-oh-waaaaaaaak-

The sword bounced off the barrier unique to superior monsters, but it was definitely an effective hit.

“Yulian hit the vital point!”

“Count-nim! Now is the time to run away!”

Chloe was right. The atmosphere of the Kraken changed with the three of us fighting fiercely, especially with the vital point attack just now. The flow of demonic power surrounding its body changed rapidly.

It clearly meant that it recognized us as dangerous enemies. At the same time, it meant that the boss’s new attack phase was starting.

I raised my hand and gave the retreat signal.

“Rosette! Take Chloe and fly up quickly!”

The Kraken was in an explosive state. There was no time to spare. Rosette quickly put Chloe on her magic wand and left the lakeside.

I also poured the reward Mana into alchemy to the maximum and created an ice escape route.

The Kraken, which had begun to rampage, shattered all of that ice path. But by then, I had already left the lakeside.

‘This is enough for the boss area reconnaissance.’

Now it was time to escape this dreadful Dungeon. I hurried to the starting point of the Dungeon with the two of them.

---

Breaking through the escape route was originally not easy either.

The Kraken immediately alerted its subordinate monsters to the enemy’s intrusion. So, the Dungeon’s alert status was several times higher than before entering the boss area.

But there was no problem at all for the party to escape.

“Now we can use the Return Stone here, right?”

Reconnaissance up to the boss area. Through that reconnaissance, I had also created an escape route in advance. It was an escape route that avoided as many annoying monsters and monsters as possible.

And when returning, there was no need to hide secretly like when we first scouted. So, the three of us unleashed our skills without holding back.

We returned to the starting point, dealing with all the subordinate monsters and monsters we encountered. It was a two-day reconnaissance, but the return trip only took 4 hours.

“Let’s go back. This is enough reconnaissance.”

At my words, Chloe infused Mana into the Return Stone. Soon, Mana flickered and a small blue gate was created.

The reconnaissance mission was over.

When we went out through the gate, the instructors were still waiting.

It was a 3-day, 2-night mission. But in reality, it was the same day that the power evaluation started. Still, quite a bit of real-world time had passed, and it was already night when the sun had set.

“Instructor Meters. The last group has now come out!”

“Indeed. Has that group finished all the reconnaissance?”

The instructors buzzed when they saw the three of us looking fine.

It was an artificial Dungeon, not reality. So, there weren’t any injuries on our bodies. The reason they were surprised was because of our expressions.

“They’ve been in a territorialized Type 2 Dungeon for three days. How can they look so calm?”

“Could it be that they were hiding at the starting point and didn’t do anything?”

Perhaps the three of us were too nonchalant. Instructor Meters, who was among the group of instructors, said.

“That can’t be. They’re the top 3 who already recorded the highest scores in the preliminary power evaluation. Of course, they spent their time continuing the reconnaissance.”

“Well, if they were just spending time without doing anything, the Dungeon’s monsters wouldn’t have left them alone.”

“Yes. If that were the case, they would have retired a long time ago. Like the other students.”

At his words, I looked around. The Colosseum was neatly organized compared to when we came in the morning. The other students seemed to have already left this place.

‘Well, the students who retired from the Demon King Hunt or finished the reconnaissance first were sent back.’

We were the last students to come out of the Dungeon. Since the method of additional evaluation was survival and reconnaissance. The fact that we came out the latest also meant that we had the best results.

“And the recording magic stone can’t be fooled. You can check it directly. Anyway, good job. Count Yulian-nim. And Chloe-yang and Rosette too.”

Instructor Meters took the recording magic stone from me. He injected Mana into the magic stone and briefly checked its contents. Soon, his expression changed as if he was surprised.

“What’s wrong? Instructor Meters?”

At another instructor’s words, Meters held out the recording magic stone.

“Would you like to check it yourself?”

The other instructors of the reserve squad checked the records on the magic stone.

“This… they finished all the reconnaissance up to the boss area. A Type 2 monster, and one that has started territorializing, it wouldn’t have been easy.”

“It’s not just ordinary reconnaissance. Look at the route before entering the boss area!”

“They found the optimal route, minimizing the chance of being detected by the enemy. It’s too skilled for a student, especially a 2nd year student.”

The reconnaissance that I led the party to accomplish was exactly the method described in the combat faction’s major lecture book. In other words, it was the most ideal method.

‘It’s true that the party members were good. But still, doing it exactly as it is is another story.’

Meters also said in disbelief. He scratched his head as if he couldn’t believe it.

“It’s amazing that they did it according to the lecture book, but they even confirmed up to the boss monster’s 2nd phase. It’s not easy to even touch the boss in the first place, but they made it go into the 2nd phase…”

“Doesn’t that mean the boss monster felt threatened? Is that possible for a 3rd tier student?”

“Yes. If it’s as recorded in the magic stone. There’s no way there’s anyone else in the Dungeon besides these three. Of course, they did it. Of course, if they provoke it to the 2nd phase and then die, it’s a waste of effort…”

“But those three returned safely, didn’t they?”

“Yes. That’s why it’s even more absurd. It’s proof that they completely finished the reconnaissance mission. If that’s the case, the reconnaissance grade is enough to be evaluated as Grade 0. If that’s true…”

At Meters’ words, the instructors focused on a small box that had been placed on the floor.

“The emblem we were originally going to give to these three. We shouldn’t give it to them as is. Do you all agree?”

“Instructor Meters is right. The difference in evaluation results with the other gold wing squad members is too great. We should report it to the faction’s general assembly first.”

The instructors nodded. The squad leader qualification and the emblem that proves it, which were the rewards for this evaluation. As I expected, the reward grade of that emblem seemed to be going up.

‘Giving the same emblem to them as the other students would be unfair.’

As far as I’m concerned, it’s all good.

The items that can be obtained through Pantheon activities. That type of item doubles its effect along with the title ‘Formal Student of the Pantheon of the Divine Academy’.

“Then I understand for now. The emblem will be awarded in a few days. For now, all three of you should have your condition checked by the medical instructor here before returning home. Ah. Please do that, Count Yulian-nim.”

Instructor Meters finished speaking. Then, he grabbed the recording magic stone once more and looked at me in surprise.

---

Friday.

Two days had passed since the power evaluation. It was a free period, so I had come to the Atelier for a while.

And before coming here. I went to the squad headquarters and checked the squad leader’s emblem that I had received through the system.

——-

「Squad Leader’s Emblem – Rune Enchant」

* Grade: Rare+

* Performance: A special emblem made of Mana-lite. Increases the wearer’s Mana by 20MP.

### Rune Enchant 「Guts」

: Increases Strength and Stamina with the effect of the rune word ‘Guts’. (Status +5)

——-

As you can see, the squad leader’s emblem was an item made of a special mineral called Mana-lite.

‘Mana-lite. It was a special metal with Mana amplification effects.’

It was a rare mineral that any Mana user would covet. But it was also a metal that was very sensitive to temperature and air contact, and quickly lost its Mana amplification properties.

So, refining that Mana-lite to make things was impossible for ordinary artisans.

But this is Pantheon. Especially the technology faction, which has skilled artisan professors and wealth. They were able to create something of this level.

The effect of this emblem was great. My original Mana increased to 100MP. In other words, my Mana had increased enough to use White Night twice in a row.

‘They said that the emblem given to the 1st place had a higher purity of Mana-lite. But I didn’t expect it to increase this much.’

Not only that. For the Grade 0 reconnaissance that I accomplished in the additional evaluation. The faction’s general assembly also gave the emblem an additional rune enchant.

‘The size of the emblem is small, so the rune enchant wouldn’t have been easy. Moreover, the material was Mana-lite.’

It was a difficult production technique that only a Pantheon professor could do. It seems that the faction’s general assembly gave a great reward for the future talent.

A little while ago. I heard some of the details from Chloe, whom I met at the squad headquarters. It was said that it was unprecedented in Pantheon for a student to accomplish this level of high-level reconnaissance.

Chloe, who was a member of that party, also had her nose held high.

‘… Of course, it was thanks to the party leader’s excellent leadership.’

Even so, she readily acknowledged my contribution. Perhaps this Young Lady of the Marquis had been tamed by me quite a bit.

I then read the explanation about the enchant written in the system.

The rune enchant with the meaning of Guts was engraved on my emblem. As a result, Strength and Stamina stats increased to 30 and 35 respectively.

If you’re a 3rd tier swordsman, you need to have a Strength-related stat close to at least 30 for proper damage. The additional reward was also satisfactory.

‘But it’s not perfect.’

I checked the newly available quest through this 1st place reward.

——-

[Quest Completed.]

* Title Quest 「Proof of the Gold Wing Squad Leader」

: You have proven your qualification as a squad leader by acquiring the emblem in the power evaluation.

### Acquired Reward

: Status enhancement is now possible through the squad leader’s emblem.

: Acquired the key to the trials of the 6 shrines 「Loia’s Laurel」.

[Combat trial entry is possible through Loia’s Laurel. (Expiration date / 30 days)]

——-

The ultimate goal I was aiming for in this power evaluation, Loia’s Laurel.

The trial of the 6 shrines to obtain Jedin’s power in the future. This item was the key item for the trial of Loia, the god of combat.

‘I can enter the 4th tier through this trial.’

In just a few months, I went from an ordinary person to the realm of the 3rd tier. But even so, I was still behind Chloe and Rosette, who had already reached the 4th tier.

For the binding spell. I had to surpass the two of them at an equal stage and overwhelm them. It meant that I still had a long way to go.

Especially Lucia’s skills were too lacking compared to the two of them, among the members I would take with me from the ‘Combat’ faction.

As I was lost in thought for a while. Aylin announced someone’s visit.

“Young Master. Princess Lilia-jeonha has come here.”