Ch.28Chapter 28. Crisis? (1)

“Wow, the atmosphere here is no joke.”

The dungeon created by the Academy was more impressive than I’d expected.

Even though it was called a dungeon, I thought it would feel somewhat moderate since it was for a student event.

But the darkness was a given, and the musty smell and atmosphere unique to dungeons were perfectly replicated.

“It’s too dark. This will make it difficult to secure visibility.”

“I-I can perform simple light magic!”

“Oh. Could you do that for us then?”

Woong-

Emily immediately conjured light in the air at Cynthia’s request.

Everyone seemed relieved when the light emanating from Emily’s fingertips brightened their surroundings.

‘Tsk. I actually prefer the darkness.’

Everyone except me.

“Shall we get going then?”

“Yes. Like before, I should take the lead and we maintain the same formation…”

“No. I’ll take the lead here.”

“What?”

Cynthia stepped forward upon hearing Elaine’s words.

‘That makes sense.’

Even though Emily’s light had improved visibility, there were still clear limitations.

In situations like this, it made sense for someone with good eyesight and senses like Cynthia to take the lead.

“It’s darker than expected and visibility is limited. I think it would be better if I lead.”

“Ah…”

Elaine reluctantly nodded at Cynthia’s logical and serious suggestion.

When preparing for the competition, we had decided on a formation for moving through the dungeon.

Elaine was always at the front during those times.

It was natural for Elaine to be at the front as the most reliable and only knight position.

I didn’t have major complaints about that, but the actual situation turned out to be different.

Who knew it would be so dark that we couldn’t see even 5 meters ahead?

Moreover, considering the level of the previous obstacle course, there could easily be dangerous monsters or traps.

In these situations, it’s better to have someone agile with good scouting abilities lead the way carefully.

That’s the standard approach, but…

“No, I’ll go in front.”

“Huh?”

I blocked Cynthia who was about to take the lead and stepped forward.

“You’re a ranged character anyway, right?”

Strictly speaking, that wasn’t the real reason, but I made up an excuse.

Although we quickly passed the first and second tests, the main part was just beginning.

To come in first place ahead of the other grades, we needed to move quickly from now on.

For that, it would be most efficient if I took the lead.

“Let’s move quickly…”

Woong-

Something suddenly appeared in the air.

Elaine was about to draw her sword at the sudden change but stopped.

What appeared in the air wasn’t an enemy or trap threatening us.

<Current 1st Place: 3rd Year>

It was a message showing the current status of the grade competition.

“Oh look. The third-years are in first place right now.”

“…That’s to be expected. Besides, from what I know, this year’s third-years already cleared the dungeon exploration last year. Of course they’d move quickly.”

“Hey now. Nothing is certain. We should be in first place.”

“Ryuyeong, that’s impossible. First-years have never taken first place in the competition.”

“Then we’ll make history this time. First-year Ryu, takes first place!”

“…”

Elaine, Cynthia, and Emily all had no reaction to my words.

I had clearly stated from the beginning that my goal was first place, but no one seemed to believe me.

“Tsk. Why are you all reacting like this?”

“Are you serious?”

“Huh? About what?”

“About aiming for first place.”

“Of course. I can’t sleep at night if I don’t get first place. It’s too frustrating.”

This probably wouldn’t end with just losing sleep.

This quest wasn’t a sub-quest but a main quest.

I could only clear the quest by getting first place, and only then could I receive the reward of learning “magic.”

Magic that could be cast simply by shouting, without complex calculations.

I absolutely had to get this.

“Weren’t you joking?”

“I-I thought it was a joke too…”

Cynthia and Emily each added their comments.

So that’s why they hadn’t been reacting much—they thought I was just joking around.

“Of course I’m not joking. I’ve been working hard for this.”

When I spoke with genuine emotion, they finally seemed to understand.

Of course, none of them seriously believed we could get first place, but still.

‘Anyway, the third-years are currently in first place. We’ve been moving smoothly too, but they’re definitely fast.’

We hadn’t encountered any obstacles while going through the written test and obstacle course.

Thanks to Emily’s performance, we passed the written test instantly, and thanks to Elaine, we quickly cleared the obstacle course.

So I had the complacent thought that we might be in first place.

But now the third-years were in first place.

“Anyway. Let’s get moving quickly.”

Swish-

Meanwhile, the message announcing the current first place disappeared into the air like scattering particles.

It was a bit disappointing that we weren’t in first place, but the difference probably wasn’t huge.

Still, just to be safe, we needed to get moving as quickly as possible.

“Well… at least there’s only one path, which is fortunate.”

“Alright, I’m going to run now. Keep up, okay?”

“…Are you really serious?”

Cynthia and the others followed me at my pace while grumbling.

Of course, I didn’t actually run despite saying so.

And so our dungeon exploration officially began.

Emily’s light illuminated our path ahead, and we followed behind in formation.

“This really feels like a dungeon.”

“Ryuyeong, have you been to dungeons before?”

“Yes. Quite a few.”

“As expected…”

“What do you mean ‘as expected’?”

Dungeons where monsters swarm and dangerous magic might be encountered.

People are always eager to explore dungeons as soon as they’re discovered because treasures are always hidden in their deepest parts.

Especially mercenaries who make money through combat.

There’s no way I wouldn’t have been to dungeons.

The first time I entered a dungeon on the Arcaria Continent was before I even formed the Black Shadow Corps.

I joined a mercenary group to enter a dungeon, and I vividly remember the terrible hardship.

After that, whenever I had to go to a dungeon, I always brought at least one scout.

Someone with good instincts, like Cynthia.

“But I don’t have many good memories of them.”

“Hmm. I see. This is my first time in a dungeon. I believe it’s the same for Miss Franz.”

“Ah, I-I’ve been to one before! With my parents and sister…”

“Oh…”

Elaine looked surprised at Emily’s answer.

This was unexpected for me too.

I thought Emily would have spent her entire childhood just studying, but she’d been to a dungeon before.

“I-I see. Then what about you, Cynthia?”

“Ah, I’ve been a few times with my dad. He said I needed to get used to seeing in the dark, so we went without torches.”

“…So I’m the only one without experience.”

“Hmm. You were raised delicately, weren’t you?”

“What…!”

Elaine fell for my provocation without fail.

She’s really an easy character to tease.

Her speech and behavior are almost identical to Addy’s, but she has no resistance to teasing, so the impact is perfect.

By the way, it’s surprising that both Emily and Cynthia have been to dungeons before.

Right now we’re walking around joking, but dungeons are dangerous zones where losing your life wouldn’t be strange.

What were their parents thinking, taking children to such places?

“Ah, wait a moment!”

“I wasn’t raised that delicately…!”

“Shh! Elaine, quiet!”

“…Urgh.”

Elaine lowered herself when Cynthia and I simultaneously crouched down, but couldn’t hide her frustrated expression.

She really is fun to tease.

“Cynthia, what is it? Is there something ahead?”

“There’s something there, but…”

‘What could it be?’

I also checked ahead to prepare for any possible situation.

Focusing a little to peer into the darkness, my vision gradually cleared.

The path ahead was ordinary, just like before.

However, there was something unidentifiable up ahead.

‘Is it a living being…?’

It would have been convenient if Erika were here.

I could see it, but that was all.

If Erika were here, she would have immediately identified what it was.

At a glance, it seemed to have a human shape and was standing on two feet, but it was strangely small.

The feeling was also strange.

“Ah, maybe not. I might have sensed wrong.”

“Then shall we proceed cautiously?”

“Hmm. What is that?”

‘What is it really?’

While quietly listening to Cynthia and Elaine’s conversation, I stared intently at whatever was ahead.

The unidentifiable object was standing completely still without the slightest movement.

It looked suspicious at first glance.

It was too motionless to be a living being, but too human-shaped to be an inanimate object.

“Let’s go slowly.”

“Hmph, just a moment ago you were saying we need to hurry to get first place.”

“…She said there’s something there.”

Elaine picked a fight with me, probably frustrated at being verbally defeated, but I ignored her lightly.

I didn’t have the luxury to play with Elaine right now.

This was an Academy-made dungeon for students, but it was still a dungeon.

I couldn’t let my guard down when something strange was in sight.

Besides, I had to protect them too.

Thud- Thud-

We approached the unidentifiable object step by step.

I wasn’t sure how far Cynthia could see, but it would soon be visible in the light.

‘It’s still not reacting, so maybe it’s a rock? But it’s too human-shaped for that.’

Twitch-

“Oh.”

“Hmm.”

“W-why are you both reacting like that?”

Just as the light was about to reach the human-shaped object, I clearly felt it.

The previously motionless object moved slightly.

Cynthia reacted at the same time as me, so she must have felt it too.

“Something…”

Twitch- Twitch-

‘What is that?’

“Something’s moving!”

Shing-

Cynthia shouted urgently while stepping back, and Elaine drew her sword with a serious expression.

Meanwhile, I still couldn’t take my eyes off the twitching object.

After trembling, it slowly began moving its arms and legs.

As the object started to move, an unpleasant energy began to seep out.

‘What is this really?’

Shiver-

It was enough to give me goosebumps.

“Grrrr…”

“T-there’s a strange sound…!”

With Emily’s cry as she hid behind me, the now-moving object slowly began walking toward us.