Ch.62Dungeon Conquest – 2

The composition of Squad 3 includes Hana Kang in the rear main dealer position.

Dasom Yoo handles healing at the front line with one Support Class member providing auxiliary healing from the rear.

The remaining five Weaponry Class and Martial Arts Class members are responsible for the front line.

Squads 1 and 2 have Platinum-grade students from either Weaponry Class or Martial Arts Class.

So in those squads, the Platinum-grade students can handle overall command from the front line.

But here in Squad 3, Hana Kang is the only Platinum-grade student.

That’s why I decided to stand at the front line instead of the rear position typically taken by Support Class members.

In the current situation, I’m filling in as the Platinum-grade substitute, so this is the right position for me.

Splash—!

“Ugh. This really is a swamp.”

“Good thing I wore my worst clothes on purpose.”

“Are there leeches here or something?”

“Come to think of it, I heard there are monsters that look like leeches too.”

As soon as we entered the dungeon, we weren’t greeted by monsters.

Instead, we found puddles of water, sticky mud, and sparsely growing reeds.

In this typical swamp environment, I couldn’t help but voice my complaints just like the students.

‘So this is why clans avoid dungeons like this.’

It’s only a C-grade dungeon. There are no items or byproducts that bring significant benefits.

At best, there are only miscellaneous things, which can be obtained from easier dungeons anyway.

Given the poor environment, it’s the dungeon clans would most want to avoid.

That’s why national superpower users are handling it now.

Even then, there aren’t enough of them, so they’ve requested support from the Academy.

“Everyone, stay alert. We’re inside the dungeon. Focus, focus.”

After my subtle warning, the students fell silent.

No matter how easy a dungeon might be, casualties can still occur.

The opponents we’ll soon face are monsters that see humans as food.

That’s why not even a moment of carelessness is allowed. Not if you don’t want to die.

“Lizardmen approaching from the front.”

A male Gold-grade student positioned at the far right calls out with a stop signal.

Immediately after, everyone in Squad 3 could see a group of lizardmen approaching our formation.

“Twelve of them! All appear to be warriors. No archers or shamans visible!”

Hana Kang is the first to assess the enemy’s composition.

She’s not just playing the dealer role but also serving as the squad’s beacon.

This is why people say Platinum-grade students are reliable.

“I won’t say much. Just do what you normally do, without making mistakes.”

At my words, the students nod and begin their battle preparations.

Keh—!

Kirik—!

The group of lizardmen, having spotted us, began to approach slowly.

“Magic casting complete! I’m starting, Sole Arbiter!”

The battle was initiated by Hana Kang’s magic.

“Ice Piercing!”

With her sharp cry, a translucent ice spike flew toward the lizardmen.

Its speed was so fast that dodging or blocking was impossible from the start.

Thwack—!

One lizardman died instantly without even screaming.

The one right behind it also seemed to have suffered a major injury, as it was flailing and unable to get up.

‘As expected of Hana Kang. As expected of a Platinum. Not just her magic, but her battle sense is good too.’

There’s a mistake that Magic Class users occasionally make.

Being too excited, or thinking there are too many approaching monsters,

they thoughtlessly use area-of-effect magic right from the start.

Why is this a mistake? Because doing so quickly depletes magical power.

And constantly using area magic can mess up the allied forces’ field of vision.

This means potentially missing monster movements.

In more serious cases, the area magic could even engulf allied formations.

From that perspective, Hana Kang was perfect.

She used a single-target spell to decisively eliminate one enemy, causing zero allied casualties.

At the same time, she conserved magical power in preparation for contingencies.

Being Platinum-grade, she could wipe them all out if she wanted to.

But instead, Hana Kang yielded the combat experience to the students.

Meanwhile, she remained ready to use magic at any time.

‘No wonder she’s in Hyunwoo Lee’s party.’

After giving Hana Kang a smile, I entered the battle.

Dungeon raids aren’t games. You have to solve them one step at a time.

You could get hurt by a weapon swung by a comrade next to you, by a punch, or by incoming magic.

You need to move like precise gears in a machine, not haphazardly.

Keak—!

Keurug—!

As soon as the students clashed with them, the lizardmen were swept away.

They had a slight numerical advantage, but our side was all Gold-grade or higher.

Even by dungeon standards, we’re sufficient for up to B-grade dungeons, so it would be strange if we were pushed back.

‘There’s nothing for me to do here?’

That’s fortunate. It would have been quite awkward to use my Gatekeeper abilities in this situation.

At this rate, all I need to do is evaluate each student individually.

Well, that’s what the supervising professor is supposed to do anyway.

“Another group of lizardmen approaching from behind the first group!”

Hmm, waves of enemies from the first battle.

Between this and the environment, I could tell once again what an annoying place this was.

*

The first battle ended. To get straight to the point, my worries were unfounded.

I was concerned that the students might make mistakes due to excitement or nervousness.

Or that they might move excessively and deplete their stamina.

However, the students sliced through the monsters with remarkable composure.

They didn’t break formation, waste magical power with excessive skill use,

nor did anyone get injured from blind attacks.

A perfect battle with no unnecessary moves, a victory without casualties. It was a great start.

‘At this rate, I don’t need to step in. Doing so would only rob the students of experience.’

Hana Kang seemed to share my thoughts.

In subsequent battles, she conserved her magic and only stepped in when absolutely necessary.

She was saving her magic and giving the Gold-grade students more combat experience.

“Sole Arbiter. This seems to be the driest ground. The elevation is also slightly higher than elsewhere.”

“You’re right. Alright, students. Let’s rest for 10 minutes, then move on.”

After two more battles, we found a brief moment of rest.

No student is showing signs of physical strain yet. Everyone seems fine.

But it’s good to take breaks whenever possible.

“Everyone’s doing well, right?”

Glancing to the side, I saw Hana Kang offering me a water bottle.

I replied “Yes, they are” as I took the bottle and took a sip.

“Thank you. Though I haven’t really done anything.”

“You fought with those lizards at the beginning. You stepped back a bit afterward, but that’s because you’re conserving your strength and magic for emergencies, just like me.”

I wasn’t particularly trying to conserve energy, but if that’s how she wants to interpret it, that’s fine by me.

Instead of answering, I just took another sip of water, which made Hana Kang smile.

“The professors usually watch from a distance, but you’re different.”

That’s actually correct. Why would a professor need to be among the students?

External support is ultimately an extension of teaching. Students need to navigate through it themselves.

Both combat and decision-making should be left to the students for their own benefit.

“I guess I’ve become more worried after being in charge of Bronze and Silver grades.”

“Hmm. That could be it. But don’t worry. Everyone will do fine.”

After our brief conversation, I gave the signal to move out again.

We’ve encountered quite a few groups of lizardmen, so it should be time to meet the boss soon.

A dungeon is considered cleared when the boss monster inside is defeated.

Either you advance slowly, clearing the area thoroughly before taking on the boss,

or you ignore the lesser monsters and quickly target the boss.

Clearing methods typically follow one of these two approaches.

And currently, Squad 3 is opting for the former.

‘Right now, we’re not just thinking about clearing.’

That’s the reason we came to the safest dungeon.

To experience as many environments as possible, spend more time,

and eliminate any remaining tension and fear.

And to develop the ability to respond appropriately to unexpected situations.

“Lizardmen group spotted ahead. Five in number. Likely a scouting party.”

Once again, the student at the front quickly alerts us to the enemy.

A scouting party can be easily defeated. The students know this too.

“Wait.”

But I stopped the students in their tracks.

“Sole Arbiter?”

The reason was the strange sense of unease I felt when I saw the distant lizardmen.

“Hana Kang. Magic first.”

Despite my sudden instruction, Hana Kang obediently followed my order.

“Ice Piercing.”

An ice spike shot from Hana Kang’s fingertips, cutting through the air.

As it had been until now, a C-grade monster like a lizardman should die instantly without even being able to react.

Even if it did react, it would be too late and should suffer a fatal wound.

Kirik—!

“…Huh?”

But the lizardman properly reacted to Hana Kang’s magic.

It couldn’t completely avoid injury, but instead of having its torso pierced, only its arm was cut.

Kyaa—!

The creatures that spotted the students began approaching through the swamp.

And as they got closer, the ominous feeling grew stronger.

“What the hell. Why are they so fast!”

“Is that really a lizardman?!”

A lizardman that had approached within reach swung its spear.

One student took the hit and staggered back with a grunt.

The student hadn’t been careless. They weren’t unskilled or tired.

They had been fighting lizardmen just fine until now. Yet this student was pushed back in an instant.

‘Shit, don’t tell me. No, that was supposed to start in the second semester.’

An incident mentioned at the end of the vacation episode. The harbinger of disaster.

But as I recall, it was supposed to occur after the vacation.

So I thought we had time. I thought it would still be okay.

‘I was too complacent. I should have kept that possibility open.’

To summarize the current situation, it could be explained like this:

Superpower users aren’t the only ones who grow stronger over time.