episode_0027

I have no particular complaints about Professor Atra’s training methods.

Certainly, the training itself is tough. It’s a rigorous method compared to other places. It wasn’t the usual way.

It felt like it was based on assuming talent. Education based on exceptional talent.

Basics? It feels like we’re learning them as we go along…

Actually, it seemed like that was Professor Atra’s intention as well.

From the very first lecture, didn’t Professor Atra say, “Expectations from society are set for those with special admissions”?

In other words, it’s training conducted under the assumption that there is a level of talent equivalent to special admissions.

It’s tough. There’s no denying that fact. Honestly, if there weren’t a reason I absolutely had to endure it, I would have run away long ago.

But unfortunately, I had a reason that I absolutely couldn’t run away from. There was a reason I had to endure this rigorous training.

If I were to run away like this, I’d be dead within 10 years at most. I’d have to live with my eyes closed, not able to eat anything delicious, not able to smell anything fragrant.

Dealing with the inconvenience of not being able to speak is one thing… but I couldn’t just let it go like that for any other reason. I didn’t want to live like that.

Strength was necessary to break the curse. The method I knew to lift the curse existed in the dungeon, and strength was needed to break through the dungeon.

So I endured Professor Atra’s lectures. It was painful and tough! But I endured it.

Professor Atra’s training was clearly effective. There were results. I felt the extent of my growth through the training. I stuck to the tip of the toe of the master who had been training effortlessly for over a decade.

If I continue to grow like this, I might be able to find a dungeon with the method to lift the curse sooner than expected.

As the goal that I thought would take a long time drew closer, I couldn’t run away even more.

“Here are some related books. You can read them with your detection ability, so take them and read them all. If it’s difficult to take them with you, scan them with your smartwatch and keep them.”

“……”

“At least memorize it until the dungeon strategy begins. If it’s too heavy to take and read, use the smartwatch, and if it’s too heavy to read right now, I’ll read it to you.”

I informed Professor Atla about some of the spatial perception capabilities. It was necessary to let him know how far I could see and feel for efficient training.

“Check if you can read it properly.”

Dozens of books laid out in front of me. The exact number is 23. They are quite thick. I took the book with a trembling hand.

“Dungeon Environmental Distribution,” “Monster Cooking Dictionary,” “Survival Strategies in the Dungeon (Upper),” “Survival Strategies in the Dungeon (Lower),” “Practical Herb Collection and Consumption Methods”…

There’s everything. There were also books that I remembered skimming through at the library.

A Monster Cooking Dictionary? There are cases where monsters are cooked and eaten inside. When stranded in a dungeon and all food is consumed, you have to gather herbs or hunt monsters for food supply.

I scanned the inside of the book with spatial perception. I felt all the letters.

“You can read it.”

“Thank goodness. Then read it whenever you have time.”

As I absentmindedly skimmed through the book, Professor Atla untied the bundle next to him this time. I heard rustling sounds from inside the bundle.

“It’s a magical tool that helps conquer dungeons. I plan to personally handle and learn how to use it for two days.”

Saying so, Professor Atla took out one magical tool after another from the bundle, laying them on the ground.

Various magical tools of different appearances came out one by one and were laid out on the table. There were also exploration magical tools that he often carried around in the original work.

As I stood there blankly, Professor Atla turned his head towards me. The magic lantern in his hand flickered.

“Do you have anything to say?”

“It’s nothing.”

I quickly regained my composure and lowered my head. Professor Atla, with one eyebrow raised, started the lecture on dungeons without saying anything about training… but rather, a lecture on dungeons.

Surprisingly, the lecture was informative. He precisely picked out the necessary parts from the stack of books he brought and explained them in a way that related to his own experiences, making it easy to understand.

It was not just simple theory, but education focused on how to actually act.

Not about which monster is of what rank and how strong they are.

If you encounter it, how should you deal with it, what conditions should make you run away, and if caught, can you consume it? What are the chances of other entities being around that monster, etc…

In many ways, it was an education of a high enough level to be understood even by someone like me, who has holes in their knowledge. Even considering it was one-on-one education.

I heard Professor Atra is a top-tier hero, and he was very knowledgeable about dungeons to the point where he could tell most hunters to go away.

“It’s a heat-generating magical tool. It has a small plate built in, but occasionally when all the magic is used up, you can recharge it directly with your own magic to use it. Most magical tools can self-recharge, so remember that.”

“Always keep unexpected situations in mind. Even if you’ve made short-term plans, you never know what might happen in the dungeon. When stocking up on provisions, make sure to have at least three times the original amount.”

“This app can be especially useful in the dungeon. Store it in your smartwatch in advance.”

As Professor Atra spoke, he reached out to me. On top of his hand was a magical tool shaped like a human face inside an egg.

It was the heat-generating magical tool he had just described.

“Try using it yourself.”

I cautiously took it and examined it closely with spatial perception.

The spatial perception imbued with magic on my back unraveled the spell engraved on the magical tool. The relatively simple spell came to mind.

“｢Heat Generation｣… that’s a given, and ｢Low-level Protection｣ and ｢Durability Increase｣… they overlap nicely. No conflicts either.”

Magic was something I had only briefly skimmed through in basic textbooks. I hadn’t cast any spells yet, but I could read such simple spells.

As I inspected the magical tool, Professor Atra reached out and grabbed my hand holding the magical tool.

‘?’

“If it’s charged, just press the button, but if there’s no charged magic, infuse magic through here. Now, try it yourself.”

Professor Atra said this and moved my hand. I gathered magic in my hand as he instructed. Hmmm… the egg-shaped magical tool, receiving a small amount of magic, emitted a faint orange light.

The warmth transmitted through my palm was unexpectedly comforting.

However, due to the warmth felt on the back of his hand, it didn’t feel real.

Professor Atla took a step back, nodding as he said, “That’s how it’s used.”

“It’s a similar format for other magical tools. I’ll tell you about the rest later. Next is…”

While concentrating on Professor Atla’s continuous lecture, inwardly, she smirked.

She felt discomfort.

…Was this person always so passionate about teaching? She couldn’t shake off the difference in Professor Atla’s attitude from before.

He wasn’t someone who did things haphazardly. Keeping to the schedule and teaching thoroughly was his approach.

What do they call this? FM? A stickler for rules? It was exactly that kind of attitude, but now it was different… It was a much more proactive teaching style than before, clearly contrasting with the past.

“Listen carefully. We will have a brief test at the end of the lecture.”

‘Ugh.’

For several hours, all sorts of dungeon knowledge were crammed in.

And by the end, a real test was taken. Fortunately, there were no wrong answers.

For two days during the major class, she diligently received special lectures on dungeon strategies from Professor Atla. It was full of various know-hows and teachings.

In the morning, there was plenty of dungeon theory, and in the afternoon, similar dungeon knowledge, so information filled her head.

Since it was knowledge that would be needed someday, she studied hard.

One day over the weekend, she received education about magic from Professor Riana. As it was only basic magic, it was surprisingly comfortable as it didn’t demand any high-level enlightenment.

There was nothing special. At most, she ended up sleeping for three hours instead of one while practicing sleep meditation and borrowing Professor Riana’s coat to cover herself.

One day, she spent time in the library scribbling in magic books, reviewing Professor Riana’s teachings. Since she hadn’t even properly started learning magic, she could only cram the memorized information into her head.

So time passed quickly, and it became Monday morning.

An email arrived on her smartwatch. It was an announcement about the assignment of dungeon strategy team members.

I took a deep breath and opened the file. The holographic team assignment list appeared.

[Spring Equinox Team 1]

– Hong Yeonhwa

– Colonel Ardellia

…

▲Grade 4 Dungeon: Cave Dungeon 7-212

▲Type: Periodic Monster Subjugation

[Spring Equinox Team 4]

– Baek Arin

– Lee Si-eun

…

▲Grade 4 Dungeon: Plain Dungeon 2-64

▲Type: Periodic Monster Subjugation

[Spring Equinox Team 6]

– Katsuki Yusei

– Christopher Hayes

…

▲Grade 4 Dungeon: Cave Dungeon 7-23

▲Type: Periodic Monster Subjugation

[Spring Equinox Team 11]

– Lee Hayul

– Elia Slayde

– Attila Blairo

– Nam Yeonjung

– Aidan Reynolds

▲Grade 4 Dungeon: Forest Dungeon 3-23

▲Type: Periodic Monster Subjugation

“Um…”

There were two familiar names.

Elia Slayde. A person I was glad to see, as we had some acquaintance.

And Aidan Reynolds… a cool name, but meeting him would be awkward and pleasant at the same time.