episode_0062

There is a dungeon beneath the academy.

For the students, this statement was incredibly shocking.

Many students in the classroom raised their hands and began to question the professors.

“What does it mean that there is a labyrinth beneath the academy?”

“Has the academy been hiding this fact all along?”

“If there is indeed a dungeon beneath the academy, why hasn’t the academy taken any action?”

One by one, as they raised their hands to ask questions,

Once the questions started, there seemed to be no end in sight.

The situation was becoming increasingly chaotic.

Suddenly, the lights in the classroom started to go out one by one.

Then, the curtains installed above the windows began to fall on their own, filling the classroom with darkness.

Indeed, the space was enveloped in pitch-black darkness where nothing could be seen.

Due to the sudden onset of darkness, almost all the students in the classroom began to feel bewildered.

However, Silia beside me, half human and half vampire, seemed accustomed to the darkness.

Of course, I couldn’t see anything due to the darkness.

It was just a feeling.

Anyway,

Because of the sudden darkness that enveloped them, the voices of the students gradually diminished.

Before long, silence descended upon the classroom.

While everyone remained silent, a spotlight illuminated in front of the classroom.

The spotlight, made of mana stones, brightly illuminated a man who appeared in the classroom.

He had slightly gray hair that showed signs of aging and was quite tall and well-built for a mage.

Dressed in a high-quality suit befitting the academy’s headmaster, he wore stylish monocle over his left eye.

The headmaster emerged into the darkness with a bright light and then began to walk slowly forward, extending his arms wide.

As he did so, another light emerged in the darkened classroom.

A beam of light brightly lit up the classroom that was previously shrouded in darkness.

Everyone present here was captivated by the scene unfolding before them.

As the surroundings brightened, the shining beam of light disappeared.

Everyone in the room began to focus on him.

And the silence that filled the classroom,

The headmaster broke it.

“Welcome, students. Today, what I have to say is very important. Allow me to speak directly.”

Among the people present here,

There was no one who didn’t know him.

He is also mentioned as the next Archmage

and the guardian of Oasis Academy.

Of course, his position is significant,

handling many tasks himself due to his immense influence and the inability of others to do so.

His time at the academy is not extensive due to frequent business trips.

However, every time he appears, his name leaves a profound impact on the students.

“Alec Frederick.”

“Tilpang, I know the headmaster’s name too. Be quiet.”

“..Got it.”

Anyway,

The fact that the man known as the next Archmage appeared in the classroom.

Approaching a large blackboard, he began to project something.

Projected on the blackboard was a huge ‘labyrinth’ in the form of a maze.

It was a blueprint of the labyrinth existing beneath the academy.

Showing the massive labyrinth to the students, the headmaster spoke.

“Until now, this information has been known only to a few. However, due to recent unfortunate events, we have decided to make the labyrinth public.”

“Originally, the underground labyrinth is an ancient dungeon that has existed since before the academy was established.”

“Since the name of the ancient dungeon is unknown, we currently refer to it as the underground labyrinth.”

“This ancient dungeon bears a striking resemblance to dungeons found all over the world. From weak monsters to strong ones, many creatures appear within. Additionally, this labyrinth houses numerous treasures.”

“So far, the Academy has conquered up to the 7th floor, with further conquests still in progress.”

“Now, moving on to the main point. The dungeon exploration that students will undertake this time will cover three floors, from the 1st to the 3rd floor, exploring a total of three levels.”

With those words, the principal handed the microphone to Caron, who was standing beside him, to continue the story.

“As you’ve heard from the principal, this ancient dungeon has revealed a total of seven levels so far. It is estimated that there are still several levels left undiscovered.”

“Anyway, the purpose of this dungeon exploration is to enhance the students’ skills. In other words, it can be seen as training to respond appropriately in urgent situations.”

“Moreover, in the ancient dungeon, there exists a special mechanism in the underground maze.”

“Firstly, you do not die in this dungeon.”

“Not dying in a dungeon? What does that mean?”

“In this dungeon, when a player receives damage sufficient to cause death, there is a mechanism that ejects them outside the dungeon.”

“With our current technology, we cannot understand the principle, but in this dungeon created with ancient technology, many other mechanisms exist.”

“The monsters that appear in the dungeon respawn three hours after being defeated, and the terrain changes slightly every week.”

“Furthermore, when you defeat monsters here, unlike elsewhere, these creatures drop special items.”

“This is the item I am holding, called ‘Token.’”

“The Token is divided into three grades: Grade 1 to Grade 3. By defeating lower-level monsters, from Grade 8 to Grade 6, as you can see, they drop Grade 3 Tokens. So, in this exploration, we will score based on these Tokens.”

“Cooperation among team members is crucial in this dungeon exploration. Effective teamwork in urgent situations allows for swift responses, preventing incidents like the previous one.”

“With that, let’s conclude the first class. Students, please follow the guidance of the faculty members and move to your respective classrooms. That is all.”

Having finished the instructions, Caron set down the microphone and began leading the students.

“I should start heading back to my classroom soon.”

I never expected the principal to make a personal appearance.

It must have been crucial information, then.

Well, it doesn’t matter either way.

Even if there’s a new event I’m unaware of, if it’s held at the Academy, it should end well enough.

So, what I need to focus on right now is… Silia.

After the dungeon exploration, the boss battle for Act 2 will begin shortly.

Once I get through Act 2 successfully, there shouldn’t be any more dangerous events until summer vacation.

Therefore, after saving Silia… that’s when I need to concentrate on my growth.

To stop Jeron, I’ll need to become even stronger than I am now.

Let’s think about the plans for the future.

Silia, who was sitting next to me, started to get up.

-Swish

“Is it over like this? Quite anticlimactic… Well then, I’m heading back to class.”

“I should go back too. Oh, wait a moment.”

“?”

As she was about to put away her chair and return to class,

she turned towards me, wearing an expression that seemed to say, ‘Why all of a sudden?’

“If you ever face difficulties, make sure to tell me. I’ll listen and support you.”

“Tilpang-ah, why are you suddenly saying that? Where would I find difficulties? Anyway… I’ll remember that. Oh, anyway! I’m off!”

With those words, Silia quickly got up from her seat and disappeared, seemingly vanishing like an illusion amidst the many students.

“I should head back too.”

After being asleep for four days, I must have fallen behind in my studies.

After class today, I have to go work part-time.

There’s a lot to do.

By the way, I also need to stop by the principal’s office.

So busy, so busy.

Well, should I drop by during lunchtime?

I won’t have time other than that.

It might be the principal’s lunchtime then… Well, he’ll manage to eat on his own.

…

Returning to the classroom for other lessons, before I knew it, the clock hands were pointing at half past twelve.

Normally, I would have bought the cheapest bread from the school store and gone up to the rooftop to eat.

But not today.

That’s because right now, I was standing in front of the principal’s office.

Standing in front of the door, made of fancy wood, I knocked gently.

Upon doing so, the wooden door creaked open on its own.

It was a scene straight out of a horror movie, but I paid it no mind and stepped into the principal’s office.

Entering inside like that,

Sitting on a very expensive-looking sofa, the principal was sipping coffee from an exquisite cup with his eyes closed.

As I approached him, the principal opened his eyes that had been shut.

And then, he started staring at me intensely.

His golden eyes shining made it feel like I was facing a lion’s gaze.

Unlike before, perhaps due to being face-to-face now, an immense pressure seemed to emanate from him.

Feeling slightly tense,

Just about when I was feeling that way, he began to open his tightly shut mouth.

“I’ve been waiting. Bern Flame, or should I say Bern now?”