episode_0087

“Phew.. Okay, looks like I’ve cleared this room completely.”

Breathing heavily, I was steadily advancing through the dungeon.

As expected, perhaps because it was an F-rank dungeon, the lowest grade, there weren’t any significantly dangerous traps or magical beasts.

Furthermore, the structure was a straightforward form, consisting of rooms arranged sequentially with various traps and monsters placed within.

In other words, there was no worry of getting lost or wandering like in a maze.

Even with only the E-rank equipment provided, I didn’t feel much difficulty.

“By the way, is it because I’m alone after all? It’s starting to get tough…”

Trying to handle scouting, combat, and maintenance all by myself, my body was not only fatigued, but it was also hard to pick up speed.

Luckily, it was fortunate that I had learned martial arts and magic, including healing magic, to some extent; if that hadn’t been the case, I would have given up the test long ago.

And since my speed was slow, although I didn’t know the exact locations of other students, I could sense that I was falling behind.

Well, even if I hadn’t been alone from the start, I never dreamed of being the first to clear the dungeon, so I decided to aim for getting as deep as possible and closer to the dungeon’s core.

“Alright, this much rest in this room should be enough. There’s a time limit for the test, so let’s not relax and keep moving diligently.

..Even if I say this, there’s only me here though.”

Dealing with monsters alone, collecting rewards alone, and performing maintenance alone.

While doing so, I couldn’t help but feel truly lonely muttering various things to myself.

“…! !…!”

..?” I heard the sound of other people talking nearby, which was quite welcome.

Indeed, even though everyone started separately in different locations within a vast dungeon, all first-year students are attempting to clear it.

So, it wouldn’t be that strange for one or two teams to meet in the same space.

Come to think of it, during past tests, there were incidents where people attacked other teams or set traps to reduce rivals, apparently.

Naturally, they were all disqualified, and since then, intentionally obstructing other teams has been designated as one of the reasons for disqualification.

Well, even so, this is a publicly known fact, and also because a trend gradually emerged that moving one’s own team a little faster was more efficient than spending time interfering with other teams.

So, even if I were to encounter other teams now, I wouldn’t be subjected to random attacks.

But since I’m alone in the first place, there wouldn’t even be a need for caution, I suppose.

“…Hmm, still, being able to meet other people feels welcoming though…”

I pondered. There wasn’t a specific rule stating that one shouldn’t join another team encountered by chance while clearing the dungeon.

They say it’s one of the flexible responses in a difficult environment or something.

Instead, the points earned from defeating magical beasts or going deeper into the dungeon are also said to be shared among each other.

Furthermore, if it’s discovered that the meeting was planned by sharing information in advance, it would conversely lead to disqualification…

…It seems I couldn’t help but hesitate a little.

Certainly, continuing to explore the dungeon alone like this would be much tougher, both physically and mentally, than otherwise.

Moreover, it just so happened that their path coincided with the route I was originally planning to take.

In that situation, I made a decision.

“Yes, it’s probably right for me to go around?”

To move in a direction where I wouldn’t meet them.

Thinking about it, if I were to join them, there wouldn’t be any benefit for them, would there?

I possess a wide range of abilities in various fields, but conversely, I don’t have any particularly outstanding skills.

For someone like me to join another team would simply be a penalty where points are shared…

Before that, it also doesn’t seem like the other side I meet would welcome me.

“And clinging onto others just because it’s a test doesn’t really suit my nature either.”

Thus, I took out the map I was given and decided to adjust the clearing route I had originally planned.

I’d have to go a little out of my way, but I intend to accept this much.

. . .

“Hmm.. strange.. He should definitely be proceeding in this direction…?”

The princess, Tiara Altarion, couldn’t help but be puzzled by the current situation.

Generally, students who enter the dungeon in this test proceed by going straight from the starting location.

Since it’s the lowest-grade dungeon, there are few traps and the structure is simple, so such a strategy is actually much more efficient.

However, her team was proceeding straight from a point slightly angled from the initial starting location, meaning they were moving diagonally.

As if they wanted to coincidentally encounter someone and meet them along their path.

“…If the calculation of the coordinates I investigated beforehand is correct, I should definitely be meeting him at this point, but why…?

I can’t imagine that he’s already been eliminated.. Oh dear…”

As if some misunderstanding had occurred, she propped her chin with two fingers and pondered.

“Your Highness, is something troubling you? I, Viyott, will solve it if you just give the command.”

“Haha, just ignore this skinny academic. And if it’s something involving physical work, rest assured, Smoking Jo is here!”

Said a woman with neatly styled yellowish-brown hair and glasses, and a bald man with a rugged physique.

These were all members of Princess Tiara’s team, individuals hastily decided upon after a brief review of their skill and character following an unexpected commotion a few days ago.

Whether they knew this fact or not, they were overflowing with confidence just from the fact that the princess herself had chosen them.

“Ah.. Ahaha, it’s alright. I was just checking if we were going in a slightly suitable direction.”

“I see. By the way, proceeding as Your Highness instructed, it seems we are moving very smoothly!”

“Indeed, actually, at first, since you were moving diagonally instead of straight, I wondered if you had misread the map.

But I never imagined that proceeding according to Your Highness’s words would result in only rooms with so few traps and full of rewards!”

“Ahaha.. Ahahaha…”

As if she absolutely couldn’t say that moving in this direction was purely a coincidence and there was actually another reason, she smoothed over the situation with a smile.

“! Just in time, a few monsters are coming this way.”

“Seems they were drawn by the sound of talking, alright! This Smoking Jo will finish them off with a single strike!”

“Wait! Really.. He always just gets ahead…”

“Haha. Still, they are low-level monsters, and he is quite skilled, so there won’t be any major trouble.”

It was then.

Rumble- Rumble-

With a sudden tremor, cracks began to form on the inner wall of the dungeon, which had been in the shape of a flat wall.

The tremor and cracks didn’t stop but grew even larger, and soon the terrain also moved in accordance with them.

And even the circulation of magic flowing through the dungeon fluctuated chaotically.

! The two women present here, who had diligently pursued their studies for a long time, had faintly come across such a phenomenon in textbooks.

A phenomenon that was only vaguely mentioned because it was so rare is now occurring.

“…! The structure of the dungeon is changing?!”

As Viyott, who shouted with astonishment, said, the shape of the dungeon was distorting.

Where there were doors, walls made of thorns appeared, and where there was the floor, a deep hole whose end was not visible was formed.

As if in sync with this, the small monsters that were approaching us also twisted into grotesque forms, their weak appearance from just moments before disappearing, and they transformed into colossal, hungry magical beasts.

“…This can’t be…”

The man who called himself Smoking Jo couldn’t close his mouth, his earlier bravado gone, as he looked at the magical beast that had grown so massive its head touched the ceiling of the greatly altered dungeon.

Its weak and small hands from before transformed into monstrous, giant arms with huge claws, swung with immense power.

“Ugh..!”

Smoking Jo hurriedly raised his shield to guard, but the impact was so strong that it was utterly insufficient to defend against with E-rank equipment.

“Retreat! Let’s retreat for a moment! Quickly, come this way!”

Princess Tiara, who was the first to regain her composure, quickly led Viyott by the hand and called out to Smoking Jo as they retreated.

What on earth had happened? Despite her head aching from the confusion, under the resolve that they had to at least preserve their lives, she and her party began to flee.

. . .

“What… What on earth is all this commotion!”

“What’s going on? Hey you, what’s happening in the dungeon right now?”

Huffnice Sheiren, one of the individuals in charge of this test, hurriedly arrived at the scene and assessed the situation.

“The structure and shape of the dungeon are changing! That’s not all.

The core located in the center has begun to strengthen, causing the overall grade to rise!”

“What? That means…?”

“Yes, the concentration of magic encompassing the dungeon is increasing and becoming volatile, the magical beasts, or monsters, will grow stronger, and the dungeon’s structure will also become more dangerous…!”

“In other words, the dungeon’s grade will be immediately adjusted upwards…!”

“Protection magic! The students’ safety comes first! Quickly send out an emergency contact to the students, halt the test, and activate the protection magic to bring them back!”

“It’s not possible! The strength of the dungeon’s magic blockage has also increased, so communication magic isn’t connecting!

Furthermore, the return spell via protection magic… isn’t working at all…!”

To make matters worse, the portal, which was the only entrance and exit, also suddenly collapsed just now!”

“Rescue team! What is the situation with the rescue team!”

“They haven’t been able to easily issue a dispatch order as the dungeon’s grade is still being adjusted upwards…!”

“However… the advance team, set up to match the estimated limit grade, has succeeded in deploying first.”

“Alright, then what level is the grade that has been adjusted upwards along with the dungeon’s mutation?”

“The estimated maximum grade is… C-rank…! It’s a difficulty level that well-organized upper-level parties would challenge…!”

“First-year students equipped with only E-rank gear in such a place…! The situation is urgent!

We must request help from as many knight orders as possible and assemble additional rescue teams!”

“Damn it, what is this noise suddenly? There was no problem just now.. Did someone cause an accident?”

“Where did that guy Wight go at this busy time? He said he went to the restroom earlier, but he’s nowhere to be seen.”

“First, we need to focus on our work right now. Everyone, concentrate and use your power to restore the portal and communication magic!”

What on earth is happening? I thought the security was thorough…!

Huffnice Sheiren’s mind became chaotic due to the sudden, unexpected situation.