episode_0350

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Anne and her group left the outpost again, leading the group that had been sitting on the ground and resting.

Meanwhile, as they were talking about various things about the dungeon while walking, Anne suddenly found herself speechless about something she did not know.

“Environmental change. I knew that.”

“That… song… … ?”

“Dungeons occur due to magical influences.

So, it was said that the environment continues to change due to the influence of magic entropy.

Not only the temporary environment, but also the ecological environment of monsters.

That’s what they taught in the [Basic Magic Studies] lecture.

On the other hand, Anne was looking at Lucia, who was answering without hesitation about knowledge she did not know, and saying a word of admiration.

However, seeing Anne like that, Lucia smiled humbly and added two words, gently tucking her hair behind her ear.

“Ah, because it’s the basic knowledge you will learn in 4th grade.

Even though it’s a swordsmanship department, it’s something you’ll learn someday.

You just aren’t ready to learn yet.”

As with all liberal arts, learning the very basics of other subjects is also part of the academy’s curriculum.

However, while listening to Lucia talking about something she had never heard of, Anne’s pupils were shaking with her mouth slightly open.

After all, is it the value of being called a senior?

Just by walking the path ahead of you, there is already this much difference.

Even considering that Lucia is exceptional in many ways, she remembers well the magic arts that she only briefly heard about in a liberal arts class and has no connection with the students of the swordsmanship department.

Anne, who suddenly appeared to ask Lucia a question, was concentrating on Lucia’s answer as she wiggled her hands.

“You really know this well, right?”

“You will learn it soon anyway.

From the beginning, I also had personal interests.

It’s been my dream for a long time to go into a dungeon like this and have an adventure.

A story about overcoming crisis and adversity with trustworthy colleagues at your back.

Haven’t you ever envied such heroic stories at least once?”

A life goal that I dreamed of and envied since I was young.

Anne, who did not have any great goals and simply chose a career path that would be helpful to her family, was whispering quietly to herself, along with a natural sense of inferiority.

“I’m sorry you didn’t have a satisfactory experience… ”

“What are you sorry about?”

“Fact… There must be a better place… …

Because we are actually holding ourselves back… … ”

If Lucia had put her mind to it, she could have possibly gone to a better dungeon managed by the state through the power of her family.

And, as a duke’s daughter, she will probably be treated at the highest level, and she will be able to hunt comfortably without getting a speck of dust on her hands, except when fighting.

However, she followed him, sitting down on the dusty street to eat, living in a very dangerous environment for nobles, where only commoners and people from the rough back alleys existed.

It’s a shame that, like most noble children, his name and face are not well known to the outside world.

If someone recognized her and felt bad for her, no one knew how serious it would be.

Of course, Lucia would have to cut down all the normal humans, but there was no way that the bees with dangerous stings that had smelled the sweet scent of the ‘Beautiful Peacock Lady’ flower would not pounce.

‘When you reach senior level…

Maybe it’s just that I don’t care… ?’

Isn’t that why Anne also never talks about her family to the outside world?

From the outside, Anne had to be as worthless as possible.

Vivian’s folding greatsword is hidden as a decoration, and she hunts using only an ordinary sword.

Or, she tried to appeal as much as possible to her harmlessness and worthlessness, as if she were just a prostitute.

‘Because this is a back alley… … ‘

No matter how bright and warm the place appears on the outside, the moment you let your guard down and step into the deep abyss, you must be careful of the cold dagger stabbing you in the back.

Lucia, like herself, was hiding herself, but for a completely different reason, and instead, she was revealing herself without hesitation as a public servant assistant.

And she even gave up all the results of this hunt to her juniors who had to work hard and support their families, even showing her nobility.

Even if it was to show the difference in class between her and her, or to show that she was confident that she could handle any problem that came her way, Anne could sense that Lucia was honestly not satisfied with the situation. There was no outside.

“This place is not suitable for someone like you… ..”

However, after hearing Anne’s words, Lucia just gently closed her eyelids and looked at Anne with narrowed eyes.

Eventually, Lucia looked tired and smiled, but soon showed an expression as if she had no choice, poking Anne’s side with her finger.

“I am happy enough now, Anne.

Apart from everything else, I am on an adventure with my ‘brave junior’.

How could it not be fun?

It’s so similar to the image I was drawing.”

“Senior… … ”

“You can forget about romantic enemies or anything like that here.

As you said, it’s not the place to be thinking about such frivolous thoughts, is it?

I really like this place.

It’s thanks to you that I found out about this place.”

As if she wanted to say, ‘That’s enough for now,’ Lucia gently placed her hand on Anne’s shoulder and stroked it, and then began to look around.

“If the explanation is correct, we will probably reach the Terifica habitat soon.

Everyone here, check your armament one more time!!

This is the final safety check that may save your life!!”

Lucia turns around and orders her juniors as a senior and her students as an assistant to check their condition again, and soon begins to check her own weapons.

Anne, too, was checking her own weapons, forcibly averting her eyes from the surging sense of inferiority, and gently chewing her lips.

‘also… Senior Lucia… … ‘

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The rough wooden door opens gently, and a girl walks inside at a brisk pace.

When she asked a question to a woman who seemed to be waiting inside, the woman, who was feeling restless, came quickly towards the girl and held her hands tightly, as if she had come at the right time.

“I went, Professor.”

“Sheep Marie… .!!

Looks like I finished my business early!!

It came right at the right time. Did you ever feel it?”

“Ah… yes… yes… … It doesn’t take long…

however… Did something happen… … ?

Did you feel it? … What are you talking about… … ?”

Marie was casting a puzzled look at Eloise, who seemed anxious for some reason, and asking a vague question.

“Umm… I haven’t learned the advanced method of using magic power yet… ?

Then maybe you don’t know yet… … ”

“Professor… … ?”

Heloise, who had been sorting things out in her mind for a moment as if she had missed hearing Marie’s words, continued her explanation quickly as if she was nervous.

“Suddenly, a slight movement of magical power was detected.

Of course, the existence of dungeons in the first place is strange, but…

As the dungeon is an entity that uses magical power, if the magical power changes, the nature of the dungeon may change.”

“Yes… ? What does that mean… … ”

“Instantaneous floating magic power is measured only by the amount of magic power itself, but it is so subtle that it cannot be easily detected.

However, if you look at it from the perspective of this dungeon as a whole, there is a meaningful change.”

“Ah… that’s right.

It’s the magic entropy theory, right?

however… Those words couldn’t be… … ?”

“I honestly don’t know much about dungeon studies, so I can’t guarantee…

Of course, there is a possibility that there will be no change… … !!

Maybe something will change in the dungeon… !!”

“Wow!!”

While Eloise was continuing her complex explanation, a sudden scream erupted from outside, causing the two startled women to immediately run out of the room.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake like an earthquake, and Marie stiffened as she faced a phenomenon she had never experienced in her life.

On the other hand, Héloïse seemed equally surprised, but lowered herself and hugged Marie tightly.

“Uh… Uh… … ?”

“No way… Miss Marie… !! Come here… … !!”

“The temporary building collapses!! Avoid!!”

“Stick to the wooden wall!! Wooden walls are safe!!”

As the ground began to shake and the terrain changed in real time, violent changes were taking place in some parts of the outpost.

One place where a building had been erected was sinking deep into the ground with no remains left, and the other place looked as if it had been pierced from the ground with a rock awl due to the building’s sharp topography.

“Ha… ha… professor… sir… … ?”

“Not yet… It’s dangerous… Don’t raise your head… ”

Marie, who was tightly held in Héloïse’s arms, was able to check her surroundings through the gap in Héloïse’s arms that were wrapped around her.

Unlike them, who were protected by a blue magic shield in the shape of a round sphere, the world beyond the translucent shield gave the impression of looking at the scene of a disaster.

Marie’s pupils were fluttering as she saw people limping away after being injured in the collapsed rubble, or people wandering around looking for a safe place while supporting an unconscious colleague.

An earthquake is a phenomenon caused by seismic waves generated when continental plates collide.

However, in this world where such continental plates do not exist, an earthquake is an extremely rare phenomenon that would never occur in the first place.

These women, who had experienced disaster for the first time, were sobbing as they faced the disaster before their eyes.

“Uh… oh my god… … ”

“A little more… If I had looked into it properly… …

This could have been prevented before it happened… … ”

Of course, this magic flow was not solely their responsibility.

However, as an employee of a workplace called ‘Flora’s’ that treated her well, Marie considered the dungeon to be the main business of her workplace.

And although at first she was reluctant and embarrassed by the work she was forced to do, Eloise began to secretly feel rewarded as a magic researcher by being able to directly experience and study the dungeon and the mysterious magic phenomenon within it, which she had only heard about.

Since each of them were essentially good women to begin with, it may have been inevitable for them that the catastrophe before their eyes filled a corner of their hearts with regret.

If they had a little more knowledge, they might have been able to foresee this happening.

Fortunately, the gradual tectonic shift seemed to have almost subsided after a few minutes, and as soon as the magic stabilized, Eloise removed her shield, and the two women were running through the outpost to help the people.

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“Really? What is the damage?”

“Three buildings were completely destroyed… !!

Warehouse 3, slaughterhouses 1 and 2… !!

The rest also needs repair work…

Still, I guess there was no serious damage?

There are some people injured, but no one is dead?”

“Okay, tell it to Ranie. We need to change our operating policy.

All fixed buildings should be demolished.

Because building buildings no longer seems meaningful.

Only a few important facilities will be left, and the rest will be replaced with temporary facilities such as tents.”

“Umm… That’s what I’ll tell you, Queen… !!”

Upon hearing the news from a Henia who suddenly rushed into Floraz, Vivian calmly gave the next command and turned around.

But it would be a lie to say that her mind wasn’t complicated.

In the first place, Aurora is handling most of the work as an agent, but in the end, the current situation is that things cannot proceed without the approval of Vivian, who is the final decision maker.

But suddenly, a report comes that something unusual has occurred in the dungeon, which is an important project, but there is no way she can concentrate.

“Wouldn’t it be better to go, Vivian?

I’ll take care of the rest.”

Aurora, who must have noticed her uncomfortable appearance, was holding a stack of documents next to her and showing them to her in order, and was subtly making a sweet offer to Vivian.

“Let’s do that. Let’s report it and do it tomorrow.”

“Of course. Have a worry-free trip?”

Aurora bowed her head towards Vivian, who eventually turned around, and soon the office door slammed shut and she was alone.

She quietly listened to the sound of shoes coming from beyond the door, and when she thought the sound had gone far enough, she turned gently and walked gracefully toward the bookshelf in one corner of the office.

“After all, it’s something people learn and see, right?”

Aurora slowly reached out her hand and pulled out a book.

[Magic power imbalance according to magic entropy theory]

When she opened it, a page filled with various roughly scribbled notes was reflected in her eyes, and Aurora’s eyes were dyed black as she looked at it again.

[horsepower instability index: φ=Δ*(Γ/Θ*(ξ-Λη))]

[Periodic equation for horsepower fluidity instability: ψ=ω/(ρΒ*Δτ)]

[Kingdom Calendar, Silver Month 16th, 13:23]

“If you learn it, everything is useful, right?”

The number 16 engraved on today’s calendar and a red circle as red as blood.

“Then… Will our queen return as a corpse soon… …

Or are you trying to come back alive?

Hmm… … I really don’t expect it?”

And as she glanced at the clock, which showed approximately 1 o’clock, there was a wry smile on her lips that could not hide the primal joy, as if she had taken some medicine.

“Either… Do you think you can spend some time alone with your master for a while? Hehe♡”

The corner of Aurora’s mouth, which bursts out into a light laugh, gently curls up, and her fingers gently scratch the leather cover of the book with her strong fingernails as she gently closes the book.

With an unpleasant popping sound, Aurora looked down at her broken fingernails and let out a small sigh, then seemed to consciously take a deep breath as if she was trying to calm down her excitement.

“Whew… It’s too early to start drinking the soup.

Then you must be working hard…

To receive praise from your master……♡”