NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 67
– W-What are we gonna do now?
Rena, who had been sitting alone in the room, heard a familiar voice.
It was Sylphid, the wind spirit she had contracted with.
“But…”
Rena placed her hand on her chest, recalling what had happened earlier. Every time she thought of Sowol’s proud face bragging about her date with Lee Hyun, it made her heart ache.
‘D-Does Master like someone like Sowol too…?’
Sowol, the Sword Saint. A beautiful woman who seems confident in everything and has no trouble talking to others. She was also a disciple of Lee Hyun, accepted before Rena.
Thinking of her made Rena’s chest tighten even more.
‘I-I’m completely the opposite…’
Sowol was always bright and outgoing, unlike Rena’s gloomy and introverted self. That’s why she couldn’t help but compare herself to her.
– U-Um… It seems like the Sword Saint likes Lee Hyun too. So…
I need to take action.
If I just sit here alone, wallowing in my thoughts, I’m not going to gain anything in reality.
Rena squeezed her eyes shut.
Thoughts of her respected, revered, and beloved Master Lee Hyun flooded her mind.
That warm gaze directed at her was now looking elsewhere.
To Sowol. The Sword Saint.
Looking at her with the gaze of a man at a woman, not just a Master at a disciple. And Sowol accepted it shyly yet confidently.
They suited each other well.
Lee Hyun, who easily gets along with everyone, and Sowol, who is confident to anyone.
Rena could only watch from a dark corner.
Those two, looking so happy, began sharing the same room one day, and when she secretly spied on them, her heart dropped.
Sweet voices, the rough breathing of an adult male.
The sticky sounds created as a man and woman indulged each other.
Their hungry gestures were shameless, and soon they…
“U-ugh, no…”
Rena quickly denied the thoughts produced by her brilliant mind.
No, I don’t want to lose him. Clutching her body tight, Rena trembled.
I can give up other things.
I can let go of the fact that Sowol is Master’s first disciple.
But I can’t give him up.
Rena bit her lip.
As Sylphid said, if I keep sitting here like this, my delusions will become reality. So…
I need to move.
*
“Today’s class is about dungeon exploration.”
The class must go on, regardless of whether the Asura sect has infiltrated the Academy or not.
Today’s lesson is about dungeon exploration.
Nothing special about it.
It’s literally about exploring dungeons.
The size of a dungeon is usually not that large compared to ruins.
Typically, it consists of about four to five rooms, and the number of traps is much less than that of ruins.
Nevertheless, dungeons are dangerous because they continue to spawn monsters as long as the core is not destroyed and they send out the monsters created to attack the surroundings to protect the core.
“Dungeons grow. They become increasingly massive, using the blood and lives of those nearby as sacrifices, and as they keep spitting out monsters, if you discover a dungeon, it must be destroyed.”
Everyone’s eyes sparkled with focus.
Most of those in this class belong to the ruling class. So they were fully attentive to dungeons, which could cause a significant social issue.
“Over there is one of the Academy’s prides. An artificial dungeon.”
The students’ gazes turned to where I pointed.
Golems began to emerge from the entrance of the small shrine-like dungeon. Ten in total. Unless they defeat all ten golems, they cannot enter the dungeon.
“Inside the dungeon, there are multiple golems deployed in preparation for aggressive monsters. You will need strong combat power to engage in many battles against enemies, right?”
“Yes!”
“I’m going to start forming teams. Generally, dungeon explorations are composed of six people per group, so pair up into groups of six.”
Our class has a total of 25 students.
Divided into four groups, one person will be left out, and that person will either have to join me or be a leftover.
While I was thinking about it,
“What about the one left out?”
Sowol raised her hand and asked. As Arisha and Rena nodded beside her, I said nonchalantly.
“Well, should I take them with me for a check-up?”
My reason for going in is simple. Similar events could occur again.
Since I roughly guessed the purpose of the Asura sect, there’s no need to leave unnecessary gaps.
I planned to go in, assess the situation, and get out afterward.
“Then I’ll go with you!”
Sowol raised her hand eagerly.
With her level of skill, she didn’t need to practice for dungeon exploration.
She could probably clear a considerable dungeon all by herself, so training seems absurd.
“You’re worried that Master is going in alone because there might be some sinister plot by the Asura sect, right? I could help if something happens.”
That was indeed a decent proposal. With someone like Sowol, she wouldn’t trip me up.
And she wouldn’t need training for dungeon exploration…
“Honestly, I think I should go in with Master…!”
Rena said, her fists clenched, turning her gaze away bashfully.
Sowol looked at her, surprised by her sudden comment.
To be honest, I was a little surprised too. I didn’t expect Rena to speak so firmly.
“Rena, what do you mean?”
Sowol’s voice held an edge of confusion.
Startled by her slightly sharp tone, Rena didn’t back down.
“I… It could be something like a Giant Rockworm again, so Master is going in, right?”
“And so?”
“I can use Detection to check the condition of the artificial dungeon and exclude any dangers, and I can also use Sylphid to identify any monsters nearby! I can do that!”
Sowol’s smile deepened.
It was clear she wasn’t smiling because she was happy about it.
The atmosphere here feels too heavy.
It’s time for me to intervene.
“Enough.”
“Master.”
“Master.”
“This time, I’m going in with Rena.”
“But Master…”
“Just let it be this time. I have things to discuss with Rena.”
“…Okay. But remember, it’s not because I’m conceding that I’m less talented than Rena.”
“Yeah, right. Thanks.”
I patted Sowol’s head.
Only then did she ease up a bit, and as she returned to her spot, I gave Rena a gentle nudge on her back.
“Not bad, huh? You even resisted the Sword Saint.”
In terms of actual skill, I couldn’t say who was stronger.
But when it comes to disposition, Sowol was almost like Rena’s natural enemy.
That Rena overcame Sowol’s stance and asserted her opinion was indeed commendable.
“I-I was scared…”
“Still, you did it. You’ve grown.”
“Hehe…”
“Alright, then we should tell the others and head in.”
I surveyed the students who had already paired off.
Let’s see… Arisha’s team is… Not bad.
That’s just right.
“Rena and I will enter the dungeon first, so class president and vice-president keep the students under control.”
“Huh? Teacher? Why are you going in with Rena?”
“Just in case something happens like last time. Gotta check it out.”
“Uh-huh. Then can’t I go too?”
“You stay here and control the students. You have to fulfill your role as class president. Plus, it might be dangerous inside.”
“…Yeah. Got it. I’ll do my best!”
While she looked a bit disappointed, Arisha smiled brightly.
As she waved her hand, I infused magical power into the light of the instructor’s badge.
As the badge radiated, those approaching were golem sentries that relaxed their hostility.
“Alright. Let’s go in.”
“Y-Yes!”
I took Rena with me into the dungeon.
As soon as we entered, Rena spread her power to sense the state of the dungeon, tilting her head.
“It seems like there’s something different from the design in the dungeon’s center.”
“Really? Good job noticing. But how did you know the structure of the dungeon?”
“It’s because this dungeon was made by the Ivory Tower and the dwarves collaborating. The blueprints are in the Ivory Tower. Since it’s dungeon exploration class today, I requested and memorized it.”
Oh, is that so?
What a commendable kid.
I took out a praise sticker from my pocket and handed it to her.
When she received it, Rena jumped happily.
It’s nice to feel my effort has paid off.
“What about other monsters?”
“W-Wait a moment…”
Rena called for Sylphid.
At her summons, Sylphid appeared, looked at me in surprise, then slightly bowed.
It’s been a while since I last saw her, and she hasn’t changed a bit.
– There are monsters within 300m of the dungeon’s center.
“Is that so? Good detection. Keep watching, and let me know if anything seems off.”
– Alright.
After hearing Sylphid’s response, Rena and I moved deeper inside. When we reached the place where she noticed something strange, she pointed.
“That, that thing. It’s not in the original design.”
It was a decoration that was unremarkable.
If Rena hadn’t pointed it out, I wouldn’t have noticed it for blending in with the surroundings.
I took it off to check inside and burst out laughing.
“It’s a magical stone bomb. I had no idea I’d find something so precious.”
A bomb that releases shockwaves when infused with magical power was hidden as decoration.
This was one of the weapons that appears in the later stages of the game, used by a boss that performs self-destructive attacks.
“I-Is it dangerous?”
“It is dangerous.”
From what I observed, it seems to function through external magical power.
It can be dismantled.
If someone had the capability to install this here… then one of the academy staff members must be an Asura sect member.
“Good job, Rena.”
Thanks to you, I got a nice item.
“E-Ehehe… It’s nice to see Master happy. So… u-um.”
“Do you have something to say?”
“…If you’re free this weekend, would you like to go to town together…?”
“This weekend?”
Well, I don’t really have anything planned.
“How delightful! Meeting the Colorless Spear of the Ivory Tower on the weekend. I’d better do my best to escort you!”
“Uh, hehehee~!”
Rena’s expression was brighter than ever.