Chapter 57
HEL SCANS
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Lair and Dungeon.
While similar, they are distinct.
They share the aspect of being filled with creatures and traps, but the crucial difference lies in their origin.
The former naturally forms in environments with high magical density, while the latter is created by humans for purposes such as hiding treasures or training.
And today.
The extreme students, for their practical training, were heading towards the dungeon area prepared by the academy.
It was a place filled with dungeons of varying difficulty.
“Everyone, gather over here! This is the entrance!”
Pia waved a flag around while holding a portable voice amplifier.
The students followed behind her.
During the process of gathering at the assembly point, their faces were tinged with tension and anticipation as they observed various dungeons.
“Wow, so this is the ‘Dungeon Zone’ we’ve only heard about.”
“There are over a hundred dungeons made specifically for practice, right?”
“The dungeon we’re going to conquer today is completely new. There’s no strategy guide even in the library.”
“Crazy, who’s the creator?”
“…I don’t know.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Eyes filled with curiosity moved incessantly.
Woo-!
The entrance to the dungeon was engulfed in deep darkness.
Since it was magically created darkness, no one could see beyond it.
All the students could see was a mysterious sign directly in front of them.
Elaborate patterns, decorations, and engraved letters in the center glittered.
>
[Characteristics]
– Labyrinth
– Numerous Guardians
– Numerous Traps
– Scale: Medium
The exterior stimulated the sense of exploration to the point that all tension was completely forgotten.
“Heh, this is extreme.”
“Wow, they even used high-quality ‘Dungeon Stones.'”
“Burning a Dungeon Stone in one class?”
A Dungeon Stone is an item crafted by processing a rare material called ‘Rare Stone,’ found in the deepest part of the lair.
Using a Dungeon Stone allowed the creation of dungeons without the need for workers or materials, reflecting the creator’s preferences.
It was highly popular.
However, lower-grade ones were quite expensive, and obtaining a permit from the appropriate agency was required to use them.
“By the way, the dungeon is 4th grade, right? How about 4th grade?”
“It shouldn’t be too difficult. There’s a maximum of 10 grades.”
“The rare that I used to defeat the vassals was 4th grade. It might be easier than you think.”
“Gerald is falling for it again.”
While they chatted excitedly, Pia, confirming that everyone had gathered, stepped forward.
“Now, before explaining this practical training, let me distribute safety equipment first.”
She handed bracelet-shaped artifacts to the bewildered students.
The explanation followed.
“This artifact activates Elegantia Hierarchy’s defensive magic immediately if a certain level of impact is applied to the body or if the user infuses mana directly. However, once the magic is activated, you must withdraw from the practical training, so please be careful when using it.”
Click!
The sound of bracelets being fastened echoed simultaneously.
Pia meticulously checked if everyone had put them on, pondering how many of them would manage to pass through the dungeon without activating the artifacts.
‘Perhaps around five of them.’
The dungeon’s composition was truly vicious.
However, there was little Pia could do.
In her heart, she wished them luck and continued with the explanations.
“Dungeons are essentially labyrinths, and approximately five hundred beast-type guardians roam throughout. There are also some irregulars mixed in, so strategize well when dealing with them.”
Irregulars refer to enemies stronger than the dungeon’s grade. Although the concept of bosses existed, they didn’t appear in lower-grade dungeons, making them exempt from this practical training.
“The goal is the deepest part of the dungeon.”
Pia continued her explanation, reaching into her pocket.
“Your final objective is to place one of these items, which I will distribute to each group, near the Dungeon Stone. Think of it as a kind of time attack where each group competes.”
All eyes focused on the small bead that Pia pulled out of her pocket.
It had a glossy, jet-black surface, about the size of a plum.
Luke was the first to react.
“That is…”
“Yes, it’s an explosive artifact.”
Seeing the children stepping back cautiously, Pia quickly clapped her hands.
“It’s a model, a model!”
“You should have said that first!”
As the children protested, Pia stepped back, and at that moment, heavy footsteps echoed from beyond the dungeon entrance.
As the Hero, who had finished inspecting the dungeon, emerged from the darkness, the children quickly adjusted their postures.
“I’ll handle the rest of the explanation. Well done.”
Approaching Pia with a slight squint against the sunlight, he received the voice amplifier.
“I’ll get straight to the point. Evaluation begins the moment you enter the dungeon. There are two evaluation criteria.”
The assessment would be detailed through the displayed video recordings.
“First, how organically you move according to tactics during combat with the guardians.”
“Second, how you handle unexpected situations.”
It would be an application of what they had learned in class and an assessment of each student’s improvisational skills.
“The teams were announced last night. No objections will be accepted.”
The children glanced around, many of them already seated in their respective groups.
1st Team: Cuculli and 4 others.
2nd Team: Leciel and 3 others.
3rd Team: Luke and Lucas and 4 others.
4th Team: Ban and Evergreen and 5 others.
5th Team: Nyhill and Gerald and 6 others.
While there were various reasons for forming the teams, the main objective was to induce as many battles as possible.
The Hero was already aware of the subtle currents flowing among some of the students.
Cuculli and Leciel were like that, as well as Lucas and Ban.
By separating them into different teams, the goal was to create an environment for them to have a proper showdown.
‘Compete and grow to your heart’s content.’
The Hero scanned the students who were starting to be enveloped in a competitive spirit.
“I can’t wait to get in!”
“…”
Cuculli grinned while looking at Leciel, who had become part of another team.
“…”
Leciel, on the other hand, seemed to be deliberately ignoring Cuculli, but there was a subtle indication that she was paying attention.
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“Hmph….”
While Lucas exchanged a sidelong glance with Luke, who had become part of the same team, Gerald, their follower, also became part of the same team.
“Lucas, I trust only you.”
“Hmm, is he in the same team too?”
They seemed to have a dismissive attitude toward Luke, the mercenary, yet they subtly found reassurance in having him around.
Luke, whether they acknowledged him or not, remained silent and simply loosened his body.
A slightly furrowed brow.
Luke was in an uncomfortable state, not being able to be part of a team with someone he wanted to impress.
“We’re fighting together again, Ban!”
“Yeah, please take care of me.”
“I should be the one counting on you! I feel secure being in the same team as a capable strategist like you!”
“Hahaha….”
Evergreen was jokingly comforting Ban, who looked nervous.
The situation seemed uncomfortable for Ban.
“It’s finally time for the idiot to step out of the frame.”
After the awkward incident during orientation, where Gerald was teased, he was determined to prove his skills this time.
Next to him, Nyhill was lost in thought with an unknown expression.
In the midst of this tense atmosphere, the Hero spoke up again.
“I’m sure you all know that a special reward is prepared.”
The children cheered in anticipation.
Their eyes sparkled with excitement. Everyone had been eagerly awaiting this moment since the announcement.
As expected, Luke was the first to ask, “What exactly is the reward?”
“Let’s call it a wish. I’ll consider granting one wish each.”
The response was concise, but the reactions from the listeners were explosive.
The artifacts they brought back from their excursions beyond the barrier had been the envy of all.
A wish—what a vague term, but the Hero showed no signs of joking.
The children immediately let their imaginations run wild.
“Could I request a personal training session?”
“Is it possible to meet a member of the Dawn Knights, like Lady Larze or even Sir Ivar?”
“I’d be happy just receiving an artifact.”
“Gold, piles of gold!”
Amidst this array of excitement, the starting time for the practical training, 6 AM, finally arrived.
Under the hazy sunrise, the Hero muttered softly, “Dungeon open.”
The darkness, like mist gathered at the entrance, gradually dissipated.
The children eagerly rushed toward the entrance.
Later on, after entering the dungeon:
“I’ll be in charge of leading Team 3,” declared Luke.
Of course, Lucas immediately objected, “I can’t agree to such an arrogant statement. I’ll be the one in charge.”
“Is that so?”
Their gazes clashed, tension mounting.
The other team members anxiously shifted their eyes around.
However, the feared conflict did not erupt.
The other team members nervously rolled their eyes, expecting a conflict, but to their surprise, Luke took a step back.
“Give it a try then, just once,” he said.
“Well, you do have some thoughts after all,” Lucas smirked.
Of course, Lucas knew that for the team to score high overall, it would be better for Luke to take command.
Yet, there was a part of him that trusted himself.
‘I have enough experience in dungeon expeditions’ Lucas thought.
As a Wellington, obtaining dungeon stones wasn’t overly difficult.
Thanks to this, Lucas had joined the knight order in their training expeditions several times.
‘And about 4th-grade dungeons, well’
Lucas chuckled as he glanced at the embedded video recording and modification on the wall.
This practical training, with the Hero offering a reward based on their wishes, carried significant weight.
If Lucas demonstrated excellent leadership and achieved good results, he could quickly make up for his previously mediocre grades.
It could even catch the Hero’s attention again.
With the command smoothly in his hands, things were off to a good start.
Lucas shouted energetically, “Let’s go! We’re aiming to be the first to reach the center!”
However, the rosy outlook didn’t last long, as it didn’t take much time for that vision to shatter into pieces.
“Ugh, aaaaah!”
Large groups of guardians and various traps hindered Team 3’s progress, just like any other team.
Primitive traps like snares, pitfalls, and more impeded their every step.
“Damn it, why is this happening!”
With each step forward, there was another trap.
Snares, pitfalls, and other primitive traps were the basics, and it didn’t take long for 3rd Team to be caught in their midst.
If you touched anything wrong, logs flew, and on the other side of the passage, giant boulders rolled.
When arrows suddenly poured from the ceiling, it was beyond ridiculous.
His past experience, where swinging a sword was enough, was very different.
It was a moment when he belatedly realized the efforts of the gasols who couldn’t dare expose the young master to such wicked traps.
“Huh?”
Some kind of result had to be shown.
With that in mind, Lucas, impatiently moving forward, stepped on a strangely colored ground.
By the time he realized it was a trap, the dizzying sensation had already enveloped his body.
“Uwaaa!”
Just before Lucas’s body was relentlessly sucked in below.
Someone roughly caught his collar.
Hanging like a kitten, Lucas looked down.
“Huuk, huuk.”
Shaking and spreading in the swirling vision.
Sharp spears densely packed in a dark pit were visible.
The tips of the spears were blunt, but if they had fallen as they were, they would have broken somewhere.
A chill ran down his spine.
Unconsciously, Lucas grabbed the hand around his neck and let out a scream.
“Oh, mom!”
Swish!
Luke threw Lucas back with an expression of annoyance.
With a rattling sound, a subtle moan spread.
Luke turned his shoulders and opened his mouth.
“Hey, son. You should be careful.”
Lucas’s face turned red with embarrassment.
“This, this, this insolent….”
The moment he stood up with a sullen look, another trap was triggered, and an arrow shot straight at him.
Thunk!
This time, a side kick saved him.
Staggering, the now meek Lucas lost the strength to speak.
Luke chuckled.
“Well, can mommy take command now?”
“….”
… There was no disagreement.
[TL/N: *YES MOMMY ?? YOU CAN TAKE-]
[PR/N: Horny pig]
HEL SCANS
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