Chapter 16

EP.16 Academy Underground Dungeon (1)

The office, which I had become familiar with after entering it many times, was where Professor Tak Wonho, with his sharp features, sat focused.

I made a sound to get his attention and called out to him.

"Professor, I'm here."

"Oh, you're here."

"You called me..."

"Hmm. I called you because there's something I need to ask you. Do you have a moment?"

"I'm free now, so it's fine."

Professor Tak Wonho, unlike when I first met him, now speaks to me more casually.

Although his cold appearance and sharp tone haven't changed, after nearly a month of training, I feel much closer to him.

Especially, Professor Tak Wonho almost adopts a Spartan approach when teaching swordsmanship, pushing me relentlessly.

He makes the impossible possible and the possible even better.

Almost like the mindset of a Marine from my previous world.

Even if we were awkward at first, after hearing a few of Professor Tak Wonho's coarse curses, we naturally became closer.

By the way, Professor Kim Myunghyun still speaks to me formally.

The only person Professor Kim Myunghyun speaks informally to is Kim Chaeun.

"First... Yeah. Have you gotten a feel for the sword techniques taught by Professor Kim and me?"

Tak Wonho and Kim Myunghyun.

With the two professors teaching me together, I grew like a monster.

I raised my [Sword] skill to level 5 faster than the protagonist Park Jinwoo in the original story, and through their teachings, I gained two rare runes related to sword techniques.

The growth in my stats was also very steep.

Strength and speed are already over 20.

Mental and endurance are getting closer to 20.

In my previous world, I had never even held a sword, but now I feel like a master of the sword.

"Starting today, I have mastered the Flowing Water Sword Technique and the Wave Sword Technique. They were registered as runes during training."

"Already mastered?"

"Yes, I was lucky."

"Nonsense. There's no need for such modesty in front of me."

I flinched involuntarily at Professor Tak Wonho's reprimand and quickly came up with a new answer.

"The professors' teachings were excellent."

"... Hmm."

It must have been the right answer.

"Anyway, this will make things a bit easier."

Professor Tak Wonho stood up for a moment, took out a stack of documents from inside his desk, and handed them to me.

"Take this, Do Jae-hyun."

"What is this...?"

"Before I explain, let's make a pledge. What we discuss here is a top-secret that must not leak out. You must not speak of this to anyone else or write it down. Understand?"

"Yes, I will not disclose it."

Swoosh—

Professor Tak Wonho broke the seal on the tightly closed documents.

It looked like an exploration report, about ten pages long.

As I had expected before coming.

It was a report on the structure and strategy of the 'Academy Underground Dungeon.'

"This is an undiscovered dungeon found in the underground passage of the Academy's South Building. It is currently unknown to anyone. Do Jae-hyun, I want you to take charge of exploring this dungeon."

"Me?"

"Yes. I would like to form an exploration party myself, but my position and the internal situation of the Academy make it difficult. I think you have a general idea from what I've said before."

The situation where many successors of the Tak family are keeping an eye on Tak Wonho.

And the Academy, which is under attack from all sides, including the media, due to the B-class monster that broke through the [Magic Barrier].

If news of the discovery of an underground dungeon within the Academy were to spread in these difficult conditions, the current chaos would undoubtedly worsen.

After much deliberation, Professor Tak Wonho entrusted this task to me, who had recently become his exclusive disciple and had a trustworthy side.

This was originally a task that should have gone to Park Jinwoo.

Following the exclusive disciple, the Academy dungeon.

I didn't intend it, but it fell to me.

'Sorry, Jinwoo.'

I silently apologized to Park Jinwoo.

I tried to hide the corners of my mouth that wanted to rise and managed my expression as much as possible.

I shouldn't be happy now; I need to lay the groundwork that it will be difficult for me alone.

"But, Professor. Although I am learning exclusively from the two professors, I am still a D-class Holder. Just the Lizardman, a C-class monster at the entrance, as seen in the report... wouldn't it be too much for me alone?"

"Hmm... You have a point."

Professor Tak Wonho stroked his chin in thought and then nodded as if making a decision.

"Alright. Do Jae-hyun, you can take one student Holder as a companion, up to the level you desire. However, they must take a strict secrecy pledge and ultimately get my approval."

"Understood. Thank you, Professor."

That's it.

As planned, Professor Tak Wonho allowed me to take one companion.

The Academy Underground Dungeon, being a hidden dungeon, has high-level monsters and equally massive rewards.

It can be seen as a convenience dungeon designed to give special privileges to the main characters in the original story.

I wanted to monopolize all the rewards.

Because getting everything would significantly boost my growth.

But this is not a dungeon I can explore alone, being a D-class Holder.

Like Park Jinwoo in the original story, I need a companion.

And just like Park Jinwoo then, and me now.

There is only one companion to choose.

'Kang Juyeon.'

She is necessary to safely explore the dungeon.

A student who has already reached B-class in her first year.

A Holder with an epic rune of the highest level in the fire element.

A woman who is the top in the mage category throughout the entire school.

Kang Juyeon.

She was needed.

* * *

There's nothing to learn.

While listening to the boring Academy lecture, Kang Juyeon thought.

Kang Juyeon, born as the daughter of an S-class Holder, grew up as an elite.

The amount of early education and advanced learning she received far exceeds what is taught in the Academy over just three years.

Relearning what she has already thoroughly learned.

It was naturally boring.

Moreover, Kang Juyeon is already a B-class Holder.

Given that most of the Academy professors are A-class and B-class Holders, teaching a student of a similar level is not easy for any professor.

'...It's boring.'

The reason Kang Juyeon is attending the Academy is for one thing.

The title.

Top admission and top graduation from the Holder Academy.

Maintaining the highest grades throughout her academic career.

For her, whose every action becomes an issue, she must achieve all the titles to enhance the honor of the <Fire's Judgment> clan.

Especially, the Academy is an institution that most Holders go through.

A place to build many connections and form a sense of community among Holders.

As an elite, she cannot give up on graduating from such an important institution just because it's boring.

'......'

Still, this lecture, <History and Information of Monsters>, was seriously boring.

To the point where all the surrounding students were falling asleep.

Kang Juyeon pretended to listen to the lecture and turned her gaze elsewhere.

A man who was diligently taking notes alone in the quiet lecture.

'...Do Jae-hyun.'

He was recently a subject of interest for Kang Juyeon.

At first, it was just out of human curiosity.

Now, she has developed an interest in him as a Holder.

When he first entered, Do Jae-hyun barely made it to the intermediate class through a practical sparring match.

Over time, he showed an astonishing growth rate.

At the E-class level, he fearlessly confronted a B-class monster that appeared at the Academy...

And surprisingly, he landed an effective hit, cutting off the monster's tail.

That alone was already a miracle, but he continued to grow and has already shown the ability to reach the D-class level.

Even though she hasn't seen it herself, the rumors are so numerous that she knows.

From the end of the E-class to the top of the D-class.

He grew rapidly in almost the shortest time possible.

The Academy's lectures are unbearably boring, and the students, lacking in ability, try to build connections with upper-class students.

But within that, Do Jae-hyun.

By putting in effort and challenging himself...

He became someone worthy of being called a growing Holder.

"...Therefore, no matter how strong a monster's defensive runes and durability, the place where the magic stone is located is inevitably a weakness. We can conclude this. Alright! That's it for today's lecture. Good job, everyone."

After a long time, the lecture finally ended with the professor's final words.

The students lightly greeted each other and left the lecture hall.

"Phew, finally it's over. Phew, it was so boring."

Moon Ga-eun, who had been listening to the lecture next to her, stretched.

As expected, everyone felt the boredom.

The professor of this lecture was particularly uninteresting.

Moon Ga-eun smiled and looked at Kang Juyeon.

"Let's go to the cafe, Juyeon."

"Cafe?"

"Yeah. I want a vanilla latte."

Kang Juyeon quietly nodded.

Although she usually prefers to be alone, she generally follows Moon Ga-eun when she suggests doing something.

With her rigid and cold image and actual personality, Kang Juyeon has almost no friends.

Moon Ga-eun, whom she has known since childhood, is her only friend.

Their families are also close, and they are both elites, so they have a lot in common.

Although she doesn't show it much.

Kang Juyeon trusts and relies on her quite a bit.

So she has no particular desire to make other friends.

She views relationships in the Academy and society as business.

"Excuse me..."

But just as they were about to leave the lecture hall.

A man blocked their way.

Tall and muscular.

A build that clearly looks like a warrior.

Kang Juyeon looked up to confirm the person.

Her eyes widened slightly.

A familiar face she had long harbored.

"Can I have a moment? I have something to talk about."

He was the Holder she had been glancing at throughout the lecture.

Do Jae-hyun.