Chapter 17

EP.17 Academy Underground Dungeon (2)

“…….”

“…….”

Inside the academy's cafe.

We sat in front of each other with coffee on the table.

In the suffocating silence, we sat there.

There were things to say, but our mouths wouldn't open.

...Actually, I didn't expect we would start talking right away.

Recruiting a companion for the academy underground dungeon.

I chose Kang Juyeon as the suitable candidate and came to find her.

However, I didn't think we would end up sitting like this and be able to talk on the first try.

I knew her well for being so rigid and cold, and even more ruthless to low-level holders.

But for some reason, Kang Juyeon easily agreed to my request for a moment of her time.

In the original story, Park Jin-woo had to try 10 times before finally managing to talk on the 11th attempt, so it felt quite miraculous to succeed on the first try.

Anyway, this is the current situation.

It was a suffocating cafe time.

“Um...”

“...Oops. I'll talk, I'll talk.”

Ah.

Here we go again.

As soon as I managed to speak,

I heard her muttering to herself again.

The second reason we couldn't smoothly continue the conversation.

At the table next to us,

Moon Ga-eun was sitting with a deep cap on,

secretly watching me and Kang Juyeon.

Moreover, with a face full of anticipation, she would mutter and make a fuss every time I said something.

...Does she think she won't be noticed by doing that?

I sighed inwardly and said,

“First, let me introduce myself. I'm Joo Jae-hyun from the intermediate class. You might not know, but I was in the same class earlier, and also during the monster hunt last time...”

“I know.”

“...Huh?”

“I know, Joo Jae-hyun.”

Kang Juyeon knows me?

Why?

Now that I think about it, it was strange.

Park Jin-woo had to try 11 times to finally manage to talk, but I managed to come to the cafe and talk with her on the first try.

Was it because we met during the monster incident last time?

...Honestly, I only showed her getting hit.

But if that was impressive, then it was impressive.

Anyway, if she knows me, it would make the conversation smoother.

I wiped away my flustered expression and quickly continued.

“Then, I'll get straight to the point.”

Now was the time to really talk about the main issue.

“What I'm about to say is very important and should not be leaked... Can I talk if you promise to keep it a secret, no matter what happens?”

“…….”

The story of the academy underground dungeon must be kept strictly secret.

It's content that must not leak out.

Considering this, my request was quite demanding.

Kang Juyeon slowly nodded.

She is a proud elite.

In any situation, with anyone, she never does anything that her pride cannot tolerate.

I asked her to keep the secret from the beginning, and it's probably something her pride wouldn't allow her to break, regardless of the content.

Feeling that things were going smoothly,

I took out the prepared reports.

“Would you like to take a look at this?”

It was an exploration report on the academy underground dungeon.

It contained a brief structure of the dungeon, the monsters appearing at the entrance, and a little bit of strategy knowledge.

Kang Juyeon's expression became strange as she slowly read the report.

She seemed to have immediately understood what it was.

Her eyes sparkled.

I lowered my voice even more and continued.

“I guess you've grasped it... It's a special dungeon located somewhere inside the academy. It's also an undiscovered dungeon that has never been revealed.”

Kang Juyeon carefully examined the report.

The report was a document written by Professor Tak Won-ho after a preliminary survey, so it lacked a lot of information, but it was a good guide for those who needed to explore it completely anew.

I didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

“To be straightforward, Kang Juyeon, I want you to be my companion and explore this dungeon together. I've accidentally found a reason to explore this dungeon, but I'm not capable enough on my own.”

An undiscovered dungeon is a paradise for holders overflowing with special rewards, but if you're not capable enough to explore it, it will only be a miserable grave.

I still lacked the strength to explore the underground dungeon alone.

This time, I needed Kang Juyeon.

“Dungeon exploration?”

“Yeah. As you can see from the report, the monsters appearing at the entrance are mainly C-grade Lizardmen. They have high strength but are weak against magic attacks. So if I stand at the front and hold them off, and you provide magic support from behind... I think we can explore it more easily than expected.”

To be honest,

it's almost the same as declaring that I'll take the hits.

If she's a holder of the mage class at her level, she can perform well on her own, regardless of who stands at the front.

But in such a situation, I had to be bold.

Since Kang Juyeon can't start exploring this dungeon without me...

Anyway, it was a win-win situation.

Kang Juyeon hesitated for a moment at my firm words and then asked,

“...Why me?”

“Huh?”

“There are many other holders. Why specifically...”

“...”

Is she really asking this because she doesn't know?

The B-grade holder with the best skills among the students.

Just that title alone makes her a must-have, and as an elite, she has a strong sense of pride and is tight-lipped.

She would probably never

tell anyone about the dungeon.

A person who can silently and steadily explore without involving external factors.

Among those around me, there was no one else but Kang Juyeon.

“During the monster incident last time, your magic was very impressive. A magic that could take out a B-grade monster in one shot... I've never seen anything like it. And you're also recognized as the strongest first-year. Exploring with a strong person would definitely make things smoother. If I had to choose someone to explore this dungeon with, Kang Juyeon, you were the only one who came to mind.”

But despite my frustrated inner thoughts,

the reasons coming out of my mouth sounded convincing.

I was quite desperate.

Without Kang Juyeon, exploring the dungeon might be impossible.

Almost like giving a presentation in the previous world,

smoothly and neatly,

and slightly elevating her, I explained.

Fortunately, it seemed my passion was effective.

Kang Juyeon nodded with a slightly embarrassed look.

But then, out of nowhere, a name came out of her mouth.

“...What about Kim Chae-eun?”

“Huh?”

Why is Kim Chae-eun mentioned here?

No.

How does Kang Juyeon even know Kim Chae-eun?

But as if it was nothing,

Kang Juyeon quickly shook her head.

“No, no. I'll do it, the dungeon exploration.”

“Huh? Really?!”

“Yeah.”

The acceptance came too easily.

But the temptation was quite clear.

Since Kang Juyeon found academy life boring and considered classes dull, the fresh breeze of exploring a secret dungeon was more than enough to move her.

‘Alright.’

I clenched my fist and cheered inwardly.

The first button for exploring the underground dungeon was properly fastened.

Now, we just needed to set a date and get Professor Tak Won-ho's approval.

It was the start of the first dungeon exploration I had been waiting for and looking forward to.

But nothing goes exactly as planned.

A variable appeared before us.

“I want to do it too!”

Moon Ga-eun, smiling brightly, raised her hand from the side.

She had been secretly watching us from a distance, but somehow managed to get close and join the conversation.

‘She used a rune.’

Knowing roughly about Moon Ga-eun's runes and skills, I instinctively realized.

She must have used her Rare rune,

[Dolphin's Sonar],

which amplifies hearing.

It was my mistake for not being able to completely shake her off.

‘But it might not be bad.’

Although a sudden variable appeared,

Moon Ga-eun's joining might not be bad.

A warrior class to stand at the front and a mage class to support from behind.

If a ranger class that can also provide occasional support attacks is added,

it would be a perfect 3-person party.

It was even more complete than the party of two I had planned.

...If I can convince Professor Tak Won-ho.

* * *

“Sure. Do as you think best.”

Professor Tak Won-ho readily allowed Moon Ga-eun to join.

It was a bit unexpected, but it made sense when he explained.

His initial plan was to have me gain practical experience in the dungeon and steadily grow.

After all, [Flowing Water Sword Technique] and [Wave Sword Technique] are more effective when used against actual monsters rather than practicing alone.

But as much as my growth,

the sudden appearance of a dungeon in the academy

was also important to investigate and gather information.

Thus, the direction was reset, and the inclusion of high-level holders from the advanced class, Kang Juyeon and Moon Ga-eun, in the exploration party was confirmed.

I was worried that the secrecy of the exploration might be a burden, but it seemed they didn't mind as long as it didn't involve political issues.

Before the dungeon exploration, I checked the holder information one last time.

<Holder Information>

◎Name: Joo Jae-hyun

◎Gender: Male (20)

◎Stats

[Strength: 24] [Magic: 6]

[Speed: 22] [Spirit: 2]

[Endurance: 17] [Mind: 14]

◎Resistances

[Poison: 1]

◎Runes

- Epic (Epic)

[Run Hunter Lv.Max] [Sweat of the Seeker Lv.Max]

- Rare (Rare)

[Lizard's Scale Lv.6] [Poison Lv.0]

[Flowing Water Sword Technique Lv.1] [Wave Sword Technique Lv.2]

- Normal (Normal)

[Sword Lv.6] [Dagger Lv.4] [Cooking Lv.3] [Fighting Lv.2]

[Rushing Lv.2] [Magic Control Lv.2] [Bow Lv.1] [Axe Lv.1]

[Spear Lv.1] [Blunt Weapon Lv.1] [Shield Lv.1]

◎Skills

[Quarter Knife] (Dagger)

[Poison Claw] (Poison)

[Combo] (Sword)

[Strengthen] (Lizard's Scale)

◎Ultimate Skill

-

The stats, which had clearly solidified as they surpassed 20,

and the growth in various rune levels greeted me.

I wondered how my Spirit and Magic stats had increased, but the ability points gained from the training effect of the [Sweat of the Seeker] rune were random, so they seemed to increase occasionally.

Especially in the rune department, the sword-related runes I've been focusing on recently were clearly noticeable.

[Sword] was already at level 6, and [Wave Sword Technique] was already at level 2.

Professor Tak Won-ho's Spartan education was quite effective.

With this, I was confident that in the academy underground dungeon entrance,

where C-grade Lizardmen mainly appear,

I wouldn't be outmatched.

In the front lines facing the monsters,

I was confident I could take on the bruiser role.

On the day of the expedition,

I, Kang Juyeon, and Moon Ga-eun

were at the secret entrance of the dungeon in the basement of the academy's south building, as described in the report.

Moon Ga-eun looked around the underground passage with curiosity.

“Wow— a secret dungeon. I'm so excited— right, Juyeon?”

“...Not really.”

Perhaps because they had met a few times before the exploration,

the banter between Kang Juyeon and Moon Ga-eun was now familiar.

The method to enter the dungeon was simple.

A specific medium was hidden at the location known as the entrance,

and by infusing magic power into that medium, you could enter.

For this dungeon, the medium was somewhere on the wall of the south building's underground passage.

I slowly felt the wall to find the exact location.

Then I turned to look at the two of them.

“I'll do it.”

Oops...!

I forgot to mention the magic power.

Still, they seemed to understand roughly and nodded.

They simultaneously placed their hands on my shoulder.

If I infused magic power like this,

all three of us could enter the dungeon together.

And...

[You have entered the dungeon.]

[The dungeon's eerie aura and heavy atmosphere slightly reduce the holder's speed.]

After falling into this world,

I entered a dungeon for the first time.