Chapter 45. Ant Nest (5)

'It should be around here.'

The holes are made by ants, but the massive chamber is naturally formed.

Or, did the game art team create it?

Well, that's not important right now, so let's gloss over it.

'It looks like a circular structure, but there's definitely an upper and lower part.'

And on the right side of the map's lower part, there's a secret passage leading to 'that place.'

The unique point of this secret passage is that it looks sealed from the outside, but once you enter, there's a path you can move through.

Why, in old games, you often see something like that.

A wall that looks solid, but you can move through it inside.

'To be precise, it's a limitation of the 2D map structure.'

"Hero of the Academy" is a game from 18 years ago.

It's a classic among classics.

A grand game, but it couldn't escape the unique map structure of 2D SRPGs.

'It means that the path is actually open, but it's not visible from the outside.'

Of course, this is reality, so such a method would be impossible.

But it must be implemented in some way.

'Either an illusion spell is cast, or it's a breakable wall.'

Or it could be both.

Fumbling, feeling around.

While I was carefully touching the wall,

"What are you doing?"

"Feeling the wall...?"

"I've heard that people have all sorts of tastes, but... does such a taste exist?"

"Don't look. It's contagious."

Muttering.

In an instant, I became a pervert who loves walls.

But that didn't last long.

Half-closed eyes with the synergy of [Sinister Aura].

The children quickly turned their gazes away from me.

I'm so sinister that even looking at me is unbearable.

They probably want to avoid me more than ask what I'm doing.

I can't understand it, but it's a matter of taste, right?

No way.

It's definitely the game's setting at work.

...It has to be. To preserve human dignity.

'Well, it's a good thing for me.'

If it were discovered that I entered the secret passage, various problems would arise.

So this is a good thing.

Being called a pervert who fondles walls is nothing.

Drip.

After wiping away a bead of sweat, I refocused.

Fumbling.

While I was continuously touching the wall,

Thud.

'I found it.'

The secret passage leading to the ant breeding ground.

* * *

Surprisingly, my hand was half gone.

At first glance, it looked like my hand had sunk into the wall.

It wasn't cut off; my fingers were moving on the other side.

'So it was an illusion spell after all.'

An illusion spell that makes the wall look like solid rock, even though it's actually open.

Who did this isn't important.

After all, it's a one-time dungeon in the game.

I pulled my hand out of the wall.

I couldn't enter right away.

'I need to wait for the ant attack.'

Luna is a problem, but the biggest issue is avoiding the instructors and Caron's eyes.

But someone like me will be out of their concern soon.

'The ant attack will start soon.'

What if something unexpected happens? Of course, that's possible.

"Hero of the Academy" is a game with high freedom.

But that won't happen.

Because.

'I've experimented thousands of times in the game.'

The illusion spell on the wall.

When the ant attack starts and you're near here, you're given two choices:

-Head to the space behind the wall.

-Fight the ants.

If you choose to head to the space behind the wall, you can reach the hidden 'ant breeding ground.'

It's a hunting ground where you can level up, so it's a route favored by many veterans.

I and other veterans have repeated it tens of thousands of times, but instructors like Caron have never pursued us.

'Not even once.'

That's why I'm so confident.

It's been confirmed that if you move when the choice appears, your existence is forgotten 100%.

While calmly waiting for the right moment,

Caron shouted loudly.

"What is this...! Everyone, form a circular formation!"

"Huh?"

"It's an attack! Stand back-to-back in groups! Half of the instructors, block the holes; the rest, protect the students!"

Before Caron finished speaking, the instructors moved.

At the same time, ants burst out of some holes.

Squeak!

Squeak!

"Aaah!"

"Everyone, run!"

"I, I need to confess!"

The busy instructors, the clustering children, the children falling while running, the children in panic.

It's chaotic, much more than I expected.

'Now.'

As I pushed my body forward, I was sucked into the wall.

Once inside the wall, there was no problem with my breathing.

My body could move freely.

'This environment is no different from the adjacent chamber.'

The only issue is that there's no light, so I can't see anything.

But it's fine. This place is a straight path.

I moved forward slowly, keeping my hand on the wall.

'Even without me, there won't be much of a problem.'

Caron is one thing, but they're instructors at the prestigious Anwood Academy.

They're experts who can easily secure a knight position in a noble family.

Even Ron, our group's instructor, could easily subdue someone like Luna.

'This event won't result in any deaths anyway.'

There's no reason to worry about Luna.

So what I need to do now is not miss the opportunity to become stronger.

'There's light.'

A glimmer of light in the distance.

I quickened my pace and soon reached it.

I arrived at my destination but didn't move rashly.

No, I couldn't move.

Because as soon as I came out, I was greeted by a sheer cliff.

"Hehe, just like in the game."

I wasn't at all surprised.

Because the scenery was exactly the same as in the game.

Two massive cliffs facing each other.

On the opposite cliff, there were paths made by ants, and hundreds of ants were moving busily.

A place filled with queen ants, baby ants, eggs, and worker ants.

That's right. The opposite cliff was the breeding ground of the black ants.

'But the queen ants and baby ants are deep inside the cliff.'

The dungeon managers probably didn't know about this place.

They couldn't have imagined that there were two queen ants in one dungeon.

They'll probably suffer for a while with writing reports and cleanup, but that's not my concern.

What's most important now is.

'My level-up.'

Actually, the secret passage I came through is one of the hidden pieces.

A secret passage that only supporting characters and extras can use, not the main character.

But there's one more condition needed.

'The character must be capable of ranged attacks.'

That's right. Rapid level-up.

The method to achieve rapid level-up is to bombard the opposite cliff.

There's no need to aim precisely.

The number of ants is so large that you'll hit something no matter where you attack.

They were that densely packed.

Of course, even with the maximum preparation, including mana potions, the limit is a 3-4 level-up.

It's the early part of Episode 1.

The variety of skills is lacking, and the attack power is insufficient.

Even if you get a good skill through the potential gamble, the lack of mana is a limitation.

'But I'm different.'

I have [God's Imitation] now.

A ridiculously overpowered skill that I can only get after Episode 3.

I have that skill now.

"Hehe, other veterans will be envious."

I placed my hand on the newly issued scabbard.

It was a new sword given by Rodelin after the Demon Shard strategy.

I received 1 penalty point, but who cares.

I got it for free.

After placing my hand on the scabbard, I fell into a brief contemplation.

The attack skills I'm currently imitating are [Earth Flip], [Sky Split], and [Moon Slash].

I'll exclude [Sky Split].

'Because it's a skill that can only be used vertically.'

Moreover, Lucid's family's visionary swordsmanship is one of the best.

Using a visionary skill to cut from the ceiling to the floor?

The chamber might collapse.

'On the other hand, Moon Slash has a free angle.'

Actually, there was another reason I came here.

To gauge the power of an A-rank skill in reality.

In the game, the results of a skill effect are often not shown after it's cast.

It might be due to the difficulty of implementation, but it's more likely because it's a 2D game.

2D games have a clear limitation in graphics.

'Moon Slash has a moon-cutting effect.'

I told Luna that the Lester family's swordsmanship can 'cut the moon' for this reason.

It's one of the most beautiful effects in "Hero of the Academy."

Of course.

'Except for the fact that the final boss uses this skill.'

The feeling when I see my character fall after the moon-cutting effect.

It's indescribable.

Anyway, I needed to confirm the power of the A-rank skill.

That way, I can distinguish when to use it and when not to.

If it's weaker than expected, I planned to use it casually whenever I wanted.

'I should use it horizontally on the highest path.'

If I cut the lowest part, the chamber might collapse.

It's probably not that strong, but safety first for me.

The number of ants that will die is probably less than expected.

'I can use it a few more times after confirming its power.'

The Lester family's [Moon Slash].

As I declared the skill's use, my body started moving on its own.

My slightly bent left knee, the scabbard set at a right angle to it.

The angle of the wrist pulling out the sword.

All these movements flowed naturally as one.

At the same time, my right hand moved like lightning and drew the sword.

The first secret technique of the Lester family.

Moon Slash (一閃).

And.

The chamber's light momentarily went out.

* * *

"Please, save me!"

A giant pincer on the ant's mouth aimed for a boy's neck.

'Am I going to die without even confessing once?'

Even though they had barely spoken a few times, he was sure she would have accepted his confession.

How frustrating.

Crunch!

"Huh?"

The boy couldn't help but be surprised.

The head of the black ant that was threatening him had already fallen to the ground.

And next to it.

"Teacher Caron?"

"Join the others."

"Y-Yes?"

Joining the others was just a word.

Caron carried the boy under his arm and started moving toward where the children were clustered.

Even in the midst of this, Caron didn't stop moving.

Dozens of ants met their end at Caron's hands.

"Compose yourself and join the battle here."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

After placing the boy in a safe spot, Caron, while cutting off another ant's head, surveyed the situation.

The number of ants was still countless.

But.

'The chaos has decreased.'

The anxiety, fear, and panic that started with the ant attack.

Panic is the most dangerous thing in battle.

Because it makes rational judgment impossible and prevents you from performing at your best.

But the panic had disappeared.

Even though the battle had only been going on for less than five minutes.

It was partly due to the instructors' skills, but more so because of the children's excellent base stats.

I recalled what the teachers of other subjects had been saying.