Chapter 26: Dungeon Field Class (1)
I may have mentioned it several times already, but the Dungeon Field Class was one of the most important classes at the academy.
Especially the first field class held a unique symbolic meaning.
Most of the students who stood out during this time managed to stay in the top ranks until graduation, proving their talents.
Perhaps because of that, most of the classes during the week of the first field class were adjusted to help students prepare for it.
Only one person, Professor Windy May, who taught the Wands class, continued with her usual lessons as if she didn’t care in the slightest...
Well, there are always exceptions.
To put it plainly, even the students who had gradually grown lax tightened their nerves again during this period.
In fact, over the past few days, most students had been busy preparing in their own ways—practicing coordination with their group members or making other preparations for the dungeon.
I had been just as busy myself.
However, it wasn’t for the sake of syncing up with my group like others, nor was it specifically to prepare for the field class.
...Just like that, a few days passed in a flash, and Friday arrived.
Friday.
The day of the Dungeon Field Class.
"Hoo."
I repeatedly inhaled and exhaled as if trying to empty my lungs completely.
In the wide plaza, countless people had gathered, creating a scene where the word "crowded" was truly fitting.
"You're insane. What the hell were you doing all this time without even getting proper armor?"
"Hey, I'm a mage. I'm not the one who's supposed to get stabbed in the front lines. That’s your job."
"Bullshit. You think monsters attack in neat front-to-back order? They’re definitely gonna target scrawny guys like you first and chew you up."
"I mean, even if monsters are dumb, anyone can see you’ve got way more meat on your bones, so they’ll probably come after you first."
"You looking to get beat up before we even enter the dungeon? I'm not fat, I'm muscular!"
"By the way, what kind of dungeon do you think it’ll be? Since Professor Rahma is overseeing it, maybe it’ll be something like ruins or an abandoned mine with undead..."
"I don’t think so. A senior I know told me undead types never appear in first-year classes. They’re too difficult for our level."
"Then maybe orcs or goblins? But that seems too generic... I have no clue."
"Right, same here. I just wish they'd hurry up and let us in already. Being stuck in the middle of the queue is so annoying."
The students gathered in the plaza were either chatting idly to ease their nerves or exchanging opinions about the dungeon.
Even if each group spoke in low voices, the sheer number of people turned the place into something as noisy as a marketplace.
Amidst that clamor, I checked the assigned entry tag.
3-42.
It meant I was the 42nd to enter in the 3rd group.
It was the same order as in my previous life.
‘I already confirmed that Cecilia is right before me.’
I tucked the entry tag into my chest and looked around once more.
In front of the dungeon entrance, about a hundred students were gathered, each waiting for their turn.
"It really is enormous."
Allen Amiel, who stood right beside me, murmured quietly.
Like me, he was wearing standard-issue armor and holding a plain longsword.
"But why did they make five of those? Wouldn’t it have been better to just combine them into one?"
"Beats me. I don’t know the details either, but I heard safety was the main concern. Probably to reduce risk by splitting up the groups."
To ease his stiffness, I added a few more words.
"Besides, I heard somewhere that building it in separate parts like that is more economical than making one dungeon large enough for this many people to enter all at once."
"Heh."
Allen murmured in admiration.
"Anyway, there’s really nothing else to say but that it’s amazing."
"Yeah."
I nodded at his words.
"I feel the same way as you."
Simulated Dungeon Generator.
A masterpiece created by the Sage Bojador Arpentia and the Archmage Talia Poas.
It was thanks to that marvel that students could experience something close to real combat while still being kept safe.
Even after hundreds of years, not even a fragment of that device had been fully deciphered—proof enough of how incredible it was.
‘But how the hell did that bastard Rahma tamper with something like that?’
As that question resurfaced, I shook my head instinctively.
“……”
Contrary to expectations, he was silent.
No, I couldn’t even find a trace of him.
‘Even Professor Shagas and Sister Roberta couldn’t figure out where he went...’
Since Rahma was in charge of this field class, it wasn’t too strange that he was hard to find.
He had even handed over his classes to others in recent days.
However, for him to disappear completely without leaving any trace was definitely unusual.
Because of that, Professor Shagas and Sister Roberta seemed to have taken my words more seriously.
The problem was that no one knew where he was or what he was preparing.
There was no solid evidence either.
If I made a careless move, I might be the one caught in a trap instead.
In the end, it meant I had to catch him the moment he revealed his true colors.
“Ahem, hmm.”
It was then.
While I was lost in thought, someone chimed in beside me with an explanation.
“…Apparently, maintaining and operating that device consumes a considerable amount of mana stones and resources. That’s why the Imperial Family is working with the academy and the Magic Tower to develop a more efficient mana-recycling system.”
That someone was none other than Princess Velita.
She was clad in armor engraved with numerous spells and enchantments, and armed with a finely crafted rapier just as delicately detailed.
"Man, if I could invent something like that, I’d make a killing. Don’t you think so, Ganetsa?"
"……"
The blue-haired man holding a magic staff, Tesrad Krypton, chuckled gleefully.
Anette Ganetsa, who stood next to him, gave him a sharp glare as if he were an annoyance.
Maybe it was my imagination, but the daggers strapped to her thigh seemed to twitch slightly.
“Shut it. You stink.”
"Wait, what now? Why are you so mad again? I even scrubbed myself clean today!"
"If you keep flapping that mouth in front of the princess, I’m seriously not going to let it slide."
"Oof."
Anette muttered her threat quietly toward Tesrad.
Despite her sharp response, Tesrad remained as laid-back as ever, clearly used to it.
"Is it really okay not to stop them?"
“They’re always like that. Even though they seem that way, they actually acknowledge each other and work surprisingly well together when it counts.”
When I asked Princess Velita, who was beaming beside me, she shrugged as if it were nothing new.
“More importantly, what do you think about this class? Do you think we’ll do well?”
“…We’ll be fine. We’ve synced up a few times before, and more importantly, the difficulty of the first session is said to be relatively low. Since we’re all above average, we should be able to get through without much trouble.”
When I gave her a suitable answer, Velita looked visibly relieved.
“Phew, I’m really glad to hear you say that. I was honestly worried I might be the one holding everyone back.”
As if.
I only muttered that to myself.
Since I couldn’t say it out loud, I gave her another polite response.
“Please refrain from saying such things. As a member of the Crowns, Your Highness is our leader and coordinator. If Your Highness falters, we’re bound to falter as well.”
“Ugh, I didn’t expect to hear something my tutors used to say even here...”
Velita mumbled in a dejected voice, as if she had lost confidence.
Seeing that, I barely suppressed the urge to gag and quickly changed the subject.
“Another group is going in.”
“Hm? Ah, you’re right. Do you happen to know which group it is?”
“It’s the 38th, Your Highness.”
Creeeeaak.
As the massive dungeon gate opened, four students waiting at the front stepped inside.
The moment they entered, the door moved on its own, as if by will, and closed shut, with a large number ‘3’ appearing on the surface.
It signified that they were entering the dungeon assigned to the third group, as written on their entry tags.
“In that case, it’ll be our turn soon.”
“Yes, we should start getting ready.”
In front of the dungeon, the students scheduled before us were already waiting.
“Ah.”
When I lowered my head first, Cecilia Everglenn, who spotted me, also gave a slight nod in return.
As expected, it seemed she had formed a group with other students.
“Alright, everyone, take one of these.”
While we waited, the staff member in charge of guiding us approached and handed out necklaces one by one.
“If anything dangerous happens or if you want to quit the session, just channel mana into the necklace. Also, if the necklace is separated from the body, we’ll receive a signal immediately, so please keep that in mind.”
Sister Roberta, who was serving as our guide, said this and gave me a subtle signal.
It was a sign that she had securely passed the prepared necklace to Cecilia Everglenn as well.
‘Good.’
I put on the necklace she gave me and checked my equipment one last time.
Since it was standardized gear, the armor felt a bit uncomfortable, but not enough to be bothersome.
“Group 42. You may enter.”
Creeeeeeeak.
The moment Sister Roberta finished speaking, the giant dungeon entrance opened.
I stepped inside in silence.
In my previous life, this had been the turning point...
And in this life, I was heading toward the center of what could be called a watershed moment.
As soon as we entered, we were greeted by a ceiling lined with sharp stalactites and a rough, uneven floor.
Damp walls and that distinct smell.
A pleasantly cool air.
Just like in my previous life, the setting for this dungeon field class was a cave.
“It’s a cave.”
Taking the lead with Allen, I said that while pretending to sniff the air.
“There’s a faint smell of water and plants. It seems this dungeon mixes elements of both cave and forest. We should keep that in mind as we move.”
“Wow, you’ve got a nose like a dog.”
Tesrad, who was at the rear of the group, sniffed loudly and tilted his head.
“I don’t smell anything at all. Are you sure there’s really a scent?”
“If Lian says so, then it must be true.”
Allen quietly backed up my words.
Then Anette, who was positioned at the very back, also subtly voiced her agreement.
“I’m not sure about the forest scent, but I can definitely smell water, Your Highness.”
“Hmm. Let’s move forward for now.”
Velita, who stood in the middle of the group, nodded.
“If what Sir Lian says is true, then it’s best to exit the cave quickly. In here, the methods we can use are inevitably limited.”
“A wise decision, Your Highness.”
I responded as I drew my mace.
Standing next to me, Allen also silently unsheathed his sword.
“But unfortunately, it looks like they found us first.”
Crunch, crunch, crunch...
A spine-chilling sound began echoing from the distance.
The sound of a swarm of insects moving all at once.
And the direction it was heading in was none other than where we stood.