Chapter 104. To Survive in a Dungeon

Radel went up to the top floor of the Black Falcon Dormitory.

This place, where first-years rarely came up, had the rooms of some research-grade seniors and Radel’s room.

‘Though I haven’t seen a single hair of the seniors.’

He didn’t know what the research-grade seniors were doing, but they almost never came to the dormitory.

Thanks to that, Radel was able to come and go through the secret passage comfortably.

Creak.

Radel entered his room and first went up to the rooftop through the terrace.

There were medicinal herbs and monster by-products that he had been drying since yesterday.

“I’ll have to dry them for one more day.”

Although Radel was managing the Dice General Store in Marcellent, he had no intention of quitting the stall he occasionally opened inside the academy.

There were no shops inside the academy where students could buy things.

When students needed something, they aimed for the outing week when they could go to Marcellent or tried to barter with other students.

Or they had to prepare the necessary ingredients themselves by wandering around the mountains and fields inside the academy.

In such a harsh environment, there were many classmates who wanted Radel’s convenient stall, even if it was a little more expensive than the market price.

It was a waste to throw away a sure market.

To operate the stall smoothly, it was important to secure alchemy ingredients whenever he had time.

“With this, I can make about 20 Beginner Alchemy Sets.”

After checking the remaining ingredients, Radel took out the half-map he had found in the Secret School.

It was the academy dungeon map that his ancestor Hayden had left behind.

Whenever he had time, Radel had been walking around the academy and comparing the actual academy dungeons with the dungeon locations on the map.

There were dungeons in the same place as the map, and there were also places that he couldn’t find in reality.

“Is the map wrong, or are the dungeons hidden?”

Since it was only half a map, even this inference couldn’t be said to be certain.

He still hadn’t figured out the meaning of the different colors used to mark each dungeon.

“I’ll just have to find out from now on.”

It was just that he hadn't had a chance until now.

It was natural, as the academy was preventing students from entering the dungeons.

Radel resolved to enter the nearest dungeon without being noticed for now.

* * *

Combat Magic time.

Radel was listening to the lecture with Gusto and writing something on a piece of paper.

It was a list of things to prepare before entering a dungeon.

‘The most necessary thing would be items.’

It would be nice to have a good weapon, but…….

From Radel’s experience, no matter how outstanding a weapon was, it wasn't of much help if the skill of the person using it wasn't great.

In fact, what was immediately helpful in a pinch were consumable items.

Recovery potions and survival items needed in case of isolation.

‘It’s nice that I don’t have to pack water separately after learning magic.’

Radel thought it was a good thing he had learned water element magic and wrote down the list.

Starting a fire could also be solved with fire element magic, so in many ways, a magician was a good profession for clearing a dungeon.

As it happened, Professor Lilian was also lecturing on battles that occur in dungeons.

“There are various dungeons in the Empire. Most of them appeared a very long time ago and have been cleared. In dungeons, monsters are constantly regenerated. Why do people go into such dangerous places?”

At Lilian’s question, a student raised his hand and answered.

“Because of the rewards that can only be obtained in a dungeon.”

Lilian nodded.

“That’s right. The rare ingredients that can be obtained in a dungeon, the monsters that only appear in specific dungeons, the artifacts given after defeating the boss, and so on. Everything that adventurers want is in a dungeon.”

Dungeons were places full of unsolved mysteries.

It was not known why they appeared, nor was it certain why monsters were constantly generated.

On top of that, there were many dangerous elements, such as having to defeat the boss monster to get out of the dungeon once you entered the boss room.

“You, as magicians, will have countless occasions to enter a dungeon. Of course, it would be good to survive in a dungeon, but there will be times when that is difficult, right?”

Professor Lilian smiled and waved her staff.

And then, an illusion appeared in the classroom.

It was the image of a dungeon’s boss room and a skeleton rolling around inside it.

“What should you prepare so that you don't end up like this? If there’s just one thing that magicians need most to survive in a dungeon?”

At Professor Lilian’s question, the students raised their hands.

“I think that for a magician, a magic power recovery potion is the most necessary. Because if your magic power runs out in an emergency, you can’t do anything.”

“I think it’s a powerful spell. I think one proper omnidirectional magic spell can solve anything.”

“A scroll. It’s an essential item when magic power and health are depleted.”

Professor Lilian listened to the students’ answers and shook her head.

“You’re all wrong. You all don’t know what is the most important thing to survive in a dungeon.”

Radel, who was writing down his list while listening to the students’ answers, stopped his hand.

Is there something more important than these?

“The correct answer is a comrade. Especially, the better your comrade is at magic, the higher your chances of survival, right?”

Upon hearing those words, enlightenment came in an instant.

No matter how many items you have, it's not as good as having one useful comrade!

Radel looked at one place in the classroom and grinned.

Found it, my survival item.

At the same time, Armandy felt an inexplicable chill.

* * *

The agents of the Ability Management Bureau held regular meetings to exchange information.

Today too, the agents who had appeared in the darkness secretly exchanged information.

“Then, see you next time.”

An agent who had achieved his goal quickly said goodbye, turned his body, and disappeared.

Armandy, who was wearing a robe, was also taking out his staff to cast illusion magic on himself.

“Wait a minute.”

There was a hand that grabbed Armandy.

It was his Ability Management Bureau colleague, Pirenzo.

“What do you mean, wait a minute. Let go of me.”

Armandy shook off his colleague's hand with a cold tone.

What did he mean by wait a minute when he was in a hurry?

However, Pirenzo whispered seriously.

“Shh, the 8th Prince is over there.”

“What?”

Looking in the direction Pirenzo was pointing, he really did see a person wearing a black robe disappearing.

“That’s the 8th Prince?”

“I'm sure of it. His body type, stride, and even the habit when he moves are the same. It's strange for him to be passing by here at this time. Let's follow him.”

Although he was an unbearably annoying colleague, his skills were worth acknowledging.

If Pirenzo, who was a former assassin, was that certain, there was a high probability that it was the 8th Prince.

“Hah…… this is crazy. Let’s go for now.”

In the end, Armandy had no choice but to follow him with Pirenzo. Because if it really was the 8th Prince, he couldn't just let him be as an agent of the Ability Management Bureau.

However, following him was not as easy as he thought.

Just when he thought he had caught up, he would disappear at some point.

Pirenzo was even impressed, watching him skillfully erase his presence.

“It feels like I’m chasing a skilled assassin.”

To that extent?

Armandy moved with Pirenzo, feeling uneasy.

Finally, the place where the person in the black robe stopped was in front of a dungeon inside the academy.

Armandy and Pirenzo were holding their breath and watching what he would do.

It was at that moment.

“Come out. I know you're there.”

Armandy was startled by the voice that spoke as if it knew exactly where they were hiding.

He could feel Pirenzo flinching, as if he was surprised too.

‘We were caught tailing him?’

On top of that, this voice was definitely Radel’s.

From Armandy’s experience, if it really was Radel, the best thing to do was to stay still for now.

‘That crafty 8th Prince might be trying to trick us.’

Armandy quietly warned Pirenzo.

“Stay still. The prince might be playing a trick……. Hey, you bastard!”

Swoosh!

However, Pirenzo couldn't stand it and jumped out.

It was the moment Armandy grabbed the back of his neck.

* * *

“How did you know I was here?”

Radel had just mumbled to himself, but he was inwardly surprised when Pirenzo actually popped out.

To be honest, he didn't really think someone would come out.

Don't you sometimes feel like doing that?

The time when you know there's nothing there, but you want to check if there's someone there just in case.

‘So there are times when something really comes out.’

He hadn't expected it, but there was no need to show it on the outside.

“Isn’t it your mission to monitor me, professor? I was watching to see how far you would follow me.”

“Grrr, as expected……!”

Pirenzo clenched his fists at Radel’s words.

As a former assassin, he was more confident in his stealth than anyone else.

However, be it the time he was captured by Gusto and Radel before, or now, he strangely felt his skills were lacking whenever he got involved with the 8th Prince.

Radel was thinking something else as he looked at Pirenzo.

‘Armandy must be somewhere around here too.’

It was unlikely that he had followed him at this time of night to really monitor him, and there was a high probability that he had discovered him by chance while passing by.

What could a professor like Pirenzo be doing after the academy’s lights-out time?

‘The Ability Management Bureau agents must have met somewhere.’

If so, Armandy might be there too.

Actually, he had prepared to enter the dungeon, but he was planning to just do a light exploration today.

No matter how much you prepare, it is difficult to clear a dungeon alone.

‘But the story is different if Armandy is here.’

Radel feigned nonchalance and gestured to Pirenzo.

“Then go about your business now, professor. It's strange to keep following me after being caught. Right, Armandy?”

Rustle.

When Radel called Armandy’s name, Armandy with a tired face appeared from where Pirenzo had been hiding, as if he had no choice.

“I wanted to pretend I didn't know……. What on earth are you doing in front of a dungeon?”

So he was there.

Radel grinned.

“Then how about this? You just pretend you didn't see me and go. I'll keep it a secret that I saw you here too.”

At Radel’s words, Armandy’s expression darkened even more.

“Do you think that makes sense? You know what happens if you get caught wandering around after lights-out. Why did you come here?”

When Radel thought about it, being honest and saying he came to explore the dungeon was something only a fool would do.

“Why doesn’t it make sense? You’re outside now too.”

Radel was brazen.

He could see Armandy putting a hand to his forehead, dumbfounded.

In any case, Armandy was a first-year academy student just like Radel.

It was the same for him if he was caught being outside at this time.

Radel sighed as if he had no choice and said.

“It's true that I came to enter the dungeon. I came secretly at night because they won't let us in at the academy.”

“No, why the dungeon……. You're not trying to clear it, are you?”

“I have no intention of doing that. I'm just going to go in, gather some ingredients, and come out.”

Here, he had to look like a madman for alchemy ingredients.

Radel sneakily showed the bag he had slung over his shoulder.

“Because there are ingredients I absolutely have to get. I'll just be a minute, so can we pretend we didn't see each other?”