We were walking for one and a half hour already and now we are at the end path of the second floor.
So right now we are resting before we go down for the next floor.
Which is quite fast since we were given until sunset to finish the exploration.
Since we started in the afternoon we roughly have about five hours before then.
"You guys are doing really well."
"Really?"
"Yeah not only do you know how to use your terrain well but you were able to deal with monsters in great numbers as well."
"Yeah I guess our teamwork is spot on."
"Especially you Anglos you did amazing disarming those traps as well as locating them thanks to you we had less time in moving around."
As James praised us from our great job. We somehow were filled with great confidence.
Even I could feel that I'm doing a not so bad job of helping everyone.
Yeah that's right, keep up the good work Angles.
"You seem to be better than a scout like me.
Kim said as she saw me doing a great job at detecting traps.
"Well what can I say? I work in this field after all."
"And here I thought you would be some douche like everyone said."
With Kim's brother's remark all things turned very awkward.
"So you guys hear huh?"
"Yeah it was kind of popular even now."
"Y-yeah, but after all the help you've done for us I thought that maybe there is something wrong with the rumors."
"Thank you." Well it started in a wrong door with someone until it was even more veered to an even bigger misunderstanding against me.
So I explained what happened to them like how it started. Who made it worse, who my roommate was and how I tried to solve it but got me in an even worse position.
"Man, there's nothing I can say. But, that's rough buddy."
"Yeah that really sounds tough."
"But hey you helped them right?"
"That's right you're basically the savior of the saint."
"Haha, I guess you're right."
They then comforted me after hearing my story.
"Still I never thought you guys would believe me."
"Maybe before we meet you sure I believed the rumors but after bonding with you for even just an hour it's still worth the trust I give you."
"Thank you."
Having believed in me I thanked them.
But this also made me remember something.
"Hey um it might be rude asking about it now, but that arm are you okay with it like that or do you want it to be healed again".
After asking that they were quiet as they looked at one of the twins, Dale and thought of what his response would be.
"Yeah sure I guess I would want it to grow back. But right now I want to Get it back with my own strength plus this is a loan from our senior here so I would need to pay him back first."
Hearing that somehow surprised me. But then again it might be just his pride but like other people would also protect their own views and so as their pride.
So half given up with the offer of healing his arm I stopped talking about it. and so did everyone ee as we changed the topic to something else making things lively for everyone.
What we didn't expect is to meet a group that consists of people whom you can consider as our rivals which was surprising for all of us.
~~~~~~~~
As the exam was ongoing, one of the professors asked another of the current time.
"How much time has passed when the students got inside?"
"It is almost hitting the two hour mark."
"Oh I see that's good, hopefully we can finish this fast and go home before sunset. I don't want to wipe someones a*s during this test."
"There you go again, with your reckless remark. Anyway I've been asking this since last week the reports for the dungeon clean-up. Where is it?"
As the other professor was to lazy to care about the students safety since the exploration would only take three floors from each dungeon they were given to explore.
"Why do you need that? it is already a done deal how far they will explore right?"
"You may be right but it is just to make sure, plus its protocol you want us not to get our pay due to someone's negligence?"
"Fine, fine, It's over here. take it."
Understanding that the other party wont back down he took out a bundle of papers with the reports written in there.
"Thank you. Not hard right? With this money will fill our pockets so as our bellies."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, just finish it up."
"Sure thing."
And as the papers were given they didn't notice that there were still some papers left.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh would you look at that I didn't notice we would meet each other this fast don't you agree James?"
"Hmm, oh Jester so it's you, I thought you would be on the third floor by now."
As we were resting a group suddenly arrived and their guide gave a snide remark against James.
And in return James also gave a comeback of his own.
"Tch so what? You haven't even stepped to the next floor yet. Plus these guys are not yet tired and we go step to the second floor unlike you guys, right everyone?
"""Of course."""
The group that was with this guy Jester replied with great fervor.
And somehow I heard a familiar voice when I looked back it was my roommate BK.
And he seems so unfriendly as always. Well, I've been the same since the change of the school rules and regulations. I often see him more and that would always build tension in the air for the both of us.
But this time It wasn't just me, everyone with me felt the same.
When I look at BK's group mates they also have hostile gazes but not towards me but my own group mates as well.
I understood because they also sense a feeling of rivalry against them.
I guessed I'm not the only one then.
"Anyway I won't be chatting much longer with you. After all, we will be claiming the top spot of this exam."
As he said that he left with the group he is guiding walking straight passed us as they walked down to the next floor.
And when we don't feel a shadow of their existence with us Kurt suddenly let out a complaint.
"That bastard is still full of himself."
Which was followed by the twins.
""The heck is wrong with those guys.""
Then there's Kim. "That b**ch is annoying as ever."
"That's enough I don't know if you guys noticed but they are pretty battered in their way here."
James then said those words to us as he gave his thoughts on how they looked.
Which I also felt strange since we didnt experience any difficulty coming here.
Not to mention BK is with them so it should be quite easy for them.
Oh yeah now that you mention it they do seem tattered.
"Hmph, so they were acting cool just now huh, let's see as we overtake them later."
"Yeah let's show them what we got."
As they were fired up about their thoughts of overtaking them. I gave my opinion on the matter.
"But they have the berserker knight with them so I don't think you guys should underestimate them."
"Hmmm, Anglos are right, don't look down on them because of a simple observation you guys should not let your guard down at all times remember that."
"Oh yeah thanks for the reminder."
"True I don't want to be the butt of their jokes after all."
"Good, then rest up properly and head down later."
"""Okay."""
So we rested up well enough for us to go down for the next floor.
~~~~~~~
huff huff huff.
"Jester and his group were fast away from certain monsters.
"No I can't."
"What are you doing? Move faster!"
"I-I can't…huff..I'm so tired."
'SH*t if I have known this would happen I would have let them rest before going to the lower floor.'
"I know how you feel. I'm also tired but we can't let them catch up to us."
"Huff hufff hufff"
Thud
"I can't."
"Oh no they're here."
"What are we gonna do? Are we gonna leave him?"
"No, you guys carry him even if we run fast we can't outrun these guys. After all they are dungeon crawlers, floors don't mean a thing to them."
"Okay."
Accepting Jester's request the group carry the collapsed guy as they.
"Why aren't you running away?
Jester then asked Richard why he didn't run away.
"Senior I may be rude in saying this but I am stronger than you so I could definitely hold these guys back. And who knows maybe we can beat them."
"You're a stubborn one huh."
"Why? Do you hate that?"
"Nope not at all. Let's see what a berserker knight is made of."
"Let me show you then.
""Haaaaahhhhhhhh!""
They then charged at the incoming monsters.