Joining the Royal Academy proved easier than Rae had anticipated. Her primary mission remained clear: gaining access to the school's extensive library to uncover a way to resurrect her mother and Merle. Passing the entrance tests had been straightforward, but now the true challenges were about to begin.
For the Royal candidates, the accommodations were nothing short of luxurious. Each successful applicant was assigned their own dormitory house. Rae, however, found herself allocated an old and somewhat decrepit house on the outskirts of the academy grounds. It seemed that her lack of noble lineage had led to her being given the least desirable residence among the candidates.
Eleanor, who had been instructed by Mr. Harold to look after Rae, took her entrance test after Rae to avoid drawing suspicion. Unlike Rae, Eleanor had no noble backing and applied as a commoner. Fortunately, she passed the test with ease and later joined Rae's faction, ensuring the two could remain close.
The dormitory Rae was assigned could accommodate six people. At the moment, her faction consisted of only two others: Eleanor and a girl named Ivy. Together, they took it upon themselves to renovate the dusty and dilapidated house. After hours of hard work, it finally became livable. Everyone chose a room that suited them best, with Rae naturally claiming the largest and most spacious one.
Although the candidates knew whether they had passed the entrance exam immediately after taking it, they had to wait for their official rankings. These rankings determined class placements based on individual abilities, and the process took some time. During this waiting period, Rae familiarized herself with the academy's layout. She explored the major buildings, including the classrooms, noble dormitories, commoner dormitories, other royal dorm houses, the library, and the administrative offices.
After becoming acquainted with the school's grounds, Rae ventured into town to procure supplies for her new life at the academy. She purchased kitchenware, furniture to furnish the dormitory, and seeds to start a kitchen garden outside the house. Though the items were expensive, Rae had enough funds saved from her time as an adventurer.
While wandering through the bustling town, Rae's attention was drawn to an armor shop. Intrigued, she entered the store, browsing its selection of weapons, shields, and armor. Most of the weapons didn't suit her—they were either too large, too heavy, or too cumbersome. Then, her eyes fell upon a pair of dark blue twin blades displayed behind the counter. Their sleek design and surreal beauty captivated her.
Approaching the shopkeeper with excitement, Rae asked, "Excuse me, sir. How much are those blue twin blades?"
The shopkeeper gave her a scrutinizing look before replying, "Sorry, young lady, but these blades are far beyond your price range."
"How do you know that? You haven't even told me the price yet," Rae countered.
"Alright," the man said with a sigh. "The price of these blades is... well, enough to buy every weapon in this shop."
"What?! Why are they so expensive?"
"These aren't just any weapons," he explained. "They're dungeon treasures. At first glance, they might seem like ordinary magic weapons, but dungeon treasures are far rarer and more powerful."
"Dungeon treasures?" Rae asked, her curiosity piqued.
The shopkeeper nodded. "While magic weapons can be crafted by skilled blacksmiths, dungeon treasures cannot. They're rewards obtained from successful dungeon raids. Dungeons are ancient, mysterious underground structures filled with monsters and multiple levels. To advance, adventurers must defeat the monsters of each level, including powerful level guardians. Only those who clear these levels receive dungeon treasures. Right now, there are only two known dungeons in the kingdom: one beneath the royal castle and another within the Royal Academy."
"That explains why they're so expensive," Rae said thoughtfully. "Dungeon treasures can't be crafted and are extremely rare."
"Exactly. They're said to hold the power to make nations yield," the shopkeeper added.
"How does one enter a dungeon?" Rae inquired.
"That privilege is reserved for Royals, high nobles, and top-ranked adventurers under noble sponsorships," the shopkeeper explained.
"So, if I get a sponsorship, I'd be allowed access?"
"Theoretically, yes. But I'd advise against it. Even the first level of a dungeon can end the lives of seasoned C- and B-rank adventurers. And the deeper you go, the more dangerous it becomes."
"I see. Thank you for the information," Rae said, smiling politely. "By the way, do you repair weapons?"
"We do. Do you have something that needs fixing?"
"Yes, my twin daggers are in rough shape. Unfortunately, I didn't bring them with me today. I'll return with them next time."
"I'll be here. Have a nice day, young lady."
"You too."
As Rae left the shop and headed back to the academy, her mind lingered on the conversation about dungeons. If dungeon treasures were as powerful as the shopkeeper claimed, acquiring one might be essential for her eventual confrontation with the demon king. Determined, Rae resolved to learn more about dungeons and how she could gain access.