[Inventory (5×5)]
"This is…"
I quietly thought. No, why is it 5×5 instead of 3×3? Is this also because of the Embodiment? I've heard that the [Dungeon System] reflects each individual's characteristics.
Let's think about it again.
Right now, my Mana Heart is pulsating like a heart, pumping mana throughout my body. This process hardens my physical body.
Probably, Perion is involved in this process passively. It means that the Memory of Perion in the 「Notepad」 is being Embodied with my magic.
This is the cause of my strong body.
Then.
This [Dungeon System] also reflects my characteristics, so is it upgraded in a similar way to my strong body? A strong system? I'm not sure. I don't even know what I'm thinking.
I think I need to ask the developer about this.
"What are you thinking about?"
Elise asked just in time. I shook my head.
Whether it's because of a bug, or really because of the Embodiment, there's no good in revealing it unnecessarily. If it benefits me, I should keep quiet.
"Eat. It's all cooked."
I handed her a skewer. Elise took a bite. I also took a bite and asked.
"How is it?"
Elise just chewed. Chewed… and chewed… like a cow ruminating, deliberately slow.
"How is it?"
She just chewed. Chewed… and chewed…
"If it's not good, put it down."
As I reached out to take it, she stopped me.
"…It's, good."
Elise admitted. Satisfied, I checked the other [Dungeon System].
There are various systems unique to the Dungeon System.
Typically, there are [Inventory], [Mini Map], [Luck], [Player Shop], [Efficiency], etc… Among them, I turned on the [Mini Map], which I didn't need to turn on because of the SZX-9500.
"It wasn't… like this before."
I looked at it with serious eyes.
The mini map was too detailed.
Originally, the basic non-enhanced, or 'non-enhanced mini map', would barely distinguish the height on a flat surface.
[Mini Map]
Now, all the terrains on my mini map are clearly distinguished. Where the highlands are, and where the lowlands are.
The same goes for the geographical features. The condition of the soil, collapsed buildings, even the mountain ridges, I can tell at a glance just by looking at the mini map.
Something is definitely different.
An 'upgrade' of the system that wasn't there before I returned.
Crunch-!
The crunching sound was loud. I was startled and turned around. Elise was already chewing on her second skewer.
At this rate, she'll take them all. Why does she eat so well, even though she's a silver spoon?
"Let's go hunting right after eating this. We need to catch at least 40 to be in the top rank."
I said that and picked up three skewers at once.
"I was hoping... hah."
Elise looked at the skewers in my hand and let out a hollow laugh.
______________________________________________________________________
"...Alright! Everyone, good job."
The dungeon experience ended without a hitch. Elise and I probably secured first place comfortably. We caught 43 creatures, after all.
"How was your first experience with the Dungeon System? It's a D-rank dungeon, so there wouldn't have been any special loot, but if there was, congratulations. You can take it with you."
The director laughed heartily.
The only special drop that could come out of a D-rank dungeon would be an Enhancement Ticket, and even that has a probability of less than 0.001%.
That's why Elise is surprising. How did she get an Enhancement Ticket?
"Also, you must have acquired a lot of orbs in the dungeon. You can keep those orbs in your inventory, or put them in your pocket and bring them out of the dungeon. Feel free to use them as you wish."
The Dungeon Office usually takes a tax. Depending on the grade and color of the orb, they can charge up to a legal maximum fee of 13%.
But it seems like they're letting it slide today since it's for learning purposes.
"Today's task ends here. I heard there's a festival starting next week. You all worked hard, now take a rest!"
The director said, clapping his hands. The seniors responded with applause. Their faces were cheerful at the thought of having the whole of next week off.
"The rest will be explained by your supervisor. Supervisor Chedric?"
"Yes. Good job."
Chedric shook hands with the director and took over.
"You all did well. The purpose of this dungeon experience was to familiarize you with the [Dungeon System] in advance. Since all the dungeons discovered on the continent are connected to this system, there will be no need to tackle a dungeon outside of the Dungeon System. It means that dungeons are not as dangerous as they used to be."
Indeed, since the invention of the [Dungeon System], high school students, college students, and even middle school students frequently use dungeons. Although I don't know about C-rank or above, D and F-rank dungeons are definitely safe.
He continued his speech.
"Also, as some of you may have noticed, today's task was individual play. Depending on how you hunt, the contribution among party members is distributed, and your grades will be determined based on that contribution."
I'm not worried about the contribution itself. Of course, Elise did all the hunting, but the [Dungeon System] counts discovery itself as a decent achievement.
"Then. Now I will distribute the midterm report cards before the festival. They're physical, so come up one by one to receive them."
Thud- At his words, the inside of the classroom shook. The seniors looked around with tense faces.
"Gail. Gritton."
Chedric called out in alphabetical order.
"Gerkhen Kal Doon. Baran...."
Physical report card. I was inexplicably excited. Honestly, I haven't messed up any assignments so far.
"Shion."
I stood up abruptly. I took the report card that Chedric handed over.
[Shion Ascal: CP Completion List]
1. Prism Disassembly: [Pass (1CP)]
1. Paper Bird Observation: [0 / 2.5CP], [3.5 / 3 CP]
1. Mine: [4.3 / 5 CP]
1. Exploration Team Play: [6 / 6 CP]
1. Magic Capacity EvaluationⅠ [2.7 / 3 CP]
1. Job Experience [Pass]
1. Magic Space Experience [6 / 6 CP]
1. Experience and Art [3 / 3 CP]
1. University Tour [Pass]
Total: 20.5 / 23.5 CP
20.5 points out of a total of 23.5 points. If I get full marks for today's dungeon experience, I'm in the 'extreme' upper ranks. In other words, I'm a safe bet for the Edsilla National University Knight Department.
Of course, it depends on my internal grades.
Edsilla National University considers internal grades at a fairly high rate, so if you add up the grades and college board scores, I'm probably similar to those with CPs in the 16-17 range.
"Okay. Now go and rest. I'll see you on Monday in two weeks."
In the meantime, Chedric announced dismissal. The seniors quietly left, each hiding their report cards.
I also folded my report card and put it in my pocket.
"...Why is she like that."
Suddenly, Elise caught my eye. She seemed to have a severe headache, her forehead pressed against the wall, clutching her report card.
I zoomed in with the SZX-9500.
The cause was apparent.
7. Magic Space Experience [2.7 / 6 CP]
Everything else was perfect, but the Magic Space Experience was 2.7 points. As a result, her total score is similar to mine.
Wait, isn't it lower than mine?
Right. It's lower than mine. She lost 3.2 points out of 23.5, making it 20.3 points.
I have 20.5 points.
A difference of 0.2 points.
"Pfft."
I couldn't help but chuckle. Elise turned to look at me. Her eyes were sharp.
I quickly turned around and left.
______________________________________________________________________
...The next day.
It was a clear Saturday noon with a gentle breeze.
The Endex campus was buzzing with anticipation for the festival.
Although the Magic Day Festival, held from the first Wednesday to Friday in April, involves six magic high schools in the capital, it actually has a strong inter-school character. It's about who's doing better, who's attracting more visitors, and so on.
Therefore, the main gate of Endex will be wide open from Wednesday to Friday, and the campus will be full of stalls.
"Try some popcorn~"
There were already many stalls doing trial sales. Most of them were freshmen.
I walked among them. Then I spotted Gerkhen Kal Doon standing in front of a hotteok (Korean sweet pancake) stall.
"What are you doing?"
"..."
Gerkhen Kal Doon glanced at me. Just then, a freshman handed him a hotteok and said,
"I'm a fan, senior Gerkhen Kal Doon! I've read all of your scouting reports! You're going straight to Edsilla University, right?"
"I have to get in first. Thanks."
He took the hotteok. As he took a bite, he turned to look at me.
"Eating hotteok."
It was probably his answer to my question, 'what are you doing?'
Gerkhen Kal Doon likes sweet food. Chocolate, hotteok, ice cream, slushies, anything sweet. I know his habits and eating patterns fairly well, as we had the same master.
"Enjoy your meal."
I'm somewhat jealous. Now, as soon as Gerkhen Kal Doon enters Edsilla National University, he'll catch the eye of Theia Esil and be accepted as her disciple. He'll experience tremendous growth in her workshop.
Actually, it's too petty to be called jealousy. The gap between Gerkhen Kal Doon's talent and mine is virtually like that between a firefly and the sun.
"I'm eating. Going."
Gerkhen Kal Doon left. I approached the hotteok stall as if to take turns.
"...Can I have one too?"
The freshman glanced at me.
"Oh, yes."
There's quite a temperature difference from when he was dealing with Gerkhen Kal Doon. Is this also a talent gap?
"Are you a freshman?"
"Oh, yes."
"But honestly, there's not much difference between his face and mine, right?"
"Are you crazy? Here you go."
"?"
I thought I heard her say 'crazy.'
Anyway, the female freshman handed me a hotteok. Then she made a quick hand gesture. It was a gesture to leave quickly.
I took the hotteok and took a bite.
"It's delicious."
"That'll be 2 ren."
The freshman called out the price. I tilted my head.
"Gerkhen Kal Doon didn't pay."
"2 ren."
"..."
I handed over a 2 ren bill from my pocket. The freshman quickly took it.
"Thank you."
"...Yeah."
I turned around and walked away without saying much.
However, a voice flowing from right behind me stopped me in my tracks.
─Can I have just one hotteok too?
It was a familiar voice.
No, it wasn't familiar, but it was a voice I had heard somewhere before.
I slowly, hoping it was a misunderstanding, turned around as slowly as possible.
"Here you go... hotteok."
It wasn't a misunderstanding.
"Thanks."
The man who took the hotteok smiled at the freshman. The freshman blushed.
"Are you... a college student?"
"No. I'm a bit older than that."
"Oh, I see... Are you perhaps an active knight...?"
"No. I'm an uncle. Keep up the good work."
And so he came towards me, hotteok in his mouth.
Step. Step.
One hand was stroking the bandage around his neck, and the other was waving naturally. His name was...
Noah Lucille.
He was the founder of 「The Spectres」 that I met on Recordark.