[Chapter 140]
[At the Dungeon Entrance]
It was a cold and dark place.
When it opened its eyes, it was there.
It was born like that, not knowing what it was.
Crunch crunch
Shiver shiver
It wasn't the only thing existing there.
It couldn't know if the others were born earlier than itself, or at the same time.
But there were many beings.
And it—
—Crackle
It was on the brink of death as soon as it was born.
Born without knowing why, it had to fight them to survive.
It was a hell of hungry ghosts.
A hell where they killed and tore flesh from each other.
Beings were born every day and died every day.
Plop
Crunch
There was no symbiosis among them.
The hungry ghosts tried to devour each other until only one remained.
It was instinct.
Kill.
Kill and prove you are my child.
A message imprinted like instinct even before becoming aware of its own existence.
That which may have been mother or father endlessly compelled them.
Gulp
It was the same for this one.
Born without knowing what it was, it mindlessly followed its instincts to prove its existence.
And so it trampled, killed, and ate the others that were there.
—...
How much time passed?
When finally only it remained there.
It gained enlightenment about what kind of being it was.
It is the king of predators.
The king reigning at the pinnacle of all existence.
—Yes, that's right.
My child.
Then, that responded.
That which may have been mother or father, no, the dungeon responded.
—You are my king.
The dungeon that had long lost its king.
As if squeezing out its remaining power.
Gave birth to a being worthy of being king.
☆
Seonryeok Year 13, May.
The time for final evaluations was approaching.
The final evaluation announced by the High Academy was to conquer the Academy Red Dungeon.
Students had to bring out the incense kept inside the Great Hall located on the lowest floor of the dungeon.
Even though it's called dungeon conquest, it's actually a dungeon that's already been conquered.
There's nothing particularly dangerous in a dungeon where the boss monster no longer exists.
A dungeon is a world cut off from the existing world where the laws of nature are distorted.
Dungeons are classified as yellow, red, or black in difficulty of conquest depending on the color that dyes the world.
Even when classified by the same color, they are further distinguished by light and shade.
In that sense, the Academy Dungeon could be said to not be a dungeon that students can generally conquer.
The Academy Dungeon is the exception.
After subjugating the monsters appearing in the dungeon over several decades, the dungeon's momentum inevitably weakened.
For a red dungeon.
The Academy Dungeon's conquest difficulty kept lowering as subjugation activities were carried out continuously over a long time.
Thanks to that, High Academy students have been conquering the Academy Dungeon as part of their second year final evaluation since some time ago.
Eunha had experienced it once before his regression too.
"—Ah, you can check the content on EveryFine too."
"Really? Where?"
"Here, take a look at this."
Cultural Center Cafeteria.
Eunha was having dinner with Jeong Ha-yang.
The two were in the middle of talking about what happened during the day.
Then she mentioned the final evaluation that would be held next week.
Eunha checked the Comprehensive Ability Evaluation Test notice updated on EveryFine on the smartphone she handed over.
"The content is almost no different from what's announced every year."
It wasn't a difficult test.
What the instructors wanted from students in this final evaluation was to wisely deal with dungeon conquest using what they've learned so far.
In a way, it was intended to get them used to conquering dungeons before becoming players.
"Ah, but the conquest period has changed. It used to be 5 days but now it's 7 days?"
"Yeah, it changed to a week starting last year."
"Why did it increase?"
Eunha soon tilted his head.
Because the period he experienced in his previous life was different from the period posted in the notice.
Ah, is it because of Hong Jin-woo?
But the doubt didn't last long.
Looking back, the current Academy Dungeon had completely changed from the dungeon he experienced in his previous life.
The dungeon transformed.
Two years ago from now.
Eunha himself had stirred up the Academy Dungeon to kill Hong Jin-woo.
As a result, the dungeon that absorbed a lot of mana transformed.
It was an uncommon phenomenon.
So the conquest methods known to the world became useless.
The reason the conquest period increased is probably because of that too. To conquer slowly with leeway.
Well... it doesn't matter to me.
Eunha who returned the smartphone to Ha-yang.
Eunha didn't care much.
Though they say the Academy Dungeon's conquest difficulty greatly increased.
It was a dungeon that had been conquered anyway.
It was difficult to find the way, not that dangerous monsters appeared in the dungeon.
With his skills, he could easily finish the final evaluation.
Moreover—
—Since I'm not completely unfamiliar with the path, I could finish in a day or two if I wanted to.
Since last year.
Eunha had been regularly doing cleaning activities in the Academy Dungeon to get permission to wear the golden brooch at the academy.
Even though the dungeon transformed, it was no different from familiar terrain to him.
Though he didn't think about finishing in a day or two at all.
Just as Eunha was inwardly feeling satisfied.
"—So I was thinking it would be better to form a party in advance before the final evaluation starts."
"That's true. If we form it on the day of the final evaluation it could be chaotic, and the party balance could be weird."
Jeong Ha-yang brought up the topic.
Eunha nodded.
The notice said students should conquer the dungeon autonomously.
It meant they could conquer the dungeon solo or in a party.
At the same time, it also meant the academy wouldn't take responsibility for their deaths as much as they left it to their autonomy.
Though they say the Academy Dungeon isn't treated as a dangerous dungeon, a dungeon is still a dungeon.
A dungeon where you don't know what will happen. It wouldn't be strange even if someone dies.
Students had to submit a newly written will right before entering the dungeon.
They also had to write a pledge taking responsibility for their own death.
It was proof that many people still lose their lives in the dungeon even though its status has fallen now.
As a result, not a single student has conquered the dungeon solo unless they were crazy.
Students always formed parties in some way.
The first underground floor will become a marketplace.
In that sense, it's better to form in advance.
Even though the dungeon transformed.
There were still remaining traditions in conquering the Academy Dungeon.
People entering the Academy Dungeon for the first time are randomly summoned somewhere on the first underground floor.
So even if they formed a party, unless they held hands, they would often be sent to different locations when entering the dungeon.
So people scattered all over the dungeon would form new parties or designate meeting places to meet party members.
"So you're thinking of forming a party first, then meeting at the promised place later?"
"Yeah, that's right. They say we'll enter in order by randomly assigned groups when entering the dungeon."
"Then everyone will have to find their party members after entering the dungeon. The gathering place will mostly be the plaza area."
The plaza area with stairs going from the first underground floor to the second.
During the final evaluation period, you could easily find people forming parties there.
It seems Jeong Ha-yang was also thinking of forming a party and gathering there.
"Have you thought about how to form the party?"
"Mhm."
"Who are you doing it with?"
"I asked the seniors and they said it's best to form parties of 4-5 people. Even if we form a party, party compositions often change here and there while taking the final evaluation in the dungeon anyway."
"That's true. Since it's not an officially formed party, the composition will often change flexibly depending on the situation."
It's a temporary party after all.
You never know what situation will occur in the dungeon.
There's a possibility party members won't meet at the gathering place on time, or situations may occur where someone has to leave the party due to injury.
Considering those points, it might be better to form small parties that can flexibly deal with situations.
Eunha affirmed her judgment.
"So who are you doing it with?"
"Seo-na said she'd form a party with other people this time... I'm thinking of forming a 5-person party with Min-ji, Eun-hyuk, and Parang oppa."
"Seems like one person is missing?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"It's 5 people though?"
"It's only 4 people even including you."
"...You're not including yourself?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
""...""
Silence fell.
What is she saying?
Eunha tilted his head.
It seems they were misunderstanding something.
Jeong Ha-yang seemed to have thought he would join her party without saying anything.
And Eunha—
"—I was planning to solo this time?"
"What?"
Though it was regrettable to her.
He was thinking of conquering the dungeon alone without joining any party.
The kids are growing up on their own now, what do I have to do?
Since I'm not hung up on grades, I should rest comfortably.
You don't know how much Eunha had been looking forward to this year's final evaluation.
A dungeon he could conquer in a day or two if he wanted.
In other words, he could legally rest while the final evaluation was ongoing.
Moreover, what is there in the Academy Dungeon?
—Since the conquest period increased by two days, I can just enjoy the hot springs while singing la la la.
The hot spring area located on the third underground floor.
He was planning to quickly go down to the third underground floor alone while others were busy trying to meet their party members as soon as the final evaluation started.
And he would rest thoroughly at the resort.
Even if he had to refuse his girlfriend's proposal.
It was Eunha's secret plan he couldn't tell anyone.
"No, why?"
"...There's some magic I want to test, so I was going to train in the dungeon."
"Can't you do that with us?"
"I'm sorry... I think it's better to do it alone."
Jeong Ha-yang and Han Seo-hyun.
Dating the two of them.
Eunha acutely felt he didn't have much time to be alone these days.
It was a rare opportunity to rest alone.
Very smoothly.
Eunha laid out his lie.
Of course, his girlfriend—
"—Puu."
"Who's making that ugly face?"
"I'm not joking right now."
"I'm sorry. Can't you understand a little?"
"Puu."
As if very displeased.
Kkamang puffed up her cheeks.
Eunha kept apologizing seeing her puffed up like a balloon.
She chewed her food silently.
"...But."
"Huh? What?"
"It's our 132nd day today."
"Yeah, I know."
"A week will have passed after the final evaluation ends..."
"..."
"So we won't see each other for a week."
"...I'm sorry."
Looking down at her food.
Jeong Ha-yang mutters gloomily.
Feeling that look was too pitiful, Eunha almost unconsciously changed his mind.
He barely held back.
He barely held back, but—
"—I even bought a new swimsuit to show you..."
"..."
"I was going to enter the hot springs together..."
"...!"
"I even chose cute pajamas..."
"..."
"I was looking forward to being with you in the dungeon for a week..."
"...I was wrong."
Jeong Ha-yang grumbling with her head raised as if deliberately for him to hear.
Eunha was tempted for a moment.
He really almost gave in.
If he heard any more of her whining that wasn't whining, he might give in.
So Eunha expressed unconditional surrender.
Only then did Jeong Ha-yang stop whining.
"Okay. Do as you want."
"...You're not angry?"
"I don't know. Just tell me about these things in advance next time."
"Yes."
"And since we won't see each other in the dungeon, stay with me constantly until we enter the dungeon instead."
"Determined not to lose until the end..."
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Ah, I said I'll be with you except when attending classes and sleeping."
"Is that a promise?"
"...Let's exclude when we're training too."
"Then train with me."
"...Okay."
It feels like his efforts to make time alone became completely useless.
Should I just conquer the dungeon together?
Eunha seriously pondered.
☆
Red Dungeon Player Academy.
Not yet discovered by anyone.
Hidden piece, 6th underground floor.
Keshishishi
Buuuung
Ppadukppaduk
The king reigned over that narrow world.
Born from the king, countless bees filling that narrow world were the king's loyal subjects.
They presented the monsters they captured before the king as if doing their given tasks.
And the king—
—Plop
Just like that.
It stabbed its long stinger into the body of the monster writhing to survive.
Then it injected its eggs. The monster's body swelled up greatly.
The king who had proven itself by killing now proved itself by reproducing offspring.
Wiiiiing
The subjects moved the creature gasping for breath elsewhere.
Meanwhile, other subjects brought new monsters from somewhere.
The king continued to prove its existence.
—Plop
The world shall call the king.
The 4th rank monster Gakgunbong (Hornet Swarm).