After leaving the conspiratorial meeting, I headed straight to the dungeon.
Although I wasted some unnecessary time, fortunately, the dungeon wasn't far from here.
It took about an hour by taxi.
"There are more people than I expected..."
"Well, of course. You must be new here, right?"
"Ah, yes. That's right."
Through the taxi window, I saw a group of people in armour.
Their intense mana and fighting spirit made it clear they were all hunters. They didn't look particularly strong, but their aura was unmistakably that of players.
As I stared at them intently, the taxi driver asked.
"You're here for the dungeon, right?"
"Of course, I came to clear the dungeon."
"Hahaha, I've driven many customers like you. It's been about three years now."
The driver laughed heartily at my statement about clearing the dungeon.
It didn't seem like he was mocking me; rather, he found my words genuinely amusing.
Since there was still some time before we reached the dungeon entrance, I decided to satisfy my curiosity and struck up a conversation.
"Have there been many customers like me?"
"Ah, of course! If you clear an unexplored dungeon, you'll attract a lot of attention."
"And that attention will turn into wealth and fame, right?"
"Hahaha, you're quite knowledgeable for a young man! You can't imagine how many hunters have rushed in like moths to a flame."
The taxi driver seemed to have been here many times.
And each time, he must have seen players who were eager to clear Efnell's Garden. That explains his earlier laughter.
"But can you really clear that dungeon? No offense, but you look a bit too delicate for it."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, I've driven players from F-rank to A-rank, and they all failed. With your slim build, it seems like it would be tough."
His words were quite reasonable.
This is a dungeon that even A-rank players couldn't clear. It's only natural to think it's impossible for someone like me.
If it were a normal dungeon, that is.
"Do you really need brute strength to clear a dungeon?"
"Huh?"
"Never mind. They say you should suffer while you're young, right?"
"Hahaha, I guess that's true. This old man has been too pragmatic."
"Then, I'll be on my way."
While chatting with the driver, we arrived at the dungeon entrance.
I handed him a card and paid.
As I opened the door to leave, the driver rolled down the window and waved.
"Good luck! Clear it so this old man can brag about it over drinks!"
Without waiting for a response, he closed the window and drove off.
He was quite a unique and talkative person, but I didn't mind him.
I wish my driver had been him instead of that rude guy.
Since it was a meaningless thought, I walked toward the dungeon entrance.
The dungeon, Efnell's Garden, isn't owned by any guild or corporation, so anyone can enter as long as they apply.
That's why there were quite a few people gathered at the entrance.
They all had baskets strapped to their backs.
If it weren't for their auras, I might have mistaken them for herb gatherers.
Of course, not all of them had weak auras.
One person, in particular, had a strong aura. He was carrying a large basket, a small hatchet, and was wearing a neatly pressed school uniform.
'A school uniform...?'
A white shirt and black pants.
Over it, a red tie and a tailored jacket with a golden embroidered apple tree.
Anyone in this industry would recognize that uniform.
Because—
"—Why is a student from our school here?"
That uniform belongs to Seven Stars Academy.
Just to be sure, I activated my enhanced vision.
My pupils split vertically, and amethyst light shimmered.
[Demon Eyes].
My enhanced vision observed the material of the uniform.
The result: genuine. The uniform was definitely from Seven Stars Academy.
Seven Stars Academy's uniforms are enchanted with basic defensive and healing magic, making them difficult to counterfeit.
Moreover, the magic on the uniform seemed fresh, so it wasn't borrowed or bought second-hand.
As I stared at the student's uniform, my gaze suddenly fell on the name tag.
Two characters are written in neat handwriting.
"Lee... Ji?"
Is the surname "Lee" and the name "Ji"?
Lee Ji. Quite a unique name.
Come to think of it, was there a name like that among the first-years?
I racked my brain but couldn't recall such a name. At the very least, it's certain that he's not an important supporting character.
At best, he's just an extra like me.
"Ah, move! Get out of the way!"
Look at that, such an extra-like tone.
Lee Ji pushed through the line, using his uniform as a shield, and tried to cut in line to enter the dungeon.
He boasted about how he would clear the dungeon and how all the herbs inside would be his.
"...Hey, do you know who that rude kid is?"
"Can't you see? He's from Seven Stars Academy."
"Ah, the place where that incident happened."
"Seems like a troubled kid. Let's cut him some slack."
People's reactions to him were warm.
Perhaps because Seven Stars Academy students have been all over the media lately, they let his bravado slide.
Well, even I thought he needed some warmth.
I closed my eyes for a moment and joined the line of people waiting to enter the dungeon.
If I pulled out my assistant instructor's license from my back pocket, I could cut in line like Lee Ji, but there was no need for that.
After all, clearing the dungeon wouldn't take much time.
As I meditated with my eyes closed, my turn soon came.
A blue rift shimmered in the air.
When I reached out my hand, the system responded.
[Do you wish to enter the dungeon 'Efnell's Garden'?]
A blue window appeared before my eyes with [YES] and [NO].
Without a moment's hesitation, I pressed [YES], and my vision flickered.
***
Whoosh!
As my body floated, my mind momentarily blurred.
When I opened my eyes, I was already inside the dungeon.
The strange sensation earlier must have been the process of entering the dungeon.
I immediately surveyed my surroundings.
It was dark and damp all around.
Tap, tap!
When I knocked on the wall, the sound echoed throughout.
──Thud, thud, thud!
──Thud, thud!
"It's a cave."
Judging by the echoing sound, it seemed like a fairly deep cave.
I ran my hand along the rocky wall to gauge my location. The air was humid, and the walls were damp.
'...Should I head outside first?'
I thought while looking deeper into the cave.
I roughly knew where this place was. If I went outside, I'd find myself in a dense forest or a wide field.
If that's the case, then this cave is a place I know.
Who would've thought I'd end up here?
"Lucky."
This cave is the most crucial location for clearing Efnell's Garden. If I wanted to, I could wake the creature deep inside and end the dungeon right now.
Should I grab the hidden piece and close the dungeon immediately?
Or should I explore outside for useful materials?
As I pondered, I suddenly remembered something.
"Ah, right. If that academy student gets involved, it'll be a headache..."
What was his name again?
It was quite a unique name.
I don't have a habit of remembering people's names, so I quickly forgot.
But when I recalled his small stature and the hatchet he carried, the name came back to me.
Lee Ji, yes, that was definitely the unique name.
'If I wake that creature here, Lee Ji will get caught up in it.'
Then, clearing the dungeon immediately is out of the question.
At the very least, I need to ensure Lee Ji's safety first.
I can't afford to lose a student in such a place.
Having decided to head outside first, I conjured a flame in my palm.
Flicker!
The small flame left a trail like a laser as it scorched the ground. It was a marker made with my mana.
As I walked toward the cave entrance, I saw a bright light.
I closed my eyes tightly and looked outside to find a beautiful scene greeting me.
The place was filled with all kinds of plants.
But don't imagine it as the Amazon or a dense rainforest.
This is a dungeon, a place where all sorts of unrealities converge.
The field was filled with all kinds of flowers, and the trees looked majestic, like something out of a game. Beneath them, animals and insects were visible.
Snakes, toads, birds, and various other animals, not to mention the bugs.
"Peaceful."
A gentle breeze greeted me.
Above, warm sunlight shone down, and below, a beautiful and diverse ecosystem thrived. This dungeon didn't feel dangerous at all.
This is exactly how Efnell's Garden lures people to their deaths.
Step by step, I walked toward the field full of blooming flowers.
Just then, a flower swaying in the wind brushed against my foot.
──Whoosh!
In that instant, a blade of fire sliced through the flower that had touched my foot.
It was a flower I recognized from my memories. Like information about monsters, knowledge of the flora and fauna in this world is important, so I had studied various papers to acquire such knowledge.
It wasn't particularly dangerous.
Hmm, maybe I'm being too sensitive.
'But I can't help it. This dungeon could turn dangerous at any moment.'
People in this world, without knowledge of the original work, might not treat Efnell's dungeon as dangerous. But I know what this place is really like, so my reaction is inevitable.
As I walked through the field, I encountered the people I had seen earlier.
They were all engrossed in gathering plants.
Some of the plants that grow here are special or sell for high prices, so players often come here to collect them.
Their goal isn't to clear the dungeon but to gather plants.
It's quite an amusing sight.
Players, who are supposed to explore and investigate dungeons, come here to gather plants and make money.
Well, considering that most players join guilds for money rather than a sense of sacrifice, it's perfectly natural.
I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for them.
Leaving them behind, I continued walking through the field until I stopped in my tracks.
It was a secluded area. There, a single flower bloomed.
The brightly glowing flower seemed to embody the expression "burning."
A flower that burns in the shape of a flame.
It truly took the form of fire.
The heat radiating from the flower meant there wasn't a single blade of grass around.
Only the fiercely burning flame existed.
"This is a rarer specimen than I thought. How much could I sell it for if I took it?"
Among the plants I've read about in papers, this flower is considered rare. Its official scientific name is simply "Flame."
Quite an intuitive name, but despite its name, its value is significant.
Due to its nature as a flame, cultivating it is difficult, and propagation is nearly impossible.
Thus, the only way to obtain it is through natural growth, but its heat makes the surrounding area dry up, leaving only the flower behind, making it easy to spot.
Who would've thought I'd find it here?
I don't really need it, but should I take it?
Just as I thought that.
"Move, move! That's mine!"
At that moment, someone desperately hugged the flame.
They blocked anyone from collecting it with their body.
Though small, their body didn't catch fire.
That kid's behaviour might be unique, but they're still a student of Seven Stars Academy.
"Hey, you! I claimed this flower first. No one else can have it!"
"Well, if you'd been standing next to it the whole time, maybe. But suddenly shouting that it's yours and claiming ownership is a bit much."
"W-Well, I have no choice! To touch this flower, you have to pluck it."
In Lee Ji's grasp were several white flowers.
Nameless wildflowers. Yet, their efficacy was remarkable.
Even I, who had studied numerous papers, found them unfamiliar.
Lee Ji casually crushed those plants in his hand.
Juice seeped from his grip, reducing the flame's intensity.
"Do you know a lot about plants?"
Given his expertise in botany, I wondered if he was a mage specializing in plants.
But the mana I felt from him was insufficient to be considered a mage. At best, it was below the average for his grade.
Then again, how did he acquire such knowledge?
Just then, Lee Ji spoke.
"If I tell you, will you give up on this?"
"Isn't that a bit too thuggish? A flame of that size would easily fetch at least 10 million won."
"Then I won't tell. I'm not interested in doing something that doesn't pay."
"Fine, I'm not interested in money anyway. Do as you please."
The wealth of the Cheonho Baek family is immense.
Even if I don't know how much of it I can use, selling the flame wouldn't even make a dent in it.
As I gave up on the flame, Lee Ji's face lit up.
Whether he was naive or took my words at face value, Lee Ji collected the flame and put it in his pocket. In the process, I noticed the other plants he had gathered.
Among the various plants in his pocket, one with a particularly striking blue colour caught my eye.
Curious, I took a closer look and realized it was a Moondew Flower.
I've often given this flower as a gift to my master or teachers, so I recognized it immediately.
Who would've thought this flower existed in the novel world too?
That must be quite expensive.
Regardless of my thoughts, Lee Ji put the flame in his pocket.
And stored it away.
"...?"
"Why do you keep staring? Is it because I didn't tell you?"
"I'm not particularly interested in your knowledge..."
"Then what? Are you asking for attention or something?"
I didn't have much interest in him.
My curiosity about his extensive knowledge of plants was fleeting.
But why is Lee Ji, who knows things even I don't, acting like this?
"Carrying the flame around for too long isn't a good idea."
"What, are you saying I might get burned? I know that. I've taken precautions."
"No, you'll get poisoned by the flame soon enough."
At my words, Lee Ji, who hadn't been paying much attention, suddenly turned his head.
His face showed not shock but disbelief.
What, did he really not know?
"Not burns, but poisoning? What do you see this as?"
"It's a flame."
"Right, a flame. A flower of pure fire that burns endlessly."
"At the same time, it's practically a crystallization of fire poison."
"...What?"
Lee Ji's face turned red and then pale.
Excited by this new information, Lee Ji leaned forward and passionately argued.
"That can't be. Poison? This is a paradise of medicinal herbs! It's Efnell's Garden!"
"Since when was paradise such a shady place?"
"What? What's shady about this place?"
"If you don't know, take a closer look around."
The surroundings were filled with greenery.
Grass, flowers, trees, and so on. The place was lush, with animal-type monsters frolicking about.
At first glance, it seemed peaceful, but upon closer inspection, something was off. Dewdrops flowing along the leaves.
The moment they fell onto a flower.
Sizzle!
A burning sound, and a hole appeared in the petal.
Proof that the dew was poisonous.
"W-Why is there a hole...?"
"There's no such thing as a paradise-like dungeon. This place is a hell disguised as a garden."
"H-How do you know this...?"
What a pointless question.
I only know this vaguely because Eve kept talking about the novel, and since it's an unexplored dungeon, the major guilds are aware of it.
They just keep the information to themselves, hoping to be the first to clear it and gain fame.
"Anyway, never mind that."
Rustle, rustle!
I rummaged through my pocket.
The cards in my wallet.
Among them, I pulled out the card used as an ID within the academy.
I hadn't planned to take it out, but his tone was too grating.
"Show some respect to an assistant instructor, you rude brat."
I shoved the assistant instructor's ID close to Lee Ji's face.
Instantly, Lee Ji's expression turned to one of horror.
Because it's almost time for performance evaluations.
While the professors handle the questions, the grading of essay questions is up to the assistant instructors.
You're done for now.
***
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