Dungeon Building.
Dang Gyu-young stood in front of her four mentees and began explaining.
“You’ve already heard everything else, so let’s just talk about the random rule and start right away.”
MAP: [Cave]
RULE: [Crystal] [Strong Enemy] [Double] [Random Rule]
“First, the [Close Combat] rule. We won’t enforce it this time.”
Originally, it was intended to force the aspiring all-rounder mages into close combat.
We were all wizards, so we were already familiar with long-range combat and if we stuck to what we were used to, our close combat skills wouldn’t improve.
However, the strong enemy this time was an ogre.
Even without enforcing it as a rule, the battle would inevitably involve close combat.
With its superior physical abilities, it quickly closed the distance in an instant.
Additionally, since we had to charge the crystal, we couldn’t stray too far from the sanctuary’s range.
In other words, we were already heavily restricted.
“So, I’ll set the random rules in your favor instead.”
MAP: [Cave]
RULE: [Crystal] [Strong Enemy] [Weakened] [Double]
As expected, she didn’t use the default ogre specs and instead used the [Weakened] rule to lower its rank by about one level.
Thanks to this, instead of being beaten to death without a chance to breathe, we could at least catch our breath.
“……!”
The first-year chicks looked at Dang Gyu-young with new eyes.
Based on their previous experiences, Dang Gyu-young had always trained them harshly while pushing them to their limits and making them adapt.
So they had worried that this time too she might even put the ogre in full plate armor, but instead she weakened it. Now she looked like an angel in their eyes.
Guys, you’re being deceived.
Other mentors typically added at least the weakened rule along with two or three more favorable rules.
For example, they might increase the crystal charging speed or expand the sanctuary’s range.
But we only got the weakened rule.
However, since there was no way to compare with other mentors right now, realizing and feeling betrayed by this fact would come later.
Dang Gyu-young continued her explanation.
“Let’s try different pairings. Kim Ho with Kwak Ji-cheol. Song Cheon-hye with Hong Yeon-hwa.”
“…”
Uneasy glances were exchanged here and there.
Although my relationship with Hong Yeon-hwa had slightly improved during the mentoring period, everything else remained almost the same.
Song Cheon-hye and Hong Yeon-hwa were like rivals.
Kwak Ji-cheol had a history of being thoroughly beaten by me in a duel.
So, no matter who I paired with, it wasn’t very pleasant.
Putting aside these emotional aspects, Song Cheon-hye had concerns and asked a question,
“Doesn’t this combination throw off the balance?”
“So what? It’s not like you’re competing against each other.”
Dang Gyu-young was indifferent.
In truth, Dang Gyu-young was just following the manual.
Setting up the mentees to experience practical evaluations with various combinations was a requirement of the academy.
Following our mentor’s unbeatable logic of “because I feel like it” Song Cheon-hye was left with nothing to say.
“Then, Kim Ho and Kwak Ji-cheol, come in first.”
Dang Gyu-young disappeared into the dungeon through the teleportation portal.
Kwak Ji-cheol and I exchanged a look that didn’t seem friendly at all.
However, since we were paired together, we had no choice but to cooperate.
I approached the teleportation portal first.
“Let’s go in too.”
“…Alright.”
[Kim Ho 100%]
[Kwak Ji-cheol 100%]
The next moment, we were standing in the middle of a forest.
And at the edge of our vision, a large cave awaited us with its mouth wide open.
Just then, a group of goblins walked out from the cave and spotted us.
“Kerr?”
“Kerk!”
Startled, some goblins immediately charged at us while others tried to retreat back into the cave.
If they got inside, they would alert the others so we couldn’t let them go.
When I cast Wind Force,
Whoosh—
“Kaek.”
The goblins tumbled to the ground like fallen leaves under the physical force of the wind.
Then they were hit by a barrage of dirt bullets and collapsed.
There was hardly any time to take a sip of water before we had finished off all the goblins.
“……”
We silently stared at the cave.
There was no doubt that we had to go inside.
There would likely be goblins and an ogre in there.
However, the main rule of this raid was the crystal, so first, we needed to find the crystal to charge it.
“Don’t you think it might be outside?”
“Hmm, that makes sense.”
Kwak Ji-cheol nodded his head slightly.
Considering that the starting point was not inside the cave but in the forest, the hypothesis that the crystal was outside held some weight.
And indeed, it was outside.
But searching the vast forest would waste time, so I pointed to a likely spot for the crystal.
This was advice born from the experience of a stagnant water.
“I’ll check this way, you go search over there.”
“Got it.”
We split up and walked in our respective directions, and as expected, there was a makeshift altar not far away.
A goblin that had been lying in ambush jumped out, but I easily kicked it away and retrieved the red crystal.
After returning to the starting point and waiting for a moment, Kwak Ji-cheol also returned from the direction I had sent him.
He held a blue crystal in one hand.
I had been worried he might wander off somewhere else out of spite but it seemed he wasn’t that reckless.
[Kim Ho: 100%]
[Crystal: 0%]
[Kwak Ji-cheol: 100%]
[Crystal: 0%]
The numbers displayed on the scoreboard showed the health of the two of us and the charge of the crystals.
The scoring criteria depended on how much health we could preserve until both crystals were fully charged.
Although it wasn’t mentioned, the maximum achievement for the side quest required an average health of at least 90% for both people.
Of course, since it was practice mode right now, I could think about it later.
“Then let’s go in.”
“Alright.”
Kwak Ji-cheol and I stepped into the cave.
The inside was dimly lit by the soft glow of stalactites, so it wasn’t very dark.
However, having clear visibility was both an advantage and a disadvantage.
“Kerrruk.”
“Kek! Kek!”
Because the goblins could see us very well too.
They swarmed out to greet us enthusiastically.
Those in the front rushed at us with short weapons like rusty daggers and chipped hand axes, while those in the back threw anything they could grab.
Various projectiles like roughly hewn wooden spears and stones flew toward us.
I dodged by shifting my body slightly.
Thud,
But a stone struck Kwak Ji-cheol’s head and bounced off.
[Kwak Ji-cheol: 99%]
“You got hit by that?”
“…Shut up.”
“It made a loud sound. Didn’t it hurt?”
“This is nothing. It just tickles.”
But contrary to his words, Kwak Ji-cheol seemed visibly irritated.
When he thrust his staff forward, the emerald emitted a bright green light.
Rumble…
Soon, the entire cave started to shake and then the ceiling collapsed, causing stalactites to rain down.
Most of the goblins that had swarmed out were buried beneath them.
“Do we need to dodge these too?”
“…Shut up.”
Kwak Ji-cheol and I had to retreat a fair distance to avoid the falling stalactites.
Though he had lashed out in a fit of anger, it seemed he couldn’t control it.
Once the cave stopped shaking, I spoke to Kwak Ji-cheol.
“Let’s not use that again.”
“…Noted.”
Despite that, clearing out a large number of goblins at once made it easier to move forward.
Goblins that had survived emerged from various spots but,
“Grk!”
“Grr.”
Ratatatatatatata!
Kwak Ji-cheol fired off dirt bullets, and I used wind force to hurl chunks of fallen stalactites at them.
We advanced by striking down nearby goblins with the Root staff and stabbing them with the cursed dagger at its tip.
As we proceeded,
Thump, thump,
Heavy footsteps echoed from deeper within the cave.
I exchanged glances with Kwak Ji-cheol.
“Something’s coming, right?”
“Seems like it.”
The owner of those footsteps was, without a doubt, an ogre.
Originally, it tended to stay near the sanctuary but it seemed to be heading our way. This was likely due to Kwak Ji-cheol shaking the cave with his earth magic.
We entered a brief strategy meeting.
“Split up and run?”
“Which side will draw its attention?”
“Whoever it chases needs to run well. The other side should keep it in check.”
“Sounds good. Let’s do it.”
Thump, thump
Even during our strategy meeting, the footsteps continued to get closer.
At last, the ogre appeared.
“Grrrrrr……”
It was so large it nearly touched the cave ceiling. It was also holding a club as thick as a human torso in one hand.
We exchanged one last glance and immediately split to run in opposite directions.
“Grrrr?”
The ogre looked back and forth, hesitated for a moment, then turned to chase me.
“Unlucky.”
It should have gone after Kwak Ji-cheol.
I was running hard when I felt a prickle on the back of my neck and leaped to the side,
Thud!
The club slammed into the path I had been running on just moments before.
The ogre immediately retrieved the club and resumed its pursuit.
As expected of a monster specialized in physical abilities, it quickly picked up speed and closed the distance between us.
Rumble,
Suddenly, a thick earthen wall shot up near the ogre’s legs.
Kwak Ji-cheol had cast it to slow the creature down.
The ogre kicked the wall with all its momentum and shattered it with a loud crash, but it lost its balance and its speed dropped significantly.
“Well done.”
Tripping a running opponent was a smart move. The more underhanded the tactic, the better the score in keeping it in check.
“Grrrr…!”
The ogre seemed to think I was the one who raised the earthen wall and chased me with even more fury.
The thudding footsteps behind me were closing in at a terrifying speed.
And just as the whoosh of the club cut through the air,
“Jump lightly to avoid it.”
I leaped into the air, and the club swept across the ground below me.
After landing softly, I continued running.
“Keruruk.”
“Kerek!”
Goblins emerged from every corner of the cave and started thrusting their daggers.
I dodged them and grabbed the goblins before throwing them at the ogre.
With an annoyed wave of its hands, the ogre flung them away and sent them crashing into the ceiling or walls.
“Ugh…”
On the other hand, Kwak Ji-cheol seemed to have no idea whether to run at the right speed, keep the ogre in check, or deal with the goblins that came out.
Even so, he must have felt that he needed to help, so he barely managed to cast a spell in this direction.
Rumble…
Another earthen wall rose beneath the ogre’s feet.
The ogre kicked and shattered the wall again, but this time it seemed to maintain its balance better.
Its speed didn’t slow down much either.
We’re almost there.
Seeing the increasingly bright surroundings ahead confirmed it.
Thud!
After narrowly dodging the ogre’s swinging club again and continuing to run, the sanctuary finally came into view.
The huge stone pillar illuminated the area as brightly as daylight.
And as I got closer,
Whirr—
A beam of light shot out from the stone pillar toward me.
Light gradually filled the red crystal.
[Kim Ho: 100%]
[Crystal: 1%]
“Groooo…”
The ogre appeared behind me.
When it saw me under the sanctuary’s spotlight, it showed strong hostility.
I stopped briefly and faced the ogre.
Now that I have connected with the sanctuary, from now on…
“I have to run away more seriously.”
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