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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Dungeon Training
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"You've all prepared sufficiently for the exam, haven't you?"
Professor Claire's voice echoed.
Not in a classroom, as usual, but in a different location.
That's right.
It was the entrance to the dungeon, the very place our author had so desperately wished for.
...But that's strange.
They wanted it so badly, so why no reaction?
"Author?"
[Yes, yes?!]
"What? Were you sleeping?"
[No?! I... I'm just nervous. Heh, heh heh...]
Why would the author be nervous?
Is that it?
Are they feeling that fluttery excitement right before watching a highly anticipated movie?
Just as I was feeling pity for the author's pathetic state, Professor Claire's voice rang out again.
"From now on, you will enter this place, the D-rank Underground Prison, Knossos Palace. Find your pre-assigned teammates and proceed."
So, it's called Knossos Palace.
Quite a grand name for a D-rank dungeon.
But how strong *is* D-rank?
I don't know. I guess I'll just assume it's weak.
Surely they wouldn't make students who just enrolled enter a dangerous dungeon, would they?
The author wouldn't say it's D-rank and then suddenly throw an S-rank dungeon at us, claiming it's a "double dungeon," would they?
...Right?
Suddenly, I felt uneasy.
"...Author, this is just a D-rank dungeon, right?"
[Huh? A D-rank dungeon is a D-rank dungeon, what else would it be?]
"Ah, I see. It's nothing."
[?]
Fortunately, the author didn't seem *that* malicious.
Or maybe they just hadn't thought of it.
I decided to just believe the author had a kind heart.
Because if they hadn't thought of it, it would probably mean more trouble for me.
I started looking around, wanting to find the protagonist.
Fortunately, it wasn't too difficult to find him.
I could see a familiar back of a head in the distance.
He was quite tall, making him easy to spot.
Lucky bastard. I wish someone would chop off about 10cm from his legs.
I wasn't that tall even when I was a man, so it irked me a bit.
He's so annoying, maybe I should play a trick on him?
I muffled my footsteps and approached him.
Everyone was busy looking for their teammates, so my sounds were naturally muffled, and I easily slipped behind him without much effort.
Tap, tap.
I lightly tapped his back.
"...? Who...?"
Poke.
And just as he turned his head, I lightly poked his cheek.
It was a prank that might annoy someone I wasn't close with, but he was the protagonist, after all.
Even if it was a bit much, it was probably a good way to get close quickly.
If he got annoyed, I'd apologize.
"Hello?"
"Whoa?! ...Oh, it's Arte."
What the heck? Why are you so surprised?
If he had just been startled, I wouldn't have thought much of it.
...It was more like he'd seen a horror movie, I guess.
He looked like he'd seen something terrifying.
Why?
What did I even do?
A slight sense of crisis washed over me.
If we don't get along, the novel's plot will be difficult to advance.
There's a limit to watching him from hiding every day.
Fearing the atmosphere might turn awkward, I tried to speak to him as playfully as possible.
"You don't hate me *that* much, do you?"
"Sorry. You just startled me."
"Hehe, it's fine. Shall we go find the other teammates then?"
"Uh, okay."
Is it gynophobia?
No, no.
He was talking just fine with Amelia.
It can't be gynophobia, then?
...Could it be that Yu Siwoo, this guy, has no friends?
The thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Now that I think about it, he didn't seem to be close with anyone other than Amelia.
Of course, it hadn't been long since we enrolled in the academy, but...
The idea that he might be the type who struggles to make friends suddenly popped into my head.
"I hope you get to know your new friends through this opportunity."
Well, does it matter?
I uttered empty words, knowing it was a story that wouldn't come true.
Friends, my foot. One of them is scheduled to exit here, and the other is an extra. There won't be any time to get close.
The protagonist doesn't need to interact with extras.
It's enough for him to befriend the main and supporting characters, not those who get one line and then exit.
Lost in such trivial thoughts, I found Laila and the remaining team member with Yu Siwoo.
Together with the unremarkable male student and Laila, who was still an ordinary student for now, we approached Professor Claire.
"Hmm, good. Yu Siwoo and three others. Confirmed."
[Thump, thump...!]
"You may enter. Don't worry, we have surveillance cameras inside the dungeon to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances."
Professor Claire began her usual nagging.
Honestly, her nagging just goes on and on.
The author also seemed to have been forcibly calmed by the barrage of nagging that continued for a long time.
[Ugh... The setup about having PTSD from losing comrades, that's not so good. Too much nagging.]
I agree with that. It's incredibly long, seriously.
...It's just too long.
To cut short the nagging that showed no sign of ending, I decided to enter the dungeon without further ado.
Starting to say the same thing for the third time was definitely crossing a line.
"Well then, I'll go in first."
"Ah, Arte! I'm not finished talking yet!"
"Everyone, hurry up. Who knows how long the professor will keep us here?"
As I brazenly entered the dungeon, the rest of the team followed me in.
[It's really starting now! Hehe, I'm excited.]
Just as the author said, it was the beginning.
I'm not talking about the academy's exam.
Of course, that had started too, but...
Something far more important had begun.
The beginning of the main story of the novel that I was creating with the author.
Yes, the chaos of the world had begun.
Because web novels always go hand-in-hand with the chaos of the world.
***
"Hup!"
Swoosh!
Yu Siwoo's sword gleamed brightly under the light, and red blood splattered across the marble floor.
The green-skinned monster, a goblin, crumbled, and after a brief moment, its corpse turned to ash and scattered.
What remained was a single purple gem lying on the floor.
...Yes, that thing everyone thinks of when you say 'purple gem.'
A magic stone.
The author, they say, enthusiastically rambled about their setting, something about it being a 'next-generation energy source.'
I don't really know about that. I just have to go along with it, I guess.
[As expected, dungeons mean goblins! Dungeons mean magic stones! Kyaa, the protagonist is so cool! Fight more!]
The author screamed, utterly thrilled at the protagonist's performance.
Even so, Yu Siwoo wouldn't hear them.
Is it like shouting at a soccer player on TV, knowing they can't hear you?
Since I'm the one who hears it instead of Yu Siwoo, I wish they'd quiet down a bit.
With only four of us and no other significant noise, talking to the author would have made me look like a crazy person, so I just had to endure it.
They're so loud, it's killing me.
"...Phew, it's not that difficult."
"I suppose so. Isn't it because Yu Siwoo is doing so well?"
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"Why aren't *you* fighting?"
So, it's finally starting.
I wondered when it would begin.
She'd looked utterly displeased for a while now.
"That guy and I are fighting at the front, and that other guy is scouting. ...What exactly are *you* doing?"
"I told you, didn't I? I have to watch our rear, as we never know when we might be ambushed."
Well, it was an excuse, but...
I was about to make various excuses, but the student on scout duty and Yu Siwoo nodded without complaint, so it passed surprisingly easily.
The reason I was deliberately slacking off and not fighting?
Well, it's because of Laila, who's currently fuming right in front of me.
My ability becomes more disadvantageous the longer I fight.
The cost of using it increases exponentially the more I fight.
At first, it's harmless materials like stockings or fingerless gloves.
But if I keep using it?
...Let's not imagine anything horrible.
I don't want to become indecent.
Anyway.
Since I knew Laila was going to cause trouble inside this dungeon, there was no real need for me to actively fight.
At that, she started fuming, asking what I was doing in an exam.
Well, it's a valid point, but really...
Weren't you going to quit the academy anyway?
The ones who should be angry aren't you, but Yu Siwoo and that male student over there, aren't they?
"Stop playing word games. ...I can't stand it anymore. I was going to wait until we dealt with the boss, but I can't anymore."
Laila, who had been scratching her head repeatedly, drew her tachi.
What? Already?
...Why is she so impatient?
"Laila, please calm down...?!"
Clang!
Sparks flew as the tachi and sword clashed.
Yu Siwoo, who had approached unnoticed, blocked Laila's strike aimed at the male student.
"...What? You're fast."
"Thanks for the compliment. Hey, you. Can you quickly go tell the professor? Tell them there's a defector here."
"B-but you guys...!"
A glance.
Siwoo looked back at me.
...Huh, why?
Surely he's not treating me like a heroine too? Huh?
Wh-what should I do in a situation like this?
Should I just smile?
I gave Yu Siwoo an awkward smile.
"...Go on, quickly!"
"Ah, alright!"
He made a resolute expression, as if he'd made a decision, then turned his gaze back to Laila.
Oh, so this is what it means to be the protagonist.
It's quite cool, isn't it?
Evacuating a weaker comrade, and facing off against a traitor with a beautiful female classmate—not a heroine, but still.
This setup, confronting the traitor with a beautiful girl by his side.
Oh, this is good.
[...]
The author seemed completely engrossed, even forgetting to breathe.
It was a scene worthy of such attention.
Alright, Yu Siwoo.
What will you do now?
In this moment, confronting the academy's traitor who is targeting you.
Behind your back is a beautiful female classmate.
What choice will you truly make?
"Haa, if you had fought with me, there would have been at least a small chance of survival. Foolish..."
"...A gap!"
"Huh? ...Hey! Where are you going?!"
The protagonist, Yu Siwoo's, choice far exceeded my expectations.
I thought he'd ask me to fight with him.
Or tell me to leave him behind and go first.
I expected words like that.
Taking advantage of Laila's moment of distraction, he instantly dashed further into the dungeon.
Towards the boss room.
...Huh?
What about me?