Endless Leveling Done Right!

Vaan had chosen to stay outside of the dungeon to serve as Alex's eyes and ears.

Perhaps there was no one more wary of Demon Worshipers than Vaan because he had lived a few years under Willow's control.

Truth be told, he had developed an innate fear of them. Before the expedition, he had confided this to Alex.

As such, Alex had decided to let Vaan stay outside the dungeon so that he wouldn't have to fight against the Demon Worshipers directly.

After seeing the Demon Worshipers that the Headmaster had subdued, Vaan recalled the horrors that he experienced back then.

However, since he knew that fighting against them was inevitable, he steeled himself and looked at them so that he could develop some kind of resistance against them.

Although his face had turned pale and his body would shudder from time to time, Vaan clenched his fists and refused to look away.

Alex had jokingly told him something a day before they went to the dungeon.

"If they can bleed, they can be killed," Alex had said. "Do not forget that the majority of the Demon Worshipers are just mere mortals, Vaan. If you stab their hearts with your spear, they will die just like everyone else."

Vaan took some deep breaths in order to calm himself.

He then glanced at Alex's projection in front of the dungeon, as if drawing strength from his fearless leader.

Seeing Alex and Dim Dim loot the monster cores that were dropping on the ground like rain, Vaan couldn't help but smile. Despite the fear and anxiety that had taken hold of his body, the sight of his club members cheered him up.

Little by little, his hands and body stopped shaking. A small spark of courage grew in his heart.

He once again stared at the Demon Worshipers. As his anxiety faded, he could finally notice their injured and pitiful conditions.

In fact, it was the Demon Worshipers who should feel frightened because they were facing the Paragon of Space, Rowan Vademont!

The moment they appeared in front of him, their fates were already sealed.

"Are you alright, Vaan?"

A familiar voice reached his ears. When he turned around, he saw Fran standing behind him.

"You look pale." Fran frowned. "Are you sick? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, Fran," Vaan replied, touched by her concern. "Just a little under the weather."

Fran glanced in the direction where her classmate had been looking earlier and somehow understood what was happening.

She was aware that Vaan's body had been possessed by an Elder of the Demon Worshipers. He had doubtlessly suffered greatly because of it.

"Don't worry, Vaan, you're safe now," Fran said softly. "Alex and the Headmaster will protect you."

"Right." Vaan couldn't help but feel safer after hearing Fran's words.

Indeed, Alex had promised to protect Vaan from the Demon Worshipers.

Professor Rowan was also a Paragon. Even the Executives of the underground organization wouldn't dare to face him head-on unless they really had no choice.

"I know I'm safe," Vaan said, forcing a small smile. "But sometimes… it feels like their shadows are still clinging to me."

Fran didn't respond right away because she knew that a trauma wasn't an easy thing to overcome.

Knowing that Vaan was trying to overcome his fears was enough for her to believe that he truly wanted to break free from the chains that still bound him even now.

Finally, she spoke. Her voice was calm but firm, like a steady flame in the dark.

"Shadows only look big when the light is behind you, Vaan. One day, you'll learn to stand where the light shines and they'll shrink to nothing."

Vaan's eyes widened slightly at her words before a faint smile appeared on his lips. He then glanced at the young man on the projection, who was smiling from ear to ear as more monster cores dropped down on the ground in front of him.

"You're right, Fran," Vaan muttered. "And that light has always been with me since I was freed from that dark and lonely place."

At that moment, he felt his connection with Alex strengthen through the pledge that he'd made that day.

Because of that pledge, he instinctively knew where his Liege was, just like how Alex knew where Vaan was.

For better or worse, he had tied his destiny with the Oathkeeper, who would hold his oath until he breathed his last.

Vaan then closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened them again, a look of determination could be seen in his eyes.

He then summoned his spear and walked towards the entrance of the Dungeon.

"Where are you going?" Fran asked.

"To where my light is shining brightly," Vaan replied. "I don't want to run away anymore."

The dwarven lady watched as Vaan disappeared into the entrance of the dungeon.

Another projection then appeared in front of everyone. This time, the students and professors could see Vaan heading towards the slaughter zone his club members had prepared.

Prince Garen's eyes widened in shock when he saw this scene.

Although he no longer made any attempt to approach Vaan, his eyes couldn't help but look at the person whom he secretly wanted to protect.

"Are you not going to follow her?" Lady Celestria asked in a teasing tone.

"I've already broken my teleportation crystal," Prince Garen replied. "It would be too dangerous for me to enter a dungeon that is currently experiencing an outbreak. I have to consider my position and cannot be selfish at this time."

The Prince then held his cousin's gaze and smirked.

"What about you?" Prince Garen asked. "Aren't you going to go and help Renard?"

A blush appeared on Lady Celestria's face at the mere mention of Renard.

"Y-You… What are you thinking?" Lady Celestria asked. "It's not like that!"

"Uh huh!" Prince Garen laughed. "I've known you since you were seven. Do you really think I won't know what you're thinking?"

"I'm just scouting him because he has talent," Lady Celestria insisted.

"Sure, we'll go with that." Prince Garen grinned. "But, remember this, Celestria. That man is not easy to tame. You need to put in a lot of effort or he will break away from your fishing hook."

"… He's not a fish, you know?" Lady Celestria shook her head helplessly.

"So, you're telling me that he's not a catch?" Prince Garen arched an eyebrow.

Not wanting to continue this topic anymore, Lady Celestria ignored her cousin and glanced in Renard's projection.

Although she looked calm on the surface, she was actually quite worried.

A Dungeon Outbreak was no laughing matter.

And yet instead of panicking, everyone was looking at Alex and Dim Dim, who were happily looting the monster cores around them.

"This is absurd," Lady Celestria muttered. "Does he have nerves of steel or what?"

The Saintess couldn't help but compare Alex to Renard.

Both of them didn't get along, but there were times when she couldn't help but wonder what would happen if Renard actually listened to Alex.

Renard's brawn and Alex's brain would be a very dangerous combination.

'That is also the reason why I must make Renard enroll at Solara Academy,' Lady Celestria thought. 'If he remains around Alex, he will continue to feel inferior because he will compare himself to his club president's accomplishments.'

However, regardless of how the Saintess truly felt, one thing was certain.

She wished that Renard would choose her over Alex.

That way, she could help him grow into a stronger version of himself.

Free from the influence of the shameless young man, whose smile was making her feel a little upset because he too was a talent that she wanted to bring to Solara Academy as well.