I Have Contracted Too Many Constellations

Chapter 10 Dungeon Practicum (2)

I did hope we’d get grouped with people we knew, but I didn’t expect it to be this much.

Of course, considering only the positions, it was a perfect match.

Two vanguards.

One vanguard/support.

A ranged dealer and a supporter.

In terms of positions, it was a golden balance.

‘In the beginning, Lee Shinwoo is closer to support.’

In Lee Se-ah’s case, seeing that huge sword, she was a complete vanguard.

In the beginning, Lee Shinwoo was more of a utility-oriented support.

As a result, the team’s balance itself was good.

It was just that I was a bit flustered.

“I’m glad we’re on the same team!”

Sung Harim’s reaction was as expected.

Since she was the one who most wanted to be on the same team, I also welcomed her.

Her abilities were good, too…

Maybe like a totem.

Just having her around made me feel mentally and physically stable.

“Why am I stuck with this guy…!”

Jin Juha’s reaction was also as expected.

What kind of image did I have in this guy’s mind?

Probably the academy’s top playboy who seduced Sung Harim.

‘It’s the exact opposite, though.’

Who else is there who’s as devoid of relationships with women as I am?

“Jinwoo, let’s spar after this.”

“Didn’t we do that yesterday?”

“Yes.”

Lee Se-ah was easier to deal with compared to others.

If it was the first time I entered the academy, maybe not.

But since then, we had sparred quite a lot, so we became close.

They say you grow by fighting.

Although this case was a bit different.

By the way, the result of my sparring with Lee Se-ah was 5 wins and 2 losses out of 7 matches.

I mostly won, but those 2 losses were due to Lee Se-ah’s genius.

‘How does she grow every day?’

It was as if there were two protagonists.

Rather than simply being twins, this level of talent suited them more.

“Haha, here we meet? It’s the first time since that incident, right?”

And then there was Lee Shinwoo.

I hadn’t had a conversation with him since that incident.

I had seen him in passing or at the training ground.

But we didn’t particularly talk to each other.

Neither I nor Lee Shinwoo were the sociable types.

“You seem to be getting along well with Se-ah, right?”

“Well… maybe more than with others? I don’t really know.”

“If Se-ah is sticking with you, that means you’re close.”

At first, I was flustered, and the situation being what it was, I didn’t really feel it.

But thinking about it now, I was actually having a direct conversation with the protagonist I liked.

Isn’t this the true meaning of being a successful fan?

“Alright, quiet down! I’ll start the briefing now, so pay attention!”

“Wow! You’re awesome, Juha!”

At that moment, Jin Juha drew our attention by stamping his foot on the ground.

Sung Harim, laughing beside him, was a bonus.

Our Team 12’s leader was Jin Juha.

It was natural since he was in Class A, had the highest stats among us, and his background was robust, making him the most suitable.

Jin Juha unfolded the map given to the leader and started the briefing.

“We’re going to route 12. This point is assigned as our campsite, and here is the monster habitat.”

Despite being a fairy-tale level dungeon, was quite large.

So, most of the 20 teams wouldn’t encounter each other and could head to their own routes.

After receiving explanations from Jin Juha about the campsite, monster habitat, and movement routes, we set off immediately.

‘We have plenty of time, but we should arrive before evening.’

If we arrived after evening, setting up camp would be tough.

“Shall we form the escort formation then?”

“Let’s do that. We don’t know what might come out from behind.”

The so-called escort formation was simple.

At the front were the vanguard and support, Lee Se-ah and Lee Shinwoo.

In the center were the ranged dealer, Jin Juha, and the supporter, Sung Harim.

Finally, I was at the rear for rear guard defense.

We formed a shape to protect the central axis.

With such a formation, we entered the .

The forest wasn’t much different from an ordinary forest.

The only difference was that most of the trees were large.

And they were all jujube trees.

‘It’s my first time seeing jujube trees.’

They weren’t difficult to find if you looked for them, but in modern society, they weren’t naturally seen.

It was somewhat fascinating to see so many jujube trees spread out.

‘More than that… there wasn’t anything special in the original work, so if we proceed as it is, it should be fine.’

I only briefly looked at the jujube trees.

I recalled the episode about this dungeon practicum.

This ‘Dungeon Practicum’ episode didn’t play a significant role in the original work.

At most, it was one episode.

It was just a story to depict the daily life of the academy’s early days.

After that… a somewhat significant event occurred, so it was like a breather episode.

So, it should be fine to proceed as is.

“Jinwoo, have you climbed many mountains?”

“Mountains? All of a sudden?”

“I was just curious since we suddenly entered a forest.”

Mountains, huh.

I’ve climbed a lot, to the point of death.

“I got this from the mountains.”

I patted the One Thousand Swords hanging on my waist as I spoke to her.

I climbed the mountains to get this one sword.

Even now, with my stats increased, it was a daunting task I wouldn’t dare to do again.

Not only was it tough, but one wrong move could mean death.

“Oh! So that’s why you always came back late those days?”

“Yes. It took quite a while to find it.”

“Still, it’s a good thing you found it.”

Sung Harim said that with a soft smile.

And then Jin Juha hugged her.

With a displeased expression, Jin Juha glared at me.

He clearly wanted to say something, but since Sung Harim brought it up, he couldn’t say anything.

He was a very straightforward person for someone trying to be sarcastic.

“You, by the way, are you close to that guy, Lee Shinwoo?”

After walking quietly for a bit, Jin Juha asked me.

Close to Lee Shinwoo, huh.

It was an ambiguous relationship. We hadn’t talked much in the first place.

“We’re not close.”

“Really? That’s a relief. If you were close, I’d have to be cautious of him too.”

Birds of a feather flock together, huh.

Before thinking about that, I wasn’t that kind of person.

And the premise of that worry was flawed from the start.

“Don’t worry, he won’t do anything like that.”

“…What makes you say that?”

“He has a fiancée.”

is a pure love story.

It was a tightly-wound pure love story with a set ending from the beginning of the novel.

To be more precise, it was a childhood promise rather than an engagement.

They still kept in touch.

Even in the novel, they started dating later, so it was more accurate to call it an engagement.

Even in this slightly altered situation… it probably hadn’t changed.

‘Although it’s a neighboring country, she appears late. She’s an indisputable main heroine.’

Since the heroine was Japanese, she didn’t appear in the beginning.

But once they started meeting in the middle, they really stirred up a lot of romantic tension.

“Really? Then… that’s a relief.”

Jin Juha, who seemed relieved at my words, gave a faint smile and continued walking ahead.

Silence returned again.

The only sounds were the occasional bird calls.

In that quiet, we were stirred into action by something that appeared from behind.

Crunch-!!

A body made of wood.

Small, about the size of an elementary school student.

They approached us with the sound of wood clashing together.

[Fairy-tale level spirit species, ‘Small Ent(small ent)’ has appeared.]

“It’s Small Ents, everyone get ready.”

They were the main monsters of this .

‘Were they fairy-tale level?’

Small Ents were among the lowest of fairy-tale level monsters.

Despite having a rank, they were quite strong but were perfect monsters for students.

“Jinwoo, take the front, the rear stays in position.”

Jin Juha’s orders were delivered smoothly as if accustomed to it.

She must have had a lot of experience.

As the top prospect of the constellation, she had been through many other dungeons before entering the academy.

She must have received a lot of explanations from other contractors as well.

There was a reason she was the team leader.

‘I’m the vanguard, huh.’

The advantage of the escort formation was its flexibility.

This time, since the monsters came from the back, I, who was at the tail of the formation, became the vanguard.

“There are about six of them, so be careful and just draw their attention.”

“Got it.”

There were six Small Ents.

My role was to draw their attention.

Since it wasn’t too difficult, I immediately drew my One Thousand Swords and stepped forward.

Crunch-!!

As I approached, three of the Small Ents in the front made eerie wooden sounds and rushed at me.

Their wooden hands had somehow turned sharp.

If an ordinary person got stabbed by those, their body would be

cut apart.

Swish-

I sliced through the body of the one charging at me first.

Then, I dodged the attacks of the next two.

[Fairy-tale level spirit species, ‘Small Ent(small ent)’ has been defeated.]

Although it was pure swordsmanship without any magic, the power was sufficient.

‘It’s smooth indeed.’

It seemed the past few days of training hadn’t been in vain.

My Incomplete Nine Heavens Sword was inherently smooth and natural.

Crunch-!!

Were they enraged by their comrade’s death?

The remaining five rushed at me all at once.

Attacks coming from all sides.

To be honest, it was a bit tough.

‘I can hold out… but it’s tough…’

Even though they were the lowest of the fairy-tale level monsters.

Having four of them rush at me was quite tough.

Although my Incomplete Nine Heavens Sword, which emphasized smoothness, managed to fend them off, it was still a bit overwhelming.

“Jinwoo, fall back.”

Just as I was dealing with the monsters, Jin Juha’s words came, and I immediately retreated.

And right after that.

Crackle-!!

With an enormous flash of light, a massive thunderbolt swept away the remaining Small Ents.

It wasn’t just an attack.

It literally swept them away.

They had no chance to counterattack or defend.

A merciless strike.

The remaining Ents turned to ashes and disappeared.

The power of that skill was truly fitting for its name.

It was an unavoidable, god-like punishment.

Jin Juha’s skill, .

It wasn’t a set form, just the simple ability to ‘control thunder.’

Because of that, its flexibility was excellent, and how it was used depended on the user’s skill.

“Let’s move on.”

The dungeon’s progression was exceedingly easy.