NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9 - Dungeon Practicum (1)
Chapter 9 Dungeon Practicum (1)
To conclude, the sparring didn’t last long.
Yoo Jinwoo had been overwhelmingly dominant from start to finish.
‘He was amazing.’
Lee Se-ah recalled the recent sparring.
His sword was just like the last time she saw it, a mirage.
A sword that moved smoothly and vigorously without any obstruction.
The way it naturally changed direction was astonishing.
Naturally, there were almost no chances to counterattack.
When Yoo Jinwoo’s sword came swirling towards her, all she could do was block it.
She kept blocking it continuously.
She had tried to make a decisive move at the end.
Using one of the few skills she had, ‘Black Flame’.
It wasn’t a strong flame yet.
A flame that wasn’t even hot enough to cause burns.
According to the Constellation, it would later become an ever-burning fire hotter than the sulfurous flames of hell.
But not now.
So, she used it to obscure his vision.
She swung her sword, but…
‘He dodged it.’
Even though it was by a hair’s breadth, he had dodged it.
Thinking back now, it was truly amazing reflexes and speed.
[The Constellation, ‘Guardian of Black Flame’ says there is still a long way to go.]
While she was reflecting on the recent sparring, a message came from the Constellation.
It was a Constellation who rarely sent messages.
Lately, they had been sending messages quite frequently.
“Yes. I know.”
[The Constellation, ‘Guardian of Black Flame’ encourages their contractor.]
Thinking about it, the one she conversed with the most was the Constellation.
Since they were always together, it was natural.
As she looked at the message and sheathed her sword, another window silently appeared from a place where she couldn’t see it.
[The Constellation, ‘Guardian of Black Flame’ feels a sense of déjà vu from ‘Yoo Jinwoo’.]
It was a window that no one else saw.
#
‘I almost died.’
It was terrifying.
As expected from the protagonist’s twin.
How did she manage to block all that?
Even when I seriously attacked the small gaps I saw, she blocked most of them.
She efficiently moved that huge greatsword towards herself and made minimal movements.
It was a defense like an iron fortress.
And her expression didn’t change at all, which was even more eerie.
Moreover, the black flames that burst out at the end.
If my body hadn’t moved reflexively due to my obscured vision, it would’ve been disastrous.
[The Constellation, ‘Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl’ is satisfied with your excellent reflexes.]
“When life is in danger, anyone would react like that.”
Of course, she probably didn’t intend to actually cut my body with it…
But at least my body perceived it that way.
Perhaps those reflexes were influenced by my speed stat.
While briefly reflecting on the recent sparring,
I wiped my sweat with a towel and asked Lee Se-ah,
“Are you going in right away?”
“Yes. Training is over.”
“I’ll stay a bit longer and go in. You go ahead.”
I hadn’t practiced the Incomplete Nine Heavens Sword yet, so I couldn’t leave immediately.
Though I had used the Incomplete Nine Heavens Sword in the earlier sparring, it was different.
The best efficiency came from executing the techniques properly without any interruptions.
“You’re really amazing!”
As I picked up my sword to practice again, a familiar voice called out.
It was none other than Sung Harim.
She approached with a bright smile.
And next to her was another female student approaching us.
She had ashy gray hair that looked like it had lost its color and faintly glowing golden eyes.
Her face had a rather aloof expression.
5
She was also someone I had seen quite often somewhere.
“The sparring earlier was incredible! Are you really from Class C? I would’ve believed it if you were from Class A.”
“It’s just the speed, there’s no substance.”
“But I don’t think you’re from Class C…!”
“By the way, who is she?”
The silver-haired student who was with Sung Harim.
I could guess her identity, but I wanted to confirm it directly.
So, without revealing that I knew, I asked, and the answer came as expected.
“This is my childhood friend, Jin Juha. Do you know the successor of the
Like the
Centered around the Constellation leader who had Indra, the
It was a Constellation gathered with contractors related to lightning.
It was a Constellation known for its strict meritocracy, and among them, the most prominent successor was.
‘Jin Juha. She’s also a protagonist in the original work.’
Just like Sung Harim, she was also a protagonist in the original work.
The contractor of
It was quite an interesting feeling to see the second protagonist already.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Jin Juha.”
“I’m Yoo Jinwoo. I’ll introduce myself as Harim’s… friend.”
I hesitated on how to introduce myself but decided this was the best.
Sung Harim and Jin Juha were childhood friends who cared for each other.
I didn’t know it, but she had visited my place several times too.
Introducing myself in relation to Sung Harim would resonate with her.
“How long have you known Harim?”
How long had I known Sung Harim?
I wondered why she was asking this, but there was no reason not to answer.
“About a month, I guess.”
It was a bit vague, but counting the days, it was roughly that.
Seems shorter than I thought.
It felt like we had known each other for months because we were so comfortable.
I didn’t have such close friends in my previous life, so maybe that’s why.
“A month…!?”
At the mention of a month, Jin Juha looked shocked and turned to Sung Harim.
Was it really that surprising?
“Harim.”
“Yes?”
“…Didn’t you say you brought him home five times?”
“Yes! Exactly six times!”
“…But it’s been only a month?”
“Why?”
Sung Harim looked at Jin Juha with an innocent expression, not understanding.
…Hearing it like this did sound a bit odd.
We’ve only known each other for about a month.
But I had been to a girl’s house six times alone..?
‘What is this.’
I hadn’t thought about it until now, but hearing it like this made it seem strange.
Of course, I never intended to do anything improper.
For me, Sung Harim was…
Like meeting a celebrity in real life.
More of an object of admiration than a romantic interest, so I didn’t have any weird thoughts.
“You! You don’t have any ulterior motives towards our Harim, do you?”
“None at all, so don’t worry.”
I raised my hands and shook my head, and Jin Juha scowled, hugging Sung Harim from behind.
She seemed like she wanted to say something to me, but since I had firmly denied it, she couldn’t find the words.
She had a personality that was assertive but knew her boundaries.
“Harim. All men are beasts, be careful with that guy!”
“Jinwoo is fine! He’s kind and has a good personality.”
“Even if it’s an act… Anyway, be careful!”
“…Alright, if you say so, Juha.”
Sung Harim reluctantly agreed.
But Jin Juha, still unsatisfied, spoke up again.
“Invite me when you call him over.”
“I’m going to Jinwoo’s place these days.”
“W-What!!”
This time, genuinely shocked, Jin Juha backed away from Sung Harim.
At first, she had a rather aloof image.
But the more time passed, the more that image was stripped away.
She was like that in the original work too, but seeing it in person, the first impression was quite different.
“Harim. You need to be educated by me today.”
“Education? What education?”
“Common sense education.”
While they were talking,
Lee Se-ah, who had been standing quietly and listening, spoke up.
“I want to join that gathering too.”
There was silence.
#
A few days passed since that event.
When most of the first-year students were getting used to the academy life,
The academy held its first ‘event’.
“Now, we’ll start the dungeon practicum.”
Dungeon.
It referred to an abnormal area that appeared in this world.
Its entrance was indistinguishable from ordinary nature.
But the size inside was different, or the ecosystem was different.
From the ‘Epic’ level and above, it was a place where mythical regions were recreated.
The first event of the academy was to enter and practice in that dungeon.
It was an event meant to spend a couple of days there and learn about the dungeon environment.
‘Even if it’s just a fairy tale level.’
Of course, since we were students, the dungeon we were going to for practice was the lowest, fairy tale level.
A dungeon that wasn’t really dangerous as long as basic precautions were taken.
The dungeon we first headed to was the
Since it was fairy tale level, it had no relation to myths, just a pure forest.
“I’ll now call out the teams.”
This dungeon practicum was a large event involving the entire first year.
And the professor in charge of the event was Choi Hyunwoo, the
“….”
Next to him was also Jacheongbi.
Of course, she disliked bothering, so she didn’t seem to step forward.
“Team 1: Jo
Myeonghyeon, Shin Ulim, Kim Daejin….”
Each team had five members.
Regardless of rank.
Teams were randomly assigned based on ‘position’.
So that they could cope with any situation.
It wasn’t wrong.
‘Who will I be teamed with.’
I hoped it would be someone I knew.
If I ended up with strangers,
Right after I thought that, Choi Hyunwoo called my name.
“Team 12! Yoo Jinwoo, Lee Se-ah, Sung Harim, Jin Juha, Lee Shinwoo.”
And the team members were quite shocking.
What is this.
Why are they all together?