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Monday.
Davian, Nubes, and Samantha arrived at the auditorium with large backpacks on their backs.
Other first-year students were also standing in groups, following the instructions of faculty and staff.
"Next!"
It was Davian's group's turn.
As they stepped forward, a staff member handed them a map and two scrolls.
Professor Mateo, standing in front, checked Davian's group's dungeon assignment.
"Davian Naone, Nubes Arbo, Samantha Codis. You are assigned to dungeon E-197."
In the Kingdom of Alkancia, all dungeons within the continent are managed with serial numbers.
The letters preceding the serial numbers indicate the dungeon's danger level.
E-rank is the lowest level of danger.
It was a selection of dungeons at a suitable level for the freshmen's midterm evaluation.
"Now, this cube will follow you. Take good care of it."
Professor Mateo handed over a cube-shaped object that fit easily in his palm.
When Davian received it and injected mana, small wings sprouted from the four sides of the cube.
Buzz.
The cube rose into the air with a buzzing sound, like a bee, and began filming Davian and his party.
Soon after, a magical video of Davian's group was added to the auditorium wall.
Numerous magical videos were already displayed here and there.
It was the same magical tool that followed students during the entrance exam, broadcasting videos to help the professors grade.
"Tear the yellow scroll to move near the dungeon. And after completing the dungeon exploration, tear the red scroll outside to return to the academy. As you know, warp magic circles do not work inside the dungeon."
'That's why I died. Inside the dungeon.'
Warp magic circles cannot be used to exit dungeons where the power of the Demon Realm is strongly applied through the dungeon core.
Unless you create a dimensional connection passage.
Therefore, if you encounter danger while exploring the dungeon, you cannot return to the academy, and it takes time for someone from the academy to come and help.
"Don't be too scared in advance. These are carefully selected from the E-rank dungeons. Now, let's go. Enter the place marked on the map, defeat the monster guarding it, and then escape the dungeon."
The students, gathered in circles by group, began to tear the scrolls one by one.
Davian's group also gathered closely and tore the yellow scroll.
"Even though it's daytime, the trees block the sunlight so well."
"It must be a very deep forest."
Davian looked around and pointed to one side with his arm.
"It's over there."
Even though it was daytime, it was dark inside the forest.
A place that seemed untouched by humans.
Heat haze was rising from somewhere between the large trees.
A dungeon located somewhere between the Demon Realm and the human world.
A place created by scattered cores containing the power of the Demon Realm.
It is connected to the human world, allowing you to experience part of the Demon Realm inside.
Of course, you cannot enter the Demon Realm mainland through this entrance.
The dungeon is an extremely closed space.
It is a form in which the Demon Realm is recreated in the human world by the power of the core.
It usually has the shape of a complex cave like an ant tunnel.
And inside, monsters drawn by the power of the core live.
"Let's go in."
Davian started walking ahead.
Nubes, who had already taken out his shield, carefully followed behind.
As practiced during the weekend, Samantha followed closely behind Nubes.
As they approached the heat haze, they felt a different kind of energy.
This was not the heat haze that occurs in the hot summer.
This was a deep forest where sunlight did not reach.
Thus, Davian's group approached the distorted space.
Davian took a step forward toward the heat haze.
Davian's figure disappeared in an instant.
Samantha, sticking close to Nubes, asked.
"Nubes, aren't you going?"
"Oh, oh. I have to go."
If it were Bellum, he would have teased her for being a coward, and if it were Bonita or Latia, they might have pushed Nubes from behind to hurry her up.
But kind Samantha was different.
"Are you scared? I'm scared too. But it's just an E-rank dungeon. Let's go quickly."
"Oh, right. It's just an E-rank dungeon. Let's go. Davian is on our side, after all."
"Yeah. Let's do our best, Nubes."
Encouraged by Samantha, Nubes stepped into the distorted space.
Wobble.
Just as he felt the floor wobble, Nubes found himself in a dark underground cave.
Soon after, Samantha followed.
Drip, drip.
The sound of water dripping irregularly could be heard from somewhere.
The inside of the dungeon was made up of a large cave.
Even though there was no sunlight and no magic orbs were embedded, there was a faint light inside the cave.
It was dark, but visibility was barely secured.
The air was humid and heavy, causing discomfort.
Looking ahead, the cave was divided into three paths.
"We'll go to the cave on the far right. Right? Davian."
"Yeah. We'll move as we checked on the map in advance. Let's go."
Davian's group, having chosen the right cave, began to explore the inside.
How long had they walked?
"Kee, heh, heh."
"Heh, kee, kee!"
Strange sounds were heard, neither animal cries nor human voices.
The sounds, which had been heard one by one, soon expanded to dozens.
"Goblins. It looks like they're trying to come out in droves from the start. Get ready, Nubes, Samantha."
"Yeah!"
"Yeah!"
Thump, thump, thump.
After a while, the sound of footsteps treading on the damp cave floor could be heard.
Goblins are not comparable to humans, but they are more intelligent than other animals or beast-type monsters.
Therefore, they live in groups and carry simple weapons.
Davian slowly retreated.
Of course, it wasn't because he was afraid of the goblins.
He was confident that he could handle hundreds of goblins alone.
But this was the first battle in the dungeon.
As Davian stepped back, he looked up and saw the cube buzzing and floating in the air.
"Guys, it's our first battle. We have to show the professors the teamwork we've practiced, right?"
In the auditorium, all the first-year professors would be gathered, watching videos of various groups.
Raise the evaluation score for the party's compatibility and efficiency in advance when the opponent is easy.
That was Davian's plan.
"Kee, heh! Heh!"
Apparently, they were intelligent creatures, but the three young humans didn't seem scary at all.
A dozen goblins appeared without any strategy, making strange noises.
Some had wooden clubs, and some had stone axes with quite large bodies.
By quite large bodies, I mean when they are among goblins.
The small ones seemed to be about 1 meter tall, and even the big ones didn't seem to be more than 1.5 meters tall.
Swish, swish.
Fireballs were created in Davian's hands.
The number was four.
Not only was the number created small, but only a small amount of mana was put into them.
This was because if the goblins saw their companions turn to ashes and disappear in an instant, they might be frightened and run away.
'If I want to show cooperation and teamwork, I can't kill them all at once.'
Davian's fireballs flew towards the goblins.
The goblins, surprised at the last minute, scattered in all directions.
Bang! Boom!
It was a fireball that was deliberately thrown carelessly.
However, there were two goblins who were hit by the fireball and caught fire.
The goblin next to them quickly kicked his companion and knocked him down.
The goblin who fell down while on fire rolled around on the ground to put out the fire on his body.
"Kee, heh! Heh!"
"Kee-heh!"
The goblins, who were noisily talking among themselves, spread out widely and then simultaneously began to rush towards Davian's group.
One of the fastest ones came close to Nubes.
The difference in size between Nubes and the goblin was about twice as much.
Whack!
The shield swung by Nubes sent the goblin flying far away.
As the shield blocking the front disappeared, Samantha, who was behind, released the bowstring.
Thwack.
The cheerful sound of the bowstring being released. Followed by.
Whoosh!
Samantha's arrow, cutting through the air, headed for the goblin who was shouting here and there with a stone axe in the back.
Thud!
Samantha's arrow pierced deeply into the body of the leader goblin.
Bang! Boom!
Davian threw fireballs around carelessly and looked at the leader goblin.
'Too bad. If it had been a headshot, it would have ended in one shot.'
"Kee!"
The leader goblin, showing his teeth as if he was very angry, grabbed the arrow with his left hand and pulled it out with a jerk.
Green goblin blood gushed out like a fountain, but the leader goblin didn't care at all.
Instead, he raised his stone ax high and began to run.
At that time.
Thwack.
Whoosh!
Samantha's second arrow split the space.
Thud!
This time, the arrow was lodged exactly in the middle of the leader goblin's forehead.
"Keh? Heh!"
The leader goblin, who was rushing with vigor, fell forward as it was.
Nubes shouted when he saw it.
"Oh! Samantha! I thought you weren't good at hitting moving targets! Nice shot!"
"He's just running straight at us. It's not like the target is moving, it's just getting closer and closer."
"Anyway, good job, Samantha."
"Thank you, Nubes. Ack! Next to you!"
A goblin was jumping high, holding a club over its head, and flying towards Nubes.
Crash!
The goblin, hit by the shield that Nubes hastily swung, flew far away and crashed into the cave wall.
"You're amazing too! Nubes. You're really strong."
"Really? Haha."
"But Nubes, aren't you going to use the sword?"
"Ah, that's right!"
Only then did Nubes pull out a large, thick sword from his back.
Davian's voice was heard from behind.
"Why? Why don't you just keep fighting with the shield? It suits you well."
"Haha... I'm a swordsman too!"
At that moment, a goblin with a stone axe rushed towards Nubes' front.
"Kee!"
"Eek!"
Nubes swung his sword widely.
"Kee!"
"Huh?"
The goblin, crouching down, avoided Nubes' sword.
The goblin immediately swung his stone axe towards Nubes' lower body.
"You bastard!"
"Kya!"
Nubes slammed his shield down as it was.
The goblin, who had avoided the sword and was rushing proudly, was crushed by the edge of the shield.
"See? I told you it's better to fight with the shield."
"N-no!"
"Pfft."
Even the kind Samantha couldn't help but laugh this time.
"Even you, Samantha..."
"Ah, sorry Nubes. What does it matter what you fight with? The goblins can't even get near our Nubes. You're really amazing."
Crash!
In the meantime, another goblin that was rushing at them was hit by Nubes' shield and flew far away again.
"There's one goblin left with a stone axe. You take care of him, Samantha. Nubes is doing well. I'll start increasing the speed now."
"Okay!"
Bang, crash!
Fireballs with a little more destructive power were shot towards the goblins.
It wasn't just the destructive power that had increased.
The goblins, who had gotten used to the carelessly thrown fireballs, couldn't respond at all to the fireballs that were flying accurately and quickly towards their bodies.
"Kee! Heh!"
They seemed to be urgently communicating something among themselves, but it was already too late.
Thwack!
A goblin flying away after being hit by Nubes' shield.
Samantha's arrow shot out through the gap opened by Nubes' shield.
Swoosh!
Thud!
All the goblins with stone axes were taken care of.
It was only now that the goblins sensed the changed atmosphere and began to retreat little by little.
"No way."
Six fireballs were created around Davian.
The perfect number to take down the goblins who were still standing on two feet.
"Those guys are going to start running away soon. Let's finish this."
Bang! Boom! Bang!
Six fireballs flew and landed accurately in the bodies of the remaining goblins.
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