Despite the various complications, the Dungeon Practicum finally began.
I wasn't sure whose scheme it was, but for some reason, our group was assigned to lead the vanguard.
"It’s probably my fault," I muttered. I recalled the examiner’s face—the way he’d glared at me with pure loathing.
Whether this was an attempt to stage a "deadly accident" or simply using us as sacrificial scouts to clear the way, I wasn't entirely certain.
"I don’t mind, really. Not this much," Alicia said, her voice steady.
"I’ll protect Alicia, so don’t worry!" Mariana added enthusiastically.
Standing beside me was a gifted woman who had received the finest elite education in the Magic Kingdom. Next to her was the Sage’s Disciple, a commoner who had passed the Academy’s entrance exams on her own merit.
They were more than enough help.
At the shallow depth designated for this exercise, we should have been able to finish this with the casual air of a school field trip.
"Ragna, this is safer than that mountain range you took me to in the Brave Territory, right?"
"Of course."
Back then, we had already finished culling the local monsters, and Onyx’s presence nearby had kept everything else away. But during the high season, that place was crawling with them. Unlike the creatures found in a dungeon, those bloodthirsty monsters treated humans as nothing but prey, attacking without mercy.
"But it’s my first dungeon, so I’m still a little nervous...!"
"You’re right to be. Let’s stay sharp, Mariana."
"Yeah, I’m looking forward to it."
Dungeons are strange places. I often wonder where the monsters inside actually come from. Their ecosystem is a complete enigma. For that matter, why were these places even created?
Well, it didn't really matter to me.
"You’re looking forward to it? You’re acting like we’re on a vacation," Alicia teased.
"Dungeons in the Brave Territory are much more intense, you know."
For one thing, you couldn't stand around chatting at the entrance of a dungeon back home. Safety was never guaranteed. Monsters would hunt you relentlessly, practically driving you into the depths. And once you were inside, you were greeted by even larger swarms.
"First battle, here we go. I’m going to hunt them all to extinction."
When you defeat a dungeon monster, it leaves behind a core and dissipates into mist. These are called Magic Cores, which act as vessels for mana. They are a vital resource for a magically advanced nation, and since they sell for a decent price, this was a good chance to make some money.
I didn't have any real complaints about my frugal life with Alicia, but now that I knew Mariana’s shop offered so many varieties of coffee, I wanted to treat ourselves.
"Hehehehe..."
"Ragna-san is laughing quite a bit, isn’t he...?"
"Just ignore him," Alicia sighed.
"Is that okay?"
"He acts like a meek little lamb here in the Royal Capital, but back in the Brave Territory, he starts doing the most outrageous things. He’s probably just excited because it’s been a while since he’s been in a dungeon."
That was a bit uncalled for. Everything I did back home was perfectly normal.
Regardless, being at the head of the group was actually ideal. I needed to find a Holy Artifact hidden somewhere in this dungeon. Normally, the National Order of Knights guarded these ruins to keep students out.
This was my only chance.
From that point on, I led the charge, cutting down every monster that crossed our path. I sliced through them, punched them aside, and kept us moving. In the floors permitted for student use, there weren't supposed to be any lethal traps.
Or so I thought.
"Ragna, are you okay? A poison arrow just hit you!"
"I saw it strike you directly...!"
The poison-tipped arrows that occasionally whistled through the air carried a clear intent to kill. Were they targeting me, Alicia, or Mariana? Likely all of us. If I could find proof of who set these up, I’d kill them. If they intended to kill us, they couldn't complain when the favor was returned.
"I’m fine."
My specialty is barrier magic, which allows me to manipulate its shape at will. I can even form a protective film just a few millimeters away from my skin. I’ve set this barrier to subconsciously filter out lethal threats, ensuring I stay safe even during a surprise attack.
A "lethal threat" is defined as anything moving above a certain velocity or magic imbued with a certain level of power.
"It looks like it hit, but on a microscopic level, it missed by a hair."
"That’s an absurdly high-level trick, as usual," Alicia remarked.
"It was hard at first, but you get used to it after ten years."
When I was three, a monster gave me a wound that left me on the brink of death. I was so terrified of dying that I came up with the idea of covering my entire body so I’d be safe even if I was ambushed in the woods. At first, it required so much conscious concentration I thought my brain would melt, and I nearly died several times when I ran out of mana and fainted.
It was only through grueling training and the experience of a blood-soaked war that I finally became able to maintain it subconsciously.
"Whoa, it’s so meticulous and delicate!"
Mariana adjusted her glasses, her breathing becoming a bit erratic as she poked and prodded my body with intense curiosity.
"Ahem. Mariana? He is my fiancé, technically. Even if he is... like this."
"Ah, sorry! I just can't help myself when it comes to magic."
What do you mean, "even if he is like this"? I’ve always been like this. And I always will be.
"You can't tell under the uniform, but he’s surprisingly muscular..."
Well, if you spend your life fighting, you develop muscles meant for combat. Honestly, I’d never done paperwork before moving here, so the tendonitis from the office work was far more painful. I truly appreciated Alicia for taking over those duties.
By the way, if I took my shirt off, I’m covered in scars from head to toe.
"It sounds invincible, but does it have a weakness?" Alicia asked.
"Of course."
I answered her honestly.
"If I run out of mana, it stops working."
If I were restrained and hit with a continuous barrage of attacks that exceeded my total mana capacity, the barrier would eventually fail. It’s also difficult to subconsciously block attacks that exceed my expectations. For example, if a well-fed Onyx decided to bite me while I was sleeping, I’d be eaten.
I take every precaution to prevent that, and I have trump cards for emergencies, but I’m naturally vulnerable to surprise attacks that exceed my output limits.
"Wait, is it even possible for your mana to run out?"
"Alicia, what exactly do you think I am...?"
"Ragna."
"Yes, I am Ragna."
That didn't really answer my question, but it seemed she had her own ideas about my limits.
"Anyway, since neither of you can use chantless magic yet, let’s use the summer vacation for some special training. Brave-style training."
The Academy doesn't teach chantless casting. Combat magic is only taught after graduation for those pursuing specific careers. Considering what’s coming, they need to be able to defend themselves. I’d have them mastering subconscious magic by the time my Brave-style Bootcamp was over.
"Oh! Really? I’d love that!" Mariana chirped.
"P-please... just try not to kill us..."
Mariana smiled innocently, but Alicia—who knew a bit about the Brave family’s reputation—turned pale as she imagined the intensity of the training.
But I had two people to protect now instead of one. They needed to be able to handle themselves.
"Well, I plan to let you experience a much deadlier dungeon this summer, so for today, you can just watch."
I couldn't let them walk into traps without any preparation. It might be boring for them, but I would stay in the lead today. This was my domain.
It wasn't even enough to count as a warm-up.
As I was thinking that, Mariana was adjusting her glasses and staring intently at the dungeon wall.
"I wonder why dungeons were even made. And why do the monsters turn to mist? It’s so mysterious."
As she spoke, she pulled out a small pickaxe from somewhere and started hacking at the wall.
"If the Ancient Sage made this place, is the whole dungeon made of magic? If these walls are earth-attribute magic, maybe I can break a piece off and take it home."
"I wouldn't do that. Dungeons are unpredictable," I warned.
But my warning went unheeded. Her "Heroine" instincts were in full swing.
"I’ve heard there’s even special dungeon-grown coffee. I’d love to try it someday!"
Clunk.
"Clunk? What was that?"
"Below you! Your feet, Mariana!"
At Alicia’s scream, Mariana looked down. A magic circle was glowing brilliantly beneath her feet.
Alicia rushed forward to save her before anyone else could react, and I followed suit, stepping onto the circle to keep them within reach.
I recognized this pattern.
It was a teleportation trap—a specific flag triggered when choosing a route other than the Prince's.
I had planned to send them back to the entrance and handle the rest alone, but things never go as planned. Destiny is a terrifying thing.