“Alright. Let’s stop here and make our escape.”

I called everyone over to Meiling’s side and tossed down a smoke bomb.

As black smoke spread in all directions, I guided the team out of the trap room.

“Grrr!”

“Raaagh!”

Even after we escaped, several beast-type monsters with quick legs chased after us.

But we had already prepared for that while retreating.

Ziiing!

A flash of blue light erupted, and the pursuing beasts froze solid.

They had triggered the Level 45 Frost Mines I had planted on the ground as we ran.

The mines didn’t deal significant damage, but they inflicted status ailments just fine.

After sprinting down the corridor, we finally shook off the monsters.

“Meiling, just now, that Death Domain…”

Seo Yui asked. Meiling nodded.

“The level of Death Domain went up.”

“Wow! Congratulations, Meiling!”

Lumina threw her arms around her.

Meiling looked startled, then her cheeks flushed red. She gently pushed Lumina away.

“What did it feel like, when your ability leveled up?” Lumina asked.

“I felt like I could spread Death Domain wider. And faster, too.”

That was indeed what happened—when Death Domain leveled up, its range expanded and the activation speed improved.

“And I think I can contain more mana inside it now. It feels like I’ve gotten the knack of it.”

That meant the tick damage and debuff power within Death Domain had strengthened.

“Before, I said it was vague… but so it really just comes to you as a feeling like this, huh?”

“Exactly.”

Lumina looked as though she finally understood.

“Meiling. Was that the only change you noticed?”

I stepped closer and asked.

She fell silent, staring at me. If my memory was right, there was one more effect.

“…You all,” Meiling finally said, turning her gaze away.

“It feels like you won’t be uncomfortable inside Death Domain anymore.”

“Huh?”

“Not uncomfortable?”

Lumina and Seo Yui exchanged puzzled looks.

I smirked and reached for my neck.

I unclasped the Necklace of Ezonil’s Teachings and stowed it in my inventory.

“Meiling. Cast Death Domain.”

“…Don’t blame me if you collapse.”

Meiling lifted her wand, closed her eyes, and the monochrome world of Death Domain spread around us.

“Ah! Yein—”

“He’s fine?”

Lumina and Seo Yui stared at me.

Even without the curse-immunity effect of Ezonil’s Teachings, I was completely unaffected inside Death Domain.

That was another advantage of reaching Level 2:

From Death Domain Level 2 onward, its curse no longer affected allies.

‘Now I can ditch Ezonil’s Teachings, which only gave curse immunity, and instead craft necklaces with a variety of useful effects. Not just for me, but for Lumina and Seo Yui as well.’

Up until now, we had been at a loss compared to all the benefits accessories could provide.

“Wow. It really doesn’t feel like anything.”

“Yeah.”

Lumina and Seo Yui had also removed their Ezonil necklaces, experiencing the difference for themselves.

“Then let’s call it a day.”

I looked at Meiling, still maintaining Death Domain.

“Even if HAUT is right around the corner, it’d be sad to spend all of vacation holed up in dungeons.”

Honestly, I wanted to grind levels for another seven hours straight. We never knew when an event might happen that would strangle us.

But this wasn’t a game.

Though the battle hadn’t lasted long in real time, in density it had been equivalent to hours of fighting.

And yesterday, too, we’d spent the whole day circling the dungeon for Jodie’s disguise item.

In games, companion characters never complained about going without food, water, or rest while slaughtering monsters for hours.

But the people before me—Lumina, Meiling, Seo Yui—were living humans.

That meant I had to treat them differently.

“Let’s sell today’s dungeon loot and Demonic Realm relics at the Hunter Market, and then use the money to go hang out at the mall.”

At that, Lumina’s eyes sparkled.

“I’m in. I’ve had enough monsters for today.”

Meiling spoke calmly, but the moment she heard “shopping,” the corners of her lips had already lifted.

“Yeah. I agree with Yein,” Seo Yui said with a nod. “I needed to buy more summer clothes anyway.”

“Then it’s decided. Let’s head out.”

I led everyone not to the boss room, but instead to the portal that descended to the third floor.

From there, we took the return portal in the boss chamber to exit the dungeon.

When we emerged from the Seawater Cavern, a bright blue sky dotted with puffy clouds greeted us.

Hunters bustled about beneath the blazing sun, coming and going from the cavern.

“Ugh, it’s so hot!” Meiling complained.

“The cavern was cool since it’s underground,” Seo Yui remarked calmly, though sweat was running down her face.

“Let’s go back to the dorm first, wash up, and change clothes before heading out again.”

No one disagreed.

We hurried onto a bus and returned to the dorms.

Almost an hour later, everyone had changed into casual clothes and regrouped.

I’d finished getting ready in twenty minutes, but it seemed the other three needed quite a bit longer.

“Alright, let’s go to the Hunter Market!”

“Woo~!”

Wearing a dress, Meiling cheered energetically, while Lumina followed with a softer but equally cheerful sound.

Seo Yui and I trailed behind the two, smiling.

“Lumina has returned, you say.”

[Yes. She came back on Sunday. The entire Nam Yein squad has been entering dungeons both yesterday and today.]

The staff member’s voice carried through the receiver into the ears of Im Seongyeon, principal of Gwangcheon Academy.

“I see. Did you procure the weapon I asked for?”

[Yes. We secured a Level 35, magic-grade piece.]

“Good. Then contact the four of them. Tomorrow we will conduct the final assignment.”

[Understood, Principal.]

Seongyeon hung up and raised her head.

Her eyes swept across the wide living room.

A house far too large for a single person.

The only one who came and went besides her was the housekeeper.

Toward others, she was always cold. If something—or someone—brought no benefit to her or her faction, she would cut them off without hesitation, whether they were a lover who once whispered endearments, or a comrade of over a decade.

That was who Im Seongyeon was.

In such a life, no one remained out of love or respect.

“Of all times…”

She muttered in the silent room, her expression darkening, before turning toward the front door.

Buzzz!

A sudden vibration stopped our squad in our tracks.

It wasn’t just one person’s smartwatch ringing.

“What the heck?”

Meiling, who had been humming to herself while picking out clothes, frowned and checked her watch in annoyance.

I raised my wrist as well, curious.

Notice to Nam Yein Squad:

Tomorrow, Principal Im Seongyeon has prepared the final special assignment for HAUT training.

All squad members must complete their preparations for dungeon deployment and assemble at Outdoor Training Ground No. 1 by 10 a.m.

“What is this supposed to mean?”

Meiling’s expression was one of disbelief.

Lumina’s face turned pale, while Seo Yui kept staring at her smartwatch as if rereading the message.

“Wasn’t the special assignments already finished?” Meiling turned toward me.

“I-I thought they were too…” Lumina said with teary eyes.

I had also believed no further assignments would come.

We had cleared the Bundle Mine, reached Level 31 long ago, and already reported it to our homeroom teacher.

‘Were they simply waiting for Lumina to return?’

“I don’t get it,” Seo Yui said in her usual calm voice. “We already have enough strength to compete in HAUT. Why assign us another task?”

She was right.

‘Or… is Im Seongyeon expecting more from us than just HAUT?’

Maybe she wanted us to show the ability of top cadets—the kind who would be selected as outstanding students.

But what if it wasn’t just that?

“Yein…” Lumina whispered, coming close.

“Don’t worry too much,” I said with a smile. “We’ll just finish this one too, like all the others. And the academy doesn’t know our true strength. The assignment Principal Im prepared might be nothing to us at all.”

“R-right.”

“That makes sense,” Lumina and Meiling said.

“So relax. Let’s enjoy today. It’d be a waste if we let this hang over us and couldn’t even have fun.”

Everyone nodded.

After that, we bought clothes, shoes, and even ate dinner before returning to the dorm.

For a while, we forgot about the assignment.

The next morning at 10 a.m.—

Just as instructed, we assembled at the outdoor training ground in full combat uniforms, equipped with field gear, inventories, and skill slots.

But the gear we wore was still our old Level 30 rare equipment. If we brought out our current loadouts, they’d realize we had surpassed Level 41.

At exactly 10:02, someone walked out from the main building.

The sight made us all stiffen in shock.

It was completely unexpected.

“Why is the principal coming out dressed in battle gear?” Meiling’s eyes widened.

Indeed, Principal Im Seongyeon was clad in metallic armor. A shield-belt hung at her waist, and in her hand she carried a massive double-bladed axe.

With my Craftsman ability active, the stats of her gear came into view.

‘Level 72 rare armor… and a Level 35 magic weapon. She deliberately brought a weaker weapon.’

I immediately realized what kind of assignment this was going to be.

Im Seongyeon descended the steps and stood before us.

“From this moment, you will spar with me.”

As expected.

“With… w-with the principal!?” Lumina’s voice was nearly a shriek.

“If you don’t intend to let us join HAUT, you could just say so!” Meiling snapped.

Im Seongyeon’s cold gaze landed on her.

“This is a test, with proper handicaps in place. Don’t spout foolishness.”

At being called foolish, anger flared across Meiling’s face.

“Meiling. Let’s hear the principal out first,” Seo Yui said, stepping in front of her.

“The spar will be four-on-one, lasting five minutes. You may use all your gear, skills, abilities, and items. I will only use a Level 35 magic weapon, and I will not use my ability.

Your victory condition is landing a single valid hit. The hit will be judged by my shield-belt. Fail to land it within five minutes, or if I bring you all down, you fail.”

‘Too simple…’

But Im Seongyeon likely knew every one of their abilities—except mine.

“Then, ready your weapons.”

She lowered her stance, gripping the haft of her axe with both hands.

Through Lens of Lavzahi, her level was revealed: 72.

Higher even than the Iris attendants—a formidable powerhouse.

Ten levels below Persila, but back then we had exploited her self-harming habit. Without such a plan, facing her head-on gave us little chance.

But there was no point asking for more time. Im Seongyeon wouldn’t wait.

Improvisation was the only way.

“Seo Yui, please. Stall for as long as you can.”

“Got it.”

She stepped forward, spear and shield in hand.

“Meiling. Get Death Domain ready.”

She nodded, wand raised.

“Lumina.”

“Y-yeah?”

“Lean in.”

I whispered hastily into her ear, handing her a few items from my inventory out of Im Seongyeon’s sight.

“Please, Lumina.”

“O-okay… I’ll try.”

She nodded firmly.

“Then we begin.”

Im Seongyeon spoke—and disappeared from sight.

“What—?”

By the time Seo Yui’s dazed voice reached us, the principal was already in front of Meiling.

BOOM!!

A shattering sound like reinforced glass exploding rang out.

Meiling was knocked back, landing hard on the ground.

Residual mana shimmered in the air. She had reflexively cast a mana shield to block the strike.

“Not a bad reaction,” Im Seongyeon said, looking down at her.

‘Damn it.’

What I told the others yesterday—that the academy didn’t know our true strength, and the task might be easy—would have to be taken back.

It was clear now: Im Seongyeon intended to fight seriously, her only handicap being what she had declared.

(End of Chapter)

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