37 – Club time(2)
They were actively marching towards their destination.
“Heh… Heh…”
With each step, a weird breath came from behind.
Under normal circumstances, it would have been disconcerting, but by now it was all too familiar.
Not just me, the other students also completely ignored it.
Then, Maria complained bitterly.
“Why do we have to walk when we have a gate?”
Some students nodded subtly as if they agreed with her.
To Maria’s words, I responded leisurely.
“Marching is also training. Don’t always expect to use the gate.”
“Wow, you’re really rigid.”
Hearing my words, Maria clicked her tongue and shook her head.
Ignoring her reaction, I continued.
“We’ll arrive soon anyway. So, stop whining.”
“We’ve been discussing it for an hour!”
She lets out a cry, expressing how unfair it felt.
That was the moment when I realized how lenient Maria had been with Mary.
‘I’ll have to talk to Maria later,’ I thought.
Just then, Elena points into the distance.
“Professor! I see something over there!”
Indeed, being Seria’s sister, her eyesight is remarkable.
“Everyone, maintain your focus as we’re almost there.”
“Yes!” The students respond energetically.
Of course, Maria was merely panting.
***
And thus, we finally arrived at our destination.
“Ah! I feel alive again!” Maria exclaims, promptly collapsing.
To a passerby, it would look as if she battled a giant monster.
Just as I was about to issue orders to the students.
“Hmm?”
“What are these kids doing here?”
“Why are there children?”
A group of people who clearly presented themselves as adventurers were approaching us.
Soon, they recognize me and say, “Sorry, but this is a dungeon entrance. It’s off-limits for commoners.”
They clearly mistook us for ordinary people.
I scanned the adventurers standing before me.
‘Judging by their equipment and magical power.’
They must be A-ranked adventurers.
Well, they would have to be, to explore an S-ranked dungeon.
I quietly answered his question.
“I apologize but, we’re also here to fulfill a request.”
“What?”
Upon hearing my words, the man before me widened his eyes in surprise.
Then, he gave my attire an appraising look, breaking into an incredulous smile.
“You’ve come to inspect the dungeon dressed like that?”
Well, considering that I’m currently in a suit, his skepticism wasn’t unjustified.
But, my clothes were magically enhanced by me.
So, it had a defensive power far beyond average armor.
‘Well, it’s not like he’d understand if I explained it like this.’
Instead of answering, I showed him our mission briefing.
Upon seeing this, he blinked before finally accepting the situation with a resigned expression.
“It seems like you’re not lying. In that case, I won’t deter you.”
Indeed, showing the mission briefing is much more convenient.
It’s a documentation only granted with the approval of the adventurer guild.
Having seen it, he probably realized that I’m not lying.
‘Anyway, that’s that.’
Now, it’s time for us to do our own job.
I took a glance at the students standing absent-mindedly behind me.
Then, I began to speak.
“What do you think is the most important thing in dungeon conquest?”
“Uh, combat power?”
“Magic?”
“Holy art?”
“Muscles?”
While everyone was shaking their head at Dab’s comment about muscles, Eli leisurely offered the answer I was looking for.
“Preparedness.”
“That’s right. As Eli said, the most important thing in dungeon conquest is preparedness. Check your current state.”
The students looked themselves over.
Soon, the realization of how worn out their bodies already were dawned upon them, and they wore distressed expressions.
“If we keep attempting to conquer the dungeon as we are now, we’ll neither live nor make progress. So, we will camp here, rest, and regain our strength before reentering the dungeon. Any questions?”
“Me!”
Instantly, as usual, Elaine raises her hand.
When I nod for her to speak, she swiftly asks.
“I understand we are camping, but we haven’t prepared anything since we were suddenly brought here by our professor?”
As she speaks, the other students vehemently nod in agreement, especially Maria.
“No worries. I have made the necessary preparations.”
“?”
Ignoring the students’ reactions, I pull out two pocket-space tents from my pocket.
As I blow my magical power into the pocket-space tents, they instantly assemble themselves.
– Snap! Snap-snap-snap-snap!
Upon witnessing this, all the students gasp in surprise, as they had never imagined such a compact tent.
“Before we rest, let’s talk about the terms of our commission.”
I pull out the commission paper.
“This commission is more about investigation than dungeon conquest.”
“Investigation, you mean?”
“Exactly.”
When Row asks, I nod in confirmation.
At this, Dav sighs, seemingly disappointed.
“Ah, it’s a shame. I thought I’d finally get some real action after a long time.”
“I apologize, but there’s no guarantee that we won’t encounter any combat situations.”
“Huh?”
Hearing my comment, Ray looks puzzled.
I show them the commission and explain,
“The task at hand is to find adventurers who have disappeared in the dungeon. We might likely engage in battles with monsters.”
At this, Dav seems excited and snorts through his nose.
Every time, I am astounded by their fondness for combat.
“But will we be able to do this? Isn’t this an S-rank dungeon?”
Maria asked in a voice full of worry.
Well, S-rank dungeons are so daunting that even most adventurers wouldn’t dare to undertake them.
Perhaps only A-rank adventurers over there who formed a party could feasibly investigate.
“Before you enrolled, it would have been impossible. However.”
“However?”
“Now, after a month of training with me, it might even be feasible.”
When I spoke with a voice full of assurance, their expressions showed they misunderstood something deeply and were touched.
Perhaps they thought I was saying this merely to comfort them.
“Well, even if something happens, if it seems too dangerous, I will step in, so there’s no need for great worry.”
“Oh, then there’s no need to worry.”
“Rather, won’t the monsters feel pitiful?”
“More than that, the monsters need a taste of the professor.”
“That’s right. We can’t be the only ones getting hit.”
“The monsters hit by such a monster will be pitiful.”
The students looked at the dungeon entrance with expressions of sorrow.
I had a lot to say but refrained, knowing that it wouldn’t do any good to dispute now.
“In any case, the briefing is over. Assign meal duty and guard duty, and that wraps up today’s agenda.”
“Yes, sir!”
Thus, after a few hours’ march, we finally began to camp.
***
Naturally, we divided into separate male and female groups.
No matter how indifferent I am to such matters, the students aren’t.
‘Libia had mentioned something about it before.’
Anyway, after finishing my shower, I quietly looked at the request parchment.
‘Moreover, adventurers have gone missing.’
Inevitably, I had to entertain doubts.
Even if they couldn’t conquer the dungeon, there should be survivors.
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And it is usually through the testimony of these survivors that the dungeon’s rank is determined.
However, looking at the request, it seems there hasn’t been a single survivor so far.
“Hmm, not that I will investigate deeply, though.”
It’s a bit concerning that there’s not a single survivor.
While I quietly look at the request.
-Buzzing
I heard a faint sound of conversation.
When I turned to look, adventurers we’ve seen earlier are entering the dungeon equipped with gears.
-Let’s go in first.
-Do we have to?
-Yes. They might snatch away our achievements.
I quietly listened keenly for a while.
“Are you okay? To just leave them?”
Dab who came out clean after a wash raised a question.
True to his candidate-warrior character, his hearing is quite outstanding.
I nodded to his question.
“Yes. It doesn’t matter. Surviving is the most important thing in a dungeon. It’s even better for us if they go in first and solve the problem.”
“Hmmm. I see. Also, it’s amazing, I thought it was just a regular tent but the inside is quite different.”
Dab was looking around the tent, seeming amazed.
It’s a tent created through a pocket-space so it should be different from a regular tent.
This is also something I have created, just like a pocket-space bag.
“It’s interesting where you could have got such a thing.”
At Low’s late comment, Dab seemed to agree and nodded.
Just as I was about to casually snoop around.
-Ahhh?!
An urgent scream could be heard.
The scream came from none other than the tent where the female students were.
I turned my head to Low and Dab and said.
“You two, get ready fast.”
“Yes!”
Having said that, I ran as fast as possible to the women’s tent.
With a swift movement, I opened the entrance without a moment’s hesitation.
Then, in the next moment.
“?!”
I found myself wide-eyed at the sight unfolding before me.
Girls students, looking shocked at my sudden intrusion, clad only in their underwear.
In front of them, a small cockroach nonchalantly scuttled by.
Seeing that, I instinctively knew.
This incident could very well end my career as a professor!