11
When I decided to become a professor at the academy, I had one worry.
The academy was said to be more comfortable and safer than military or government positions, but it housed the most dangerous bombs of all.
The main characters.
“Especially the four main characters. I hoped to never encounter them.”
There were a total of 16 main characters at the “Warrior Academy.”
There were four background academies.
In other words, four main characters were placed in each academy.
What was unique was that this placement was random.
The advantage of the Warrior Academy was that the placement of the main characters varied each time, allowing for different gameplay.
No one knew which character would be placed in which academy, so they hoped that relatively safe (?) characters would be placed in the Rubiness Academy.
The 16 main characters had different roles and significance in the scenario.
There were four main characters, and among them, there were two tops.
Catherine was the “pearl protagonist” at the top of those two tops.
It was as if she had unexpectedly encountered the most dangerous bomb.
“Darn it, should I pretend not to see her?”
But their eyes had already met precisely.
Catherine’s eyes widened.
“You crazy halfwit? What are you doing here?”
Recognition of “halfwit.”
It made sense considering Catherine’s status.
“She was the beloved daughter of the Klein Duke’s magical lineage.”
They are both part of the same quartet of dukes, so it was predetermined that they would have some sort of acquaintance.
“It’s not like they’re particularly close.”
Close? Yeah right.
In the gaze of the protagonist, Catherine, there was a full measure of disdain.
Catherine always had an arrogant and irritable impression, and just from her gaze, it felt like one would be pricked by thorns.
“Well, Catherine isn’t exactly a likable protagonist either.”
She was the epitome of prickliness.
In the beginning of her first year, she was truly a “cancerous character,” so there were many people who didn’t like her.
It wasn’t until the story progressed to a certain point that she began to show a more proper protagonist-like appearance.
“Let’s just exchange a casual greeting and not get too involved.”
I thought of an appropriate greeting.
Judging from her reaction, it seemed like she was trying to challenge the Cave of Lament but ended up feeling disheartened.
So.
“Did you try to challenge the Cave of Lament? It takes courage, but you must have realized it’s beyond your limited abilities. I hope you step aside. You’re being a bit presumptuous.”
Oops.
In response to Catherine’s grudge, the charisma of the black dragon stirred up a commotion.
“Damn it. What did you say!? Backtracking…?”
I blinked my eyes.
“…No, there’s really no need to backtrack, is there?”
Let me say it again.
I must not get too close to the protagonists.
Among them, Catherine was the top priority to avoid.
It wouldn’t be bad if this opportunity turned us into acquaintances who never wanted to see each other again.
‘Even if we end up in the same academy, she might feel a bit uncomfortable, but since Catherine, the student, can’t defy me, a professor, it doesn’t matter.’
And there was another reason to provoke Catherine.
“Have you said enough about the trash topic, Confucius of our class?”
Despite the stern gaze that made my heart tremble, I didn’t stop.
“No, I haven’t said everything. I don’t know what you’re trying to gain from the cave of lamentations, but give it up. Actually, in my opinion, you might be better off giving up the path of a magician. There’s nothing more painful than clinging to a hopeless cause.”
Even to my ears, it was a merciless remark that made me want to strike her.
“!!”
Indeed, Catherine’s face turned pale.
“How dare you…”
A much angrier expression than before.
It was my fault for stepping on her landmine.
I quietly recalled her background.
‘The ugly bastard from the prestigious magic lineage.’
Catherine had a disgraceful past as a bastard of the magic lineage.
Not only that, but she also possessed the worst talent as a magician.
‘Persecuted by the entire family for being a low-born bastard with the worst talent in magic.’
It’s because she became a prickly character.
Even attempting to challenge the Cave of Lamentations was an effort to overcome her own shortcomings somehow.
And she was failing and getting frustrated.
For a normal human with empathetic abilities, offering comfort to someone like her would be typical.
‘Comforting Katerinne now won’t help.’
She is the hero type character who overcomes adversity and grows.
All these trials and anger serve as a stepping stone for her growth.
Above all.
“Ha! Don’t make me laugh! What do you know about trash topics! I’ll conquer the Cave of Lamentations right now to prove your words wrong! Get ready to kneel and apologize to me!”
Swiftly turning her back, she entered the Dungeon of Lamentations.
Next to her disappearing figure, this message floated.
＜Cave of Lamentations Clear Probability＞
– Exploiting the surly hedgehog novice wizard: 70%
The success rate had risen significantly.
It went as planned.
* * *
– That child is not my child.
Katerinne was the child born after the Duke of the Magic Clan enjoyed a night of revelry with a street girl.
The Duke abandoned Katerinne by giving a few coins to the girl.
Katerinne’s mother also abandoned her.
Alone, as she spent her days scraping by in the back alleys, “Father” appeared once again.
“I was mistaken. Call me father. Now, you are my daughter.”
It was the prophecy that had descended upon the magical lineage.
Katerina would become the “Great Star” to illuminate this world.
“You will bring fortune to our Klein Duchy.”
But, could the prophecy have been wrong?
Katerina had yet to show any promise.
Not only was she far inferior to the geniuses of the magical lineage, but she also lagged behind ordinary people.
“If you have such lowly blood.”
“Why did you accept such a disgrace into the family?”
“Clearly, the former head of the family misread the causality.”
Expectation turned to contempt.
From then on, Katerina had to endure hellish times.
How many days had passed since she slept without shedding a tear?
She became increasingly resentful.
“I will definitely earn everyone’s recognition.”
This year, she will enter the academy.
She will prove it to everyone.
That she is not a filthy outcast.
“I must create a miracle in the cave of wailing.”
The one who walks the path of magic. If you overcome the trial of lamentation, you will gain ‘mystery.’
It was a story passed down like a legend.
Although I don’t know exactly what ‘mystery’ refers to, it will undoubtedly be a power that greatly aids the magician.
However, in the midst of powerless failure and frustration, a voice appeared.
– You might as well give up on the path of the magician.
‘What do you know about a trash subject.’
Catherine sneered at it.
Actually.
Her anger wasn’t because of the voice.
It was because of her own inadequacy.
‘This kind of cave. I will definitely conquer it!’
However, as Catherine confidently moved forward, she made a puzzled expression.
‘Why is it okay to hear ‘lamentation’?’
The cave of lamentation is a cave where lamentation is literally heard.
Mind-devouring.
Even now, the sounds of lamentation were still audible.
“Master…!! I can’t take it anymore…!! Ugh!”
The middle-aged magician who followed Catherine was seen collapsing with a groan.
It was the same scene Catherine experienced when she first attempted the challenge.
‘Why am I okay now?’
It was still agonizing.
But, bearable?
‘…Is it because of anger towards the trash, perhaps?’
There was no mental capacity to care about the sobbing anger, from head to toe!
‘Urgh.’
As the anger slightly subsided, the sobbing seized the mind again.
‘Oh, no. If it continues like this, it will be another failure….’
That was the moment.
“Is this all? Pathetic.”
“!!”
It was half!
Whether the sobbing was not at all distressing, or the appearance remained as dignified and unfortunate as before.
“Go back. And never look at magic again. It’s advice given with you in mind.”
“I told you to shut up!!!”
Making a clattering sound, moved forward.
Thanks to the half, the anger resurged, and the sobbing no longer bothered.
‘…Could it be that this is intentionally happening right now?’
For a moment, such a question crossed the mind.
‘…That trash? Unbelievable.’
Catherine raised her head defiantly.
It couldn’t be true.
Even now, look at her chattering away.
“Tsk. Babbling, aren’t you? Does it not make it difficult to showcase the greatness of this body because of you?”
‘Shut up!’
Absolutely not.
But, could it be a mere coincidence?
Every time Catherine wavered, the irritating nonsense that infuriated her echoed, and thanks to that, Catherine delved deep into the cave.
* * *
“Ugh. Why does this wailing give me the chills?”
It felt like listening to the horror sounds of a haunted house.
If it weren’t for the charisma of the Black Flame Dragon, my face would have turned pale.
“At least my mana is as thick as night dew, so I survived.”
In the cave of lamentation, there was one secret.
The stronger the mana, the greater the negative impact it receives.
Conversely, if the mana is below a certain level, it’s just scary without much negative influence.
“Even at the level of 1st rank, it has a significant impact.”
My mana was barely at half of the 1st rank level, so I could endure it.
“Catherine is impressive, though. Even if she’s dull, her mana quantity is probably much greater than mine.”
It meant her willpower was that strong.
Especially Catherine, with her latent ability as a “Berserker.” Her will becomes even stronger when she’s angry.
Occasionally, weaklings would appear in our path, but it wasn’t a problem.
“Those monsters are too much for you, so step back.”
“What do you mean it’s too much?! Just keep your mouth shut and watch my magic closely!”
From Noble mtl dot com
With just a provocation like this, Catherine would become heated and fight harder than anyone else.
Thank goodness. If Catherine wasn’t here, it would have been a big problem.
I had very little mana, so it was difficult to deal with multiple weaklings like them.
“Fighting, artificial pearl! Keep fighting hard and save the world!”
But.
Soon, I encountered an obstacle.
We arrived at the end of the cave.
“T-This monster?”
Catherine’s voice trembled.
Of course.
Because an unimaginable being was there.
A skeleton wearing a wizard’s robe.
It was a “Lich.”
An undead monster of level 7.
“This is why this dungeon is unbeatable.”
The higher the level of a mage, the more vulnerable they are to lamentations, so they can’t approach this far.
Those with little mana like me cannot withstand the Lich even if they reach this place.
“This….”
Catherine clenched her fist tightly.
“Since we’ve come this far, we can’t give up….”
I was startled by her determination to challenge.
‘Catherine must not step forward under any circumstances!’
I had a way to defeat the Lich.
It wasn’t a foolproof plan, but at least I could fail without dying.
‘But if Catherine steps forward, the problem will escalate.’
In the worst-case scenario.
Catherine could die.
‘Absolutely not! If you die, who will fight against the forces of evil on behalf of us?!’
No matter what, I had to make sure she stayed alive until the end.
“I will face the Lich.”
“…What did you say?”
I decided to firmly request Catherine not to step forward.
She could sense my concern.
“I am a generous person. No matter how unruly you are, I don’t want to see you meet a dog’s death. Stand still here and receive my protection.”