The Only Male Student in the Academy

063. Don’t wake up, Ariel(1)

One month after that, the day the supplementary classes were finished,

Me, Marie, and Claire are riding in a carriage.

“Hey, Ariel. Can’t you just ask that old Benit Findelnerka or something to open the warp gate? Why are you taking a carriage?”

Claire asks from the side.

Is it because the problem I was worried about has been solved? Unlike before, the melancholy has disappeared from Claire’s face.

“Why don’t you like riding in a carriage?”

“Uh, that’s not like that… Isn’t warp gate more comfortable…?”

“…….”

“I, too, like riding in a carriage~. That, it’s nice to see the scenery like this…”

However, the fear of me was still there.

… I just asked plainly, I don’t know why you’re scared.

‘… Is this right?’

Claire looks out the window and watches the passing scenery. She looked at her side face and I sighed.

I think I made the best decision. Because I’m an adult.

If I had been 10 years younger, I wouldn’t have let Claire go. She may have ruined it after informing the Countess of Antirus that Claire had lost the brilliance of Ande Barium.

But I still have memories as Kim Il-hwan.

The memory of having lived for 28 years in my previous life.

It’s not that I’m going to forgive Claire, and I have no intention of forgetting the feelings at that time.

But I thought there would be nothing good to be swayed by emotions.

I just thought I should take what I want to take.

‘The brilliance of Andebarium was something that had to be returned anyway.’

Holding it until the second year, then giving it to Lucius…… Well that’s probably impossible To be honest, I don’t think Claire would bother Lucius.

Anyway, the brilliance of Andebarium is the heirloom of Entirus. If I continue to carry this, it may become a useless problem.

Above all, the problem was that Claire might seek revenge.

Right now, I can intimidate Claire with the brilliance of Andebarium I keep, but that isn’t possible forever.

If it was judged that I had no intention of returning the brilliance of Andebarium, there was a good chance that Claire would think there was no way and cause a big blow.

Before that happens, it’s best if we return Andebarium’s brilliance and go our separate ways.

‘… Will Claire really stay still?’

When I return the brilliance of Andebarium, will Claire really not do anything to me?

I heard people don’t edit and write. I don’t think Claire’s nature of seeking stimulation has not disappeared.

The reason I was able to face Claire was because I took Andebarium’s brilliance hostage.

If Claire does the same thing as last time, there will be no excuse for a confrontation.

Is that all?

Andebarium’s radiance is an item with tremendous performance, and it goes well with Claire.

In other words, Claire becomes stronger than before.

When that happens, if Claire tries to drive me into ruin ‘again’.

Do you have any means to fight Claire?

“Eh, Ariel… Go, I think I’ll be arriving soon…”

Marie’s words brought me to my senses.

Looking out the window, I could see villages in the distance. Sooner or later, you will arrive at Countess Findelnerca.

‘In the end, there must be only one way.’

I made a promise with Claire. Andebarium’s brilliance will be returned to you after this adventure is over.

In other words, you will have no choice but to improve your relationship during this adventure.

Becoming friends with Claire.

If I can’t do that, I’ll break that tooth off so Claire won’t fight against me.

After that, we had to stay in the carriage for a while.

I only entered the county of Findelnerca. It was because he had to go a long way to the Catacombs dungeon.

Countess of Findelnerca was so vast that it took a year just to move there.

“So you guys are adventurers?”

I stopped at a checkpoint once in the middle.

The knights looked at me with puzzled eyes.

“Yes, I’m an adventurer. Here’s a license issued by the adventurer’s guild.”

“No, I know that. …But aren’t you an academy student?”

“I went to school about two years ago, but I dropped out and I’m no longer a student. I caused a little trouble.”

I shook my head and spoke a lie.

There is one thing we have discussed with the party members in the wagon.

-“Let’s hide that you’re an academy student? Why?”

Because we didn’t want to give Benit Findelnerka any information about us.

There are probably quite a few Philea Academy students who came to play in the county. All of them must have been treated extremely well at the count’s mansion by now.

There was a possibility that Lucius and the others were among them.

‘Of course, I deliberately avoided the date.’

If my calculations are correct, Lucius and the others must have come once. And you should have left a week ago.

But there is one possibility.

Above all, I don’t want to get close to Benit, the protagonist of Chapter 2, and it’s awkward to face other Philea Academy students.

-“Really? Well, I don’t care.”

Since Marie is basically on the weak side of her assertiveness, she obeyed obediently.

Unexpectedly, it was Claire. I thought she would be dissatisfied, but she agreed with me without saying anything.

-“Is it okay? To be honest, I didn’t want to see the same academy students.”

It seemed so.

So, here, I decided to act as mere adventurers, not as Philea Academy students.

“…I understand. No problem, let’s go.”

After passing through the checkpoint safely, we arrived at the catacombs dungeon after a long time.

To be precise, we should say that we have arrived at the entrance of the dungeon.

Tents were lined up near the entrance to the dungeon.

Because the dungeon is far from the town. That’s why adventurers who are too lazy to go to the village camp here.

As adventurers gathered like that, the number of tents exploded as merchants flocked.

Unorganized and cluttered atmosphere.

The name Graveyard Dungeon is colorless.

It feels like you are in a night market.

“Let’s start by looking at accommodations.”

I went to the biggest and most colorful tent. It is an adventurer’s guild tent that I have seen several times in Unknown Saga.

Tables and chairs are lined up in the space in front of the tent, and you can see adventurers sitting and drinking.

After passing them and entering the tent, a teller greets us.

“Welcome. Welcome to the Temporary Branch of the Adventurer’s Guild Findelnerca.”

“I want to stay overnight.”

“Yes, if that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place. Our adventurer’s guild rents tents to adventurers who have visited the Catacombs dungeon.”

Then, the window clerk showed me a guide.

It is said that there are no lodging facilities in the temporary camp of the Catacombs Dungeon.

Those who brought a tent either set it up anywhere near the dungeon or rented the entire tent already set up by the adventurer’s guild. If not, they say they have no choice but to return to a distant village.

It takes an hour to get to the nearest village by carriage.

From noble mtl dot com

Since we didn’t want to travel a two-hour round trip, we decided to rent a tent from the Adventurer’s Guild.

“One for one person and one for two. The size is large.”

I said that while holding out my money bag.

The strength of our party is that it is very comfortable financially.

I used to have a lot of money, but a while ago I even got a reward. Because he was seriously injured while trying to save Marie, the academy gave him a subsidy.

Claire is also the daughter of the Marquis of Entirus, so she has a lot of money.

Marie…… I don’t have that much money, but that doesn’t mean I live in poverty.

“Okay. A large one-person tent and a two-person large tent. We will guide you right away.”

So we moved to the campsite under the guidance of the adventurer’s guild staff.

And there was a ignorantly large tent.

It could be said that it was almost at the barracks level.

Inside the tent, not only was there a cot installed, but there were also magic tools that controlled the temperature and humidity inside the tent, and a storage box that could keep food for a long time.

At this point, it was no different from home.

I paid a little too much, but I liked it quite a bit.

“So, Ariel, what are you going to do now? There’s a lot of time left before dinner. Are you going to go in?”

Although there was no subject, I quickly figured out what Claire was asking. He must be asking if he wants to enter the dungeon.

Of course I was thinking of going.

After unpacking into the tent and changing into combat uniform, I browse the stalls and buy some consumables, such as potions.

It was a bit more expensive than buying at the academy, but there was no need to save money. Because we had a lot of money

After taking all that we needed, we entered the dungeon.

Clerda was the first to step into the dungeon.

Among our party, it has the best tanking ability and excellent survivability. Because of that, he was placed in the forefront.

On the contrary, Marie, who had the least mobility, was placed in the last row.

I, who is somewhat mobile, stood between Claire and Marie.

“Aww the smell.”

Claire frowned upon entering the dungeon.

The smell of earth,

And my rotten corpse.

“I’m already jingling. Ariel, I have good news and good news. Which one do you want to hear first?”

“First the good news.”

“The good news is, the monsters are coming.”

From far away, uh uh uh… A zombie’s cry is heard.

Claire draws her sword, and Marie fixes her wand.

I also took a fighting stance, conscious of the items in my bag.

“So, any other good news?”

“There aren’t that many.”

Claire pointed his finger in one direction.

I nod and take out an item and throw it.

—–

[Glowstone]

Crafting Rating: 4

Quality: very good

Endurance: High

: A stone that glows when magical energy is injected into it. There are no other functions.

—–

The glowstone that fell on the floor glowed and illuminated the surroundings.

There are moving corpses.

The flesh is rotten, and the vocal cords are dry and twisted, making a dry sound. His eyes are dry and his posture is grotesquely twisted.

Zombies are the epitome of the uncanny valley.

Those who can no longer be called human come rushing in with a limp movement.

“Slow burst. .”

Claire swings her sword with a leisurely movement.

No, it is questionable whether it should be considered wielding it. I should have said that I just swung the air with my sword.

From what I’ve observed over the past month, it seems to be Claire’s unique habit when using magic. When Claire fixed her sword, two walls had already formed in front of her.

True to his nickname of Claire of the Iron Wall, the skill of installing the walls is of a high level.

Intentionally created a narrow gap between the walls, as if blocking the zombies’ entryway.

Zombies try to cross over through the cracks, but they are too narrow to come this way as they collide with each other.

Claire looks at me and winks.

“If possible, please use something that is not a bomb!”

A lively voice that would make you think you were in battle. I nodded and took out the item as instructed.

Asking for non-bombs is probably about not tearing down the wall. So even if it’s not a bomb, you shouldn’t use explosive items.

Finally, there is one good thing.

—–

[Magic Engineering Tool: Magic Engineering Flamethrower]

Crafting Rating: 9

Quality: High

Attack Power: Normal

Durability: Normal

: A magical engineering tool that uses fuel to create flames. It went through the weight reduction properly and brought out the performance.

—–

After throwing the oil bottle among the zombies, insert the flamethrower and emit flames.

“Uh…, look at the smell. I’ll have to watch from behind.”

Claire returned to my back, fed up. Covering his nose and mouth with his handkerchief.

The smell of burning corpses stings my nose.

The smell is hard to bear even for me who have grown accustomed to the smell of underground water. Beside her, Mari was also distorting her face.

Even in such agony, the performance of the flamethrower was clear.

Because the zombies were so dense, the flames moved quickly, creating a sea of fire beyond the wall.

The flesh of the zombies fell to the floor while burning.

Eventually, it became difficult to even call it a corpse.

You should call it full of ash.

“Please do that, mister.”

Claire said from behind that I stopped the flamethrower.

Claire also snaps his fingers and removes the .

It caught my eye that all the zombies had returned to the soil.

“Eh, Burr, is it over already…?”

Marie muttered involuntarily.

I felt the same way. It was still on the 1st floor of the catacombs, but it ended too easily.

Claire only used one spell, I didn’t use any bomb-type items, and Marie didn’t use any magic.

Glowstone, an oil bottle, a little fuel for the flamethrower, and Claire used a little magic power.

After all, the difference between having and not having a tanker was too great.

“So what are you going to do, party leader? Do you want to do more? Or are you going to go back and snore?”

Claire asks with a smile. His face looks full of composure.

When I meet her gaze with Marie next to her, she nods her head too. Like she says she can do more.

I also felt a little empty.

“Let’s go as far as we can.”