Chapter 79 - Before the dungeon
"What is this, Junior?"
Seeing the mana appearing in my hand being different from what she had expected, Maya gave a surprised exclamation.
Instead of manifesting the traditional elemental attributes, my mana began to take on a unique form. It wasn't earth, fire, water, wind, or light mana, but something different entirely.
It was indeed a normal response since the mana in my hand was something I had been using for the last two weeks.
'Mana of Moon.'
"It's... something different," I replied cryptically, not yet ready to reveal the true nature of my trait. Even though Senior was a good person, I don't want to reveal that this is my trait simply.
Though I think she will figure this out on her own, there is nothing I can do about this.
Maya furrowed her brow, clearly intrigued and puzzled. "Different? I've never seen anything like this before. It is your trait, isn't it? Just like at that time while you were sparing with PhantomGlide Dummy."
"Nothing escapes your eyes."
For the moment, I decided to play with it a bit more, manipulating the silvery mana into intricate patterns that danced around my fingers, but I also tried to repeat the sensations.
This was no longer a game where you would push some buttons, and your character would move. This was the real world, so the sensations were in it as well.
And, after a matter of a second, I understood.
After realizing how the color of my mana changed and how I could use it on my own, I understood one another thing.
'I can't access other types of mana.'
I didn't know why it was, but there is a high chance it was because of [Lunar Enigma].
The only mana I can use is either raw mana or moon mana, but this is not something to get discouraged.
'The moon mana itself is versatile.'
I witnessed it with my own eyes.
'And, the colors shown here followed the pattern in the book.'
That meant one thing. The contents of the book were true, at least up to some point. Well, since I just read the book to pass the time before sleeping, I didn't believe its contents, nor did I take it as absolute.
In my head, there was room for it to be wrong, but after all those things laid before me, it was clear that the book contained good information.
'Arcane Arts, huh? Now I understand why they are not covered at all. Even manipulating mana is hard; how hard will it be when it comes to magic?'
Thinking that, I turned to the Senior. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Maya." I bowed my head to the girl looking at me with a slightly surprised expression.
"I didn't do anything. It was your hard work." While she answered, she clearly had an expression of wanting to ask questions.
"No. No matter how hard I worked, I wasn't able to feel mana even once before. It was thanks to your help and your talent at teaching."
It seems my words have affected her slightly as her face turned red.
"…."
"I will repay you for your help in the future."
"A-ah…..You don't need to do anything; it was my own decision to help you train."
"Still, you helped me progress. It is something I won't overlook. Whenever you need help, I will try my best." Bowing my head one last time, I decided not to be a burden anymore. "Then, I will take my leave. I have my classes early today."
With those words, I turned back and started leaving the elemental chamber. Today's lesson was not that long, but it was a lot more impactful than yesterday's, and it was a very important step for the future.
*******
"What a mysterious kid you are, Junior."
After Astron left, Maya was looking at the place where they had trained. Small lingering mana of silver color was left, and Maya couldn't help but see its uniqueness.
Considering his rank and the aura she could sense from him, Maya knew Astron was weak. It was her special ability thanks to her trait [Mother of Nature].
She could see and estimate the strength of a person from the possible danger they possessed, and she knew Astron was not that strong.
However, at that time, when he was fighting with PhantomGlide Dummy, she could see his aura changing. That crimson aura was dangerous; she herself felt the danger it possessed.
That was the second reason why she decided to train his mana control. She wondered if he was some sort of demon or an evil person. She even thought someone possessed him at that time.
'But, thank god he is the same junior.' She thought to himself after looking at his mana control. If someone possessed him, their signature mana would change since mana is something related to the soul, but his didn't change.
That meant he was the same Junior as ever. However, while training with him, she discovered something else.
"The fact that he was able to learn how to control mana in just one day….Junior….I wonder where you will reach."
CRUNCH
With a smile, she grabbed her chips and started munching them. Normally, it was prohibited to bring meals into the training rooms, but nobody cared when it came to Maya. She was the best of the sophomore year, and her good nature made people overlook those small details.
However, a certain senior witnessed the whole training, and he was not happy about it at all.
********
From not far away, a young man was watching the two people talking inside the Elemental Chamber, training together.
"Who the hell is this kid?" The young man's voice trembled as he muttered to himself, his eyes locked onto the two figures training inside the Elemental Chamber. His gaze was unwavering, burning with intense jealousy.
It was by no means a special occasion normally. It was actually pretty common for people to come to the Elemental Chamber with their friends and train together while occasionally getting feedback.
For Maya, that was also the case. She came with her friends from time to time.
How did he know?
He was watching her, of course, though only from sides.
But this time, it was different. This time, it was a young man with Maya, and that ignited a blazing fire of jealousy within the observer.
He had been secretly infatuated with Maya for a long time, admiring her skills and pure heart from a distance. He knew Maya was not someone who would spend time with members of the opposite sex for this long amount of time.
As he watched Astron and Maya interact, a deep sense of envy gnawed at him. He couldn't bear the thought of someone else getting close to the person he had admired for so long.
"How dare you? How dare you get close to my goddess?" He hissed through clenched teeth, his voice a hoarse whisper.
He knew Maya would come to Elemental Chamber very early in the day. He even adjusted his training schedule to fit Maya, to watch her from sides.
The young man's eyes grew wild, and a wicked grin twisted his face as he concocted a sinister plan. He had been lurking in the shadows for far too long, and now he believed it was time to take action.
"I won't let him take her away from me," he muttered, his voice a sinister hiss. His obsession with Maya had reached a point of no return, and he himself had already misunderstood the relationship between them.
Since he was far away in order to escape their senses, he couldn't hear what they were talking about, but the fact that she was talking with him alone made him jealous as hell.
The Maya he knew had never talked with males for this long; in his mind, it was clear that something was going on.
He knew that he had to eliminate that boy to remove this obstacle from his path to Maya.
The young man was convinced that he alone was worthy of her affection and attention, and he couldn't bear the thought of her being with anyone else.
*******
After the training with Senior Maya, nothing else happened in the academy until Friday.
"-know that the reason why the Valerian Kingdom was founded after merging all human nations."
DING
Just as the professor was explaining the history of the Valerian Federation, suddenly, the sound of a bell ringing echoed inside the classroom.
"I guess we should end with this today." With those words, he pushed his glasses up with his middle finger and looked at the students.
'Sigh….He is going to give another assignment again.'
It was his habit that whenever he gave an assignment, he always pushed his glasses first.
Then, with a small smile, he continued, "Now, your assignment for this week is quite simple. I want each of you to research and prepare a presentation on a significant event or figure from the founding era of the Valerian Federation."
Groans and murmurs filled the room, but the professor paid them no mind. He was used to this reaction.
"Please remember," he emphasized, "the Valerian Federation's history is a tapestry woven with the stories of many nations and individuals. Your presentations should shed light on the factors that led to the founding of this great Federation. I expect well-researched, informative, and engaging presentations."
He then projected a list of topics on the screen at the front of the classroom, ranging from the Treaty of Unity to the contributions of notable leaders.
"You may choose your topics, but I encourage you to select subjects that resonate with you," Professor Armstrong said. "Presentations will be due next Friday, so make good use of your time. And remember, knowledge is the key to understanding our world. Dismissed."
As the students began to gather their belongings and head out, the classroom buzzed with conversations about who would choose which topic and how much research would be needed to complete the assignment.
I also picked my things up immediately and started leaving the classroom, since today we were going to have a joint training with Archery Club.
Even though the last week didn't have any club activities, this week we had. The schedule was getting tighter and tighter with assignments and coming up with other aspects as well. Therefore, I needed not to waste any time.
I could hear the main cast talking amongst themselves while I was preparing myself.
"Ethan, what are you going to do?"
"Well, I am going to train as usual."
"Don't you have any club activities?"
"Well, we had one last week. The spear club does joint training every two weeks."
"I see. Then, want to spar with me? It had been a while since we clashed weapons, don't you think?"
"I can't."
"Huh?"
"I will go to a dungeon tomorrow; I need to be in my best condition."
"So what? We can train now, no?"
"Sigh, Julia. Whenever we spar, it never ends without blood spilling."
"This is the way of warrior? Are you chickening now?"
"Tch. Julia, you know it's not about being a man or not. It's about not wanting to deal with your relentless teasing when I have to explain yet another injury to my mom."
"Oh, come on, Ethan. You're no fun. Besides, it's not like I go all out on you. Well, not all the time."
"Not all the time, she says. Remember that time you chipped my tooth during a friendly spar? I needed to spend my whole monthly allowance on a potion. I was hungry for all month."
Julia shrugged, a playful grin on her face. "Details, details. It was just a tiny chip."
Ethan shook his head, still smiling. "You're impossible, Julia. But seriously, I need to conserve my energy for tomorrow's dungeon dive. You understand, right?"
Julia sighed dramatically. "I suppose I can't argue with that. Fine, go and prepare for your dungeon dive. But don't think you're getting away from our next sparring session, Ethan."
Ethan chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it, Julia. Take care, and I'll see you soon."
From the way he talked, he was mentioning the dungeon dive Emilia requested. Well, in the game, Emilia explained it as not an easy dungeon, but it was something normally beyond the scope of their guild, thanks to her father's injury.
Well, it was reasonable that she trusted Ethan since it seemed she had warned him beforehand. She was such a character, after all; she paid everything back to those who helped her.
After packing my things up, I also left the room, following Ethan, and headed towards the Archery Club area.
FLINCH
However, for some reason, on the way, I felt something, a gaze on me as if someone hostile was watching me from afar.
This had been happening for a whole week, and I had yet to find the source of the gaze.
'Tch.' Clicking my tongue at my helplessness, I walked further, reaching the club room.
Chapter 80 - Before the dungeon (2)
"Everyone is here. Then we can start." Captain Adrian said, looking at us gathered around here.
Since today was going to be the first training session with the Archery Club, every member was gathered here.
Of course, it was not mandatory to attend the training sessions, but considering this club's budget and the people attending the club here, naturally, everyone was eager to come.
After all, even getting small tips from such seniors is pretty helpful for those who seek improvement.
'Well, this is mostly because of the excitement of the first day. Not anything else.' I thought, since from the first day afterward, freshmen would drop one by one.
"Today will be our first training session. I assume you are all ready." Captain Adrian began, his voice carrying the weight of experience. His sharp eyes scanned the assembly, making each member feel like they were the sole focus of his attention.
"As you all know, archery is a discipline that demands precision, focus, and dedication. It's not about how strong you are, but how well you can control your body and your mind," he continued. "Today, we'll start with the fundamentals. Even though I know everyone here had already learned archery in one way or another. However, in the pre-academy schools, only the textbook positions are taught."
With practiced ease, Captain Adrian picked up a bow and arrow, demonstrating the correct posture and technique.
"In the field, everything does constantly change. No matter how talented you are or how many times you practiced your basic archery, there will be times when you won't be able to use your perfect posture. Here, it is important to know that, as an archer, you need to change your posture constantly according to your position and situation."
SWOOSH
He drew the string, his movements fluid and graceful, and released the arrow with a soft twang.
THUD
The arrow flew straight and true, hitting the target with pinpoint accuracy.
"This is what you have heard from the hunters that you have known or from the hunters on the internet. Probably most of you here think the textbook examples and the theory are useless when it comes to practice." Captain Adrian continued. "But let me tell you, understanding the theory and mastering the basics makes it easier to adapt to any situation.
It's like having a solid foundation upon which you can build your skills."
Looking at his words and the reactions from the club members, I could see Adrian was suited to be a leader. His voice was filled with authority, and when you listened to him, you would feel like he was making a point.
The reactions of freshmen were an example of that. The club members were nodding their heads in understanding as if they realized that theory and practice were not at odds but rather complemented each other.
'If someone other said these, they would simply boo them.'
They were eager to learn more because of the momentary emotion of excitement and hype, which won't last long.
"Now, let's get started with today's training," Captain Adrian said, picking up his bow again. "I'll show you the basic posture that I've made my own over the years and the textbook one. I want each of you to derive your own variations based on your body type and comfort. This will be your first task as an Archery Club member.
We want you to make your own posture and present it to us with its advantages with a report."
Those words caused quite a shock for the newcomers.
"What is this?"
"How can we make our own posture?"
"Do they really expect us to be able to do something like that?"
'Where is your excitement now.'
They were clearly not expecting such a task from the first day. That was indeed hard; even in the game, this task took the whole first semester or the year, depending on the affinity of the character.
However, this club was not a charity. As they said, they wanted the members to contribute to the Archery field, and this was one way of doing that. By presenting different types of ideas, you could contribute to the field.
Of course, this didn't mean it was simply one way of getting things. You could ask seniors for pointers, and you could learn from them basically.
With that, he demonstrated his preferred stance; his body relaxed yet poised for action.
His every movement was deliberate, and he encouraged the members to pay attention to the key points of balance, alignment, and flexibility.
'This explains why he was able to get the captain position.' The way he positioned himself was almost perfect for his body, and his talent at bows was showing itself.
"Now, I want each of you to give it a try. Don't be afraid to experiment, find what works best for you, and ask questions to your seniors. I will be wandering around and will look for those who want to learn for pointers."
With those words, everyone started practicing with their bows, and I did the same.
As I began practicing with my compound bow, I couldn't help but notice the gazes of some students around me. The looks they cast my way were far from friendly; in fact, they seemed to hold a touch of scorn.
"He's using a compound bow? Seriously?" one student whispered to another, their words barely concealing their mockery.
"Yeah, I heard those are for hunters who can't handle a proper recurve bow," the other replied with a snicker.
"Isn't he like the lowest-ranked student here? Figures he'd need a crutch like that."
There were a lot of classes inside the academy. Therefore, not everyone knew my face. However, it seemed my reputation as the weakest was spread quite a lot.
However, I kept my focus on my practice. It was not like this was something new anyway, and just like that, the session went on.
******
"Oh, Student Astron. You are here."
As I was immersed in my training, suddenly I heard the voice of certain someone I had been waiting for. It was Instructor Ethan.
"Instructor Ethan," I responded, lowering my bow. By this time, it had been an hour after the start, and most of the freshmen had already left the training grounds.
"As expected, my eyes weren't wrong." He nodded his head with a smile. The clothes on him were his casual ones, and there were traces of small pieces of dust and soil on his sleeves. The faint smell of burnt soil was also there, coupled with the smell of blood.
'He just came from a dungeon.'
It seemed a certain dungeon appeared in close proximity to the academy.
"What do you mean?"
"Come with me." He gestured for me to come, and I didn't waste any second and followed him.
Bringing me in front of a small door, he looked into my eyes.
"I had been watching your practice."
"You were?"
"Indeed. For a person who started using bow recently, you are progressing very fast."
FOOSH
After he scanned his bracelet, the door opened, and the scene before me made me think of those sci-fi movies on Earth.
The room was filled with LED lights, but the lightning was still a bit on the darker side. There were some screens and holograms showing things around. It looked like a shooting range, but it was a little different.
"What is this place? You might be wondering about this." He said, approaching the device. "Here," pointing his fingers towards the range, he continued. "I want you to continue your training there for a little while."
"I see," I replied. From the screens and holograms, it wasn't that hard to understand what this place was. "You want to analyze my body, correct?"
"Yes. While I was watching you, I could see you already have something in your mind about your bow. But, your body is yet to develop for it."
Showing the screens where a part of the body was shown, he continued his words.
"Since you have yet to develop your specific muscles, I want you to use this room for a better analysis. With the results, I will be able to give you a specific method of training. Suited for your body. What do you think?"
"I have no reason to refuse."
After I came to this world and awakened myself, I had been training non-stop, but that didn't mean my training was effective. In the academy, you could consult professors for this, but my homeroom professor was Eleanor White, and I didn't want to deal with that woman.
This opportunity was quite good, and this was one of the reasons why I joined the Archery Club.
Different from other clubs related to weapons, Archery Club had a rather modern approach in terms of training.
The Spear Legacy Club was filled with blockheads who preferred ancient training methods left from the first generation of hunters, and the Sword Masters Club was the same.
This was mostly because of the representatives of each weapon. Sword Emperor and Spear Emperor were both from renowned families, and they represented those weapons in a way that resembled an old-school way.
However, the Bow Empress was different. She had a new approach to things, and she was someone who was modeling for magazines as well.
This was the reason why the Archery Club, who idolized and were supplied by the current Bow Empress, had the modern approach, and this room was one of the results of it. Of course, the academy also provides such rooms, but they require students to be of a higher rank, which I am not right now, and won't be enough until the mid-terms.
Therefore, this was something I had been aiming for, but honestly, I didn't expect things to progress this fast. I was rather expecting this to happen after I slapped some of the arrogant-faced freshmen, but I guess that wasn't necessary.
Instructor Ethan led me further into the room, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and excitement as I took in my surroundings. This state-of-the-art facility seemed designed for serious training and improvement.
"We'll start with some basic assessments," Instructor Ethan explained. "I want you to fire a few arrows at those holographic targets over there."
Just like that, the session started with stagnant targets to moving targets, moving lands, and even shooting in the river…..
******
"Good, I will send you your regime later. Your results will be up tomorrow. Is that okay with you?" Instructor Ethan asked after the training.
"No problem."
"Then, you can leave."
"Thank you for the help," I replied, bowing my head.
In the last week, I feel like I received quite a lot of help from other people, and certainly, it was not a bad feeling.
"It is my duty." Instructor Ethan waved his hands, and I left the place not long after, making my way to my room.
To be honest, today's training was not that bad. I'd been able to test my archery skills in a dynamic and challenging environment, but that was not alone. I also had feedback from Instructor Ethan, and that was really helpful.
He gave some pointers I had overlooked while training, for instance, how to manipulate my mana while pulling the strings of the bow, how to increase the speed of the arrow by putting mana on the tip of it, destroying the wind resistance, and a lot more.
It was clear that my reflexes and adaptability were good, but it was in my head. I needed to work on my body a lot more, and I looked forward to receiving the specialized training regimen that Instructor Ethan promised to send me.
'Now, all that is left is this.'
DING
Just as I was walking to my room, I heard the sound of a notification coming from my watch.
"As expected, they couldn't refuse it."
Looking at the message, I thought.
---------------------------
Guild: Azure Crest
Message: Urgent Acceptance
We are pleased to inform you that your application as the Archery Specialist for our urgent dungeon exploration mission has been accepted. We apologize for the delay in our response.
Your presence is requested at the Azure Crest Guild Hall in Arcadia City/3. District Guild Street No 351 tomorrow at 13:00.
Please arrive promptly as we will discuss the mission details and strategy.
----------------------------
It was now the time to destroy another follower of demons.
Chapter 81 - Before the dungeon (3)
'Sigh…' Ethan sighed to himself as he started walking to the entrance of the academy. The last week had been fairly stressful for him since he watched the footage of the monsters running rampant in Nexoria City after the attack.
'How strong those monsters were….Even that amount of hunters was not enough to stop them.' Watching the footage, he understood one simple thing. Being a hunter and awakened was a blessing.
He saw non-awakened people getting massacred by the monsters until the hunters helped. They were completely helpless and couldn't do anything against the strong.
However, being awakened didn't mean Hunters were unbeatable. No, rather than that, he saw hunters on the verge of dying countless times, and at that moment, he understood why her father and her siblings would always say being a hunter was not as easy and cool as it looked.
'Without the effort and strength, being awakened is meaningless.'
He himself had recently awakened, and he knew how hard it was to go against those monsters as a normal person. He saw the students in one of the most prestigious academies struggling against monsters.
'I should get stronger soon. I can't stay the weak me as before.' He wanted to help others, clearing gates. Just like his father, the one he looked up to, he wanted to be a hero.
That was one of the two reasons why he accepted Emily's request. First, he wanted to have more experience, but he didn't want to request it from his family. He wanted to stand on his own; you may call it his pride as a man.
Secondly, he wanted to help the girl. After hearing about Emily's condition, he wanted to help her. It was his innate desire.
And here, he was on his way to his second real dungeon exploration.
"Hey, Ethan. Where are you going?" At that moment, he heard the familiar sound of his best friend.
Lucas called out as he spotted Ethan striding through the academy grounds.
"I have something to do," Ethan replied.
"Ah... Is it about that dungeon? Heeeeeh... You've been invited?" Lucas teased, a playful grin on his face.
"Tch. Shut up," Ethan muttered, clearly not in the mood for teasing.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. When are you coming back?" Lucas asked, genuinely curious.
"I don't know, maybe around evening?" Ethan replied, his thoughts still focused on his upcoming dungeon expedition with Emily.
"I see. Then, let's hang out sometime later. It's been a while. I want to call some girls," Lucas suggested, nudging Ethan.
Ethan hesitated for a moment before relenting. "You know I don't like hanging out with girls."
"Come on. Give it a chance, huh? We won't stay as students for long anyway," Lucas reasoned.
"Fine, fine. I'll come," Ethan agreed, albeit reluctantly.
"Promise," Lucas said, holding out his pinky finger. Looking at his friend behaving childishly, he couldn't help but shake his head. Lucas was always like that, but he was glad Lucas was the way he was.
Ethan sighed but hooked his own pinky around Lucas's. "I can't. You know dungeons can be unpredictable." Though he still wanted to leave leverage for himself.
Lucas chuckled. "Hmm... Then, call me when you need help."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You think I'll need your help?"
Lucas grinned mischievously. "You bastard. Did you forget you awakened later than us? Do you want me to beat you?"
Ethan rolled his eyes but couldn't help but crack a small smile. "Sigh... Okay, I'll give you a call later."
"Then, I will be waiting for your call."
After that, he left, waving his hands leaving Lucas back there. Ethan continued on his way to the meeting point for the dungeon expedition. He took a lift, and he reached there after 30 minutes of the ride.
As he arrived at the designated location, he spotted Emily and the other members of the expedition.
"Ah, Ethan. You are here." Seeing Ethan arrive, Emily came to him immediately, reaching at him with a smile.
The place he was in right now was the building of a guild, but Ethan could see how different it was from his family's.
The difference between classes was showing itself from the design and fashion alone, but even then, he could see the building was clearly neglected.
Even though this guild hall seemed neglected, he could sense the determination and hope in Emily's eyes.
"We are waiting for the last member to arrive, and then we are ready to go." Just as Emily was about to speak, suddenly she saw the person they had been waiting for.
"Ah, he is here." Saying that her eyes turned to the newcomer, and there they could see him walking--black pants, a black t-shirt, and a jacket with a hood over his head.
"Astron?"
And cold purple-eyes.
****
After the message came from the Azure Crest Guild, I immediately started preparing myself.
Since, according to my profile, I didn't have any experience as a Hunter, they probably waited for other people to reach out to them.
But, from the start, I already knew this position would be empty. Since, in the game, there were no archers at the party, and the healer was the demon-contractor.
Therefore, I had already finished my preparations.
'Silencer.'
The first one was to order a specific silencer for my gun. Since this one was not a brand product but rather a specific one from a blacksmith, the silencer needed to be made specifically, and it took a while.
'Bunch of potions, antidotes, and light-attribute bullets.
Aside from that, those three were also necessary for the incoming expedition.
'And lastly, food and water supply for one month, high-quality tent, and a lot of magazines.'
These whole things almost made my real spatial bracelet filled to the brim, but they were all necessary.
After everything was ready, I made my way to the meeting point. It wasn't hard to find the place, since the address was already sent to me by them.
And, here we were.
"Astron?" In front of our dumb-looking protagonist and the girl with a slightly scorn expression on her face, I reached my destination.
"I thought it may be someone else, but it was you, huh?" Emily said, her gaze sweeping me.
"….." I didn't reply and overlooked her scorn. It was something I was expecting anyway. If I was in her place, I would also get slightly mad when the weakest of the academy participated in the dungeon exploration that was going to determine the future of her guild.
"Sigh….Sorry. I am under a lot of pressure nowadays." Realizing that causing a scene and antagonizing me randomly would clearly be a wrong action, Emily sighed and apologized.
'She is clearly befitting to be a leader.' Comparing her reaction to another girl, I could see the differences between them clearly.
"Come, we will start our briefing." Emily gestured for us to follow her as she entered the guild hall. The scene was the same as in the game. At the start, this place was showing clear signs of being neglected, but it was rather because of their low budget.
'Though this will change in the future.'
Remembering how this place transformed after only two years, I could clearly see the potential they had.
Emily led us into a room where they would discuss their strategies for the dungeon exploration.
CREAK
As the door opened, it revealed four people inside, three women and one man. Immediately, the woman at the front came to our side, looking at us with clear, shining eyes.
'Anya Guzzman.'
I immediately remembered her from the game.
"Wow, you really are handsome."
As she would welcome the player with those words immediately. Considering Ethan's face, it was pretty normal since he would become a model and live his life without swinging his weapon once if he wanted.
"… Thank you?"
Ethan clearly looked perplexed at the sudden behavior of the woman.' Certainly, in the game, he also gave the same reaction since he was such a guy.
BONK
"Sigh….Sister Anya, please calm down. We are not here to play." Emily bonked the head of the woman as she turned her attention to the people inside.
"He is Ethan, the one I had talked about. And, this is Astron, the Archer of our party."
"Oh….This one is not that bad either." Anya said, coming at me. Though before he could come at me, she was bonked at her head.
"What did I tell you now?"
"Okay, okay."
After she introduced us, Emily wasted no time and gestured for us to sit at the table.
"No need to be stiff… Here are the rest of the party members."
Gesturing her hand to the inside of the room, she said, and the others started introducing themselves one by one.
"I am Faye Barnes. Nice to meet you."
"Hari Fulton, nice to meet you."
Looking at the others waving their hands, Ethan responded with a smile as he threw a questioning gaze at me, filled with curiosity. It seemed he was wondering why I was here, but he would probably come to his answers on his own.
Just like that, we went nearside to the other two sitting on the chairs.
Thinking that, I started looking at the girls in front of me.
Recalling this event from the game, I remembered their names.
'Faye Barnes. She is 18 years old, and her future is not that bright. A sword user and the vanguard of the group. She is using a claymore; what a weird choice for someone this petite.'
I thought while observing her bodily features.
She was a girl with bob pink hair, purple eyes, and petite features, but her muscles certainly looked strong. At least stronger than me.
In the game, she didn't have a bright future since she wouldn't be able to advance further as a Hunter and would stay as she was.
After that, I turned my head to the next person.
'Hari Fulton. She is 19 years old. She is a self-educated hunter and has never attended any academy. For a self-taught, she is pretty talented with her two curved swords. She has a medium-fire affinity, and she is also proficient with fire magic. She joined the Azure guild one year ago."
Long yellow hair with ocean-clear blue eyes and a slender body. She is beautiful, but not as much as the main cast.
Thirdly, our captain.
'Anya Guzzman. She is 20 years old. However, she started training late since she was sick at the beginning. She graduated from a small Hunter Academy after two years of attending one year ago and has been working with Azure Crest Guild since then. She is a spear and shield user. She is also an earth attributed user, so she will be the tank of our group.'
Observing her body, I mused to myself.
'As expected, her body had already adapted to using shields. Her muscles on her back and core are well developed, but her legs are the strongest place of hers. The exposed scars on her body show she liked her job as a Hunter.
I thought, looking at the slightly open top she was wearing. From her exposed tanned skin, you can see the muscles and her toned body. Coupled with her brown hair and brown eyes, she had a weird aura around her, making me remember a certain type of warrior-woman-filled race of the past.
And lastly, the young man with black hair standing on the backside. He had an amicable and easy-going expression on his face, but they did little to hide the fact that something about him was different.
'Fred Nilsen. Aka, Thousand-Faced.'
He was the target of today's expedition.
Chapter 82 - Before the dungeon (4)
"Uh, I'm Fred Nilsen," he introduced himself, his voice slightly shaky as if he were trying to hide his nervousness. "I'll, um, be your healer for this expedition. It's, uh, my first mission, so, uh, please bear with me."
He was stuttering as if he didn't have any experience, but in fact, this was nothing but a lie. Even though I knew him from the game, with my [Perceptive Insight], I could see the little motions he made, signaling that he was lying.
Of course, some may think I put my attention to those points since I am conscious of him, but this is wrong.
I always watch how people use their bodies while speaking. Unless they are experienced enough to control themselves, it always gives me enough information to use.
"No problem, Mister Fred. Everyone will have a first, anyway. By the way, can I call you Fred?"
"Um….Y-you can call me Fred, i-it is fine."
"Good. Fred will be our healer of the expedition." Anya said, taking the role of the captain of the party. "Now, I will start the briefing."
Anya projected the map of the 'Forest of Rain' on the holographic display and continued with the briefing.
"The dungeon we will be visiting is a forest-type dungeon, 'Forest of Rain.' From the mana wavelength, it was estimated that the rank of the dungeon is intermediate rank 4, as you have already been briefed about it. The boss monster is the Spirit of Embertree, a peak rank-4 monster. It's a formidable foe, so we need to be cautious."
She highlighted certain areas on the map. "Our route will take us through various terrain, including dense forests, rivers, and caves. We'll encounter different creatures along the way, so stay alert."
Anya pointed to the formation we would use. "Now, for our party formation: I'll be at the front, leading the way as the tanker. Faye and Hari, you two are our main damage dealers. Ethan and Emily, you'll be our secondary damage dealers and cover the rearguard. Astron, your role as a marksman will be to scout and protect Fred, our healer, who will be at the center."
She spoke, seizing at the people inside the party. From the looks of it, she was assessing the strength of each person one by one. It was a pretty common procedure that was made by the captain since the textbook example tactics mostly wouldn't work perfectly while in the real dungeon.
"Of course, this is just the on-paper formation. According to the situation, we will change it and adapt it to the environment. Any questions?"
Seeing her coming like that, there weren't any other questions. Of course, in the game, this part was where we would be able to choose talk options, etc., but I didn't have any questions. After all, I knew most of the contents of the dungeon anyway.
"Then, let me give you a last final reminder." Seizing everyone with her penetrating eyes, Anya released her aura, pressuring us from the start.
"I am the leader of the party, and I want the absolute commitment. You will listen to whatever I say, and you won't ever act alone. Understood."
This was one of her initial characteristics. Anya was one of the reasons why Emily's guild would rise in the ranks. She is an incredibly talented leader with good situational awareness. Therefore, I didn't have any problem with listening to her instructions.
This was also going to be a good example for me to refer to in the future while exploring more and more dungeons.
""""" Yes."""""
Everyone accepted her words without any ounce of hesitation; after all, that was the charisma of the leader who would lead.
I could see Ethan looking at Anya with serious eyes, clearly impressed by her. However, different from other talented people with egos, he had pure intentions.
That was the reason why he was suited to become the main character of the game. A good person with a clear sense of appreciation for others, not a brat.
Even though he is not fully mature, he is mature enough to appreciate others, and this is enough.
"Then, we can leave."
With those words, she stood up and started walking to the outside.
"The van will take us to the related place. Let's not waste any more time."
After that, we reached the entrance of the guild, and we found the waiting van, its engine humming softly.
Anya took place in the front seat while others sat in the back.
WROOM!
As the engine started working, the caravan moved.
*******
"Hey," Ethan began, his tone suggesting he was determined to start a conversation. Astron ignored him, staring out of the window as the scenery whizzed by.
"Astron, I am talking to you," Ethan persisted, not one to be deterred easily.
Astron turned his head slightly, casting a sideways glance at Ethan. "What?"
Ethan leaned in closer, clearly unfazed by Astron's curt response. "I never thought I would see you here," he remarked a hint of surprise in his voice.
'Tch….This bastard now will speak about how he wouldn't expect me to join dungeon explorations.'
Astron grumbled under his breath, unable to hide his irritation any longer. "So what? Can't the last rank of the academy join dungeon explorations?"
Ethan's brow furrowed, but he remained undeterred. "I just meant... It's unexpected, that's all. You always struck me as someone who likes to train. To be honest, since you are the last rank, I thought you would hone your skills in the academy first."
Astron's frustration boiled over, and he shot back with a harsh retort, not mincing words. "Look, Ethan, not all of us have the luxury of sitting behind the academy walls and living in delusion. Some of us need money, and we need it now. I'm not some little baby who can afford to play at being a hero in training forever."
He crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat, a scowl etched on his face. Astron was well aware of his standing in the academy, and normally he wouldn't care. However, considering Emily was there as well, she might have had unnecessary thoughts.
"So, you're implying that you've joined dungeon explorations purely for the money, correct?" Ethan inquired, trying to dig deeper into Astron's motivations. He rather had a smile like he was enjoying how Astron replied to his words.
Astron's response was curt and to the point. "Yes."
Ethan persisted, a hint of genuine concern in his voice. "And why do you need it? Maybe I can help."
Astron's irritation flared once more, and he shot back, "None of your business."
Ethan let out a sigh of exasperation. "You know, you're both cranky and stubborn. If you go on like this, you won't make any friends."
Astron's response was swift and dismissive. "Who said I need friends? I'm perfectly fine on my own."
"….."
Silence hung in the air for a moment as Ethan contemplated Astron's words. Finally, he conceded, though not without a hint of resignation.
"Right? Now, shut your mouth and focus. We are not here to chit-chat." With those last words, Astron cut him off, looking at the map of the dungeon.
Emily, her patience wearing thin, decided to intervene, her voice carrying a harsh edge as she addressed Astron.
"Astron, do you have to be so rude?" Her words were blunt, her frustration evident as she turned a stern gaze on him.
She then shifted her attention to Ethan, whose bemused smile hadn't faded.
Astron met her stern look with defiance. "I'm not being rude. What's rude is poking your nose into other people's business."
With a sigh of exasperation, Emily continued, her tone unwavering. "Astron, we're a team now, and teamwork requires cooperation and respect. Being rude to your team members won't help us succeed in the dungeon."
"..." Astron once again raised his head and thought about his actions and realized he was being slightly angry.
'Wait?'
THUMP
At that moment, his heart immediately started beating faster, just as before.
'This bastard.'
And he realized the reason why, immediately throwing a gaze at the healer who had a smile.
'He is already using his skill.'
Looking at others like that, he realized the others had yet to be affected by the skill.
'Probably because their stats are higher.'
He understood the reason why he was behaving angrier than usual, but to not show it, he still chose to behave like a brat.
"I don't need a lecture on teamwork. I have my reasons for being here, and I don't expect anyone to understand."
'This is too cringe.'
He cringed inwardly, but he continued his act as if he was angry.
Emily, her patience thoroughly tested, took a step back, her expression hardening as she addressed Astron one last time. "Fine, Astron," she said, her voice now carrying a tone of finality. "If you're determined to act like a brat and push everyone away, then so be it. I won't waste any more of my time trying to reason with you."
She turned away from Astron and refocused her attention on Ethan, who had been caught in the crossfire of their heated exchange. With a shake of her head, she muttered under her breath, "Some people are beyond help."
Ethan's face twitched as he found himself awkwardly sandwiched between the escalating tension. He wasn't quite sure how to mediate the situation, especially given Astron's stubborn demeanor and Emily's clear frustration.
However, amidst the growing discord within the group, there was one person who seemed oddly pleased with the unfolding drama – Fred. His cunning mind immediately grasped the dynamics at play and saw an opportunity.
'This is sooner than I expected,' Fred thought to himself, watching the interpersonal conflicts within the caravan. He had keenly observed the people involved and quickly realized the root cause of the friction.
'This guy is the weak link,' he concluded, referring to Astron. The young man with purple eyes had acted out first according to his skill.
And despite feeling a subtle chill from Astron's gaze, Fred dismissed it with confidence.
'There's no way a mere academy student can threaten me,' Fred mused, brushing off any potential concerns.
He had heard what they just said about Astron's low rank and his need for money, which only fueled Fred's ambitious plans further.
'Maybe I can even persuade him to join our side,' Fred thought, formulating a clear strategy in his mind, leveraging his emotion-amplifying skill, [Volatility].
Fred's thoughts raced with excitement. 'Today is my lucky day. I never expected to be presented with an opportunity to secure the heir of Hartleys. Perhaps, if I play my cards right, I might even obtain a coveted seed of Wrath for this achievement.'
As the caravan continued its journey toward the unknown, Fred's scheming mind worked overtime, eager to exploit the rifts forming within the group for his own gain.
However, the expression on Fred's face wasn't able to escape Astron's notice.
The cracks that were forming in the party were the bait he had thrown at him after all.