The Conjurer of the Academy

Chapter 24

“Hell yeah, this is awesome. Totally awesome.”

Han Sang-don came in, waving his hands like a child. This pig, known among Rolling Hunters players as a professional troll, is part of Cheon Tae-seong’s gang.

If Kim In-seong played the henchman role in Cheon Tae-seong’s gang, Han Sang-don was more like a leech who clung to the strong for his benefit.

It’s laughable to compare, but even Kim In-seong seemed more self-reliant than this guy.

‘I just hope he doesn’t cause any trouble.’

In the game, having Han Sang-don on the team often meant intentional sabotage depending on the dungeon or members assigned.

But perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. This combination was new, so it was too early to give up hope.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Han Yu-seong.”

“I know, I know. Just like Tae-seong, you were ranked first in the entrance rankings, right?”

Han Yu-seong extended his hand for a handshake first. Han Sang-don took Yu-seong’s hand with both of his and shook it vigorously.

“And that’s Shin Seo-ha, right?”

“What’s up, pig? Don’t just address people rudely and piss them off.”

Shin Seo-ha, on the other hand, was sharp. It was practically a personal attack, but Han Sang-don didn’t seem to care and just laughed.

“Great, great. You guys are both so capable, so I’ll be totally carried this time.”

He was already thinking of riding on our coattails. It would’ve been better if he had shut up by now, but Han Sang-don happened to make eye contact with me.

“Ugh.”

He sneered upon seeing my face. Being in the same class, he was all too familiar with my features.

After finishing his handshake with Han Yu-seong, he walked past me. And as he did, he muttered something only I could hear.

“299th place dropout. Just don’t be a hindrance.”

Without giving me a chance to respond, Han Sang-don approached the Warp Gate. With the other two present, he wouldn’t openly show hostility before the mission even started.

‘Honestly, this is better.’

I didn’t care if he spouted nonsense at me. What mattered was successfully completing this mock subjugation. If he behaved quietly, I could tolerate a bit of annoyance.

‘But…’

For some reason, I felt like Shin Seo-ha glanced at me just now.

Was it just my imagination?

“Everyone’s here already.”

Finally, Choi Tae-min, assigned as the supervisor for Team E, casually made his entrance.

“Alright, let me lay down the rules. Pay attention; I won’t repeat myself.”

Choi Tae-min scrolled through his smartphone, reading out the prepared guidelines for the mock subjugation.

“You’ll all be provided with protectors. If a protector sounds an alarm, the individual is immediately considered out. If the majority of the team agrees, the team can also opt to forfeit.”

“Excuse me.”

After the instructions, Shin Seo-ha blinked and spoke up.

“Got a question?”

“Is that all of the rules?”

“Pretty much.”

“So, there are no penalties for any other actions?”

“Strictly speaking, yes.”

I glanced sideways at Shin Seo-ha. She simply nodded without any change in expression.

“Alright, I will now distribute the protectors. I’ll be watching through the cameras installed inside the dungeon, so don’t worry. I won’t intervene unless necessary, so don’t count on my help.”

Choi Tae-min handed out the protectors and then manipulated the panel of the Warp Gate. Massive amounts of magical energy began swirling between the large octagonal entrance.

“The place you’ll be heading to is a crystal mine near Gyeonggi-do.”

The emission of tremendous energy caused a fierce wind to blow.

“Good luck.”

With Choi Tae-min’s encouragement, the concentrated magical energy of the Warp Gate formed an entrance resembling a wormhole.

‘I hope we don’t die from this.’

The scale was entirely different from what I had seen in the game. Even knowing it was a Warp Gate, I couldn’t help but think that stepping inside might tear my body to pieces.

“Let’s go, everyone!”

While everyone hesitated, it was Han Yu-seong who stepped forward first.

His expression, one befitting a main character, radiated confidence that could conquer any fear.

“Here we go.”

I stepped forward as well, hoping to at least be a reliable ally.

Bzzzz-!

The Warp Gate swallowed the four of us, and with a sense of buoyancy, my vision turned black.

* * *

After the feeling of buoyancy subsided, a slight headache and nausea set in. I opened my eyes, but I couldn’t see anything. It wasn’t because something was wrong with my eyes.

“Yomi.”

With spiritual energy spreading through my eyes, my night vision activated. Despite knowing our destination was a cave, there was a reason I didn’t bring a flashlight.

“Ha-baek?”

A beat later, Han Yu-seong’s voice came from beside me.

Turning to look, I saw Han Yu-seong, Shin Seo-ha, and Han Sang-don slowly getting up in front of the Warp Gate installed inside the cave.

“Ugh, I can’t see anything.”

Han Sang-don complained.

The motto of the mock subjugation was a combat environment similar to the real thing. Just because we were fighting in a cave didn’t mean there would be conveniently placed torches.

“It’s okay, you’ll get used to it soon. This cave has luminous crystals, so it won’t be that dark.”

As their eyes gradually adapted to the darkness, the other three began to look around. Soon enough, they could see the hollow space covered in shadows.

Just as mana enhances basic physical abilities, it seems it also helps their vision adjust to the darkness faster than ordinary people.

“Wow, it’s beautiful.”

Han Yu-seong exclaimed in admiration as he looked around.

The enormous hollow was adorned with minerals emitting colorful light beams. It didn’t look like a monster’s lair but rather a path leading to a fairytale palace.

“From that point onward, the monsters will start appearing. How about we organize our party and plan our strategy now?”

“As expected of Ha-baek. Very thorough in preparations.”

“But where did you get all this information about the cave?”

Unlike Han Yu-seong, who nodded in agreement, Shin Seo-ha frowned.

“I picked it up somehow.”

I couldn’t very well say I foresaw the future or got the information from a game.

The person who asked crossed her arms and didn’t respond, but Han Yu-seong, satisfied with my explanation, clapped his hands loudly.

“So, where should we start?”

“Hmm, first of all…”

I fell into thought.

Shin Seo-ha is strong but not someone who raises her voice in such situations, and Han Sang-don… well, let’s not even go there.

Han Yu-seong is capable of leading the team in such situations, but it seemed like he wanted to give the lead to me.

It was Han Yu-seong’s way of showing consideration and his trust in the team.

‘Then I should live up to that expectation.’

Fortunately, I know the capabilities and abilities of everyone here. There’s no worry about misjudging their skills.

“I’ll take the role of a scout.”

At my words, the expressions of the two, excluding Han Sang-don, twisted with concern.

“You idiot, volunteering to be a scout in a dark cave like this?”

“It’s okay, Ha-baek. I’ll take the scout role.”

The reactions of Shin Seo-ha and Han Yu-seong were polar opposites, even though they were ultimately saying the same thing.

“It’s fine. I’ll be the scout.”

A scout is a soldier assigned to reconnaissance on the battlefield. This means they are the vanguard, responsible for first assessing the movements of monsters and whether traps have been set.

To put it mildly, being a scout is essentially like being a trap detector. Especially in a dark cave like this, volunteering as a scout is tantamount to courting death.

Of course, I didn’t choose to be a scout without any reason. There were calculations behind my decision as well.”

“I have really good night vision. Plus, I have some information about this dungeon. And don’t worry, I’ll run as soon as I see anything.”

“Well, if that’s the case…”

Han Yu-seong nodded with a somewhat reluctant expression. Judging by his face, he probably intended to volunteer as the scout, but having him as the scout would be a waste of his abilities.

“‘Yu-seong, since you handle a sword, how about taking the combat role?”

In this round, Han Yu-seong chose the sword. Finding that out wasn’t difficult. Since we often met in the training room, I casually asked, and he promptly answered.

‘The standard route is pretty straightforward.’

The sword route is considered basic yet solid. Unlike other routes, it doesn’t have any extraordinary abilities or powerful moves but is well-balanced in both offense and defense.

“Hey, if he’s in the combat role, then what about me?”

“Shin Seo-ha, you’ll be in the extermination team.”

“Why the hell do I have to do that?”

Shin Seo-ha’s brow furrowed.

The extermination team handles the monsters that the combat team misses. Simply put, they clean up what’s left behind by the combat team, making it less dangerous than being on the front lines.

Shin Seo-ha seemed displeased that she was assigned a less risky position. But it wasn’t just favoritism.

“I need to show you something.”

I picked up a mineral fragment that was a few steps away.

“Could you light this with a little fire?”

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

“You’ll see if you try it.”

I handed the mineral to Shin Seo-ha and smiled gently.

Once she saw this, she would roughly understand why she was assigned to the extermination team.

“Tch.”

With no other choice, Shin Seo-ha took the mineral and ignited a small flame, just enough to cover the bottom of it.

Buzz—!

The mineral responded to Shin Seo-ha’s flame by emitting a rainbow glow.

“The golems living in this cave react to light sources other than crystals. Using your ability here will only attract more of them.”

Crystal Golems.

Humanoid golems with blunt limbs made of minerals. Depending on their size, they are classified from D- to D+ ranks.

Among the 20+ mock subjugation dungeons, this crystal mine is notorious for its extreme difficulty, not for any particularly special reason.

Crystal golems, mostly found in mines or caves, weren’t well-known among students.

They move by seeking out light sources through their core, often preying on miners carrying lanterns and draining their mana.

For ordinary people, being crushed to death by the weight of a crystal golem was typical. For awakeners, while they might withstand the weight, they would eventually be engulfed by minerals, meeting a gruesome end.

‘The problem is, if you shine a light other than the crystals, these golems will swarm.’

Having a lantern made from the crystals would make the strategy easier, but that’s not the focus right now.

Because of these reasons, Shin Seo-ha’s abilities would mostly be limited in this crystal cave.

“…Damn it.”

After a moment of contemplation, Shin Seo-ha spat on the ground. Folding her arms and standing quietly indicated her reluctant acceptance.

“Now, lastly…”

I looked at Han Sang-don.

He had a look that made me unsure if he had been following the strategy meeting thus far.

“Han Sang-don, your ability is Throwing Projectile, right? You’ll be in charge of intercepting the monsters from the right rear.”

“Why should I listen to someone like—”

“Then do you want to be the scout?”

Han Sang-don closed his mouth.

It’s quite useful when dealing with opponents this way, even if it means compromising my convenience.

“Alright, the formation is roughly set.”

I, as the scout, would be at the front.

Farther behind me would be Han Yu-seong.

Shin Seo-ha would be positioned to his left rear.

And finally, Han Sang-don to the right rear.

I squinted at the only passage leading out of the hollow.

“Let’s go.”

The subjugation had already begun.