A sharp explosion reverberated in my eardrums. Golden shards of energy scattered across my vision.
The force from the fist, traveling from the knuckles to the shoulder, was quite intense. Atra, who did not resist, was naturally pushed backward by the strength. She shook her wrist slightly as if trying to ease the stiffness and stared ahead.
The one who had pushed Atra back, Lee Ha-Yul, did not pursue her and instead stopped in place. Regaining his stance after thrusting his spear, Lee Ha-Yul took a breath and lightly flicked the spear. Whoooo! The golden spear tip flashed, emitting a chilling resonance.
Sensing the intensity of it, Atra hid her uncomfortable feelings deep inside.
It wasn’t just the forceful energy. That golden spear tip had showcased a ferocious and powerful force throughout the sparring session.
When it came down like a blunt weapon, the solid ground would cave in. When swung or thrust, even Atra’s powerful energy was sliced cleanly through with ease.
Such powerful energy... Atra was all too familiar with it. It was exactly the same as the energy she constantly kept within her. After all, it was her magic in the first place.
‘...Where does he even get these things...?’
Lee Ha-Yul had always had an extraordinary ability to mimic others' magic and incorporate their techniques as his own. But this wasn’t Lee Ha-Yul’s technique; it was the spear's functionality.
That spear... or more precisely, the staff that also served as a spear, was an extremely high-grade artifact.
There were two notable features.
First, the ability to construct the spearhead from various materials and magical energies. Second, the ability to rapidly release the magic and energy embedded in the crystal core.
Though intuitive and simple, how well one could utilize these features depended entirely on the user.
Lee Ha-Yul was excellent at using these features.
"That’s it for today."
Atra’s mutter echoed across the tension-filled training ground.
At that moment, Lee Ha-Yul, who had been waiting for an opening to strike, eased his intensity, and the invisible pressure that had filled the training ground dissipated.
Lee Ha-Yul relaxed his shoulders. His arms drooped, and the spear tip he had been aiming at Atra lowered.
Whoooo... The golden spearhead, as if playing a musical instrument, hummed softly before melting away.
Atra, observing this, began to speak.
“Anything to point out... It’s almost embarrassing to call it a correction.”
As Atra calmly continued, she couldn’t help but laugh at her own words. There had been no mistake to correct. Lee Ha-Yul hadn’t made any errors in this sparring session.
As for things she felt were lacking? They weren’t things that Atra could throw at him; they were things they would need to share and work on together.
Of course, if we were simply measuring pure combat, Atra still had the upper hand. But Lee Ha-Yul’s talents were not limited to just that.
“I don’t handle magic, so it’s hard to give pointers, but would you like to hear my thoughts from the perspective of the one being sparred with?”
“Yes, please.”
“Well, then...”
In this sparring session, Lee Ha-Yul had used magic more heavily than usual.
And Atra once again realized why she disliked fighting mages.
Amateur mages are easy to handle. Their magical manifestations are full of gaps, and it’s simple to dive in and strike while they’re vulnerable.
A skilled and prepared mage is a much trickier opponent.
Throughout the sparring session, Lee Ha-Yul was that prepared, skilled mage.
Though he had always been good at magic, the magical prowess he displayed after returning from his external training was on an entirely different level.
Every spell, deployed rapidly in just the right moment, was enough to put Atra in a difficult position.
Additionally, Lee Ha-Yul was not one to be easily distracted like many other mages, so even when the distance closed, he didn’t easily lose his advantage.
Even if Atra were to show her true abilities, this type of opponent was still difficult to deal with.
“...Hoo.”
“Master?”
And yet...
Despite seeing how much Lee Ha-Yul had grown, Atra still couldn’t shake off her worry.
With a complicated expression, she watched as Lee Ha-Yul, who had come closer, tilted his head and looked up at her.
Something had changed. To be precise, the way he had been before was different from the usual.
The fierce energy that had been scattered everywhere had completely dissipated, and his sharp eyes, which had been fixed in a sharp gaze, had softened, turning round and gentle.
The eyes that had been coldly analyzing her now sparkled with an almost innocent light.
What had once felt menacing now seemed harmless, like a pure, innocent aura surrounding him.
“Master.”
That’s when it happened.
Lee Ha-Yul, who had been tilting his head in confusion, suddenly smiled.
“I’ve become much stronger now, whether it’s the dungeon in Siyoram or not. You don’t need to worry anymore!”
With that confident declaration, he puffed out his chest, almost as if to say he knew exactly what Atra was worried about.
“...I see. Yeah, that’s right...”
Atra realized that her student had already figured out what she was worried about.
With a bitter smile, Atra reached out and gently stroked Lee Ha-Yul’s cheek.
Lee Ha-Yul, still smiling, leaned into the touch of Atra’s hand.
‘Really... complicated.’
Even that moment, full of affection, made her worry even more.
Why had Atra pushed Lee Ha-Yul so hard at the beginning of the semester when he had just become a superhuman?
Because she had sensed a disturbing forewarning beneath the surface, hadn’t she?
Back then, Atra had forced the harshest training on him, hoping he would quickly level up his skills to survive. Because if Lee Ha-Yul died, it would weigh heavily on her conscience.
That purpose had long been achieved.
Now, Lee Ha-Yul had become strong enough to survive even if thrown into the Magic Field, and had grown into a capable individual who could extend his hand to help those in difficult situations.
But despite all of this, Atra couldn’t shake off her concern.
‘Is this foolishness...?’
Lee Ha-Yul was about to enter a dungeon.
The level, location, and type didn’t matter—just the fact that he was going made Atra feel uneasy.
And now, even though they were about to enter a dungeon within Siyoram, Atra couldn’t help but feel anxious.
Her reason told her it wasn’t so dangerous, but her heart couldn’t calm down.
Even Lee Ha-Yul’s confident insistence not to worry didn’t quite soothe her.
While Atra was lost in such complicated thoughts, she felt a gaze on her body.
A heat-filled gaze, focused on a particular part of her.
“...?”
Before she could react, Lee Ha-Yul was staring intently at Atra’s chest, right in front of her.
His gaze, almost magnetized, clung to her chest as if following a pull. His mouth slightly opened, as though he had forgotten about handling his gaze.
Atra’s lips curled into a small smirk at the blatant stare.
“You’re a little...” she began.
“I’m not little though.”
“Hm.”
Atra shrugged at the sharp retort, her chest swaying slightly as she moved.
Lee Ha-Yul’s eyes, too, moved up and down in sync with her movements.
Without a word, Atra opened her arms wide.
No matter how you looked at it, it was an unspoken gesture of consent. Lee Ha-Yul’s eyes sparkled at that.
Without hesitation, he stepped into her embrace.
Having just finished their spar, their bodies were warm and covered in sweat. The heat and the faint sweet fragrance of Atra filled the air.
Atra tightened her hold on Lee Ha-Yul, feeling the warmth of his body.
“Hehehe.”
And the same was true for Atra.
Her body, warmed by the training, emitted a stronger scent. Lee Ha-Yul, buried in her chest, took in the smell with a soft sniff.
It was a slightly embarrassing, shameful act, but somehow... it felt oddly pleasant.
‘...I’m worried.’
Atra sighed deeply inside as she tightly hugged Lee Ha-Yul.
But in truth, Atra’s worries were not just about that.
He wasn’t entering the dungeon alone.
He was going in as part of a mentoring class, alongside the successor of Taesan.
Coincidentally, the heirs of the three great families in this generation were all women.
The Taesan heir had even been invited to dinner by Lee Ha-Yul recently, receiving warm hospitality.
“...?”
Was this kind of worry unnecessary?
Or was it a reasonable concern?
Atra couldn’t decide.
Even though Lee Ji-Yeon had immediately agreed to join the dungeon expedition, they couldn’t just rush in.
Entering a dungeon was not something to take lightly.
And the dungeon they were entering was a Level 2 one, among the higher-level dungeons.
Both Lee Ha-Yul and Lee Ji-Yeon needed to prepare thoroughly before entering.
Since the expedition would last overnight, they had to coordinate their schedules as well.
The agreed-upon date for their dungeon entry was the following Thursday.
The plan was for a 1-night, 2-day schedule.
They would enter on Thursday morning and return by Friday evening, but, of course, unexpected events could happen.
If delays occurred inside the dungeon, they could easily be delayed by a day or two, hence planning to return after the weekend.
And so, the day came.
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Leaving the mansion with some lingering concern, I arrived at the agreed-upon plaza.
It didn’t take long for Lee Ji-Yeon’s presence to draw closer.
She was dressed in casual clothes instead of her cadet uniform.
She hadn’t brought any special equipment.
Her outfit was a thick, black ensemble with long sleeves, gloves on her arms, and sturdy boots.
Though her bag was large, it was enchanted with spatial magic, as were the pouches hanging from her belt.
Clearly, she had come well-prepared.
By comparison, I was dressed much lighter.
Thanks to my own spatial magic, I didn’t need to carry everything she did.
Of course, I carried a survival kit on my belt, just in case my spatial magic malfunctioned.
Lee Ji-Yeon, who had been walking calmly from a distance, noticed my appearance and squinted.
“Ah, I’m sorry, I’m late today.”
[No, you don’t need to apologize.] [I just arrived too and was organizing my things.]
I waved at her, signaling that it was fine, even though I still had at least 20 minutes before our scheduled meeting time.
After giving her a reassuring smile, Lee Ji-Yeon suddenly looked down and observed my condition.
“Then I’m relieved. Did you sleep well last night?”
[Yes, I slept soundly.]
I had slept warmly in my teacher’s embrace. I still carried her warmth and scent on me, which made me feel at ease and in perfect condition.
...Although Seo Yul had given me a painful glance as I left the mansion...
“Have you had your meal already?”
[Yes, I ate a bit.]
“Alright, we’re early, but should we head out now?”
[Yes.]
Normally, when we met, we would have a meal together, but today’s meeting was for dungeon entry.
Since we had already prepared individually before leaving the house, we could enter right away.
Lee Ji-Yeon and I nodded to each other, and without any further delay, we headed towards the dungeon.
Siyoram’s dungeons were mostly located on the outer islands.
The dungeon we were heading to was situated at the farthest edge.
“Student Lee Ha-Yul and Lee Ji-Yeon, your entrance is confirmed for today.”
After arriving at the site and receiving confirmation from the dungeon staff, we finally reached the entrance.
As always, the entrance of the dungeon swirled like a vortex.
But this one was nearly 7 or 8 times bigger than any entrance I had seen before.
It was big enough to fit an entire five-story building.
‘Hmm...’
The swirling force was much stronger as well. I almost thought the building we placed inside would be torn apart.
But it wasn’t just a feeling. As I subtly activated my powers and perceived the space, I felt the enormous flow of energy.
“I’ll go in first, then you can follow after a short wait.”
[Alright, I’ll follow right behind.]
As I stood there, feeling the strange flow of the space, Lee Ji-Yeon checked her gear one last time and pulled her gloves up before stepping forward.
Her role was to take the lead. As someone specialized in blocking enemy attacks, she would be the one to step into the dungeon first.
Without hesitation, Lee Ji-Yeon stepped into the swirling vortex.
Immediately, she vanished into the swirling entrance.
Her presence disappeared entirely. She had entered the dungeon.
I stood still, waiting a moment before extending my hand toward the vortex.
The strange resonance of the space washed over me from head to toe.
After a brief moment, I felt a different sensation.
I had momentarily turned off my perception, but I could now sense Lee Ji-Yeon’s presence as she moved in front of me, her breathing, heartbeat, and even the slight sounds of her swallowing. The sounds of her eyes shifting, her insides moving, the distant cries of monsters... the faint sound of water flowing over rocks...
The rich magical energy was filling my senses.
I switched my perception back on and saw a map slowly appearing, painted with a bluish hue—this was the "Blue Mountain" dungeon.
[Entering the Level 2 Dungeon "Blue Mountain"]
In the midst of the vibrant blue forest, I stood ready.
The trees were not just green but a distinct blue hue. The leaves, branches, and even the trunks of the trees were all tinted with this color, creating an almost surreal atmosphere. It was a dense forest, with thick foliage that obscured the view ahead.
Amidst the blue greenery, a presence was lurking, holding its breath.
It deliberately held its breath, trying not to make even the slightest sound. It clasped its hands over its mouth, trying desperately not to exhale.
"Grrr..."
"Eeek..."
Despite its best efforts, the breath almost burst out. The eyes, barely open, trembled in fear.
With trembling hands, it pressed down harder on its mouth, making sure no sound escaped.
It couldn’t let out a scream. Even the smallest breath could give away its location, and if it did, it would be caught and devoured by whatever was lurking nearby.
The fear spread throughout its body, the imagined consequences growing larger in its mind.
It was a relief, in a way. The terror had frozen its body, making it impossible to release any trace of its presence.
Swish... thud!
How long had it been holding its breath?
The rough, ragged breaths echoed as something turned its head.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of footsteps grew faint, slowly moving away. Still, it kept its breath held, hoping to avoid detection.
Even after the footsteps had disappeared, it continued to hold its breath, still uncertain whether the danger had truly passed.
Could it have been just an illusion? Could it have been a trap to lure it out?
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, it released the breath it had been holding.
"Phew..."
[It’s gone...?]
Still breathing heavily, it nodded, as if the answer were certain.
"Haah..."
The ground below suddenly trembled, and a head slowly emerged from beneath the earth.
[H-h-he’s... alive...]
[Zzzzz... How does it keep following me...?]
[Ugh... I’m scared...]
The head wasn’t the only thing that appeared. More were popping out from the ground one after another. It was like a game of whack-a-mole, with heads emerging quickly, followed by limbs, as their bodies wriggled and struggled to pull themselves out of the earth.
Two arms, two legs, heads growing from the soil, the bodies of these creatures slowly revealed themselves.
Their skin was pure white, smooth and almost gleaming, with no armor or outer covering, making them look disturbingly human in appearance.
But the most glaring difference was their size. They were far too small to be considered human, barely bigger than children.
And then...
[Do we need to move again? They’ll start roaming the area now, won’t they?]
[Yeah...]
Wings suddenly sprouted from their backs, fluttering weakly as they shed the dirt. The wings shimmered with strange colors, almost glowing in the dim forest light.
Despite their small size, the creatures were clearly formidable. They were not to be underestimated.
Their appearance felt almost surreal—like something out of a nightmare.
The air felt thick with tension, and despite my efforts to stay focused, I couldn’t shake the growing sense of unease.
These creatures... these monsters weren’t just threats in the dungeon—they were real, physical dangers.
I swallowed hard and checked my surroundings, ready for whatever would come next.