Chapter 391 Don’t Die, Stepsister Of Mine
Early the next day, Nicole, Ethan, and Samantha left their inn after having their breakfast.
Nicole already bought the supplies they would need for their journey, including their sleeping bags.
Of course, Ethan and Samantha had also made their own preparations for this journey.
Ethan had more than enough food in his storage ring to last them two months if need be, but he didn’t tell that to the two girls.
This was a habit that Lily had ingrained in him, telling him that no one would be able to tell when they would find themselves in a place with no food and water for days.
It was for this reason that his storage ring always had resources that would last him several months if he were to consume them on his own.
Upon arriving near the entrance of the Dungeon, Nicole nodded at a middle-aged woman with gray hair and eyes.
“She’s Lady Johanna,” Nicole said as she introduced the Elder who would observe her during her trial. “Elder, these are my two companions, Ethan and Samantha.”
Lady Johanna nodded. “Both of them are young. I hope they don’t die in the Dungeon for your sake.”
“They won’t,” Nicole stated. “I won’t let them die.”
Lady Johanna smiled and didn’t say anything.
Words were cheap.
If everyone could just say something and make it happen, the world would have been a lot more peaceful or a lot more chaotic depending on the angle one used to look at it.
“Let’s go,” Nicole said as she walked toward the Gate of the Dungeon.
After paying their fees, the Guards allowed them to enter and warned them to be careful.
This was only Ethan’s second time entering a Dungeon.
His first experience was when he was forced to fight against Zombies in the Initiation Ceremony of Brynhildr Academy.
In that challenge, it was Nicole who came out on top.
But this time, it would be different.
This was no longer a kind of dungeon where those who entered would automatically be teleported out of the Dungeon when they were about to die.
While Ethan was walking alongside his companions, he heard Sebastian say something inside his Sea of Consciousness.
“Are Dungeon Monsters edible?” Sebastian asked. “The Tide Bringer had never been to one, so I have no idea.”
“They can be, but I don’t recommend it,” Ethan’s Other Half replied. “First of all, chewing their meat is like chewing rubber. Also, most of them taste bitter. Sure, if you were left with no choice, you could survive by eating Dungeon Monster meat. But that comes at a steep price of having your taste buds destroyed for life.”
Although the two were chatting with each other, Ethan felt like they were deliberately talking out loud to let him know about this information as well.
Even so, he made sure to keep his awareness spread in his surroundings while ensuring that he could protect Samantha just in case something attacked them from the side.
Nicole was the front liner, and he would assist her when it came to dealing with Monsters.
Samantha would be at the rear, where she would be protected.
At least, that was what they hoped would happen.
Lady Johanna followed them from behind. She didn’t say a word and simply observed the three teenagers, who had come to challenge the Dungeon.
Their goal was to reach the 20th Floor.
There was no time limit, and even if Nicole’s two other competitors were to clear the Dungeon before her, it wouldn’t really matter.
The trial was to clear the 20th floor. Anyone who survived that trial would then move on to the next stage of the competition.
Everyone knew that the Patriarch of the Asta Family wasn’t worried about the number of people who could clear the First Trial.
The Second Trial was much harder, and the possibility of eliminating 90% of the participants in the Second Trial was nearly guaranteed.
This First Trial was just a means to remove the hopefuls among the candidates.
Suddenly, the four people heard several footsteps coming from behind them, making them pause their advance forward.
Nicole immediately recognized her stepbrother, Luca, who gave her a nod of acknowledgment before glancing at her companions.
“Since you brought them here, they must be very capable,” Luca said. “However, I was almost sure that you would have asked for the assistance of the Mage Slayer of Brynhildr Academy. His name is well known among the other Magical Academies in the Shire Continent.
“I was hoping to introduce myself to him today. But alas, it seems that I will have to wait for a better time to make his acquaintance.”
Nicole didn’t say anything and simply observed her stepbrother’s two companions.
Both of them seemed to be around twenty-three to twenty-
five years old.
Their posture and auras were both commendable, which was a very common trait among Elite Wizards and Magic Knights who were used to killing people and Monsters.
Seeing that Nicole didn’t plan on replying to him, Luca sighed before shaking his head.
He then made a gesture for his men to follow behind him, but just as he was about to pass by Nicole, he made sure to leave her a word of advice.
“Don’t die, stepsister of mine,” Luca commented. “I want to see you face off against those two monsters in the next trial. I’m sure that it will be a very entertaining show to watch.”
The middle-aged man, who was supposed to monitor Luca’s trial, gave Lady Johanna a brief nod.
“You have it hard, Johanna,” the man, who went by the name Duncan, said. “It seems that the one you are assigned to is not taking this challenge seriously.”
“Mayhaps,” Lady Johanna replied. “But I can see that the one assigned to you is quite competent.”
“Indeed. He knows that he’s just a stepping stone in the Heir Wars. I like people who understand reality.”
“Competent but not very ambitious. I guess that it's a good trait for someone who will be a good subordinate for the family.”
After that short trade of words, Duncan walked briskly to catch up to Luca and his two companions.
Nicole waited five minutes before moving forward again. She didn’t change her plan and simply chose the shortest route towards the Second Floor of the dungeon.
The reason why she waited for five minutes was to give Luca enough time to clear all the monsters for her.
This way, she wouldn’t need to spend any time dealing with the small fries.
Although the three walked in silence, they were in fact, talking through the Guardian Rings in their possessions.
Nicole had asked for Professor Rinehart’s help in order to enchant three rings, which were a necessary tool for effective communication inside a dangerous Dungeon like the Weeping Dungeon.
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