生活助手

The dungeon we’re heading to this time is quite unique.

It’s because of the structure of the castle.

Starting from the outer and inner courts to the castle walls.

“It’s a complete castle.”

I glanced at the messages displayed on the status window.

《The dungeon has been conquered.》

《You can leave at any time.》

A message declaring the completion of the dungeon conquest.

“This place is fascinating.”

“There are many places like dungeons. That’s because dungeons are brought from a lost world.”

“Lost world?”

“A desolate world where everything has been lost due to the invasion of demons. It reflects some of those things.”

Yoo Eun-chae explained quietly.

“This world is a world where a great rupture has occurred. Multiple dimensions overlap, creating a tremendous rupture. Do you know the place called the boundary?”

It was a familiar term.

The principal had mentioned that place before.

“All those called transcendent beings are currently in that place. Unless you are at the level of a transcendent being, you can’t even step foot there. So, from the perspective of the present, just being considered exceptional puts tremendous strain on the shoulders.”

Ah.

So that’s why the shoulders of those professors were so burdened.

“However, it’s not like transcendent beings are completely uninvolved. Because, occasionally, there is a period of existence, and they come to rest during that time.”

“Is that so?”

Well, even if one sheds the human shell, they can’t keep running endlessly without a break.

Even transcendent beings have to rest when it’s time to rest, eat when it’s time to eat, and play when it’s time to play.

“But… are there monsters in a place like this?”

The land was rugged.

Blood-soaked, it seems nothing like crops would grow here.

Even monsters, as bizarre life forms, need to consume something.

“Creatures like Land Wyrms, surviving by ingesting soil, wouldn’t last in a place like this.”

Because the ground was so barren.

In this desolate land, nothing could survive.

Except, perhaps, for the undead who had lost their intellect.

“Ah, that won’t be a problem. Monsters here respawn.”

“They respawn?”

“It’s like dungeons here reset memories. Once a dungeon is cleared, it continuously spawns monsters for that reason.”

“But can’t those monsters go outside?”

“No.”

Yoo Eunchae’s words raised doubts about the dungeon.

Because that thing called a dungeon.

“…Isn’t it too conveniently tailored for humanity?”

And creating pioneers for humanity, it seemed to push power onto them.

I’ll have to look into this properly later.

“But how are you going to conduct the test?”

“Well…”

Only four have mastered the basics of mana manipulation.

No, more like 3.5 people.

My eyes shifted elsewhere.

Seon Woo-hyun.

Maybe it’s his unique trait.

I let the mana around me flow into the wind.

“…!”

But he didn’t catch on.

On the other hand, Yoo Eun-chae did.

“Just now?”

“Releasing mana. It’s just one way of sensing. There’s no harm in learning.”

Yoo Eun-chae’s face brightened at my words.

“I got something more useful than I thought,” she said.

“Of course, I taught you.”

Seon Woo-hyun put it on hold for now.

I sent mana on the wind to others as well.

Abel reacted first.

Then, Wigun-ak.

Both of them looked at me with curiosity.

Then glanced to the side.

A woman with silver hair.

The man known as Shin Yura was staring at Yoo Eunchae, jotting something down in a notebook.

Watching him, Yoo Eunchae sneered with displeasure.

“He really has a bad personality.”

But that’s what makes him interesting.

“And there’s something you should know.”

“What is it?”

“Now, slowly, it’s time for the betrayers hidden in the shadows of humanity to reveal themselves.”

“Betrayers?”

“Yes. Those who entertain unconventional thoughts.”

“Are they similar to demons?”

“Well, a little different. Demons are beings born to destroy the world.”

“What about those who give unconventional thoughts?”

“They are different. They see humans as toys and enjoy inflicting pain on them.”

“Similar to demons then?”

“…The outcome is a bit different. While demons and devils instinctively seek to destroy everything, those who give unconventional thoughts desire the destruction of all beings.”

In short, they both need to be eliminated, don’t they?

“Of course. Both are formidable foes, but we can handle them somehow.”

“Then are those guys involved in this matter?”

“Oh, no. It’s just that the arrogant Shin Yura meddled here, revealing the power Sunwoo Hyun had hidden in this dungeon.”

“Is that so?”

Yoo Eunchae spoke with a confident tone.

I glanced around with a skeptical look.

But what could that be?

A peculiar magic visible in Cheonan.

‘That.’

In this past life’s beginning, it resembled the magic I had seen in the laboratory.

An extraordinarily vast magic.

Though it was early stages, I couldn’t properly filter out the extraordinary power.

The magic was tainted to the extent that it lurked everywhere.

“Yoo Eunchae.”

“Yes!”

“Is there anything you might be overlooking?”

“There’s no way that’s happening… Wait, do you sense something?”

Yoo Eunchae looked around, as if sensing something from my expression.

“We said it was safe up to this point, didn’t we?”

“Well, you know about the butterfly effect, right?”

“That’s evidence you’ve thrown a lot of punches.”

“Not just me, Seon Woo-hyun has thrown punches too!”

Yoo Eunchae shouted vigorously.

Before Seon Woo-hyun could even say why she came out…

Kwaaang!

An explosion occurred before I could say anything.

*

As soon as I heard the loud noise, my body immediately reacted.

“Uh, what?!”

“Y-yeomdong magic?”

I used Yeomdong magic to bring all the students around me.

Why is Wi Gun-ak pretending to be affected by Yeomdong magic when he’s not even affected by it?

I had some doubts, but I brushed them aside.

That’s not important right now.

“What happened?”

“That’s what I want to ask.”

I looked around.

I could hear the explosion, but there didn’t seem to be any other abnormalities right now.

“No, it must have already started.”

I don’t know what kind of problem it will bring.

And the most reliable thing in this situation is…

Yoo Eun-chae’s information.

“Yoo Eun-chae, how do they do it?”

“Fundamentally, it’s terrorism. Sneakily nibbling away from the outside, obtaining what they want, their method of conquest.”

“What should we be cautious about?”

“If they’re coming on this scale, it seems they’ve come prepared. No, why so soon?”

“Calm down.”

“…Your composure is impressive, Master.”

They’re not the first ones to experience those who come targeting the Academy under the guise of aiming for the emperor.

I don’t understand why they attack places like the Academy in the first place.

Even in the Imperial Academy, where talents crucial to the empire are gathered.

And in the Thousand Realms Institute, aiming to create Girin’s sons for the Orthodoxy.

Terrorist groups always aimed to eliminate promising individuals, spending more money to do so than directly targeting their organization.

“It’s not just a couple of us who prevented that.”

I’m somewhat accustomed to this.

“Everyone, pay attention.”

All the other students turned their attention to me.

“Professor Alves. Do we have a means to contact the Academy in preparation for times like this?”

“We do. If the connection is forcibly cut, there’s a device reported directly above.”

“Is that so?”

This was somewhat reassuring.

Those attacking the Academy must be using extraordinary means, just to attack the Academy.

“What kind of grudge do they hold against the Academy, really?”

“Which monsters are in this dungeon?”

“There are zombies and corpse lords if we’re talking about monsters.”

“Corpse lords?”

“They’re an evolved form of zombies comparable to dark knights or liches.”

Corpse lords.

Of all things, it had to be the ones I least wanted to encounter.

“I think we should first climb up to the fortress wall.”

“The fortress wall isn’t exactly a friendly place.”

The fortress wall is crucial in Mercury Fortress, but the entire team here consists of only eleven people.

It might be better to break through a single point rather than defend the wall.

“At a certain level, the significance of the terrain features diminishes.”

Thinking so, I lightly leaped up to the top of the fortress wall.

I gaze beyond the wall.

A whistle involuntarily escapes my lips.

“Whew~.”

It’s because the enemy’s numbers were anything but ordinary.

“There are so many?”

Outside the fortress wall.

There were thousands of zombies swarming out there. And unbelievably, there were at least five figures resembling corpse lords.

“…This is an emergency.”

“Emergency situation?”

“Yes, there are too many zombies.”

It was indeed an emergency.

The Corpse Lord itself was a bizarre monster.

Comparable to the Dark Knight or a Lich, if not worse.

Putting a hand in his pocket, he pondered.

And soon, the answer came.

“To Alves.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Be the interim professor for a while.”

“What?”

“Even for me, it’s challenging to discern students while dealing with those things throughout the country.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Well, what will you do?”

“Exam.”

“An exam? Seriously, now?”

“When else will you take the exam if not now?”

I looked at Yoo Eun-chae with a disdainful gaze.

“Don’t you see that the situation is dangerous right now?”

“Dangerous?”

I surveyed beneath the castle walls.

A colossal lord of corpses loomed before me.

The size of a five-story building.

Its held power was intense. Its visible intimidation was chilling.

And it wasn’t just one.

They numbered over five combined.

“Somewhere between mid-grade and high-grade.”

Inhuman, teetering on the brink of transcendence.

They were both sixth circle and sorcerers.

And that wasn’t all.

The aura of death they exuded heightened even the zombies.

Particularly, the lord of corpses strengthened and resurrected them.

Moreover, the unique resilience of the lord meant they revived even when slain.

Their bodies verged on undying.

To kill them, you’d have to obliterate their entire form, not just decapitate.

They’d consider themselves formidable opponents, no doubt.

Hence, it was imperative to tidy things up.

Most of them needed to be cleared out, enabling the students to take the test.

“Then let the examination commence.”

From Noble mtl dot com

“No, this isn’t the time for that…!”

“Will your enemies wait for you then?”

“…Well.”

Events, by nature, tend to erupt unexpectedly.

It’s a duty to prevent the unstoppable, even if you are not the entity that triggered it.

He prepares while casually cracking his neck.

Thousands of zombies.

And 10 corpse lords spreading the aura of death.

To put it differently, that’s about it.

“Alvesro, can you handle it?”

“Yes? Yes!”

“Oh, and does anyone have a device for recording?”

“I-I have one.”

“Really? Install it for now. We might discover something later, or it could be used as evidence.”

Yoo Eunchae takes out a drone-like device.

She is really thorough in her preparations.

“Installation complete. But evidence? Are we really going to fight? The signal must have been sent anyway…”

“That’s true.”

He nods at Alvesro’s opinion trying to stop them.

In reality, this might be all in vain.

The principal might be on his way since he received the call already.

“No matter what kind of nonsense they try, they can’t stop a transcendent being.”

On the other hand, they might be pulling these stunts because they know the transcendent being won’t show up.

“Alvarez. The enemy attacked us.”

“Yes.”

“They dared to attack without even knowing the subject. But they might be stalling for time to take something.”

“T-That’s… um…”

“Well, don’t worry. The students’ lives are my top priority too.”

“T-Then, should we prepare the defense here as well…?”

“But we can’t be certain that the call will come, right?”

What can we do about it then?

We have to deal with them all.

People always have hopeful thoughts.

It’s natural to think of them as creatures living on hope.

“So they’ll just sit back and relax.”

The enemy prepared this terror from underwater. We always have to prepare for the worst and live on.

Even preparing for the worst of the worst is not enough.

“Well, we can’t just sit around waiting while they’re out there, can we?”

Yoo Eunchae stepped forward with her staff.

I gazed at her, blinking in surprise.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh? I’m trying to help the master…”

“You guys handle those.”

With a pointing finger, he indicated the corpse lord attempting to break through the holy gate, closest to them.

“What’s that about?”

“If the ten of you are there, you can handle that much, right?”

“Well, of course?”

“Then it’s settled.”

Just one.

That should be enough to handle students and Professor Alves.

“What’s that about?”

“You’re not seriously thinking of handling the rest alone, are you?”

“That’s impossible!”

There were shocked reactions around.

But what can you do?

It has to be done.

If not me, then who?

And…

The one who caused this situation—I’d love to give them a good punch in the face.

“Come at me as you wish.”

Or, I can go.

*

-Kwoong!!

The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck.

Corpse Lord.

It’s the size of a five-story apartment building.

But it doesn’t look like an apartment.

It looks like it’s made up of hundreds, or even thousands, of zombies stuck together in a grotesque manner.

Some of the students are retching.

Sun Woo-hyun leaped towards the legs of the corpse golem. He slashed with his sword, but it didn’t cut through completely.

“Tough.”

Protected by a special energy, it only got slightly nicked.

The leg, made up of dozens of corpses, couldn’t be severed in one go.

“It’s me!”

Crackle!

With a writhing blue lightning, Nam Hye-rin swung her sword again.

The leg was halfway severed.

A nauseating smell, like roasting meat, filled the air.

Other students began to move too.

Each in their own field, they smashed, burned, and hacked away at the Corpse Lord.

That thing is a monstrous being close to immortality. If we don’t do this, it won’t die.

“So.”

I’m even more curious.

About that man’s abilities.

“We’ve taken charge of one group altogether.”

There are four remaining corpse lords.

And an enormous number of thousands of zombies.

This is dangerous.

Even if Sunwoo Hyun retrieves the two hidden numbers, it might not be enough to save our lives.

That’s why the source of his confidence intrigued me.

I don’t know much about that.

The candidate for the Demon King.

From Sunwoo Hyun’s past life.

So, in his past life, he was such a being.

And he was even considered the most malicious candidate for the Demon King.

The Demon King of Eternity who destroyed China alone.

That’s why Sunwoo Hyun approached him initially.

To Han Seojin, who defeated the remnants of the Iron Blood Sect.

“First, swiftly deal with the corpse lords.”

We’ll think about the next step later.

Reluctantly, but now more than ever, Han Seojin was the one to trust.

Therefore, Sun Woo-hyun directed all his focus towards the Lord of Corpses.

“Wigunak! Halt his movements!”

“Hao.”

Wigunak’s voice echoed quietly.

Wigunak’s next move was simple.

He swiftly ran towards the Lord of Corpses.

The Lord of Corpses reacted to Wigunak’s movement.

Thud.

A hand, made up of dozens of corpses, clenched into a fist, with energy coating the fist.

The Lord of Corpses swung it.

“Watch out, it’s dangerous!”

Someone’s voice.

But it was a statement made out of ignorance towards Wigunak.

Wigunak’s move was straightforward.

He took a deep breath.

Assumed a stance.

Then, gripping his fist.

He collided with the fist.

Kwaaang!!

Two fists collided, and shockwaves scattered in all directions.

“Fearlessness. Far-reaching. Unquenchable flame.”

What followed was the magic of Shinyura.

Whoosh!

Flames blossomed from Shinyura’s hands.

Black flames, Black Blaze.

An unquenchable flame. It was a flame that literally consumed everything about the opponent.

There were many impressive things besides that.

Kwoong─!!

A mana explosion accompanied by a tremendous roar.

So Sunwoo Hyun had no choice but to turn his head.

‘What on earth did he do to cause such a storm?’

In an instant, countless thoughts crossed his mind.

Could it be that he sacrificed himself as a guarantee for his disciples’ sake?

If so, there is hope.

Hope for us to return alive.

And Sunwoo Hyun saw.

“……What?”

Hanseojin charging towards the Corpse Lord, mowing down thousands of zombies.