Squad 3's personnel composition consisted of Kang Hana as the main rear damage dealer, Yoo Dasom who healed from the front lines with another support type providing backup healing from the rear. The remaining five weaponry and martial arts types were responsible for the front line.
Squads 1 and 2 had Platinum-ranked students specializing in weaponry or martial arts. So in those squads, the Platinum-ranked students could command from the front line.
But in Squad 3, Kang Hana was the only Platinum-ranked student. That's why I decided to stand on the front line instead of the rear where support types usually position themselves. In the current situation, since I was substituting for a Platinum rank, this was the appropriate position.
Splash—!
"Ugh. It really is a swamp."
"Good thing I deliberately wore my worst clothes for this."
"There aren't leeches or anything, right?"
"Speaking of which, I heard there are leech-like monsters too."
The first thing that greeted us upon entering the dungeon wasn't monsters.
Puddles of splashing water, sticky mud, and sparsely growing reeds. In this typical swamp environnt, I found myself grumbling along with the students.
'So this is why clans avoid dungeons like this.'
It's just a C-rank dungeon. It doesn't offer valuable items or byproducts. At most it provides miscellaneous stuff, which can be obtained from easier dungeons anyway. With such poor environntal conditions, it's the kind of dungeon clans would most want to avoid.
That's why state ability users are handling it now. And even they're short on numbers, hence requesting support from the Academy.
"Everyone, stay alert. We're inside the dungeon. Focus, focus."
At my gentle warning, the students fell silent.
Even in the easiest dungeons, casualties can still occur. The opponents we'll soon face are monsters that view humans as food.
That's why not even a mont's carelessness is permitted. Not if you don't want to die.
"Lizardn approaching from the front."
A Gold-ranked male student at the rightmost position calls out with a stop signal. Imdiately after, all of Squad 3 can see the group of Lizardn approaching our formation.
"Twelve of them! All warriors, I think. No archers or shamans visible!"
Kang Hana is the first to assess the enemy's composition. She's not just serving as a dealer but also as a beacon for the squad. That's why there's a saying about "reliably using Platinum ranks."
"I won't say much. Just do as you normally would, without making mistakes."
At my words, the students nod and begin their combat preparations.
Keek— Kiruk—
The group of Lizardn, having spotted us, began to approach slowly.
"Magic cast complete! I'm starting, Examiner!"
Kang Hana's magic signaled the beginning of the battle.
"Ice Piercing!"
With her sharp cry, a translucent ice awl flew toward the Lizardn. Its speed was so fast that blocking or dodging was simply impossible.
Pureok—!
One Lizardman died without even screaming. The one right behind it also seed severely injured, as it thrashed around unable to get up.
'As expected of Kang Hana. As expected of a Platinum. Not just her magic, but her battle sense is good.'
There's a mistake that magic types occasionally make.
Getting too excited, and seeing too many approaching monsters, they carelessly use wide-area magic right from the start.
Why is this a mistake? Because if you do that, your magic power runs out quickly. And using wide-area magic repeatedly can ss up your allies' vision.
It ans you might miss the monsters' movents. In more serious cases, your wide-area magic might even sweep through your own formation.
From that perspective, Kang Hana was perfect.
Using a single-target spell to eliminate one target completely, causing no damage to allies. At the sa ti, conserving magic power in case of ergencies.
As a Platinum rank, she could have wiped them out if she wanted to. But instead, Kang Hana gave the combat experience to the students. anwhile, she remained prepared to use magic whenever necessary.
'No wonder she's going to join Lee Hyunwoo's party.'
I gave Kang Hana a smile before diving into the battle.
Dungeon raiding isn't a ga. It's about thodically working through each challenge. You could get hurt by a comrade's swinging weapon, punch, or flying spell. You need to move like precise gears, not in a haphazard manner.
Keeek—! Kruk—!
The mont we clash with the Lizardn, they're swept away. They have a slight nurical advantage, but our side consists entirely of Gold rank or higher. Even by dungeon standards, we're sufficient for B-rank dungeons, so it would be strange if we were pushed back.
'Looks like there's nothing for to do here?'
That's fortunate. It would have been quite awkward to use my Gatekeeper trait. At this rate, all I need to do is evaluate each student individually.
After all, that's what a supervising professor is supposed to do anyway.
"More Lizardn approaching from behind the current group!"
Hmm, a wave in the first battle. This confirms once again what an annoying place this is, both in terms of environnt and enemies.
*
The first battle ended. To conclude, my worries were unfounded.
I had been concerned that the students might make mistakes due to excitent or nervousness. For example, moving excessively and depleting their stamina.
But the students sliced through the monsters with remarkable composure.
They didn't break formation, waste magic power with excessive skill use, and no one was injured by blind attacks.
A perfect battle with no unnecessary moves, a victory without casualties. A great start.
'At this rate, I don't need to step in. If I do, I'd just be depriving the students of experience.'
Kang Hana seed to share my thoughts. In subsequent battles, she continued to conserve her magic, only stepping in when absolutely necessary. She was conserving magic while giving Gold ranks more combat experience.
"Examiner. This seems to be the driest land around. The elevation is also slightly higher than elsewhere."
"You're right. Alright, students. Let's rest for 10 minutes, then move on."
A short break after two more battles.
No student is showing signs of fatigue yet. Everyone still seems fine. But it's good to take breaks whenever possible.
"Everyone's doing well, aren't they?"
I glanced over to see Kang Hana offering a water bottle. I replied "They are," took the bottle, and had a sip.
"Thank you. I haven't really done anything."
"You fought with the lizards in the beginning. You stepped back afterward, but that's because you're conserving energy and magic like , in case of ergencies."
I wasn't particularly trying to conserve energy, but if that's how she wants to interpret it, that's fine by . Instead of answering, I just took another sip of water, which made Kang Hana smile.
"You're different from the professors who just observe from a distance."
That is actually the correct approach. Why would a professor need to be in the midst of students? External support is ultimately an extension of the lecture. Students need to work through it. The combat, the decisions—everything should be left to the students for their own benefit.
"Maybe you've gotten used to worrying about Bronze and Silver ranks."
"Hmm. That could be it. But don't worry. Everyone will do fine."
After our brief conversation, I gave the signal to move out again. We've encountered quite a few groups of Lizardn, so it's about ti to et the boss.
A dungeon is cleared by defeating the boss monster that exists inside it.
You can either advance slowly, clearing the surroundings before tackling the boss, or ignore the lesser monsters and quickly defeat the boss. The approach to clearing usually follows one of these two thods.
And currently, Squad 3 has chosen the forr thod.
'Because right now, it's not just about clearing.'
That's the reason we entered the safest dungeon.
Experiencing as many environnts as possible, spending more ti, dispelling any remaining tension and fear as much as possible. Even preparing an appropriate response in case sothing unexpected happens.
"Lizardn group spotted ahead. Five of them. Likely a scouting party."
Once again, the student leading the way quickly reports the enemy. If it's a scouting party, they can be easily defeated. The students know this.
"Wait."
However, I stopped the students in their tracks.
"Examiner?"
The reason was a strange sense of discomfort I felt upon seeing those distant Lizardn.
"Student Kang Hana. Magic first."
Despite my sudden instruction, Kang Hana obediently followed my words.
"Ice Piercing."
An ice awl flew from Kang Hana's fingertips, cutting through the air.
As before, a C-rank monster like a Lizardman should die instantly, unable to even react. Even if it does react, it's already too late and should still suffer a critical wound.
Kiruk—!
"...Huh?"
But the Lizardman properly reacted to Kang Hana's magic. While it couldn't completely avoid injury, what should have pierced its torso only cut its arm.
Kyaa—!
The creatures, having spotted the students, began approaching through the swamp. And as they drew closer, the ominous feeling grew stronger.
"What's going on? Why are they so fast!"
"Is that really a Lizardman?!"
A Lizardman that had approached striking distance swung its spear. One student was hit by the attack and staggered back with a grunt.
The student hadn't been careless. They weren't lacking in skill, nor were they fatigued. They had been fighting Lizardn just fine until now. Yet they were pushed back in an instant.
'Shit, don't tell . No, that wasn't supposed to happen until the second sester.'
An incident ntioned at the end of the vacation episode. A harbinger of disaster.
But from what I rembered, it was supposed to occur after the vacation. That's why I thought we had ti. I believed everything was still fine.
'I was too complacent. I should have kept that possibility in mind.'
To summarize the current situation, it's this:
Ability users aren't the only ones growing stronger with ti.
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