The day after we returned from the dungeon, as soon as we arrived at school, iling, Lumina, and I were summoned to the teachers’ conference room on the first floor of the main building.
Inside were the principal, the vice principal, Allen from dungeon practicum, Class A’s horoom teacher Kim Sang-sik, and our own Class B horoom teacher, Jeong Yeongyeong—five teachers in total.
We stood on one side of the table while the teachers sat opposite us.
iling wore an expression that scread what a bother, while Lumina looked nervous, her eyes darting between the teachers.
"There’s no need to be so tense, Lumina Cueva," the principal said.
"Y-Yes, sir! Were you calling ?!" Lumina blurted, snapping to attention so suddenly that our horoom teacher gave a wry smile.
"I’ve heard from Allen about what happened yesterday. He said Nam Yaein and Chen iling managed to escape from the seventh floor of the Spirit Forest on their own."
The principal’s gaze shifted from to iling.
"We checked the footage from iling’s drone. To be honest, I was very surprised. When I first heard the report, I didn’t believe it at all. But it was true—especially you, Yein."
"Yes."
"The way you risked yourself against a monster far stronger than you, for the sake of your companion… that kind of courage isn’t sothing even high-level hunters can easily display. And to not only survive but also escape safely—that’s normally impossible. I’ve never heard of a first-year student making it back alive from the seventh floor of a dungeon."
What’s going on? Why is he praising so much?
It made suspicious that the principal might have so ulterior motive.
"But while watching the footage, one question ca to mind," he continued, still looking at .
"Yaein, how did you manage to shake off the Spirit Queen and escape? The drone didn’t capture that part."
"I used my Spike Explosion ability," I replied imdiately.
"I created as many explosions as I could to block her vision, and used the smoke bombs I’d brought along. The mont I saw an opening, I used my movent skill to dash for the portal."
"My goodness."
The vice principal’s mouth fell open. Allen and the other teachers looked equally astonished.
"That was a reckless move. You were lucky—if the Spirit Queen had lashed out in rage, it could have ended horribly," the vice principal said.
The principal shook his head.
"It wasn’t just luck. Tell , which of you, if you found yourself facing the Spirit Queen alone, could instantly think of and execute such an effective counterasure?"
No one spoke.
"Perhaps fortune played a part, but it was a miracle born from Yaein acting without hesitation and doing everything within his power. Rember that."
Strange.
He was praising again.
That wasn’t the principal I knew—he was usually stricter, more authoritative, and willing to use any ans to achieve his goals.
"And you, Lumina."
"Yes, sir!"
"You entered the deep floors alone to try to rescue your friends, even with only your Stealth ability to rely on."
"Ah, yes, sir."
"That was reckless too—but such a thing is impossible without deep friendship and great courage."
The principal looked over the three of us.
"I believe the courage, composure, and selflessness you displayed are qualities all Guangcheon students should strive for. Therefore, I will be giving you an award."
"A-an award?" Lumina’s eyes went wide.
"Each of you will receive 300 points for the school store, an unlimited weekday pass to go out whenever you wish, and a free pass to enter the dungeon up to the third floor without restrictions."
"Gasp…!"
Lumina let out a noise of pure shock.
An unlimited weekday pass and unrestricted dungeon access—these were rewards you’d normally have to save points for nearly a year to obtain.
The weekday pass was especially important; it allowed you to participate in events that only occurred during weekday outings, making it a must-have in the ga.
"And one more thing."
The principal smiled faintly.
"I intend to send the three of you as Gwangcheon’s representatives to the HAUT this autumn—the Hunter Academy United Training program."
"!"
My jaw dropped before I could stop it.
"Academy United Training? What’s that?" iling asked with her arms crossed.
"It’s a program where the six hunter-academy schools in Seoul each select their most capable students to receive special training. Each school can send up to four students," the vice principal explained.
"You’ve already surpassed the other first-years. With a little more ti, you’ll be able to compete with the second-years," the principal said.
That last comnt made uneasy—it was as if he’d realized our levels were close to second-year standards.
"Of course, you’ll still need to train and learn much more," he added before glancing at Kim Sang-sik and Jeong Yeongyeong.
"I expect you two to make sure these three can participate in the program without issue."
"Yes."
"Understood."
Kim Sang-sik’s reply was neutral, but our horoom teacher couldn’t hide her smile.
After we left the conference room, Jeong Yeongyeong pulled Lumina and aside.
"Congratulations on being chosen for HAUT," she said warmly.
"It will be a very special and valuable experience for you."
She was right—HAUT was an exceptional opportunity. You could obtain rare items and materials that couldn’t be gotten through normal ans, and hunt in dungeons that gave large amounts of experience.
But the most important part was the sponsors.
Companies and guilds funded HAUT in exchange for scouting promising hunter candidates early. If you did well, you could even choose your own sponsor.
The sponsor determined not just funding but also the side quests you could access, so HAUT was a crucial event.
"B-but… is it really okay for us to go?" Lumina asked quietly.
"Since only four students are chosen, shouldn’t it be second- or third-years instead of us…?"
She had a point. In the original setup, HAUT was an event you could only apply for starting in second year, and even then, only top students were chosen. First-years couldn’t apply at all.
"It used to be that way, but this is the principal’s decision. Don’t worry," the teacher said brightly.
Strange. One anomaly after another.
First, the cross-floor teleport incident in the Spirit Forest.
Now, the HAUT selection coming a full year earlier than it should have in the original scenario.
Looks like I’d better level up a little faster.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t go to HAUT at my current level—but I wouldn’t be able to seize the opportunities I wanted.
Especially not while in Nam Yein’s body.
The next day, Friday evening, just before the weekend, the three of us—Lumina, iling, and I—received our awards in front of the entire student body.
The principal explained what had happened and said he hoped all students would follow our example.
On the stage, Lumina held her unlimited passes with a beet-red face and her head bowed, while iling stood stiffly, wearing an expression of mild disdain.
I found out why soon after the ceremony ended.
"I’m giving these awards back."
“What!?”
iling’s outburst made Lumina yelp in surprise.
The three of us were outside the academy gates, having imdiately used our newly received weekday passes.
Not that we’d gone far—barely a hundred ters from the front gate—but it was the only way to talk in peace.
Classmates had sward us, begging to be added to our squad, while second- and third-years tried to recruit us into theirs.
Word of us surviving the seventh floor of the Spirit Forest had spread like wildfire.
Of course, we weren’t planning on adding mbers or joining another squad, so we’d turned them all down.
“All I did was follow behind Nam Yein, then take the return portal on my own. It’s embarrassing to accept an award for that.”
“B-but… it’s an unlimited weekday pass and dungeon free access…”
“Hmph. I don’t need them.”
“No. Keep them.”
She shot a glare.
“We’re going to keep running dungeons together. It’s better for everyone if all of us have the passes.”
“Mm, mm! Yein’s right,” Lumina chid in, nodding at iling.
“…You’re saying it’s right for to keep these?”
“This isn’t about right or wrong. I’m saying you having them benefits the squad.”
I t her gaze.
“If you’re unhappy with how you did, then get strong enough to do it your way next ti. What you’re holding are tools you’ll need for that. Don’t throw them away.”
“…Tch.”
She clicked her tongue.
“You always have to sound so high and mighty. Fine. I’ll keep them.”
Lumina smiled at her change of heart.
“So we’re going back to the dungeon on Monday, right? Since you’re the one who told to get stronger, I won’t accept any excuses.”
“Of course. We’ll start again Monday.”
“Good. That’s what I wanted to hear.”
iling smirked.
After parting ways with them, I headed toward the male dorms.
She’s starting to open up.
The smile she’d shown just now was different from any she’d given before.
I can probably call the first half of iling’s sub-scenario complete.
Once the second half started, I’d inevitably see Kai again.
The real question is whether the dungeon footage will work on Kai the way I hope.
“…”
Chen Kai, president of Forward Magic Engineer, sat in his ho study, deep in thought.
Floating before him was a holographic video file sent by a Gwangcheon staff mber the day before.
It showed his daughter iling—alongside the very sight of Nam Yaein, enough to etch a deep scowl into his brow.
[When we reach the boss area, you use your movent skill and head straight for the return portal. Run with everything you’ve got.
[What about you?!]
[One of us has to distract the boss. Otherwise, we both die.]
The longer he watched, the more his temples throbbed.
What on earth was this boy thinking?
The opponent was the level-70 Spirit Queen—a monster that even professional hunters only challenged with large, elite strike teams.
And yet, Nam Yein had sent iling to safety first, then managed to survive himself.
That’s impossible without absolute confidence in your own survival.
Kai imdiately dismissed the idea that it was pure selflessness.
In his view, no one acted without so benefit to themselves.
So what had guaranteed Nam Yein’s survival?
Unfortunately, the video ended before showing what he’d done after sending iling away. All Kai could do was form hypotheses.
“If… by so chance, Nam Yein falsified his entire level and stats to get into Gwangcheon” he muttered.
“No. Impossible. A seventeen-year-old hunter capable of taking down a level-70 monster solo? Such a person doesn’t exist—not unless they were one of the Seven Pioneers.”
He knew of one Pioneer who’d reached level 90 in their early twenties—but that hunter had vanished after entering a gate, becoming one of the Missing.
“Or… was there another hunter, or even a team, hidden from the footage, protecting him?”
That seed slightly more plausible—but still far-fetched.
“To even operate on the seventh floor, you need to be at least level 60. And a hunter trainee being guarded by such people? What is he—so hidden heir to the Crystal Group?”
When they’d first t, Kai had already assud Nam Yein had backing.
But now he had no idea how powerful that backing might be.
And he still didn’t know why such a person would approach his daughter.
In any case, I’ll have to reconsider using force against him.
Kai picked up his phone and called his secretary.
[Yes, President. I’m here.]
“The situation’s changed. Put off finding soone to ‘deal with’ Nam Yein. I’ll explain later.”
From what he’d seen, sending level-50 assassins would accomplish nothing.
Worse, it might provoke retaliation for violating whatever terms had kept them safe so far.
[Understood. What about the investigation into Nam Yein?]
“Keep it going. Just make sure he never catches on.”
[Of course.]
Kai stared at the frozen hologram of Nam Yaein’s calm face as he faced the Spirit Queen.
(End of Chapter)
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