lcionline Chapter 60 Simulated Dungeon Exploration
Chapter 60 Simulated Dungeon Exploration
"very good……"
I lay on the ground and looked around.
"I'm getting promoted."
Before me lay the scattered corpses of locusts. They were insect monsters that had fused into a bizarre, hybrid creature.
"My shooting speed and mana control are improving."
I muttered to myself, raised my bow, and channeled my magic into the arrow.
'That's the blue I saw at the time.'
That was the color that appeared when I fired that bullet and hit that demon contractor in the head.
'A solar eclipse. The way my magic is unleashed reminds me of the sun.'
The bullets in that attack were indeed very powerful. I felt that the mana I injected was difficult to control, as if the mana was about to explode from the start.
'Its pattern is the same as described in the book. So, the last one should be the dark purple one.'
'New moon.'
'I haven't figured out how to transform one type of magic into another yet, but for now, learning their properties is enough.'
However, this is also progress. Everything about my magic and properties remains a mystery. It is indeed difficult, but that's what makes the exploration so rewarding.
"No matter what, let's go back."
I glanced at the clock and realized it was almost 3 a.m. After everything that had happened at the museum, it was impossible for me to fall asleep peacefully; I had to continue training.
This was the first step: reduce sleep and increase training. So, I prepared to leave the training room, but then I saw a senior instructor training with a bow.
Her black hair swayed as the arrows flew.
'Senior Elira.'
I thought to myself.
The shooting technique she demonstrated is something I will never forget. It was very inspiring and helped me better integrate it into my own technique.
Although I am still refining my aiming skills, thanks to the people around me, I can see myself making progress slowly.
Whizzing
Two arrows flew out, one aimed at the ground, while the other flew elsewhere.
creak
The first arrow to hit the ground froze the ground.
"Hey!"
The monster's hologram immediately noticed the frozen ground, changed its path, and veered to the side.
puff
But that was exactly what Elira wanted, because the arrow immediately struck the monster in the eye.
'She cleverly uses her elements.'
I thought to myself. Her archery was as elegant as ever, and today I learned a new skill.
This should be enough.
Swoosh
Just as I was about to leave, I suddenly sensed something approaching.
Bang
I tilted my head slightly and saw an arrow embedded in the ground. Startled by the sudden attack, I turned to look at the attacker.
"Senior, what does this mean?"
I asked. This kind of behavior would be considered extremely rude anywhere, whether in the academy, outside, or in the dungeon.
I saw Elira approach slowly with a faint smile on her face. I didn't say anything, just stood there quietly waiting for her to come.
"Junior, don't you think it's a bit rude to leave without saying goodbye after observing your seniors' training?" Elira's voice was gentle, with a playful tone, clearly indicating that she was in a good mood.
“Some people might think it’s impolite to interrupt a senior’s training just to say hello. I think it’s just a matter of perspective,” I replied, meeting her gaze without flinching.
Admittedly, I might seem a bit rude, given that I've been watching her the whole time, but she didn't try to hide her training. She was training in a regular training room where anyone could see her.
"Heh...looks like you're quite the talker," she replied. For some reason, her serious expression seemed to vanish, perhaps because she was tired.
I nodded in agreement. This is something I'm proud of, because I sometimes argue for what I believe is right, at least when I'm in the mood.
Anyway, for some reason, this woman started talking to me. I don't remember having any contact with her since the first day, so this kind of conversation is a bit strange.
Elira's smile softened as she looked me over. "Looks like you're a diligent junior," she said, gesturing to the training area around us. "It's just you and me here."
I nodded, indicating my agreement. "Thank you."
She seemed to sense my half-hearted gratitude. "Alright, I won't bother you any longer. If you need any guidance or advice in the future, don't hesitate to ask me."
And so she left, but I felt a little strange about this sudden interaction with this usually serious woman.
'Was she drunk?' I even thought that, but quickly dismissed the idea. She showed no signs of being drunk; it was just a guess.
Anyway, it wasn't a big deal, so I put those thoughts aside and went back to my room.
......
"Elera, have you seen this boy?"
Elira Holden, the vice president of the archery club, recalled the day of recruitment, when she and Coach Joey, the club's advisor, welcomed the new first-year students. She remembered that moment, standing in the crowd with Coach Joey.
“Which one?” Elira asked, her gaze sweeping over a group of unfamiliar faces. Most of the people at the gathering were young people eager to join the club.
“The one in the back,” Coach Joey explained.
"Ah... is it the one with purple eyes?"
"Yes."
"Is there anything special about him?" Elira asked with a hint of skepticism. She wasn't particularly fond of favoritism, nor did she tend to give special attention to any particular student.
“He’s not special in the traditional sense,” Coach Joey replied. His words piqued Elira’s interest, because she knew he wasn’t the type to unreasonably favor a student.
"So what do you say?"
"I invited him to join."
"You invited him?" Elira raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
"Yes."
"But why? He didn't make a particularly strong impression on me."
“On the surface, he doesn’t seem particularly special. You would think so too when you first see him training.”
"Then why are you so concerned about him?"
Coach Joey's tone held a hint of curiosity. "He recently switched from using a dagger to a bow and arrow."
"He switched from dagger to bow and arrow?"
"Yes. At first I thought he might just be an ordinary student seeking attention, but after supervising his weapons conversion exam, I can confidently say that he is talented. He passed the fifth stage of the exam on his first try."
"The fifth stage? Is that that powerful?"
"For someone who has spent their entire life using a bow and arrow, it might not seem like much. But if their specialty is melee combat, how far do you think they could go?"
Elira pieced together the information and asked, "So, what are you trying to say?"
“I think he’s an awakener, and he may have a special talent for archery. His accuracy far surpasses that of a beginner. If you watch his training videos, you’ll understand. This boy has innate talent.”
"Since you insist, I'll observe him for a while. But don't expect any extraordinary performances."
"Okay, I'll let you decide for yourself; I won't force you."
"Then let's leave it at that."
Recalling the conversation, Elira smiled gently and shook her head.
'What an unexpected turn of events,' she thought, her smile fading. She had initially assumed he was an ordinary student, even checking his name and past records to confirm that he was the lowest-ranking student in his class and was known for his aloofness.
Therefore, she took Coach Joey's words as an overstatement. Nevertheless, she watched his training videos carefully. His performance in the videos astonished her.
'How did he improve so quickly?'
He seemed to absorb knowledge like a vortex, each part enriching his skills. His physical attributes might not be outstanding, but his rapid progress was captivating.
'That's an interesting case.'
When she saw him leave the training room at 3 a.m., a feeling of curiosity and fascination welled up in her heart.
When your body's limitations bind you, where will you go? Faced with such vulnerability, what place will you still seek?
As her thoughts drifted away, a crazed smile appeared on her lips.
'I want to see.'
Elira's smile turned somewhat fervent as she left the archery club, her excitement clearly evident in her demeanor.
As she slowly walked out of the archery club, she forgot to wipe the smile from her face.
......
“Good morning, students,” Eleanor White’s voice echoed in the classroom as she strode toward the lectern.
“Today, you will participate in combat training against monsters,” Eleanor continued. “As before, this time it will also involve dungeon exploration.”
She began by explaining today's training content. This was her usual style; she didn't like wasting time on small talk and would get straight to the point.
My keen senses picked up on the hushed whispers that followed her announcement in the classroom. Some students exchanged excited glances, while others looked somewhat worried.
I overheard two students whispering to each other nearby:
"Hopefully we won't encounter anything too dangerous this time."
"Last time was anything but easy."
Hearing them say that, I couldn't help but shake my head.
These kids will never learn.
If someone as weak as me can hear what they're saying, then a seasoned hunter ranked in the top three in the world must be able to hear it too.
To demonstrate this, as the whispers continued, Eleanor's sharp gaze swept across the classroom. With her silent command, the classroom fell silent.
"Am I disturbing you?" she asked coldly.
The students quickly averted their gaze, realizing their conversation had attracted the tutor's attention. Eleanor had a reputation for maintaining serious classroom order and had no tolerance for idle chatter.
"Tsk. Did I ask you any questions?" For some reason, Eleanor seemed a little angry.
'This woman is probably on her period,' I thought to myself.
“No, Professor White,” a student replied, her voice trembling slightly. It was a girl sitting in the front row who usually spoke loudly, and it didn't seem she was doing it to get attention. She didn't talk to boys much anyway.
Eleanor's stern expression clearly conveyed her expectations.
"I suggest you focus on training, not chatting."
"I'm sorry, Professor."
"It's good that you know you were wrong, at least you're not like some people."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone's eyes naturally turned to me. By then, everyone knew she was talking about me, because my conflict with her had long been a well-known rumor.
I ultimately chose to ignore her words and continued to stare at her intently. I didn't think I had done anything wrong, so I didn't reply.
“Alright, let’s begin.” Eleanor’s gaze swept across the classroom, meeting the eyes of each student. “Today’s training will test your teamwork, communication skills, and adaptability. You will explore a simulated dungeon, just like in your first practical lesson.”
She paused for a moment to let everyone process her words, then continued, "However, this time your goal is different. Your mission is not to defeat a monster, but to reach the end of the dungeon. There will be many obstacles along the way."
As she said this, her gaze pierced straight into me.
"I recommend that everyone participate in this dungeon training. We are here to learn and improve ourselves, not to just pass the time."
I remained unmoved by her words, simply sitting there quietly as she began explaining the training content. Clearly, she was using me as a target for her emotions, but I was no longer a child.
After all, words alone can never elicit a response from me.