Chapter 69: Practical Dungeon Exam (II)
Reaching the classroom, Gray casually settled back into the number eleven seat, looking out of the window.
There... casually, explosions were occurring with tornadoes of fire spread across the grounds in the most casual way possible.
"...Jasmine, what should I do?" Gray asked suddenly.
[About what?]
"Lyra or Selene... who should I team up with?"
[...Logically, Lyra’s the more valuable choice.]
Gray tapped his fingers against the desk at her words.
"Well... Selene’s the daughter of the Northern Duchess. Her background’s top-tier. And, honestly, I need more resources than just raw talent."
[...So, simply team up with Selene then? Wait a second, why do you think they would team up with you?]
"...Because, I am... me?" Gray tilted his head slightly, as if the answer was the most obvious thing in the world.
[...Selene has a boyfriend, so there’s a high chance she’ll refuse you because of that...]
"Well... I don’t really fucking c—"
"SELENE, HOW DARE YOU CHEAT ON ME!"
The sudden shout echoed through the hallway, making Gray’s ear twitch faintly. He stopped mid-step, his lips curling into an amused grin.
[...Did I jinx it?]
"Isn’t that... just perfect timing?" Gray chuckled softly.
"Shut up, you idiot! I’m not cheating on you!" Selene’s voice snapped back in annoyance from a distance.
Her boyfriend stormed closer, eyes wide and full of anger. His voice cracked as he pointed at her.
"Don’t you dare lie to me, Selene! I saw the way you looked at him! You’re acting like some cheap—"
"Don’t even finish that word," she snapped, her eyes narrowing.
He clenched his fists.
"Then what the hell am I supposed to think? Huh?! You’re always smiling at other guys, laughing at their stupid jokes, pretending like you don’t already have me!"
"I wasn’t pretending. I was just talking!" Selene shot back, her voice sharp. "I’m not a prisoner. I can talk to whoever I damn well want."
"Talking?" he scoffed bitterly. "That didn’t look like talking. That looked like you batting your eyes like some—"
"Say it. I dare you."
"A slut!" he spat, the word dripping with venom.
"That’s what you looked like! Everyone can see it! You’re mine, Selene, but you walk around like... like—"
"Like what? Like I belong to myself?"
"You belong to me!" he roared, his face reddening, his spit flying disgustingly.
"You don’t get to walk around flirting with whoever the fuck you want and then act innocent! Do you know how people look at me? Do you know how stupid I look when my own girlfriend—"
"Stop it."
"—my own girlfriend, who’s supposed to be loyal, is flaunting herself like some—"
"I SAID, STOP IT!" she shouted. Her fists were completely oozing blood from how hard she gripped them.
But he didn’t stop.
His eyes were wild as if he had lost his mind, his breath coming out ragged.
"You think you’re special because of your damn powers? You think just because you look pretty you can act however you want? You’re not some goddess, Selene. You’re just another whore pretending to be better than everyone else!"
Selene’s breath hitched as she gritted her teeth.
"Don’t push me," she warned, her voice low, shaking with restrained fury.
But he laughed bitterly, almost mad.
"Push you? What are you gonna do? Scratch me with your little claws? Go ahead, Selene. Show everyone how disgusting you really are. Show them that behind your fake smile you’re just a cheap, ungrateful bitch who—"
SMAAACK!
The crack of her hand meeting his face was so sharp it echoed down the hallway.
"GAAAHH!!"
His head snapped violently to the side, spit and blood spraying as his body twisted from the sheer force.
Clink.... clatter...
Then came the sound, sharp little clinks, and clatters as white fragments hit the floor.
Teeth.
His teeth scattered across the stone like shattered porcelain, bouncing and rolling in every direction.
He dropped to his knees, clutching his mouth, muffled cries of agony spilling between his bloodied fingers.
"MMMPHHH—AAAAGHHH!!" His eyes were wide, filled with shock, pain, and fear all tangled together.
Selene stood above him, her chest heaving in rage, looking at him with a gaze colder than ice.
"We’re done," she said coldly.
She took a step back and looked down at him one last time.
"You ever call me that again," she hissed, her words trembling with fury, "and I’ll break more than just your teeth."
He whimpered, blood dripping steadily onto his shirt, while around them, students stared in stunned silence, no one daring to move.
Rustle, rustle.
Selene brushed her hand off as if she had touched something filthy, then turned on her heel.
"I don’t belong to anyone," she said over her shoulder, her voice sounding as sharp as a knife.
"Especially not to trash like you."
And with that, she left him kneeling in his own blood.
[...Phew. She’s totally a keeper.]
Jasmine whistled as she saw Selene’s actions.
"...Gosh. She should’ve gone for an arm too. At least then he’d remember not to open his damn mouth again." Gray leaned back lazily in his seat.
[Right? I was thinking the same thing.]
"But well..." Gray smirked to himself
’It’s not like the bastard was lying when he called her a cheater,’ he thought, eyes sliding toward Selene as she dropped into her chair.
As if sensing the weight of his gaze, her head snapped toward him.
’....’
Blink.
She winked.
Gray’s eyes widened slightly, but before he could even react, Selene lifted her hands.
One formed a circle, the other slid an index finger through it in a slow, yet smoothly deliberate motion.
[...Did you just trigger some kind of hidden kink in her?]
Jasmine deadpanned.
’...Shit, don’t ask me. I’ve got no clue.’
[Well, I told you not to stick your dick in the crazy.]
’...I need resources,’ Gray muttered inwardly.
[Then get money, bitch.]
’Fuck you, honestly.’
[Sure. Anytime, honey.
]Jasmine’s voice dripped with mocking sweetness.
Selene’s lips curved into a faint, smug little smile, her eyes glittering with mischief as if to say *got you*.
Gray caught the expression and raised an eyebrow.
He couldn’t tell if she was just teasing him or actually serious, but either way, he would be happy to compromise.
Before she could send another signal, the heavy creak of the classroom door cut through the air.
Clack.
Professor Otto stepped inside, his long coat brushing against the floor as his boots echoed with sharp, deliberate steps.
His eyes swept across the room with that cold weight only he carried, instantly dragging all attention away from petty smirks and hidden gestures.
Then, he stopped at the front of the room, folding his hands behind his back.
His voice came out low and steady, carrying across the classroom without needing to shout.
"As I already mentioned in our previous classes," he began, his sharp eyes scanning the students one by one, "today, the first years will be tested in a practical dungeon exam. All classes will gather and participate."
Murmurs rippled through the room, but Otto’s glare silenced them almost instantly.
"However," he continued, "there is one detail I did not reveal before. Each of you will not be entering with your own classmates alone. Instead, you will be split into teams of four. These teams will be formed randomly, drawing from every class in the year."
Several students shifted uncomfortably at the thought.
"The academy will ensure the teams are balanced. We do not allow unfair advantages or wasted groups. Every team will be made to have an equal spread of strength, skill, and potential."
His tone grew colder.
"This exam will measure how well you adapt, not only to danger, but to working with allies you may not know or even trust. Fail to cooperate, and your chances of survival inside the dungeon will drop to nothing... unless of course, you have enough power to survive on your own."
Otto’s eyes slid to Cassandra he uttered those words.
Then, he continued, his tone growing even heavier than it already was.
"This exam," he said slowly, "will count for twenty percent of your grade for the first semester."
That line alone made a few students straighten up in their seats. Otto gave no pause before continuing.
"The main goal is exploration. You will not be entering some training ground... You will be exploring a dungeon that was discovered only recently. None of you has set foot inside it before. That means unknown terrain... and unknown danger."
He raised a small crystal-like device in his hand, showing it to the class.
"Each of you will be given one of these. It can record and analyze monsters you encounter. Its purpose is to gather information about their species, abilities, and weaknesses."
Otto let the words sink in before finishing.
"In the end, the team with the most detailed and accurate information will be granted perfect marks. The rest will be graded individually based on how they performed within their own teams—whether you contributed, survived, and carried out your role."
He lowered the device back onto the desk, and his sharp gaze swept across the rows of students.
"Unfortunately..." his voice trailed like a knife scraping against iron, "...killing is not allowed."
Otto’s eyes instantly landed on Gray as soon as he uttered those words.
"...Tsk."
Gray audibly clicked his tongue, earning stares from every student.
At their gaze, he simply shrugged his shoulders.
[...How come everyone always ruins your plan?]
’Fuck, I don’t know...’