Trap

He started remembering the reason behind it and opened his status. He was surprised to see he leveled up two times just fighting for few hours, sure enough it is much better than training not only you get experience in real combat your strength also increases faster than mundane training.

Kelly came out of the alley to find his classmates had also finished their battle and were relaxing and enjoying themselves as if they were on a picnic. It baffled Kelly to see the stark contrast from just yesterday when they were crying and running away from the dungeon. Now, they seemed energized and eager for more.

'Sure enough, humans are adaptable,' Kelly thought to himself as he approached his classmates. However, he was stopped by a figure standing in his way. "Oh, come on! Does he still have energy for this? Where does he get it from?" Kelly muttered, slightly annoyed.

"Oyy, Kamimura! Where the fuck were you? We were all fighting for our lives, and you were hiding in the back," Daichi exclaimed loudly, his voice reaching the ears of their classmates. Without thinking if Daichi was right or wrong, they all joined in accusing Kelly. However, Kelly paid no attention to their accusations and continued on his way, unaffected by their words.

Daichi, observing Kelly's lack of reaction, grew even more furious. 'How dare this little shit ignore me like this,' he thought, his anger building up. He was about to confront Kelly, but his friend Reo stepped in to stop him.

"What the fuck, Kondo?" Hiyama snapped at Rio, expecting an explanation. However, Rio remained silent and simply gestured towards the direction Kelly had come from. Intrigued, Hiyama followed the gesture and his eyes widened as he saw a trail of red blood leading to a hidden alley. Curiosity piqued, Hiyama ventured into the alley and was met with a sight that surprised him: a number of corpses, equal to the number he had personally killed, lay in the same direction that Kelly had come from. Doubts began to creep into Hiyama's mind, as he, who was once certain that Kelly was weaker than him, now questioned his own belief. Glancing at Rio, he could see a similar expression on his friend's face, indicating that they were both reevaluating their previous assumptions. Overcome with jealousy, Hiyama clenched his teeth and made a firm decision. "We have to kill more of these stupid dogs! We can't let that bastard overshadow us! Let's go."

The individuals resting were mainly weaker mages and fighters, low on stamina and mana. The main team had already proceeded to the lower floor, to clear the way with only a few strong students like Hiyama remaining to protect the others and guide them to the next level. Noticing that Sumire was also absent, Kelly continued on towards the next floor, ignoring the mocking gazes of his classmates. Worried that Kelly would surpass him, Daichi and his group, who had initially stayed behind as well, decided to follow him into the dungeon.

For the next five levels, Kelly and Daichi's group joined forces with the main team, progressing smoothly. However, when they reached the seventh floor, they discovered a scarcity of monsters.

"Keep in mind that this floor is filled with traps, so proceed with caution and avoid touching anything unnecessary. Those with the tracker skill will advance with me," Agawa instructed, his voice carrying a sense of seriousness. The main team led by Agawa had diminished in numbers because most of the students were left behind to rest, but their skill levels were equal, allowing for seamless cooperation under Agawa's leadership.

In response to Agawa's orders, Daichi, Kei, and another student with tracking skills stepped forward, acknowledging their role. With Agawa leading the way, the trio followed closely behind, accompanied by the remaining students. The group now consisted of 21 individuals, each considered the cream of the crop, possessing at least one A-Rank skill. Agawa's friends formed the middle section, while Ayato and Kenji took positions in different directions. Kei's friends and Kenji's group formed the rear guard, with Sumire, Kelly, and other students in their midst.

Cautiously, they made their way forward avoiding traps which was not hard because of their skill levels and stats.

After hours of fruitless searching, the group grew increasingly anxious as they failed to locate the entry to the next level. The constant state of alertness, even in the absence of combat, took a toll on their mental fatigue. Exhausted, they collectively decided to take a rest near a wall, taking advantage of the presence of large boulders for comfortable seating.

"Do you even know where we are or if we are just going in circles" In a frustrated tone, Kenji questioned Agawa, seeking answers about their current whereabouts and expressing doubt about their direction.

"If you don't want to follow us you can go alone", Agawa met with aggression from Kenji watching that Hiroya, responded with a curt retort, suggesting that Kenji could choose to go his own way if he was dissatisfied with following their group.

"No one asked you, idiot!" retorted Daichi, his frustration evident in his voice.

"Are you looking for a fight?" Hiroya stood up, ready to confront him.

Agawa swiftly intervened, urging them to stop their bickering. "Enough! No, I don't know where we are. Sir William didn't provide us with a map. This is a middle-grade dungeon, and the upper levels are usually not dangerous for those who regularly explore such places. Experienced adventurers breeze through these floors without much trouble," Agawa explained, attempting to provide some context.

"Meaning we don't have a map?" Ayase questioned.

"That's correct," Agawa replied, his tone pensive.

"Well, it seems they didn't anticipate this situation," Kenji mocked.

"Enough of sitting around and talking. It won't change anything. Let's keep searching. I'm sure the entrance must be nearby. We just need to look harder," Ayase said as she got up and stretched, ready to continue their exploration.

Just as everyone had made their decision, a sweet voice interrupted them, saying, "How about you all continue searching, and when you find it, come fin-"

Before the person could finish their sentence, they leaned their back against the wall, causing it to slide open, revealing a hidden door behind it.

"Keiii..." Everyone froze in shock, their eyes fixed on the newly revealed passage. The piercing scream of Daichi jolted them back into action, and they hurriedly rushed towards the wall to get a closer look at the secret door.

Just as they were contemplating their next move, the secret door slid open once again, revealing Kei as she stepped out. However, "What the… my clothes" Kei's reaction was far from expected as she screamed, not because of the door, but for an entirely different reason. Her three friends rushed to her side, holding her hands, and hugging her tightly, but their concern was also shifted to a different matter.

"Oh, Kei-Chan, you have dirt in your hair."

"And your makeup... Oh, let me fix that for you."

Everyone stood there, unsure of how to react to this unusual situation, until Ayase cleared his throat, diverting their attention to a more pressing issue.