Beginner Dungeon [1]

[14th Everdusk 2103]

"Okay, students, divide into three groups: combat, support, and auxiliary," Miriam instructed as all the students who had awakened a class began moving toward their respective groups.

Eighteen students were in combat, twenty-six in support, and thirty-five in auxiliary. This was a good turnout for a school like his. Miriam was quite pleased with the numbers, recalling that in previous years, the number of combat types had been quite low, never exceeding fifteen, and now there were three more.

"So, students, we are now going to take you to the CGA branch where you will receive the gifts we've prepared for you, and the final test will also be conducted there. You all know what it is—the dungeon raid," Miriam announced with excitement, although the sentiment might not be shared by the students facing their first raid.

Typically, hunters looking to level up employed three main methods: first, raiding a dungeon; second, hunting outside the city; and third, entering the Nexus rift, where a whole new world opened up to them.

For preparation, the school had decided to initiate them with a dungeon raid.

This would also assist in obtaining the necessary time-lapse records and provide an opportunity to evaluate the students.

As he spoke, the teachers began escorting the children toward the buses that had been arranged. They had secured three buses, knowing that separating the children would be wise to prevent any disputes over seating arrangements.

He still remembered how, a few years back, one bus was destroyed after a mage-class student attacked a support-type healer who simply wanted to sit beside him. The incident had cost him a significant amount of money, and the memory still pained both his wallet and his heart. Since then, he made sure every year to divide the students equally by type and have them seated with their own teachers, as they were the only ones who could manage them.

And just like that, the students were ushered onto buses which then began to move towards the road from the school lane.

They were heading towards the CGA branch in their city, which was quite massive compared to other buildings. It was only a small branch of the main one, yet it was so large that it was said five territories had been combined to form it, and its level of technology was much higher than anything else present there.

An hour later, they finally began to see the building's silhouette, and it was enormous.

Indeed, the entire branch spanned about fifty square kilometers. It was immensely vast, not so much because of the building itself, which was not very large, but because of the dungeons settled beside it. It was said that there were many dungeons for hunters to use here, all within close range.

They entered through the main vehicle gate, signed the entry log, and received passes to visit inside.

Exiting the bus, they all started walking towards the main building located in the center of the area, while on the left side of the building there was a huge market. Hunters were buying and shopping for various loots and items generated from dungeon rewards. This market operated on a simple rule: if the seller needed money, they would receive money; if they needed a certain item, they could wait for it, as it was up to their own discretion and no one could force them.

That's what was good about this place; it made people rely more on the CGA rather than the guilds owned by other families or individuals.

"Okay students, since today is your first visit to this place, please be attentive and don't get lost, as it is quite a large area, you know," Principal Mariam instructed us, and all the students responded in unison.

Many hunters and CGA staff members turned their eyes upon them, and their reactions varied. Some appeared thoughtful, as if reminiscing about their own early days, while others seemed annoyed by the disruption.

Evan was particularly observant of his surroundings, knowing it would help him blend into the area when he will come back to issue for a hunter id.

He must take the CGA examination and trials of hunters to prove his rank and obtain a hunter ID, which is essential here as nothing can be done within legal bounds without it.

He needed the ID, but joining a different guild was not an option, as it required disclosing full hunter information. No prestigious guild would accept him without it, and he preferred not to work under a guild due to their numerous assignments like team raiding and individual quests for item collection, which he disliked. Therefore, he decided to remain an independent hunter affiliated with the association.

He also planned to use a mask for concealment.

You might wonder why he doesn't use the mask to hide his status within the guild for better opportunities, but he prefers solitude over teamwork. He believes he and his summon, or the companion he acquires, can raid a dungeon alone.

As they pondered this, they reached the bustling building filled with hunters and staff moving in all directions due to the high workload.

Miriam walked away, instructing everyone to wait as he went to fetch someone for an important step.

"Well, guys, you're all about to receive your hunter ID cards before the raid, and a gift afterward," Helen announced, exciting everyone except a few students like him, Lucas, and Lyre, who didn't require such coddling.

Evan considered returning tomorrow for the ID. However, if he were appraised, his abilities would be publicly revealed, making him a star and potentially attracting new enemies.

"Sir, may I go to the was..." Evan began, intending to ask for the restroom to retrieve the mask from his inventory and use it for status concealment, but he halted as everyone saw Miriam approaching with a familiar figure—Darian, who now held the formation scroll.

"It seems the conflict between Lucas and Darian is far from over," Evan mused, realizing that Lucas might have to confront Darian again today.

As Darian approached, his gaze fell on Lucas, who stood next to Tess. She attempted to shield him, fearing Darian might harm him.

However, Lucas refused to cower. He was determined not to hide and to face Darian boldly.

Evan was convinced that Lucas would hurl insults in this encounter too, cursing Darian and walking away with a deeper grudge, one that could evolve into a thirst for revenge after being humiliated publicly.

It was the same clichéd tale where the main character might enlist someone of higher rank to defeat or ensnare the antagonist, which would validate the antagonist's wrongdoing and earn the protagonist respect and rewards for exposing a traitor within the organization.

Evan was certain of Darian's downfall if he didn't intervene. He couldn't allow Lucas to grow too powerful to touch, so it was best to remove the problem before it became unmanageable.

And he was resolved to take action sooner rather than later.

-- To be continued --

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