“K-Kaisel, Professor!”
Klein’s face turned red as he raised his voice.
“What are you doing all of a sudden?”
“Can’t you see?”
Kaisel, seated in the driver’s seat of the four-wheeled magic carriage, replied in an indifferent tone.
“I came to pick up Eriol.”
“No, but why so suddenly…”
“You’re saying strange things.”
Kaisel remained unfazed by Klein’s protest.
“Is it such a big deal for an uncle to give his nephew a ride home safely?”
“Since when have you been so considerate?!”
Klein’s voice grew louder.
To be honest, I had to agree with Klein on this one.
“K-Kaisel, Professor. I had something to discuss with Eriol today. We even planned to have dinner together…”
“Today is a holiday, Professor Klein. You shouldn’t restrain students unnecessarily.”
“A-anyone listening would think I was trying to forcibly take Eriol away! That’s not it—”
“When a supervising professor invites a student to dinner, it’s not easy to refuse. That’s practically forceful.”
“Ugh…!”
Klein bit his lip in frustration, but Kaisel ignored him and turned his gaze toward me.
“Eriol.”
With many eyes on us, he gestured toward the carriage.
“Get in.”
That was nothing short of a direct order.
A luxurious, glossy black magical four-wheeled carriage cut through the academy grounds on a holiday.
“Uncle.”
“What is it?”
Seated in the passenger seat, I asked Kaisel a question.
“Aren’t you worried that you’ll worsen your relationship with Professor Klein?”
“Klein never liked me much to begin with.”
“Really? Why is that?”
“Who knows.”
Maybe it’s because you always act like this…
“He was probably trying to recruit you today.”
“Huh?”
“If you had followed him, you would have spent the evening greeting the elders of the Transcendental Studies Department one by one. Then, by next year, you would have been made to sign a pledge guaranteeing your entry into the department.”
Kaisel spoke as he kept his eyes on the road.
“That’s the kind of place Transcendental Studies is. Keep that in mind.”
“Thank you for the warning.”
“Anyway.”
Kaisel swiftly changed the subject.
“What did you think?”
“About what?”
“Labyrinthos.”
“Oh… It was fascinating.”
I nodded.
“I had imagined it many times while reading about it, but it far exceeded my expectations.”
“You’re saying that after only seeing the surface level?”
“…What?”
“The deeper layers contain wonders beyond comparison to what you saw today. You shouldn’t use phrases like ‘far exceeded my expectations’ so lightly.”
“……”
“You want to enter the deeper layers too, don’t you?”
It was as if Kaisel had read my mind.
“You’re someone with a strong thirst for knowledge. There’s no way you’d be satisfied with just a glimpse of the surface level.”
“……”
“You want to see the other sections of the surface level… and eventually, the depths of the labyrinth with your own eyes.”
He was right.
I wanted to walk with my own feet… all the way into the depths.
“But students can’t enter the dungeon freely. Normally, you wouldn’t have a reason to go in outside of practical lessons.”
“Uncle, but…”
I recalled something and spoke up.
“There is a way for students to enter the dungeon freely, isn’t there?”
“So you already know.”
Kaisel nodded.
“Students who obtain a Ranger certification can enter the dungeon without special permission.”
Monster hunters, treasure hunters—these professions have existed for a long time.
However, nowadays, anyone wanting to do such work must obtain a Ranger license.
This is because illegal activities inside and outside dungeons have become a significant public issue.
“Many senior students have their Ranger certification.”
“Really?”
“It allows them to gain real combat experience against monsters and collect materials needed for magic. Not only that…”
Kaisel’s lips curled slightly.
“They can also take on ‘commissions’ and earn money.”
“Commissions…”
“Requests like hunting a specific monster and bringing back its corpse, gathering rare herbs that grow only in certain zones… there are many types.”
In adventure novels, there are often scenes where adventurers accept quests from a Ranger guild.
It seems the academy has a similar system.
“Students from less wealthy backgrounds often take on these commissions to make money. Life at the academy comes with many expenses beyond just tuition.”
“……”
“Speaking of which…”
The carriage came to a temporary stop at an intersection.
As we waited for a line of transport wagons to pass, Kaisel spoke in a cool, composed voice.
“You’re not exactly well off either, are you?”
“Yeah…”
Our family lost everything due to a failed investment.
Expecting financial support from my parents is out of the question.
“How are you managing these days?”
“I still have some of the scholarship money from the entrance exam, so I can cover my living expenses for now. But…”
“You’re not exactly comfortable. You probably can’t even buy books freely.”
“……”
“You’ll receive scholarships every semester, but that won’t be enough. Once you pay tuition, you’ll barely have enough left for basic living expenses. You’ll need to secure additional funds for practical training, assignments, and personal research.”
That was true.
Learning magic at the academy required far more money than just tuition.
And I had no one to fund me.
Kaisel didn’t seem interested in financially supporting me, either.
“In the end, you’ll have to earn money somewhere.”
“I guess I’ll need a part-time job…”
“You could work in the shopping district, the harbor, or the school store. But the easiest way to make money is…”
As the line of transport wagons finally broke, the carriage started moving again.
“Getting your Ranger certification and taking on commissions inside the dungeon.”
“……”
I did a quick calculation in my head.
It was clear that obtaining Ranger certification before entering the dungeon was the best course of action.
“Uncle.”
“What is it?”
“How do I obtain Ranger certification?”
“There are two ways to become a Ranger. The first is to take the exam held in the second half of each year.”
“That’s a long time from now.”
“Exactly, which is why there’s a second method.”
“What is it?”
“A ‘Leader-Class Ranger’ recognized by the Ranger Association can grant temporary Ranger certification to another person without an exam. Of course, it still needs to be registered with the association.”
“Then asking a Leader-Class Ranger would be the fastest way.”
“That’s right.”
Kaisel nodded while keeping his hands on the steering wheel.
“But they rarely do it.”
“Why not?”
“Because they have to sign a guarantee, taking full responsibility if the temporary Ranger causes any problems. That’s why most are reluctant to issue them.”
“I see.”
“Professor Klein from the Transcendental Department is also a Leader-Class Ranger, but if you ask him for a guarantee, he’ll likely refuse. If you enter a dungeon and end up dead, it would be a serious issue.”
Well, if I were in their position, I wouldn’t want to do it either.
“This really… won’t be easy.”
Muttering to myself, I looked at Kaisel.
“Who should I even ask?”
I already knew the answer.
Kaisel had obtained his Leader-Class Ranger certification long ago in recognition of his achievements in Labyrinth exploration.
“Eriol.”
“Yes, Uncle?”
Still focused on driving, Kaisel spoke in a calm voice.
“I told you before to take first place in the first-year comprehensive evaluation.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Do you know what it takes to achieve first place?”
“Isn’t it just about scoring well on the exams?”
“There are midterms and finals each semester. But aside from these written tests, there are also practical evaluations conducted periodically.”
“So the final academic ranking is determined by combining midterms, finals, and practical evaluations.”
“That’s correct.”
What was he getting at now?
Feeling the wind ruffle my hair, I glanced at Kaisel’s profile.
“The first practical evaluation you’ll face is the ‘Rookie Battle,’ a freshman competition.”
The Rookie Battle.
I’d heard other students talk about it in passing.
“Think of it as the starting point for your overall score.”
“I’m not too familiar with it. What kind of competition is it?”
“It’s a simple target-shooting test.”
“Target shooting?”
“The targets are golems. Practice golems created by the Production Department.”
That department again.
They really seemed to make everything.
“You’ll use magic against a stationary golem. It doesn’t matter what kind—fireballs, ice arrows, lightning spears… You could even make it rain over the golem’s head. It’s not a test of destructive power.”
“Then is it about spell precision?”
“It’s an overall assessment. The golems are equipped with sensors that measure objective data, and the judges give subjective scores, which are combined to determine the rankings.”
“So it’s not just about power or speed… Creativity and artistic expression might also be factors?”
“I’m not sure about artistic expression.”
If it were purely based on objective measurements, that would be one thing. But with subjective evaluations involved, it became tricky.
There was no single correct answer.
“That sounds difficult.”
“It is. Looking at past Rookie Battle results, unexpected students often take first place. Even top students have received low scores.”
“Just out of curiosity, how did you do, Uncle?”
“The event was different when I was a freshman, so it’s not a useful comparison.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I did take first place, though.”
“…….”
How irritating.
“Eriol.”
“Yes, Uncle?”
“I’m expecting you to win the Rookie Battle.”
“…….”
“Getting first place there will give you a strong advantage in securing the top rank for the first-year comprehensive evaluation.”
I remained silent for a moment, staring at Kaisel’s profile.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I heard something from Professor Klein today.”
“What did he say?”
“He said that those who achieve results should always be rewarded accordingly. Even if they’re students.”
“Hmm…”
“If I take first place, what will you do for me?”
“You already know what I’m going to say, don’t you? You’re quite the cunning one.”
I’d rather not hear that from you…
“If you win the Rookie Battle, I’ll grant you temporary Ranger certification. I’ll personally sign the guarantee as Kaisel Valencia.”
“Sounds good.”
That sealed the deal.
All I had to do now was win first place in the Rookie Battle and get that guarantee from Kaisel.
“We’re at your dorm. Get out.”
Before I knew it, we had arrived.
Kaisel stopped the magic-powered vehicle and looked at me, but I remained seated in the passenger seat.
“What’s wrong?”
“If I gain access to the dungeon, what benefit does that bring you?”
“You’re curious about that?”
“I can’t imagine you making a deal with your nephew for no reason.”
Even Professor Klein pointed it out earlier.
Since when have you been so generous?
“Hmm, it’s only natural for you to be suspicious.”
“Can you tell me?”
“First, there’s something you should know.”
“What is it?”
“Most Academy professors are involved in at least one research project they can’t publicly disclose.”
“…….”
“They want to keep their secrets. So they try to conduct research alone, but realistically, there are challenges. That’s why having a trustworthy assistant can be very helpful.”
An assistant.
Hearing that, I had a pretty good idea of what Kaisel wanted from me.
“For example… If a professor needed to discreetly obtain a material that can only be found in a dungeon, having an assistant would be convenient.”
“Exactly. Professors can’t always go and retrieve things themselves.”
“I understand.”
I was starting to get a clearer picture of why Kaisel was taking an interest in me.
Of course, this likely wasn’t the whole story.
“Now, go.”
“Yes.”
In the end, Kaisel didn’t give me any practical advice.
He could have at least hinted at a strong offensive spell to use against the golems… but it seemed he had no intention of teaching me magic directly.
“By the way, Uncle.”
“What?”
“Shouldn’t you at least buy me a meal? I turned down Professor Klein’s dinner invitation to come with you, after all.”
As I stepped out of the car, Kaisel replied in a cold voice.
“You wouldn’t want to have a meal with me anyway.”
“That’s true.”
“If you want me to buy you food, do well on the test.”
With that, Kaisel drove off.
“It’s not that I particularly want to eat with you…”
I was just curious about what kind of meal he would choose for our first one together as uncle and nephew.
“What does he even eat on a daily basis…?”
He didn’t seem like the type to eat something like hot dogs.
Thinking about that, I headed into the dormitory.
The next morning.
As soon as I woke up, I left the dorm and headed to the outskirts.
Munching on bread I bought from a bakery along the way, I arrived at my destination—the eastern coast.
‘It’s quiet here. Nice.’
The southern part of the island, where the port was located, was bustling. The other areas were less crowded.
The northern region was rugged, and the western side had a lot of fishermen. So I chose the east, where it was peaceful.
‘Alright… Let’s get started.’
I loosened up and took a deep breath.
‘I need this for a good score in the Rookie Battle… and for when I enter the dungeon later.’
There was no one around.
And in front of me stretched the vast ocean.
It was the perfect practice spot.
‘Let’s try some offensive magic.’
I hadn’t yet officially learned any combat magic.
But I wanted to practice it now.
