Chapter 593: Dark Listener Demon (10k)
Regardless of what template this little bear was projected from, it now had the body of a monster, an uncontrollable factor.
It was already a significant favor that Dark did not confine it in a cage at this moment; there was no way he would allow Diana to take it away as a pillow.
The best method now was naturally to leave it in the clubroom and have the golems watch over it.
Fortunately, there were many spare rooms in the clubroom. Dark allowed the baby bear to choose one, then summoned the dream spirit, entrusting it with the task of watching over the bear seriously.
“Yomimi!”
The young dream spirit responded energetically, looking determined to complete its mission.
Dark then gave a subtle signal to the lion beast, who nodded slowly.
…
It was already very late tonight. Dark did not stay long in the clubroom.
He observed the three “ghost butterflies” kept in the bonsai for a while, then asked the golems to bring along the cat grass and fox-eared grass when they returned to the dormitory. Finally, with lingering gazes from Agumon, he took the tiny night bird from its cradle before leaving the clubroom.
Everyone agreed to meet again at the clubroom after school the next day to continue their research, then each went back to their respective dormitories.
The tiny night bird suddenly woke up during the journey back to the dormitory, causing quite a commotion in the common room, drawing much attention.
Its courage seemed smaller than expected, feeling fear in the completely unfamiliar environment, clinging tightly to Dark’s chest.
Only when they entered the relatively narrow room did the tiny night bird gradually become active—when Dark put it in the bathtub to bathe, it regained all its energy!
After playing around in the bathroom for a long time, Dark finally came out with a soaking wet bear, drying it carefully with a towel.
Shortly after, Aurora arrived with the night meal.
Dark originally thought Aurora wouldn’t come so late, but she not only arrived but also brought a feast—a whole ginseng stewed chicken!
Aurora placed the dish on the table, lifted the lid, and the rich aroma of the ginseng stewed chicken instantly filled the air.
“Gugu?”
The tiny night bird smelled the fragrance, flapped its wings, and jumped onto the table, peering into the dish.
The next second, it was frightened and retreated into the blanket, trembling.
“Pfft.”
Dark chuckled, quickly going over to pick it up and patting its back.
Other golems came to the table, taking small bowls filled with chicken soup, sipping it slowly.
Aurora curiously glanced at the tiny night bird, then served slices of ginseng and pieces of chicken into Dark’s bowl, even adding a large drumstick.
She insisted on coming tonight to replenish Dark’s body.
“After staying in the dungeon for two nights, it must have been exhausting, right?”
She thought to herself.
…
Forced to drink a large bowl of ginseng stewed chicken soup, Dark Demon barely fell asleep by two in the morning.
But Shirley Augustine, confined in the Magical Animal Club, didn’t sleep until two in the morning either.
Leaning against a soft pillow, flipping through books she hadn’t read in a long time, her heart was full of anxiety.
Shirley Augustine wasn’t averse to soft pillows and comfortable surroundings; she even looked forward to such a life every night in the dungeon—but not like this.
From what Dark and others said, Shirley Augustine learned that this place was the famous Saint Maryann Academy.
But beyond that, she knew nothing.
What did Saint Maryann Academy look like? Were the professors kind or evil?
Would they kill her just because she was a monster?
Rumor had it that those researching mana technology were ruthless and enjoyed dissecting monsters.
Shirley Augustine didn’t want to be immersed in formaldehyde.
Why was the boy who appeared later so frightening when the four girls at the beginning weren’t scary at all?
Carefully pulling the blanket up a bit more, she placed the nearly as big book she held on the bedside, finally curling up under the covers.
She didn’t know what her future would be like, but she felt powerless to change it.
This feeling was very painful, just like when she was still a princess, locked in the “Ice Tower,” unable to change anything, abandoned.
Unless, she had the courage to destroy everything!
There was one thing Shirley lied about.
…
Deep into the night.
The first underground city adventure for the second-year students had ended completely.
Most of them had gained something, more or less.
And the number of people who triggered the Dungeon Escape Device was zero.
This was good news for many.
Professor Jones was satisfied.
Professor Nina was delighted.
Sister Carrian was relaxed and cheerful.
A world without injuries had been completed.
But the excitement of successfully crossing this threshold kept many awake all night.
So on Monday morning, during the Summoning Spell class, it was rare to see someone late.
Professor Shylph expressionlessly deducted five points from each latecomer, then gestured for them to sit down and continued teaching.
Under Professor Shylph’s supervision, the young magi lost their temper and quickly restored a learning atmosphere.
With the “Silver Cup” opening soon, Professor Shylph focused on practical training for summoning spells, and students eager not to embarrass themselves in the “Silver Cup” listened attentively.
After class, Dark immediately approached Professor Shylph.
Professor Shylph walked ahead with documents, and Dark quickened his pace, whispering, “Professor, can we talk privately?”
Professor Shylph was surprised, “Is there something you can’t say now?”
Dark nodded, then added, “Can we go directly to my Magical Animal Club?”
“Got it.” Professor Shylph nodded quickly, extending her slender hand.
Dark grabbed it, feeling a slight chill.
In the next second, he and Professor Shylph transformed into the wind.
When his vision cleared, Dark found himself atop the Spiral Bell Tower, standing in front of the clubroom door.
Instinctively stepping twice on the ground, he turned and said, “Welcome to the Magical Animal Club.”
…
Professor Shylph smiled, “Tell me quickly, there are classes next.”
Dark laughed and opened the door, “Diana and Rose went to the underground city last weekend, right?”
Professor Shylph walked and replied, “Did anything happen?”
Dark said, “They brought back a monster. Hmm?”
Dark turned around and noticed Professor Shylph had stopped walking.
Then, Professor Shylph said, “Wait, could you repeat that?”
Dark sighed, “They brought back a monster, and it’s currently in the clubroom.”
Professor Shylph took a deep breath, then said sternly, “Take me to see it.”
“Alright.” Dark turned back and headed straight for the “Reading Room.”
He had been to the clubroom in the morning, mainly to check if the baby bear was well-behaved, besides bringing back the tiny night bird.
When he arrived, he found the baby bear had already woken up and entered the reading room of Catalysa.
Just glancing at the titles of the books on the desk, he knew the baby bear was trying to understand the outside world through the books.
He didn’t stop it, only telling it to behave.
“Here it is.”
Reaching the Reading Room, Dark knocked twice and pushed the door open.
Professor Shylph quickly entered, her eyes immediately falling on the baby bear nestled in the sofa.
She frowned deeply and said, “It’s really a monster?”
The baby bear put down the book, stiffly turning its head, looking at what appeared to be a professor from the academy.
It thought, based on the nature of young people, it still had some time to maneuver, but unexpectedly, there was someone here who didn’t follow the rules.
Dark Demon directly called an adult.
Though Professor Shylph was half-elf, her ears were as long and sharp as a pure-blood elf’s, her golden hair ethereal, except for her broader chest, which made her almost indistinguishable from a pure-blood elf.
The elf race, at least in Shirley Augustine’s era, was known for its good reputation.
Shirley Augustine initially had a decent impression of Professor Shylph, although she felt her expression was too serious.
—But at least she wasn’t the kind of butcher with a bloody face!
Remember, she had been woken up several times last night by the sight of a butcher holding a cleaver.
Now, the butcher was back…
“Baby Bear, come and meet Professor Shylph,” Dark said calmly.
“Wu wu wu!” The baby bear grabbed a writing board from the sofa and scribbled a line.
[Not Baby Bear, it’s Shirley Augustine!]
Three exclamation marks conveyed its urgency.
No matter what, it didn’t want to be seen as a monster at first glance.
“Shirley Augustine, according to what it says, is a little princess,” Dark introduced, turning around.
Professor Shylph scrutinized carefully, frowning, “Was it a dungeon boss?”
“Once, right?” Dark looked at the baby bear again.
The baby bear quickly erased the previous words and wrote anew:
[Northern Kingdom, Ice Queen, I’m very famous!]
Strong survival instincts!
…
Dark explained, “According to what it says, it began to awaken its consciousness and recover memories when it was the boss ‘Ice Queen.’ After being defeated by the students, it didn’t truly die but remained in a state of ideological slumber within the dungeon until reincarnation, reawakening as an elite monster, a parasitic spirit.”
The baby bear said, “Ice Queen isn’t a boss name, it’s my title when I was human!!”
Dark continued, “Of course, I don’t think it’s Shirley Augustine herself. If I had to explain, it should be a projection shell created by the dungeon with memory input. That is, a cloned soul plus memory information. Of course, it also developed self-awareness.”
Professor Shylph’s frown deepened.
The baby bear peeked at her expression, hastily writing, “I am Shirley Augustine with the same soul and memories!”
Dark glanced at it and said, “Life consists of three parts: soul, consciousness, and body. The dungeon simulates the soul and body but doesn’t give monsters self-awareness.
Therefore, all monsters are incomplete, similar to golems in terms of pseudo-life.
They should only have basic intelligence, lack rationality, and lack self-thinking ability, not fearing spirits.
But now, using Baby Bear as an example, they have developed consciousness due to unknown reasons, just like… just like my golems!”
At this point, Dark suddenly understood.
No wonder he felt familiar when he first saw this little bear. Now he finally understood what that familiar yet strange feeling was.
The monsters in the dungeon and the mana golems were indeed very similar.
The difference between them lay in the fact that mana golems were carried by mana cards, while monsters were carried by the dungeon itself.
This difference meant that the true-to-life quality of the dungeon monsters was higher than that of typical mana golems. Therefore, the materials condensed after hunting down these monsters were real and usable, and they could be taken out of the dungeon without disappearing.
As for his mana golems possessing consciousness, it was because he had added “Capital Sin” or used a “Capital Sin Card” during their creation.
And “Capital Sin,” at its root, was a power belonging to “Demon Gods.”
He had been using “Demon God” powers and gradually incorporating them as his own through repeated analysis.
Now, with the monsters in the dungeon also developing consciousness, could it be that there was a higher-ranked deity awakening within the dungeon?
…
According to Dak’s interpretation of Yudora’s first prophecy:
“The stars fall, the sky collapses, and the gods will no longer be gods…”
That was a prophecy of “Ragnarok.”
Given that the gods had long since perished, this prophecy seemed overly prescient.
How could gods who were already dead die again?
Of course… they must first come back to life!
Therefore, this prophecy could also be seen as a prophecy of “the gods’ resurgence.”
And the signs related to it had already appeared.
Dak touched his mana card deck, and “Soul of the Moon Goddess I” was still inside.
In the Saint Maryann Academy dungeon, would the second god finally return from the abyss?
…
Without being able to reveal information about “Demon Gods” to Professor Shylph, Dak found it difficult to explain his deductions in detail.
Moreover, he was actually just guessing, whether it was the interpretation of the prophecy or the understanding of the dungeon mechanism, both were personal opinions.
He wasn’t entirely sure.
After saying everything he could, he stepped aside, letting Professor Shylph study it on her own.
Next, it was time for the professors to worry.
As a small student, he was preparing to step back.
…
Professor Shylph didn’t take the bear away and didn’t stay too long. After communicating with the bear for a few sentences, she took Dak back to the castle.
Before parting, Professor Shylph said, “We’ll handle the rest. But can we temporarily keep Shirley Augustine in your club?”
“Not a problem,” Dak replied, “but I need a collar.”
Professor Shylph nodded, “I’ll ask Professor Kazel to think of something.”
Dak smiled, “That works then.”
After all, magical creatures were often mistaken for monsters.
So treating a monster like a magical creature wasn’t unusual either.
“I’ll give you the news before tonight,” Professor Shylph nodded and quickly left.
Dak turned in another direction and quickened his pace.
The next class was Professor Kazel’s “Mana Theory”!
…
After the “Mana Theory” class, Dak approached Wit and Robert.
Wit and Robert were quite surprised.
Thinking carefully, Dak hadn’t really initiated conversations with them much.
Robert even suddenly felt a bit honored.
Out of politeness, Dak didn’t directly discuss work matters but invited them for lunch instead.
With five people including Diana and Rose, it was slightly crowded.
They walked toward the cafeteria, chatting along the way.
Dak had another motive and said to Wit, “How was your harvest in the dungeon? Not bad, right?”
As soon as he mentioned the dungeon, he noticed Wit’s expression was off, so he softened his tone.
But Wit still nodded, “Not bad. It was really tough… if only Robert had been there too.”
Robert immediately laughed dryly.
Then, as if trying to lighten the mood, he raised his voice, “Next time, next time for sure!”
“Ah.” Wit sighed, “Do you know how dangerous it was when Scott and I accidentally stumbled into that hidden room? We were just a hair away from getting heavily indebted!”
Robert loudly said, “Wait, Wit! Why does it sound like it’s all my fault? And I know, completing the ‘Safety First’ mission allows you to get a ‘Dungeon Escape Device.’ You don’t have to pay for it!”
Wit glared at him and said, “I haven’t reached the tenth floor yet!”
“O__O…” Robert was speechless for a moment and then argued, “It’s not your ‘Guide’s’ fault, right? I told you not to let Scott be your guide! There are many seniors in third year, even if you don’t know others.
But our sports club seniors are particularly good. If I say you’re looking for a guide, many will be willing.”
Wit glanced at Dak secretly before sighing to Robert, “Robert, debts of gratitude are hard to repay…”
Robert, without hesitation, said, “What debt of gratitude? Our sports club seniors…”
“Alright alright.” Wit interrupted impatiently, “Our marine biology research club seniors are actually pretty good. You know Betty isn’t unfamiliar with them.”
Robert: “But Betty is a fifth-year senior!”
As they continued arguing, everyone around paid close attention.
Dak, Rose, and Diana subconsciously distanced themselves from the two.
Only after entering the cafeteria did Wit and Robert stop talking and obediently queue up.
After getting their food, the five of them found a six-person table.
Wit and Robert rarely ate with anyone else besides themselves. As soon as they sat down, they excitedly said, “Speaking of which, Dak, did you go to the dungeon alone?”
“Yeah.” Dak poured condiments into his beef noodle soup as he spoke.
Wit curiously asked, “Alone, aren’t you afraid? There are so many monsters…”
“There are mana golems, right?” Dak looked up.
“Oh, right.” Wit fell silent.
Dak casually asked, “Did you accidentally enter a hidden room in the dungeon?”
“Yeah!” Wit brightened up, “That was on the fourth floor. Scott and I were chased by monsters… cough, we accidentally entered a dead end. Then we hit the wall and ended up inside. We didn’t expect there to be another world behind the wall. You wouldn’t know…”
Wit chattered on.
Dak felt this was how kids of this age should behave, so he patiently listened to the end.
Wit and Scott indeed had an incredible experience in the dungeon. The hidden room they stumbled upon was vast, like a miniature maze.
Inside the maze were two treasure box monsters and one standard treasure chest.
Even the standard treasure chest had elite monsters guarding it.
The two of them nearly escaped the dungeon due to the treasure box monsters but eventually killed the elite monster guarding the chest, obtaining the most valuable treasure they had ever found.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the Holy Sword.
…
Since it wasn’t the Holy Sword, Dak didn’t pay much attention.
As a listener, he satisfied Wit’s desire to talk until Wit finally finished. Then, he revealed his true purpose: “On Friday afternoon, there’s a mock duel performance at the ‘Silver Cup’ opening ceremony. We want to invite you to participate.”
There was no beating around the bush; Dak clearly stated his purpose.
Wit’s face still had a satisfied flush, and he subconsciously said, “Anything I can help with… wait, the ‘Silver Cup’ opening ceremony?”
Dak smiled, “Yeah. In short, we want you to do some promotion. Of course, under the name of ‘Hero’s Child.'”
Wit finally understood and couldn’t help but ask, “Is the mock duel game the one with the duel disk?”
“Yeah.” Dak nodded.
Wit frowned, “Is that yours?”
Dak said, “The Public Dueling Society is the association I helped establish.”
Wit immediately looked at Robert, and the two exchanged quick glances.
Robert immediately exclaimed, “Can we get rare cards by participating in the performance match?”
Dak gave an odd look and said, “Our agreed rewards are a certain amount of credits and applicable supplies. If you want rare cards, I can negotiate.”
Just as he finished speaking, Robert and Wit exchanged glances again.
After a while, Robert said, “What about custom cards? Can we get exclusive cards that only we have, like a ‘Hero’ card?”
Dak slightly frowned and looked at Wit, “Is this what you hope for?”
But Wit’s expression changed. He took a deep breath and said, “No, I don’t want this. Honestly, after last year’s events, I don’t really want to be associated with my father’s identity. I want to rely on my own abilities… So, the name ‘Hero’s Child’…”
Dak looked at him seriously but shook his head slightly, softly saying, “You should know, this isn’t a restriction, but a vision. People call you ‘Hero’s Child’ because they want you to inherit the legacy of the ‘Hero’ and become a brave person like the ‘Hero.’ Just like me, I’m not opposed to being called ‘Valkyrie’s Son.'”
Wit tightened his grip on the fork.
This issue had troubled him for a whole holiday.
“Not a restriction, but a vision?” Wit gritted his teeth and thought silently.
Dak waited quietly, not rushing him.
His impression of Wit Gold was neither good nor bad.
It hadn’t changed much since school started.
If measured by a liking scale, it was around 45.
But he didn’t want Wit to take the wrong path.
After all, the Demon King wasn’t dead, and the Hero shouldn’t be disheartened.
During the holiday, Dak learned about “Dragon Blood Cancer” and the short-lived history of the Hero from Alvaraite and Claire. So, he wouldn’t support Wit becoming a Hero.
As for how the protagonist in the original game avoided a short lifespan after becoming a Hero, he hadn’t played the game himself, so he didn’t know.
Moreover, the original story likely ended with the sixth year graduation, and the aftermath might have been briefly summarized in a few sentences.
Or maybe it left a cliffhanger for a sequel?
In any case, the game was just a game.
From the moment this world became reality, everything had taken a different trajectory.
After finishing his lunch, Dak wiped his mouth with a wet wipe from his cup.
After another two minutes, Wit seemed to have made up his mind and looked up, “Are there specific rules for the mock duel performance? Are the cards our own or provided by the store? And who will be my opponent?”
Smiled and said, “Do you have someone in mind for a duel? If not, how about Robert?”
Wit turned to look at Robert and sighed in relief, “If Robert is fine with it, then I am fine too.”
But Robert was immediately surprised, “Am I also allowed to participate?”
“Of course you can,” Dark chuckled. “I chose both of you because of your enthusiasm for simulated duels. We need the audience to feel joy from your duel, which will help promote the game.”
“Ah, that makes sense…” Wit and Robert nodded, though they didn’t quite understand.
Whether or not they understood wasn’t important. The opportunity to stand on stage and represent their favorite game was already exciting enough.
They weren’t even very concerned about the credits and supplies as compensation—they didn’t even ask about it.
Seeing their cooperation, Dark said, “There’s no time to waste. Are you free this afternoon?”
“Absolutely!” Robert responded immediately.
Wit nodded as well.
With only two hours left until the “Potions” class at two o’clock in the afternoon, and young people being most energetic around that time, there was no point in taking a nap!
…
After leaving the cafeteria, Dark asked Wit and Robert to return to their dorms first, to bring their duel disks and decks to the Magical Animal Club on the Spiral Bell Tower.
He himself entered the Teacher’s Dormitory and found Eve and Irina in Claire’s room.
When they had no work or classes, the twins usually stayed in their room, occasionally going to the library to borrow books. Despite lacking natural talent, they still studied basic magic.
However, progress was slow.
“Have you agreed to it?” Eve asked.
Dark nodded, “Bring the contract and pen, and meet me at my club. If you have any other requests, like adding popular cards to your deck, you can discuss them with them.”
“Alright, no problem,” Eve said excitedly.
She then followed Dark to the Magical Animal Club alone.
As an intermediary, Dark introduced Eve to Wit and Robert but did not continue to interfere.
He spent his lunch break soothing the Tiny Night Bird and then returned to the “Reading Room” to chat with Baby Bear.
Shirley Augustine, despite being a “caged bird” locked away in the tower, was still a person from that era, with firsthand experiences and insights.
Dark did not inquire about her life in the dungeon, but rather tried to extract useful information from her memories.
In fact, he was much more interested in that history than in Shirley herself.
How did a once-powerful kingdom fall?
What heroic stories unfolded during the resistance against the demon invasion?
Or perhaps, what hidden secrets did the royal family of the Northern Territory hold?
Dark specially brought fruits, pastries, and tea drinks to pry some information out of Shirley.
…
In truth, the awakening of the dungeon monsters’ intelligence was not yet considered a crisis.
Unless it was confirmed that one of the gods was involved, the academy had many ways to suppress it.
Underneath this surface-level threat, however, lay immense treasures.
Each memory-recovered monster was a walking treasure chest.
Their brains were the biggest treasures!
Dark had realized this from the beginning, and now he was simply reaping the rewards.
…
Unfortunately, Shirley Augustine seemed unwilling to talk for long.
Dark sensed that Baby Bear feared him.
So after feeding ended, he did not press further and withdrew first.
There would be plenty of time later to squeeze every bit out of her…
Once he finished, he might even write a book titled “The Rise and Fall of the Northern Kingdom.”
Exiting the “Reading Room,” he saw Wit and Robert demonstrating a duel in the common room.
Dark had not seen many simulated duels before, so he watched with great interest.
Simplified rules and cards made the simulated duel a more accessible game.
Wit and Robert could use the specially set small tricks well, making the duel both deep and understandable.
Overall, watching their duel, the audience would likely think, “I could do that too.”
This was one of the hidden reasons for choosing them.
…
After watching the simulation duel, even Dark had to admit they were indeed among the best choices.
Eve was clearly satisfied and immediately signed contracts with them, scheduling practice times.
Only after they left did Eve remind him, “Young Master, don’t forget the other group!”
Dark rolled his eyes, feeling a bit pressured.
While Wit and Robert were chosen to make audiences familiar with and enjoy simulated duels, Pandora and Winnie’s team was to show that such duels could reach a high level.
However, persuading these two to join was not easy.
For the sake of the club, Dark had no choice but to push forward.
…
After the afternoon Potions class, Dark did not return to his dorm but went straight to the library.
Since the start of the second year, he spent less and less time in the library.
Aside from having fewer assignments to complete there, he also had another quiet place to study—the Magical Animal Club.
This was the general state of students at Saint Maryann Academy.
First-year students mostly stayed in the library reading room and the common rooms in the towers.
From the second year onward, the clubrooms became the main places for learning and activities.
Pushing open the door, Dark entered the library and saw Pandora Senior sitting down nearby.
Pandora Dragon was already a fifth-year student, yet she still hadn’t quit her job as a librarian.
Dark remembered she mentioned wanting to recommend her mother to the school during the holidays, but it seemed to take some time.
“Good afternoon, Senior.”
Dark took the form, signed his name skillfully.
Pandora patted the chair beside her, signaling him to come behind the counter.
Dark had no intention of leaving and sat next to her.
Yawning slightly, Pandora asked tiredly, “Did you go to the dungeon over the weekend?”
“Yeah,” Dark nodded.
Pandora smiled and suddenly said, “I went too.”
Dark blinked, complimenting, “Must have been quite fruitful?”
Pandora didn’t directly answer, instead looking at the library entrance and meaningfully saying, “When I came back last night, I heard something unusual happened in the dungeon.”
Dark immediately asked, “What happened?”
Could it be another intelligent dungeon monster was discovered?
But Pandora described, “It seems to be a little creature that can sniff out treasure chests. Do you know where it is?”
Dark paused, averting his gaze, “Who knows?”
Pandora laughed lightly and said, “How many treasure chests did you get this time in the dungeon?”
Dark counted on his fingers, “I haven’t counted. Why?”
Pandora suddenly turned her head, staring intently into his eyes, seriously saying, “The places where treasure chests are often very dangerous. The first ten floors aren’t too dangerous for you, but be careful when you go deeper. Understand?”
Dark instinctively leaned back, avoiding the scent that invaded his nose.
Seeing him flustered, Pandora laughed happily, standing up and no longer pressing, “You know, I can smell the aura of floor bosses.”
“No, I don’t…” Dark wanted to say, but held back.
Pandora slowly continued, “We didn’t enter the dungeon in our first year. So in our second year, it was truly my first time. It felt… safe and uninteresting.”
Dark straightened up, choosing to listen.
Pandora continued, “The main challenge in the first ten floors of the dungeon is finding paths in the maze, but for someone like me who survives in more complex environments, it’s like solving a paper puzzle. I can find the way even with my eyes closed.”
“At first, I didn’t realize the aura I sensed at the beginning belonged to a floor boss.”
“It wasn’t until the sixth floor that I stumbled upon one by chance, encountering my first floor boss.”
“I’m not as skilled as you, that floor boss posed a significant threat. But eventually, I overcame it.”
“Afterwards, I found precious treasures in the boss’s chest, laying the foundation for my future path.”
“From then on, I started crazily searching for floor bosses, conquering, raiding, and harvesting, until I encountered one.”
At this point, Pandora paused.
Deeply engrossed, Dark subconsciously asked, “Who?”
“A floor boss,” Pandora recalled, “A floor boss on the seventeenth floor! For me now, it may not seem like much.”
“But back then, its pressure was unforgettable. It was also the first time I used the ‘Dungeon Escape Device.'”
That meant…
She failed in her boss run.
A failed boss attempt.
For ordinary adventurers, this was commonplace.
As long as they didn’t die in the process, they would repeatedly attack the boss.
But since entering the dungeon, Pandora had never experienced failure. That moment was a crucial turning point in her life.
Unlike outside adventurers, she had the “Dungeon Escape Device,” which saved her.
But without the “Dungeon Escape Device,” that floor boss’s blade would have pierced through her!
…
Seeing Dark’s focused expression, Pandora earnestly said, “So you must be cautious. Sometimes, the ability to easily find treasures isn’t a good thing. Moderate greed can drive us forward, but excessive greed leads to destruction. Life doesn’t have a ‘Dungeon Escape Device’; you can’t start over. Don’t lose yourself.”
“I understand,” Dark nodded sincerely.
After a while, he asked curiously, “Senior, what was that floor boss like? Did you finally defeat it?”
Pandora shook her head, “No. When I gathered the courage to challenge it again, it had disappeared. Maybe it was defeated by someone else, or maybe the dungeon recycled it. Who knows?”
Dark asked, “Was it a sword user?”
Pandora nodded, “Yes, it used a broadsword.”
