“Oh my, you’re here again? Our esteemed customer?”
Her voice was particularly warm and friendly today.
Perhaps it was because of the significant sales I had brought in over time.
Not just the title, but her tone, dripping with happiness at the thought of gold coins.
Even the way she closed her eyes and smiled made me suspicious that she was having a hard time hiding the greed in her pupils.
“I happen to have some new information that Sir Byron might be interested in. Right now, I can offer it at a reasonable price….”
“No, that’s alright. I have a simpler request this time.”
Although my pockets had become more comfortable.
The more money I have, the more I should spend it wisely.
Therefore.
“A simple request?”
“Yes. Do you know if the word ‘Flirting’ is popular among commoners these days?”
Instead of asking about the saintess’s strange behavior.
I decided to inquire about the strongest clue she had dropped.
Could it not be possible?
The word the saintess had carelessly uttered could be a slang term.
Cross-verification was necessary.
Since it was a game made in Korea, the developers might have incorporated it as one of the terms.
Or it could be my ridiculous misunderstanding.
If not……
“What? Hmm. It’s not difficult to tell you that, but….”
A sly smile spread across Wolbaek’s face.
“I’ll throw it in as a service if you buy the new information.”
“Did you perhaps sell your conscience somewhere?”
I couldn’t help but frown.
Even the maids could easily find out something like that.
I had only come to Wolbaek for more certainty.
“I can’t help it. It’s such a simple request that it’s awkward to charge for the information, so I have to bundle it with something else.”
However, I couldn’t help but shake my head at her brazenly stingy nature.
“My fiancée is a merchant, but you’re worse.”
“Oh, Lady Elizabetta and I are different. She’s a broad-minded merchant who sees the big picture, while I am a small business owner who lives day by day.”
What kind of guild leader complains about being a small business owner?
I sighed deeply and handed over the gold coins.
I knew well that the quality of the information she provided was reliable enough to overlook her bold business tactics.
Also.
Her eagerness to sell information was because she was confident I would be satisfied with it.
“Haha, thank you for the advance payment!”
“Enough, just answer my earlier question.”
The unexpected expense naturally made my voice curt.
“Oh, what was it again? Flirting? Well, as far as I know, there’s no such slang, but would you like me to investigate further?”
“Is that so?”
“Why do you look like that?”
Wolbaek cautiously watched my reaction.
However, I had no time to care about her.
It’s confirmed. It might have been obvious.
The only character the player can control and the heroine of this game.
But her behavior and speech, and even the carefully crafted contract, had been forgotten and dismissed in my mind.
All those doubts came alive with just one word.
‘Flirting.’
A term that couldn’t exist in the Middle Ages.
But one that was all too familiar to me.
Saintess Rene.
She was a transmigrator, just like me.
Everything fell into place when I thought of it that way.
Compared to the original, the timing of events was excessively early.
The fact that the saintess sided with the third prince, who had a weak claim to the throne.
The way she managed her relationships in the library.
All of these could be explained by the single element of being a ‘transmigrator.’
‘Sss, things will be difficult from now on.’
Countless thoughts came and went.
I knew the ‘saintess’s’ character.
But I didn’t know the core, the transmigrator inside.
Did she see the original ending?
Had she played the DLC?
How did she plan to handle the consequences of entangling with the male lead candidates from the start?
Moreover.
‘If the heroine, who is the center of the world, changes, how will the story unfold?’
I could no longer be certain of anything.
The growing doubts and worries made my sigh heavier than before.
‘The only fortunate thing is that there’s no reason for transmigrators to be hostile to each other.’
She was with the third prince, who opposed the crown prince.
Even though I’m currently engaged, ultimately, to avoid the mid-boss ending, I would have to break away from the crown prince and join Luciana’s faction.
In achieving the ending, the saintess’s presence was not optional but essential.
Thus, it was a huge relief that there were no significant obstacles to allying with her.
Rather, she could be more helpful in breaking the engagement with the crown prince.
‘Anyone who played the game would know the devastating strength of mid-boss Luciana.’
“…Sir Byron! Are you listening?!”
Lost in thoughts about how to approach this woman, her impatient shout brought me back to reality.
“Ah, Wolbaek, I apologize. I was lost in thought for a moment.”
“Well, that’s better. You were so silent with such a grim face that I was wondering if I needed to apologize. As you know, a single breath from a noble could ruin me.”
She shrugged her shoulders, her black hair cascading down, and continued.
“The information earlier was really nothing special.”
“The value of information depends on the person.”
“Oh my, if I had known, I would have charged more for that. Well, I got enough money, so I should do my job.”
She handed me a rolled-up document.
“What’s this?”
“Information related to the midterms.”
For a moment, my brow furrowed at her statement.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t need Wolbaek’s help with midterms.”
Written exams? I can handle them myself.
Combat training? How could information help with that?
I had achieved second place purely by my own strength.
I didn’t need such help.
Was the head of the notorious thieves’ guild trying to take me for a fool?
It wasn’t like her to provide information that didn’t match its price in quality.
“Huhu, are you sure? The information in that document will change your mind.”
But she confidently pointed at the document with her finger.
‘What kind of confidence…. At best, it would be something like the pedigree or the tendencies of the teachers handling the combat training.’
But my expectations were completely off, in a very good way.
[Applicant: Manhett Academy]
[We ask for the understanding of both the ‘Adventurer’s Guild’ and the ‘Mercenary Guild.’]
[For the education of academy students, we request the temporary transfer of existing dungeon access rights.]
[In return, the royal family will provide support funds equivalent to the value of the dungeon.]
The document, which seemed to indicate some sort of deal, implied one thing.
“This is, by any chance….”
“Rumor has it that monsters are rampaging and dungeons are becoming active in various regions. It seems the academy wants to give students real combat experience.”
The exams held at the academy usually cover various topics.
Monster subjugation, experiences with the adventurers’ and mercenaries’ guilds, and the search for specific artifacts.
Dungeon exploration was also one of them.
‘But to think we’d enter a dungeon for the first exam after enrollment.’
Originally, according to the original work, it was supposed to be a written exam and combat training, which was different from what I knew.
“If you pay a little more, I can give you detailed information about that dungeon.”
“…Ha, you’re quite the salesperson.”
How could I not purchase the main course after being given such a tantalizing preview?
Judging by the date, it was a freshly arrived official document.
Both the nobles and the commoners, who were backed by the adventurers’ and mercenaries’ guilds, wouldn’t know about this information yet.
“Huhu, it’s just basic business.”
Wolbaek, meeting my gaze, smiled subtly.
As expected, she was the leader of the thieves’ guild, someone who knew how to handle premium information.
***
“Wow… It’s my first time riding this.”
A flying golem, which I had only seen in the game.
It was composed solely of a massive sphere without any special components, but its performance was assured.
Sitting on the seat provided on top of the sphere, the cool wind of the upper air hit my face.
It was quite a pleasant experience.
“Not bad. I might want to get one for myself.”
-If you like flying, why don’t you learn flying magic?
The sudden interjection from the presence in the shadows made me shake my head.
-Ah, Bathory, you don’t understand romance.
…You say things I sometimes don’t understand. It’s mysterious. Isn’t flying the same?
How could she lack empathy so much!
Focusing only on ‘function,’ how could she grasp this sense of awe?
Humans naturally grow up looking at the sky, longing for the freedom of the blue expanse.
The moment we achieve this through technology, how could it not be precious?
Of course.
It’s not at all because I lack the mana to learn the highly inefficient flying magic.
-By the way, do you even know where we’re going?
-How should I know? You heard it too, Bathory. They said they were testing our adaptability and didn’t reveal the exam details at all.
-Despite that, you seem overly confident… Could it be that you already obtained special information? Perhaps you requested it from that woman at the thieves’ guild.
…Haha. You’re quite perceptive.
Bathory was right.
I would know the destination of this flying golem, the midterm exam location, better than anyone.
Because.
It was the memorable first dungeon I encountered in the game.
[A dungeon has been discovered.]
[Sanctuary of the Spirits]
Right on cue, the status window’s hologram appeared before my eyes.
‘Just as Wolbaek’s information indicated.’
This place, which was supposed to be the stage for the final exams, had been moved up to become the midterm exam location.
The flying golem gradually descended toward the ground.
In front of us, dozens of other flying golems, similar to the one I rode, had already landed.
“You’re late.”
“Haha, the servant is supposed to clear the path for the master, but the golem I rode was the worst in performance, so I couldn’t do that. I apologize.”
Bowing exaggeratedly to Luciana, who greeted me with a rebuke disguised as a welcome, I replied.
I followed her to a suitable spot, letting out a small laugh.
“Alright. But a dungeon, huh? It’s been a while since we hunted the dire wolf together.”
“It’s unlikely to be as intense a battle as that time.”
Spirits, mysterious beings imbued with the power of nature, were generally harmless to humans, though they could be playful.
At most, they might start a campfire or sprinkle morning dew on your face.
However, if their level increased and their power grew, it could become problematic.
Their innocent curiosity could turn into a disaster.
In extreme cases, a fire spirit’s curiosity might lead to it burning a human, though such occurrences were rare.
[Sanctuary of the Spirits]
[A cool cave serves as a good home not only for monsters and wild animals but also for spirits.]
[Even mindless minor spirits sometimes enjoy the warm sunlight here, or splash around in the stagnant water of the cave.]
[Occasionally, they also play pranks on adventurers who enter the cave.]
[However, sometimes their pranks on humans can escalate into something akin to throwing stones at frogs.]
[A small campfire can turn into a huge wildfire, water splashes on the face can become a deluge, and mild static shocks can lead to paralysis and burns.]
[Mindless spirits with only mischief in their nature are nothing short of a disaster for ordinary humans.]
[Clear out the overgrown minor spirits and prevent potential threats.]
The dungeon’s description was as usual.
The only difference from what I remembered in the original was this:
[The level of this dungeon is too low.]
[This dungeon has already been cleared in the past.]
[For growth, it is recommended to find a higher-level dungeon.]
A phrase advising against wasting time, suggesting I turn back, contrary to the warning.
I let out a small laugh at the status window I hadn’t seen before.
‘Indeed, minor spirits aren’t that threatening.’
The grandly narrated danger in the status window referred to spirits that had grown unchecked.
When minor spirits reach a certain level of growth, mercenaries or adventurers naturally come to deal with them.
The stones left behind, whimsically called spirit stones, were in demand as luxury items.
Moreover.
‘Given my specs, it does feel a bit embarrassing to enter here.’
My abilities were well above what would be expected of a first-year student.
Of course, my aura was still weak, but my relics and dagger skills were strong enough to match upperclassmen.
But what about other first-year students?
For novices, these minor spirits offered more than just decent rewards.
Experience.
The various elemental attacks provided invaluable combat experience for young adventurers and mercenaries.
Most of those gathered here had never killed a single monster with their own hands, except for a few.
If they were taken to a proper dungeon from the start, half of them could end up dead or injured.
The academy likely took note of this and rented out the entire dungeon.
Regardless of their talk about nurturing talent, it was ultimately a cradle for nobles.
‘Anyway, this exam will be a piece of cake, and I can focus on my own matters.’
I glanced at the saintess surrounded by the high-ranking nobles.
“As the saintess mentioned, there were traces of something moving from the roots of the World Tree. Since I received help, I shall take the opportunity to repay it.”
“Haha, Daimon. Please give me that chance. I also owe her a debt.”
‘Seems like she’s played some dating sims.’
What kind of affection route had she taken?
Tall and handsome guys sticking close and trying to talk to her.
Seeing her pretending to be flustered between two young dukes suddenly filled me with a sense of disgust.
‘Sss, but I still need to talk to her.’
And talk thoroughly inside the dungeon.
Moreover…
“Your Highness, this time, come with me.”
“Luciana, I’m sorry, but step back. If I receive your help, it would defeat the purpose of the test.”
I also needed to reassess that twisted engagement.
The exam was already secondary to me.
A political battlefield disguised as dungeon exploration would unfold under my command.
With walls all around, no escape routes, and dark, secretive places, it was the perfect environment to expose human nature.
Cliche Novel 