CHAPTER 35: PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT [2]

We kept moving, deeper into the dungeon.

The air gradually grew colder, and the cave tunnel narrowed until only two of us could walk side by side. The moss-lit stone walls flickered faintly, shadows stretching long with every footstep.

We had run into a few more wolves, but the next monsters were different.

A faint flutter — almost inaudible — brushed against the darkness overhead.

Most people wouldn’t even register it.

But my Detection skill tingled instantly.

Without warning I raised my shotgun and fired into the air.

Bang.

Everyone flinched.

"What the—?!"

Before Ren could even complain, a shriek tore from above and a creature dropped — twitching violently as blood splattered across the cave floor.

A thin leathery wing. A long tongue. Black fur. Needle-sharp fangs.

A Vampire Bat.

Its entire body barely the size of a cat — but its bite could suck enough blood to make you collapse in minutes.

Ren swallowed hard and shut up.

We kept walking — taking down more bats, wolves, and even a burrowing mole-type monster whose claws could rip bone. The synergy was terrible — but the performance was clean. Not because we were coordinated... but because no one wanted to argue with me anymore.

Ren no longer barked back at my instructions.

He simply followed.

Ariana and Livia had somehow started talking, quietly whispering between fights — Livia gradually relaxing around her.

Hours passed like that. Walking, scanning, killing.

Eventually we decided to rest.

Ren and Livia sat down immediately, taking out their bland nutrition pills — chewing them with dead expression like prisoners serving punishment.

I reached into the inner pocket of my uniform, pulled out my mini storage pouch and retrieved a metal lunch box.

Ariana’s eyes sparkled instantly.

"You brought lunch?!"

Even the vampire bats earlier hadn’t gotten this kind of reaction.

Ren scoffed from the corner — tone sharp with envy he tried to hide behind sarcasm.

"Does someone think a dungeon is a picnic spot or what?"

I ignored him.

Ariana waved Livia over happily — and Livia hesitated, glancing at me as if asking for permission.

I shrugged, flicking my hand lightly.

"Come. I packed extra."

Livia bit her lip once, then slowly stood and walked over.

When I unclasped the lunchbox lid — steam gently rose into the air — and the sight of golden buns and thick patties greeted everyone.

Ariana’s entire face lit up.

"Hamburgers!!"

She grabbed one instantly like a child claiming treasure.

Livia stared as if studying an alien artifact.

"Ham... burgers?"

"Just taste it," Ariana urged, already halfway through her first bite.

Livia hesitated — then took a small bite.

Her eyes widened — immediately — her entire body froze.

"...W... what is this...?" she whispered, and then she inhaled the rest in almost animalistic hunger. "Why does this taste... this good?"

Ariana nodded vigorously, cheeks full.

"I know, right?! When I ate this the first time, I thought I was going crazy!"

"Where did you get this?" Livia demanded, wiping her lips, eyes shining. "This must be extremely expensive!"

I finally spoke, very calmly — like a businessman casually slipping in a sales pitch:

"Not expensive at all. Only seventeen copper coins."

She looked at me like I was talking nonsense.

"That cheap?! Impossible."

"You can see it for yourself," I replied smoothly. "There’s a new diner in the city. It’s called Kitchen 21."

"I... I’ll definitely visit."

Free advertisement complete.

Ren — who had been stuck chewing dry ration pills alone — clenched his jaw and snapped:

"If your chit-chat is finished — can we move already?"

I briefly considered offering him food too — but his attitude left a rotten taste in my mouth.

So I let him suffer.

I stood up, brushing dust off my uniform.

"Yeah. Let’s keep going."

This dungeon run was far from over.

And the deeper we went — the more the real danger would begin.

The tunnel widened into a chamber — jagged stone pillars, dripping roots, pooled water reflecting pale blue moss-light.

Then Livia froze.

"...incoming."

Red eyes flickered in the dark — one, two... eight... nine.

And behind them — stepping out from behind a rock formation — a larger silhouette, twice the size of a normal wolf, mane flared like burning bristles.

Ironmane Dire Wolf.

F-rank boss class.

As soon as it roared, the pack swarmed us like shadows.

Ren didn’t hesitate — shield stabbed into the ground, feet locked.

"Shield Wall!"

A ripple of bluish barrier spread out from his buckler, diverting the first three wolves that leapt straight for him.

Livia raised both hands, voice trembling but firm.

"Acceleration — team wide."

A faint haze rippled under our feet; our limbs felt lighter instantly, breaths sharper, steps quicker.

Ariana inhaled, a faint swirl of wind forming at her feet.

"I’ll suppress the flank — Wind Blade!"

Blades of compressed air slashed forward, hitting the pack’s left side, forcing two wolves away and wounding another.

Ren anchored the center.

Ariana controlled the side lane.

Livia kept everyone sharpened.

This time — the formation wasn’t collapsing.

I slid slightly to the right — positioning to get a clean line of sight.

"Movement Step."

The skill activated like liquid heat in my veins — vision sharpened, body moved smoother — my footwork changed, weight shifting like I’d been training footwork for ten years.

The Dire Wolf boss circled me — its eyes were intelligent, predatory.

It lunged, jaws opening wide—

Bang.

The shot clipped its cheek; normal rounds actually bounced from parts of its hide.

"Tch. Too tough for regular rounds."

I broke open the chamber, fingers moving automatically, dumping the spent brass and flicking in a mana bullet.

The moment the bullet clicked into place, I felt the faint hum of mana resonate along the barrel.

Ariana shouted from the left, "Lucien! Minions down to three... the boss—!"

"I know."

My Detection skill pulsed — a thin thread of sense locking onto the Dire Wolf’s movement even as it blurred with speed.

It leapt — aiming to sink its teeth into Ren’s exposed shoulder.

"Not happening."

I pulled the trigger.

BOOM.

The recoil shoved me half a step back — and the Dire Wolf’s leap twisted mid-air as the mana-charged pellet cluster slammed into its face guard and neck, disrupting muscle and momentum. It hit the ground hard, skidding.

Ariana went for the opening.

"Whirlwind!"

A vortex of slicing wind hit its flank, dragging it a meter sideways.

The wolf staggered, head shaking from the force, trying to stand.

I cracked the rifle open again — another cartridge clattered to the floor — slid in a piercing round and snapped the chamber shut in a single practiced motion.

One breath.

One aim.

"Stay down."

Bang.

The shot slammed into its skull — precise — the impact knocking its massive head sideways like someone had yanked it with chains. The beast jerked once, then collapsed fully.

Silence flooded the cavern, broken only by ragged breathing.

Ren lowered his shield slowly, cheeks pale.

Livia wiped sweat from her brow.

Ariana looked at me — her eyes wide, chest rising and falling a little faster than normal.

"...you didn’t miss a single shot," she whispered — part awe, part disbelief.

I exhaled, finally lowering the gun.

"That’s why you bring the right tools to the right job."