Chapter 13
“V-Vampire bat…?”
Bord mechanically turned to inspect the remains on the ground. Blood poured like a waterfall through a gaping hole.
Click! He turned to see me reloading.
“T-Thanks…”
“Stay vigilant, Cadet Bord. Unless you want to get bitten.”
“R-Right.”
As we advanced, gunshots rang out several times. Each time, Mary flinched, and Bord wasn’t much better.
Both were overly conscious of me.
‘There’s a reason for it.’
I had no way to know why just yet. No time to dwell on it either. After shooting down camouflaged vampire bats, a massive boss room soon appeared.
A colossal vampire bat, likely 3 meters tall, awaited the novice cadets. Its wings spanned 10 meters when spread.
[────!]
It let out an ultrasonic scream and charged at Group 14.
“Deploy defense!”
Bord rushed forward, slamming his massive steel shield into the ground.
“Frontkeeper!”
Mana surged from Bord, forming a giant ‘Frontkeeper’ that blocked the colossal vampire bat’s charge.
‘That’s it…!’
The secret technique of the Tauforos ducal family. A defensive skill said to replace an entire fortress wall.
[───!]
An ultrasonic wave echoed.
Know-It-All (Lv 1) analyzed the ultrasonic wave. It’s a soundwave calling a swarm of vampire bats.
“A bat swarm is coming! Prepare wide-area magic!”
“Yes!”
At my command, Mary began channeling mana through her staff.
Simultaneously, a swarm of bats flew in through dozens of holes in the boss room’s walls.
【Heavy Rain!】
Dark clouds spread from her staff, filling the cave ceiling, and a torrential downpour fell.
[Screech!]
[Chirp!]
The rain pierced holes through the vampire bats’ bodies. The swarm, which had appeared so menacingly, crumbled in the storm.
Bord and Mary were fulfilling their roles perfectly.
‘I should do my part too.’
Know-It-All (Lv 1) analyzes the enemy’s weak points.
Wild Instinct (Lv 1) heightens your physical senses to their peak.
Movement (Lv 1) assists your movements.
Firearm Comprehension (Lv 1) promises you victory.
I opened the ammo pouch and swapped to scattershot.
Rushing forward, I leaped high, stepping on Bord’s shoulder to vault again.
“C-Cadet Martin?!”
Ignoring his startled voice below, I aimed at the colossal vampire bat facing the giant Frontkeeper.
[?!]
The bat noticed me, but it was far too late.
Boom! A sound like a bomb exploding pushed me back, and countless scattershot pellets embedded into the bat’s face.
Its eyes, nose, and mouth were obliterated.
The colossal vampire bat collapsed backward.
I broke open the rifle, ejecting the spent cartridge. Pulling a piercing round from my ammo pouch, I loaded it into the chamber.
Stepping forward with my left foot, I aligned the sights.
‘Now.’
Another gunshot rang out.
The bat swarm, already suffering under Heavy Rain, writhed in pain from the noise.
But it was nothing compared to the colossal bat. The piercing round drilled through its shattered face, precisely penetrating its brain.
Without even a final cry, the colossal vampire bat’s life ended. Its massive wings fell to the ground, kicking up dust.
Then, a broadcast echoed through the dungeon:
[Group 14 has cleared the artificial dungeon. Please proceed to the exit.]
It was over. A decent warm-up.
[Group 14’s scores: Bord, 80 points; Mary, 73 points; Martin, 84 points. Total: 237 points. Group evaluation: A-.]
A- was excellent, but for this level of difficulty, it wasn’t worth celebrating.
Outside the dungeon, other groups waited leisurely. As Hectia said, it was just a ‘skill check’ dungeon.
“There was an outstanding group. Let’s all watch.”
A holographic video appeared, showcasing Group 1, which earned an S-rank evaluation.
Elisha, wielding a bow, led the way, checking for traps and swiftly shooting down camouflaged vampire bats.
The colossal vampire bat was finished the moment it appeared. Gilbert and Lina, the two sword-wielding knights, slashed its neck as they passed.
Unlike Group 14, it didn’t even get a chance to summon a swarm. It was over in an instant.
The video ended with Gilbert shaking off the creature’s blood from his sword.
“Speed, safety, firepower, role distribution, teamwork—perfect in every aspect.”
Group 1’s individual scores were all 100 points. Total: 300 points. Group evaluation: S-rank.
Could such bonds and teamwork really form in such a short time? No way.
‘…A lot of time has passed.’
Time I didn’t have. The 80 days Martin was absent from school.
During that time, Gilbert must have built strong bonds. Look at Bord cheering and Mary smiling for the first time.
There was no place for a trash extra like me.
“You all cleared the dungeon splendidly. I hope you grow to become fine knights contributing to Time Chaos Dungeon conquests.”
Hectia smiled. From the setting notes, he was the epitome of a ‘knight’—upright, honest, and protective of the weak.
Even of trash like me.
I’d let go of my attachment to the protagonist’s group, but I hadn’t forgotten the kindness of the two who defended me at the trial.
‘I’ll repay them someday.’
“I’ll give you a break. Gather here after lunch. We’ll tackle a higher-difficulty dungeon, so use this time to check your equipment and bond with your teammates. That’s all.”
As Hectia left, cadets began grouping up.
Bord swallowed his nerves, mustering courage again.
“Hey, great job, Cadet Martin! Hahaha! A- is a solid score! Those camouflaged vampire bats, and that colossal one too! You were amazing! I don’t give empty praise, so you should be proud!”
His words targeted my cynical, forward-staring expression. Even for the charismatic Bord, facing me took more courage than expected.
“How about we grab lunch and chat… Hey!”
Bord reached out in panic, but grasped only air. I’d turned away coldly, heading somewhere no one knew.
“Hey, come on! Let’s at least have a meal!”
“….”
“Yo, Cadet Martin! Can’t you hear me?! Ulvhadin!”
“….”
Exhausted by the lack of response, Bord gave up first.
“Let him be, that mutt.”
I turned at the voice behind me. Three imposing figures approached. The speaker was Elisha, the haughty daughter of the Harmadun family.
“Why’re you calling out to that mutt? Did he shoot you in the back during the mission?”
“No, I just… thought we could eat together.”
“Eat? You haven’t forgotten what that hound did, have you?”
“No, I know, but… uh…”
“Bord, Mary. You okay?”
“Oh… Gilbert.”
When the sun sets and the sky darkens, you can see a starry night.
Bord thought Gilbert’s hair resembled that color.
“I’m fine. Like Elisha said, no shots in the back. By the way, I saw your video. That was amazing!”
“Thanks. You okay, Mary?”
“I-I was scared, Gilbert…”
As Mary, relieved of tension, teared up, the group turned to Bord.
Gilbert looked suspicious.
“Bord…? Nothing really happened, right?”
“No! I swear! Martin didn’t do anything. He just… seemed to endlessly distrust us… no, not even that. It was like he didn’t care at all.”
“Didn’t… care?”
Lina, the blonde swordswoman, pinpointed Bord’s words, pressing for details.
“Like when he shot the camouflaged vampire bats without warning, or charged the colossal bat and blasted its face with scattershot without a word…”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Elisha frowned, and Bord chose his words carefully.
“It’s like… he acted like someone paired with a stranger he has no intention of befriending.”
“Really…?”
Gilbert looked curiously at the path where I’d disappeared. The Martin who returned after 80 days was completely different.
The Martin he first met fawned over the ducal families’ heirs, sparing no flattery.
“Hmm.”
“Is that so?”
“….”
As the conversation continued, the protagonist’s group grew puzzled.
Among them, Elisha von Tresha Harmadun, the haughty noblewoman, was the type to confirm things herself.
She took action during a lesson on measuring time distortion levels.
***
“Time Chaos Dungeons have a grading system based on their time distortion levels. Measuring this is essential for preparing to conquer them.”
Class A’s first-years listened intently to Hectia in front of an artificial dungeon.
“Ten years ago, a law mandated that all knights learn time distortion measurement. It’s quite complex, so it’s not strictly enforced, but you’re Imperium Academy cadets.”
Unlike the rabble outside, they were elites destined to lead the world. It was said that the lowest rank at Imperium Academy surpassed the top rank at an ordinary school.
“Your groups will measure time distortion levels in different Time Chaos Dungeons. But first, some of you may not recall the formulas from the theory classes. For review, I’ll take volunteers to solve one first.”
It was an offer cadets would rush to take. Exemplary presentations were recorded in their records.
Yet, out of 45 students, only three raised their hands.
Time distortion measurement was a complex formula even professionals struggled with.
“Cadet Elisha, are you confident?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Commendable spirit. Choose two others.”
Elisha scanned the class. Several cadets looked hopeful, thinking they could ride her coattails.
Others avoided her gaze, lacking any confidence.
Elisha chose one of them.