The morning of Seiwa, with sunlight gently spilling across every street.
The aroma of freshly baked bread, the laughter of schoolgirls in short skirts walking together, and the sound of wagon wheels all blended together as the streets gradually came alive.
Western Seiwa.
This was the entrance to the underground mineral veins, also known as the dungeon.
Due to the underground mineral veins, animals living in the caverns would develop magic crystals in their bodies. These magic crystals were the power source for all seal tools and also sacred objects offered to deities by the divine church.
Hunting magical beasts for magic crystals was just like drilling for oil.
Where there's oil, bacteria grows—naturally the dungeon would have all sorts of people conducting immoral activities here.
To prevent such situations, low-level adventurers would all go to the Adventurer's Guild to pay entrance fees.
Having already been robbed once by the Adventurer's Guild, you couldn't be robbed by others, or the Adventurer's Association would punish you.
That was the logic.
"Oh, Mr. Felyn, you're here again? This time the school has notified us, so we can give you a crystal badge."
Different badges allowed access to different areas and faced different levels of magical beasts. Coming alone, he could only get a bronze badge.
"Thank you, Lucia."
Lucia at the guild's front desk was a girl with a full figure. Her lovely face combined with black stockings and white uniform showcased her physical advantages even more.
Seeing the youthful aura that hadn't yet been tainted by society emanating from Felyn, Lucia's heart began to stir.
She'd seen this handsome young man several times over the past few months.
"Here's your badge, young man."
Lucia picked up the badge and, under Felyn's gaze, placed it in the crevice of her chest, squeezing it tightly with two soft mounds.
Being stared at lecherously by a bunch of uncles who hadn't bathed in half a month all day was really unbearable.
Hate uncles, become an uncle.
Teasing people really felt great.
"Why aren't you taking it? Are you shy?"
Maybe he'd think about her for the rest of today. Maybe tonight when he got home, he'd even fantasize about her while relaxing.
"Thank you."
Felyn reached out and gently retrieved the crystal badge from her chest.
He kissed the still-warm badge and winked at Lucia.
"I've been blessed by the goddess of luck today. I'm sure to have good fortune."
Lucia stood there, her expression almost frozen.
"Wait, Mr. Felyn, I happen to have time after work tonight. Would you like to... I live at 512 Lanko District. I have a younger brother and sister at home. My father works as..."
Felyn smiled sweetly, waved, and walked toward the entrance.
"I don't need a dowry..." Lucia didn't notice she'd said so much in one breath.
The dungeon entrance was somewhat lively today.
The two academies had gathered about 100 people here.
Each team had five people, with no powerful characters like supervising teachers.
After all, this was a student council-organized activity—no teachers would join.
"Did you hear? This year's grouping is so strange."
"Yeah, I heard Caroline, Robert, and Emma—the top three in their grade—are all in the same group."
"Isn't that putting all the strongest together?"
"Could someone have arranged this deliberately?"
Felyn stood in the corner, eavesdropping on their conversation.
He had no classmates or friends willing to accompany him into the dungeon, so he had no choice but to participate in this group activity.
Dungeons were dangerous, filled with magical beasts. Without companions to look after you, the danger level skyrocketed.
Yesterday he'd heard that Adeline seemed to be in charge of this matter.
Could Adeline have arranged something for him?
"I really have been spending too much time with Adeline."
Felyn smiled bitterly. He was actually having such thoughts.
To that young lady, he was nothing more than a tool for venting anger.
"Now I'll announce the group assignments."
Group after group was called out. When those three top-ranking names were mentioned, everyone prayed they'd be assigned to their group.
Felyn sat in the corner, hearing two completely unfamiliar names.
As expected, it had nothing to do with him.
He'd actually thought a client would help him—how presumptuous.
"Felyn Sorester."
Here it comes! Just give me a few teammates who aren't stupid! Please!
After waiting a long time, he didn't hear his teammates' names.
"That concludes the group assignments."
A group by myself?
No way!
The surrounding students whispered among themselves, glancing at Felyn a few times before moving on without further investigation.
As a former noble, Felyn naturally wouldn't be accepted by commoners, and his reputation at school wasn't good due to the Viloti situation.
No one would speak up for him.
He must have been sabotaged by someone petty, right? Felyn was somewhat speechless.
He hadn't expected to be isolated despite being so handsome. Wasn't there any gentle female classmate who'd admired him for ages to come invite him?
Felyn watched the students around him gradually pair up and walk into the dungeon entrance, feeling somewhat frantic.
If push came to shove, even a guy would do!
The originally lively square was left with only the rustling sound of wind.
Forget it. Going alone was fine too—he could enjoy some rare peace and quiet.
Felyn sighed and walked toward the dungeon.
"Felyn."
A familiar, gentle voice came from behind.
Felyn turned around to see Adeline standing there.
She wore a light blue casual dress with silver patterns embroidered on the hem that flickered with subtle light as she moved.
A white silk ribbon was tied around her waist, outlining her slender figure.
Her rose tea-colored hair was tied high in a ponytail, with a few loose strands hanging by her ears, swaying gently in the breeze with slightly curled ends.
She'd put on light makeup today—her eyelashes curled upward slightly, and coral lipstick made her skin appear even more fair.
Adeline's outfit made it seem like she was here for a dungeon picnic rather than exploration.
"Are you here alone because there was an error in the student council's assignment list?"
No, no matter what, unless the person making assignments was blind, how could they make such an error as to put me in a group by myself?
"Probably someone in the student council dislikes me."
Felyn scratched his head, showing a helpless smile of someone hurt by petty people but magnanimously enduring it.
"That's really negligent of the student council."
Adeline unconsciously twirled her hair around her finger.
"I happen to be coming to the dungeon to hunt magic crystals today too. How about we team up?"
Adeline maintained her gentle appearance, but her voice made Felyn feel somewhat eerie.
"Consider it my apology on behalf of the student council for subjecting you to such treatment."
Felyn instantly understood everything.
Adeline had manipulated the list, hadn't she?
What did this mean?
Could it be that my pursuit of Viloti had finally been exposed, and she wanted to take me into the dungeon to silence me?
Felyn noticed the square had already been cleared—there wasn't even a witness.
Terrible. I might really get killed.
"Is that okay? If other people saw me together with Lady Adeline, wouldn't that have some bad influence?"
"You can rest assured about that. No one will see us in the dungeon." Adeline smiled slightly and clapped her hands.
She'd brought all the elite guards from her family today. Let alone magical beasts, there wouldn't even be any people around.
Felyn's heart sank, confirming his suspicions.
This woman really intended to make a move against him.
Maybe she'd sent people to wait for him in the dungeon. As long as he didn't enter the dungeon, he'd be safe, right?
Right now it was just Adeline alone—at least he could still run away.
"Adeline, I suddenly feel a bit uncomfortable in my stomach. How about today..."
Felyn closed his mouth.
He saw about a hundred people emerging from the Adventurer's Guild one after another.
Each wore a uniform silver-white outfit with the Claude family crest embroidered on their chests.
They lined up in orderly formation, their weapons gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
Mages, warriors, priests, assassins... elites from every profession were among them.
This lineup was even more luxurious than a small military regiment.
Felyn even recognized several famous adventurers in Seiwa—he hadn't expected they were all working for the Claude family.
"My father said," Adeline said softly, "the dungeon is too dangerous and told me to bring more people to protect me."
She said this while looking down, but Felyn still caught the sly smile at the corner of her mouth.
Was this for hunting magic crystals? This was clearly going to empty out the entire dungeon.
Magical beasts, run! Take your unborn children and run!
"Oh right, what were you saying just now?" Adeline asked.
Nothing. Even if his stomach really hurt and he soiled himself, he wouldn't dare say anything.
(End of Chapter)