“Thank you. I’ll pass this along to my friend—I’m sure he’ll be delighted to hear it.”
Having turned the page on his friend's predicament, Greg asked why the two of them, being first-year freshmen, were down in the dungeon.
The recommended level for the dungeon's first layer was 20, making it rare to see freshmen anywhere near the place.
Even back when he played the original game, very few players were willing to abandon the sweet academy life just to come grind mobs in a dungeon.
Honestly, Greg couldn't understand why the devs had crammed mob-grinding elements into a Galgame in the first place.
To make matters worse, the difficulty was absurdly high. In some dungeons, you could wipe in a heartbeat even with endgame gear from the main story line.
It was utterly ridiculous!
Victoria seemed reluctant to share much information, but perhaps out of gratitude for Greg saving Silvia, she hesitated briefly before speaking up.
“It’s for the upcoming Placement Exam. I need a gem with the right affinity to give my magic more versatility.”
In this world, while magic could be cast barehanded, most people still chose to use wands or similar magic conduits.
These conduits usually came equipped with gem sockets—and embedding specific gems allowed the cast spells to undergo all sorts of miraculous transformations.
For example, if you socketed a Split Gem, casting Fireball would cause the single large fireball to split into two medium-sized fireballs as they flew toward the enemy.
If your magic conduit had a second socket and you added a Haste Gem on top of that, those two split fireballs would hurtle toward the enemy at lightning speed.
In crucial situations, the tactical versatility offered by gems could easily turn the tide of battle.
However, Greg recalled that Victoria shouldn't be completely lacking even a basic gem at this point. In Act One, some idiot was supposed to challenge her to a duel and lose a gem to her.
Oh, wait. That idiot was supposed to be me. But since I hid in the dungeon ahead of time, that event never happened.
Never mind then.
Greg reconsidered.
Even without the gem I was supposed to deliver, she should've been able to claim another basic gem during the prologue... unless...
Greg spoke up. “If I remember correctly, all freshmen get a basic gem upon enrollment. Did you say something to the instructor managing the vault?”
He mimicked a self-righteous yet recklessly naive tone:
“Like—‘Since you said I can pick any gem in the vault, I want the one socketed on your wand’—something like that?”
Victoria knit her brows. “How do you know that?”
Holy crap, she actually picked that absurd option! No wonder she had to come grind in a dungeon right after starting school.
Greg suddenly recalled that when playing the original game, encounter events usually presented three choices. The first two were generally normal, while the third was completely bizarre.
At first, he had thought the developers were just trolling by shoving weird choices in. But now, a suspicion began to take root in his mind...
Could that most bizarre option actually be the protagonist’s canon choice?!
Greg was utterly speechless.
To avoid stalling early-game progress, a normal player would rarely pick that outrageous option after getting their first gem from Greg Sass.
That way, by the end of the prologue, they would possess two gems and wouldn't need to consider entering the dungeon anytime soon, allowing them to focus entirely on pushing the story forward.
Yet here she was, having picked that absurd option without hesitation even without getting a gem from him first...
As expected of the gray-haired brat. She accomplished something so ridiculous without batting an eye.
Whatever. Since this situation came about because of me, I'll resolve it.
“Here, take this.”
Greg fished out the gem that had dropped earlier and tossed it over.
Victoria caught it reflexively.
Silvia leaned in to take a look and gasped softly. “It’s a Reflection Gem... That’s quite rare among basic gems.”
“What is the meaning of this?” Victoria gripped the gem, her searching gaze locking onto Greg once more.
“Consider it a favor,” Greg said candidly, his tone turning serious. “I hope that after you finish the Placement Exam, you'll help me clear the dungeon’s first layer.”
Victoria narrowed her eyes. “Aren't you afraid I'll take the gem and go back on my word?”
“Heh.” Greg shrugged nonchalantly, droplets of water sliding off his blonde hair with the movement. “Then I’ll just consider myself a poor judge of character.”
On the surface, he acted breezy, but in truth, he was confident.
He knew very well that although this gray-haired brat often did incomprehensible things, she never went back on a promise or an important agreement.
That was precisely one of the traits that enabled her to capture the hearts of so many heroines.
Victoria gave Greg a long, searching look.
Just from this composure alone, she could tell that the person before her truly seemed... different from the arrogant, foolish noble heir at the start of the term.
“...Fine.” She tightened her grip on the gem and nodded. “I agree.”
Before long, Silvia’s damp clothes were dried by the fire.
Victoria stood up, preparing to depart.
“Isn't Senior Greg coming back to the academy with us?” Silvia asked softly as she packed her gear.
Why would I go back?
To seek death?!
To me, this freezing dungeon is infinitely safer than that warm academy on the surface, which is practically littered with my death CGs at every corner!
Greg assumed a solemn expression and looked deep into the cavern, as if shouldering a sacred mission:
“My battlefield is here. Before standing at the starting point of conquering it, I must gain a deeper understanding of this darkness.”
Hearing this, a flicker of admiration shone in Silvia's eyes.
Although she still couldn't say she liked him much, this sense of responsibility had indeed lessened her prior disgust slightly.
“Alright then, we’ll take our leave.”
She turned to follow Victoria, but suddenly remembered something and turned back to call out:
“Ah, by the way, Senior Greg.”
“Your exclusive maid... After you were disowned by your family, she voluntarily resigned from House Sass as well. However, academy regulations state that students who lose their noble status are not allowed to keep private retainers... so she was advised to leave the academy.”
“Before leaving, though, she asked whichever student met you next to pass along a message.”
An exclusive maid... She must mean Allie.
The character instantly came to Greg's mind.
In the original game, she was a character players felt immense regret over.
She possessed beauty on par with the heroines, yet not only was she unromanceable, but whenever Greg Sass died, she would invariably die with him.
In a sense, she was also a character doomed to die.
Therefore, learning that she had voluntarily left House Sass, Greg's first reaction was relief.
At least... she won't die because of me anymore.
As for worrying whether she could survive without me?
Not a chance.
Though she was merely a maid, she was outrageously powerful. In certain routes, the only reason Greg Sass managed to survive into the late game was thanks to her—which was precisely why she could resign from House Sass whenever she pleased.
Now that she's freed from a deadweight like me, she'll surely live a much freer and more brilliant life.
Greg nodded, a relaxed smile on his lips for Allie's sake. “What did she say?”
Silvia recited, “She said—‘If you don't appear before her within a week, she'll ignore all academy rules, charge straight into the academy's dungeon, hold a grand funeral for you, and then commit suicide (laughs).’”
“Though that metaphorical phrasing is definitely a bit exaggerated, Senior Greg is truly fortunate to have such a loyal maid devoted to him.”
With that, she waved and jogged off to catch up with Victoria, who was waiting ahead.
Silence descended upon the cavern once more, broken only by the crackling campfire.
Greg stood frozen in place, the smile on his face gradually stiffening.
Guess why I’m not laughing along with you anymore.
...Is there any possibility...
That wasn't a metaphor, and she was dead serious?!
So... how many days have actually passed since she said that?!
Rate on N.U.
