All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 55

28. What to Teach – 1

“A surge. Is it faster than usual?”

“The surge cycles have been irregular recently. It’s dangerous, so we recommend entering after the surge subsides.”

“I’m fine with just dealing with a few Dimensionals.”

“It’s not just Dimensionals. When a surge starts, the Guardians that were waiting react to the Dimensional Gate and start moving.”

“Also, the defense facilities created by the Magic Kingdom will activate.”

“That’s not all. The equipment and facilities from other dimensions that have come through the Dimensional Gate… all of that will resonate with the Dimensional Gate and activate.”

“So, the exploration difficulty increases.”

“Yes. Of course, if you’re lucky, you might find artifacts that you can only get on the upper floors of the Tower outside. But those cases are very rare.”

Most of the time, you just get overwhelmed by the sheer number of Dimensionals, defense facilities, or Guardians.

So, when a surge occurs, most people get out of there.

“Look over there.”

Adrian pointed to the large gate, where quite a few people were exiting.

Aran approached Ian and patted him on the back.

He had planned to enter the Forgotten City during the vacation, but a surge starting was unavoidable.

“I understand. Then let’s go in and out quickly.”

“Huh?”

“Excuse me?”

The two looked at each other, confused.

“They said a surge is starting.”

“It hasn’t started yet.”

“……Won’t it be dangerous?”

“What isn’t dangerous in this world? We live while taking those risks.”

“Mya Mya~.”

Myaene didn’t seem too worried either.

Aran, who was looking at them with a dumbfounded expression, was about to say something when Adrian spoke first.

“If you’re planning to enter the Forgotten City, you’ll need a permit. Since Master Aran has vouched for you, I’ll issue it right away.”

“I’ve already been disowned, so don’t call me that.”

“Your name is still on the Biden County family register.”

As she turned around and left, Aran grabbed Ian.

“Are you really going in?”

“I can’t *not* go in after coming all this way.”

“Haa. What a reckless guy.”

Even while grumbling, Aran followed Ian.

Adrian headed to a small office near the Third Barrier.

“Huh?! M, Master Aran?!”

“When did you arrive?”

Several employees sent friendly glances.

Aran simply raised his hand lightly instead of answering.

As he sat down in a corner seat, Adrian handed Ian a few documents.

“First, I’ll give you a low-level permit to explore inside the Third Barrier.”

“What happens if I go further in?”

“Then it will be considered an unauthorized entry, and you won’t be able to use the facilities or request rescue. Also, you’ll be recognized as a grave robber…”

You’ll become the target of other explorers.

Ian nodded roughly.

“Can’t I get a high-level one right away?”

“It’s not possible according to the regulations.”

“I see.”

*If he couldn’t, he could just wander around without a permit.*

That’s why Ian didn’t insist.

“Then I’ll charge you 500 gold as a fee. This fee includes rescue operations, road construction, installation and operation of safety zones, and wall maintenance costs. All usage fees are included.”

It wasn’t like they were collecting unreasonable taxes; that level of usage fee was a reasonable price.

As Ian paid the fee, Adrian sent the documents inside.

After a while, a bronze badge came out from the inside.

It felt like it had magic imbued in it, so it seemed to be a type of artifact.

“This badge can only be reissued at the same cost. Also, if you bring someone else’s badge, we’ll pay you a reward.”

“I understand.”

When Ian, who had received the badge, returned, Aran stood up.

“Okay. Then let’s go in as quickly as possible and come back.”

After leaving the office and walking a little further, a large gate appeared.

*Was it because of the talk about a surge starting soon?*

There were more people leaving than entering.

“Show me your badges.”

After checking the badges that Ian and Aran showed him, he pointed to the entrance.

“There will be a surge soon.”

“Okay.”

Aran nodded and walked with Ian.

The moment they passed through the large gate and crossed the Third Wall.

“Myaaaaa…….”

Myaene cried softly.

The atmosphere changed all at once, even though they had only crossed one wall.

The atmosphere of the battlefield was overwhelming.

Some of those who were resting nearby glanced at Ian and Aran.

*Were they potential prey?*

*Or were they beings too difficult to hunt?*

The eyes of hyenas trying to size up their opponents were increasing.

Aran didn’t even glance at them and said.

“You have to go in a little further to see the real thing. Let’s go.”

Following his guidance, they walked inside.

The moment they passed a large rock and climbed a hill, a wall could be seen quite far away.

“That’s the Second Barrier.”

“I see.”

“Let’s go there this time. But be careful. In this place…”

“Haha! Hey friends! How about sharing what you have!!”

Some menacing-looking people were approaching.

Pointing at them, Aran lightly drew his sword.

“Those kinds of guys are everywhere.”

The five robbers didn’t last long against Ian and Aran.

Aran, who cleanly beheaded the enemy begging for mercy, glanced at Ian, who was searching the fallen.

“What are you doing?”

“Sometimes you can find something good from these guys.”

But unfortunately, there was nothing special.

All they had was one artifact with limited uses left and two permits.

Even then, the permits were low-level, so it was hard to see it as a big profit.

“There’s nothing special from the guys here, unless you go inside. Let’s go.”

First, they had to go to the nearest safe zone.

Aran skillfully found his way, taking Ian with him.

Of course, that didn’t mean they didn’t encounter enemies.

Some were training.

Others wanted to get what Ian and Aran had.

Some just enjoyed killing.

Less than five hours after entering the Forgotten City, Ian and Aran had killed over twenty enemies.

“If you live here, you really see all kinds of human beings.”

“Is that so?”

Some risk their lives to save others.

Some risk their lives to kill.

Looking around the place where extremes gathered, Aran opened his mouth.

“The reason I left here too…”

“That’s a Guardian.”

He, who was reminiscing about the past, came to his senses at Ian’s question.

What Ian pointed to was a small rock covered in dirt, dust, and vines.

Aran narrowed his eyes and looked at it closely, and was impressed.

“Your observation skills are extraordinary. Yes. That’s a Guardian.”

“It just looks like a rock.”

“That’s because it’s on standby right now. What did you see to notice?”

“There’s an unnatural small hole inside the vines.”

Even without Kirke’s report, he could tell that much.

As Ian spoke, he nodded.

It was then.

As some explorers nearby were passing by, dirt rose up and something popped out.

It was a monster with four scythe-like arms and a triangular head.

The monster, which looked like a giant mantis, swung its blade-like forelimbs at the explorers passing by.

“Ugh, uaaaah!!”

“It’s a Mantis!!”

It was a monster he had never seen in the library books or the resource room of the Monster Hunting class.

“That’s one of the weakest Dimensionals in the Forgotten City.”

Rotating its strangely thin waist, it instantly butchered two explorers.

The explorers were surprised by the sudden Mantis attack and moved around the Guardian.

“That’s the most dangerous method. The Guardian activates if there’s a living thing next to it.”

The moment Aran’s words ended.

-Kuuuuung!!

The Guardian that Ian had found earlier stood up.

-Kwaaaaang!!

A powerful light shot out from the head, which was covered in vines.

The Mantis, which was hit by the light, burned up in an instant.

It caught the Mantis in an instant, but the Guardian wasn’t satisfied with that.

Saw blades popped out from the body covered in dirt, dust, and vines, tearing apart the explorers around it.

“Uwaaaah!!”

“R, run away!! Uwaaaak!!”

Not only them, but even the explorers passing by.

Only after eliminating all living things nearby did the Guardian return to its previous state and become silent.

Pointing to the Guardian’s surroundings, which were brutally destroyed, Aran calmly said.

“Can you win?”

Ian’s expectations rose.

Right now, winning or losing wasn’t important to him.

“That thing seems to have a considerable amount of magic power…”

“That’s right. Because it’s a weapon of the Magic Kingdom.”

Hearing those words, Ian smiled contentedly.

*‘Then I can raise my Circle in the Forgotten City and leave.’*

‘Get ready.’

As Ian drew his sword, Aran smiled bitterly.

“Are you going to fight?”

“Yes.”

“It might be dangerous. I’m not worried if it’s you… but still, retreat immediately if you think it’s dangerous.”

*That won’t happen.*

Ian gave Myaene to Aran and walked towards the Guardian.

-Uuuuung!!

The Guardian, sensing a living thing, stood up.

The spider-like body rose, and six sharp legs soared.

-Clank! Clank!

The moment ten arms resembling saw blades and knives appeared from between the torso.

-Chiijijik!!

The head of the Guardian, emitting steam, opened.

As the light from before was about to be emitted from there, Ian grabbed a throwing dagger.

“I already calculated it, so don’t.”

Ian threw the dagger with internal energy [a form of energy manipulation].

His dagger was lodged directly inside where the light was gathered.

-Wiiiing!!

Ian, who had neutralized the attack using light in one go, lightly flicked his sword as the saw blades and knives approached.

Ian, who easily avoided the saw blade’s attack, spun his sword around.

And ran towards the ten dangerous weapons.

-Kwaduk!! Kwaduduk!!

The Guardian, which had been a brutal slaughterer until just now, was now just a powerless weakling.

All but one of the thick six legs were broken.

The ten arms that had been tearing apart explorers just a moment ago were torn off or broken, and were just wriggling.

Ian, who had caught the Guardian without hitting the weak point even once, mercilessly tore off the armor.

The core, made of magic stones along with numerous metal materials, could be seen inside.

Ian tilted his head as he checked the internal structure.

‘Kirke. This……’

‘Then is it possible to take over control? Kirke. Analyze it.’

At his command, Kirke calmly replied.

Kirke, who scanned the inside of the Guardian whose movements had stopped, began the analysis.

Meanwhile, Ian looked down at the Guardian and reached out his hand.

The moment the Guardian’s core was caught in his hand.

-Uuuuung…….

With a low vibration sound, the Guardian’s movements stopped as its magic power was plundered.