Chapter 123: In Search of the Second Master
All smiles.
Turk's lips couldn't seem to part with the smile.
It made sense.
I had resolved Turk's earnest wish and immediately found him a proper student.
Everything was for my sake, but seeing my first mentor, whom I owed much to, happy, filled me with joy.
'Live well.'
There would be no more reason to come here.
To advance my swordsmanship to the next level, I needed to find a second master as soon as possible.
"You were here."
A voice came from behind.
Elaine approached slowly.
"I came out for some fresh air because of the alcohol."
"Did you drink a lot?"
"A bit more than usual."
Elaine, standing beside me, had the same complexion as always.
Because she doesn't drink.
'It was quite exceptional when she got drunk on the Tears of Frost.'
"Were you avoiding me?"
"A-avoiding, who's avoiding..."
Elaine, denying it, had her cheeks flushed.
I chuckled at her cute appearance.
"Why, why are you laughing?"
"Because it's cute."
"What, what, what did you say?"
Elaine was extremely flustered, which made me want to tease her even more.
"You seem not to realize it, but you're cuter than you think."
"Are, are you saying this because you're drunk?"
"Just being honest."
"Ugh."
Elaine stepped back twice.
Her face was completely red.
She seemed to have little immunity to such situations, a model student.
Capable, kind, diligent, and responsible.
Honestly, Elaine's style is much more comfortable to date than someone like Regina.
Regina has an openly cold personality and an aura so strong that in the game, one couldn't dare approach her carelessly.
It's somewhat funny that I'm engaged to such a character.
"Why, really, why are you doing this?"
Elaine looked at me with eyes full of reproach.
It's time to stop.
As I always say, one should not cross the line.
"Sorry, sorry. But it's not a joke."
"Ha?"
Elaine stood with an awfully awkward expression, not knowing how to respond.
I decided to help her out.
I changed the subject.
"The dungeon practice is not far off."
"..Yeah."
Elaine seemed relieved that I had changed the topic.
She wouldn't have been able to endure it otherwise, due to her lack of immunity.
"It's important."
"Yes."
Dungeon practice.
It was an event that happened only once a year, climbing a massive artificial dungeon known as the 'Infinite Tower.'
It's called the Infinite Tower, but the actual height of the tower is not that tall.
Just ten floors high.
The reason it's called infinite is that even after reaching the tenth floor, if you conquer it, it keeps going up endlessly.
Of course, there is a real end.
The hundredth floor.
That was the confirmed end of the Infinite Tower.
And the students who succeeded in conquering that hundredth floor became legends of the academy.
The most recent legendary student would probably be my fiancée, Regina Erenbert.
At this point, it's certain.
'I couldn't see the end either.'
Unlike other games where the protagonist is overpowered or extremely talented, conquering the hundredth floor was a mission nearly impossible.
Especially for someone like Max.
'How many floors can I clear?'
The difficulty of the Infinite Tower increased with each floor.
Whether the number of monsters increased or the monsters themselves became stronger, the difficulty of conquering it definitely increased.
What's more fascinating is that even on the same floor, which monsters appear is random.
In other words, even though it's an artificial dungeon, it's not something humans can control at will.
The Infinite Tower is not considered one of the mysteries of Lepheria Academy for nothing.
There are many strange points.
First, the monsters respawn infinitely, and nobody knows where they emerge from.
Second, the actual height is only ten floors, but if you conquer it, you can keep going up to a hundred floors.
Third, as mentioned before, even the same floor is random each time you enter.
Fourth, each floor has a transfer magic circle drawn, so if you want to give up and leave, you can do so at any time.
Therefore, there's a legend that says it was created a thousand years ago by the combined powers of a holy woman and a great sage.
'Whatever it is, it's the best for practical experience.'
If only one could climb higher.
"Are you going to climb up alone?"
Even though there's a transfer magic circle on each floor, facing monsters and conquering the dungeon is dangerous.
It's customary to form a party due to potential risks.
However, students recognized as qualified by a professor could solo play.
That qualification was, of course, strength.
Elaine, naturally, had that qualification as one of the top genius mages in the academy.
"Hmm... No, I'll go up with a friend."
"Oh? Really?"
I didn't know much about it since it was about a grade above the protagonist, but it seemed Elaine liked to party play.
"Yes. How about you?"
"I'll definitely go with a party. A three-person party."
The common class miracle trio.
The eldest son of the Celtrine family, a mischievous one, the eldest son of the Benesse family, a simpleton, and a fourth-dimensional antisocial girl.
One of them wouldn't be much help, and another would probably just want to play around, but it couldn't be helped.
This is the best party I can form with my current connections.
"Ah, those from that time.."
"Yeah, the ones you're thinking of."
"That's a good party."
It would have been a good party with you in it.
Ah, but then I wouldn't get enough experience, would I?
Sorry, timid guy and fourth-dimensional girl.
You are good party members.
"Well, yes."
I smirked and nodded slightly.
Elaine glanced at me and then asked, "But you seem to get along well with the juniors, right?"
She looked curious.
It seemed that she thought my connections were unsuitable for me.
After all, considering my past behavior and personality, that was a natural reaction.
"Not really, but I just happened to become a bit close with those two."
"They both seem like good talents."
Typical Elaine.
She has a discerning eye.
"Not bad. I think they're good connections."
"Good connections."
"Of course, you're a given."
"Ugh, you're really something today."
"Ha-ha, does it make you cringe? When else could I say such things if not when I'm slightly tipsy?"
"It's getting chilly. Let's go inside."
I moved first.
Elaine hesitated for a moment, then followed my steps.
thank-you-for-using-NovelFire
The second swordsmanship master.
He was not a nice person like Turk.
Rather, he was closer to being fearsome.
And he was a man of lower status than Turk, who was a commoner from a mercenary background.
I had to move as quickly as possible to find that man.
Because I needed to master the second swordsmanship before the dungeon practice to conquer higher floors.
That was necessary to score well.