After lunch, which only left me hungrier, I head straight to the Dungeon and descend to the second floor, which is barely any different from the first.
Only the number of goblins increases slightly, which makes the hunt even easier.
— With this... I think I have enough for one more day. — I think, looking at the magic stones in my hand.
After living on an island full of deadly creatures, fighting goblins has become boring and repetitive.
The good part is that yesterday's tension has passed, so I walk more relaxed, though still attentive.
— ...I'm hungry.
Analyzing the quantity of magic stones I have and how much I should earn, I decide to return to the city and get something to eat.
Since it's still relatively early, basically mid-afternoon, I can come back later and gather more.
— Today's lunch didn't help much...
I've barely eaten these past few days, as everything was rationed during the journey. Therefore, I am basically in a state of constant hunger.
— What should I eat... bread? Salad?
While thinking about my meal, I return to the adventurers' building to quickly sell the stones I carry.
The streets are much more bustling than yesterday, full of people shouting prices and calling customers.
— Hmm? What's going on? — I wonder until I reach the building.
When I enter, the place is more crowded than ever, full of young people in uniforms who appear to be students.
I go straight to the counter to sell the stones I'm carrying.
— Good afternoon, I came to sell these stones..
— Good afternoon, just a moment... Here you go — the attendant says, almost ignoring my existence.
She barely looked at me, instead focusing the entire time on the groups of students, as if wishing she were with them.
— Which school are they from? Must be a famous one... maybe Noctis level?
I believe a school at the level of Noctis could only be found in another country, so it must just be a locally famous one.
— Well, it has nothing to do with me, anyway...
I head toward the door, until I notice a small group in the corner.
— Man, these girls are really beautiful, and even the guy is handsome... It looks kind of unreal.
Seeing people like this, I think they are either highly blessed, or they are living through hell to compensate for their looks.
— Although... I lived through hell and I'm still ugly...
Putting the negative thought aside, I turn my attention back to the group, and for some reason, I feel uneasy.
— Am I forgetting something?
I think for a moment and finally understand my concern.
— If I'm not mistaken, the chance of a man becoming an adventurer are slim, but the chance of him entering an influential school and still becoming an adventurer... is almost impossible.
And now there's a group of students with a man among them.
— …Calm down, maybe I'm just mistaken.
I turn to a group of girls from this school and try to find out more about them.
— Excuse me, may I ask something?
— Huh? What do you want?
The moment they turn to me, I can feel the disdain in their eyes and in the way she speaks.
— N-nothing much, I just wanted to see that beautiful badge at least once in my life, — I say, pointing to the badge on the girl's uniform.
Seeing that I was just someone admiring the glory of her having entered such a school, she shows me the badge with a proud smile while cheerfully commenting:
— If that's all, take a good look, because entering the Royal Academy of Noctis is not for just anyone.
Her friends seemed to agree with the girl's statement, but I just stood still, looking at the badge while thinking about something completely different.
— How is this possible!? Shouldn't they have arrived a month ago!?
If the story starts a month later than the true beginning, it would become horrible in basically every chapter.
Besides, what guarantees that the monster disposition down there is still the same?
— ...Ha... Calm down, relax. — I briefly take a deep breath before turning back to the girl who showed me the badge.
Observing her better now, I can tell she is beautiful, despite the exaggerated makeup and accessories. Her uniform is slightly different from the others, probably customized, but the dark tones representing Noctis still remain.
What catches my attention the most, besides her crystalline blue eyes and long platinum blonde hair, are her pointed ears, indicating she is of another race.
— Wasn't there a girl who was kind of arrogant, cute, and an elf? — I thought as I handed the badge back. — Thank you... how should I address the lady?
— I see you understand well who I am, so refer to me by my full name: Cristal Narcissa Prismarina
— I understand. Thank you again.
Saying this, I turn and leave, heading back to the Dungeon.
— I must have annoyed her a bit — I think with a slight smile.
I asked for her name just to not use it and walk away. She must have been angry, but her arrogance wouldn't let it show. Meanwhile, her "friends" must be struggling not to laugh and maintain appearances.
The life of nobles is not easy, never knowing who is truly trustworthy.
— I feel sorry for her, knowing her backstory, but the protagonist should solve it... Wait, the protagonist is still late for the story!
Remembering this, I run back to the adventurers' building and look for him.
— There he is... If I'm not mistaken, the one all dressed up in a dress that isn't a uniform must be the princess, and the other... the one who pushes him?
Something is wrong with this group, mainly because there are only three of them.
— That girl is very beautiful, and her posture is too firm for a student, so she must be the princess's guard... Where is the person who pushes the hero?
Noticing this detail, I realize that the story is derailing more and more the longer I do nothing.
— Will she join them when they enter the Dungeon? I'll wait there.
I quickly return to the Dungeon and lean against the wall next to the second-floor door, as if resting. No one would doubt that a man got tired on the second floor, anyway.
Observing the surroundings while looking at my panel, I realize my level has gone up a bit, and I still haven't gained the goblin's skill, despite having tried to absorb a little more this morning.
I also think about the money I earned, as I am looking for a new weapon, which I haven't decided on yet.
While having such thoughts, I finally notice the protagonist and the two girls descending.
— Seriously? Just the three of them?
The hero is already late, and now the person who is supposed to push him doesn't even exist. This is completely changing the story I know!
— ...There is no other choice, I'll do it myself.
I head toward the cliff, and when the protagonist passes by, I stop him.
— Hey, friend, can you help me? I dropped a magic stone inside a crack in the ground and I can't get it out.
The hero turns to me, and for the first time, I see his face up close. Short white hair and blue eyes, with a natural, confident smile.
— Oh, sure, where did you drop it? — he replies, without doubting.
Behind him, I see the two girls looking at me suspiciously, but they don't say anything.
— Right here — I say, pointing to a crack on the ground near the abyss.
— Here? Oh, I see it.
While he kneels down to try to pick up the magic stone I placed there, I kneel beside him and pretend to try to help, telling him to try to force the crack open slightly while I pull the stone.
— This will never work, but I already have another one in my hand just for the show... — I think, pretending to exert force to pull the stone.
— This... is very stuck — the protagonist says, seeing my effort.
— I... accidentally stepped on it.
— That explains it…
— Come on... 3... 2... 1... Now!
As soon as I shout, I throw my hands back and toss the extra magic stone to distract the two girls. Meanwhile, I fall on my backside and push the protagonist with one of my feet with all my strength, making him fall toward the abyss.
— Go and do your— Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!
In the story, simple magic was used to push the protagonist, which gave me the idea that it would be easy to push him, but I ended up overlooking one thing...
His reflexes.
Before falling, he grabs my leg, and just like that, we both plummet into the depths of the Dungeon.
[To be continued…]
[???]:
— F.