Chapter 30: Investment 30— Isn’t it Weird that the Instructors are missing on the First Day?

The first and second years marched into the dungeon in their numbers. They were welcomed into the cave-like auditorium by a cold wind that blew across the expanse.

Shivers of unease crept across their skins.

Then the jagged sound of the dungeon doors closing followed, causing some students to buckle to their knees. Beyond them lay a portal ruin stone platform that led to different parts of the first floor.

Their eyes darted around the expanse of the cave-like auditorium only to find not even a wisp of their instructors’ shadows. It was not too long before the auditorium spiralled into chaos — "the am about to die kind of chaos."

Noble children and commoners alike leaped over each other, hands banging on the dungeon doors.

"Professor Dermiurge!"

They called out to the dungeon advisor, but the large and buttressed doors only muffled their screams. The professor on the other side was more than happy that they were gone from the school premises.

Their muffled voices couldn’t have hoped to reach his distant mind. He was busy thinking about how to spend the break. Then all of a sudden, he turned his head back and felt an urge as if his name was being called.

He stopped for a brief moment, waiting to hear if his name was being called by someone. Just then, at this crucial moment, the students were supposed to scream at the top of their voices for help.

Prince Leonard chose to have his heroic moment. As the president of the student council, the instant the students recognised his pristine figure atop the stage that was meant for the instructors to address them,

All of a sudden, all their anxiety and fear were quelled.

"It’s the student council president. We are saved," a student pointed a hand at the stage.

The other students quickly ran from the door towards the stage. They all wanted to hear what the student council president had to say.

On the other side of the door, Professor Dermiurge had already waited for quite a while and he didn’t hear a thing, so he rubbed it off as being a figment of his imagination and left. Now there was no one to answer their call for help.

The dungeon gate was located underneath the academy in the deepest depths. And the academy had also gone for a break. This was their last day of administration for the semester. Apart from the dungeon instructors, all the other professors had already left the academy.

The third and fourth years were already on break. Those that were remaining were just about to leave in their carriages. The headmaster and vice headmaster were nowhere to be found (probably on some kind of secret mission).

The knights on duty were already preparing to shut the academy gate; all they were waiting for was Professor Dermiurge. He was currently the only one remaining on the academy premises.

The dungeon expedition was to be solely overseen by the instructors. According to the academy rules, they were responsible and accountable for the lives of the students. So if anything were to happen to them, that would mean "Game Over."

Because the dungeon was filled with all sorts of mysteries that had yet to be discovered. They were described as figments or parts of the other world. But that’s just something the mage tower tells the masses to keep their minds at peace.

It had been over four hundred years since the appearance of the 12 mysterious dungeons that still plagued Hale till date. The real truth about dungeons had yet to be revealed.

Even the famed Twenty-Two Imperials had yet to reach the last floor of any of the 12 Abysmal Calamities (Dungeons). Four hundred years and yet no mortal or demigod had been able to clear a dungeon.

"The sun is really hot today, isn’t it?" a brown-eyed guard shielded his eyes from the sun rays with his hand.

"Sheesh. I can’t wait to go home and see my family. Do you know my little girl is turning eight this month?" the wine-haired guard stomped his feet in excitement. He hadn’t seen his family for over two months.

The brown-eyed guard opened his mouth wide, beaming with joy. "Whoa! Wasn’t she just five? Kids really grow fast these days."

He clearly had a misconception of time, but adults being adults, they laughed it off.

At the sight of Professor Dermiurge, they adjusted their posture. The brown-eyed guard shifted his metallic steel cap to sit at the middle of his head.

They straightened their backs and placed their swords on the ground in the middle of their legs — "the kind of am always hard at work position even though I was just slacking off."

More like they didn’t want to be eaten alive by the man they called Night’s Vampire. There were even rumors that he was an actual vampire. But that made the guards wonder, "Aren’t vampires vulnerable to sunlight? So how is he walking underneath it perfectly fine?"

Professor Dermiurge, with dark patches underneath his eyes due to lack of rest and sanity, couldn’t wait to step out of the academy gate to revive his soon-to-be dead body.

"Good work today, professor. We wish you a happy holiday." They bowed their heads instantly and uttered every word with utmost caution and respect.

"One slip of the tongue and our heads might just end up rolling to the floor." (This was just them being paranoid. Killing a fellow staff member was not allowed and they were well aware.)

He turned his head away from them with a detached look on his face. He flew a hand in the air (this was supposed to be a wave by the way).

"Ah-Ah. You too."

He walked away, hands in his pockets. The knights didn’t raise their heads until he made a turn into a corner.

The brown-eyed knight wiped the sweat off his forehead and let out a sigh of relief.

"Finally, that nightmare is over." The wine-haired knight turned to his partner.

They dragged the academy gate from both ends until it was shut in the middle. They placed both their hands in front of the prominent chain lock.

"Tier 16 combo spell: Grand Luxia."

The chain lock twisted mechanically until it made a clicking sound which signified that the closing process was over.

The two knights waved themselves goodbye as they walked back, facing opposite sides.

In the depths of the academy behind the giant wooden dungeon gates, the first and second year students stood arranged in rows at the front of the stage, eagerly waiting to hear Leonard’s heroic speech that they were very sure would provide a solution.

Other students stood by the walls, mostly the ones that couldn’t care less about the student council president, but still their ears were opened wide to hear whatever bullshit he wanted to say. (They were actually hoping he had a solution too.)

"Everyone, I know we are all facing a dire time, but do not be scared or anxious. We are proud students of Adonite Academy. And our motto is?"

He paused intentionally to hear the feedback, or rather reply, from the other students to ensure he had gained control over the crowd.

"Facing the unknown head on!"

The voices of the students boomed with confidence, not in themselves but in Leonard.

"That’s right!"

He smiled brightly, further easing the tension. He reached a hand into the pulpit that stood in front of him. Then he discovered a letter. He couldn’t afford to appear shocked or disturbed. That would have just worsened the situation.

Luckily for him, when he brought the letter out, it had the stamp that signified the dungeon instructors’ authority.

"It seems our instructors left us a letter of guidance."

He raised the letter up, showcasing the stamp to his fellow students.