Surviving in my Own Unpublished Failed Novel-Chapter 174 School Trip [7] [Magic Stones]

After Russell finished reading his own unpublished novel that was handed to him by the Goddess of Night, The Forgotten Swordsman of Ruined Star or what the System dubbed as the Incomplete Last Defector of Reality for reasons yet to be known, Russell was certain of one thing at this moment.

'This didn't happen in the original story.'

According to his unpublished novel, the School Trip, though it had transpired in the original story and was happening at this very moment in reality, wasn't thoroughly written. In other words, as his memory served him after reading the mysterious book, the School Trip was something less than a ten-page writing.

Russell just glossed over the itineraries by directly exploring the sites for touring with some relevant circumstances, and went to the final place of this trip, Alastor, before the first tragedy against humanity itself struck the human domain.

It's a disaster that's not related to any kind of Close Mystery Tower, but the casualties were massive in both infrastructures and human life.

After some time passed, Russell and the others found themselves underwater, inside the magnificent infrastructure that had been built below the deep cave where two Strayed Dungeons that were only low-ranked and handled by the Chaos Hunter Guild were situated.

Above the spacious lobby, through the thick, magic-enhanced, unordinary mirror, strayed species of fish and other kinds of sea creatures could be seen. Due to Mana Consolidation after the Emergence struck the human world, subtle changes could be seen in other creatures' physical appearances; from shells, pincers, and scales.

These sea creatures were lucky enough to not evolve into a Monster Beast or a creature that seemed to gain immense strength and lose or gain rationality.

With the sublime scenery of tranquility before Russell and the others, an adult male guide for the mini competition between the Obelisk and Sky Academy firmly spoke.

"Everyone, nice meeting all of you.

"Today, we will start a mini competition between the students from both academies.

"The rule is very simple — the group who can bring back more Magic Stones will win.

"And if you are curious about the rewards, twenty percent of the cost of the Magic Stones you will bring back will be distributed among the group members.

"And only five percent for those who will lose."

The adult man simply went frankly regarding the rules of the small competition.

"Sir, what about the possible dangers?"

This time, the somewhat emotionally torn Rumia because of the hundred million deaths due to the Tower of Growth, asked in wonder.

"I appreciate your concern princess.

"To begin with, there will be someone who will accompany each group, and you probably know them."

Without waiting for Rumia to respond, Raya and Yara appeared suddenly on either side of the adult man.

After some time of explaining everything, the designated groups or lineup for each academy — since the number of students was more than hundreds, were released.

Apart from the above-mentioned challenge, the second and third-year students of both academies were having a challenge of their own, though happening in different places, but it was mostly about general production like alchemy and blacksmithing.

Standing with anticipation, the groups entered the respective dungeons assigned to them. Although the dungeons would inhabit different kinds of monsters, their ranks would be the same.

***

[You have entered the Strayed Dungeon, "Tentacle Island (E)"]

Rumia, being chosen as one of the members not because she's a princess and she's in her home country, but because of her ability as the Top 4 of the first years in the Obelisk Academy, glanced around the island they arrived.

The others; Samantha, Elizabeth, Anya, Jiho, Leon, the siblings — Celiya and Erina, as well as Tyrion, one of Leon's goons that's also of noble blood, subsequently arrived as well. Then, in the last second, being the 10th man of the group, Russell appeared. It was, for the second time, due to Ayleen's suggestion or more like an intervention. Then, as the guide of their group, Yara followed suit.

Rumia, who tacitly became the leader of the group, spoke casually.

"Everyone, since it's only an E Rank Strayed Dungeon, I think we can split up and collect as many Magic Stones as possible."

"Too bad, we're separated from the other academy."

Leon muttered, causing everyone to give him a wondering look. Since there were two Strayed Dungeons, and it was only a small competition, it was decided not to merge both parties because of possible conflicts to occur.

[Activating the Skill: Eye of Night (EX)]

[Confirming the Hidden Nature of the current target: Leon von Obreyon]

[Hidden Nature: Vengeful]

'He's different from what I thought.'

Russell inwardly muttered to himself, seemingly realizing that Leon's route turned into a different one — in other words, for the worst.

What he knew at this "early" of the story was that Leon did not fail the Tower of Growth, but became envious of Jiho since the former conquered it with the help of his father's goons, but the latter conquered it with the help of some of his mere classmates.

'Vengeful, huh... He should need a sense of beating to get back on track.'

Russell thought, not hearing Rumia's instruction.

After some time, not caring about what the party leader said, Elizabeth held Russell's wrist, causing him to flinch. Both of them then vanished from the spot and teleported somewhere inside the Tentacle Island.

*** 𝙛r𝚎𝐞𝑤𝚎𝗯𝗻𝗼𝐯e𝚕.𝒄𝐨𝓂

"Can you please inform me when you are going to jump through space?"

Russell complained, though not seriously, but he felt like his brain had been shaken through vibration.

"You are spacing out, so I thought you want to travel through space."

Elizabeth answered nonsensically, causing Russell to facepalm.

"Sigh... Anyways, let's go hunting."

Russell glanced around, what was screened in his deep blue eyes were small trees that were on the verge of being rotten, and the ground was greyish in color.

"Tentacle Island, huh... Is this perhaps a Kraken's tentacle? I mean—the whole island itself?"

He muttered, which caused Elizabeth to contemplate.

"You're probably right since most dungeon names refer to what they are in themselves.

"In this dungeon's case, the tentacle seems to become or produce its own ecosystem."

She added before proceeding to summon her Personal Weapon, White World. Russell then did the same before he glanced around and scrutinized the area's vastness with his profound vision.

When he saw no one, Russell spoke to Elizabeth, who was doing warm-up slashes that caused the air to vibrate.

"Elizabeth, you know I'm a Summoner, right?"

Turning her head slightly, she nodded in response before she asked.

"What about it?

"You know that the moment you became an A-1 student, my mother already investigated you through some channels, though she forgets most of the time if you're not a threat to me."

'Wow, you're being open to me?'

Russell inwardly lampooned before he answered her casualness.

"I think it'll be better if we receive a helping hand."

Without waiting for the princess to speak, Russell summoned Met, the Chaos Goblin.

Elizabeth felt chills all over her body as she reflexively turned her body into an offensive stance, and faced the three-crimson-eyed, two-horned, greyish-skinned Goblin.

"W-what's that?"

"I am Met, Master Russell's servant."

Elizabeth's mouth agape upon hearing the deep voice that resembled a demon's voice in movies. She incredulously looked at Russell, waiting for him to answer.

"It's my summon."

"I-I know that! B-but where did you manage to find it?"

"That's a secr-"

"Because it's so cute-! Kyaaa-!"

Russell didn't manage to finish his words when Elizabeth hugged the monstrous-looking Goblin, causing its crimson eyes to almost burst out of its face.

Russell inwardly guffawed as he became grateful for something.

'You didn't change, at least that side of yours.'

Based on his unpublished novel, Elizabeth liked to read books and watch movies in her spare time, but the genres were mostly, if not all, horror and thriller. In other words, Elizabeth was the kind of princess who was fascinated with monstrous-looking beings, if it was only an ally, though.

It's also the reason why Russell rarely hesitated to suggest and summon Met in front of the princess.

"Met... Why is its name—Met?"

'That's for future use, I can't tell you that.'

Russell inwardly spoke before he just shrugged off her question.

After some time, the hunting to collect Magic Stones for the peculiar-looking monsters in the Tentacle Island began.

***

[Your summon creature, Met has killed a "Flying Squid (E-)"]

[You have killed a "Flying Squid (E-)"]

The time quickly went by and the number of Magic Stones collected was increasing in number.

"Macro-Teleportation sure is convenient."

Russell complimented the overpowered skill he had written, seeing it in reality, with his very eyes.

"I'm just using what the System has bestowed me after I received the System itself."

'You mean what I wrote about you?'

Russell repressed himself to say such a thing.

"Master, it's 121 Magic Stones."

"Thank you, Met.

"You are both good at fighting and counting."

Pak-!

Sitting on a thick branch of the small tree, Elizabeth struck the back of Russell's head.

"Did you perhaps call your summon just to act as an errand?"

Elizabeth frowned as she asked. Her light green eyes seemed to pierce Russell's head.

"My Master's will is my will."

"Oh, you see! When it's willing, it's willing! Don't make it a big issue."

Russell added something to Met's words, making it a stronger point.

"Suit yourself."

Elizabeth replied gloomily. Her mood seemed to swing on another end of her personality.

"Hey, Princess..."

Without answering as though she was in her own world, Russell added:

"Hidden emotions are a thorn in a person's heart.

"Pluck it out before it spread further and affects the remaining roses."

Elizabeth glanced at Russell after hearing the latter's words. Her expression was serious, but for some reason, his words hit deep as though they were meant to be heard by her ears.

"Let's go, Princess."

With his back facing Elizabeth, Russell recalled Met and walked slowly after getting down from the thick branch of the small tree.

The princess then followed suit with heavy, yet getting lighter steps.

***

At the same time, in the other Strayed Dungeon where the chosen students from the Sky Academy were designated.

"He'll pay for humiliating me!"

Acelyn von Ephilon, the daughter of a Marquis Household in Cassiopeia, fumed as she recalled what happened the other day.

Her other group members supported her just because of her status, especially by now Ranked 1 in their class when the person who was supposedly the Ranked 1 died because he was killed by his own mother due to the Tower of Growth's penalty.

"We'll support you! Let's humiliate him by winning this!"

"Yes!"

"Let's go!"

Raya just watched these students without meddling with whatever business they had. After that, they left the Strayed Dungeon with every Magic Stone they collected.

***

"The Sky Academy wins!"

The adult male guide announced the result as bluish Magic Stones were laid in front of every first-year student and other personnel for this matter.

The collected amount of Rumia's group was approximately seven-hundred-sixty-one Magic Stones, while Acelyn's group possessed seven-hundred-seventy-two.

Almost instantly knowing what happened, Russell slowly clapped with a grin painted on his lips, while also looking directly at Acelyn's fair-skinned face.

'Sigh... just for irrelevant honor, you'll cheat your way, huh?'

Russell thought as he realized that Acelyn, or some of her group members, already possessed numerous Magic Stones inside their Dimensional Inventory before they even entered the assigned Strayed Dungeon for them. It was a loophole that he, if not others, noticed before the challenge started because there's no way to check one's Dimensional Inventory due to it being an extremely private asset of a player.

And just as he expected, Jiho spoke to the adult male guide.

"Sir, I don't know how they won, but these people are clearly weaker than us."

"Pfft-!"

Russell didn't contain himself by almost laughing at the unexpected words that came out of the main character's mouth of his unpublished novel.