Chapter 4: The Minotaur Appears

“First, congratulations to all of you for becoming… students of this academy.

This means… you are no longer reserve Dungeon Enthusiasts, but official… haaa—Explorers.”

The Class F homeroom teacher—Priss—stood on the podium, introducing herself with an expression that couldn’t hide her drowsiness.

“From here on, your life’s goal… is to keep challenging the unknown Dungeons, striving for the deepest depths. This has always been humanity’s longstanding wish… and those big corporations also hope you’ll do the same… They’ll give you their full support… Becoming an Explorer means living alongside death, so be prepared.”

“If you lack the willpower… our academy… welcomes you to process your withdrawal at any time. It’s not shameful—fearing death is human nature. Last year, 1,236 new students enrolled at our academy, but only… 927 graduated. Though I graduated from the National Explorers University myself, I’ve never actually gone into a Dungeon since then, and I’m still doing pretty well….”

The students’ inner voices: Can we just get to the main topic already?!

The three large white boxes were far more attractive than the lazy homeroom teacher in black stockings and a camisole.

Shilock understood their feelings.

Except for the first time, he always skipped Priss’s dialogues.

Priss closed her eyes several times, then finally patted the large boxes.

“Ring Chart.

A tool you’ll only get after enrolling at this academy—a gift from the school.

It quantifies your physical abilities… and displays your current status, attributes, and Talents.

Each person’s Ring Chart… has DNA Registration—no one else can use it.

Don’t even think about sneaking one out to sell.

Aside from storing items… its basic functions, Lv increases will unlock more auxiliary functions…

The more features it has, the better you’ll be able to handle the complex situations deeper in the Dungeon.

Work hard, slay monsters… and level up your Lv…”

Priss manipulated her Magic, and a blue-violet breeze distributed all the Ring Charts into each student’s hand.

She then closed her eyes and fell asleep.

It’s here! The Ring Chart.

Shilock nervously put on the Ring Chart.

A high-tech smart bracelet made with Dungeon technology.

Shilock wanted to know if he had any “Talent.”

In games, Talents were selectable traits at the start, providing various bonuses to future adventures—a major draw in The Dungeon of Cass.

In Cass’s first playthrough, the default Talent was [Friction].

On the second playthrough, new trait updates were unlocked, and if dissatisfied, you could keep refreshing Talents at the start.

If he could draw Talents like [Time Manipulation], [Double Experience], or [Book of Godforging], the path to power would be much smoother.

It’s an official cheat—why not take it if it’s offered?

By then, even a Veil Minotaur would be nothing!

Besides, Shilock wasn’t just after slaying Minotaurs.

It was also to prepare for the mid-game Calamity Event…

An event that would reshape the game map.

By rights, in the original Line, Shilock would have dropped out by then, making later events irrelevant.

But that mid-game event would wipe out half the City’s population!

Shilock was one of them.

His death info would appear as an Easter egg in the news—a black-and-white portrait flashing across the TV…

Escape? He’d thought about it, but who would believe him?

In two years, everyone would die anyway, so just run from the City~

If you told your family, they might send you to a mental hospital first.

“Hah, the moment of fate has arrived.”

Open!

A Floating Window projected from the Ring Chart, visible only as a gray blur to others.

The first thing shown was his own status and attributes.

“This…! This stat…!!”

(Name) Shilock

(Lv) 2

(Class) —Newcomer—

(Exploration Floor) —0—

HP (Hit Points) Max: 8

MP (Magic Points) Max: 9

STR (Strength): 3

END (Endurance): 2

AGI (Agility): 4

DEX (Dexterity): 5

INT (Intelligence): 8

(Talent) —Heating—

(Skill)

Too lame…..

“Even my stats are so plain. Lv2. I’m only a bit stronger than a first-floor Slime…”

At the game’s start, the class’s average level was around Lv5.

Cass, as the protagonist, was Lv7, but I’m an absurd Lv2…

What kind of dumb luck got me into this school?

“And then there’s this joke of a Talent.”

Heating?

What does that do?

Cook instant noodles faster?

Shilock remembered that in the game, an NPC grandma in Area B on the first floor had this Talent for adjusting the heat when cooking…

“Administrator? Are you there?”

“….”

“System, save me?”

“….”

“Kritos?”

“….”

“Scadi?”

“….”

“I don’t want to play anymore.”

Shilock tried calling out all the OP characters, but no response.

His heart was dead.

Other people who get isekai’d all have cheats, girls, weapons, and overpowered items thrown at them, leveling up 30 times a day, marrying rich beauties, and reaching the peak of life.

I’ve half-crossed over, but this start is so lame, and I don’t even get a single cheat?

Shilock stared blankly at the ceiling, then shook his head.

“I survived twenty playthroughs.

A rough start is nothing.

Tomorrow, I’ll grind monsters for Lv and money—I know which monsters pay well.

As Lv rises, Talents can be used more flexibly.

If I save enough, I’ll learn Magic.

Frozen World, Holy Soul Magic Armor, Void Slash, Infernal Dragon Wave, Pure Black Annihilation Ray—all those late-game AoE spells can be learned if you’ve got the cash, right?”

Though all this assumes enough INT (Intelligence), Shilock ignored that and tried to cheer himself up.

Besides, there’s still Cass.

As long as this is a second playthrough Line, there’s plenty of time to level up and survive the mid-game event.

As long as you do everything you can, it’s never too late.

“That’s right.

Knowledge is Power.

There is no savior.

If you want happiness, you have to create it yourself.”

***

At the same time, in the Class C classroom.

In the study hall, several discordant voices could be heard.

“Why’s the boss still asleep? Class is almost over.”

“Relax.

Cliff will wake up on his own.

He’s got perfect control over his body.”

Under his uniform, a sturdy red-haired young man with a crewcut rested his face on his arms.

“Do we really have to do this?”

“You’re new, right? Be grateful! You’re about to be initiated!”

“I don’t care, but isn’t doing this on campus…”

“Hey!”

A black-haired young man with a center part threw an arm over his underling’s shoulder.

“It’s called recruiting. Recruiting, got it?! It’s normal for seniors to bring in juniors. The ones in Class F are all Lv10 and below nobodies. Pick whoever you want. If they can team up with us, they should be on their knees thanking us! Hahaha!”

***

“Five classes a day… at this school. Don’t fall asleep on me.”

The homeroom teacher yawned and wobbled out of the classroom, looking like she needed more sleep than anyone.

Meanwhile, the students were discussing their attributes and Talents, laughing, talking, or getting out breakfast.

Early recess was ten minutes longer than usual.

Shilock leaned against his desk, hands clasped at his lips, eyes cold beneath his long bangs as he observed the classroom.

“Yo! Everyone’s here!”

They’ve finally arrived.

With a single shout, it was as if an invisible force swept the room, plunging it into silence.

The black-haired youth with the center part strode up to the podium, shook his head, pulled out a chair, and sat down, the red-haired youth following and sitting with arms folded and eyes closed as if it was their own living room.

That’s Norius, center-parted, Lv8, liked to put his hands in his pockets—not because he was cold, just thought it was cool.

Cliff, over two meters tall, a rock-like man with custom-tailored uniforms due to his muscles.

Lv…10.

Shilock sized them up without changing expression.

Compared to the game, the pressure from high-level characters was much more intense in reality.

The classroom grew quieter.

Bried froze, bread halfway out of her bag; Kersey looked nervous.

Shilock’s gaze didn’t linger on them, instead turning to the classroom sliding doors.

Through the glass, he could see a purple ponytail swaying.

“Lorin, B Class’s spy… huh, they’re all here.”

The cast is assembled.

On the podium, Norius grinned at the silent crowd.

“Listen up! Class F nobodies! This is Cliff, Class C’s boss! We’re starting a selection! We’re making you our underlings! Everyone, tell us your attributes and Talents!”