As a rule, the students of Glory Kail Academy showed little enthusiasm for exploring the Dungeon.
Magic was meant to demonstrate power, win glory, conduct elegant duels, or complete prestigious quests-not to fight ugly monsters for their lives in dark, dangerous caves. That was the consensus among most noble students.
Thus, even the shallow levels were usually sparsely populated. Only a few students who needed combat experience or specific materials came in groups, leaving as soon as they had accomplished their goals.
Over the past few days, however, things seemed to have changed.
Several days had passed since Greg had defeated the Eight-Legged Lady.
After the Student Council finished its investigation, the Dungeon should have returned to its usual quiet state. Instead, traffic had increased abnormally.
From morning to evening, student parties of two or three, or five or six, could often be seen moving through the passages and exploring with illuminating magic crystals or simple weapons in hand.
They did not seem to be completing routine class assignments or gathering materials. Their movements had the unmistakable air of a search, their eyes constantly scanning the rock walls, branching passages, and hidden corners.
This unusual activity caused some inconvenience for Greg, who had chosen to make his home in a secluded cave on one of the shallow levels.
He had to use clods of earth, loose stones, and spare canvas found nearby to conceal his dark gray tent and the simple smoking rack beside it more thoroughly, ensuring they would be difficult to spot from the main passage.
"How strange..."
Greg crouched on a large rock in his camp, chewing his homemade jerky with a slight frown.
"Has some special bounty quest for the Dungeon been posted recently?"
In the Academy's quest system, a special bounty usually referred to a