Kana asked about her charity duties, Jorge explained, “Once in a month, usually at the end of the month, you’ll pay a visit to the slum district, you must invite the children there, give them soup and bread. To alleviate their hunger.”
Kana nodded, she had been in the slum district, it shouldn’t be that hard. Why did they have those reactions?
“You will also be given twenty five silver coins monthly allowance. “ Elle leaned forward slightly, her smile turning serious. “Being in the council puts eyes on you. From nobles, from instructors… and from students who wish they were in your place. It’s not just a title. It’s a pressure.”
The meeting continued briefly with light talk about schedules, event preparations, and minor student disputes. Within half an hour, the conversation eased into informal chatter and the council gradually began to rise from their seats.
As Kana stood to leave, Leo approached her.
“You’ll do fine,” he said quietly. “Just be careful—especially of the second years.”
Kana nodded.
……..
Kana, of course, went straight to the academy’s boarding house and found Suri still awake, sitting on her bed and waiting.
“You should be resting,” Kana said as she closed the door behind her.
“Can’t sleep without you,” Suri replied with a sleepy grin. “How was the student council?”
“It’s fine. Each member gets an allowance—twenty-five silver coins a month.”
Suri whistled, eyes widening. “I definitely should’ve nominated myself.”
Kana smirked. “Right? I don’t think our classmates even know about that.”
“Most of them are commoners like us. Probably assumed it was just more work.”
“Also, starting tomorrow, student patrols begin. Two second-years—Valdis and Wayne—and two first-years, Mikael and Leo.”
“Hmm... Got it. I’ll look for their rooms and plant a summon to keep track of their patrols,” Suri said, already planning.
They took a short nap, waking precisely at midnight.
Suri cast her [Doppelganger] skill, leaving her decoy in the room while the real her slipped out with Kana and Boris. They made their way to the underground passage beneath the academy and emerged at the familiar exit beneath the outer wall.
There, a sleepy stable worker stood next to several saddled horses. It was obvious from his stance that they’d been expecting someone.
“Fifty copper each for the rental,” he muttered. “But if you pay a silver coin now, I’ll give back the change when the horse returns... alive.”
Suri tried haggling, but the man was firm.
“Fair enough,” Kana said, handing over the coins.
One by one, the horses were led through the concealed gate. The cool night breeze greeted them as they passed beyond the safety of the kingdom's borders. The world outside the walls was vast and silent, bathed in moonlight. No guards. No noise. Only plains, shadows, and the occasional rustling of nocturnal creatures.
Suri and Boris mounted their horses with practiced ease.
Kana, too, climbed up without issue—until she turned to see Suri’s horse bucking and spinning in place while Suri clung to the reins, teeth gritted.
“We should’ve just gotten two horses,” Boris said dryly, watching Suri struggle.
Suri narrowed her eyes. “Enough.”
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She raised her hand, casting a quick spell. A watery figure appeared beside her—shimmering with shifting colors—before twisting into a vaguely monstrous shape. The horse, seeing the summoned creature, went rigid. Then… it stopped resisting. Docile, almost terrified, it obeyed Suri’s commands without complaint.
“See?” Suri grinned at Boris, triumphant.
Kana swayed her head, sighing. “Feel bad for the horse…”
Fortunately, the path ahead was mostly plains before reaching the mountain range. With no obstacles in their way, the horses made good time. In less than four hours, they arrived at the marked dungeon—just as the sky began to faintly glow on the horizon.
……
It was the darkest dungeon they’d entered so far—most likely a natural cave, damp and suffocating. Kana was prepared, lighting a torch from her [Inventory] and handing extras to the others. The warm flicker pushed back the suffocating blackness.
After only a few minutes of walking, glowing eyes appeared ahead. The figures stepped into the firelight—creatures that walked upright like men but had the faces and fur of wolves, though smaller in size.
“Kobolds,” Kana whispered, awe and caution in her voice. It was her first time seeing them in person.
Boris didn’t hesitate. He charged forward, drawing attention with his heavy armor and thunderous steps. With a shout, he activated [Giant Spear]—his weapon swelling in size before slicing through the enemies in a wide arc, sending a dozen kobolds flying.
Kana stayed behind, loosing an arrow at a kobold sneaking behind Boris. The arrow hit cleanly between its eyes.
Suri, calm and calculating, summoned an illusion—shifting colors and forms that danced like ghosts. The kobolds, deceived by the mirage, turned toward it. Just as they did, Boris swept in again with another wide attack, crushing them instantly.
The group advanced efficiently, clearing the packs of monsters until they reached a tall, bone-framed door: the boss chamber.
Inside sat a larger kobold—easily twice the size of the others. A crude crown rested on its head, and it clutched a long spear. The Kobold King stood as they entered, growling low.
Boris grinned and cracked his neck.
“I got this.”
He clashed with the boss head-on. The Kobold King was fast and fought with surprising intelligence, but Boris’ technique—and his overwhelming power—proved too much. Within two minutes, the beast collapsed in a heap, the crown clattering to the ground.
Kana and Suri stayed on guard during the fight but never needed to step in.
“Didn’t hear the voice of god,” Kana said, scanning the room.
“Same,” Boris and Suri replied in unison.
No level-ups this time.
With the boss defeated and no treasure was found, they made the return trip.
As they trotted back, the three quietly processed the realization: low-level dungeons no longer gave them experience. No voice of the gods, no level-up. And more than anything, they just weren’t a challenge anymore. Boris could probably solo the dungeon earlier with his eyes closed.
“Should we start going for mid to high-mid level dungeons?” Kana suggested, steady atop her horse.
“There are a few nearby,” Suri replied, “but they’re guarded.”
“Why not just get a permit?” Boris asked innocently.
“You really didn’t read the handbook, did you?” Kana sighed. “Only third and fourth years are allowed to request permits for mid-level dungeons or if you’re adventurer but you need to be at least twenty years old to register with them.”
Boris frowned, “That’s dumb.”
“You guys are so inflexible…” Suri clicked her tongue. “We just need to bribe the guards.”
…..
The stable boy looked surprised as they brought the horses back in good condition and handed them their change—though not before counting every copper coin twice.
The trio wasn't tired from fighting monsters.
They were tired from traveling.
The sun was just cresting the horizon as the trio arrived back at the academy. This time, they entered through the main gate—no need for secret passages or abandoned buildings today.
They made their way to the classroom. Andal was missing, but a few other students, apparently as aimless as they were, had decided to hang around.
Rin’s face lit up the moment she saw them.
“Suri! Kana! Where have you been?”
“Sup…” Suri replied, dropping into her seat like a sack of potatoes, clearly drained of all energy.
The three of them slumped into their chairs, faces planted against the table in unison.
Suddenly, Toby—the quiet exorcist—walked over to Kana. Without warning, he gently took her hands in his.
“Thank you!” he said, voice full of emotion.
Kana blinked, caught off guard. Her cheeks flushed slightly, unsure what this was about. Why was he thanking her?
Suri and Rin, sitting nearby, burst into quiet giggles.
Boris, on the other hand, was less amused. He narrowed his eyes at Toby, arms crossed.
Does this guy want to die? he thought. I don’t think he knows Kana.
