Chapter 144: True Colors…?

’What should I ask Bonjour if I win?’ Caelum wondered to himself.

Although he and Bonjour were the main rivals in today’s dungeon speedrun, the others had also decided to participate.

Of course, not everyone was taking the competition seriously.

Skyler had already declared that he would simply camp on one of the lower floors and enjoy his holiday as many joined him.

Ryan planned to practice his swordsmanship whenever monsters appeared.

For most of them, today’s event was half competition and half fun time.

Only Caelum and Bonjour were genuinely determined to win.

"Uh... Owner?" Voomie called out timidly.

"Hmm?" Caelum turned toward her.

"What is it? Do you need something?"

He continued changing into his combat uniform while waiting for her answer.

Over the past two months, Voomie had changed quite a bit.

Thanks, or perhaps because of Instructor Axel’s relentless training during the Combat and Duel Practicals, she had lost a considerable amount of weight.

For the first time in a long while, she actually resembled a proper dog!

’I want meat...’ Those were the words Voomie desperately wanted to say.

Unfortunately, experience had taught her a painful lesson.

Whenever Caelum heard her asking for meat, he would immediately switch her meals to vegetables for several days as "discipline."

So she wisely swallowed those words.

"I-Is it alright if I participate too? Woof?" Voomie asked cautiously, her tail wagging ever so slightly.

Caelum looked at her for a brief moment.

He could already guess what she was planning.

If there was a reward involved, Voomie undoubtedly intended to claim it through him.

Still, he was completely confident in today’s competition.

There was no way he would lose.

"Yes, yes, you can participate too." he replied with a smile.

"WOOF!"

Voomie’s eyes immediately lit up with excitement.

Nearby, Jojo had already finished preparing his own equipment as he already knew Voomie’s quest, while Paul adjusted his glasses before checking that everything he needed was inside his School Badge.

"Is everyone ready?" Caelum asked.

The three nodded.

Without wasting any more time, the four of them left their dormitory and headed toward the Goblin and Undead Dungeon, where the others were already waiting for the holiday speedrun to begin.

***

Caelum soon met up with the others, and as they walked toward the Goblin and Undead Dungeon, the group casually chatted about whatever came to mind.

Before long, however, everyone learned a rather shocking piece of news.

"So you actually smuggled the Viewing Device out of the dorm?" Ryan looked at Paul in disbelief while actually finding it surprising.

After all, this was Paul they were talking about!

Paul awkwardly adjusted his glasses and looked away in embarrassment.

He hadn’t expected Caelum to expose him so casually.

Apparently, Caelum had caught him secretly carrying the Viewing Device out of their room this morning.

The reason was simple.

Justice Kid still hadn’t managed to confront the main villain Shadow’s right-hand man, Malachar the Faceless.

Instead, the story had continued with Justice Kid dismantling one criminal organization after another while defeating bosses from various underground factions.

The suspense had become unbearable.

Since it was only a little after nine in the morning and the next episode wouldn’t air until ten, Paul had devised a brilliant plan.

Skyler was bringing a camping tent for today’s dungeon camping.

Therefore, why not simply watch the episode inside the tent while everyone rested?

It was the perfect plan.

Yesterday, Paul had even sent Skyler a message asking whether he was really bringing the tent.

Skyler had replied with a confident: "Yes."

Paul had even preserved the message as evidence.

"It isn’t smuggling, I’m... just borrowing it." Paul muttered weakly as everyone looked at him.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"That’s right, you are borrowing it and I believe you!" Skyler concluded.

Paul lowered his head feeling an unknown defeat.

No one had expected the usually upright and rule-abiding Paul to secretly sneak school property outside the dormitories...

All because of a show.

Justice Kid truly possessed terrifying influence among children.

Laughing among themselves, the group eventually arrived near the entrance of the Goblin and Undead Dungeon.

Standing outside the entrance was a lone instructor.

He appeared to be waiting for someone.

The moment he noticed the approaching children, however, a puzzled expression appeared on his face.

’Foundation Division students? Are they with the previous group...?’ He frowned slightly.

A short while earlier, he had already permitted several Senior Division students to enter the dungeon.

Naturally, seeing another large group arrive immediately afterward made him suspicious.

Especially since these children clearly belonged to the Foundation Division.

Perhaps the Foundation and Senior Divisions were holding some joint activity he hadn’t been informed about.

At the moment, however, he remained outside for another reason.

His personal student, who also studied in the Senior Division, had messaged him that today he would fetch breakfast for the Instructor and was expected to arrive at any moment.

Until then, waiting outside the dungeon entrance didn’t seem like a bad idea.

After all, it would only be a matter of minutes.

"Instructor, our homeroom teacher gave us permission to enter the dungeon today," Bonjour said politely as he stepped forward and handed over a sheet of paper bearing Dorian’s signature and seal.

The instructor accepted it with a doubtful expression.

Holiday access wasn’t something Foundation Division students received every day.

He carefully examined the document before activating his Teacher’s Badge to verify its authenticity.

A faint glow passed over the paper.

"...It’s genuine." He nodded before returning it to Bonjour.

"Very well. You may enter."

He looked at the group seriously.

"Don’t split up recklessly. Stay together as much as possible, and if you encounter anything beyond your abilities, retreat immediately."

"Oh, and I’ve already disabled the random teleportation function, so your group won’t be separated after entering."

The children immediately brightened.

"Thank you, Instructor!"

After thanking him together, they walked through the dungeon entrance one after another.

However, two figures remained behind.

The instructor blinked as the panda and the dog quietly walked over to him.

Without saying anything, Jojo respectfully presented a neatly packed lunchbox.

"For me?" the instructor asked in surprise as the three quietly chatted for a few minutes.

Nobody else could hear what they discussed.

Eventually, Jojo and Voomie nodded repeatedly before waving goodbye.

"Thank you, Instructor!"

"Wooof!"

The two hurried into the dungeon to catch up with the others.

As they disappeared into the entrance, both Jojo and Voomie wore unusually sinister smiles.

If someone unfamiliar had witnessed the scene...

They might have mistaken them for an Evil Panda and an Evil Dog plotting some unspeakable scheme.

Meanwhile, the instructor crossed his arms proudly.

"Hahaha...! They certainly know who to rely on. Naturally! Only a reliable and handsome instructor like me could fulfill such a simple request."

He laughed to himself in satisfaction.

After all, those two happened to be friends of his personal student, and occasionally they helped him run small errands around the school.

Apparently, he had also heard that the children inside were holding some sort of dungeon competition.

Jojo and Voomie had merely asked him for a tiny favor related to it.

Since it wasn’t anything against the rules, he happily agreed.

After all, what kind of dashing instructor would refuse such a harmless request?

Of course, neither he nor the unsuspecting children realized one important fact.

It was not for naught that Jojo and Voomie had become entangled in the School’s underground economy.