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The cold sweat that had been trickling down Proton’s back, one or two lines at a time,
burst forth from every pore on his body in an instant.
‘Damn it. Damn it.’
Of course, Solvere wouldn’t kill Proton here.
But.
Even knowing that well.
He couldn't control the cold sweat flowing.
Drip.
‘No way!’
Not his face.
If sweat flows where it's visible.
Drip.
Solvere raised a finger and wiped the sweat from Proton’s face.
Grinning, she stuck out her tongue and licked her finger.
“Proton. Are you scared of me?”
Proton’s head drooped.
‘Damn it.’
Rustle.
The silver threads that had dominated the space returned to Solvere’s arms and wrapped around them again.
“See? I told you not to nag me. Got it?”
Proton deliberately ignored Solvere and took a step forward.
“I’ll go in and come back, so wait here. Guys! Let’s go!”
“Yes!”
From behind, Solvere's cackling laughter was heard.
“Okay, go in and do a good job. I’ll be here.”
As soon as he entered the dungeon, Proton took out a potion.
The two subordinates who had come with him also took out potions.
Gulp.
It was a fairly large bottle of potion, and they drank it down in one gulp.
“Let’s go.”
Now, unless they make particularly loud noises.
The monsters inside the dungeon won’t recognize Proton and his party.
A newly developed medicine from the Marino Empire.
If you drink one bottle of this, you become invisible to monsters for about an hour.
Monsters that detect enemies with aura rather than sight feel like similar monsters.
However, sounds cannot be hidden, so Proton and his two subordinates wore specially made shoes.
Since shoes alone cannot eliminate all sounds, they had, of course, undergone special training to eliminate the sound of their footsteps before coming here.
The three moved quickly.
There were several crises, but since they didn’t collide with any monsters, it didn’t take long to reach the boss room.
Creak.
The huge boss room door opened.
Inside, the D-rank boss, a giant spider, was asleep.
The three people did as they had been doing.
They muffled their footsteps and crossed the boss room.
One of the subordinates jumped lightly to avoid stepping in water.
Slip.
Perhaps the ground was wet.
He slipped on the slippery mud floor and began to flounder.
Just as the colleague next to him was about to grab him.
Thud.
He fell on his butt.
Swish!
The giant spider woke up and rolled its dozens of eyes around.
When it couldn't see anything.
It shot out a spider web towards the source of the sound.
“Damn it.”
Slash.
Proton drew his sword.
In an instant, a blue aura enveloped Proton’s sword.
“You two go to the core room and install the amplifier!”
“Yes!”
Slash!
Proton’s swinging sword lightly cut through the giant spider’s web.
Clatter! Clatter!
The giant spider made a chilling sound and charged towards Proton.
The effects of the medicine disappeared in an instant due to the use of internal energy and large movements.
The giant spider opened its mouth and rushed towards Proton’s body, which was clearly visible.
At that time.
Proton’s mouth opened.
“You foolish spider. Did you think I was trying to sneak past because I was afraid of you?”
Proton’s aura grew to over 5 meters long.
Stab!
The aura pierced through the giant spider’s upper lip.
Clatter! Clatter!
Proton, who swung his sword greatly downwards as it was.
Thud.
The giant spider, whose legs were several meters long, was cut in half at the stomach by Proton’s strike and collapsed.
Proton took a small oil bottle out of his pocket.
As he threw it towards the giant spider.
Crash!
The thin oil bottle broke and the oil inside spilled out.
Proton, who imbued his aura with fire attribute, brought the aura to where the oil had spilled.
Whoosh!
The oil instantly grew into flames and began to burn the giant spider.
“I can’t leave any traces yet.”
It’s not because he lacks skill that he sneaks into the dungeon.
There is still a long way to go before achieving his great work.
Until then, this dungeon core amplification must be a self-occurring phenomenon.
If there are traces of a battle with humans left inside, he could be caught before long.
Proton entered the dungeon core room.
The two subordinates had already installed the core amplifier.
A flat, cylindrical black object.
If installed below the dungeon core, it vibrates the dungeon core and promotes core amplification.
If installed in a dungeon that is about to undergo core amplification, core amplification will begin within a day.
Whoooong.
The core amplifier started operating.
The core amplifier, which had been ringing for about 10 minutes, stopped.
Core amplification will occur soon.
“Now let’s go out. Take the core amplifier.”
Proton drank another potion whose effect had worn off.
Now, he won’t encounter any monsters on the way out either.
‘The real monster is Solvere, that bitch standing outside the dungeon entrance.’
Elton Academy.
Student cafeteria.
“Davian, did you hear? Another dungeon core amplification happened the other day. This time, it’s in an uninhabited mountain, so there are no casualties. But the area is infested with monsters, so you can’t pass through.”
Even if you're not a member of the dungeon exploration club.
Everyone heard about the dungeon core amplification.
Dungeon core amplifications are occurring all over the continent every few days.
Various ominous rumors were circulating around the continent.
“Oh, I heard.”
“Well, Davian is in the dungeon exploration club, so he’ll hear this news the fastest.”
Bellum asked.
“Libre, where is it this time?”
“They say it’s some mountain located between the western mining area and Kanzar City. Fortunately, it’s not a heavily trafficked area.”
“That’s a relief. But why does core amplification keep happening like this? It wasn't like this last year, was it?”
“Tell me about it. Our family is also putting all its efforts into finding out the reason.”
“Oh, Chatterbox! If your Specula family steps in, the reason will be revealed soon. That’s a relief.”
“Until now, we don’t even have a clue as to why this is happening… I don’t know how long it will take.”
Davian looked at Libre.
“Libre.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s go to your house this weekend.”
“My house?”
“The Specula family, I mean.”
“Suddenly? Why?”
“I have something to tell the head of the family. It’s related to core amplification.”
Libre shouted in an excited voice.
“Davian, do you know something? Of course! What do you know? Okay. Let’s go. My father will be so happy.”
Saturday.
Specula Family Head's office.
“Welcome, Libre. It’s been a while, Davian Naone.”
“Hello, Head of the Family.”
The Head of the Family, Moldin Specula, guided Davian and Libre to the reception sofa with a light gesture.
“Sit down.”
“Thank you.”
“So, you said you had something to tell me?”
“I have something to say about the dungeon core amplification phenomenon.”
“Tell me.”
“Before that, I have something to ask.”
Moldin Specula nodded lightly.
“Who is leading the investigation into dungeon core amplification right now?”
“Lucia Specula.”
Libre, who was sitting next to him, added in a small voice.
“She’s my sister, Davian.”
Davian nodded.
“I have a request to make in advance this time.”
“Tell me.”
“What I’m about to say from now on must be known only to the Head of the Family here, Libre, and Libre’s sister, Lucia. Only these three should know.”
The Head of the Family, Moldin Specula, leaned deeply against the backrest and looked at Davian.
“I don’t know what kind of information you brought. But are you thinking that our Specula family will spread rumors?”
Libre, flustered, defended Davian.
“No! Head of the Family. Davian is just a very cautious person. Right? Davian. You don’t have to worry. The conversations we have here in the Head of the Family’s office will not be leaked outside the family under any circumstances.”
Davian nodded.
“That’s a relief then. But you have to promise me. This matter must be known only to the Head of the Family, Libre, and Lucia Specula. Only these three.”
“Hey, Davian.”
Libre, flustered, nudged Davian’s side, but.
Moldin Specula just laughed.
“I promise.”
Libre was the only one who was surprised.
“Head of the Family?”
“Instead. Davian, you must make a promise as well.”
“Tell me.”
“If the information you speak of is insignificant or something we already know. You will never be able to set foot on our Specula family’s land again. Even though you are ignorant of the world and young, that is the price for daring to ask the Head of the Specula family to keep a secret twice.”
“Yes, I will do that.”
Moldin Specula laughed again.
“Just like last time. You’re a very bold guy.”
The Head of the Family turned his head towards Libre.
“Libre.”
“Yes! Head of the Family.”
“You’ve made a very great friend.”
“Ah, yes! Davian is the most popular… no, the most outstanding student in our academy.”
“I know that too. Don’t tell me you thought this father didn’t know what you know?”
“Ah, no!”
“Alright, Davian. Then tell me what information you know.”
Davian, taking a deep breath, opened his mouth.
“It’s the Marino Empire’s doing.”
The Head of the Family, Moldin Specula, leaned forward.
Moldin Specula, leaning towards the side where Davian was sitting, asked again.
“It’s the Marino Empire’s doing?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Davian. I know that you are deeply involved with the Marino Empire’s spies. But it’s dangerous to recklessly make assumptions about things without evidence.”
“It’s not an assumption. I even know who’s doing it. It’s a prosecutor named Proton and a fixer from the Marino Empire named Solvere Linea. They have several more subordinates.”
The Head of the Family, Moldin Specula, stared intently at Davian.
‘Even specific names.’
Davian Naone, who Moldin Specula knows, is never a light or reckless person.
Not only did he know from hearing it from his youngest son Libre, but he had already ordered investigations and received reports several times because he was such a hot topic.
“Our family hasn’t found any traces yet. How did you know this, Davian?”
It was the same thing that happened in the previous timeline as well.
And.
Compared to the previous timeline.
It’s happening 3 years earlier.
When he discovered the traces of Solvere’s massacre in the small village, he didn’t know exactly how it was going.
But after that.
Dungeon core amplifications are occurring all over the continent every few days.
This is exactly what happened during the 3rd timeline, 5th grade.
The quests, the events, the game story progression.
It’s been brought forward.
“I can’t tell you that.”
“You can’t tell me? Then how can I believe you, Davian?”
“You must have already done enough research on me. Why would I come to the Head of the Family and lie?”
“Insolent. Too insolent.”
“I still have more to tell you, will you continue listening? Or will you kick me out like this because I won’t say how I found out?”
Davian’s deep, calm eyes and the eyes of the Head of the Specula family, who has the best intelligence agency on the continent, intertwined in the air.
A moment of silence.
The Head of the Family was the one who opened his mouth first.
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