CHAPTER 24: IGNORED

"All groups have been finalized. The assessment begins Monday morning. You have three days to prepare. Train properly, coordinate with your teams, and make sure you understand your roles."

"If anyone fails to show up," she said flatly, "you’ll be punished accordingly."

A collective shiver went down the class’s spine.

Knowing Samantha, "punishment" probably meant training until you can’t stand.

She turned back to the board, clapping her hands once.

"Now, since this is relevant, today’s lecture will focus on dungeon strategy."

She began drawing a rough map on the board — pathways, intersections, and zones.

"Listen closely. Dungeons aren’t just caves filled with monsters. They’re living structures that react to mana. Every party should have a clear formation: a vanguard, a midguard, a rearguard, and a supporter."

Her chalk moved swiftly.

"Vanguard — usually your melee fighter or shield user. Midguard — someone who can handle mixed combat, usually flexible types like knights or rogues. Rearguard — mages or ranged fighters. Support — healers, buffers, or anyone with utility skills."

I half-listened, half-pondered.

Vanguard, midguard, rearguard, support.

Our group?

Ariana — no combat ability.

Livia — looked too nervous to fight.

Ren — scrawny but at least had a sword.

And me — a gunslinger.

"...We’re doomed. I might have to carry everyone"

I exhaled quietly, watching the chalk dance on the board.

Samantha continued explaining how dungeons "respond" to the mana flow of explorers, how monsters behave differently in pairs versus groups, and how a single weak link could compromise the entire party.

It was an informative lecture — if you ignored the occasional glares from Kael’s team at the front.

I tapped my fingers idly on the desk. ’So three days to prepare, huh...’

*****

The lecture ended with Samantha’s voice still echoing in my ears.

"Remember — a dungeon isn’t just a hole filled with monsters. It’s a living structure. It will exploit your weakness the moment you show one."

She closed her notes, scanned the room one last time, and said,

"Class dismissed."

The room filled instantly with noise — the shuffle of books, chairs scraping, half-hearted sighs of relief.

Kael’s group stood together at the front, already talking strategy like they were planning to conquer the world. Celestia was probably assigning roles while Elisha nodded along, pretending not to be interested but clearly basking in the attention.

Meanwhile, my group sat at the very back of the classroom.

Ariana quietly packed her bag, movements precise and unhurried.

Next to her, Livia Crestfall — the freckled girl — fumbled with her notes, nearly dropping them twice.

And Ren Halberd? He was glaring daggers at me like I’d personally ruined his life.

I could feel it — that frustrated, bitter tension radiating from him.

I closed my notebook and decided to at least attempt a basic conversation with the two other members of our newly forced "team".

Ren was gathering his things when I approached.

"Halberd," I said evenly. "Since we’re grouped together—"

He didn’t even let me finish.

He just clicked his tongue, swung his bag over his shoulder, and walked right past me.

No words.

No eye contact.

Not even a fake polite excuse.

Just complete and utter dismissal.

Livia Crestfall — the freckled girl — looked caught in the middle. She hesitated for half a second, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something.

But then she glanced at Ren’s retreating back... then at me... then bit her lip and followed him out silently.

"...Hah."

I let out a long, slow breath.

Kids.

They think that ignoring someone counts as a rebellion.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Foosh—

I opened my eyes again.

"Whatever. I didn’t expect anything from them to begin with."

I turned toward my desk — and right on cue, Ariana walked up.

"L-Lucien," she said, holding her lunch box with both hands. "C-Can we... go to the cafeteria? U-Um... w-what did you bring today? Is it s-something new again?"

...Look at her.

Just a few days ago she wouldn’t even look in my direction.

And now?

Now she was asking about lunch like an excited child asking about her birthday gift.

They say the path to peace runs through the stomach.

...well, maybe that was truer than I thought.

I glanced at her.

"Nothing new today."

Her eyes widened. "N-Nothing new? T-Then... what is it?"

"We had leftover ingredients from yesterday so I used them again."

Her reaction was instantaneous.

"Cheesecake!" she burst out — louder than she intended — her eyes sparkling.

I didn’t even get a chance to finish the sentence.

"Girls sure love sweet things, huh..." I muttered.

She nodded eagerly, almost bouncing. "L-Let’s go!"

I chuckled and stood up.

We left the classroom side-by-side.

*****

Behind us, the "main cast" — Kael, Celestia, Elisha, Mariella — sat frozen.

Words escaped none of them.

Kael’s jaw tightened.

"Did he... coerce her or something?" he muttered, unable to believe what he was seeing.

He had tried to get close to Ariana before. Why?

Why not?

He was already friends with the children of three ducal houses then why not fourth.

So, he tried to get close to Ariana before — politely, gentleman-like — and he was rejected without a second of hesitation.

But Lucien — Lucien of all people — had her talking, smiling, eating with him.

It was like a slap on his pride.

Celestia let out a short, cold scoff.

"Coerce her? Did you not see her face just now? That is not the expression of someone being coerced."

Elisha leaned forward slightly, squinting.

"So, what exactly happened between those two?"

Mariella crossed her arms, frowning deeply.

"I don’t know. But one thing is certain — Lucien Ashborne isn’t acting like his old self."

Celestia’s expression darkened.

"Do you even have to state the obvious? The Lucien I knew never dared to talk back. Yesterday, he cornered all of us with nothing but his words."

At that memory, the mood dropped — like a wet blanket thrown over a fire.

Kael clenched his jaw.

For the first time...

the protagonist party felt something alien toward Lucien —

pressure.