CHAPTER 38: PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT [END]

[Boss Monster Defeated]

+2500 Points Earned

Holy hell... that was half another skill right there.

But I didn’t have time to admire the notification.

This place now smelled like someone drowned a dead cow in boiled vinegar and lit it on fire.

My nose felt like it was dissolving.

I coughed sharply, turned on my heel and rushed out of the boss room.

The corridor outside was already quieter — stale dungeon air never smelled so fresh.

Kael’s team was there — limping, bruised, bandaged by sheer adrenaline. Celestia sat against the rock wall, pale and exhausted, while Mariella’s cane trembled in her hand. Elisha had broken arrows still stuck in her quiver — empty, spent.

Their eyes snapped to me the moment I stepped out.

Kael was the first to speak — voice hoarse, bitter.

"...Why didn’t you step in earlier?"

Oh?

So this was how he’d start it?

I saved their asses — and the first thing he says is accusation?

Typical.

He thought he had moral high ground.

He thought he could guilt-trip me because they "almost died."

Pathetic.

I stared at him blankly, voice like iced steel.

"I hate guys like you the most. I give you an inch, you demand a mile. You’re not entitled to my help."

Kael’s brows knitted, thrown off. He expected fluster, defense — not a blunt counter.

I continued — colder.

"Why should I? We weren’t a team. This was a competition. And for your information, you should be saying ’thank you,’ not whining like a kid who dropped his candy."

He froze — completely shell-shocked — because he knew... logically... I wasn’t wrong.

He just didn’t expect someone to say it out loud.

"Y-You—!"

Before Kael could explode, Celestia caught his wrist.

"That’s enough, Kael." Even her shaky voice carried authority. "We would have died. We owe him our lives."

She turned toward me — posture proper despite the exhaustion — and bowed her head slightly.

"Cadet Lucien Ashborne... on behalf of everyone here... thank you."

"...you’re welcome, Princess." I replied simply.

Then I tilted my head and gave Kael a lazy half-smirk.

"See? That’s how proper nobles speak."

A vein popped on his forehead — he nearly lunged — but this time not one person backed him.

Celestia didn’t.

Elisha looked away, ashamed.

Mariella stared at me like she was seeing me for the first time — confusion, disbelief, something else mixed in.

Then — footsteps thundered down the hall in the distance.

Finally — three Academy knights rushed in — panting, armor dented from running full sprint.

Look at them.

Police in another world too — always late.

"Princess! Are you injured?!"

They nervously bowed — then quickly distributed mid-grade heal potions to everyone — stabilizing those barely hanging on.

"The dungeon assessment is concluded — we must escort you all out immediately!"

Good.

I didn’t want to breathe another second of vinegar anyway.

**

Outside the dungeon—

Fresh air hit like a blessing.

And standing right at the boundary — clothed in academy uniform — was Ariana.

Her hands were clenched nervously against her chest — face pale, eyes darting madly searching the stream of cadets.

The moment she spotted me approaching — bloodstained sleeve, soot streak on cheek — her shoulders sagged in relief as if her spine finally remembered how to relax.

She rushed forward — almost stumbling — the relief in her eyes painfully obvious.

"You’re safe..."

Her voice cracked — barely audible.

I almost smirked.

Look at that.

Someone actually waited for me.

*****

By the time all cadets were out of the dungeon, the outdoor staging ground was pure chaos — the chaotic kind that only comes from hundreds of exhausted, blood–dusted teenagers trying to look like they weren’t about to collapse.

Some groups celebrated loudly — recalling their kills and bragging about "perfect synergy." Some looked half–dead — sprawled on the ground, healers rushing between them applying salves and basic spells. A few were quietly puking to the side, shaken by their first real taste of death.

It was exactly how a real dungeon exam aftershock should look.

Soon a knight strode to the front — voice clear and practiced.

"All first–year practical examinees, remain gathered. You will now be teleported back to the Academy. Formation by group."

Within minutes, shimmering circles formed — runic arrays humming — and just like that, the entire class was swept back to the academy grounds in a multi-layered teleportation chain.

When we appeared, Instructor Samantha was already waiting.

Her expression was unreadable — but the edges of her lips were very, very slightly curved. She was satisfied. Real battle was the only thing that made students grow.

She clasped her hands behind her back.

"You all survived — good. Today you saw clearly what a dungeon truly is: unpredictable, unfair, merciless."

Her eyes swept through the class.

"Submit your bracelets here. Your rankings will be announced tomorrow. And yes — this will factor into your year standings. Go home. Wash. Rest. And before you sleep — reflect. Learn from whatever mistake you made today — and ensure you don’t repeat them in a real battlefield."

Dismissed.

As we stepped out the academy gates the late–evening sun had already dipped — the horizon stained orange and crimson.

Ariana looked at me — eyes almost sparkling like a child remembering a secret.

"...did your diner open today?"

I blinked — then smirked.

"So curious? Shall we go check?"

Her answer was immediate.

"Yes."

*****

We reached my street soon.

And there it was.

The new nameplate — embedded into a polished wood slab — [KITCHEN 21] — carved clean, elegant, metallic ink glimmering faintly in lantern light.

I stared — the pride on my face was damn near obvious.

As we opened the door — warmth and sound washed over us.

Clatter of cutlery.

Light chatter.

Scent of butter and spices drifting fresh from kitchen.

It wasn’t full — but there were a solid fourteen or fifteen customers seated already. It was damn good for first day’s business.

Half the faces belonged to Reena’s craft team... and the people she had obviously dragged along— were halfway through a platter of fried chicken, passionately debating which dish they liked more. Reena herself was leaning back in satisfaction, sipping fruit wine like she owned the place.

Rest few were strangers — commoners— the curious sort who had wandered in with the idea of checking out the new place... and were now completely hooked judging by the empty plates and glowing eyes.

A mother with her little kid was spoon–feeding pancake pieces — the little girl’s cheeks puffed round like she was storing treasure in them.

They came out of curiosity.

They were staying because flavor was its own cult.

Just as we stepped in — a waitress in a crisp black–white uniform greeted instantly — posture neat, voice bright.

"Welcome. Table for two?"

I couldn’t help the small chuckle.

Lily went overboard — but she did damn well.

Another waitress was at the far left — swiftly carrying pancake plates toward customers. A third was taking orders in a calm but confident rhythm.

Behind the counter — pen behind her ear, ledger open — was Alicia.

Her posture was straight. Her handwriting was neat. Her entire face was focused.

When Ariana whispered, "Your maid is surprisingly competent..." I smirked.

A shadow appeared behind us — silent.

"Good evening, Young Miss. Good evening, Young Master Lucien."

Lena.

Ariana blinked. "Lena? What are you doing here?"

The assassin–maid coughed lightly into her fist — trying to act totally normal.

"Young Miss was away. I grew... bored. So I came to assist."

Ariana narrowed her eyes — catching the tiny twitch of Lena’s nose when she looked toward the desserts section.

"...assist? Or eat?"

Lena looked away immediately.

"Y–Young Miss... you must be hungry. I ordered a new dish. Pancakes. They are... very tasty."

Ariana froze for two seconds — then nodded with total seriousness.

"...just one portion won’t be enough."

Food logic.

She followed Lena instinctively — like a duckling following a breadcrumb trail.

I laughed under my breath and walked to the counter.

tap tap.

Alicia lifted her head from the ledger — her expression softened.

"Boss. Welcome back."

"How’s business?"

She nodded.

"All right," he said. "I’m heading upstairs. Bring something up. Anything."

"Yes, Boss."

Lucien turned toward the stairs — legs heavy — dungeon adrenaline finally fading.