The dungeon we were transferred to split into two paths on either side, both blocked off by walls.

It was clearly a classic maze-type dungeon.

As expected, just like the name suggested, “Mock Dungeon Conquest Training” wasn’t simply about clearing a dungeon.

I didn’t know the full structure of this dungeon, but odds were high that another team had been placed on the opposite end.

Four dungeons total—two teams deployed per dungeon.

We’d probably run into them eventually while clearing it.

“...What was that just now?”

Even after entering the dungeon, Yoon Sanghyuk still wore a puzzled expression as he repeated the instructor’s words.

“So basically, she’s telling us to fight?”

I turned toward Sion.

“Are we seriously supposed to beat Kang Arin’s or Johan’s team?”

Sion was sitting silently, one hand pressed against the ground, eyes closed.

I stood beside her, waiting for her to finish.

“...No, wait. We’ve got Haein—”

Sanghyuk started to mutter, but Kim Daehyun quietly raised a finger to his lips.

“Shh.”

That silenced Sanghyuk’s whisper.

At that moment, Sion slowly opened her eyes and stood from the ground, brushing dirt off her palm. Then she looked straight at me.

I asked her,

“How is it? Can you arrange?”

She shook her head and replied,

“No. I’ve got a rough direction, but there are devices here that disrupt sensory perception.”

“Arrange” was a technique used by archers to detect dungeon layouts and find optimal routes.

In typical maze-type dungeons, once you used Arrange to grasp the structure, conquering them was relatively easy.

However, it required an extremely high level of mana control, making it nearly impossible for students.

I was hoping we’d get a break, but of course—this was Gaon. They’d sealed it off completely.

“Let’s go.”

We moved in the direction Sion had indicated.

I paused and looked over my shoulder at Yoon Sanghyuk.

“Sanghyuk, can you take the guard position?”

The guard position is stationed in the middle of the formation to protect long-range attackers and support units. It requires flexibility—blocking incoming attacks from reaching the core while being able to switch to offense when necessary.

“Me?”

Sanghyuk pointed to himself in confusion.

Reasonable reaction. Since I was taking the vanguard, logically the one holding a shield—Kim Daehyun—should handle the guard role in the center to protect Sion.

But that’s only in monster battles.

Most monsters, with the exception of upper-tier types, don’t target rear support or long-range damage dealers directly due to low intelligence.

So using a shield to block random attacks—Daehyun is better suited for that.

But PvP is different.

Humans always go for the core. The center. The critical assets.

Just shielding isn’t enough.

Of course, I wouldn’t let the enemy get that far, but it was a matter of efficiency.

“Oh, because it’s PvP.”

Kim Daehyun nodded as he caught on.

Nice.

He had solid fundamentals and could read the situation quickly.

Even Sion looked slightly surprised.

I wasn’t wrong about him.

I briefly explained the role and importance of the guard position to Sanghyuk. He understood quickly enough.

I was at the front, Sanghyuk and Sion held the center, and Daehyun guarded the rear.

With our formation set, we resumed walking.

***

Yoon Sanghyuk walked as instructed by Jeong Haein.

He didn’t fully understand the theory behind all this, but there was one thing he’d come to realize.

Just do what that guy says.

He was never wrong. It was like bread falling from the sky even when you’re asleep.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel nervous. It was his first time taking on the guard role.

And the instructor’s words earlier kept echoing ominously in his mind.

“If you encounter another team, fight and win.”

She hadn’t said it directly, but it practically guaranteed we would run into someone.

It was one thing to deal with monsters—but against someone like Kang Arin or Johan? That was a whole different beast.

That’s when Sion, walking beside him, spoke up.

“You don’t need to worry so much.”

She hadn’t taken her eyes off Jeong Haein’s back since earlier.

“Haein will handle most of it anyway.”

Sanghyuk had no choice but to nod at that.

Anyone who’d teamed up with him wouldn’t argue with that logic.

Suddenly, Jeong Haein came to a stop.

“Hold on.”

He raised his hand to stop the group.

At that moment, his eyes locked sharply onto a crevice in the wall.

Then he shouted.

“Daehyun!”

Kim Daehyun quickly moved to the center and raised his shield high.

—Chwaaaak!

Light burst from his shield as a barrier formed. A barrage of crossbow bolts flew out, slamming into the shield with explosive force.

—Pababababak!

“Ghh...!”

Daehyun grunted through clenched teeth.

Through the translucent barrier, Haein could be seen.

Trolls wielding massive axes charged at him—but he was impossibly calm.

As the troll’s axe came crashing down, Haein ducked low, twisting his body and slipping into its flank.

—Shik!

His spear sliced diagonally upward, and a red line bloomed across the troll’s throat as blood gushed out.

But even before that troll hit the ground, Haein was already moving toward his next target.

Holy...

It was mesmerizing.

His dodges and strikes weren’t separate movements—they flowed as one seamless rhythm. Every thrust of his spear aimed for a vital point.

But just then, another troll lunged from behind, aiming at Haein’s exposed blind spot.

Haein turned to dodge, but with simultaneous attacks from both sides, the club grazed his ribs.

And then—

—Zzzziiiik

“You son of a b—!”

Next to me, with a curse under his breath, came the sound of a bowstring being tightly drawn.

“What the hell?”

Yoon Sanghyuk jumped in surprise and turned toward Sion.

The bow in Sion’s hand was already fully drawn, and her gaze remained fixed on ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) Jeong Haein.

“Hey, wait—!”

Before Yoon Sanghyuk could even finish his sentence—

—Paat!

The arrow shot out like a bolt of lightning.

It flew straight toward Jeong Haein’s back, and in that moment of suspended breath, tension squeezed Yoon Sanghyuk’s chest tight.

But Jeong Haein reacted instantly.

Without even looking back, he tilted his head slightly, as if by instinct.

—Thunk!

The arrow grazed past his ear and pierced the troll’s forehead dead center.

Jeong Haein turned around and gave a small thumbs-up.

Upon seeing his gesture, a smile bloomed across Sion’s face.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Yoon Sanghyuk exhaled deeply, replaying what had just happened in his head.

Trolls were nothing like goblins. Each one possessed a massive frame and overwhelming strength.

Was there even anyone else among the students who could take on multiple trolls alone like that?

He tried to run through the names in his head one by one but shook it off in the end.

And with that insane shot just now—and an even more insane dodge—it was enough to make him stop thinking altogether.

“This is even possible...?”

He murmured to himself quietly.

***

That damn instructor.

Sure, traps were the heart of any dungeon, but I didn’t expect them to be this aggressively placed.

And the oily liquid on the crossbow bolts earlier—it was definitely paralytic poison.

Are they insane?

I narrowed the distance between myself and the team.

The dungeon was tougher than I expected, so I needed to stay closer to control sudden developments.

But almost mockingly, we soon arrived at a safe zone.

A small space with a few chairs and folding tables, and one wall stocked with water bottles and basic supplies.

It was enough to take a decent break.

Yoon Sanghyuk plopped into a chair and caught his breath before speaking up.

“Hey, Haein.”

“Yeah?”

“You and Sion... do you know each other?”

At his question, I glanced over at Sion.

She was seated in the corner, checking her bowstring. Head lowered, calm as ever.

“Why?”

“It’s just... your teamwork is too good...”

I shook my head slightly and answered casually.

“Well, we’ve known each other a long time.”

Even as I said that, something tugged at the back of my mind.

Come to think of it—why wasn’t Sion selected as a seed?

Her rank was 19. More than good enough to be picked. And to be clear, Sion is far better than what a 19th rank suggests.

I turned to her.

“Sion.”

She raised her head and met my eyes.

“Yeah?”

“During the unit class... did something happen? It’s weird you weren’t chosen as a seed.”

She hesitated for a moment, then laughed lightly like it was nothing.

“They were deciding everything up front amongst themselves, so I just went along quietly... and ended up finishing dead last.”

So that’s what happened.

“You are kinda passive.”

Knowing her personality, it made sense.

Her tendency to avoid conflict sometimes led to her abilities not being properly evaluated.

“Passive...?”

Yoon Sanghyuk, who had been listening nearby, mumbled with a confused expression.

“What? Something wrong?”

Sion turned to him with a soft smile and asked.

“Uh, no. Nothing at all.”

She turned back to me with a small, playful smile.

“But still, if I had been a seed... I couldn’t have been on your team, right?”

Her smile carried both playfulness and warmth.

“I like this better.”