Chapter 51: Grinding the Shadow Hunter Dungeon (1)
He accepted the mission at the counter, then spoke with the receptionist, who informed him that a teleporter located within the Academy could transport him to a distant city near the dungeon. From there, he would need to travel a short distance to reach his destination.
After thanking the receptionist, Mikael left the building and made his way toward the central section of the Academy, which was open to all years. While walking through the common area, he noticed other students with various numbers of lines on their uniform badges, ranging from one like his to four. This reminded him, 'Ah, right. I forgot that today is the day when students from other years are allowed to interact with the first years.'
Recalling this, he wanted to sigh but restrained himself. 'I'm definitely going to get into a fight! If winning the entrance exam as a commoner didn't already provoke some nobles, being close to Amelia will definitely enrage them... But honestly, they can be as angry as they want. The fact is, Amelia and I have a connection, and soon, she'll be mine!'
As this thought crossed his mind, a playful yet charming smile spread across his face. 'Mine?' he mused. 'Since when did I become this possessive? And not just possessive—my personality has shifted significantly since I joined the Records.' He paused for a moment, reflecting on this realization before concluding,
'No, shifted isn't the right word. It's more like I'm finally allowing myself to embrace who I truly am. Back when I was leading the gang, I couldn't afford to be playful or even let my guard down. I had to stay serious and constantly vigilant against sudden ambushes. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have survived long enough to witness the day the Records connected with Earth.'
Finishing his introspection, Mikael arrived in front of a stunning marble building with a sign reading Teleportation Hall. Without hesitation, he stepped inside.
The interior of the building was spacious, with a central counter surrounded by numerous small rooms labeled "Teleportation Room." The place bustled with activity, as a high number of people moved about, giving it a lively atmosphere. Mikael followed the signs on the walls until he reached an unoccupied teleportation room. He configured the panel beside the door, selecting his destination: Adresia City. The cost was 500 credits for the teleportation, plus another 500 for the return trip.
'If the month hadn't just started, I wouldn't have had enough credits for this teleportation. I would've needed to pick a closer dungeon...' he thought, but he didn't dwell on it. He paid the required fee, and the door opened to let him inside.
The room was extremely small, no larger than 4 square meters, with a glowing blue magical circle inscribed on the floor. Mikael stepped into the circle and immediately felt an invisible force envelop him, rendering him immobile.
Instinctively, he wanted to resist, his aura almost flaring by reflex, but he managed to suppress the impulse, knowing this was part of the teleportation process. He stood still and waited as the suppressive force intensified, making it a colossal effort even to stir his aura.
At the peak of the pressure, his surroundings shifted abruptly, plunging him into darkness. After a few seconds, he felt solid ground beneath his feet again. Looking around, he saw a room identical to the one he had just left. For a moment, he wondered if the teleportation had failed.