Chapter 61

Chapter 61

After the dungeon attack, the team explored the rest of the dungeon several times more, but they came across nothing special. In the end, the attack team’s expedition ended without much results, leaving many unsatisfied.

The crew members who thought they would be able to take some spoils back with them were disappointed by how easy it all turned out, and the scholars who were thirsty for new data and research could not help but feel that it’s a shame.

As such, the dungeon of the Aslan Ruins was finally judged as a low-level dungeon, barely escaping from the lowest level. It was because the value of the blue egg they obtained at the end of the dungeon was of a higher class compared to what could be found in other dungeons.

‘I’m not sure if this is something to be relieved about…’

Andra unconsciously tapped the paper a couple of times with the tip of her pen. In fact, for her, it was good that the dungeon work ended at this point. Because she’s figured out as much as she can in the dungeon, and she’s now forced to go back to the academy to finish her graduation thesis.

Besides that, there was only a limited amount of research materials available on the scrolls and circular plates they obtained through dungeon raid. For a complete interpretation of the words in the scroll, she had to go to the academy or the imperial court, where there were more resources. Therefore, there was nothing good about being stuck in the Aslan ruins for a long time.

Andra got up as the sun set outside the window, grabbing her books and the materials spread out on the desk. She needed to get out of the archives. Looking around, she saw that she was the only one left in the archives. Needless to say, as she was wrapping up her research on the dungeon, very few people remained in the archives since it was already so late at night.

Professor Vellott spent more time interacting with other scholars than researching and writing dissertations these days. Thanks to that, Andra was able to have private time in this way until she returned to the academy.

Andra went to the library staff and returned the materials that could not be taken out of the archives, then came out of the hallway with only the rest of her materials. She opened the locker where she had put her belongings, and she paused at the sight of an unfamiliar umbrella there.

‘Umbrella?’

It was an ordinary umbrella. She picked up the umbrella and looked around, then put it back down. It looks like someone had left it in her locker while she was immersed in the archives. But why? It wasn’t raining outside. Andra glanced out the window for a moment and frowned at the clear sky.

‘Would’ve been better if they left a note on it.’

Since she didn’t know where the umbrella came from, Andra closed the door of the locker with only her belongings. When she came out of the building, she found dusk falling down. She hurried back to her dormitory, holding the materials that didn’t fit in her bag tightly in her arms.

Drop, drop, drop…

As she walked halfway through. Rain began to fall little by little on her head. A cold drop of water drew a small dark circle on the floor.

‘I didn’t hear that it’s going to rain though.’

At the sudden rain, Andra speeded up her steps as much as possible. In the meantime, she didn’t forget to cover the research materials with her whole body to avoid getting them wet.

It often rained at this time of year, so if she knew it would be like this, she would have brought an umbrella ahead of time. At the same time, she remembered the umbrella that someone had left in her locker.

‘Should I have taken that with me?’

Come to think of it, the person who left it there could have been one of the people around her. Everyone knew that Andra had recently been staying up late in the archives these days. But to just give an umbrella without a note?

Andra thought about the person who left the umbrella and soon ran into someone who was coming in front of her.

Fortunately, the person on the other side caught Andra before she could fall, overturning the materials all over.

“Oh my God, Miss Avellin. Careful now.”

“…Shamune?”

Andra’s gaze, which had been focused on the floor, rose upwards. Shamune was smiling at Andra.

“Yes, it is me. It was raining, so I was on my way to pick you up, Miss Avellin. The professor told me to go.”

Shamune hurriedly handed an umbrella to Andra, who was holding open an umbrella in his other hand. Andra, who had suddenly taken the umbrella, asked with a slightly puzzled tone.

“Didn’t you already leave an umbrella in my locker?”

“Me? An umbrella?”

“Yes, I thought it was you, Shamune.”

She was just thinking that the person who left the umbrella must have been him, since he was the one who took care of everyone on the way to and after they left the Aslan Ruins. It was a bit odd that he didn’t leave a note considering his personality, but that didn’t mean it was completely incomprehensible.

“First of all, it’s not me. I came here with an umbrella like this.”

“I see. Hmm, then who is it?”

Someone who will leave behind an umbrella without saying anything. There was no one she could remember. Andra tilted her head. Who was it? One of the people in the dungeon attack team? She never made close enough friends with the team for them to come to the archives and leave an umbrella for rain that might not come. Who came all the way here to bring an umbrella?

At that moment, Shamune gave a small laugh and answered in a playful voice.

“I don’t know. Could it be that someone had a crush on Miss Avellin? It’s a way to express their feelings.”

“Then, isn’t it the norm to give flowers rather than umbrellas? It may or may not rain.”

“Well, I guess they knew it was going to rain. They proudly brought an umbrella. They’re more practical than I thought. In fact, when it rains, where would you need the flowers?”

“After hearing what you said, I guess that’s possible. Even thinking about it, I think it would have been annoying if I was given only flowers and not an umbrella when it’s about to rain. But you know, the very premise of your guess is wrong.”

When Andra spoke firmly, Shamune made a rather unjust expression. What about his guess? Wasn’t that the most plausible guess? It takes a lot of willpower to bring an umbrella there for others.

“First of all, why are you so sure that no one will be interested in you, Miss Avellin?”

“Because there really is no one like that. Who do I have time to meet? I’m busy just writing my thesis.”

“Maybe they just saw Miss Avellin on the way and fell in love at first sight.”

“Then isn’t that a stalker? I don’t even know who they are, but they’re following me around until the archives and even left behind an umbrella in my locker. Ugh, creepy.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Right. So, your guess has been rejected.”

Andra said firmly.

“So you really didn’t bring that umbrella?”

“Maybe the person who gave it to me and thought I’d take it right away? Perhaps they felt uncomfortable, so they just left it. And, there wasn’t a note. The owner of the umbrella will take care of it.”

“That’s true. It if was me, I think I would have written even a short note.”

“Well then, thank you for coming to pick me up like this, Shamune. Otherwise, I might have arrived at the dorm soaking wet. It would have been crazy trying to recover the data.”

Meanwhile, it was raining heavily. Drops of water that had been falling sporadically were hitting the floor hard. In the cool stream of water, Andra felt grateful for the umbrella she was under now. Had she just walked under the rain, she would have drenched herself and the materials.

“You’re welcome. More than that… Have you made any progress?”

Shamune glanced down at Andra’s documents and asked. He was talking about why Andra was preoccupied with the archives these days.

“Well, a little bit. But I still don’t know. There are things that are beyond my ability. There is a lot of missing data.”

“You said it’s a personal research study, right?”

“Yes well…”

Andra roughly referred to researching the rewards she received after conquering the dungeon as a personal research study. She made an excuse to Professor Vellot that she would like to investigate further about the Aslan ruins. She actually had no way of explaining what she was doing now without saying this.

‘How can I even say that I’m investigating what I have received from the actual dungeon raid? I can’t even remember where I found the ancient characters.’

After the dungeon was cleared, Andra learned one thing not long before the others had noticed. It was that no one remembered the Morgennis characters she had discovered during the previous dungeon exploration.

From Hone, who at the very least, first discovered the character, to even Professor Jackalik, who was in charge of transcribing the runes. They didn’t remember anything as if they had decided on it together.

It seemed that someone had erased only that part from their memory. Maybe that’s why, but when she asked them about it, they answered Andra back with a question on what she was talking about, even with “Where did it come from?”

Whatever happened in the dungeon, it was affecting everyone.

“But it’s not that important. It’s only until I go to the academy. My thesis is just about over, and I have nothing left to do for the rest of the time.”

It’s an evident lie. In fact, she was tearing her hair out because there was no progress in the research. Otherwise, she’ll end up having to go to Dustin Airak. Peace would come to her life only once she had removed the glowing pattern from her wrist as soon as possible.

Unaware of Andra’s thoughts, Shamune smiled innocently.

“As expected, you are Professor Vellot’s dear disciple. If you ever need my help, feel free to tell me. I’ll ask around and get you some data.”

“Thank you, Shamune.”

“Oh, did you hear the news more than that?”

“What news?”

The lodgings were now right in front of them.

Shamune continued in a whisper.

“I heard that Lord Airak will return to the Academy first. He must be unwell.”

AD

“Was he unwell?”

“Yes, people say that he has a very pale complexion and that the atmosphere itself is very subdued. He went as far as destroying all the furniture inside… Anyway, for various reasons, I think the decision was made for Lord Airak to return first.”

“Ah… I see.”

“Did the dungeon have any bad influence on Lord Airak?”

“I don’t know. I wonder why Lord Airak is doing this, too.”

Dustin Airak, you’re making a big fuss. Andra managed to resist letting out the snort that was about to come out.

After arriving at the lodgings and returning to her room, Andra washed up and had a light dinner. Imperial Ancient History, Northern Archeology, Archaeological History… After the major books, she put the dungeon-related books in order. Dungeon History, Dungeon Theory, Dungeon People…….

After investing an hour into it, Andra was able to organize all of the books. Andra, who put the box containing the books in one place and sat down at her desk again, was organizing the materials she brought today. Then suddenly, she turned to pick up a metal disc that was left in one corner.

The good thing was that it’s quite easy to put the puzzle of the original plate together. Andra stared intently at the plate, then raised her head, got up from her seat, and headed for the bed. She lay down on the bed and glanced over the disc once more.

‘What does this mean?’

As it did before, the puzzle of the metal disc was reminiscent of a picture, but it was not one of a heavenly island, which hovered in the sky. It was as if it was pointing to a certain place, but Andra knew that there was no such thing as a heavenly island in the world.

Even though she searched all kinds of data about the heavenly island, just in case, it was just a legendary place that has been passed down like a folk myth to wizards, and there was no evidence that it existed anywhere. It was the information that Andra found out only after spending a full day.

“I guess I’ll have to fully interpret the text before I can find out.”

Andra put the disc down and looked up at the ceiling. She and then she slowly tried to organize things up from scratch again.