Chapter 555 – Another Vassal.

“UgHhH…”

“I did it!”

‘That was rather fast. No wonder so many people flock to this place.’

A woman, her face concealed, observed the defeated undead monster. Its body had mostly turned to dust after being struck by her spell scroll. The divine spell it contained was remarkably effective at dispatching tier-three monsters, something that should not have been so easily achieved. She examined the inscribed runes on the parchment and, despite all her current knowledge, could barely comprehend how such a feat was possible. Blending divine energies without a priest’s involvement contradicted everything known about magic in this world, and she could not wait to uncover more.

She glanced at her status screen, which displayed her progress. In just around a month inside this dungeon, she had gained more than forty levels, all thanks to her benefactor, Roland Arden. He was a mysterious man, the younger brother of her beloved Robert. Though the two shared similar appearances, Roland felt like he was not of this world. The things he could do and his knowledge went beyond the conventional understanding of this realm. He also did not truly act his age; he was always calm and collected, rarely showing emotion unless his wife or wolf was involved.

“That’s great! Are you going to attempt the ascension now?”

Robert stood beside her, keeping watch for any potential threats. He seemed even happier than she was that her journey to level one hundred fifty had finally come to an end. Though his helmet concealed his expression, the tone of his voice carried unmistakable joy. She, however, was not as ecstatic. Her life had changed so much, and she was not sure if she truly deserved all of this. But the moment Robert stepped closer and took her hand, all her doubts faded away, and she smiled.

“I’m not sure. It might be a bit too soon, and Sir Wayland wanted to see me before I attempted it.”

“He did? I bet he just wants to give you some advice and use that strange mind-restoring magic of his.”

“Hm… you might be right, but it felt like it was about something else.”

“Well, I’m sure he has something planned”

Robert said, his voice filled with admiration for his brother. Lucille couldn’t help but chuckle, recalling how strained Robert’s relationship with his younger brother had once been. He had confided in her many times about his past mistakes, carrying a heavy conscience over how he had treated Roland in their youth. Ever since Roland disappeared, Robert had been searching for a way to make amends. Now, working alongside the long-lost prodigy still felt like a dream, a dream she never wanted to wake up from.

This life was far better than the one her family had forced upon her. If not for the Arden siblings, she would have been trapped in a loveless marriage to an underage noble, her future dictated by duty rather than choice. Instead, she had found a life filled with adventure and excitement. She could study runic diagrams and schematics to her heart’s content, working alongside some of the finest dwarven craftsmen she had ever met.

And then there was Roland. He felt like a runic savant, someone capable of ushering in a new age of runic magic. She wanted to witness that transformation, to be part of it. But to do so, she needed to make herself useful.

“Shall we leave?”

“Yes, let us.”

With her decision made, Lucille and Robert began their ascent toward the surface. They were on the first level of the second dungeon, not far from the mining area and the checkpoint leading outside. Robert, ever the vigilant protector, kept his hand on the hilt of his sword as they walked, his eyes scanning their surroundings.

“It’s fine. There aren’t any monsters here”

Lucille said, hoping to ease his tension. But he would not relax. The armor she wore was equipped with technology from their benefactor, displaying a map of the area along with the exact locations of all the monsters on this floor. There was no chance of being ambushed, yet Robert refused to lower his guard.

“I heard a Lich escaped from this dungeon. There’s always a risk. We can never let our guard down in a place like this.”

“You’re probably right but we are almost there.”

Just as she expected, they arrived at the checkpoint without a problem. Thanks to their current identities, they were let through without any questions. Their personas as Durendal and Curtana were starting to garner a lot of respect, though most of it was focused on Robert, who had become a Knight Commander and had been given his own troops to train and lead. In a way, she felt slightly jealous of all the attention he was getting while she struggled to control just a few golems.

“Sir Durendal, Lady Curtana”

One of the soldiers greeted, stepping forward.

“The gate has been calibrated for your return.”

Robert gave a firm nod, then turned to Lucille.

“Are you ready?”

This gate had recently been established at this location. It was a miniature pathway, too small for large groups to pass through but sufficient for her training. The old entrance through the lava lake had been completed and was now used by the miners, while the teleportation gate was reserved for high-ranking members from Albrook. This gate was of lower quality and could not be used frequently, so traveling back and forth once per day was usually the limit.

“I’m ready.”

They approached a hidden area carved into one of the dungeon’s walls. Inside was the gate they would be using. The runes flared brighter, and the space within the small archway twisted, forming a shimmering portal. Without hesitation, both of them stepped through and emerged on the other side in Roland’s underground workshop.

“Welcome back.”

A familiar voice greeted them. Roland stood before a massive and intricate runic schematic, something she could only dream of understanding. The runes were drawn with precise detail, but she had no real grasp of how to read them. Despite being given numerous research papers, she struggled to visualize these runes in a three-dimensional state and comprehend how that form influenced their internal operating system.

“I see you’ve completed your training.”

Lucille stepped forward, nodding hesitantly as she studied Roland’s expression. It was one of those rare days when he wasn’t hiding behind a helmet. The one she wore came off rather quickly; even after months, she still hadn’t gotten used to it.

“Yes, I have. My level has reached one hundred and fifty.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

She nodded again, confirming his question.

“But you are still lacking in your skills, as I recall?”

“That’s true, but it shouldn’t take much longer.”

Their conversation felt somewhat awkward. He wasn’t truly looking at her, his gaze fixed on the intricate schematic in front of him. Sometimes it felt as though he had eyes in the back of his head, always aware of his surroundings. While her levels and battle skills had all been maxed out, some abilities that couldn’t be improved through combat alone were progressing more slowly. Then there was the new skill she had acquired upon reaching level fifty in her Rune Mage class, one that would likely take time to develop.

Her new skill was a rare dual-type: both passive and active. It allowed her to expend mana to analyze complex runes but also increased their power. The Rune Mage class revolved around controlling and enhancing runes through magic. If she already understood a rune well, this skill would make it easier to use enchanted equipment, but as a Rune Mage, she still couldn’t create her own runes. Perhaps that would change once she reached Tier 3.

Higher-tier Rune Mages were said to be capable of invoking runic symbols and forming temporary spells from nothing. That was her ultimate goal, to become an Arch-Rune Mage, someone who didn’t rely on cumbersome metal to wield runes. However, achieving this was easier said than done. Her current class setup wasn’t ideal. She was both a Rune Mage and an Ice Mage, a combination that might lower her chances of acquiring a powerful advanced class.

“Aiming for the Master Rune Mage class?”

Roland’s voice pulled her from her thoughts as he finally turned away from the schematic.

“Ah, yes. That would be splendid!”

Professor Arion, her former teacher, was a Master Rune Mage. She wished to follow in his footsteps and had gathered all the necessary skills to qualify for the class. Now, all that remained was to enter the ascension space and undergo the class change.

“I see…”

“Is there something wrong? Is that a bad choice?”