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Midra Fenin.

A person filled with nothing but suspicious traits.

When our eyes met, he flashed a sly grin.

Since that explosive comment he made that day, I hadn’t bothered to interact with him.

I just didn’t see any benefit in getting close to Midra.

Every bit of information he had was highly classified and specific.

Making an enemy of someone like him wouldn’t bring any good.

“Good to see ya!”

Midra greeted us energetically, just like he usually did.

Hania glanced at him, then quickly smiled.

It was a fake smile—one only I, her ex, could recognize.

“Nice to see you, Midra. I heard you’re joining our team.”

“Yes, ma’am! I’m nowhere near the level of the Third Princess, but I’ll do my best!”

Midra shot me a sneaky look and grinned.

Seriously, what an annoying guy.

“Senior—ah, Instructor.”

Meanwhile, Aisha came up and greeted me.

When it’s just the two of us, she casually calls me "senior."

She still wasn’t quite used to my official title and sometimes slipped up.

“I-I’ll do my best, Instructor Vikamon!”

Right after, Foara also gave a spirited response in front of me.

Since I hadn’t revealed my identity to Foara yet, his timid reaction showed through.

“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”

With the addition of the first-years, our team was finally complete.

I looked around at everyone.

While the three were chatting, the elite members had gathered around us.

All familiar faces, of course.

I gave a nod and stepped forward to face them.

Even though I was technically Vikamon, I held the position of an instructor.

Naturally, that meant I’d be leading this team.

“You all know we’re going in first, right?”

Everyone nodded firmly in response to my question.

“Dungeon Assault Team!”

Just then, Vega called for us.

It was time to enter the dungeon.

The entrance was more heavily guarded than ever before.

This winter dungeon carried the risk of a demonic apostle emerging.

That’s why not only the Empire but the entire world had invested in this operation.

‘Even though the dungeon opened early, they were already prepared for it.’

They must’ve been deployed in advance to react quickly depending on the situation.

Which meant—they had vacated the imperial palace for a longer time.

Among those present, I saw the commander of the Imperial Knights.

There are five knight orders in the Empire.

Currently, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th knight orders were stationed at the dungeon entrance.

Support had also come from the Blue and Yellow Magic Towers.

Seeing them here really emphasized how urgent this situation was.

It also made me worry about the state of the royal family.

‘Let’s hope nothing bad happens.’

I had already warned the First Prince and Duke of Whitewood in advance.

They would be making their own preparations, no doubt.

Maybe they had even summoned Iris for that very reason.

‘All I can do is trust them.’

The Winter Dungeon Arc couldn’t be skipped.

Especially since a leap in demonic apostle activity was anticipated—we had to confirm it personally.

The bad ending unfolds within the dungeon as well.

A complete wipe in the dungeon leads directly to a bad ending.

That was something we absolutely had to prevent.

As we moved forward, students’ eyes turned to us.

First-years, second-years, and even third-years were watching us.

We were given the opportunity to enter the dungeon before even the third-years.

But there was no protest among them.

Sadly, their motivation had dropped since they lost Nikita.

Vice President Nikita had meant more to them than anyone had imagined.

His absence had hit the third-years hard, just like how the former leaders of the Azure Generation once did.

Maybe that’s why—despite the inclusion of first-years, there were no third-years in the assault team.

Then suddenly, I realized that most of the third-years’ eyes were focused on me.

I wondered why for a moment—then it clicked.

‘Come to think of it, there is one third-year here.’

That would be me.

Technically, I was a former student of the academy.

I belonged to the same generation as the current third-years, so it made sense that I represented them.

Somehow, I had become the last remaining pride of the third-years.

They were projecting their hopes onto me in their stead.

“Vikamon!”

At that moment, someone called my name.

I turned to look—and saw a familiar face.

It was Rojamin, the former president of the Boycott Committee.

His probation due to the boycott had ended, so he was back with the third-years.

“Do your best!”

He must have heard that I was one of Iris’s confidants and had been leading the boycott on her behalf.

Yet, he still called out his support to me.

He genuinely saw me as a friend.

And I had been sincere during the boycott as well.

So even if I had been Iris’s confidant, he never doubted the sincerity I showed.

He was the first friend I’d made as Vikamon.

I looked at him and gave a short smile.

“I’ll be back.”

With that, we stepped into the dungeon once again.

The surroundings began to shift rapidly.

The Winter Dungeon had opened early.

Unlike the Fall Dungeon, we entered it safely.

First Floor: Blue Zone.

The dungeon had changed its appearance once more.

I glanced at Sharin, and she gave me a languid smile.

The way she flicked her staff suggested she had done something behind the scenes.

‘She even prepared for spatial transition in the dungeon?’

What a talent monster.

I was truly, deeply grateful.

BOOM!

As soon as we entered, a monster appeared.

It was a bizarre creature, its entire body dyed blue.

But its appearance was short-lived.

Surrounded by the elite students of Jerion Academy, the blue monster was instantly torn to pieces.

Our objective for this dungeon run: reach the 9th floor and confirm the apostle’s leap in power.

In this scenario that had gone completely off-script—the Winter Dungeon Arc.

It begins.

* * *

Winter Demon Dungeon – Demon Dungeon Strike Squad.

This squad is a union of three different teams.

[Team 1]

Vikamon Niflheim [Martial Arts]

Isabel Luna [Martial Arts]

Seron Parmia [Martial Arts]

Sharin Sazaris [Magic Arts]

Sirmiel Von Eden [Divine Arts]

Three from the martial arts department, the overwhelming firepower of Sharin, and Saint Sirmiel supporting them with divine magic.

[Team 2]

Hania Rapidedia [Martial Arts]

Midra Fenin [Martial Arts]

Eve [Martial Arts]

Dorara Corazon [Magic Arts]

Valencia Kaise [Special Arts]

Iris is out of the original Iris team, and Midra has joined instead.

Even without Iris, this team had consistently strong results.

Plus, Valencia has recently gained healing abilities through a reverse-use of curses.

They should have no problem getting through the 8th floor.

[Team 3]

Ban [Martial Arts]

Aisha Bizvel [Martial Arts]

Foara Silin [Special Arts]

Beaquirin Monem [Special Arts]

Joachim [Divine Arts]

The lazy genius Ban and the iron greatsword-wielder Aisha hold the front.

Following them are the two strongest spirit-users.

And finally, Joachim—a second-year in Divine Arts and formerly of the Iris team—handles healing.

Balance-wise, the three teams are flawless.

Up to the 8th floor, these three teams would proceed together.

And we had no hesitation in showing why we’re considered the strongest force of Jerion Academy.

Eventually, we reached the 5th floor—the Sky of Emptiness.

Fog surrounds everything.

Inside this fog are hidden traps.

If you accidentally trigger one, you'll be sucked into the sky—so we must stay alert.

But that’s for a normal party.

“There, and there—traps.”

Sharin has Mirinae.

Mirinae is a power that allows her to see everything in the world through mana.

All the traps set up in the Sky of Emptiness are imbued with mana.

So, there’s no avoiding Sharin’s eyes.

The moment she pointed them out, the demolition crew immediately broke the traps.

We’re not the only ones entering the Demon Dungeon.

Since additional parties will come from behind, it’s better to dismantle the traps as we go.

Especially considering the return journey—it’s just more convenient that way.

“Prince Sweet Potato, starting from the 5th floor, this is where we merge with other academies, right?”

At that moment, Seron spoke to me.

As she said, the 5th floor connects with other entrances.

“Yeah.”

“But I don’t see a trace of them.”

Seron squinted into the fog.

She was right—there was no sign of anyone from the other academies.

The reason was simple.

“Our breakthrough speed is abnormally fast.”

The Empire has more talent than other nations.

Since Flame Butterfly mainly takes place in the Empire, it makes sense that we’re more powerful.

“So slow, really.”

Seron snorted, amused.

She kind of sounded like a classic villainess just now.

“Also, if you keep calling me that nickname, the others will figure it out.”

“Ugh, I know. But it’s stuck in my mouth, what can I do.”

So she was conscious of it.

Then again, Seron always kept quiet except when we were alone.

‘Ah, no—that’s probably just because she’s not close with anyone else.’

Seron’s social awkwardness is honestly a bit sad.

“Did you just think something annoying?”

“I was thinking that even in the fog, your forehead still shines bright.”

“That’s your excuse?!”

“Quiet down, please.”

Hania sharply scolded us, and Seron went silent.

Though she didn’t forget to jab me hard in the ribs.

Meanwhile, I was keeping a close eye on one individual.

Midra, who had joined Team 2’s martial group alongside Hania and Eve.

He was skilled in battle, but occasionally made small mistakes—typical of a first-year.

Every time, Hania and Eve covered for him, and Midra would apologize and never repeat the error.

He’s got talent.

About what you’d expect from the second-ranked first-year in martial arts.

Which is exactly why he caught my attention.

Because I’d seen him disappear in front of me—like he teleported.

‘I still don’t know what that guy really is.’

I hope I get the chance to find out this time.

But that opportunity just hasn’t come yet.

“Instructor Vikamon, we’re almost done.”

Right on cue, Ban knocked on a wall at the edge of the fog.

As he said, we’d reached the end of the 5th floor.

“Dorara, time?”

Dorara—the second-ranked second-year in Magic Arts—immediately checked.

“8:45 PM.”

Since I was a senior and a teaching assistant, he responded with unusual respect.

If it were Hanon, he would’ve thrown a fit, but it was nice to see Dorara behaving.

“We’ll rest here for the night.”

While we must push forward, neglecting rest is dangerous.

The deeper we go, the more unexpected situations occur.

So tonight, we’d camp here and resume in the morning.

The students smoothly prepared for camp.

They were clearly used to the Demon Dungeon.

There’s one critical rule for camping in the dungeon:

Night Watch.

Two people per shift.

With 15 people, everyone could still get proper rest with a rotation.

“First shift will be Isabel and Eve.”

According to the watch list we had prepared earlier, I briefed them.

“And for the second shift...”

This is where I threw out a surprise.

“Midra and I will take it.”

Let’s have a proper chat for once.