In fact, shortly after leaving the Headmistress's office, Greg, having completely calmed down, figured out the reason why Vivian had come looking for him.
It was by no means a rekindled old flame or a maiden's secret affection.
That didn't fit Vivian's character, and it overestimated whatever remaining weight he held in her heart.
She might have felt a slight ripple because of their unexpected encounter that morning, but she would never become love-brained over it.
So, the only reasonable explanation Greg could think of was this: she had developed an intense curiosity and desire to investigate the power he demonstrated by defeating the Undead Knight on his own.
That was why, when they were alone in the Student Council office, he had uttered those words: "Do you crave power?"
Because not only did he need Vivian's cooperation to clear the second layer, but he also suddenly realized that since Vivian's talent for learning magic from books was mediocre, taking her directly to clear the dungeon and improve through actual combat would erase her talent deficiency, wouldn't it?
Furthermore, it would happen to resolve the main source of conflict between her and his younger sister, Lilith!
It was truly killing two birds with one stone!
Although it took a lot of coaxing to convince Vivian to seize the moment and set out with him in the dead of night to clear the dungeon, he ultimately succeeded thanks to the genuine strength he had demonstrated recently.
"Be careful when crossing this stone bridge. I've personally seen two fairly capable students get pulled into the water here without any chance to resist."
Greg, walking ahead, turned back and said to Vivian.
Vivian did not break her stride. Her ice-blue eyes calmly swept over the stone bridge and the deep chasm below, her voice cool as she retorted:
"This isn't my first time here. Besides, I'm not as weak as you think."
Although she was completely crushed by Lilith in terms of talent, through hard work and self-discipline, her strength remained exceptionally outstanding among most of her peers. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to secure the position of Second-year Representative.
However, right after she finished speaking, her ice-blue eyebrows knit slightly, as if she had suddenly caught an incongruous detail in Greg's words.
She paused in her tracks, turned her head, and fixed her sharp gaze on Greg:
"Wait, are you saying that other students entered the dungeon without authorization? Who were they? How are they doing now?"
Shoot! It looks like I let something slip!
Greg's heart skipped a beat, inwardly cursing his own carelessness.
He had been so focused on warning her of danger that he forgot that the very act of "students entering the dungeon without authorization" was a disciplinary infraction in the eyes of Vivian, the Student Council President, and something that needed to be investigated and handled.
Even though the two of them were doing pretty much the exact same thing right now...
Greg's mind raced. He instantly put on a confused expression, scratched the back of his head, and spoke with a hint of uncertainty:
"Uh... I don't know specifically who they were. You know my social circle is pretty narrow and I don't know many people. Besides, the lighting was dim at the time, and they were far away, so I only saw a general outline. It seemed like... a guy and a girl? I can't remember clearly. Anyway, lucky for them, I happened to pass by and rescued them. They're fine, just badly shaken. I doubt they'll dare sneak back in ever again."
He deliberately blurred key details, and his excuse possessed no real flaws.
After listening, Vivian let her ice-blue eyes linger on his face for a moment, seemingly assessing the truth of his words.
Greg tried his best to maintain a natural expression, though his palms sweated slightly.
Fortunately, perhaps because no casualties had occurred, Vivian ultimately just gave a barely perceptible nod without pursuing the matter further.
"Don't let it happen again. If it is discovered next time, it must be reported."
She softly dropped that principled warning, then turned back, refocusing her attention on the dark path ahead.
Greg secretly let out a sigh of relief, discreetly wiping away non-existent cold sweat.
That was close... I almost sold out Lilith and Little Gray.
Good thing I reacted fast.
After crossing the stone bridge and passing through a section of tunnel covered in slick moss, a relatively open cave appeared ahead.
Greg signaled for Vivian to stop.
"Wait for me here for a moment. I'll head back to camp to grab a few things and be right back."
Vivian offered no objection, simply standing quietly in place as her ice-blue eyes surveyed the dim surroundings.
Having previously visited Greg's camp at the Headmistress's request, she no longer felt any curiosity about it.
After parting ways for a moment, Greg navigated with practiced ease around an inconspicuous wall alcove, cleared away a few stones used as camouflage, and squeezed inside.
The inside of the camp remained just as he had left it, the remnants of the campfire long cooled.
At a single glance, he saw the black cat lying in the shadows at the tent entrance, lazily stretching its body and yawning with its mouth wide open.
"Hop right in."
Greg gestured with his finger toward the black cat.
Nightmare, in her black cat form, stopped yawning and tilted her head. A trace of humanlike confusion flashed through her dark-golden cat eyes, and her divine voice—ethereal yet tinged with mockery—sounded directly in Greg's mind:
"Hmm? I recall you saying you were heading up to the surface to meet a human female in secret. How is it that you have returned so swiftly? Could it be..."
Her tone dragged out, laced with mischief:
"...that you find it far more entertaining when there are onlookers present while you take care of business?"
Greg snapped back exasperatedly:
"You useless Hajimi, you can't even break the damn curse on me, yet you have the nerve to sit there talking nonsense?"
As he spoke, he deftly pulled open the tent flap and stooped to step inside.
A rustling sound of rummaging came from within. Soon, he crawled out carrying a bulging leather waist bag, expertly fastening it around his waist and pressing down hard to ensure it was secure.
"I'm planning to thoroughly clear the second layer now."
Greg patted the pouch at his waist and looked at Nightmare:
"If you want to tag along, hurry up. If not, keep sleeping your big head off here. But fair warning: don't complain later that I didn't invite you."
The moment she heard they were going to clear the dungeon, Nightmare the black cat—who just a second ago seemed utterly uninterested in everything—instantly perked up.
Her dark-golden cat eyes ignited, like two tiny flames being struck alive.
She sprang off the ground with a whoosh, her movements so light and swift they hardly belonged to a cat. Transforming into a blurry black shadow, she silently dissolved into Greg's flickering shadow beneath his feet.
Immediately after, her voice—distinctly marked with delight and urgency—rang out directly in Greg's mind:
"Since we are going to purge the corruption and distortion lurking within, how could I possibly abstain? What are you standing there gawking for? Depart at once!"
Greg: "..."
Rate on N.U.
