Chapter 159: Black Haired Uncle

"But where are those two?" Bonjour asked while looking around.

Caelum shrugged helplessly.

"The Headmaster said he’ll send them here soon..."

With the battle finally over, the chaos within the dungeon had settled down.

He had send Asta to the Spirit Realm.

Aurelius Zenith had personally taken control of the situation, negotiated with the Hollow Lich, captured the cultists, and even released Bonjour after reaching an agreement with Grozni.

Now, the two boys had been teleported back to the second floor to reunite with the others.

Perched comfortably upon Caelum’s shoulder was a small skeletal skull.

Although it resembled an ordinary skull at first glance, its translucent body constantly emitted a faint ghostly glow, making it look more like an ethereal spirit than an actual undead.

It was Grozni Gefährlich Morozov Höllenbrand.

Or rather, a mana projection of him.

His true body, together with the Hollow Liches, Undead Knights, and the rest of his carefully built undead army, currently rested inside Caelum’s shadow.

If one paid close attention, they would notice that Caelum’s shadow had become unnaturally dark, almost as though it concealed another world within it.

Grozni leisurely observed the surroundings as goblins wandered through the dungeon.

After remaining silent for a while, he suddenly asked.

"My disciple, what exactly does a profession called Dungeon Architect do?"

Caelum scratched his cheek.

"Uh... well, I think they build and maintain dungeons. I’m not really knowledgeable about it though."

The answer made Grozni’s skull nod thoughtfully.

’So they pay me to improve dungeons instead of conquering lands?’

During the earlier negotiations, Aurelius had presented him with an unexpected proposal.

Rather than trying to fight him.

The Imperial Zenith School had officially offered him employment.

And that too as a Dungeon Architect which was a high level job.

Initially, Grozni’s only goal had been escaping the dungeon and returning to the outside world.

However, after giving the matter considerable thought, he realized rushing outside served little purpose.

The world had changed.

The civilizations had changed.

Even magic itself had slightly changed, though the roots remained the same.

Instead of wandering around blindly, it would be wiser to first gather knowledge about the current era.

And what better place to do so than the greatest educational institution within the Empire?

The school had promised him unrestricted access to vast libraries, modern magical theories, historical records, and research materials.

In exchange, he would assist with maintaining and improving the academy’s dungeons.

The only restriction placed upon him was simple.

Absolutely no forbidden experiments.

Although Grozni had found that clause rather offensive, he eventually accepted.

Naturally, not before adding enough conditions to ensure the agreement overwhelmingly favored himself.

After all, he had survived countless times through careful planning.

There was no way he would sign an unfavorable contract.

Besides, his disciple was here.

Teaching Caelum while remaining within the school was considerably more convenient than wandering across the continent.

Though it would initially make Caelum a house flower.

The duration of the contract had therefore been tied directly to Caelum’s enrollment.

As long as his disciple remained a student of the Imperial Zenith School, Grozni would remain employed.

There was another clause as well.

If someone within the school deliberately attempted to sabotage or betray him.

The agreement would immediately be considered broken.

An Archmage-level Mana Oath guaranteed it.

Grozni smiled.

He wasn’t an ancient existence for nothing.

Even during negotiations, he always looked for the greatest advantage.

After pondering for a moment, another question came to his mind.

"My disciple, you should at least know the average salary of a Dungeon Architect, correct?"

Caelum stiffened.

"...I don’t."

Grozni clicked his tongue.

"Tsk. Tsk. You should pay more attention to the world around you."

Caelum wore a helpless expression.

He was the seven-year-old son of a Count.

Learning about salaries and professional wages had never exactly been part of his job description.

Seeing his disciple’s reaction, Grozni silently added another item to the list of things he needed to teach.

Soon, the two reached a large stone doorway.

Unlike the previous ones that led upward through the dungeon.

This portal had been specially adjusted by the Headmaster to transport them downward.

This is how they had arrived here from the fifth floor.

It seems that this dungeon would require a repair.

Just then, the surrounding space around the door shimmered.

A moment later, they stepped onto the first floor.

The atmosphere was unexpectedly peaceful.

No collapsing walls, no Masters fighting, no ancient Liches declaring discipleship.

Soon they found the familiar campsite.

And as Caelum walked toward the tent where everyone had been waiting.

His eyes suddenly landed on someone standing among his friends.

"...Huh?"

It was someone he hadn’t expected to see here at all.

***

Dungeon – Lowest Floor.

Some time earlier...

Paul stepped out of the tent with a triumphant smirk on his face.

After carefully analyzing the latest episode of Justice Kid, he was convinced he had finally uncovered the identity of the mysterious figure who would appear next.