Chapter 176 | Survival Guide for a Doomed Villain in the Academy Dungeon

In truth, shortly after leaving the Headmistress's office, Greg had completely calmed down and realized why Vivian had come looking for him.

It certainly wasn't a rekindling of old flames or a young girl's romantic awakening.

That didn't fit Vivian's character, and it would be overestimating the weight he still held in her heart.

She might have been slightly shaken by the accidental contact this morning, but it was impossible for her to become 'love-brained' because of it.

Therefore, Greg could only think of one logical explanation: she was intensely curious and eager to investigate the power he had displayed when he defeated the Undead Knight alone.

That was why he had asked, "Do you crave power?" while they were alone in the Student Council room.

He needed 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 into the dungeon for combat experience could bridge that talent gap.

Furthermore, this would resolve the primary source of conflict between her and his sister, Lilith!

It was truly killing two birds with one stone!

Although it took some effort to convince Vivian to head straight into the dungeon in the middle of the night, his recent display of genuine strength eventually won her over.

"Be careful when crossing this stone bridge. I've personally seen two fairly capable students get dragged into the water here without being able to resist,"

Greg said, looking back at Vivian as he led the way.

Vivian didn't stop. Her ice-blue eyes calmly swept over the stone bridge and the deep fissure below. "This isn't my first time here," she countered in a cool voice. "And I'm not as weak as you think."

While she was completely overshadowed by Lilith in terms of talent, her hard work and self-discipline made her strength quite outstanding among her peers. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to secure the position of Second-year Representative.

However, just as she finished speaking, her ice-blue brows furrowed slightly, as if she had suddenly caught an inconsistent detail in Greg's words.

She stopped and turned her sharp gaze toward him.

"Wait. You're saying other students have entered the dungeon without permission? Who were they? What happened to them?"

Crap! I let it slip!

Greg's heart skipped a beat as he cursed his own carelessness.

He had been so focused on warning her about the danger that he forgot that 'students entering the dungeon without permission' was a disciplinary violation that Vivian, as the Student Council President, was obligated to investigate.

Even though the two of them were doing the exact same thing right now...

Greg's mind raced. He quickly adopted a confused expression and scratched the back of his head, his tone sounding uncertain.

"Uh... I don't know exactly who they were. You know my social circle is tiny; I don't know many people. It was dark at the time, and they were far away. I just saw their outlines... a guy and a girl, I think? I can't remember. Anyway, they were lucky I happened to be passing by and saved them. They're fine, just badly shaken. I doubt they'll ever dare sneak back in again."

He deliberately blurred the key information, and the excuse he came up with had no obvious flaws.

Vivian's ice-blue eyes lingered on his face for a moment, as if scrutinizing the truth of his words.

Greg worked hard to maintain a natural expression, though his palms were sweating slightly.

Fortunately, perhaps because no one was actually hurt, Vivian eventually gave a nearly imperceptible nod and didn't press further.

"Don't let it happen again. If you find anyone else, you must report it."

She left him with that principled warning and turned back, refocusing her attention on the dark path ahead.

Greg breathed a silent sigh of relief and carefully wiped away a non-existent cold sweat.

That was close... I almost sold out Lilith and Little Gray.

Good thing I'm quick on my feet.

After crossing the stone bridge and passing through a tunnel covered in slippery moss, they reached a relatively open cavern.

Greg signaled for Vivian to stop.

"Wait for me here. I need to go back to my camp to grab a few things. I'll be right back."

Vivian didn't object. She simply stood in place, her ice-blue eyes scanning the dim surroundings.

She had already visited Greg's camp because of the Headmistress's request, so she was no longer curious about it.

After they parted, Greg expertly navigated to an inconspicuous alcove in the rock wall, moved a few stones used for camouflage, and slipped inside.

The camp remained exactly as he had left it, with the embers of the campfire long since cooled.

He immediately spotted the black cat lying in the shadows of the tent entrance, lazily stretching and yawning wide.

"Get over here, you."

Greg beckoned to the black cat.

Nightmare, in her black cat form, stopped yawning and tilted her head. A hint of human-like confusion flashed in her amber cat eyes, and the ethereal, slightly mischievous voice of the Goddess rang out directly in Greg's mind:

"Hm? I recall you saying you were heading to the surface for a tryst with a human woman? Why have you returned so soon? Could it be..."

She drew out her words teasingly.

"Do you find it more... exhilarating when there's an audience to watch the deed?"

Greg shot back irritably, "You useless Hajimi, you can't even lift this damn curse on me, yet you have the nerve to sit here spouting nonsense?"

As he spoke, he briskly pulled back the tent flap and ducked inside.

There was a sound of rustling as he searched for something. Soon, he emerged carrying a bulging leather waist bag, which he nimbly strapped to his belt and patted to ensure it was secure.

"I'm planning to fully clear the second layer now."

Greg patted the bag and looked at Nightmare.

"If you want to come, hurry up. If not, keep sleeping your life away. But don't say I didn't invite you later."

As soon as she heard they were going to clear the dungeon, Nightmare—who had seemed disinterested in everything a second ago—instantly perked up.

Her amber cat eyes lit up as if two small flames had been ignited.

She sprang from the ground with a lightness and speed that didn't belong to a normal cat, turning into a blurry black shadow that silently merged into Greg's flickering shadow beneath his feet.