The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　"Have you already agreed?" Eve asked.

　Dark nodded and said, "Bring the contract and pen, and meet at my club. If you have any other requests, such as adding some popular cards to your deck, you can discuss them with them."

　“Okay, no problem,” Eve replied immediately, perking up.

　Immediately afterwards, she went with Dark to the Fantastic Beasts Society.

　After introducing Eve to Witt and Robert, Dak, acting as an intermediary, stopped interfering.

　During his lunch break, he comforted the little guhuoniao and then went into the "reading room" to chat with the baby bear.

　Although Shirley Augustine was merely a "caged bird" confined to a high tower for many years, she was, after all, a person of that era, possessing firsthand understanding and insights into it.

　Instead of asking about the details of its life in the dungeon, Dark tried to extract useful information from its memories.

　In fact, he was much more interested in that history than in Shirley herself.

　How did a powerful kingdom perish?

　What moving and inspiring stories unfolded during the resistance against the demon invasion?

　Or perhaps, what unknown secrets does the royal family of the Northern Kingdom hold?

　Dak brought fruit, pastries, and tea, hoping to pry some information out of Shirley.

　……

　In fact, the awakening of intelligence in dungeon monsters is not really a crisis.

　Unless it is confirmed that a certain god is indeed involved, the Academy has far too many ways to suppress it.

　Beneath this apparent crisis lies a vast treasure.

　Every monster whose memories have been restored is a walking treasure chest.

　The memories in their minds are the greatest treasure!

　Dark knew this from the beginning, and now it's just a reaping of the rewards.

　……

　Unfortunately, Shirley Augustine didn't seem to want to talk to him for too long.

　Dak keenly sensed that the little bear cub was afraid of him.

　So after feeding, Dak did not forcefully extract any more nutrients, but instead withdrew first.

　Anyway, there's plenty of time later, we can slowly squeeze it dry...

　After squeezing him dry, perhaps he can write a book titled "The Rise and Fall of the Northern Kingdom".

　He left the "reading room" and saw Witt and Robert demonstrating a duel in the living room.

　Dark hadn't actually watched many simulated duels, so he sat down and watched with great interest.

　The simplified rules and cards made the simulation duel game more accessible.

　With Witt and Robert's skill level, they were able to make good use of those specially designed tricks, making the whole dueling game seem both deep and easy to understand.

　In short, after watching their duel, most viewers would think, "I could do that too."

　And this is one of the hidden purposes behind their selection.

　……

　After watching the simulated duel between the two, even Dark had to admit that they were indeed one of the best choices.

　Eve was clearly satisfied and immediately signed a contract with the two of them, and arranged a rehearsal time with them.

　After they left, Eve reminded him, "Young Master, don't forget there's still one more group!"

　Dark rolled his eyes, feeling a slight sense of pressure.

　If the existence of Witt and Robert was to let the audience understand and enjoy simulated duels, then the combination of Pandora and Winnie was to let the audience know that this simulated dueling game can also reach a certain level!

　However, persuading these two to participate was not easy.

　But for the sake of the company, Dak had no choice but to bite the bullet and go through with it.

　……

　After the Potions class ended in the afternoon, Dark did not return to his dormitory, but went straight to the library.

　Since the start of second grade, he has been spending less and less time in the library.

　Besides the reduction in homework that needed to be done in the library, the main reason was that he had another quiet place to study, namely the Fantastic Beasts Club.

　Basically, this is the current situation for students at St. Marian College.

　Students generally spend more time in the library reading room and the common lounge in the tower during their first year.

　Starting from the second grade, the clubroom became the main place for learning and activities.

　Dak pushed open the door and entered the library, where he saw Pandora, who had just sat down.

　Pandora Doragon is already in fifth grade, but she still hasn't quit her job as a librarian.

　Dak remembered that she had mentioned during the holidays that she wanted to recommend her mother for admission, but it seemed that it would take some time.

　"Good afternoon, senior."

　Dak took the form and skillfully signed his name.

　Pandora patted the stool next to her, gesturing for him to come behind the counter.

　Dak hadn't planned to leave anyway, so he sat down next to her.

　Pandora yawned slightly and asked wearily, "Did you go to the dungeon over the weekend?"

　“Hmm,” Dark nodded.

　Pandora smiled and suddenly said, "I'm going too."

　Dark blinked and complimented, "You must have had a very fruitful trip, right?"

　Pandora didn't answer directly. Instead, she looked at the library entrance and said meaningfully, "When I came back last night, I heard that a monster had appeared in the dungeon."

　Dark asked curiously, "What monster?"

　Could it be that other intelligent monsters have been discovered?

　But Pandora described it as, "It seems to be a little monster that can smell treasure chests. Do you know where it is?"

　Dark paused, looked away, and said, "Who knows?"

　Pandora chuckled softly and asked, "How many treasure chests did you get this time in the dungeon?"

　Darke tapped his finger and said, "Never calculated it, why?"

　Pandora suddenly turned her head, staring intently into his eyes, and said seriously, "The places where treasure chests are located are mostly extremely dangerous. The first ten levels aren't too dangerous for you, so you can continue like this, but remember to be careful as you go deeper, understand?"

　Dak instinctively leaned back, avoiding the aroma that rushed into his nostrils.

　Pandora saw his slight embarrassment before she straightened up with a grin and stopped pressing him: "You know, I can smell the aura of a level BOSS."

　“No, I don’t know…” Dark wanted to say that, but he didn’t.

　Pandora slowly said, "We didn't enter the dungeon when we were in our first year. So, my second year was the first time I actually entered the dungeon. It felt... very safe, but also very boring."

　Dak straightened his back and chose to listen.

　Pandora continued, "The main difficulty in the first ten levels of the dungeon lies in finding the way through the maze. But for me, who lives in more complex environments, it's like a maze game on paper. I can find the way out with my eyes closed."

　"At first, I didn't realize that the aura I sensed when I first entered the dungeon belonged to a tier boss. It wasn't until I entered the sixth floor that I happened to be passing by and followed the scent, which led me to my first tier boss. I'm not as strong as you, and that tier boss posed a great threat to me. But I eventually defeated it."

　"After that, I opened a treasure chest from a tiered boss and obtained a precious item, which laid the foundation for my future path."

　"It was from then on that I started frantically searching for tier bosses, strategizing, defeating, and reaping rewards, until I finally encountered it."

　Pandora paused for a moment at this point.

　Dark listened intently and instinctively asked, "Who?"

　“A level boss,” Pandora recalled. “A level boss on only the seventeenth floor! It might not mean much to me now, but the pressure it exerted on me back then is unforgettable. It was also during that time that I used my first ‘Dungeon Escape Device.’”

　In other words.

　Her strategy failed.

　A failed attempt to defeat a boss.

　This is actually a very common occurrence for ordinary adventurers.

　As long as you don't die during the BOSS battle, you will launch attacks on the BOSS again and again.

　But Pandora had never experienced failure since entering the dungeon, and that one time could be considered a very important turning point in her life.

　Unlike the adventurers outside, she possesses a "Dungeon Escape Device," which saved her from danger.

　But without the "Dungeon Escape Device", the blade of that level boss would pierce through her body!

　……

　Seeing Dark listening intently, Pandora said seriously, "So you must be careful. The ability to easily find treasure isn't always a good thing. Moderate greed can drive us to grow, but excessive greed will only bring destruction. Life doesn't have a 'dungeon escape device,' you can't start over. Don't lose yourself."

　“I understand.” Dark nodded in deep agreement.

　After a long pause, he asked curiously, "Senior, what was that level boss like? Did you manage to defeat it in the end?"

　Pandora shook her head and said, "No. By the time I mustered the courage to challenge it again, it had disappeared. Perhaps it was defeated by someone else, or perhaps it was recycled by the dungeon. Who knows?"

　"Is it made with a knife?" Dak asked.

　Pandora nodded: "Yes, with a broadsword."

　……

　[I wasn't feeling well after my second injection yesterday, but I still went to the engagement party despite the discomfort. I didn't dare stay up late, and I have to get up early today to see someone off, so I'm only finishing writing now. I'll try to finish today's update before 6 AM. That's all, still 10,000 words (five chapters)!]

Chapter 594 Darkdemon and the Temperance of October (10k)

　"Claymore?"

　Dark's eyes flashed, and he immediately thought of the humanoid monsters he had encountered in the dungeon.

　The humanoid monster appeared in the sixth room during the boss fight, just before the orc swordsman appeared.

　Wearing a straw hat and dressed in black, with a broadsword slung across its back, it made a grand entrance, exuding an aura of "rationality" in every move.

　Leomon fought a fierce battle before finally defeating it with the ultimate move of the "Holy Sword".

　Thinking of this, Dak suddenly frowned, and doubts arose again.

　After the Lion Beast killed the humanoid monster, Dark discovered that the corpse was extremely strange. It had no muscles, blood vessels, or bones, only a black substance filling its interior.

　Before he could examine it closely, the humanoid monster's corpse suddenly shriveled up, leaving only a pool of foul-smelling black water.

　Even among the bizarre and varied monsters in the dungeons, this phenomenon after death is quite unusual.

　However, just as the corpse was disintegrating, the orc swordsman suddenly appeared, interrupting Dark's train of thought, and he temporarily put the matter out of his mind.

　Looking back now, and recalling the monsters that bred consciousness in the dungeon, my memories are returning...

　Suddenly, Dak had some ideas.

　"What are you thinking about?" Pandora suddenly asked.

　After a moment's thought, Dak described the humanoid monster's appearance.

　To his surprise, Pandora frowned and hesitated before saying, "It looks very similar."

　Dark's eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "If we meet again, I'll pay more attention."

　Pandora shook her head and said, "There's no need. But if it really is the same monster, it must already have the ability to leave the BOSS room, and it won't be so easy to encounter."

　“That makes sense,” Dark said, and then stopped.

　After exchanging a few casual words with Pandora, he brought up the purpose of his trip.

　Pandora was somewhat surprised: "You made those kinds of games that look like they'd make people lose their minds?"

　Dark's gaze drifted, and he chuckled, "Mental entertainment is also very important."

　He wouldn't say anything to Pandora that simulated duels help improve dueling skills; while they do have some effect, it's just a byproduct of entertainment.

　If you really want to improve your dueling skills, there are countless faster and more effective methods than simulation dueling games.