The group followed the directions given by the Kroxy, updating their map along the way. At first they had been dubious if to trust its words, but after thinking about it for a while they decided it was worth giving it a shot.

“If Phillard really wanted to harm us, he would have done it while we were at our weakest.” Phloria pointed out, the other agreeing with her.

“Gods, I still can’t believe magical beasts can talk and reason just like us humans. If I had known that during the mock exam, I’m afraid I would have experienced the same hesitation I had at the start of the dungeon.”

Her words made the others think hard about their previous experience. Magical beasts were capable of using magic just like them, if not better, to fight tactically and to care for their teammates.

– “It’s been really stupid of me ignoring all the facts and let prejudice guide my reasoning.” Yurial thought. “Just because they have a different form, it doesn’t mean they are incapable of having feelings.

“I must talk about this matter with my father, he never mentioned this issue while discussing how to manage our grand duchy. Befriending them could be really profitable.”–   The further they progressed through the dungeon, the more crossroads they encountered. By using Life Vision, Lith could see that there were no more big life forms lurking in the other paths, just insects and what he hoped to be rats.

– “It seems that goblins and ogres were all we add to face.” Lith thought. “It makes sense if Yurial is right and the purpose of the exam was imparting practical experience about fighting humans. Any more would just be plain cruel.”–   Lith knew he was right when after the last turn Linjos’ amulet emitted a green glow, indicating that he was free from his role of supervisor, yet since they were still cautiously walking instead of being transported into the main hall, he was also wrong.