'Delicious.'
Surprisingly, the popcorn in this world tasted even better than what I'd had on Earth.
Maybe because it was popped with magic.
But there was something even tastier than this salty, nutty popcorn.
[This is extremely slothful behavior!]
[Sloth +1]
[Sloth +1]
[Sloth +1]
...
'Too delicious...!'
It was the Sloth points piling up at an insane rate.
Unprecedented efficiency.
It seemed to accumulate even faster than sleeping in class.
And that made sense. What was a dungeon, anyway?
An unknown space teeming with dangerous monsters.
A place where you had to maintain utmost tension at every moment, or risk losing your life in an instant.
Yet here I was, right in the heart of that brutal dungeon, leisurely munching on popcorn.
Could there be anything more slothful than this?
'Of course, this is a strategic decision.'
It wasn't impulsive—it was planned from the start.
The usual reasons for conquering a dungeon were to claim the rewards inside or farm items dropped by monsters, but the biggest reason was to gain experience by killing monsters.
However, with my [Sin of Sloth (Myth)] trait, I couldn't gain experience anyway.
Sweating it out to kill monsters would just count as diligent behavior, resulting in a net loss.
So, just eating popcorn and stacking Sloth was a massive win.
But I couldn't do it alone.
That's why...
'I brought the bus drivers.'
I gazed fondly at Karen and Artel, who were diligently taking down skeletons up ahead.
They'd been visibly shocked when I suddenly pulled out the popcorn.
But as soon as the skeletons approached, they switched to pro mode and dove into battle.
Whoosh!
Every time Karen's sword whipped up a storm, the skeletons' sturdy bones shattered.
Boom!
Artel wasn't about to be outdone, firing off sharp ice spears and piercing through a similar number of skeletons.
The two genius bus drivers were bulldozing the dungeon at a ferocious pace, like they were in a competition...!
"Fight on~"
My role was cheerleader.
I sent them my heartfelt encouragement.
"But Jeron, aren't you gonna fight, sword?!"
Karen shouted after one-shotting an approaching skeleton.
"The bet's already on, sword!"
"I know."
I shook the popcorn bag as I replied.
"I'll jump in after I finish this, so hang in there a bit longer."
"Heh, feeling confident, are we? Fine! This makes ten for me!"
"...Eleven for me."
"Wow, as expected of Artel. The top ice mage of 1st Year Magic Department!"
"Sh-shut up."
Artel whipped her head away, but her ears were slightly red again.
Having cleared the first group of skeletons, we moved on to the next area of the graveyard.
Passing through a narrow corridor led to a much larger circular stone chamber.
"...The atmosphere's different."
Artel murmured softly.
She was right. Even the air felt different.
Colder, heavier, pressing down more intensely.
Stone statues depicting ancient warriors lined the walls all around.
Then.
Clatter, clatter!
Piles of bones scattered throughout the chamber began assembling themselves and standing up.
But these new ones were on another level compared to the weaklings we'd faced before.
Unlike the previous area with only white regular skeletons, these had bones dyed pitch-black.
They looked as tough as if carved from obsidian.
"Elite Skeletons...!"
Tension crept into Artel's voice.
Elite Skeletons.
Superior specimens with physical abilities and durability incomparable to regulars.
And unlike the mindless chargers from before, these were armed with shields and swords, forming a proper formation.
That wasn't all.
Ting!
A sharp whistle cut the air as an arrow flew toward us.
"!"
Karen swatted it away instantly.
The arrow had come from the collapsed balcony above the chamber.
Skeleton Archers up there were nocking arrows aimed at us.
"Ahaha!"
But fear didn't cross Karen's face—instead, a grin bloomed.
"Now it's getting fun!"
She gripped her sword tighter and said.
"Don't charge blindly. Archers up top. Their formation's different too."
Artel quickly assessed and issued orders.
"I'll cover you. Let's break through that side first."
"Got it!"
Watching them, I reached into my Subspace Pocket again.
And pulled out the trump card I'd been saving for this moment.
None other than...
sweet caramel popcorn.
'Heh.'
The true essence of popcorn is caramel, after all.
"Here I go!"
Karen leaped toward the elite skeletons ahead.
Artel erected an ice barrier to block arrows raining from above, providing cover fire.
Clang! Kakang!
Unlike before, Karen's sword clashed against an elite skeleton's shield, sparks flying.
Then Artel froze its feet with an ice spell, sealing its movement. Karen didn't miss the opening and smashed its skull.
"Good assist, Artel!"
"...Focus. Another one's coming!"
"Hyaap!"
'Wow, their teamwork is seamless.'
I marveled as I popped some caramel popcorn into my mouth.
Their personalities might clash, but as top-tier fighters, they synced perfectly in combat.
In fact, in [Stella Academia], partying them up had surprisingly good synergy.
'Wonder where that guy's hiding.'
In this second area of the underground graveyard, there was one annoying ambusher lurking.
I remembered it well from my first time in the game—got so startled by its jump-scare that I spilled cola on my keyboard.
'Probably in a blind spot.'
This time... over there, maybe.
I casually glanced at the warrior statues.
The proper way to clear it was to stay alert for blind spots or preemptively shatter the statues with slashes to expose the hider behind.
But this time, I ignored it completely.
I just focused on enjoying Karen and Artel's spectacular skeleton-slaying show while munching popcorn.
Because I had that skill, after all.
Soon, the world suddenly slowed unnaturally.
The enhanced effect of [Keen Eyes], 'Crisis Detection,' had activated.
'Ah. Here it comes.'
I leisurely scanned the surroundings with just a sidelong glance.
Sure enough, a Skeleton Mage wielding a staff emerged from the shadow of a massive statue.
'Cute, so cute.'
I shoved a handful of popcorn into my mouth with one hand.
And activated [Basic Reflex].
***
Karen Schtark.
She quite liked the guy named Jeron Airgia.
The rumors of him defeating the Kaiser and brazenly provoking him had piqued her interest, but meeting him in person amplified it.
When they'd bumped into each other in the flower bed, he'd found a four-leaf clover at nearly the same speed as her.
A mage with the 'good eyes' her general always talked about.
'A bet... you say?'
When that Jeron proposed a wager—"the one with the most contribution gets all the rewards"—Karen's blood boiled.
Who got the dungeon rewards? That wasn't really important.
What mattered was the bet itself.
Proving her strength through fair competition. That was what she truly loved.
But then, once inside the dungeon, he suddenly pulls out popcorn and starts eating?
'Eek? What the heck is this?'
She'd heard rumors he was the slothful type who slept through classes, but this lazy?
That's what she thought at first.
But soon, her thinking shifted a bit.
'...Jeron. Are you provoking me?'
Proposing the bet first, then showing that leisure?
In a dangerous battlefield where enemies could pop out anytime?
Sure, his slothful nature played a part, but this had to be intentional to some degree.
Perfect confidence in his own skills.
And the arrogance of a superior, yielding a handicap to his rivals...!!
'So that's it. Fine, Jeron! I accept your provocation!'
Karen swung her sword with surging fighting spirit.
The first skeleton group was cleared in a flash.
Then the second area. Elite skeletons and skeleton archers appeared.
As she immersed herself in battling the tougher foes—
"...!"
A chilling premonition crawled up her spine.
Instantly, her pupils dilated, and the world's time seemed to halt.
The elite skeleton's incoming sword.
The skeleton archer's shot arrow.
With a single fluid motion, she dodged them both and cleaved the foe before her.
But that wasn't the issue.
Where her gaze turned.
In the statue's shadow, a Skeleton Mage was aiming its staff.
Its target: Jeron, defenselessly looking away and eating popcorn.
It had hidden with stealth magic and launched a cowardly ambush.
"Tch!"
Too focused on the foes in front amid thoughts of the bet with Jeron, she'd missed the hidden one.
She swung her sword with all her might.
'[Blade Storm]!'
Kwaaaa!
Sword energy burst from her blade, forming a vortex whirlwind.
Her signature technique hurtled toward the Skeleton Mage.
But it was too late.
The dark magic had already been cast.
Her attack wouldn't hit before the Skeleton Mage's spell reached Jeron first.
'No...!'
In that desperate moment as she glanced at Jeron.
In the slowed world, their eyes met exactly.
'...Huh?'
His violet eyes showed no panic whatsoever.
Just gazing back at her with utter calm.
And Karen saw it.
Jeron still bringing popcorn to his mouth.
Casually raising his other hand.
The Skeleton Mage's spell futilely bounced off the violet magic circle unfolding from Jeron's palm.