Dungeon Raider System
Chapter 712 - 712: A degree is worth more than a thousand words Part 2

The ceremony carried on with Uriel being awarded instead of Simon who stormed out alongside many other students that wanted to ingratiate themselves with the rich student.

The rest of the students just watched the ceremony with disinterest as they didn't care who was getting awarded and only attended because it was mandatory, yet Hathaway didn't take his eyes from Uriel from the moment he learnt his name.

[System notice] New title acquired, Archaeologist: Acquired after getting a degree on the science that focuses on the systematic study of the human past through its material remains, by means of excavation, recovery, and interpretation of artifacts and other associated evidence.

"Finally!" Uriel let out with the most honest smile he ever produced.

"Why do you care so much? It's just a piece of paper. It doesn't change any of the solid work you've been doing all this time." Nika scoffed.

"Besides, I heard you were going to be nominated as a posthimus archaeologist anyway." Alice added.

"You do know posthimus would have meant I'm dead, right? Also, it's not just a piece of paper. You have no idea how bad I've been fighting against the imposter syndrome." Uriel said with a grimace.

"That sounds serious, perhaps we should have Luna check you up. Oh, wait, we can't because you refused to search for her!" Nika remarked sarcastically.

"It's not something a doctor can cure. In fact, this piece of paper is all I needed to feel better. Let's go celebrate somewhere!" Uriel didn't need to finish the sentence for Nika to jump on the party wagon, but Hathaway remained unfazed.

"I'm sorry, there's something I need to do. Maybe some other day." He excused himself.

"Come on, you only live once!" Nika laced her arm around the student's shoulders, but he violently shook her off from him.

"I said I'm busy." Hathaway grunted.

"I understand, but you need to tell me what you want as a reward for helping me because I don't know how long will I stay in this city." Uriel said, a bit disappointed that Hathaway wouldn't join them. Especially since he knew he was wealthy and expected to get him to pick up the bill.

"I'll be fine with a passing grade." He said before leaving without so much as turning.

"I want a job." Alice broke the silence that ensued after Hathaway left the now scarcely populated hall.

"Good, now that I'm an archaeologist I won't waste my time being a teaching assistant anymore. If I put up a good word for you Professor Pangeotis won't have an issue with taking you in, but you'll have to promise to keep up with your studies." Uriel said.

"I...," Alice held on to the arrowhead she had been keeping on her hand with such force it broke through her skin and caused her to bleed. "I can't care any less about archaeology. To me, it was just a means to an end. If you hire me in your company I'll achieve my goal without the need to study."

"I'm sorry, but we're not hiring." Nika said after exchanging a meaningful look with Uriel.

"I'll do anything, I'll clean, cook, hunt... even other things. Anything that helps me stay as far from archaeology as I can." Alice broke her composure for the first time and pleaded with a pitiful voice.

"I mean... even if we took you in..." Uriel attempted to speak but Alice cut him short.

"Please! What is your company's trade? I'm sure there's something I could do!"

"Here's the thing, our company's trade is related to archaeology." Uriel said awkwardly scratching the back of his head to which Alice replied after lingering for a few seconds.

"I would like to tell you I'm fine with that, but I'm not," she clenched her fists. "but... I don't think I have a choice anymore. The only reason I made it this far in college was thanks to the study group. My savings are gone, my friend is gone and while I hate that you killed him...

I know it was the right thing to do, but it is something I could have never done myself." Alice said, her past eye crying as it was still set on the moment of Scoundrel's death.

"That's good and all, but we're not hiring." Uriel let out and turned to leave. He would rather pay her a hefty sum of money than taking her in the dungeon raiders.

"Are you going back on your word? Didn't you said we could ask for a reward? This is what I want and it is not much considering you asked us to participate in killing a holy rank hunter." Alice gritted her teeth.

"Whatever, but I don't feel like celebrating anything anymore." Uriel grunted in exasperation. Breaking his word wasn't a big deal for Uriel who was comfortable with lying to everyone, but not rewarding someone who did something for him would make him indebted to that person and that was something he couldn't stand.

"Come on, don't be a spoilsport," Nika pouted in the background then came up with an idea. "you're an archaeologist now and don't do archaeologists value traditions? Celebrating after graduation is a sacred tradition in pre apocalyptic society!"

"Dammit Nika!" Uriel blurted out already sensing that Nika would hold his degree over his head at any chance she got. Not long after they went to their respective rooms to take a long shower and change clothes.

Despite what it may have seemed by those who saw Uriel enter the restaurant with two beauties by his side, never in human history had a man been so bitter after being forced to have a lavish meal in such company to celebrate a huge milestone. If he was bitter before, he became even more so after the bill arrived.

"These idiots..." Uriel fumbled to himself when the two huntresses passed out on the table. Alice because she was exhausted and Nika because, well... she really liked her beer.