Book 1 Chapter 365

365

Mission Practice.

The first-year students could not hide their excitement at the mention of "Hero Dungeon Exploration."

"Wow! It's mission practice even though it's only the first semester!"

"And Professor Halind just said Hero Dungeon Exploration, right?"

"Can we get rewards for clearing it?"

"That's the best!"

The first-year students reacted with excitement.

Unlike the first-year students, the second-year students felt a sense of bewilderment.

'Hundreds of people exploring a Hero Dungeon?'

It was impossible.

A Hero Dungeon refers to a hero's world created by the rampage of a Hero Record.

When Hero Dungeons are discovered, the Hero Academy immediately dispatches parties to explore them, so the number of Hero Dungeons is small.

It was unthinkable for first and second-year students to explore such a Hero Dungeon together.

Of course, there are Hero Dungeons that require hundreds of people to clear simultaneously.

However, such Hero Dungeons are not ones that first and second-year students of the Hero Academy can handle.

While the entire second-year class was questioning it.

A few students among the first-years also felt something was strange.

One of them raised her hand.

"Professor Halind! I have a question!"

Chloe's mentee, Betty Marste, raised her hand high.

Betty was an honor student, ranking second in the Magic Department, following Juene.

"What is it, Betty Marste?"

"What exactly does 'Hero Dungeon Exploration' mean? I can't imagine the entire first-year class exploring a Hero Dungeon with the second-year seniors!"

Seeing Betty ask clearly, the excited first-year students paused.

Listening to Betty's words, it was indeed the case.

The students looked at Halind.

"Not a bad question, Betty Marste. I'll give you 5 points."

Halind highly valued her for asking a question based on a calm analysis of the situation rather than getting caught up in excitement like other students.

"It's disappointing that most of you are taking it at face value as a Hero Dungeon clear without any further thought."

The first-year students flinched at Halind's cold voice.

As the atmosphere became tense, Halind opened his mouth.

"This dungeon exploration is not about clearing a Hero Dungeon, but about finding one."

Durant raised his hand.

"Speak, Durant Moira."

"Is this a mission with a client?"

"No."

"Then, does that mean there's a force hiding the existence of a Hero Dungeon somewhere?"

"Yes."

At Durant's words, the first-year students started murmuring in surprise.

Juene, who was at the front due to Kal, tilted her head in confusion and asked quietly.

"Why doesn't Durant senior get presentation points?"

"Hey. Answering something like that is for first-years to get points. If a second-year answers that and gets points from Professor Halind, they should be ashamed."

Kal, groaning with his head buried, replied. Juene blinked her eyes slowly.

"Then wouldn't it be better if Kal senior answered? The professors would like the questions regardless of points."

"Why would I want to get Professor Halind's attention for something that won't earn points?"

"Are you answering questions only for points, Kal Thomas?"

"Hieek!?"

Kal screamed at the cold voice from above.

Halind imposed an even harsher punishment on his disciple.

"Juene Torbina."

"Yes! Professor Halind!"

"It must be uncomfortable to stand, so sit on top of that fool."

"Yes!"

Juene quickly sat on Kal's waist.

"Kkkeooooo!"

"Are you light as a feather?"

Juene asked with a bright smile, and Kal shouted.

"You're incredibly heavy!"

Upset by his words, Juene jumped up and down.

Kal's screams grew louder.

"Hero Dungeons are extremely dangerous phenomena."

Halind walked forward and stood before the students.

"They are abnormal heroic worlds created by the unstable rampage of Hero Records. Escape from a Hero Dungeon is impossible. If you fail to clear it, you will meet your death. In fact, many of your seniors have lost their lives this way."

The excited first-year students stopped at Halind's words.

Looking at the first-year students, Halind said in a cold voice.

"Those who were just talking about clearing rewards, understand your place. If you're going to end up dying a dog's death with such a careless mindset, quit Lumern immediately."

At Halind's words, most of the first-year students lowered their heads.

Lumern students begin full-scale mission execution in their second year.

Until their second year, the missions are relatively low-risk.

However, from their third year, they start taking on truly dangerous missions.

And sometimes, they get caught up in Hero Dungeons.

Lumern also has specialized Hero Dungeon exploration parties composed of excellent students.

However, even those selected students meet their death in Hero Dungeons.

Indeed, every year, not only at Lumern but also many Hero Academy students fail to clear Hero Dungeons and lose their lives.

It was a topic that should never be mentioned lightly.

Following Halind's stern warning to the first-years, Mel spoke.

"The reason Hero Dungeons are dangerous isn't just the high risk during exploration. As you know, if Hero Dungeons are left unattended for a long time, they begin to erode reality."

Mel, who usually had a gentle demeanor and was popular with students, was solemn today.

A Hero Record is a story of a hero overcoming a trial.

Among the various crises faced by heroes, only dangers that cannot be taken lightly are named 'trials'.

Leaving a Hero Dungeon unattended meant that a crisis that threatened the world would once again occur in reality.

Despite this, many countries conceal the discovery of Hero Dungeons.

The reason is simple.

If a Hero Dungeon is cleared, the Hero Record belongs to the Hero Academy.

Human heroes' records go to Lumern.

Elf heroes' records go to Selune.

Beastmen and Dwarf heroes' records go to Azonia and Demian.

Dragon heroes' records are retrieved by Dragonia.

3000 years ago.

The Covenant of Genesis, forged by the Heroes of Genesis.

The Hero Academy and Dragonia manage the Hero Records, but never monopolize them.

Hero Records are used solely for nurturing heroes for the sake of the world.

Otherwise, the world might have fallen into chaos long ago.

If Hero Records were used for selfish gain, they were items that could allow one to rule the world.

Therefore, Hero Dungeons were also a powerful force that could rapidly change the balance of power between factions.

If one succeeded in obtaining powerful clearing rewards, it was not impossible for a small nation to instantly gain the status of a great power.

Or one could obtain immense power.

There are always forces that seek to monopolize and conceal Hero Dungeons to fulfill such greed.

There are countless histories where nations were destroyed, and even past crises were recreated in the world due to this.

But such mistakes continue to repeat.

"Preventing that is also a mission of the Hero Academy."

At Mel's words, Celia raised her hand.

"Are you sure they are concealing the Hero Dungeon?"

"We can't be certain. However, it is certain that suspicious abnormal events have been occurring consecutively in that country. Your mission practice this time is to go to the country suspected of concealing a Hero Dungeon, find it, and report it to Lumern."

The students' eyes widened.

"Where is that country?"

At Celia's question, Halind said with an expressionless face.

"A country in the central southern continent. Aleham."

***

Aleham.

It was a country located in the middle of a vast desert in the southern continent.

The country had a history of 2000 years.

It boasted a considerable history and vast lands.

In the past, it was a great power that ruled much of the southern lands.

However, it had now fallen into a poor country in the southern continent.

Most of its vast lands were desert and useless, and its population was small.

"It has a history of 2000 years, but it became an incredibly poor country after declining 500 years ago."

Chloe said.

"How do you know that so well?"

Kal said in admiration, and Chloe smiled faintly.

"I saw it in a book once."

The books Chloe devoured were not just magic books.

Chloe was, by nature, a girl with immense intellectual curiosity.

"Aleham has three peculiar characteristics."

Chloe continued.

"The first is that the territory of Aleham includes a Monster Forest."

"Monster Forest, memories~"

Chelsea said with a faint smile.

The Monster Forest.

It was also an entrance exam assignment for second-year students from the western continent, including Leo, Celia, Chelsea, and Abad.

"I heard that senior Leo's performance at the entrance ceremony was also outstanding."

Juene's eyes lit up.

"How was it?"

"How was it! It was the best!"

Chelsea crossed her arms and smiled haughtily.

"He single-handedly blocked a monster that Abad older brother and Celia barely defeated together, without using Auras!"

"Without using Auras?"

Luke's eyes widened in astonishment.

Aina, sitting next to him as Celia's mentee, also twitched her eyes.

Martina, a mentee of Celia like her, replied with admiration.

"I also heard a lot about the young master's exploits from Miss Celia, so I'm very curious about the details."

"I'll tell you that story later, so focus on the meeting now."

At Leo's words, the students refocused on Chloe.

Currently, Leo was in an individual study room attached to the central library.

This room was well soundproofed for group studies or important meetings.

In the room were second-year students Leo, Chloe, Celia, Chelsea, and Kal.

And their mentees Luke, Betty, Aina, Martina, and Juene.

A total of ten people.

They had come together at Leo's suggestion to discuss the mission practice while having a meal after class.

"The second is that it's a country where no heroes are born. It's been 500 years."

Heroes are very rare beings.

Even after graduating successfully from the Hero Academy, not everyone becomes a hero.

There are often cases where an entire year's worth of students don't have their names listed in a Hero Record.

The names of countless heroes accumulated over a long period make them seem numerous, but they were a very rare existence.

However, what was peculiar about Aleham was not just that no heroes were born.

"Even Lumern entrants have been nonexistent for 500 years."

This is because not even hero candidates have been born.

Just as everyone was stunned.

"The third peculiar characteristic is."

Chloe blinked her eyes.

"It's the birthplace of the Genesis Dragon, Lord Rhodia."

The Genesis Dragon, Rhodia.

3000 years ago, as a Dragon Lord, just like the Wise King Lisinas 5000 years ago, it was the name of a great Dragon Lord who gathered the Heroes of Genesis to respond to the re-emergence of a catastrophe.

"These are all the peculiar characteristics I know."

At Chloe's words, Leo rested his chin on his hand.

"Is there anything special related to the Genesis Dragon?"

"Not really. Oh, there's a legend that there might be a secret library left by Lord Rhodia."

"Hmm."

Leo narrowed his eyes.

'Did that guy leave behind something strange related to me and Lisinas?'

Having already been tricked by Selune, Leo was sufficiently suspicious of Rhodia.

At that moment, Kal said with a smirk.

"I know one thing about Aleham too."

All eyes turned to Kal at his words.

"What is it?"

Chloe asked with interest, and Kal smiled.

"The country of pleasure."