Book 1 Chapter 367
367
After the announcement of the mission practice.
The 1st and 2nd-year students busily prepared for the mission practice.
Students from the Department of Magic gathered in the 2nd-year lecture hall, discussing the mission practice.
“But I thought it would be some kind of secret mission, yet we’re entering openly without hiding that we’re Rummern students.”
Karl, sitting cross-legged on a chair, pouted his lips, putting his interlocked hands behind his head.
A pen was placed on his philtrum.
“I was thinking of something like secretly collecting information.”
Juen nodded in agreement with Karl’s grumbling.
“Indeed. I thought that would be much more interesting.”
Chloe clicked her tongue, listening to their conversation.
“The entire 1st and 2nd years are going into Aleham; there’s no way that can be hidden.”
That was true.
No matter how much they tried to hide their identities, if hundreds of people entered Aleham all at once through a warp gate, there was no way that fact could be concealed.
Especially if teenagers in their mid-to-late teens entered all at once, even more so.
“Besides, it would be helpful to let Aleham know that we are Rummern students, as it allows us to put pressure on them.”
Abad, sitting in front with his legs crossed, said with a faint smile.
At his words, small screams erupted among the 1st-year female students.
As Abad was one of the most popular 2nd-year students, every action of his elicited the highest reactions from his juniors.
A 1st-year male student raised his hand and asked.
“Why do we have to reveal our identities to put pressure on Aleham? Couldn’t they hide their secrets even more if we officially investigate?”
“If Aleham truly wants to conceal the Hero Dungeon, they wouldn't welcome those who try to uncover their country's secrets.”
The 1st-year students nodded.
“Then wouldn’t they want to stop those trying to uncover the secrets, even if it means ‘killing’ them?”
His face still held a smile, but the content was chilling.
The 1st-year students flinched and shivered.
“Even so, they wouldn’t go that far with Rummern students, would they?”
When the male student who asked the question spoke in a doubting voice, Abad replied.
“That’s why I’m saying this. If we go in secretly, we wouldn’t officially be Rummern students, would we?”
Abad rested his chin on his hand.
“Concealing the existence of a Hero Dungeon is a very serious matter. Depending on which hero’s Hero Record it is, the world could be threatened. Especially recently, the threat of Hero Records going berserk has become even more tangible. Last year and this year. You all know what kind of situation resulted from the berserk Hero Records in Seirun, don’t you?”
At Abad’s words, the 1st-year students swallowed dryly.
During the battle of Russe last year.
There was no one who didn’t know the fact that a legion commander from a distant past era had crossed into Seirun through the Hero’s world.
In addition to that, the invasion of the Monster Queen.
“If Sir Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, and Lady Luna, the Ancestor of the Nebula, hadn't miraculously appeared, we probably wouldn’t be here today.”
At Abad’s words, the 1st-year students looked tense.
“The very existence of a country can be jeopardized by a berserk Hero Dungeon, yet they are concealing such a danger.”
Abad said calmly.
“Would such people care that we are Rummern students?”
At Abad’s words, the 1st-year students broke out in a cold sweat.
“With the title of a Rummern student, they absolutely cannot touch us carelessly. The moment they do, Rummern will directly intervene. The same goes for the country to which that student belongs.”
Abad narrowed his eyes.
“Whether it’s you or us. For now, the professors have judged that most students need to be protected by the name of Rummern. Keep that in mind.”
At Abad’s words, the excited 1st-year students lowered their heads.
The 1st-year students, who were going on their first mission practice, secretly thought they were representing Rummern through this mission.
Being too excited and overly confident often leads to mistakes.
Abad was setting the atmosphere to instill a sense of tension in his juniors.
“When he acts like that, Abad is definitely no joke.”
As Karl let out a small exclamation of admiration, Chelsea, next to him, folded her arms and wore a smug expression.
“Of course, he’s the next master of Rwalin. By the way, where’s Leo oppa? He said he was preparing for the mission practice with the Department of Magic today.”
Mission practice preparations were being carried out by department.
Karl answered Chelsea’s question.
“He said he was going to see Professor Tina for a bit?”
***
Whoosh- Whoosh-
-My wings!
Inside Tina’s office, Kiruan was excitedly flying around, drawing infinity symbols, in a frenzy.
Fiora, who had polymorphed, looked at him and said dismissively.
“You really are nothing but a moth.”
“Ah, a moth! Miss Fiora! Please insult me like that too!”
“Elsie told me not to play with Artie. She said I’d learn harmful things.”
As Fiora drew a line with Artie, Artie covered her face with the back of her hand and clutched her heart with the other.
“Oh, harmful. How could you say such harsh words with such a cute expression?”
Fiora, still young, couldn’t understand this Pegasus who liked her words at all.
However, one thing she knew was that he wasn’t in his right mind.
‘Artie isn’t in her right mind.’
Fiora rolled her large red eyes and looked at Kiruan, who was flying around frantically.
‘That fairy is a moth.’
Fiora, with her arms crossed, nodded greatly.
‘Yes, I’m the only one who’s really helpful to Leo.’
With her characteristic childlike imitation of an adult, Fiora took elegant steps.
Kiruan flew above Fiora and flapped his two pairs of wings wildly.
Then, sparkling light poured down onto Fiora’s nose.
“Achoo!”
Fiora sneezed.
“Ugh! What are you doing!”
-My wings are cool, aren’t they?
“You look like a moth.”
At Fiora’s honest comment, Kiruan flapped his wings even more fiercely.
With her eyes burning at the chaotically scattering dust of light, Fiora picked up a thin book and tried to catch Kiruan like a bug.
-Hahahaha! You chick! Do you think such a shoddy attack would work on me, who has regained my wings?
“Stay right there! You naughty moth!”
Bang! Clatter!
Tina’s laboratory became noisy.
Just then.
Swish! Thud-!
With a sharp sound of cutting through the air, a sharp scalpel flew precisely between Fiora and Kiruan and impaled itself.
Tina, who had thrown the scalpel, said to the two petrified phantom beasts.
“If you keep being noisy, I’ll dissect you, okay?”
She spoke in her characteristic languid tone.
However, her eyes were filled with madness, so the effect was sufficient.
The two phantom beasts were startled and hid behind Artie.
Artie then said with a look of disdain.
“To be scared by such a simple threat. Do you have no shame? You should be embarrassed as one of the three great phantom beasts.”
Fiora and Kiruan retorted, ‘We don’t want to hear that from you of all people.’
Meanwhile, Tina examined Komestes with an intrigued expression.
“As expected, it’s amazing. Komestes reacting to someone other than a person from the Tingel family.”
Leo, who had come to receive Kiruan’s wings as compensation for being an exchange student in Seirun, was showing Komestes to Tina.
It was originally a treasure of the Seirun Academy, but since Seirun himself had given it to Leo.
The ownership clearly belonged to Leo.
“You certainly seem to be a research subject, Student Leo.”
Tina took a sip of her strong coffee and smiled faintly.
“Would you like to play doctor with this professor?”
Tina, with a subtly dangerous expression, licked her lips.
“You don’t have to be scared. I won’t eat you.”
“I refuse. Please stick to researching Komestes.”
“That’s a shame.”
At Leo’s words, Tina smacked her lips but didn’t show much regret.
“The Pureblood Society has been dealt with, and Seirun seems to be undergoing a transformation. Shouldn’t you be appointed as a teacher in Seirun now?”
“That might not be bad. There’s a student in Seirun I’d like to dissect.”
‘…Is it Lunia?’
If there was a student who could pique Tina’s curiosity, the only one who immediately came to mind was Lunia, who wielded the Flame Emperor’s fire.
“Well, for now, I want to do more research on the magical power contained within Komestes.”
Currently, Tina’s interest was in researching why Komestes, which had only reacted to the Tingel bloodline for thousands of years, reacted to Leo.
Of course, he had received recognition from Seirun, who could be called Komestes’s owner, but even so, Komestes’s magical power fluctuations were enough to bring Tina sufficient interest.
Tina, humming a tune while looking at Komestes, said.
“Speaking of which, you said you were going to Aleham, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“If you’re going to Aleham.”
Tina quickly wrote something on a piece of paper.
“Go find this place in Uargella.”
“Uargella? Isn’t that Aleham’s largest oasis city?”
“That’s right.”
Leo received the paper Tina handed him.
“The Pleasure Palace.”
“It’s a tavern run by someone who manages a part of Aleham’s underworld.”
Tina wore her characteristic languid expression.
“Showing this will be a great help for this mission practice.”
“Thank you.”
Leo tucked the note into his pocket.
***
The weekday after the mission practice preparation period ended.
The 1st and 2nd-year students gathered closely in front of the warp gate.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m planning to focus on investigating the capital first.”
“I’m going to the area around the Monster Forest. Since mercenaries gather there, it should be easy to collect information.”
The students seemed to have decided on their respective investigation areas.
They were actively discussing.
Of course, the investigations were not limited to just that location.
Since all of Aleham was the target of investigation, they would clearly use the warp gate actively.
In addition, it was also possible to collaborate with other teams.
Basically, this mission practice was primarily about cooperation, not competition.
As such, information exchange was important, and there was a need to understand the movements of the students.
The 1st-year students listened intently to their mentors’ stories with nervous expressions.
This was because they thought that next year, they might become mentors and guide their juniors.
They were actively talking before their departure.
“My fellow students! Are you ready?”
Sedjen appeared.
Sedjen, installed in front of the warp gate, magnificently spread his arms.
“This mission practice is not just a simple mission practice! It’s about investigating Aleham as representatives of Rummern! Depending on the results you achieve, international relations could change, and the neighboring countries around Aleham could also feel at ease! So, do not forget the weight of this responsibility and undertake your mission!”
“Yes!”
The students replied vigorously.
“And the country of Aleham itself might still be a ‘stimulating’ country for you all! Please do not lose your way or have your eyes clouded by excessive stimulation!”
At Sedjen’s words, Karl raised his hand.
“Professor Sedjen! What kind of punishment do we receive if we do something unbefitting a student or use certain facilities?”
It was Harlind, standing below the dais, who answered Karl’s question.
“There is no punishment.”
The entire student body was surprised by the unexpected words from Harlind, who was stricter than anyone about school rules.
Harlind looked at the students and said.
“Before you are students, you are hero candidates. You must be able to take responsibility for your actions.”
Harlind gave his characteristic cold smile.
“There’s nothing wrong with having various experiences. But if you get too deeply involved and your life is ruined, it has nothing to do with the school.”
The students swallowed dryly at Harlind’s words.
Harlind, after scanning the students once, said.
“This mission practice period is two weeks.”
“Huh?”
“Two whole weeks?”
Everyone looked surprised at the unexpected length of the mission practice.
“Yes. As it is a long-term mission, I will now pay the necessary expenses for the mission. Since this is also part of the class, borrowing strength from your family or using personal funds is forbidden. And know that there will be no additional support for the next two weeks.”
Having said that, Harlind handed money pouches to the students.
Karl’s eyes widened as he checked the pouch.
“Wow! What should we do with any leftover mission practice funds?”
Karl asked, startled, as there was an enormous sum of money inside.
“Individuals are to handle any remaining expenses as they see fit. That is all.”
The money provided for the mission practice was an enormous sum that even students from noble families were surprised by.
Once all preparations were complete, Sedjen said.
“Then! I wish you good luck! My fellow students!”
The 1st-semester joint mission practice for 1st and 2nd-year students began.