Book 1 Chapter 373

After a commotion.

Nine people gathered in Leo's room.

Four first-year students were gathered, listening intently to the seniors' stories.

"So, what exactly is this information?" Chelsea asked, crossing her arms and tilting her head.

Karl responded to Chelsea's question. "There's something beneath Uargella."

"What's your basis?"

"I heard that recently, students from hero schools other than our own have been dispatched to Elehem."

The other students showed surprised expressions at Karl's words.

"Other hero schools? Which ones?"

"Azonya."

Azonya, the Beastmen Hero Academy.

Certainly, the southern continent was Azonya's primary area of activity.

If Elehem was hiding a hero dungeon, it would be natural for Azonya to be involved.

"They say that the Azonya kids disappeared after being last seen beneath Uargella."

Chloe was impressed by Karl's words.

"Where do you get this kind of information?"

Juien, who had been listening from behind, pouted at Chloe's question.

"That's why I had to roam through dirty back alleys and bars all day today."

"You went through a lot of trouble."

Karl gave a wry smile to Juien, his mentee.

Juien had suffered the most while gathering information together today.

Juien, the daughter of the Southern Tower Master, was clearly a noble lady at first glance.

A noble lady at first glance, Juien was an easy target for vagrants in the back alleys.

All sorts of lewd jokes and insults were the least of it, with some even daring to make a move.

'Well, Karl-senpai did sort all of that out, though.'

Juien glanced at Karl, who had an apologetic expression, and put on a slightly prim look.

"Anyway, while gathering information, I found out several other things."

Karl's expression darkened slightly.

"This country is truly different from how it appears."

"Different from how it appears?"

"It's befitting a country with the most poverty. The country's situation is a complete mess. The outward appearance is truly just a mirage." Juien grumbled.

When they first arrived in Uargella, she had questioned the appearance of the affluent streets.

But after roaming the back alleys, she felt that this country was sick.

Hearing Karl and Juien's words, the other students also wore serious expressions.

Heroes were not simply those who fought against Tartarus.

They were beings who led and transformed the world.

It was also a hero's mission to lead those they saw to a better place.

Therefore, as hero candidates, the story of this country heading towards ruin could not be ignored.

"Is there anything we can do to help this country?" Betty, Chloe's mentee, asked with a worried expression.

"Not right now. There's no justification. Besides, we're just first and second-years." Karl sighed, crossing his arms.

A heavy silence fell upon the room.

"What information did you gather, president, from the street of pleasure?" Iliana asked Leo, trying to change the mood.

"I also heard that there seems to be something beneath Uargella. I heard that the Elehem royal palace directly sent people beneath Uargella."

The other students' eyes widened at Leo's words.

"And I also heard information that the Elehem royal palace's influence is extending to other places besides Uargella."

"Other places? Where?"

"The Forest of Monsters."

"The Forest of Monsters." Karl crossed his arms.

"Certainly, if a hero dungeon were to be created there, it would be easy to hide."

The entire forest was a cursed land by the Monster Queen.

Long ago, before the Age of Calamity, it was the homeland of the elves.

And it was also Luna's hometown forest.

After the Monster Queen was subjugated last year, the forest's curse would have been lifted.

'It would only be truly over if all the monsters there were driven out.'

The complete liberation of her homeland was also one of Luna's fervent wishes.

Leo let out a wry smile as he thought of Luna.

"Then, shall we begin a full-scale exploration of the underground of Uargella?" Chelsea's suggestion was met with nods from everyone.

"I know the entrance. Let's meet tomorrow." Leo said. Luke spoke with a tense voice.

"If it's underground, it's probably like a labyrinth, right?"

"It certainly will be."

"Let's prepare thoroughly."

Everyone wore serious expressions.

"It's not a labyrinth."

"Huh?"

"Then?"

Leo said in a calm voice.

"It's an illegal casino."

***

The next morning, the group looked at the entrance leading underground with reluctant faces.

The entrance was incredibly dazzling.

And well-dressed men in tuxedos were guiding guests around.

Seeing that, Chloe said in a reluctant voice, "You said it was an illegal casino, but is it okay to operate so openly?"

Karl looked at Chloe, who expressed her doubts, and said, "Considering the country's deplorable state… wouldn't they be operating by bribing officials heavily?"

Karl's words were correct.

The underground casino in Uargella, like the Pleasure District, was a cornerstone of Elehem's underworld.

It was a place that even the lord of Uargella dared not touch.

To that end, the casino provided enormous bribes to nobles and public officials for its operation.

'And they said it was extraterritorial.'

It was literally a lawless zone.

As the nine students approached the underground casino.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Underground Paradise, Shadow." A handsome man in a tuxedo bowed elegantly.

Seeing the man, Karl stepped forward.

"Hello, we'd like to play here."

At Karl's words, Shadow's employee looked the group up and down.

Then, he wore a troubled expression.

"I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen. You do not qualify to enter Shadow."

"If it's because of our status, I believe these clothes guarantee our status. We are students of Lumern."

Students of Lumern are treated as VIPs everywhere.

Therefore, there were not a few people who impersonated Lumern students.

Of course, if caught, it would not end with just a warning.

However, the Shadow employee shook his head despite Karl's words.

"The status of a Lumern student does not grant you the right to enter our establishment."

Karl looked perplexed by those words.

'Even with Lumern student status, it's not enough? Then what should I do?'

While Karl, who had not expected to be refused entry, wore a perplexed expression.

Luke, who had been silent, asked, "What is that qualification?"

"The qualification is simple." At the Shadow employee's words, everyone tensed.

Seeing the students like that, the Shadow employee smiled and pointed to a place.

It was a clothing store.

"The qualification to enter our establishment is attire befitting our establishment."

"Huh?"

The group, who had been tense, suddenly looked deflated.

And they looked at the other customers entering.

Indeed, they were dressed as if attending a party, looking glamorous.

"If you return with attire that befits us, I will assist you with entry."

The employee in the tuxedo bowed elegantly.

***

"Even so, isn't this too much?" Karl's face contorted with dismay as they arrived at the clothing store next to Shadow.

"I know the clothes are made of high-quality fabric, but what is this outrageous markup!?" Karl shuddered as he checked the price tags on the clothes.

Austin said in response to Karl's reaction, "Still, didn't the school give you a lot of subsidies?"

Karl clicked his tongue at Austin's words.

"You're still young in the ways of the world, coming from a Zerdinger training knight. It's not a matter of whether we get a lot of subsidies or not. The important thing is whether we pay the value that matches the item! Does it make sense that it's more than ten times more expensive than other clothing stores?"

Luke, upon seeing the price of the clothes, stood frozen and muttered, 'At this price, I could buy one loaf… two loaves…' His common sense was collapsing due to the price.

Just then.

"Senior!" Juien emerged from the fitting room curtain and stood before Karl.

A pure white dress that accentuated her healthy, light brown skin, characteristic of those from the southern continent.

With white pearl necklaces and bracelets as accents, and wearing heels carved from ivory, Juien smiled brightly and did a twirl.

"How is it?"

"You're beautiful, Juien."

"Oh, you've become a beautiful lady." Luke laughed brightly and clapped, and Austin was impressed.

As the smug Juien let out a "Hmph-" laugh.

Thump-thump- thump!

"Huh?" Juien looked flustered as Karl approached and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"S-Senior?" Juien, who was usually so calm, called out to Karl, looking flustered.

Karl looked directly into Juien's eyes with a serious gaze.

"Juien?"

"Yes?" Juien's flustered face turned slightly red.

"Why would you choose something so expensive!~ We promised to save as much of the subsidy as possible… *cough*!" Juien's fist struck Karl's solar plexus.

Shaking her shoulders and stomping her feet, Juien headed for the counter.

"I'll take this dress!"

Seeing that, Luke and Austin exchanged awkward smiles.

Karl got up abruptly and sighed.

"If she didn't have such a powerful punch, she'd be one of the top three beauties among first-years."

Even so, he reached out and took a hair ornament from the display case.

"You say that, but you're buying it with the subsidy." Austin said.

"If I want to appease her anger, I can't use the subsidy. I have to break into my own savings. *Sob* My precious money."

As Karl approached the counter with a pained expression.

"Hey! What are you guys doing, not picking out clothes!" Iliana, wearing a short black dress that gave a lively impression, suddenly appeared.

"I've never picked out clothes like this before." Luke said with an awkward laugh, and Austin nodded.

Iliana glanced at Austin and then picked out two suits.

"Try these on first."

"Yes, Senior." After Austin went into the fitting room, Iliana looked at Luke with a serious expression and reached out.

"You, this one."

"…Senior, this is a dress."

"Yeah, it's cute and perfect for you."

"And a wig too." Chelsea, who had already appeared wearing a lime green dress, shoved a wig into Luke's hands.

Luke's face fell.

"You shouldn't bully your juniors." *swish* The fitting room door opened, and Leo emerged.

Iliana's jaw dropped at the sight.

"This is the first time I've seen the president in a suit since the first-year midterm exams last year…" Iliana, her mouth agape, said, "You've become a complete gentleman."

Leo, who had grown significantly taller compared to last year, exuded a mature aura combined with his characteristic presence.

Noticing him loosen his tie by hooking a finger, Iliana muttered, 'Even the slightest gesture is like a painting.'

Realizing anew that Leo was in the top 3 most popular male students in the second year, she picked out a suit for Luke.

"I-I don't think this is quite right."

"Senior! You're truly beautiful!" Just then, Chloe's embarrassed voice and Betty's excited voice could be heard from inside the fitting room.

A moment later, Chloe, pushed by Betty, came out of the fitting room.

Wearing a light sky blue dress that exposed her shoulders and collarbones and had a slightly low back, Chloe's face was slightly red with embarrassment.

"Wow! Chloe! You look so pretty!" Iliana exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration.

"You look so mature." Chelsea also exclaimed with wide eyes.

At those words, Iliana grinned.

"You look mature, which means… you look like an old lady…" *CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE!* "Eek!"

Iliana, who had foolishly tried to tease Chloe, was thoroughly punished and hid behind Leo.

Chloe, who had been glaring, made eye contact with Leo, blushed slightly, and turned her head away abruptly.

Seeing Chloe like that, Leo smiled wryly.

"It suits you very well."

"Th-thank you." Chloe replied primly, her face slightly turned away, and unconsciously smiled.

The group then left the clothing store.

"Alright, now that we're all ready." Karl grinned triumphantly.

"Let's go!"

***

Knock- knock- *creak*

"Master." The man who entered the room bowed respectfully.

"What is it?" A female wolf beastman with gray hair and golden eyes asked, removing her pipe from her mouth.

*Hoo* Exhaling smoke, the man said to her, "Another group of hero candidates has set foot in Shadow."

At those words, the beastman woman narrowed her eyes.

"And so?" Seeing her overtly annoyed expression, the man replied, "The student council president of Lumern is included in that list."

The beastman woman, who had been holding her pipe, paused.

Then, tapping her pipe into an ashtray, she replied, "Leave."

The man who bowed his head left at her response.

*Creak-!* The beastman woman leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, propped her chin, and curled the corners of her lips.

"The God of Shadows has graced us with their presence, has he?"