Book 1 Chapter 374

374.

Stomp- Stomp-

Having dressed up, the group entered the underground casino, Shadow, and stood at the top of the stairs.

Whoosh-!

Chelsea murmured, "Hmm-," watching the stairs automatically descend by magic stones.

"They must have a lot of money. To have built even the entrance stairs like this."

"Indeed. Look at the ceiling."

Kal looked up at the ceiling and clicked his tongue.

The ceiling, glittering as if coated in gold, was studded with expensive-looking jewels like stars.

Between the jewels, magic stone lamps emitting bright light captured their eyes.

"It's so overtly ostentatious with their wealth that it almost looks vulgar."

"I agree."

Juen nodded at Betty's words.

"Leo, what are you thinking so hard about?"

Chloe, who was at the front, asked Leo, who was lost in thought.

"I was thinking about this underground casino."

More precisely, about Rodia's treasure vault located beneath it.

According to Lariel, there was a labyrinth on the way to Rodia's treasure vault.

'This casino was built on top of that labyrinth.'

When Leo asked what was inside the treasure vault, Lariel shook her head.

'I don't know exactly what Rodia left there either. However, I do know it's a conquest reward obtained from a hero's world, like Seirun's Cometes.'

Leo recalled Cometes, which was sleeping in his sub-dimension.

The strongest existing magic staff, imbued with the magic of both Luna and Seirun.

Given that it was an item left by Rodia, who could be called the leader of the Heroes of Genesis, it might be an item comparable to Cometes.

'First, to go to the labyrinth, I need to pass through this casino.'

Thud-!

Stomp- Stomp- Stomp-

The stairs stopped.

Leo's group walked along the corridor.

Unlike the lavish entrance, not a single magic stone lamp was visible, only a door at the end of the corridor from which light leaked out.

"Welcome to Shadow."

"Welcome."

Those guarding the door greeted the group and opened it.

Flash-!

Everyone squinted slightly at the bright light.

And everyone gasped at the sight that unfolded inside.

The interior beyond the door resembled the lobby of a social gathering.

From the hall beyond the lobby, beautiful melodies played by an orchestra flowed, and neatly dressed attendants elegantly moved about.

"The atmosphere is different from what I expected."

Chloe tilted her head.

Those who had been secretly nervous at the mention of an illegal casino now wore relieved expressions.

Leo approached the lobby counter.

"Hello, customer."

A woman in a suit standing at the counter bowed with a friendly smile.

"Customers, if you have anything that can prove your identity, could you please place it on the counter?"

At the staff member's words, the group took out their Lumen student IDs from their pockets.

The staff member received the student IDs and carefully examined them.

Then, she reached under the desk and placed nine small boxes on the counter.

"In order, Sir Luke, Sir Austin, Lady Betty, Lady Juen, Lady Iliana, Sir Kal, Lady Chelsea, Lady Chloe. And Sir Leo's."

The staff member smiled sweetly as she placed each student ID on its respective box.

The group, puzzled, picked up the boxes, put away their student IDs, and opened the boxes.

Click-

"A card?"

"It looks like platinum?"

"Wow, are these diamonds embedded here?"

"Only the class president's is a different color. The class president's is black."

"These are our store's membership cards. All nine of you have been verified as Lumen students. Sir Luke, Sir Austin, Lady Betty, Lady Juen, and Lady Iliana are Platinum tier, and Sir Kal, Lady Chelsea, and Lady Chloe are Diamond tier."

Everyone looked surprised at that.

"What are the VIP tiers?"

At Austin's question, the staff member smiled and continued.

"There are Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond tiers."

Upon hearing the explanation, Iliana made a slightly sullen face.

"Question. Why isn't the class president in a tier? And why are they Diamond when I'm Platinum?"

"Hero Academy students are basically given Platinum tier. After that, they are raised to higher tiers based on their reputation and school grades."

"Then why is he Diamond?"

Iliana pointed at Kal.

"Sir Kal Thomas has a history of conquering the world of the Divine Blacksmith, so he was given Diamond tier."

"Pfft… Iliana. Among the second-years, you're the only one at the same level as the first-years."

"Ugh! Kal, you impudent fellow!"

"Oh, come on! How dare a Platinum speak so freely to a Diamond!"

"You! You there!"

Iliana, provoked by Kal teasing her, pounced.

Kal dodged Iliana and teasingly taunted her.

"Take this!"

With that, Iliana took off her heel and threw it.

The heel flew like a boomerang and accurately struck Kal on the temple.

"The reason Sir Leo Flove is not in a VIP tier is because he is someone whom we dare not assign a tier. We refer to such individuals as 'King'."

"What kind of people receive the King tier?"

Juen asked with a curious face, and the staff member, after a moment of thought, smiled brightly.

"The King tier is granted to individuals who possess status and prestige comparable to a king of a nation."

Everyone's mouths gaped, but Chelsea and Chloe nodded as if they understood.

"Well, he is the Lumen Student Council President."

"His external prestige is comparable to the head of a prominent hero family or a king."

Leo asked, leaving the two shrugging behind him.

"So, what's good about getting a high tier?"

As Leo shook his card and asked, the staff member smiled.

"Each VIP tier has areas within our establishment that you can access. For the King tier, you can assume there are no restricted areas."

"Really? Then can I go underground too?"

"Underground…? This *is* underground, though?"

"I mean further underground than here."

Leo tapped the floor with the tip of his foot.

At his words, the staff member's eyes widened before she smiled.

"I'm afraid I cannot answer that inquiry at my level. I recommend you have an interview with our store's Master."

"How do I arrange an interview?"

"You simply need to pay 100 million points in a lump sum using the points used in our store."

"Is it possible to exchange shillings for points?"

"Yes, it is possible. 1 point is 1 shilling."

"Cough?!"

"Gasp?!"

"Then… 10 million goldlings?!"

It was an astronomical sum.

A single bottle of Kal's stamina recovery potion costs 5 shillings.

And 1 goldling is 10 shillings.

Everyone wore shocked expressions.

"Any other way?"

"There's also a way to earn points by participating in events held at our store."

"Are you telling us to gamble?"

"That's a good method, but our store offers countless ways to earn points other than gambling. This is… within the shadow of the world, after all."

Everyone swallowed dryly at her dangerous-looking smile.

Kal folded his arms.

"The amount of support funds we received is 2,000 goldlings per person… so that's nowhere near enough."

Having said that, Kal glanced at Chelsea and Juen.

"What are you looking at?"

"Couldn't we borrow some wealth from the rich young ladies?"

"Do you think 10 million goldlings is a dog's name?"

Kal scratched his head at Chelsea's words.

"Indeed."

It was while everyone was pondering.

"For now, please go inside and enjoy yourselves. VIP customers will be paid 10,000 points for Platinum tier, 20,000 points for Diamond tier, and 50,000 points for King tier."

Everyone's eyes widened at that.

"Can we exchange that money and leave?"

"Of course."

Everyone clicked their tongues, watching the cheerfully responding staff member.

Just by entering this place, they had easily obtained money that ordinary people could not casually touch.

"Isn't asking other students for help also a method?"

"That's true, but… it's questionable whether they'd acknowledge it. The Master here is probably the law in this place."

Betty shook her head at Luke's words.

"Let's go in and think about it first. I haven't eaten breakfast, so I'm hungry."

Iliana said, looking at the buffet set up in the hall.

"Okay, let's eat first and then think!"

***

The buffet prepared in the hall was full of all sorts of gourmet food.

Attendants bustled about, offering fine wines and champagne to the students.

As Iliana reached for one, Chloe narrowed her eyes.

"We're students. No alcohol."

"Aw! We're already here! Don't be stingy!"

As Iliana protested, Chloe spoke even more firmly.

"Absolutely not. We're here because of a mission."

At that, Iliana reluctantly put down the wine glass.

"Juen."

"Tch, what a goody-two-shoes."

Juen tried to secretly drink a glass of champagne but was caught by her classmate, Betty.

Meanwhile, Leo and Kal returned from the casino.

"Wow, this gambling den really is a gambling den."

"What do you mean?"

"Look. There's no one in the hall."

Despite the atmosphere that any noble would love, there was no one in the hall.

"Everyone's playing games in the casino."

Kal clicked his tongue.

"From the looks of it, everyone seems to be of quite high status… but their eyes are crazy. Don't you guys ever show your cards. They'll ask to borrow money."

Kal scrunched up his face, recalling an old gentleman who had begged him.

It had been a very unpleasant experience.

"So, did you find out how to earn points?"

"Yeah."

Kal folded his arms.

"What is it?"

"The arena."

"What?"

"This casino has an arena. Guys who are strong earn money there."

"What? That's simple. We're Lumen students, after all."

Iliana said, as if it was a good thing.

"No, not at all."

"What?"

"This casino's arena has 'rules'. Basically, 'no mana use'. You wear mana-restricting cuffs."

At that, Iliana paused.

"You also don't know your opponent. You might fight other guests, or you might fight magic beasts or monsters. And people die quite often."

Everyone's expressions became tense at that.

"Other than that?"

"There's also a labyrinth escape relay and chess."

"If it's chess, Chloe is here."

Chelsea looked at Chloe.

She was Lumen's chess champion.

"As it's an underworld, there must be something dangerous."

Leo folded his arms.

"First, let's find out more about this casino. If it really doesn't work out, giving up is also a way."

'I can always infiltrate alone next time.'

As a Lumen student, he came to explore a hero dungeon.

And there's no hero dungeon here.

If that's the case, he can cleanly withdraw and go to the suspicious monster forest.

For Leo, Rodia's treasure vault was not an urgent matter right now.

Everyone nodded at Leo's words.

"Let's meet back in the hall in an hour."

At Leo's words, Luke raised his hand.

"Senior, what should we do with the points?"

"If it's necessary for gathering information, actively using them wouldn't be bad. Or…"

Leo glanced into the casino.

"Play some games."

"Hey, Leo! You're telling us to gamble?"

The students looked flustered at the unexpected remark.

Leo chuckled at that.

"Since we're here anyway, experiencing various things wouldn't be bad."

"Wow, that sounds like something a naughty old man would say."

Chelsea lightly booed.

Leo chuckled and ruffled Chelsea's hair.

"As heroes, I think it's also a part of learning to understand the darkness of the world."

***

Having parted from the group, Leo walked through the casino.

All sorts of games were in progress under the dazzling lights.

Cheers or desperate screams erupted.

This was an abyss where one could glimpse human nature and essence.

Stomp- Stomp-

As Leo walked, he subtly raised his head.

'It feels like someone is watching me?'

He felt gazes from the magic stones embedded in various parts of the ceiling.

They were probably 'surveillance' magic stones.

He felt the gaze of someone watching him through those magic stones.

Usually, magical gazes are almost impossible to detect.

But Leo's senses were incomparably sharper than others'.

Leo, walking, stopped in front of a certain room.

A golden crown shape was embedded on a black door.

Beast-men, who appeared to be guards, blocked Leo's way.

"This is a space only accessible to 'King' tier."

At that, Leo took out his card from his pocket.

The guards, having verified it, bowed their heads and opened the door.

Leo narrowed his eyes as he entered the room.

Silhouettes were vaguely visible in the dim lighting.

He didn't feel much of a presence.

"Welcome, customer."

Just then, a clear voice came from beside him.

'This voice is…'

A subtle bloodlust was imbued in the voice.

He turned his head, and there was a girl with a black rabbit ear headband, bowing her head.

"I am Rabbit, who will be serving the customers here…"

The girl's attire, when she raised her head, was peculiar.

She had blue eyes reminiscent of a lake.

And pure white hair.

Thanks to that, the black rabbit ear headband stood out even more.

But what stood out even more were the 'cat ears' wearing the headband.

The girl in the black rabbit costume froze solid as she saw Leo.

Leo asked the girl, Ar, who was gaping like a broken cat.

"What are you doing here?"

At that question, the girl, Ar, tried to run away without hesitation.

Leo stretched out his hand and grabbed Ar's tail.

"You're not supposed to just grab a lady's tail!"

Ar, with her fur standing on end, hissed at Leo.

"So, what are you doing here?"

Ar, who had become a black rabbit, hugged her tail, her eyes darting around, then she puffed out her chest and said.

"I'm working!"

"Why?"

"To pay off debt!"

"…"

Leo sighed deeply.

If it was debt here, there was only one kind, but he asked, just in case.

"Gambling debt?"

"Yes!"

Leo murmured, looking at the overly confident Ar.

'I hope the kids from our school aren't as foolish as her.'