Book 1 Chapter 939
“Hero Dungeon?”
Elena’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Yes. Azonia, Eiran, and Kal are currently caught in the Hero Dungeon. Seeing that Perena and Hergin are also missing, they must have been swept away with Kal.”
At Leo’s words, Damian crossed his arms and put on a serious expression.
Leo had summoned Damian, Elena, Lunia, Ar, and Driana.
Lastly, Chen Xia.
They were all students who knew about the Heroes of the Genesis.
“Where is the Dragon Lord?”
Damian asked, looking around the room.
“We’ve lost contact with the outside.”
“You mean we’re cut off from the outside?”
“Yes.”
At Leo’s words, Damian stroked his chin.
“It seems the Hero Record going berserk affected this space itself, where the Dragon Lord’s magic was unleashed, causing the magic to go wild.”
Leo nodded at his words.
Lunia, who had been listening to Leo and Damian’s conversation, wore a serious expression.
“Then that means no one in this space knows when they’ll be dragged into the world of heroes?”
At that, Ar crossed his arms.
“Still, it’s not a completely hopeless situation.”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Ar.
“First of all, Azonia entered the world of heroes, right? That means at least the safety of the people inside the world of heroes is secured.”
Everyone nodded at his words.
The Heroes of the Genesis were not merely discoverers who found the phenomenon called the world of heroes.
They were also the greatest conquerors in history.
In fact, the Heroes of the Genesis were the ones who conquered the most worlds of heroes in history.
Among them were several worlds of great heroes, which were considered to have the highest difficulty in conquest.
“The silly cat is right! Besides, Damian is here too!”
Driana clenched her fists and looked at Damian.
The students looked at Leo and Damian with a newfound expression.
The Great Hero, the Hero of the Beginning, and the Hero of the Genesis, the Indomitable Great Warrior, forming a party to conquer the world of heroes.
What seemed possible only in their imaginations was actually happening right before their eyes.
At Ar and Driana’s words, Leo spoke.
“Even so, the situation is still not good.”
“Young Master Leo, you know whose Hero Record has gone berserk, don’t you?”
Chen Xia said shrewdly.
“It’s Aeon’s world.”
Everyone was surprised at his words.
“Do you know about the incident too?”
“…The Fall of Rhysar. If it’s Aeon’s world, their objective will obviously be to keep him alive as the conquest goal.”
Leo, who knew the situation, scratched his head.
“First, I’ve stopped the exam and told them to gather all the first-year students… You all gather the second and third-year students from each school. Xia, summon the Shadow Lords.”
Leo looked out the window without a word.
“We need to rescue Aeon in the shortest time possible, in any way. With our current strength, it could be dangerous if the situation escalates to the worst.”
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Because the Great Heroes almost perished during the Fall of Rhysar.”
“……?”
Damian answered with a firm voice.
He had read a Hero Record in its complete state.
Therefore, he knew all about the deeds of the Great Heroes and understood how significant the Fall of Rhysar was.
“5,000 years ago, Erebus was summoned in Rhysar.”
“……!”
“Everyone should be prepared. If we’re not careful, we might end up fighting Erebus himself, not just fragments of Erebus.”
***
Kal quickly led Perena into a back alley in Gardsron.
“You know the way well?”
“I mapped out all of Gardsron during the last conquest. Fortunately, the paths are the same as then.”
“So? Why did you come to the back alley?”
“Our uniforms are too conspicuous.”
And it was true.
Lumen’s school uniforms had a very stylish design.
Moreover, made from mana-infused fabric called Mana Cloth, they were always neat and tidy.
Even in this era, clothes made from mana fabric weren't non-existent, but they were generally used in combat-related areas.
In an era of disaster where practicality was paramount, a high-quality uniform design was bound to stand out.
“We need to change clothes. What kind do you like?”
At his words, Perena flinched and stepped back.
“Surely you’re not asking me to change in front of you, Senior Kal?!”
“Uh…”
“Are you really using your status as a lover to make such an absurd demand of me too?!”
Seeing Perena glaring and growling ferociously, Kal scratched his cheek.
“No. I was going to use a potion to change the design of the clothes.”
“Change the design of… clothes? A potion?”
“Yes. I developed it exclusively for Lumen uniforms. It can transform the mana pattern of Mana Cloth into a desired form.”
Kal said with a proud expression.
“Our school uniforms aren’t just clothes, they have excellent defense, right? It’s a waste to change clothes for every mission, and it’s bothersome. It’s also not easy to get clothes when conquering worlds of heroes like this. Well, solving it with magic is an option, but… it leaves traces and risks being caught by high-ranking mages.”
Kal, who explained the situation with a merchant-like smile, took out a potion from his pocket.
“But if you change the fabric with this potion, there are no magical traces! The special potion from Kal’s Everything Shop can solve all troublesome situations caused by clothes!”
“……But the quality of Mana Cloth used by each uniform store is different. Does that potion work with all uniforms?”
Lumen uniforms have minimal specifications, but no standard size.
This was because Lumen’s incoming students came from diverse backgrounds with varying family circumstances.
To Perena’s question, Kal shook his head.
“No. It’s made for the [Breath Rigger] standard.”
Breath Rigger.
It has been making Lumen uniforms for 1,000 years.
The quality is top-notch.
Only students from wealthy families could afford to wear them.
In fact, Perena’s uniform was from Breath Rigger.
Kal, on the other hand, bought it with his own money when he became a third-year.
‘I got yelled at by my sister for spending that money on it.’
Of course, she became quiet after he bought her an alchemy catalyst.
At Kal’s words, Perena pouted.
“What. Not many students can use it.”
“You’ll be able to use it for all students from next year.”
“Why?”
“Because Lumen will be changing to free school uniform distribution from next year.”
“I’ve never heard that before.”
“Of course, you haven’t. Only the Student Council President, Vice President, and Acting Student Council President know about it yet.”
Meaning only Leo, Elena, and Kal knew.
“Using insider information for business.”
Perena wore an expression of disbelief, and Kal looked wronged.
“Why? This school welfare was made possible because of me. I got permission from Leo and Elena seniors too.”
The gist of the incident was simple.
“……I have quite a bit of money left over these days?”
“Yes. Thanks to the slave boy.”
“Please don’t call your junior a slave.”
One day, Leo, who was checking the school’s operating funds, asked with a puzzled look. Elena, smiling sweetly, pointed at Kal.
Kal, who was lounging on the student council sofa, protested, but Elena didn’t listen.
“Kal managed the finances and handled new projects initiated by the school. That’s the money that was saved and the additional money earned.”
Leo was again impressed by Kal’s new ability.
“We could increase student welfare a bit, couldn’t we?”
“Even if we increase scholarships, there will still be money left. Spend it quickly on anything.”
“That’s a rather irresponsible statement for an acting chairman.”
“Just because I’m the acting chairman doesn’t mean I can touch school funds. If I leave it unused, all sorts of flies will swarm around. The Knights Department wants more training facilities, the Magic Department wants research funds, the Summoning Department wants new summon beasts. Do you know how annoying professors are, always clamoring for money?”
As Elena said with a frown, Leo said,
“Then let’s provide free uniforms to all students from next year.”
“Huh?”
“All the other schools are doing it already.”
Leo shrugged.
“And it’s unpleasant to see students discriminated against based on their uniforms.”
“Ah, right. That’s upsetting.”
Kal nodded as if agreeing with Leo.
Then he stood up and handed Leo a document.
“What is this?”
“Report on Free Uniform Distribution.”
“Amazing! Kal! You made this in advance?”
Elena’s eyes sparkled, and Kal looked sheepish.
“I thought Leo would provide free uniforms if this much money was left over.”
“Excellent! As expected of Kal! To have already grasped the superior’s intentions and done the work! You really are a hero-grade slave!”
Kal, called a slave of a strange rank, looked like he wanted to cry.
“This is why I can confidently give you work! When you graduate, you must come to the Zerion family! Got it?”
“You plan to dump all your work on me and settle down in the Archy Kingdom, don’t you?”
“Yes. Kal, you’re as smart as ever!”
Seeing Elena smiling brightly, Kal vowed never to go.
Leo said while reading the report,
“If you made this, you must want something.”
“I can make a profit from buying uniforms with the money I made.”
For reference, a portion of the income was structured to go to Lumen.
“You’re very capable.”
“Of course. Whose boyfriend am I?”
Perena couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Kal’s somewhat brazen remark.
After changing their clothes, the two fell into thought.
“First, we need to figure out the conquest objective…”
[Conquest Objective: Save ■■ ■■■ in ■■.]
Kal checked the conquest objective message.
“Most of the conquest objective letters are broken for me. What about you?”
“I can only see the word ‘survive’.”
“Hmm. It seems the message letters are different for each person. Has this happened before?”
“We learned in Hero Studies that this is a phenomenon often observed in Hero Dungeons.”
“I vaguely recall learning about it in my first year?”
Kal smiled.
“Let’s gather information first.”
Kal and Perena left the alley.
A moment later.
Seeing the walls of Gardsron, Kal muttered.
“Huh?”
“Why?”
“…It seems not much time has passed since the incident when I conquered Lord Dweano’s world.”
“How do you know?”
Kal pointed to the collapsed wall with his finger.
“That part collapsed exactly before. Though the scale is much larger now.”
“Ah.”
“If so, it should be safe for now.”
Kal said, having heard from Leo that Gardsron was relatively safe for a while after the great damage from Giant King Giath’s attack.
“The public order in Gardsron is secure. Let’s split up and gather information.”
“Specifically, what…?”
“I don’t know. Since it’s the Fall of Rhysar mission, let’s collect all information related to Rhysar.”
When the direction is unclear, gathering information haphazardly is one method.
Perena nodded at Kal’s words.
“Let’s meet here in an hour.”
After parting with Kal, Perena looked around various places in Gardsron.
Overall, darkness hung over people’s faces.
‘…This is the era of disaster.’
Perena swallowed hard and listened to people’s conversations.
A moment later.
‘Ah, time is almost up.’
Perena, confirming that the time promised with Kal was almost up, entered the alley without hesitation.
She had already grasped the complex paths of the alley to some extent, so it wasn’t difficult.
As Perena moved quickly through the alley.
Tick-
At the sudden sting she felt on her neck, she trembled.
Drip-
Blood flowed from Perena’s neck.
A drop of blood formed in the air.
Invisible threads had spread out around Perena like a spiderweb.
“How strange.”
Then, a dry voice was heard from behind.
“You clearly live in darkness, but you don’t smell bad. What… are you? Did you receive special training from the Tartarus guys?”
An unidentified girl appeared and stroked Perena’s cheek.
“Who…?”
Perena trembled and asked, intimidated by the girl’s intense killing intent.
“That’s what you guys call me and my master these days.”
The girl answered calmly.
“Shadow.”