Chapter 365

Mission practicum.

The moment Mel said it involved Hero Dungeon exploration, the first-years couldn’t contain their excitement.

“Whoa! It’s still first semester and we already get mission practicum?”

“And Professor Harrid said it’s a Hero Dungeon exploration, right?!”

“Does that mean we can get clear rewards?”

“This is the best!”

The first-years were hyped.

But unlike them, the second-years were confused.

‘Hundreds of students exploring a Hero Dungeon?’

Impossible.

A Hero Dungeon referred to a Hero’s World created by the rampage of a Hero Record.

Whenever a Hero Dungeon appeared, the Hero Academy immediately deployed a raid team. Because of that, the total number of Hero Dungeons was already small.

For first and second-years to explore a Hero Dungeon together was unheard of.

There ‘were’ Hero Dungeons designed for hundreds of people.

But those were far beyond what first and second-year cadets could handle.

As the second-years exchanged puzzled looks—

Even a few first-years began noticing something was off.

One of them raised a hand.

“Professor Harrid! I have a question!”

It was Betty Marste, Chloe’s mentee, and the second top student of the Magic Department after Juen.

“What is it, Betty Marste.”

“What exactly does ‘Hero Dungeon exploration’ mean? I can’t imagine all second-years and the entire first-year class raiding a dungeon together!”

The excited whispers died instantly.

Now that she said it, it didn’t make sense.

All students looked to Harrid.

“A decent question. Betty Marste. Five points.”

Harrid valued students who didn’t get swept up in excitement and calmly analyzed the situation.

“It’s disappointing that most of you blindly assumed it meant clearing a Hero Dungeon.”

His cold tone made the first-years shrink back.

With the atmosphere stiffening, Harrid continued:

“This time’s exploration is not clearing a Hero Dungeon. It is finding one.”

Duran raised his hand.

“Speak, Duran Moira.”

“Is this a commissioned mission?”

“There is no client.”

“Then does that mean some group is deliberately concealing the existence of a Hero Dungeon?”

“Correct.”

The first-years erupted in shocked whispers.

Forced to stand at the front because of Carr, Juen tilted her head and whispered:

“Why didn’t Duran get points?”

“Hey. Answers like that are for first-years to earn points with. If a second-year answered and got points, he should be ashamed.”

Carr groaned miserably, still kneeling.

Juen narrowed her eyes.

“Then why don’t ‘you’ answer? Professors like questions regardless of points.”

“No reason to attract Professor Harrid’s attention for something that doesn’t earn points.”

“So you only answer questions ‘for points’, Carr Thomas?”

“Hiiik—?!”

Carr screamed as Harrid’s icy voice cut down from above.

Harrid delivered an even harsher verdict.

“Juen Torbina.”

“Yes! Professor Harrid!”

“It must be uncomfortable standing. Sit on that fool.”

“Okay!”

Juen cheerfully sat on Carr’s lower back.

“Guuuuuh!”

“Light as a feather, right?”

“YOU’RE HEAVY!”

Offended, Juen bounced up and down.

Carr’s screams intensified.

“Hero Dungeons are extremely dangerous phenomena.”

Harrid stepped forward, boots echoing across the hall.

“A Hero’s World created by the rampage of an unstable Hero Record. Once inside, escaping midway is impossible. If you fail the clear, you die. Many of your upperclassmen have lost their lives this way.”

The once excited first-years froze.

Harrid swept his gaze across them.

“Those who babbled about clear rewards should know your place. If you stay here with that naïve mindset, you’ll die a dog’s death. Quit Lumene now.”

Most first-years lowered their heads in shame.

From second-year onward, cadets began real missions.

Second-year assignments were relatively safe.

But from third year—

The danger multiplied.

Sometimes, they even became entangled in Hero Dungeons.

Lumene had elite dungeon raid teams formed of top students.

Even they died.

Every year, not only Lumene but all Hero Academies lost students to Hero Dungeons.

This was not a topic to speak lightly of.

As Harrid finished, Mel spoke gently—though her tone was solemn today.

“The danger of Hero Dungeons isn’t only in the clear attempt. As you know, if left unattended, a Hero Dungeon begins to erode reality.”

Hero Records contained the stories of heroes overcoming trials.

A trial was a crisis—not to be taken lightly.

Leaving a Hero Dungeon alone meant allowing ancient crises to manifest into reality once more.

Yet even so—

Many nations hid them.

For simple reasons.

If a Hero Dungeon were cleared, the Hero Record belonged to the Hero Academy.

If the hero was human, then Lumene.

If elf, Seiren.

If beastkin or dwarf, Azonia or Damienne.

If dragon, Dragonia.

Three thousand years ago, as established by the Covenant of Genesis—

Hero Academies and Dragonia may manage Hero Records, but may never monopolize them.

They must only be used for nurturing heroes for the sake of the world.

If not, the world would have long fallen into chaos.

A Hero Record, if used for personal gain, could easily rule nations.

Thus a Hero Dungeon was a force powerful enough to overturn international balance.

A small country could rise to a major power overnight.

Or seize immense political power.

Greed gave many states the motive to hide Hero Dungeons.

Countless nations had fallen because of such greed.

And the crises of the past had resurfaced many times due to concealed Hero Dungeons.

And yet—

History continued repeating itself.

“Preventing that is also the Hero Academy’s duty.”

Mel said.

Celia raised her hand.

“Are we certain someone is hiding it?”

“We cannot be certain. But a certain nation has experienced multiple suspicious anomalies. Your mission practicum is to travel there, identify the Hero Dungeon, and report it to Lumene.”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“Which nation is it?”

Celia asked.

Harrid answered expressionlessly.

“Aleham. In the central south of the continent.”

—

Aleham.

A kingdom located in the heart of the vast southern desert.

A 2000-year-old nation.

Once a powerful empire ruling much of the south.

Now a poor, declining desert kingdom.

Most of its land was useless desert, its population scarce.

“It has a long history, but it declined 500 years ago and became extremely poor.”

Chloe said.

“How do you know all that?”

Carr asked, impressed. Chloe smiled softly.

“I read about it in a book.”

Chloe didn’t only read magic texts.

She had an insatiable thirst for knowledge.

“Aleham has three main unusual traits.”

She continued.

“First, its territory includes the Forest of Beasts.”

“The Forest of Beasts… nostalgic~”

Chelsea smiled.

It was the location of the entrance exam task for Leo, Celia, Chelsea, Abad, and other second-years from the western continent.

“I heard Leo-sunbae was especially amazing at the entrance exam.”

Juen’s eyes sparkled.

“How was it?”

“He was the best, obviously!”

Chelsea crossed her arms proudly.

“He stopped a monster—one Abad and Celia could barely defeat together—without even using Aura!”

“He didn’t even use Aura?”

Luke widened his eyes.

Aina, sitting beside Celia, also twitched in surprise.

Martina, another of Celia’s mentees, nodded eagerly.

“I’ve heard Lady Celia talk about Sir Leo’s feat many times. I’ve been dying to hear the full story.”

“I’ll tell you later. Focus on the meeting.”

Leo said, and the students quickly turned back to Chloe.

They were currently in a private study room attached to the central library—soundproof, perfect for meetings.

Inside were: second-years Leo, Chloe, Celia, Chelsea, Carr.

And their mentees: Luke, Betty, Aina, Martina, Juen.

Ten people total.

After class, they had planned to eat together—then discuss their mission practicum.

“Second, no hero has been born in Aleham. For 500 years.”

Heroes were extremely rare.

Even if one graduated from the Hero Academy, not all became heroes.

There were years where not a single student made it into the Hero Record.

Hero names accumulated over millennia made it ‘seem’ plentiful.

But heroes were rare.

Aleham’s issue wasn’t simply that no heroes were born—

“Not even a single Lumene cadet has come from Aleham in 500 years.”

No hero candidates either.

The room stiffened.

“And the third unusual trait.”

Chloe blinked.

“Aleham is the birthplace of the Dragon of Genesis, Rodia.”

Rodia.

Three thousand years ago—a Dragon Lord.

Five thousand years ago—like the Wise-King Lysinas, Rodia gathered the heroes of Genesis to confront calamity.

A legendary Dragon Lord.

“That’s all I know.”

Chloe said. Leo tapped his chin.

“Anything special related to Rodia?”

“Not really… Ah, there’s a legend about Rodia leaving behind a secret archive.”

“Hmm.”

Leo narrowed his eyes.

‘Hopefully he didn’t leave behind weird nonsense involving me and Lysinas…’

After what happened with Seiren, Leo was wary.

Then Carr grinned slyly.

“I know one thing about Aleham too.”

Everyone turned to him.

“What is it?”

Chloe asked curiously.

Carr smirked.

“The country of pleasure.”