Chapter 367

After the mission practicum was announced.

The first and second-year students busily prepared for the mission practicum.

The magic department students had gathered in the second-year lecture hall to discuss the mission practicum.

“I thought it was going to be some kind of secret mission, but we’re entering the country openly without hiding the fact that we’re Lumene students.”

Carr, sitting cross-legged on a chair, laced his fingers behind his head and pouted.

He had a pen balanced on his upper lip.

“I was thinking we’d be gathering intelligence covertly, you know.”

Juen nodded as if in agreement with Carr’s grumbling.

“I know, right? That sounded like it would have been much more fun.”

Listening to their conversation, Chloe clicked her tongue.

“The entire first and second years are going to Aleham. There’s no way you could hide that.”

She was right.

No matter how they tried to hide their identities, there was no way to conceal the fact that hundreds of people were entering Aleham through a warp gate at once.

Even more so if they were all boys and girls in their mid-to-late teens.

“Besides, letting them know we’re Lumene students will be helpful in putting pressure on Aleham.”

Abad, who was sitting in front with his legs crossed, said with a grin.

At his words, small screams erupted from the first-year female students.

As one of the most popular second-year boys, Abad’s every action drew a peak reaction from his [Hubae]. (T/N: Hubae – underclassman or junior opposite to Sunbae)

A first-year male student raised his hand and asked.

“Why would we pressure Aleham by revealing our identities? Wouldn’t an official investigation just make them hide their secrets even more?”

“If Aleham truly wants to cover up a Hero Dungeon, they wouldn’t welcome those trying to dig up their country’s secrets.”

The first-years nodded.

“In that case, wouldn’t they want to stop those trying to uncover their secrets, even if it means ‘killing’ them?”

His face still held a smile, but the content of his words was brutal.

The first-years flinched, their shoulders trembling.

“Even so, would they really go that far against students of Lumene?”

The male student who had asked the question spoke in a disbelieving tone, and Abad replied.

“That’s my point. If we sneak in, we’re not officially Lumene students, are 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. The threat of a Hero Record going berserk has become especially palpable recently. You all know what kind of situation was brought about last year and this year as a result of a Hero Record going berserk in Seiren, right?”

At Abad’s words, the first-years swallowed dryly.

During the Lumeiren exchange last year.

There wasn’t a single person who didn’t know that a legion commander from a distant past era had crossed over through the hero’s world in Seiren.

And on top of that, the invasion of the Monster Queen.

“If Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, and Luna, the Founder of the Nebula, hadn’t miraculously appeared… we probably wouldn’t be here right now.”

The first-years’ expressions grew tense at Abad’s words.

“A country’s very existence can be endangered by a berserk Hero Dungeon, yet they are concealing one despite such risks.”

Abad said calmly.

“Do you think people like that would care that we’re students of Lumene?”

The first-years broke out in a cold sweat at Abad’s words.

“If you have the title of a Lumene student, they can’t touch you carelessly. The moment they do, Lumene will get directly involved. The same goes for the country that student belongs to.”

Abad narrowed his eyes.

“Whether it’s you or us, the professors have judged that most students still need to be protected by the name of Lumene. Keep that in mind.”

The excited first-years hung their heads at Abad’s words.

The first-years, going on their first mission practicum, had secretly thought they would be representing Lumene on this mission.

Being too excited and overly confident was a recipe for mistakes.

Abad had set the mood to instill a sense of tension in his Hubae.

“When he’s like that, you can tell Abad is no joke.”

As Carr let out a small sound of admiration, Chelsea, who was next to him, crossed her arms with a smug look.

“Of course, he’s the next master of Lewellin. By the way, where’s Leo? I thought he was supposed to prepare for the mission practicum with the magic department today.”

The preparations for the mission practicum were being done by department.

Carr answered Chelsea’s question.

“He said he was stopping by Professor Tina’s for a moment.”

* * *

‘Whoosh- Whoosh-‘

-My wings!

In Tina’s office, Kirran was flying around frantically in a figure-eight pattern, looking excited.

Fiora, in her Polymorph form, watched him and remarked bluntly.

“You look just like a moth.”

“Agh! A moth! Miss Fiora! Please insult me like that, too!”

“Elci told me not to play with Arti. She said I’d learn bad things.”

As Fiora drew a line between herself and Arti, Arti covered her face with her forearm and clutched her heart with her other hand.

“Ahh, to say I’m a bad influence. How can you say such cruel things with such a cute face?”

The still-young Fiora couldn’t understand this pegasus who enjoyed her words.

The one thing she could tell was that she wasn’t in her right mind.

‘Arti isn’t in her right mind.’

Fiora rolled her large red eyes toward Kirran, who was flying around distractedly.

‘And that fairy is a moth.’

Fiora crossed her arms and nodded her head firmly.

‘Yep, I’m the only one who’s actually helpful to Leo.’

With the air of a child mimicking an adult, Fiora took an elegant step.

Kirran flew above Fiora and flapped his now two pairs of wings wildly.

A shower of sparkling light rained down on the bridge of Fiora’s nose.

“Achoo!”

Fiora sneezed.

“Hmph! What do you think you’re doing!”

-Aren’t my wings cool?

“You look like a moth.”

At Fiora’s honest assessment, Kirran flapped his wings even more furiously.

Her eyes blazing at the chaotically scattering powder of light, Fiora picked up a thin book and tried to swat Kirran as if he were a bug.

-Hahaha! You little chick! Do you think such a pathetic attack will work on me now that I have my wings back?

“Get back here! You nasty moth!”

‘Crash! Bang!’

Tina’s lab grew noisy.

Just then.

‘Swish! Thwack-!’

With a sharp sound of something cutting through the air, a sharp scalpel flew and embedded itself precisely between Fiora and Kirran.

Tina, who had thrown the scalpel, spoke to the two frozen summoned beasts.

“If you keep being noisy, should I dissect you?”

She spoke in her characteristically languid tone.

But her eyes were filled with madness, so the effect was more than enough.

The two summoned beasts freaked out and hid behind Arti.

At that, Arti spoke as if they were pathetic.

“To be scared by a mere threat like that. Have you no shame? You should be embarrassed as one of the Three Great Summoned Beasts.”

Fiora and Kirran snapped back, ‘We don’t want to hear that from you, of all people.’

Meanwhile, Tina examined Cometes with a look of interest.

“It really is fascinating. For Cometes to react to someone other than a member of the Tingel family.”

Leo, who had come to receive Kirran’s wings as payment for going to Seiren as an exchange student, was showing Cometes to Tina.

It was originally a treasure of Seiren Academy, but since Seiren himself had given it to Leo.

The ownership was clearly Leo’s.

“You really are a subject for research, student Leo.”

Tina took a sip of her strong coffee and smiled brightly.

“Would you like to play doctor with this professor?”

Tina licked her lips, her expression somehow dangerous.

“You don’t have to be scared. I won’t eat you up.”

“I refuse. Please stick to researching Cometes.”

“What a shame.”

At Leo’s words, Tina smacked her lips but didn’t seem to linger on it much.

“The Pureblood Society has been dealt with, and it looks like Seiren is about to undergo a transformation. Don’t you think you could be appointed as a teacher at Seiren now?”

“That might not be so bad. There is a student in Seiren I’d like to dissect.”

‘…Lunia, I guess.’

The only student who came to mind that would pique Tina’s curiosity was Lunia, who wielded the Flame Emperor’s Fire.

“Well, for now, I want to do more research on the magic contained within Cometes.”

Tina’s current interest was in researching why Cometes, which had only reacted to the Tingel bloodline for thousands of years, was now reacting to Leo.

Of course, he had been acknowledged by Seiren, who could be called the master of Cometes, but even so, the magical wavelength of Cometes was more than enough to pique Tina’s interest.

Tina, who was humming while looking at Cometes, said.

“By the way, you said you were going to Alehem, right?”

“Yes.”

“If you’re going to Alehem.”

Tina quickly wrote something on a piece of paper.

“Go find this place in Uargela.”

“Uargela? Isn’t that the largest oasis city in Alehem?”

“That’s right.”

Leo accepted the paper Tina handed him.

“Pleasure Castle.”

“It’s a tavern run by someone who controls a part of Alehem’s underworld.”

Tina wore her signature languid expression.

“Show them this, and it will be a great help for your mission practicum.”

“Thank you.”

Leo tucked the note into his clothes.

”’

The weekday after the mission practicum preparation period ended.

The first and second-year students stood clustered in front of the warp gate.

“Where are you going to go?”

“I’m planning to focus my investigation on the capital.”

“I’m going to the area around the Forest of Monsters. Since it’s where mercenaries gather, I think it’ll be good for gathering information.”

The students seemed to have decided on their respective investigation areas.

They were talking animatedly.

Of course, their investigation wouldn’t be limited to just those locations.

Since all of Aleham was the subject of the investigation, they would clearly make active use of the warp gates.

In addition, it was also possible to collaborate with other teams.

Fundamentally, this mission practicum was centered on cooperation, not competition.

As such, information exchange was crucial, and it was necessary to keep track of the other students’ movements.

The first-years listened intently to their mentors’ words with tense expressions.

It was because they thought that next year, they might be the ones mentoring their Hubae.

Just as they were actively chatting before their departure.

“My lads! Are your preparations complete!”

Sedgen appeared.

Standing on a platform set up in front of the warp gate, Sedgen spread his arms wide in a flashy gesture.

“This mission practicum is no ordinary mission practicum! You are representing Lumene to investigate Aleham! Depending on the results you achieve, the international political landscape could change, and the nations surrounding Aleham may be put at ease! So, do not forget the weight of this and carry out your mission!”

“Yes, sir!”

The students answered powerfully.

“And the country of Alehem itself may be a ‘stimulating’ nation for you lads! I hope you will not lose your way or have your judgment clouded by excessive stimulation!”

At Sedgen’s words, Carr raised his hand.

“Professor Sedgen! What kind of punishment will we receive if we do something unbefitting of a student or use certain facilities?”

The one who answered Carr’s question was Harrid, who was standing below the platform.

“There is no such thing as punishment.”

Coming from Harrid, who was stricter than anyone about the school rules, this unexpected statement made all the students look surprised.

Looking at the students, Harrid said.

“Before you are students, you are hero candidates. You must be able to take responsibility for your actions.”

Harrid gave his signature chilly smile.

“There’s nothing wrong with having a variety of experiences. But whether your life is ruined by getting too caught up in them or not has nothing to do with the school.”

The students swallowed dryly at Harrid’s words.

Harrid, after sweeping his gaze over the students, said.

“The duration of this mission practicum is two weeks.”

“What?”

“Two whole weeks?”

Everyone wore a look of surprise at the unexpected length of the mission practicum.

“Yes. As it is a long-term mission, the necessary funds will be distributed now. This is also part of the class, so borrowing your family’s power or using your own money is forbidden. And know that there will be no additional support for the next two weeks.”

After saying that, Harrid handed money pouches to the students.

Carr’s eyes widened when he checked his pouch.

“Whoa! What do we do with the leftover mission funds?”

Seeing the enormous sum of money, Carr asked in surprise.

“Any remaining funds are to be handled by the individual. That is all.”

The money provided for the mission practicum was a huge sum that surprised even the students from noble families.

Once all preparations were complete, Sedgen said.

“Well then! I wish you good luck! My students!”

The first semester’s joint mission practicum for the first and second years had begun.