Chapter 373

After the commotion.

Nine people gathered in Leo’s room.

The four first-years were gathered together, listening intently to their sunbaes.

“So, what’s this information you found?”

Chelsea asked, crossing her arms and tilting her head.

In response to Chelsea, Carr said.

“There’s something in the Uarguela underground.”

“Your proof?”

“I heard that recently, students from another hero academy, not just ours, were dispatched to Aleham.”

The other students looked surprised at Carr’s words.

“Another hero academy? Which one?”

“Azonia.”

Azonia, the beastkin hero military academy.

The southern part of the continent was indeed Azonia’s main sphere of activity.

If Aleham was hiding a Hero Dungeon, it would be natural for Azonia to make a move.

“I heard the Azonia kids vanished after they were last seen in the Uarguela underground.”

Chloe marveled at Carr’s words.

“Where on earth do you get this kind of information?”

Hearing Chloe, Juen, who had been listening from the back, pouted.

“We had to spend all day trudging through filthy back alleys and bars for it.”

“You went through a lot.”

Carr gave a wry smile to his mentee, Juen.

Juen was the one who had suffered the most while gathering information with him today.

As the daughter of the Southern Magic Tower Lord, Juen looked every bit the noble lady.

And looking every bit the noble lady, Juen was a perfect target for the thugs in the back alleys.

All sorts of lewd remarks and insults were a given, and some even brazenly made a move on her.

‘Well, Sunbae Carr did teach them all a lesson.’

Juen glanced at Carr, who was wearing an apologetic expression, and put on a slightly prim face.

“Anyway, while gathering information, we found out a few other things.”

Carr’s expression darkened slightly.

“This country really isn’t what it seems on the surface.”

“Not what it seems?”

“It’s just as you’d expect from the poorest nation. The country’s situation is a complete mess. The outward appearance is literally just a mirage.”

Juen grumbled.

When they had first arrived in Uarguela, she had questioned the sight of the wealthy streets.

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

Hearing Carr and Juen, the other students also wore serious expressions.

A hero is not simply someone who fights against Tartarus.

They are beings who lead and transform the world.

It is also a hero’s duty to guide the people they see toward a better place.

That was why, as hero candidates, they couldn’t help but be concerned about the story of this country hurtling toward ruin.

“Isn’t there anything we can do to help this country?”

Chloe’s mentee, Betty, said with a worried face.

“Not right now. We have no justification. Besides, we’re just first and second-years.”

Carr sighed, crossing his arms.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

“Class Rep, what information did you get from the Pleasure District?”

Eliana asked Leo, trying to lighten the mood.

“I also heard that there seems to be something in the Uarguela underground. I was told the Aleham royal palace sent people directly into the Uarguela underground.”

At Leo’s words, the other students’ eyes widened.

“And I also heard that the Aleham royal palace’s reach extends to places other than Uarguela.”

“Other places? Where?”

“The Forest of Monsters.”

“The Forest of Monsters, huh.”

Carr crossed his arms.

“If a Hero Dungeon did appear there, it would certainly be easy to hide.”

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

Long ago, in the distant past.

Before the Era of Calamity, it was the homeland of the elves.

And it was also Luna’s home forest.

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

‘Though you could only say it’s truly over once all the monsters there are driven out.’

The complete liberation of her homeland was one of the things Luna had yearned for.

Just as Leo gave a bitter smile, thinking of Luna.

“In that case, shall we start by properly exploring the Uarguela underground?”

Everyone nodded at Chelsea’s words.

“I know the entrance. Let’s meet tomorrow.”

At Leo’s words, Luke spoke in a tense voice.

“If it’s underground, it must be some kind of labyrinth, right?”

“It must be.”

“Let’s prepare thoroughly.”

Just as everyone wore serious expressions.

“They said it’s not a labyrinth.”

“Huh?”

“Then what is it?”

Leo said nonchalantly.

“An illegal casino.”

***

The next morning, the group stared at the entrance leading underground with dubious expressions.

An entrance that was nothing short of dazzling.

And around it, dapper men in tuxedos were guiding customers.

Watching them, Chloe spoke in a hesitant voice.

“You said it was an illegal casino. But is it okay for them to operate so openly?”

Seeing Chloe’s doubt, Carr said.

“Considering how messed up this country is… aren’t they probably operating by paying massive bribes?”

Carr was correct.

The underground casino in Uarguela, like the Pleasure Castle, was one of the pillars of Aleham’s underworld.

A place that even the lord of Uarguela dared not touch.

To that end, the casino provided enormous bribes to nobles and public officials to operate.

‘And he said it was extraterritorial.’

It was literally a lawless zone.

The nine students tried to approach the underground casino.

“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. To the underground paradise, Shadow.”

A handsome man in a tuxedo greeted them elegantly.

Seeing the man, Carr stepped forward.

“Hello, we’d like to have some fun here.”

At Carr’s words, the Shadow employee scanned the group.

Then, he made a troubled expression.

“I apologize, ladies and gentlemen. You are not qualified to enter our Shadow.”

“If it’s because of our status, I think these clothes should guarantee it, don’t you? We are students of Lumene.”

The status of a Lumene student received VIP treatment anywhere one went.

That was why there were not a few who impersonated Lumene students.

Of course, if they were caught, it wouldn’t end with a simple warning.

But the Shadow employee just shook his head despite Carr’s words.

“The status of a Lumene student does not qualify you for entry into our establishment.”

Carr looked perplexed at those words.

‘Even the status of a Lumene student isn’t enough? Then what on earth do we have to do?’

While Carr, who hadn’t expected to be denied entry, wore a baffled expression.

Luke, who had been quiet, asked.

“What is this qualification?”

“The qualification is simple.”

At the Shadow employee’s words, everyone wore tense expressions.

Looking at the students, the Shadow employee smiled faintly and pointed to one place.

It was a clothing store.

“The qualification for entry into our establishment is simply attire that befits our establishment.”

“Huh?”

The group, which had been extremely tense, suddenly looked deflated.

They looked at the other customers entering.

They were indeed dressed splendidly, as if attending a party.

“If you come back to me with suitable attire, I will assist you with your entry.”

The employee in the tuxedo bowed his head elegantly.

***

“No matter how you look at it, isn’t this too much?”

Carr’s face turned grim upon arriving at the clothing store next to Shadow.

“I get that these are clothes made of high-quality fabric, but what the hell is with this ridiculous price gouging!?”

Carr shuddered as he checked the price tag on the clothes.

At Carr’s reaction, Austin said.

“But didn’t the academy give us a lot of financial support?”

At Austin’s words, Carr clicked his tongue, tsk.

“As expected of a former Zerdinger Trainee Knight, you’re naive about the ways of the world. It’s not a matter of whether we received a lot of support or not. What’s important is whether you’re paying a fair price for the item! Does it make sense for it to be more than ten times the price of other clothing stores?”

As for Luke, he had frozen upon seeing the price of the clothes and was muttering, “With this price, I could buy one loaf of bread… two loaves…” confused by a price that shattered his common sense.

It was then.

“Sunbae!”

Juen, who had opened the dressing room curtain, stood before Carr.

A pure white dress that highlighted the healthy, light-brown skin characteristic of the southern continent’s people.

Accented with a white pearl necklace and bracelet, and wearing heels carved from ivory, Juen smiled brightly and did a little spin.

“How do I look?”

“You look lovely, Miss Juen.”

“Oh, you’ve become a beautiful lady.”

Luke clapped with a bright smile, and Austin was impressed.

Just as a smug Juen was chuckling, hmph.

Thump, thump—thud!

“Huh?”

Juen looked flustered as Carr approached and placed his hands on her shoulders.

“S-Sunbae?”

She called out to Carr, flustered in a way that was unlike the usual cool-headed Juen.

Carr looked straight into Juen’s eyes with a serious gaze.

“Juen?”

“Yes?”

Just as a flustered Juen’s face began to turn slightly red.

“How could you pick something so expensive~! You promised me we’d save as much of our support funds as possible… keuk!”

Juen’s fist struck Carr in the solar plexus.

Her shoulders trembling, Juen stomped—thump, thump—toward the counter.

“I’ll take this dress!”

Watching this, Luke and Austin looked at each other and laughed awkwardly.

Carr shot up and sighed.

“If only she didn’t have such a mean punch, she’d be one of the top three beauties among the first-years.”

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

“You say that, but you’re still buying it for her with the support funds.”

At Austin’s words, Carr grumbled.

“To appease her anger, I can’t use the support funds. This has to come out of my own pocket. Ugh. My precious money.”

Just as they were watching Carr head to the counter with a tearful face.

“You two! What are you doing, not picking out clothes!”

Eliana, wearing a black dress with a short hemline that gave off a cheerful vibe, suddenly appeared.

“I’ve never had to pick out clothes like these before.”

Luke said with an awkward laugh, and Austin nodded as well.

Eliana glanced at Austin, then picked out two suits.

“Try this on first and come out.”

“Yes, Sunbae.”

After Austin went into the dressing room, Eliana looked at Luke with a serious face and reached out her hand.

“You, this one.”

“…Sunbae, this is a dress.”

“Yep, it’s cute and perfect for you.”

“Here’s a wig, too.”

Chelsea, who had appeared wearing a light green one-piece, thrust a wig at Luke as well.

Just as Luke was on the verge of tears.

“You shouldn’t bully your hubae.”

Swish—

The dressing room door opened and Leo came out.

Seeing him, Eliana’s jaw dropped.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen the Class Rep in a suit since after the first semester midterms last year…”

Eliana, her mouth hanging open, said.

“You look like a complete gentleman.”

“Leo oppa! You look so cool.”

Leo, who had grown much taller compared to last year, exuded a mature aura that blended with his unique presence.

Seeing him loosen his constricting tie with a finger, Eliana muttered.

‘Even a trivial gesture looks like a scene from a painting.’

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

“Th-This doesn’t seem right.”

“Sunbae! You look truly beautiful!”

Then, Chloe’s flustered voice and Betty’s excited voice came from inside the dressing room.

A moment later, Chloe, pushed from behind by Betty, came out of the dressing room.

Chloe, wearing a light sky-blue dress that exposed her shoulders and collarbones with a slightly low-cut back, was blushing faintly in embarrassment.

“Wow! Chloe! You look so pretty!”

Eliana’s eyes widened as she exclaimed in admiration.

“You look so mature.”

Chelsea also marveled with wide eyes.

At those words, Eliana grinned.

“Saying you look mature means… you look like an old la—.”

C-c-c-crack—!

“Hiek!”

Eliana, who had gotten herself into deep trouble for teasing Chloe, hid behind Leo.

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

Leo smiled faintly at Chloe.

“It suits you very well.”

“Th-Thanks.”

Chloe, who had answered primly with her face slightly turned away, smiled without realizing it.

And so, the group left the clothing store.

“Alright then, if everyone’s ready.”

Carr grinned triumphantly.

“Let’s go!”

***

Knock, knock—creak.

“Master.”

The man who entered the room bowed his head respectfully.

“What is it?”

A female wolf beastkin with gray hair and golden eyes asked, removing the long pipe she held in her mouth.

As she exhaled a puff of smoke, the man said to her.

“Another group of hero candidates has set foot in Shadow.”

At those words, the beastkin woman narrowed her eyes.

“So?”

Seeing her blatantly annoyed expression, the man replied.

“The student council president of Lumene is on that list.”

The beastkin woman, who had been holding the pipe in her mouth, paused.

Then, tapping the pipe on the ashtray with a clack—! she answered.

“You may leave.”

At her answer, the man bowed his head and left.

Creeak—!

The beastkin woman leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, rested her chin on her hand, and the corners of her mouth curled up.

“So the God of Shadows has graced us with his presence?”  

(T/N: So she is one of  Shadows as well? )