Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

Like a child who dreams of becoming a 'hero'.

"Hey, what's to the west?"

"Hmm... the village where I grew up is nearby. I feel a little nostalgic..."

"Eh, you mean Lapi-kun's hometown!? I-I really want to go see it! But-but I can't right now..."

"Haha, you're right. Let's talk about it sometime when we've sorted out our feelings."

Even as I was captivated by Professor Leon's every move, the journey quietly continued.

Less than two days after leaving Orario, the silhouettes of the Beor Mountains had gradually disappeared behind me, replaced by intermittent mountain ranges. Squinting at the mountainous terrain, invisible from the plains, I suppressed the homesickness that welled up within me. It hadn't even been a year since I left that village. Perhaps it was too early to go and pay respects at my grandfather's grave.

Shifting our gaze from the west, the majestic Alfred Mountains on the east side continue to stretch northward.

Perhaps the destination of Professor Leon's "field investigation" is located at the end of that mountain range. I couldn't help but think this as I watched the professor's retreating figure.

Three days have passed since I embarked on my journey.

The sky was a gray haze.

The dark clouds have not yet dispersed.

There's even a feeling that the sky will never clear up again.

"……here it is……"

Followed by.

On my journey north, the first "impact" came into view.

It was a wasteland.

A dead city.

The hustle and bustle of the past is long gone, leaving only rubble.

"This is... no, it's the town that our school district failed to protect."

Walking among the collapsed stone walls, we arrived at the main road, which was once bustling but is now devastated.

Teacher Leon spoke calmly, his tone unwavering.

"When the 'school district' received the distress message, it was busy dealing with monsters from the eastern country. I wanted to rush to their rescue alone... but it was too late."

"...What happened then?"

"When Finn and his Loki Familia arrived before me, half of the inhabitants had already perished."

"...!"

"Finn and I fought side by side and finally annihilated the dragon. But since that day, all the settlements north of here have vanished. Except for one tribe... everyone else has fled south."

With tears in their eyes, people left their homes and bid farewell to the land of their birth.

Faced with this overly calm statement of facts, I couldn't help but hold my breath.

The silent funeral whispered, announcing that everything in this dead city was reality.

"Only the 'White Ice's' compatriots... the elves of Fanashie Village remain in the nearby forest, monitoring the movements of the anomaly day after day. They know that if something happens, they will be the first victims to fall, yet they still stay here, just so they can send the news back to Orario as soon as possible."

Nina, standing beside him, lowered her eyes and spoke in this way.

This brutal truth about the North will not tolerate ignorance.

I've seen this scene before.

It wasn't something I saw with my own eyes, but rather something I learned through data.

Such images were shown on the magic projector during the "Endgame Theory" course in the "school district".

Burned villages, destroyed elven lands, collapsed towns, and tens of thousands of refugees.

The countless images projected back then are remarkably similar to the scene before us now.

Professor Adela, who was in charge of this course, once said...

This phenomenon occurs repeatedly because powerful monsters continue to descend from "a certain place".

That's right, from 'a certain valley'.

"It's getting dark soon, let's camp here tonight."

"...! Professor Leon, but here...!"

"Thank you for thinking of me, Bell. But I must look this town in the eye. I don't want to repeat the same mistakes. Before the regrets of that time have completely faded with time... I must etch them deep into my heart once again."

"Professor Leon..."

"...I'm a bit stubborn, no, maybe I'm being too self-destructive. I'm sorry."

Leon, who was gazing at the town, glanced back at me and then gently shook his head.

It was as if he was blaming the reflection of his own profile in my pupils.

"I have no intention of imposing my ideas on you. Let me hear your opinions."

"I... approve of camping here. We're already asking for nothing more than shelter from the wind and rain, and it's so much better than the forest where monsters could appear at any moment."

"……Me too."

"No objections? Well then, let's stay here tonight. Nina, go find a suitable place to start a fire, and Labi, go gather firewood. I'll see if I can prepare a few beds that are even better than the forest carpet."

After quickly issuing the instructions, Leon and Nina immediately began to take action.

After a slight hesitation, I caught up with the former.

"Professor Leon, about that thing I mentioned earlier..."

"Do you want tutoring, Lapi?"

"……Um."

"I see. You really are destined to be an excellent student."

Today, without a hint of irony, Teacher Lei Ang repeated to me this phrase that I had heard before.

At this moment, the teacher gave a rare wry smile.

"However, appearing so sullen in front of the students will probably get me penalized. I guess Lord Bader and the others think I'm not mature enough."

"Ah, that's not true...!"

I wanted to do something for him, but all I could manage to utter were a few clumsy words of comfort.

"Um, Lily and the others—no, my companions—said that people with weaknesses, who are occasionally a bit lazy and unconventional, are actually more approachable and likable than flawless, perfect individuals…! That means…!"

Professor Leon was taken aback.

This is the first time I've seen him with this expression.

Just as I was thinking this,

"...Hahahaha! Is that so? Then I'll take it as a reference! Although I don't know if a 'man with flaws' is suitable to be a teacher, since no one has tried it, it's worth considering."

He burst out laughing.

The laughter carried both elegance and a sense of serious contemplation.

My cheeks, however, were burning hot and flushed red.

Why do I always manage to say such nonsensical and shameful things...?

"Narabi, let's go pee together."

"That was so sudden!?"

"You said it yourself, right? It's better to be a little less formal. Besides, my 'original personality' is quite easygoing."

"It's unbelievable..."

"Really? Well, it seems being a teacher is really tough, bastard."

The sudden collapse of the sense of distance caught me off guard, but Professor Leon seemed to be enjoying it.

Even so, he did subtly reveal a hint of annoyance.

As a teacher, maintaining fairness is fundamental.

However, sometimes one might have to present a different image depending on the students' expectations. In front of a certain girl, one should set a good example and show diligence and self-discipline; while with a certain boy, a relaxed, straightforward, and approachable attitude might be more suitable... perhaps.

From that moment on, fairness ceased to exist.

It is precisely because of the desire to guide students who are burdened with their own troubles that a conflict arises between aspirations and responsibilities.

I couldn't help but wonder what the teacher meant by "difficult".

"...It might really be difficult, but I'm really happy to hear the teacher's honest words like that just now."

Although I can't say it's because of that.

But I will still tell you what I am thinking right now.

Professor Leon, who was walking beside me, stopped and looked at me again.

A smile appeared on his handsome features.

He reached out and gently ruffled my hair.

The feeling was like being patted on the head by an older brother... It was a little ticklish, but also very warm.

Although we may not be able to become friends, I still feel incredibly happy to be treated like a friend.

After conveying his feelings, Teacher Leon narrowed his eyes and smiled. Then, he gently put his finger to his lips and whispered, "Don't say this in front of the girls."

When I asked, "Why?", Mr. Leon replied, "In the past, when I touched a student's head and it was discovered, I was immediately surrounded by other students, all saying, 'Touch my head too.'"

I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Alright, let's continue our previous topic. What I'm about to say might not be from a teacher's perspective..."

"Um……"

"Those who turn their backs on mistakes will eventually repeat them." This is my consistent belief. The path I have walked cannot be erased out of thin air. What happened, what was left behind... only I can look back, examine it, and give it meaning.

In search of suitable materials, we wandered around the city and eventually arrived at the former square.

The desolation in this area is particularly striking compared to the rest of the city, as if silently telling the story of how terrifying the being that once descended upon this place was.

The stone wall at the edge of the field of vision has long since disappeared, the buildings are gone, and there is not even a trace of shelter left.

Even though I'm standing right in the middle of the city, I can still see the distant horizon.

"This is also important for moving towards the future."

Professor Leon stopped and looked up at the vast horizon.

That direction is exactly where this journey is headed.

"...What exactly happened to this city? And what is happening in the world today?"

I couldn't help but ask.

Although I had a vague idea of ​​the answer, I still couldn't help but ask.

I aspire to grow from a 'student who thinks they understand' to a 'participant who cannot avoid the truth'. Therefore, I await Mr. Leon's response.

"Keep moving forward. I'd rather you see it for yourself than just words. That 'corner of the end'."

The destination of the "field survey" is right in front of us.

The truth behind the "adventure" is about to be revealed.

"Enemy flag captured!"

"Great!"

"Well done, Luke!"

The battlefield where the boys once fought fiercely is now filled with the cheers of the students.

Location: Ruins of Shulim

More than six months ago, this place was the stage for a siege game between the Hestia Familia and the Apollo Familia. Now, it has been temporarily requisitioned and transformed into the battlefield for the second round of the City Arena Festival.

"Yay! Even though the Seventh Squad beat us to it, it doesn't matter as long as we win!"

"We performed well. We really showed our skills."