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

"If Nina and Labi were here, we'd be MVPs! Right?! Where did those two go?! I really want to show them that I'm just as good as a 'Hero'!"

Iglin, Rachel, and Chris, the worst squad in history, performed no worse than the elite squads of each class. They joined the students in cheering for victory and expressing their excitement.

Despite the damage to their combat suits, their expressions revealed a comfortable fatigue and a great sense of accomplishment.

"However, the other side is so weak... to be honest."

"Yeah, compared to us, they have absolutely no teamwork! My command is truly superb! Right?!"

"You didn't give any orders, really... But it seems the rumors about the bad relations between the Familias in Orario are true."

Putting down his favored weapon, the hammer, and switching back to "Young Master Mode," Iglin sighed and looked towards the enemy's position.

Some of the adventurers in Orario were lying on the ground in a spread-eagle position, while others had their faces buried in the rubble, looking extremely disheveled.

"Urban Arena Festival Round 2! Large-scale team battle!! And the winner is once again the school district, the Student League────! Hey Orario, are you guys even up to par?! ? If the mighty [Center of the World] loses three times in a row, that's going to be a disaster!!!"

Orario's side, which is watching the tournament broadcast through the "Divine Mirror," is now in complete chaos.

Ibri, who was in charge of the live broadcast, was making a ruckus with his feet on the table, while the chief god Ganesha was striking a strange pose. Only Hermes, the representative of the organizers, generously applauded the winners.

The reactions from ordinary citizens and adventurers in the arena's stands were even more intense.

They relentlessly ridiculed the contestant who had utterly humiliated them.

"Are you kidding me, you bastard!"

"Can't even beat a bunch of brats? Aren't you ashamed?"

"I lost two games in a row at the underground gambling den, all thanks to you bunch of good-for-nothings!!"

"Was all that 'factional war' for nothing?!"

"Get the hell out of here! Don't even think about setting foot in Orario again!"

"How could you all be so disgraceful?! If this continues, my Orario is doomed!?!"

"Shut up, Royman!!"

The second round of the tournament, the "Large-Scale Team Battle," is limited to members of clans at level 3 or below.

The victory condition is not to defeat the opponent, but to capture the enemy's flag.

This competition was the main event of the "Urban Arena Festival," personally planned by the Divine Council to ensure fairness and impartiality. This meant that not only first-tier adventurers and teachers, but also factions below the core of Orario, and students from the "school districts," could become "participants" in the festival. However, the result... well, you can see for yourselves.

The school district laid out meticulous and daring tactics and traps, ultimately achieving a great victory, while Orario suffered a crushing defeat.

A deluge of curses flew toward the "divine mirror" in mid-air, so much so that Lily and the others who came to watch the battle had to put their fingers into their ears.

""Modo~""

"Damn it, those brats in the school district... they're all so mediocre individually, but once they team up, they become inexplicably powerful...!"

Realizing that the insults were probably directed at them, Guy, Scott, and Mordo, who had participated in the "large-scale group battle," dragged their battered bodies slowly across the ground.

The scoundrels, who had hoped to amass a fortune in experience points to level up to Lv.3, were now slumped exhausted on the pile of rubble.

"But to be honest... I just can't muster any enthusiasm."

"Back then, the 'factional wars' at least had a legitimate reason to exist..."

"Yes, and now..."

Guy, Scott, and Mordo took turns grumbling in frustration.

"Although those brats in the school district are also annoying... to be honest, I think they deserved to be beaten up by the guild."

"In the end, don't expect it to be like the 'factional wars' of the past."

"【White Rabbit Swift Foot】is also not here."

They spoke candidly, complaining about their lack of motivation.

For Modo and others, the "factional war" was actually a miracle.

Ultimately, the idea of ​​unruly adventurers crossing factional boundaries to join forces is pure fantasy. After all, Modo and his group aren't some elite group like those in a 'school district'.

As for the "factional war," it was only because the opponent was the Freya Familia, and the goddess's actions in her miniature world were truly infuriating. Of course, the most crucial factor was that "that boy" was the center of everything, which allowed everyone to unite. At least, that's what Modo thought.

Of course, he would never say such a thing out loud.

"However, this means two consecutive losses. If Orario really loses, it will be too embarrassing..."

Guy scratched his head and sighed, then looked up at the sky, which was so clear it was infuriating.

Modo turned his gaze away and grinned.

A smile appeared on that fierce-looking face.

"Don't worry. He should be here soon, that guy."

The face of the "fastest white rabbit" that had just been swirling in his mind appeared in Modo's heart, making him unable to hide his excitement.

"...!!"

When 'that' came into my view.

The second blow of my journey struck me.

The impact was far stronger than that of the dead city.

"A wall even bigger than Orario's..."

Just as it quietly appeared at the end of the Fairy Peak 'Alfre Mountains'.

Beneath the rolling black clouds, that "too huge wall" stood majestically.

This stone wall is much higher and thicker than the walls of Orario, and its top cannot be seen without looking up.

What's truly terrifying is that this high wall is not confined to one corner, but stretches endlessly from west to east without interruption.

"...It was damaged...?"

And it was this giant wall that collapsed as if kicked apart by a giant.

Right in front of us, within a range of about fifty meters.

I looked around at the ruins, the boulders that had rolled down everywhere seemed to have been abandoned at will. Whether it was the wonder of its creation or the terrible state of its destruction, I was speechless.

"This wall is called the 'Great Wall of the Dragon.' It is a 'great defensive barrier' built to separate this human habitat we have traversed so far from the forbidden zone to the north."

I remained standing there silently, while Professor Leon stepped forward, placed his hand on the giant wall, and began to explain to me.

"This building was constructed by Orario and many factions, led by the Thor Familia, together in the past."

Professor Leon walked to the spot where the damage appeared to have started from the north side, then turned to look at me.

I followed silently like a puppet on a string, with Nina, clutching her chest tightly, walking alongside me.

Climbing up the wreckage torn into a canyon shape, we scaled the giant wall and arrived at the other side—in front of the "Great Barrier".

What unfolds across the northern land is a vast, desolate wasteland, displaying an eerie hue that is neither black nor purple.

"This 'great defensive barrier' extends from the westernmost point of the mainland to its easternmost point."

"Extending from one end of the continent to the other...!?"

"That's right. Construction began about nine hundred years ago to deal with the continuous 'visiting dragons.' It's a massive project of world-class scale. Construction and restoration are still ongoing, but completion seems far off."

Startled, I followed Professor Leon's gaze and looked due east.

As we have seen before, the Great Barrier stretches to the other side of the horizon without exaggeration, forming a Great Boundary that divides the north and south. The sight before us makes one believe that it truly extends to the edge of the continent.

"Great Wall".

The word involuntarily popped into my mind.

(The northern part of the mainland...and even deeper into the 'northernmost point,' is isolated by this defensive barrier...?)

I mentally unfolded a world map to confirm my location.

Orario is located at the westernmost edge of the landmass we call the "continent".

More accurately, it is located in the northwest, at a higher latitude.

We and Professor Leon headed northeast from there.

In other words, all that's left ahead... is the "end of the northern lands".

And this "end of the north" is the true face of "something" that humanity has spent hundreds of years trying to isolate itself from.

"Professor Leon, what lies ahead is..."

"Dragon Nest".

"!!"

The core answer that I had already guessed was finally revealed.

"The last of the three great adventurers' quests, which even the gods and goddesses failed to defeat... the 'Black Dragon.' This 'Great Barrier' was built to protect the world from the invasion of the Black End."

"You mean the 'Black Dragon'... will come here?"

"No. The 'Dragon of the End' is still sealed. What will attack are just 'remnants'."

I initially thought the damage was caused by the "Dragon of the End," but that idea was immediately dismissed—it's a good thing, and a bad thing in itself.

"Dragon Valley, as its name suggests, is the lair of dragons. In addition to the Black Dragon, which reigns supreme, powerful dragon species that have survived since ancient times also inhabit it."

"...!!"

"The threat to humanity comes from those 'remnant' dragons. Although their strength varies, they cause immense damage to the northern region of the continent whenever they descend from the valley. This is why the 'Great Barrier' has been unable to be completed for nine hundred years."

In short, whenever a dragon attacks, deep claw marks are left on the 'Great Barrier'.

Construction and repairs are still ongoing, is that what it refers to...?

I turned around abruptly and looked up.

Looking at the devastation that resembled the shattering of a giant's weapon—the horrific state of the defensive barrier that had failed to withstand the "Dragon's Breakthrough."

"The dragon that broke through this barrier is none other than the one that destroyed the towns we passed through."

"...!!"

"That dragon was quite powerful. In terms of strength as a member of a clan, it was probably around Lv.5, or even Lv.6... Although such individuals don't appear frequently, it's undeniable that the defenses here were easily breached."

Potential abilities at Lv.5, or even Lv.6...?

Even in dungeons, only monsters from the "deep layers" or the "lone kings of the floors" can reach this level!

I had heard about the dangers of Dragon Nest.

From Lord Hermes and other adventurers. And I also witnessed the tip of the iceberg of the terrifying nature of the 'Black Dragon' in the 'Beor Mountains'—in the 'Idas Village' where dragon scales are sacrificed.

I had learned it in the classroom at the 'school district' and thought I understood it.

However, even so, I never imagined it would come to this.

The lower realm is still shrouded in the shadow of such a terrifying thing.

(It feels like all the peaceful life we've had so far has been a dream...)

This is the truth about the lower realm.

The calamity that descended from the north, the "Dragon Visit Problem," the humans and demi-humans still displaced in the north, and the heavy responsibility of Orario for the "Three Great Adventurers' Requests"—

Everything I have seen and heard so far flickers in my mind.

Things that I initially thought were none of my business have all become interconnected, bringing a cold reality to my face.

The scattered rubble of the defensive wall stared at me silently, as if blaming me for my ignorance.

"...On the way here, Lappi-kun found it unbelievable several times, right? It's just that the monsters keep appearing one after another."

"Nina..."

"This is common knowledge among students. On this continent, the further north you go, the more likely you are to encounter monsters. This is because whenever the roar of a 'dragon' echoes from the valley, the monsters rush south in a panic..."

Nina, who had remained silent throughout, resolved the doubts I had harbored during my journey.

The reason why there are more aliens further north is because even those monsters have been driven from their homes.

Like humans, they also fear the distant roars of the strongest dragon pack that echoed across the northernmost reaches.

"The 'dragon-hunting problem' seems to have become increasingly serious in recent years. We have also gone to many disaster-stricken areas to carry out combat missions... With the help of our teachers, we have eliminated quite a few dragons."

"...With Iglin and the others?"