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

"call!!"

The sword and dagger clashed violently.

I was the one who lost the first encounter.

As previously revealed, the Earth People's identity, along with the dagger, gave me a trembling sensation.

My eyes widened in shock, and my sweat glands instantly kicked in. I immediately understood the difference in our abilities.

But this was exactly what I expected. This blow was merely a litmus test for what was to come.

Otherwise, how could I have been so naive as to try and confront a Lv.7 head-on with such enthusiasm!

Unable to withstand the impact of that two-handed greatsword, I was thrown back as if by a blast, or perhaps I glided away, passing over Professor Leon's head and flying out diagonally above him.

In mid-air, with nowhere to escape and limited mobility.

Standing in this execution ground where there was nowhere to stand, I remained calm and steadily extended my hand.

"[Flame Lightning]!"

A rapid-fire magic cannon intertwined with flames and lightning.

Ignoring the subsequent mental energy consumption, he fired ten shots in quick succession.

Professor Leon remained unfazed by the magical crimson thunderstorm.

A resounding, powerful strike pierced the sky.

With just this one strike, all the fiery lightning shattered into pieces.

“Hmm…!”

"Feigning a frontal charge, but actually unleashing a rain of magic from a blind spot. A brilliant surprise attack. Who taught you that?"

"My ruthless, cold-blooded, and beautiful, almost feminine-looking master burned me to a crisp using the same tactics...!"

"Hedin. No wonder."

Taking advantage of a lull in the flying sparks, I concealed myself among them and landed safely.

The distance between us widened again. I lowered my stance like a wild beast, concentrating intently on getting into position. Teacher Leon slowly turned around and smiled at me.

A dagger thrust, a magical strike.

After just two encounters, I deeply understood the gap in our strength, but I still responded with a smile.

Even though the smile was so forced, and sweat was even trickling down her cheeks.

This feeling is all too familiar to me.

As expected, it's Lv.7. Like Mr. Ota, it's that unattainable peak.

Standing before me were rugged cliffs and absurd precipices. But even so, I could not suppress this smile.

If I can't even laugh anymore, then I can no longer fight, and can only tremble in cowardice.

I abandoned Nina, who was standing still, and engaged in close combat with Professor Leon once again.

"What's with that 'magic'?! That's so unfair!"

Arisa, the student representative and supervisor of the "school district," is shouting loudly at the "mirror."

On the battlefield projected through the "divine mirror," a flash of sword light was seen, followed by a surge of flames and lightning.

This battle, which should have ended without a doubt due to Leon's overwhelming swordsmanship, was instead prolonged by the 'Quick Attack Magic' that required no incantation.

The use of "no chanting," a highly illegal combat technique, was enough to enrage all the mages present. And facing Bell, who had taken it to its extreme in this battle, Arisa and the other students were all filled with righteous indignation.

"However, Leon is definitely stronger!"

"Mr. Leon is our best teacher!"

"Go for it, Leon!!"

Not only in the circular arena, but also in the school district's exclusive arena, cheers and shouts of encouragement rose and fell.

The cheers, mingled with screams from the girls, were a testament to their complete trust in Head Teacher Leon Wadenberg. No one believed the district's strongest force would be defeated.

This is a 'one-on-one' match without any special restrictions.

Without the shackles binding the knight, Leon's victory would be unshakeable.

Everyone in the school district was certain that victory at the Urban Sports Festival was a foregone conclusion.

"Speaking of which, Bell Craney is really tough. He's only Lv.5, yet he's managed to put up such a fight. Even though he's an illegal intruder!"

"To have sparred with Teacher Leon so many times... it seems the title of 'World's Fastest White Rabbit' isn't just for show. Even if he's an illegal intruder!"

On the other hand, the students who initially saw him as a thorn in their side gradually began to look at Bell with new respect. After all, the students knew very well how impressive it was to "last three seconds" in front of Leon.

Compared to Leon, who only fought with his sword, Bell spared no effort in his all-out struggle, unleashing both sword and magic. The students who witnessed this, despite their reluctance, had to admit that he was indeed quite capable.

"Hmm—, um—..."

"What's wrong, Misha? You're usually so quiet, why do you suddenly look like you have something to say?"

"Maybe it's because of the uniform... I feel like I've seen that height somewhere before... To be specific, I think I saw it before when Nina and I came to buy fries, but then again, I don't think so..."

(Eglin, just get this over with. Make up something.)

(Don't force me to say it! How would I know what to say!)

"Leave it to me! Hey, Misha! That Bell Crane, although he looks exactly like our 'Third Squad' member Lappy, is definitely not the same person—" "Shut up, shut up, shut up, ahh ...

The conversation between the girls sitting next to Misha and the others made Iglin of the 'Third Squad' break out in a cold sweat. Seeing that Chris's devastating remarks were about to ruin everything, he hurriedly shouted to stop him, barely managing to smooth things over.

The dwarf's sudden outburst drew glares from the girls, while the dark elf Rachel, who was supposed to step in and put out the fire, remained indifferent. Iglin's cheeks trembled with rage.

"...Ugh, seriously, which side should I cheer for...!"

Iglin scratched his head haphazardly with both hands, then shifted his gaze back to the 'divine mirror'.

The two sides battling in the mirror were, firstly, his highly respected teacher Leon, and secondly, Bell (Lapi), whose true identity he now knew.

In this arena, only Iglin and his group are so conflicted about who to support.

"No, it has to be Professor Leon! How can we not support Professor Leon?! But...!"

Even the seemingly calm Rachel kept fiddling with her mask, and Chris, unusually, started looking around suspiciously. The inner turmoil of the entire 'Third Squad' culminated in Iglin's frustrated shout at that moment.

And just then.

"Nina!?"

The name of the last member of the "Third Squad" suddenly rang out.

The students erupted in an uproar.

Iglin and the others reflexively looked up at the 'mirror,' their pupils widening to their limit.

"Why is she using magic on Bell Crane!?"

This top student in the 'school district' is now showering his healing light upon the adventurers of Orario.

"I'm so sorry...! I'm so sorry, Professor Leon!"

When I was covered in wounds and almost collapsed to my knees, I heard Nina's apology in my ear.

As for the reason for the apology, the 'warm and pure white light' that enveloped my entire body has already explained everything.

Although it was a short time, Lily and Miss Ryu had subjected Nina to rigorous training in 'restoring movement.' It was using this technique that Nina restored my stamina. When I couldn't help but be surprised...

"But... I still feel so sorry for Bell-senpai!"

The surprise on my face instantly turned into a stiff expression.

Being pitied by a girl younger than himself was a truly complicated feeling. Meanwhile, the unharmed Leon slowly lowered his greatsword.

Looking back at Nina's lion-gold eyes, there was no hint of reproach.

"I know perfectly well this is a one-on-one fight, but...!"

"It's alright. In fact, Nina, that's precisely why I asked you to come along."

"!"

"It might sound condescending, but that's what you call a shackle. Otherwise, a Lv.7 challenging a Lv.5 to a duel would be extremely unreasonable."

Teacher Leon looked at Nina holding the long staff, nodded in affirmation with a generous air, and even gave a slightly encouraging smile.

The smile seemed to say that seeing Nina not acting like a puppet following instructions, but making decisions based on her own will, made the teacher feel extremely gratified.

"Bell, this might be a humiliation for you."

"...No. Although relying on others isn't exactly elegant, I'm already used to it."

"Is that so? Then bring it on, Nina and me."

"Yes!"

With my strength almost completely exhausted, I mustered my courage and swung my sword like an arrow released from a bow.

Having shed her guilt, Nina seemed to have made up her mind. She steadied herself, feet shoulder-width apart, and began to concentrate fully on controlling and chanting the magic.

"[The sacred ring sways, white breath is exhaled. A myriad of flowers sing in unison, a tranquil hill]—[The Light of Healing]!"

In order not to hinder my movements, she predicted my movement path and landing point, and repeatedly placed "healing magic" on it in advance.

With the physical problem temporarily solved, the next step was to see how much mental energy could be saved for [Flame and Lightning]—just as I was thinking this, my depleted mental energy was suddenly replenished.

I turned around in surprise and saw Nina covered in sweat, yet still managing to force a smile.

"Nina's healing magic allows her to share her mental energy with the other person."

In the midst of a heated exchange, as we passed each other, Professor Leon revealed the answer to me.

Nina's sacrifice sent a shiver down my spine.

At the same time, I also deeply appreciated her extraordinary and diverse talents.

Nina is indeed an excellent healer and a valuable support character.

If we can complement the work of the strongest "sorcerer," Haruhime, she will surely bring immense benefits to the Hestia Familia. We can definitely become a fantastic team.

—Yearning for that future, I give it my all once again.

If they win this urban sports festival, Nina's joining the team will be no problem.

I had another reason to win, and I mustered all my fighting spirit to launch an attack on Teacher Leon.

"...!"

With Nina's reply, I launched a full-force attack and escape tactic.

They thought I was in front, but they were actually attacking from the side; one moment they were behind me, and the next they were flashing over my head.

With the momentum that created afterimages, each fierce attack shattered the ground.

With each strike, they immediately disengage, using their super-speed maneuverability to create an impenetrable encirclement.

Faced with my continuous onslaught, which was mixed with 'magic', Professor Leon's eyes widened slightly for the first time.

“Hmm!?”

I launched a sneak attack from the rear, but it was easily deflected and neutralized.

I quickly landed backward, the numbness in my arm spreading throughout my body. Almost simultaneously, the light of recovery descended.

The knights who were watching this side dismounted as if they were regrouping.

Not only that, he even sheathed his greatsword behind his back.

"Bell, you are much stronger when you fight alongside others than when you fight alone."

"...?"

"And that heroic figure will shine like a ray of light in all directions. Inspired by you, those around you will also gain strength. In the fight against 'The End,' this is an extremely precious quality. In my opinion, it is absolutely priceless."

After saying that, he removed the scabbard from his armor and then, as if to discard it, stuck it into the ground.

"That's why I'll force you to use your full strength."

Just as I was still puzzled by his bare-handed stance...

Teacher Leon quietly began to chant.

"[Roar, lingering light! This is the twelfth seat of valiant courage.]"