“Bahahat! Nice to meet you, fellows.”
The next morning.
Professor Bariyes entered the classroom.
He was still short, typical of a dwarf, but his muscular frame was noticeable to the point of being imposing.
“I heard there was a dangerous incident yesterday! No one was hurt, right?”
““Yes!””
“Hmm, good. Then let’s get started with the class.”
Just yesterday, the academy had been attacked by an organization called Apostolos.
Still, classes proceeded normally.
It felt similar to schools in my previous life that never canceled classes for any storm or blizzard.
Sion forced a bitter smile and focused on the lecture.
“From a C-grade dungeon, dungeons become considerably more complex.”
Up to D-grade dungeons are typically structured as one floor or a straight path.
However, dungeons ranked C-grade and above not only have more complicated mechanics but also more complex paths, increasing the possibility of staying inside the dungeon for days if one takes a wrong turn.
“Therefore, seasoned adventurers usually carry at least one guide. Typically, they bring a front-line fighter, a mage, a guide, and a marksman. The guide can be replaced with a rogue or similar. Of course, in real-life situations, there are often parties that deviate from the standard setup! Our party was like that too, bahahat!”
‘… An adventurer party.’
It roughly mirrored the game structure of front-line, mid-line, and back-line roles.
Mages are, of course, in the back line.
Rarely, you might find a mage in the front or mid-line, but it’s not common.
Mages play a significant role on the battlefield with their long incantations.
“This is the Magic Department of the academy! Naturally, the ideal party composition can’t be utilized. This should be a good opportunity for all of you to realize that a party composed solely of four mages cannot work!”
“…….”
“For reference, only half the teams succeed in clearing an E-grade dungeon.”
Only half succeed?
Sion looked at Bariyes in surprise, but he wore a face of indifference.
“Why the shock? A composition made up entirely of mages is hard to manage. Unless one person can draw aggro while the others use overwhelming firepower, that is.”
“…….”
“Or…”
Professor Bariyes’s gaze turned towards Sion.
“Like the four of you here, you can recruit mercenaries from other departments.”
“!!!”
“Be weak, I’m not blaming you. Rather, I want to commend you! Bahahat!”
Bariyes walked over to Sion, who was sitting in the front row, and patted his shoulder.
His hand, heavily calloused, felt more like a rock than a hand.
“I saw your report. One of your team members flaked out, so you brought in someone from the Combat Department?”
“… Ugh.”
A faint voice came from the left behind him.
It was probably Estroja.
“Other students must have been quick to blame that team member who flaked out. But the fourth squad didn’t do that! Who would have thought to recruit from the Combat Department to bolster the front line! This is unprecedented! Very well done, bahahat!”
“T-thank you…”
“You have talent as an adventurer, Be weak!”
Bang bang!
Bariyes kept clapping Sion’s shoulder.
Each clap felt like a heavy blow from metal, making it hard to maintain a straight face.
Fortunately, Bariyes moved back to the front of the class before Sion’s shoulder went numb.
“For a moment, I deviated from the topic, but anyway, in a situation where it’s only the Magic Department, formulating an ideal combination is difficult. So the next practical lesson is not about dungeon exploration.”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Bariyes began writing something on the blackboard with chalk.
It was… a single gigantic phrase.
– Two-Day Survival Competition.
“…?”
Is that what I’m seeing right now?
Sion’s face went blank at the combination of words he had never encountered in university before.
Not only Sion, but the faces of the other students were similarly astonished.
“Bahahat! You youngsters look shocked. Yes, that’s what you think! We will conduct a practical exercise where you will survive for two days in a dungeon!”
Murmurs—
As soon as Professor Bariyes finished his statement, the voices of the students erupted.
“Two days…?”“Exactly when are we doing this?”“Dungeon exploration practice?”“Right after the attack yesterday, we’re having practice….”“I have a part-time job after school!”“This is a bit….”
The students’ reactions were mostly negative.
And it was understandable. Not just any practice, but a two-day survival exercise?
This was something even in his previous life, in college or grad school, he had never experienced.
Bang bang—!!
When he knocked the blackboard with his hand, which was as big as a cauldron lid, the students’ voices fell silent.
“I understand how you feel. With the attack happening, is it really safe? And do I really need to use up my time for this course…!”
“…….”
“I’m not that unreasonable. So I’d like to make one suggestion!”
With a rustle.
Bariyes searched his pockets for something.
And what came out was….
“… Huh.”
“Is that… a genuine item?”
“Insane.”
What emerged from his pocket was a sphere.
Something that could fit perfectly in one’s fist.
The blue-glowing orb was obviously not an ordinary item.
“As those who know will understand, it’s a concentrate of mid-level mana. Simply put… a kind of elixir.”
“!”
Elixirs.
They are substances that grant wondrous powers or energy when consumed.
While primarily used in martial arts literature, something made from ginseng or mountain ginseng can also be called an elixir.
Yet this is a fantasy world.
Naturally, it wouldn’t just be something that was merely good for health like ginseng.
So what kind of effect does that ‘mana concentrate’ possess?
“The effect is simple. If you swallow it whole… the mana within it will seep into your body.”
“…….”
“And if you absorb that and stick it firmly to your body!”
Bam!
He slapped his own firm belly with a grin.
“Mages can get closer to achieving the formation of the circles they so desire!”
“!!!”
“I think I’ll use this as the prize for the survival competition. How about it? Now you all seem a bit more lively, bahahat!!”
With that, he stuffed the mana concentrate back into his pocket.
Will just eating that allow me to achieve a higher realm?
‘… If I could reach the third circle.’
Currently, Sion was at the second circle.
Though that was already strong enough, it still felt insufficient.
He hadn’t been able to master the fourth-circle technique, ‘Flying Squirrel,’ for several days.
However, reaching the third circle would make it possible.
Not only that, but he could use third-circle combat skills and magic just by seeing them.
… Perhaps more than money, that elixir was what Sion needed most.
Ding dong ding dong—
“Oh dear, has class time already come? Let’s wrap it up here. The next lesson will be a practical exercise, so remember! I will post the relevant information on the notice board. Bahahat!”
Having said all he wanted, he gathered his teaching materials and left the classroom.
Quick and swift movements worthy of an S-rank adventurer.
As soon as Bariyes exited, the classroom burst into chatter.
“Mid-level mana concentrate! Sion, did you hear that?”“… Of course, I heard.”“Wow, I can’t believe he’d bring that kind of prize!”
The Patrick beside him exclaimed excitedly as he spoke to Sion.
“How good can a mana concentrate really be?”“A low-grade one costs several gold coins. This mid-level one should be worth several hundred gold coins!”“C-couple hundred gold coins?”“Plus, it’s said to be effective in boosting levels. Just consuming it might really raise your rank! … Of course, it should be well absorbed.”“Oh….”
Sion stroked his chin and spat out a thoughtful sound.
‘A two-day survival competition… That might just be feasible.’
He looked around.
Sion was the only commoner here. Even Patrick before him was from a baron’s household.
They were nobles who likely didn’t even know the meaning of ‘homeless.’
If he could easily secure first place in the survival competition and receive that elixir as a reward…
“Wait a minute! I completely forgot something important!”
Suddenly!
The classroom door swung open, and Professor Bariyes re-entered.
Regardless of the students’ surprise, he walked straight towards Sion.
“… Professor?”
“Do you remember what I mentioned last time?”“W-what you talked about last time…?”“Right, it’s about the presentation!”
“The presentation… oh.”
Last week’s class popped into Sion’s mind.
– I want to use your report and presentation as excellent teaching materials.– C-can you explain where you intend to use it?– Hmm? I can educate juniors with the video materials when I conduct the same lesson… But first, I need to show it to the professors. I need permission from other professors to use it as educational materials.
Having submitted a report on the E-grade Skeleton Dungeon, Sion had been asked unexpectedly by Professor Bariyes to present it in front of the other students.
Bariyes had recorded everything on a video recording device and submitted it for review to the professors.
‘At this point, I’ve likely failed.’
Sion had not thought much about it.
He hoped they wouldn’t use it as teaching materials, but he also believed he’d surely fail if it went for review.
In the first place, it wasn’t that high in quality—
“The professors’ reactions were good.”
“… Good reactions?”
“Right, they were so impressed that they asked for you to present again. Seriously, those old geezers are quite sentimental. Bahahat!”
“Uh….”
“So, about that, Sion.”
With a flourish.
Bariyes extended his hand to Sion with a charming smile.
“Wouldn’t you want to give those old geezers a run for their money?”“… Now, right?”“Of course! I know you can do it splendidly!”“…….”“Come on, go!”
“Wait a—”
Swish!
With a rough hand, Bariyes grabbed Sion’s arm.
Though he was short as a dwarf, his entire body was muscular, and he easily pulled Sion along.
Sion, with his feeble build, couldn’t resist and was dragged out of the classroom.
“… Good luck.”
Patrick stared at the door where Sion had just disappeared and then began to gather his belongings.
… A gesture of kindness from a friend who shared the same dorm room.
