Episode 212. Challenge Mode (1)

After being appointed to the unheard-of position of Special Candidate.

Professor Elisha and I left the principal’s office.

“Candidate Dale. Do you have any plans later?”

“No.”

“Oh? Perfect timing.”

Professor Elisha’s eyes sparkled as she nodded.

“Do you have somewhere to go together?”

“The principal mentioned preparing a new Party Training Grounds, didn’t he? If Candidate Dale is okay with it, it might be good to check it out in advance.”

“Oh, I’m fine with that.”

I was curious about the Party Training Grounds, which were said to be equipped with the latest facilities.

“Follow me.”

Professor Elisha led the way, but suddenly stopped and looked around.

It was already sunset, and classes were over.

There were hardly any people around the school.

“Hmm.”

She glanced at me and extended her hand.

“…You want to hold hands?”

“I realized I haven’t held hands with Candidate Dale much.”

I stifled a laugh as Professor Elisha spoke calmly, her hand still extended.

*Squeeze.*

A soft warmth spread as we held hands.

Professor Elisha seemed to like the warmth, as a faint smile appeared on her lips, and she turned her body while still holding my hand.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

We arrived at the Party Training Grounds.

It was a three-story building, quite large, befitting its purpose.

‘Are we going to use this exclusively for our party?’

Currently, there were seven people who knew about my past life: Iris, Yurina, Camila, Sophia, Lanes, Berald, and Professor Elisha.

Even including friends like Juliet and Albert, it didn’t even reach ten.

‘It’s definitely too spacious for just us.’

Well, it’s better than being cramped.

“First, let’s register the access pass.”

Professor Elisha operated the lock at the building’s entrance.

*Ding.*

[Candidate Dale Han has been set as ‘Party Leader.’]

After turning on the Hero Watch and holding it to the lock, the registration was completed with a clear chime.

“Now, Candidate Dale can issue access passes to anyone you want.”

“Thank you.”

“No need for thanks. It’s a rightful reward for Candidate Dale.”

Professor Elisha shrugged and entered the Party Training Grounds.

The interior was sparkling clean, as if the construction was already finished.

“This is the main training ground.”

*Click.*

The training ground we arrived at after walking down the hallway was incomparably larger than the private training grounds.

It was spacious enough to accommodate the superhuman activities of heroes.

Honestly, even considering that, it was too large.

“It’s bigger than I thought.”

“Originally, it’s meant to be used by at least four parties simultaneously. When it officially opens, walls will be installed to divide the space.”

Ah.

No wonder it felt excessively large.

“There are also party training facilities. Want to check them out?”

“Sure.”

“It’s a training magical tool made with the Republic’s latest technology.”

Professor Elisha turned on the magical tool attached to the wall, and holographic monsters appeared in the center of the training ground.

They looked so lifelike that it was hard to believe they were holograms.

Of course, some parts were semi-transparent, but even so, it far surpassed the training magical tools currently in use.

“Grrrrr!”

A fierce roar echoed through the large training ground.

“Did they even replicate the sound?”

“Yes. They used special sound equipment to recreate the roars for more realistic training.”

“…That’s amazing.”

Naturally, I had never seen such equipment in my past life, so I was even more intrigued.

“I heard they can replicate the movements of up to Ten-Eye level monsters.”

“That should be more than enough for our party’s current level.”

“Want to try it out?”

“Well, it’s fine, but…”

Honestly, at my current level, Ten-Eye level monsters wouldn’t be much of a challenge.

Especially since they’re just holographic fake monsters.

“Hehe. There’s a special mode for Candidate Dale.”

“Huh?”

“It’s called Challenge Mode. The Republic’s engineers made it half as a joke.”

“Didn’t you say the maximum difficulty was Ten-Eye level monsters?”

“That’s just the maximum ‘replicated’ difficulty.”

Professor Elisha smirked as she continued.

“The level above that is not ‘replication’ but ‘creation.'”

“Ah.”

So.

It’s not about replicating the movements of existing monsters, but creating whatever the makers imagined?

“Sounds fun.”

Creating monsters that only exist in imagination.

I was curious how absurd they could be.

“Hehe. Let’s check out the other facilities first, then give it a try.”

“Alright.”

“If Candidate Dale clears Challenge Mode… Hmm, how about a ‘special reward’?”

Professor Elisha smiled meaningfully, her eyes sparkling.

“What kind of reward?”

“It wouldn’t be fun if I told you right away, would it?”

Professor Elisha shrugged and turned around.

“Follow me. I’ll show you the second floor.”

The second floor had chairs and tables for multiple people, as well as simple cooking facilities.

“The second floor is a rest area. You can even cook light meals if you buy ingredients from the store.”

“Nice.”

It was always a hassle to pack lunch or go to the cafeteria.

“And one more thing.”

Professor Elisha operated a device on the table, and an image appeared on the wall of the rest area.

“Isn’t this… the first-floor training ground?”

“Yes.”

Professor Elisha nodded and continued.

“The second floor is equipped with facilities to analyze training videos recorded on the first floor.”

“Oh, that’s really good.”

After training, the party members can gather on the second floor to watch the videos and discuss areas for improvement.

“Now, let’s go back down.”

“Huh? What about the third floor?”

“The third floor is still empty, with no facilities yet.”

“Ah.”

So the construction wasn’t completely finished.

“It might be good to think about what facilities to add to the third floor with the party members later.”

“Haha. I’ll think about that later. By the way…”

While looking around the second floor, I realized an important facility was missing.

“Where are the showers and changing rooms?”

For a training facility, showers and changing rooms were essential.

“Hehe. I was just about to show you.”

“Ah, they must be in the basement.”

“Exactly.”

But why were the showers and changing rooms built in the basement?

Usually, they’re on the same floor as the training grounds for convenience.

“Hmm.”

Professor Elisha smiled meaningfully as she saw me tilting my head.

“You’ll understand when you see it. Why the shower facilities are in the basement.”

“…?”

We went down to the basement.

As soon as we arrived, I saw something divided into male and female…

“A hot spring?”

No way.

They built a hot spring under the training grounds?

“It’s not a real hot spring. It’s just a bath with heated water.”

“…So that’s why it’s in the basement?”

Come to think of it, I had heard before.

Water is heavier than you’d think, so most bathing facilities are built underground.

“How is it? Satisfied?”

“More than satisfied.”

A large training ground, state-of-the-art training facilities, a rest area, and even a hot spring.

This is a luxury facility that wouldn’t lose to the training facilities used by top-tier active heroes.

“Yurina would really love this.”

Yurina has a bit of a training addict side, so she’d be thrilled to see this facility.

“Hmm.”

Professor Elisha’s eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of Yurina.

“By the way, how has Candidate Yurina been lately?”

“Huh?”

“I haven’t heard anything since the last incident.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, Professor Elisha had been busy with the investigation, so she didn’t know what happened with Yurina afterward.

*Ahem.*

I cleared my throat and smiled awkwardly.

“Well… It’s not bad. She’s overcome the trauma of her first kill.”

“Oh.”

Not bad, huh.

Professor Elisha’s eyes sharpened.

“Did you?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t play dumb. X, I mean X. Did you do it properly this time?”

“No.”

You’re being too direct.

“Well…”

“You didn’t fail to take advantage of the opportunity I set up, did you?”

“……”

Indeed.

The reason Yurina and I got closer this time was because Professor Elisha actively set the stage.

“Well, it went well. Thanks to you, Professor.”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

Professor Elisha frowned, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well… It’s not my place to say, since I set the stage.”

Professor Elisha avoided my gaze and spoke in a blunt tone.

“Seeing Candidate Dale’s dazed expression makes me feel uneasy.”

“……”

You pushed me into it, and now you’re acting like this?

“In that sense… I’ll tell you what the ‘special reward’ is.”

She leaned closer and whispered in my ear.

“If Candidate Dale successfully clears Challenge Mode, I’ll let you experience the hot spring facilities today.”

Of course.

“With me, that is.”

Professor Elisha smiled mischievously as she said this.