On the night I received guidance from Professor Victor, I spread out the map he had given me and sank into thought.
I could tell just by looking that the north was my destination.
The problem was the exact location.
Because the surroundings were barely depicted, it was difficult to determine the precise spot.
So I compared Victor’s map with the atlas I had borrowed from the library, and before long, I was able to pinpoint the exact location.
‘One of the mountains in the northern range. And near the summit, at that?’
What on earth is there?
At the very least, it isn’t a village.
Maybe if it were near the foot of the mountain, but there’s no way a place where people live could exist within the northern mountain range.
Not only is it cold enough that humans can hardly endure it, but rare monsters that can only be found there run rampant.
And yet, if the summit is the destination…
‘A ruin, or a dungeon?’
Of the two, it’s more likely to be a dungeon.
If it were an ordinary ruin, adventurers would have discovered it already.
“Hmm. A dungeon exploration, huh…”
Not bad. In fact, it’s rather good.
I slowly read over the Academy schedule hanging beside my desk.
Under tomorrow’s date, the words “Continental Exploration Begins” were written clearly.
Continental Exploration.
A process that opened after the midterm exams ended, one that was practically a symbol of the Academy.
It was a system that allowed students to go out for external activities in place of practical lessons, so long as they formed a proper party.
They said it was to give students the opportunity to build a variety of experiences, but…
‘In reality, it’s a remnant that shows the Academy originally began as a military education facility.’
The very fact that there was a dungeon underground in the first place was openly for military training.
In any case, since it was that kind of process, as long as we met the conditions, they would surely grant permission for a dungeon exploration without much trouble.
The problem was finding party members…
‘The minimum required number is four, and one priest must be included?’
That much shouldn’t be difficult.
‘Let’s start first thing tomorrow morning.’
Preparations to leave for the north.
**
As soon as morning dawned, the first person I went to see was Senior Lena.
Just as Cecilia had said, perhaps she intended to study theory separately, because even though exams were over, she was still wrestling with books in the library.
“Ugh, I don’t get it.”
Senior Lena was staring holes into the book, her brow furrowed.
She was forcing herself to read, but boredom was clear in her eyes.
Smiling a little at how like her that was, I took a step toward her.
“Senior Lena.”
“Huh, Ashen? What’s up?”
“There’s something I’d like to propose to you, Senior.”
“A proposal?”
Closing the book, Senior Lena turned an interested gaze toward me.
“Judging by the way you’re saying that, it doesn’t sound like you’re simply asking me to go out to Astrum. Is something important going on?”
“Yes. I’m planning to go to the north for a bit.”
“The north?”
A question appeared in her sunset-colored eyes.
“What for?”
“There’s a dungeon I need to explore.”
“A dungeon… Ah, you mean Continental Exploration.”
Senior Lena nodded, then closed her eyes and fell into thought.
“The north, huh. It’s a dangerous place. And the weather’s cold, too.”
“Is that so?”
“But.”
Opening her eyes, Senior Lena met my gaze with a faint smile.
“This big sister is a little too worried to send our Ashen off to a place like that alone.”
“Then?”
“Let’s go. You’ll have to buy your big sister a meal separately later.”
As Senior Lena chuckled, I bowed my head to express my thanks.
With this, the first party member was decided.
I then moved on to find the next party members.
**
After joining up with Senior Lena, the next place I went was the lounge in the Humilitas dormitory.
In one corner of the dormitory lounge,
I saw students in the mage course gathered together and debating.
Fortunately, the two people I was looking for were among them as well.
“Cecilia, Brandon. Can I talk to you for a moment?”
When I went near the two of them and whispered quietly, the two, who had been absorbed in the discussion, turned their heads toward me.
“What is it, Mr. Ashen?”
“Hi, Ashen. Is something the matter?”
“There’s something I’d like to ask of you two.”
At my words, the two asked the students they had been discussing with for their understanding and rose from their seats.
After we moved to a table in the corner of the lounge, Cecilia was the first to speak, her expression curious.
“So, Mr. Ashen, will you tell us what this request is now?”
“Do both of you happen to have time?”
“Time, you say. Exams are over, so I have no particular schedule. What about you, Mr. Brandon?”
“I don’t have anything special either. If anything, I’m a little free.”
“Then could you come with me to the north for a bit?”
At my words, Cecilia and Brandon’s eyes widened.
Since they knew about Continental Exploration, they must have expected that I might be going somewhere, but they were likely surprised that the place was the north.
“The north, you say. You’re heading to a dangerous place. Is there a reason?”
“There’s a dungeon there that I absolutely have to go to.”
“Hmm.”
Cecilia narrowed her eyes and looked at me.
“I think it’s a place too dangerous to go to with friends.”
“That’s why I’m asking. Not proposing.”
“That’s true.”
Cecilia smiled faintly, sank into thought for a moment, and then turned her gaze toward Senior Lena.
“Miss Lena, have you already accepted?”
“Of course I have. There’s no way I wouldn’t go when Ashen’s going, right?”
“Hm, I see. Then I’ll go as well.”
“Aren’t you changing your attitude too easily all of a sudden?”
“I intended to go from the beginning.”
At Senior Lena’s words, Cecilia looked straight at her and continued.
“I owed Mr. Ashen my life from the dungeon before, and I owed Miss Lena mana during Miss Theodora’s incident. On top of that, if two of my friends are going and I don’t follow, wouldn’t I be the strange one?”
“Then what was with your attitude earlier?”
“If I followed too easily, I thought I might look like a frivolous woman.”
As Cecilia smiled while saying that, Senior Lena looked dumbfounded for a moment, then soon nodded.
“How should I put it? That’s very you.”
“You mean it was aristocratic behavior, correct?”
“Well, sure.”
Cecilia tilted her head at Senior Lena’s words.
It seemed the two of them still had more to say, so I turned my gaze to Brandon.
“So, Brandon, what are you going to do?”
“Me? Of course I’m going.”
Contrary to my expectations, Brandon accepted immediately without saying much else.
“Remember what happened during the midterm exam last time? We said that if something like this happened again, we’d definitely do it together next time.”
“We did.”
“Then of course I have to follow. It was a promise.”
Brandon shrugged as he said that.
I thanked him and bowed my head, then wrote down the two of their names on the application form.
That made four.
We had gathered the minimum number required to apply for Continental Exploration.
The problem was that we had no priest…
‘This is awkward.’
According to my memory, there wasn’t really any priest who could become a companion around this point.
Even if there were, given my position of having to be careful of the Order, I couldn’t just take anyone into the party.
My companions said they would use their connections and try to find someone, but the result was failure.
The reason was none other than me.
“According to what I heard from my friend, an order came down from the Order’s side. They said to avoid contact with you if possible. They said you’d know the reason.”
‘Is it because of Theodora’s incident?’
They had openly denied that they were involved, but perhaps they had grown wary of me after I had completely ruined one of their priests.
Everyone connected to the Order tried to keep their distance simply because I was there.
Thanks to that, the possibility of the Order discovering the Red Blood had certainly decreased, but…
‘At this rate, even if we submit the application, there’s a high chance it’ll be rejected.’
If things continued like this, it would take ages to reach the dungeon Victor had mentioned.
“Let’s all try looking for just three days for now. If we still can’t find anyone, we’ll ask for understanding.”
And so, three days later, we ultimately submitted the application without finding a priest to accompany us, but…
“I’m sorry, but this application has been rejected.”
The result was failure.
“When departing for a dungeon exploration, you must be accompanied by either a priest or a paladin. If any of you were to be seriously injured, the Academy would be put in a difficult position as well.”
Seeing the person in charge answer in such a businesslike manner, I let out a small sigh.
If it had been for another reason, I might have tried to argue, but this was reasonable, so there was no way to refute it.
“What are you going to do now, Ashen?”
Looking at the rejected application with a worried expression, Senior Lena turned to me.
“I’m not sure.”
At her question, I let out a small sigh.
Honestly, this was something I couldn’t handle on my own this time.
‘No, there is a way, but…’
I was worried that I might be causing trouble for no reason.
After thinking for a moment, I had no choice but to make a decision.
I didn’t want to inconvenience her, but…
‘Go. Then you will realize more than you do now.’
The words Professor Victor had left kept flickering before my eyes.
‘There really is no other choice.’
“I’ll ask someone else for help.”
After saying that, I parted from the group and headed to Miss Eleonore’s room.
**
Despite my sudden visit, Miss Eleonore welcomed me warmly.
“It has been a while, Student Ashen. What brings you to me?”
“I’d like to find a priest.”
“A priest… Why is that?”
“We fall short of the conditions needed to go on Continental Exploration.”
At my words, Miss Eleonore tilted her head and asked,
“That isn’t why I asked. You already have a friend who is a priest, don’t you? So why did you come to ask me?”
“A friend? Don’t tell me…”
“I mean Student Theodora.”
At her words, my expression stiffened.
Theodora. It wasn’t that I hadn’t thought of her.
If it were her, with talent as a priest, a swordsman, and a mage, she would be more helpful to the party than anyone else.
But was it right to take Theodora with us now?
In my opinion, it wasn’t.
“She needs to rest a little more.”
It hadn’t been very long since she had broken free from the brainwashing.
I didn’t want to drag a friend who had finally found her life back onto the battlefield again just because I needed her.
“There is reason in what you say, Student Ashen. But what would she herself think?”
“Herself?”
“Didn’t Student Theodora wish to live freely? If so, rather than you deciding for her, Student Theodora’s own will should matter more.”
I closed my mouth at Miss Eleonore’s words.
She was right.
Her words were certainly right.
“That’s… true.”
“Please wait a moment. We usually have counseling around this time, so she should be here before long.”
A short while later, just as Miss Eleonore had said, there was a knock, and Theodora opened the door.
“Ashen?”
As if she hadn’t expected me to be there, Theodora looked puzzled.
“We were talking about you and Mr. Ashen. That is why I called you here to hear your own opinion.”
Startled by the fact that they had been talking about her, Theodora looked back and forth between me and Miss Eleonore.
“My opinion?”
“Yes, Student Theodora. You said you wanted to try living freely, didn’t you? Then it is only right that you make this choice yourself as well.”
“What choice are you talking about?”
“Student Ashen here says he needs a priest for Continental Exploration. I recommended you, but what do you—”
“I’ll go.”
Before Miss Eleonore could even finish speaking, Theodora answered at once.
“Ashen gave me a new life. So if he needs me, I will definitely participate.”
“That is what she says, Student Ashen. Do you have anything to say?”
Looking at the two of them staring straight at me, I remained silent for a moment.
If Theodora herself wanted it, then the situation was certainly different.
But that didn’t change the fact that she needed to rest.
And I didn’t want to use the favor she owed me as an excuse to force her to follow me either.
‘Should I refuse after all?’
Just as I was about to answer,
“Ashen.”
Theodora continued.
“I know you’re trying to protect me. Judging by your attitude, you’re probably going to oppose it. But…”
“…”
“I want to be… no, I want to be your equal friend. Not someone who simply gets protected. Won’t you respect that?”
“If you say it like that, I can’t oppose you.”
I let out a small sigh and smiled at her.
“All right. Let’s go together, Theodora.”
“Thank you, Ashen.”
With her answer, a bright smile appeared on Theodora’s face.
Miss Eleonore looked at Theodora and me with a pleased gaze, then asked me,
“Putting that aside, Continental Exploration, is it? If Student Ashen is searching for someone this urgently, it must not be an ordinary matter.”
“Yes. I have business in the north.”
“The north?”
In that instant, the smile vanished from Professor Eleonore’s lips.
She closed her eyes as if thinking about something for a moment, then soon turned her gaze to me.
“The recent movements in the north have been unusual…”
“What happened?”
“It is internal information from the Order that has not been confirmed yet, but if it is you, it should be all right.”
Miss Eleonore looked at me with a hesitant expression for a moment, then soon opened her mouth as if she had no choice.
“People keep disappearing.”
“People?”
“Yes. And only the people are disappearing, with their luggage left behind.”
“That certainly isn’t ordinary.”
Only people were vanishing, without their belongings being touched. That was not the work of monsters, nor of ordinary bandits.
“Could it be the work of cultists?”
“For now, it is only a suspicion. But Ashen, be careful. Cultists are different from any other enemy.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
With those words, I left Miss Eleonore’s room.
Left alone, I stared hard at the map Victor had left behind.
‘Cultists, huh. There’s no way this is a coincidence.’
They originally targeted places with many people.
And yet the fact that they had come to the empty north was proof that there was something there they were searching for.
‘What on earth can I realize in this place?’
I frowned as I looked at the words Victor had left on the map.
‘It seems this trip north won’t be easy.’
Far more so than I expected.