episode_0085

The day at the beginning of the semester when Meiru explained her family circumstances, even if indirectly.

I think our relationship started getting particularly close from that time.

I started encountering her frequently, regardless of whether it was inside or outside the Academy, and we talked a lot more.

Even when I was walking alone on the streets on weekends, not weekdays, I was truly surprised to meet her by chance and spend quite some time together.

One slightly peculiar thing was that when she was with me, she particularly wanted to go to isolated places with few people.

Anyway, as these encounters continued, her gloomy face gradually brightened, and soon she was able to smile even more than before.

My relationship with Meiru was close and intimate, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but worry about her.

This is a problem she shares with Elly, but I was a little worried because I’ve never seen her hanging out with anyone other than me.

I thought the reason she looked so depressed when I first met her was definitely because she didn’t have any friends.

But unlike Elly, her personality itself doesn’t seem particularly timid or shy, nor does she seem to have difficulty communicating with others…

In fact, Meiru naturally joins in even if I’m already talking to someone else.

There was even a time when she appeared while Elly and I were having lunch at the Academy and ate her bento with us, outright asking Elly what our relationship was.

Even when people around us suddenly spoke to her, she didn’t stammer or show any signs of being flustered.

Yet, is there a special reason why she doesn’t meet with others besides me?

This part was truly peculiar to the point where I doubted if she had ever had a long conversation with anyone, regardless of whether they were male or female students or teachers.

Hmm… now that I think about it, it seems like there were few people around who knew Meiru in the first place.

Among other students, even those in the same year didn’t know her well, and even the professor didn’t notice her until discovering her name on the list.

Even among those who did remember, most recalled her as ‘the girl with freckles’.

It felt as if this student, her existence, was foreign, to the point where people didn’t even recognize her presence.

No way… but she couldn’t possibly be getting bullied in a large, public facility like the Academy, could she…?

But then again, it wasn’t exactly an atmosphere of intentional exclusion, so…

Honestly, I did try to ask her about this carefully, but she changed the subject, and I didn’t want to force an answer, so I stopped.

Still, even though Meiru herself doesn’t show it, she is likely experiencing the loneliness of being alone.

That’s because, whenever I spend time with her, her hand is somehow always tightly gripping mine.

There were also times when I was sitting on a bench outside during break time, dozing off to wake myself up, and she would gently sit next to me and lean against me.

This is surely an action that occurs as her inner loneliness, a sense of anxiety, is unconsciously expressed.

I don’t fully understand her, but as a friend, I want to support her and help her as much as I can.

…Well, before I think about such things, perhaps I should first take care of myself.

After all, the mid-term grade test, the Dungeon Conquest assignment, is coming up soon.

It’s a type of test where a certain number of students form a team to clear a dungeon located within the Academy, testing various abilities.

Just forming a team, let alone entering a dungeon itself, is already giving me a headache.

Since my family spent the little money they had to send me to the Academy, I at least want to get decent grades.

For someone like me, who hasn’t made many friends yet and finds it hard to even find teammates, this is truly an extremely troublesome problem.

. . .

“Yes, then I will now explain the mid-term assignment that will take place tomorrow.

This is an important matter directly related to your safety, so please listen carefully.”

Students, including myself, had gathered in the auditorium to listen to the explanation from the professor who was on the stage.

However, only first-year students were gathered, the reason being that this mid-term exam, the Dungeon Conquest exam, is limited to first-years.

Ah, students from the Alchemy Department were an exception and did not come.

For them, who are far removed from such practical combat, another type of test awaits, apparently.

And second and third-year students take different kinds of tests, such as exchange programs or field experiences.

Anyway, the first-year students were paying considerable attention to the professor’s words. This was partly because it was the first test we were taking, but also because of the identity of the professor who was giving the explanation.

Huffness Shaylen, an elderly female professor famous for her unique passionate attitude and the quality of her classes.

I heard that she is a wandering scholar, not from a noble background, who rose to a professorship after catching the eye of Headmaster Lium Kitocal.

Especially recently, she is said to be conducting various researches related to beastmen.

“First, I will explain the dungeon that you will be attempting to clear.

At the Academy, we can temporarily summon a dungeon using various artifacts and magic utilizing leylines.

The estimated grade of the summoned dungeons is all F, the lowest grade where there are no instant-death traps or boss monsters.

However, a dungeon is a dungeon. There are various low-level monsters forming an ecosystem here, and although rare, there is a possibility of discovering artifacts.”

Artifacts. At that word, all the students perked up their ears.

Even if the dungeon was summoned by the Academy and the test was led by the Academy, upon discovering an artifact in the dungeon, ownership immediately transfers to the discoverer.

Artifacts are items that enable various unique abilities or permanent physical enhancements. Naturally, they are items that make first-year students who have just entered the Academy drool.

“And most importantly, I will explain your safety.

First, you are under a protective magic that performs spatial teleportation to a safe zone along with instant recovery at the brink of death.

This is the same magic used in the end-of-semester dueling test conducted at the Academy. Normally, spatial teleportation magic is blocked in dungeons, but because this is proportional to the grade, it will be cast without issue in the Grade F dungeon you will be clearing.

However, the moment this magic is cast, the student in question enters a ‘Conquest Failure’ state and cannot re-enter the dungeon.

At that point, your grade and score will be calculated based on your actions in the dungeon up to that point, and you will not be disqualified, so please rest assured.

Of course, even with such safety guaranteed, reckless behavior is always forbidden.

Because unexpected situations always exist at any moment.”

As the professor mentioned Grade F and lenient safety conditions, some students let out sighs of relief, while others yawned, saying it was too trivial.

“Next, I will inform you about the test content and grading criteria.

You will be provided with only basic equipment prepared beforehand and enter the dungeon.

For equipment, you will be given Grade E weapons and armor, and a certain number of lowest-grade healing potions.

In that state, you must work with your teammates to reach the deepest possible point.

Therefore, grading is basically based on teamwork and leadership among teammates, and the type and number of monsters you defeated in the dungeon.

Naturally, how close you got to the end of the dungeon, the core, is also included.

Furthermore, if you reach the end of the dungeon and succeed in conquering it, or if you discover an artifact, a vast amount of bonus points will be awarded to the student and their teammates, so please keep this in mind.

However, if any dishonest acts such as intentionally hindering other students occur, or if the use of unauthorized equipment is detected, you will be immediately disqualified from that test and receive the lowest score.”

At the mention that only Grade E equipment was allowed, countless groans were heard around the noble students.

On the other hand, commoner students seemed to be looking forward to it a little, as most commoners usually used junk that didn’t even have a grade, let alone Grade E.

“That concludes the explanation, and I will emphasize this once again.

Although it is the lowest-grade dungeon, always be vigilant.

A significant number of injuries occur every year in this test.

Refrain from reckless actions and always prioritize your safety and that of your teammates over scores.”

With that, it ended with applause, and students began leaving the auditorium one by one or, conversely, going to the professor with questions.

Just then, as if she had forgotten, the professor added a remark belatedly.

“Ah, one more thing, students who haven’t found a single teammate yet should come find me separately.”

*Fufufu*, we were notified a week ago to gather teammates.

But surely there aren’t any students who haven’t found a teammate yet?

Where would such a student be?

Ah, yes.

Here.

Damn it…