Warmth

Ross and Luna fell off the cliff. The remaining team members desperately fended off the attacks of the goblins and vampire bats, managing to escape to the safety zone they had set up last night.

Perhaps because she saw Ross and Luna falling off the cliff right before her eyes, Aria’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground, shedding tears.

,What will happen to them…?

As if trying to erase the negative thoughts that came to mind, Aria muttered to herself, looking at Kane and Lacar. Kane wore a gloomy expression and lowered his head, but.

Lacar clapped his hands as if to break the mood and said in a voice that didn’t seem worried.

,Don’t you remember? It may seem real, but this is clearly a training dungeon. There’s no way they’d let us die even if we fell off a cliff.

Aria, regaining her senses at Lacar’s words, let out a sigh of relief and thanked him.

,That’s right, it was training… Thank goodness…. If it were real, it would have been etched in my memory forever….

She was so surprised to see the two of them falling in front of her…. Aria let out a sigh of relief, but also blamed herself, wondering if this would not have happened if she had been better at using magic. She reflected on her shortcomings.

Seeing Aria like that, Lacar decided to give her time to think, leaning against the wall and taking a short break.

Unlike Kane and Aria, Lacar wasn’t worried about Ross and Luna. Aside from the fact that this dungeon was for training, he had faith that Ross would have some kind of plan.

The Ross that Lacar knew was someone who never gave up.

The way he confidently ate alone, despite the malicious rumors and the sharp gazes from those around him, was the image of a true man that he had dreamed of.

Even though Ross’s combat skills were inferior to his own, Ross had already proven himself to be a hero with unparalleled courage in the combat division, especially after defeating the trolls who attacked the cafeteria with Ilia.

Would such a Ross have thrown himself to save Luna without any countermeasures? Lacar shook his head.

,He must have saved Luna with some ingenious method.

Thinking that, Lacar spoke to the two who were resting.

,I believe in Ross; he’ll definitely get out of this.

At Lacar’s words, Aria nodded earnestly, as if she believed it too.

,Since all roads lead to the final stage, we’ll be able to meet them again if we go back there.

At Lacar’s words, Kane and Aria regained their morale, which had plummeted.

,Yes, we can do it! They might still be waiting for us. Let’s hurry and-

Aria, who was forcing herself to be strong, suddenly disappeared.

In the sudden situation, the moment Lacar and Kane’s eyes met, Kane also disappeared as if sucked into the space.

As Aria and Kane vanished in an instant, Lacar tensed up and gripped his sword and shield tightly.

Lacar’s body was sucked somewhere, and soon, the view before his eyes changed.

Before he could even be surprised by the sudden change in situation, someone’s voice reached Lacar’s ears.

,Well, the last team member has arrived. Congratulations, Team 19. You’re in 3rd place!

Turning around at the voice, he saw Ross and Luna smiling next to Kane and Aria, who had dazed expressions, along with the nameless professor he had seen in the makeshift tent before entering the dungeon.

With a bewildered expression, Lacar asked.

,W-What’s going on?

Lacar, truly bewildered, couldn’t grasp the situation as his brain ceased to function.

At Lacar’s question, Ross scratched his cheek with an awkward smile.

,The two of us cleared it.

,,,,What?!,,,,

At the team members’ exclamation, Ross raised both hands as if to calm them down and began to speak.

,It happened like this….

***

Perhaps because they had fallen off the cliff and taken a shortcut, Luna and I walked for a bit, feeling a strange atmosphere, and discovered a door that seemed to lead to the final stage.

,There doesn’t seem to be any other way…. Should we go in for now?

To rejoin the others, it seemed inevitable that they would have to open the door and go inside. Luna seemed to realize this as well, nodding in agreement.

,Yes. I think we should.

With Luna’s consent, I opened the door first and went inside. As Luna followed me into the room, the door closed automatically and locked.

,Where is this…?

,Looks like a trap room?

Inside the room, there were all sorts of bugs flying in the air, flying fireballs obstructing forward movement, and rapidly rotating platforms.

Perhaps the goal was to avoid the flying bugs and fireballs, maintain balance on the rotating platforms, and get through this place.

,I think that’s the goal over there.

Luna pointed to a red button. It seemed that pressing the red button was the ultimate goal.

I stroked my chin and said.

,I think I can clear this easily…?

If it was just a matter of pressing a button, basic space magic would be sufficient. If you could perceive the space with your eyes, you could create a dimensional passage.

I immediately used space magic to put my hand into the dimensional entrance and press the button. As if nothing had happened, the bugs that had been noisily flapping their wings and the fireballs that had been flying disappeared. The platforms stopped, creating a path.

,I think we cleared it?

I didn’t expect to clear it so easily, so I spoke with a slightly embarrassed voice. Luna clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling as if she had seen something amazing.

,That’s amazing…!

I scratched the back of my head, feeling unnecessarily awkward at Luna’s compliment.

Is it okay to clear it like this…?

Well, it’s magic that Principal Nelson has ,certified,, so no one should say anything.

Thinking that, I headed to the next room with Luna.

Upon discovering a raccoon in a thief’s outfit standing alone in a large room, I forgot that Luna was next to me and cursed.

,That damn thief….

As if hearing my words, the thief raccoon gave a sly smile and showed us what appeared to be a key to escape the room, as if boasting, and then put it into its pocket.

,Are we catching the thief raccoon?

As if answering my words, the thief raccoon threw a smoke bomb. Just as I was about to ask Luna to create wind to blow away the smoke, the thief raccoon disappeared into the smoke.

Numerous thief raccoons burst out from the smoke.

,S-Shadow clone technique?

The numerous raccoons made annoying ,keke- sounds, shaking their bodies as if to mock us, asking us to find the real one.

They all looked the same, so I couldn’t tell them apart. I grabbed one of the raccoons nearby and put my hand in its pocket. The raccoon, who had been making an embarrassed expression, suddenly exploded with smoke.

,It seems like finding a fake raccoon makes it explode. Be careful-

Before I could finish speaking, Luna approached a thief raccoon and immediately took the key from its pocket.

,Huh…?

,Keke-?

Like me, the raccoon didn’t expect to be found at once. It stared at Luna with a dumbfounded face.

,H-How did you know?

,Ehh…? I, I just knew….

I thought she had good observation skills, but I couldn’t distinguish it from the other raccoons. Does she have a talent for this…?

Luna put the thief raccoon she was holding on the floor. The thief raccoon, who had been making a futile expression, lay down on the ground as if giving up on everything.

,It seems like it was shocked to be caught at once.

,S-Sorry, raccoon….

I took Luna, who was apologizing to the raccoon, and inserted the key into the door.

As the door opened and we moved to the next room, a giant golem appeared before us.

Behind the golem, there was something that looked like a treasure chest. It seemed like the concept was that the golem was guarding it.

The golem remained motionless, as if it would only move if we approached the chest.

,That must be the final boss.

As Luna tensed up and prepared to swing her staff, I, having grasped the situation, raised the corners of my lips and said to Luna.

,I don’t think we need to fight.

,Yes…?

Luna, who had been preparing for battle, looked at me with bewildered eyes.

,If that chest is the goal, we just need to get the chest, right? Luna, having understood my words, looked at me with eyes wider than usual and opened her mouth.

,T-There’s such a method….

Shrugging at Luna’s reaction, I immediately used basic space magic to drop the chest that was behind the golem in front of us.

The golem remained still, as if it hadn’t prepared for this situation.

,Ready?

I asked Luna, who was sending me a dazed look. Luna, regaining her senses, nodded.

Luna and I opened the chest together. Inside the chest, there was a single scroll.

I picked up the scroll and unfolded it so that Luna could see it as well. There were no words in the scroll, and only my face and Luna’s face were reflected in the scroll like a mirror.

As Luna and I, flustered, looked at each other, Principal Nelson’s illusion popped out of the mirror.

,Congratulations on completing the training! Were you disappointed that what’s inside this box isn’t treasure? Hehe, the real reward is the trust and experience, and friendship, you’ve built while exploring the dungeon with a stranger. I hope this practice will be a good memory.

I gave a hollow laugh at Nelson’s smiling illusion and looked at Luna.

I was flustered by Luna’s teary-eyed appearance, as if she was about to cry at any moment.

,A-Are you okay?

,Y-Yes….

Was she moved by Nelson’s words? I was unnecessarily concerned about the tears welling up in her blue sea-like eyes, so I was about to offer words of comfort when suddenly my body was sucked somewhere, and I moved to the tent with dizziness.

Looking around with a bewildered expression, Luna soon appeared in the tent with a frightened face.

,W-What’s going on….

Perhaps she was surprised by my sudden disappearance in front of her eyes, a single tear dropped.

,Congratulations. You have completed the practice in 3rd place!

I finally realized that the practice was over at the words of the nameless professor who suddenly appeared and offered congratulations.

*

,…That’s what happened.

I unfolded the scroll I was holding and showed it to the three, who were making dumbfounded expressions.

,Our friendship…. is the reward!

The team members, who had been making bewildered expressions at my joke, burst into laughter and cheered.

,So, the practice is over! Ross, Luna, you’re the best!!!

,As expected, a cheat ability…!

As if nothing had happened, Aria and Kane were jumping up and down in place, sending me burdensome gazes, so I subtly turned my gaze to Lacar….

,I believed in you, team leader….

,O-Oh….

Why is he like this again…? And since when was I the team leader…?

As I was scratching the back of my head, the nameless professor said to us.

,Okay, Team 19! You have completed the practice with a total ranking of 3rd place in 2 days, 3 hours, 20 minutes, and 11 seconds. Congratulations. A banquet is in progress for all of you who have worked hard, so head straight to the banquet hall with your supervising professor!

At the professor’s words, Aria and Kane’s burdensome gazes turned terrifying.

,A banquet…?!

,F-Food!!!

It had been two days of surviving on chocolate and jerky, which weren’t even proper food. Even that wasn’t enough, so they survived on two chocolates and one jerky per meal.

They wanted to wash up, but they couldn’t miss the best banquet they had experienced at the entrance ceremony. We hurriedly left the makeshift tent.

As if she had been waiting for us, Professor Leora, who always looked strict, stopped us as we ran towards the banquet hall.

,Team 19. Congratulations on finishing the practice in 3rd place. However, you need to tidy up a bit before entering the banquet hall.

As Professor Leora waved her wand, the dirt and monster blood that had dirtied us were cleaned up.

As we were marveling at the clothes that had lost their foul odor as if they had just been laundered, I realized that Professor Leora’s gaze was fixed on me and met her eyes.

Was she thinking that it was unexpected for me, a low-achiever, to come in 3rd place? Professor Leora, who had been sending me an unreadable gaze, took her eyes off me and said.

,Follow me. I’ll take you to your designated seats.

At Professor Leora’s words, we smiled at the thought of eating delicious food and followed her without a second thought.

As Professor Leora opened the door to the banquet hall, cheers erupted as if they had been waiting, and a loud applause greeted us.

,Bbiikk- Team 19, congratulations on 3rd place!

,Congratulations on the practice, freshmen!

It seemed like a banquet to celebrate the freshmen who had gone out for their first practice.

A senior who was eating a chocolate cake gave us a playful smile and tried to throw the cake at us, but sat down in his seat pretending not to know at Professor Leora’s gaze.

,Congratulations!

,You’ve worked hard~!!!

,The future will be even harder~!!!

We awkwardly smiled at the gazes, compliments, and applause pouring down on us, and walked while only looking at Professor Leora’s back.

A familiar voice was heard in the cheers.

,Ross!!! You did well! 3rd place, 3rd place!?

Roel’s voice, which always cheered me on, pierced through the numerous voices and reached my ears.

,The porter seems to be doing well.

Of course, I also heard Flavia’s annoying voice, but I pretended not to hear it.

,R-Ross, congratulations!

Rosalyn, who was sitting at a nearby table, turned her body and offered me congratulations.

There were many people, so I answered with a small nod. Ilia, who was next to her, stared at me silently before losing interest and crushing the fruit with a fork.

I was walking behind Professor Leora again. Roel’s shouts continued to be heard.

,That’s my brother! Ross, Ross!!! Hyung is here!!!

Feeling the seniors’ gazes focused on my face, I had no choice but to lower my head to hide my face.

,Please. Don’t call my name so loudly in a crowded place….

As I was muttering to myself, the team members who heard Roel’s shouts joked around.

,Wow~ Your brother must really like you!

Aria, who was following right behind me, chuckled and poked my back.

,Ross seems to be very close to his brother.

,Hmm, good brotherly love.

Lacar said enviously at Kane’s words.

,T-That’s amazing.

I don’t know what was amazing, but Luna smiled prettily at me while holding a book in her left hand.

Professor Leora’s guidance ended, and we were able to sit down in our seats amidst the cheers.

As we sat down, the seniors who had been sending applause and cheers sat down in their seats, as if to enjoy the banquet again.

Seeing Roel, who seemed to have something to say to me, trying to approach with a bright face, being dragged away by Flavia’s hand, I felt grateful to Flavia for the first time.

As if knowing our hunger, the maids began to fill the empty tables with all sorts of food.

Large spare ribs and scallop dishes, pasta, and sweet honey beer that were hard to see usually. They were really delicious foods worthy of a banquet, so we ate in silence first.

We, who had been silently creating empty plates, were able to have a conversation after a long time.

,Everyone worked hard. Fortunately, everyone in our team was a good person, so I was able to spend the practice comfortably.

Starting with my words, everyone smiled and spoke.

,I’m glad I made good friends.

Lacar, who gave a simple impression, and.

,I was a little nervous at first because I was practicing with people I didn’t know, but fortunately, all of you participated diligently in the practice, and there was no one with a bad personality, so I had fun during the practice. This practice is….

Aria, who talked for more than 10 minutes alone, saying that the practice with us would be a memory that would last a long time.

,I wanted to give up when the food was stolen…. Thanks to Ross, I was able to finish the practice in 3rd place. Thanks, Ross!

Kane, who expressed his gratitude to me with his whole body, handing me a small cup of ice cream and winking.

,I’m glad I was able to become friends with everyone…. I, I hope we can be in the same team like this next time too.

Everyone looked at each other and smiled at Luna’s words, who hoped that our friendship would last a long time.

,Well, isn’t this also fate?

I smiled and accepted Kane’s words.

,Then, shall we have a simple meal together with friends on the weekend?

Looking at the team members as if asking for their opinions, everyone smiled and nodded.

,Okay. Our next goal for Team 19 is to find the best restaurant in the capital!

Luna made a small laugh, as if she was happy at Aria’s words.

While eating dessert, I felt a warm feeling rising in my heart as I watched Kane and Aria, who were already reminiscing about the events in the dungeon as if they were memories.

I often thought that I was alone in the academy. No, I thought that I was an outcast in this world.

Blocked by the huge wall called Roel, even my parents sent me cold gazes.

There were times when I spent the day without talking to anyone.

There were times when I ate alone and trained alone.

Effort was denied, and goodwill was packaged as malice.

I thought that my academy life, where I was possessed into a novel without knowing why, wallowing in self-loathing, regret, and inferiority, and slowly suffocating in depression, would continue.

I pretended not to know that Bella tried to kill me and that the people around me pointed fingers at me, saying that I was colluding with a black magician, but I was slowly collapsing from the bottom.

I don’t know if it was the influence of the nervous breakdown or if my capacity as a person was only that much, but I was definitely collapsing.

But now, the friends who are talking with joyful laughter next to me are supporting me, who was collapsing.

I met Principal Nelson, and I learned about Ross’s sincerity.

I made a good friend named Lacar, and I became friends with the team members who didn’t appear in the novel.

The warmth of people, which had been collapsing, made me solid again.

Whether it was because my stomach was full of delicious food or because of the warmth of the people.

I don’t know exactly what I was satisfied with, but with the satisfying feeling filling my heart.

I didn’t even realize that I was constantly smiling….

I was able to realize it after a long time, at Aria’s teasing.