Volume 5 Chapter 16 This Is Definitely A Matter For The Country + Bonus
The big room was filled with cheers, but Randy finally remembered their goal and said, "Let me through," as he moved past the group of students to the two instructors.
"Beyond that door is definitely the first corridor."
Randy's report made everyone buzz with excitement. It might be more accurate to say they could only go up to the fifth level, not that they could go all the way to the fifth level. If they went beyond the fifth level, they would have to start all over again. Plus, the beasts would be stronger.
Hearing this, the two instructors talked about when they went down to the fifth level with the Knight group for a preview. At that time, they defeated the boss on the fifth level and returned to the entrance using the teleportation crystal that appeared in front of the corridor.
"I can't believe there was something like this inside."
Burk, looking up at the still-closed door, said this, and Gardo nodded silently in agreement. So, it could be said that the Knight group was taking time to clear it because they were stuck in this loop.
"Then what we can think of is──."
Randy's gaze turned to the two holes that were gaping in the door. That word came back to his mind.
──Eclipse Altar
It didn't sound good, and all they had right now was the golden orb that Edgar held...
"I can't allow any more exploration."
As Burk shook his head, it was true that just opening the door earlier led to that attack. If they used the golden orb, who knows what would happen? It was clear that anything beyond this point was a matter for the country to investigate, not the academy.
Besides, Edgar had been acting strange for a while now. Out of the corner of his eye, Randy saw Edgar trying to look calm, but his face was clearly pale.
Also, the golden orb that Edgar had seemed off. When Randy first saw it, it looked much brighter, but now it seemed to dim along with Edgar's forced cheerfulness.
The instructors were also glancing at Edgar, so they must have noticed something was wrong with him.
Even though he was a student, the Crown Prince's odd behavior made it impossible to continue exploring.
"That's enough for today; everyone return!"
Just as Randy imagined, with Gardo's signal, this training session came to an end.
The training was over, and everyone was set to return to the entrance using the teleportation crystal.
[Iron Falcon Steel] was the first to touch the teleportation crystal. After what happened, they wanted to make sure it was safe, so they sent the guards in first.
Next, the first group of students and Instructor Gardo followed. Then, the second group of students and Instructor Burk teleported as well, while Randy and the others, who were on guard, couldn't help but glance back at the door.
Honestly, they thought about checking the door again during this moment, but if the door and space were really twisted together, they didn't know what might happen to the students who went first. Plus, if they made the instructors wait too long, they didn't want to hear what they might say.
Randy and Liz exchanged glances, sighed as if to say it couldn't be helped, and placed their hands on the teleportation crystal almost at the same time.
After a brief feeling of floating, Randy and Liz returned to the large room filled with familiar coffins.
"The door is──"
"It's there."
Just as Liz said, a huge door loomed behind them. Plus, it was still stained with the blood of the Inferior Lord that Randy had blown away. This confirmed that the path beyond the fifth level led back to this door.
"Man, what a strange door."
Luke spoke up from behind Randy, who was looking up at the door.
"Before you guys came back, this was just a regular wall, you know?"
Luke's words made Cecilia frown and nod silently.
"It makes sense to think it swapped places with the wall of the fifth level..."
As Randy muttered this, Instructor Gardo's voice rang out, "Students, gather!" At that, Cecilia dashed off, saying "See you later," with Luke following her. While roll call and final checks for injuries began, Randy looked at the door once more.
The door had a strong presence. At first, he hadn't noticed, but now it felt like it had a slight magical power.
"This is..."
"At first, it was really just metal."
Liz seemed to notice too, staring intently at the door.
"Think we can analyze it?"
"I'm not sure, but──."
Liz, hiding behind Randy, gently touched the door.
"It looks like a really advanced magic spell is carved here... even Ellie wouldn't understand it."
Just that report was enough to surprise Randy. If even Ellie couldn't figure out the spell, then its creator must be someone special.
"Is it your best friend?"
"Probably..."
Ellie nodded, but she didn't seem very sure.
"Is something bothering you?"
"A little... There are 2 spells, tangled together."
"What does that mean?"
"Someone must have added to the original spell."
Looking at Ellie's expression, it was clear who that "someone" was.
"Didn't seem like such a big deal."
"Fool. Even if my friend was tired, she wouldn't lose to someone like that in her prime."
Ellie was right. The man claimed to be a great magician and had captured Ellie at her peak. Of course, he probably had help from soldiers, but Ellie wasn't someone you could just overpower by increasing numbers.
Even if you brought in a bunch of random people, they'd just fall to Ellie's area magic.
This meant the man had enough power to stand against Ellie's magic. What could his purpose be for interfering with this door?
Right now, it was a complete mystery.
"There's so much we don't understand."
Randy turned back and looked at the confusing mural again.
A man sitting on something like a throne.
A huge circular design behind him.
Swirling black flames.
Some strange letters and a sphere floating in the flames.
A giant black moon and a church.
"Huh?"
As Randy stared at the mural, he furrowed his brow. He felt something was off. It seemed different from when he first saw it... When Randy focused on the mural again, Liz spoke up beside him.
"There are more spheres in the flames. When we came, there were only letters."
"You remember that well."
Randy's eyes widened at Liz's comment, but her confidence seemed to waver under his surprise. "I think..." he said hesitantly, pulling out a photo from thin air.
What was shown in the photo was just as Liz said: strange letters dancing in the black flames. No spheres were visible.
"So, this door waking up is linked to that mural, huh?"
Randy is totally confused. But his instincts are telling him. The change in the mural is a bad sign.
What Randy remembers is the strange feeling he had just before teleporting.
He thinks he saw a golden orb in Edgar's hand. In the center of that orb, he felt like he saw a little black mist.
He hopes it was just a mistake, but now there's no way to check.
After roll call, the students split into groups to discuss their final thoughts, and Edgar is acting normal. But the golden orb is no longer in his hands.
Maybe it's in his magic bag, or he gave it to the instructor.
He doesn't know where it is, but one thing is clear: Edgar won't tell him if he asks.
For now, he takes another picture of the changed mural and uses the time to search the coffin, but in the end, he finds nothing.
Just when Randy's fruitless investigation wraps up, the students finish their discussions and start getting ready to leave the ruins.
Even though it was dangerous, the dungeon exploration can be called a success since only minor injuries happened. The instructors reminding them, "Don't forget to submit your report later," feels like the biggest blow.
Leaving only the students' boos behind, Gardo and [Iron Falcon Steel] lead the way out of the ruins. Ahead lies that forest again, where they can't feel any life. The line is a bit long, but the students march in 2 lines, looking happy and accomplished, regardless of their groups.
At the back of the group are Burk and the [Randy Exploration Team].
"...[Randy Exploration Team]. You really helped this time."
Burk suddenly speaks up, and Randy shakes his head, saying, "No, no."
"They're not a problem for the instructors."
Randy's words make Burk nod, "Yeah." With Gardo, Burk, and the 4 from [Iron Falcon Steel], they could easily take down 3 Inferior Lords.
But even so, when it comes to protecting the students, the situation changes. In some cases, a scared student might run away from the big room. If that happens, they need to make sure that student is safe.
Before everyone could feel despair, Randy quickly settled things with just one hit, and Burk couldn't help but express his gratitude again.
"I really understand why you didn't choose a combat lesson."
Burk, showing a rare wry smile, nodded as if he understood, saying, "Because there's nothing for you to learn from us."
But Randy shook his head.
"I never thought I couldn't learn. The instructors' experiences are different from my own. It's just──."
"Just?"
"Well, if I mess up and didn't hold back──."
With Randy's wry smile, Burk also laughed genuinely, saying, "I see. That would be a problem."
"Anyway, both my brother and I have really changed our view of you this time."
Burk nodded and continued, saying it wasn't just about fighting. Before reaching the town, even if it was a crash course, he learned the basics of guarding from [Iron Falcon Steel]. Based on that, they were able to have a solid discussion the day before.
"I thought you hated studying."
Burk nodded thoughtfully and patted Randy on the back, saying, "You should put in some effort in your regular studies too."
"Y-Yes, I will."
Randy's voice cracked, and Liz shot him a side-eye, making the 3 of them burst into laughter.
With various mysteries lingering and feeling a bit unsatisfied, it wasn't all bad for Randy. He felt closer to his classmates and gained the trust of the instructors.
As he soaked in that feeling, Randy headed home with everyone.
* * *
"I thought this when we came, but don't the fish here seem really close to the boat?"
Looking at the lake from the boat, Luke said, "They're pretty big," and Randy also looked down at the lake.
"Oh, there! That fish looks like the one we ate at Alcantara."
"You're right. That one was pretty tasty."
Randy and Luke looked at each other in front of the fish. Since they were exploring a dungeon, their meals on the way had been pretty simple, and their stomachs were really growling.
"Alright, let's fish."
Randy had a mischievous grin, and Luke frowned, saying, "No way, we don't need that." It was already getting close to evening. They were going to head back to Alcantara and stay there for the night. Luke seemed to think they could just satisfy their stomachs then, but Randy shook his head.
"You're silly. If we take this home and get it cooked, we'll be super happy."
Randy stared at the fish, and Luke showed a look of disbelief, saying, "No way. That's impossible."
"How are we supposed to fish with no time and no rod?"
Luke was right; even though they had just started, they had been cruising for less than an hour, and there was no way to fish without a rod or bait. But... that's Randy for you.
He quickly crafted a fishing rod and, with Luke saying "Wow," Randy gave a cheeky smile back.
"For bait... will this do?"
Using materials from a beast they collected, he dropped the line into the lake with a "plop."
"Instructor! Randolph is fishing in the lake!"
"What?! Victor! Fishing in the holy lake is──."
...Thanks to a girl's report, Randy ended up getting scolded, but that's a different story.
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