"They did it, they did iiiiiiit! In the third round of the Orario Competitive Festival, the Orario duo defeated the challengers from the School District in the tag battle! Our proud Ilta Farna and Shakti Varmaaaaa!"
"I am Ganeshaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
"Ah, those kids, they're my pride, my beloved famil-yyyyyyyy."
"We've broken the streak of three consecutive losses! Yeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssss! Irita-san, captain, I'll follow you all my liiiiiiiife!"
Two days have passed since the second round, known as "The Grand Group Battle."
Now, for the sake of fairness, the third matchup between the representatives was held in the School District's stadium.
—"And the result?"
Orario came out victorious.
—"This can't be..."
—"I can't believe Professor Miranda lost!"
—"That's 'Paluza, the Red Leopard' and 'Ankusha, the Staff of the Elephant God'! The strongest guards of Orario!"
This defeat, suffered at home and not on enemy ground like in the first round, left a massive impact on the students.
Even though the event only featured commentator Ibri and analyst Ganesha—to prevent any leaks of confidential School District information (Hermes was banned from participating by the students)—not even the overwhelming support of the home crowd could tilt the balance in their favor.
In the center of the stadium, Ilta, who had defeated two professors from the School District, stood proudly with her chest held high. In contrast, Shakti showed little interest, her eyes closed.
Upon witnessing that scene, the students finally remembered who they were up against.
They were adventurers from the most powerful force in the world—those who constantly challenge the most feared and merciless dungeon in the Lower World.
"Yessssss! That makes it one win and two losses!"
"Well done, Elephant Staff Ankusha!"
"Hey, guard, I'm sorry I always treated you like a burden!"
The adventurers watching from the stands, who had been holding their breath, burst into cheers, creating a festive atmosphere.
The previously tense mood—almost like a funeral—completely vanished, and cheers echoed throughout the amphitheater.
"But if Ankusha's already appeared... who's next?"
"Loki Familia is on an expedition, and the former members of Freya can't participate..."
"Then that just leaves the Hestia Familia, right?"
"Is it finally that brat's turn?"
As the conversations filled with anticipation for the next match, even those like Mord began to get excited at the prospect of a certain adventurer's appearance.
---
North of the 'Great Wall'
The landscape could only be described in one way—a land of death.
Shattered rocks and scorched earth. A sky locked in perpetual gray and black, devoid of sunlight.
Everything was dry, without even a hint of moisture. A barren wasteland where human life was impossible.
There was a distinct toxic air.
No signs of life could be found.
The terrain was torn, cracked, and crushed.
Professor Leon remarked that, in ancient times, the area surrounding Orario resembled this dead land. According to records, the world of that era—dominated by monsters on land, sea, and air—was little more than a living hell.
On the way, we encountered a group of flying dragons.
Their abilities varied, but one of them had the strength of a Level 3.
When I realized that, a chill ran down my spine.
This land, though above ground, demands skills and equipment equivalent to those of an advanced adventurer delving into the middle or lower floors of the dungeon.
I fought while protecting Nina, defeating each dragon that called for reinforcements.
I couldn't allow even one of them to cross to the southern side of the Great Wall.
Professor Leon pointed out that we had been unlucky.
It was rare to encounter dragons that strong, even under normal conditions.
However, he also mentioned that if this streak of bad luck continued, the dragons could easily breach the boundaries of the Great Wall.
"The Black Desert."
That's the name of this region, stretching from the Great Wall all the way to the Dragon's Valley.
Even in the era of the gods, this was an extremely dangerous place—one that reminded humanity of the end and of destruction.
It felt as though my heart played a dissonant melody, a homeland of despair.
—"We'll camp here for today," said Professor Leon.
Amid a forest of rocks blackened like ash, Professor Leon made that announcement.
The cluster of jagged rocks, standing like pillars, seemed almost artificial and served well as a windbreak. His decision was sound.
However, the tainted air that had followed us since entering the Black Desert—the quality of the miasma—was unbearable.
It felt like we were constantly breathing in a subtle poison. Even those with sublimated statuses could endure it, but ordinary humans would surely fall gravely ill just by being in this area.
—"My name is Aaruve — Ragriel Chrisheim!"
Thanks to Nina's purification magic, the area around us was cleansed, and we finally managed to find a somewhat safe place to rest.
Professor Leon and I stayed on watch while we ate.
Nina was clearly exhausted.
Putting others aside, she was still only Level 2. Since entering the Black Desert, she had remained on constant alert, unable to relax.
At first, she tried to push through it, but after we convinced her to lie down, she soon began to softly snore.
Even through the night, the sky remained completely black.
The clouds of miasma never allowed sunlight or moonlight to reach this land.
—"Professor Leon..."
—"What is it?"
This forest of rocks could have once been an archaeological site built in ancient times.
As I looked around at the rock formations—now stripped of color and shape by the cold wind and miasma—I thought about that, then glanced at Professor Leon sitting on the other side of the campfire.
—"Is it really okay for Orario... for adventurers... to keep going like this?"
—"Did seeing the world's dire state make you think that?"
—"...Yes."
—"Do you think we won't be able to return to our everyday lives?"
—"...I don't know. But I feel like we can't just go on like this..."
The more I learned about the reality of the lower world with my own eyes and ears—through this direct "fieldwork" rather than secondhand accounts—the stronger my sense of crisis and urgency became.
I don't believe I can save the world just by standing up.
But while I'm in Orario, I shouldn't ignore the reason why the lower world is deteriorating like this.
I need to do something—right now—about the dragons.
That feeling had begun to take root deep within my heart.
Professor Leon, his face illuminated by the glow of the flames, watched me intently, as if trying to read me.
—"The act of turning your attention to things you hadn't noticed before is a good sign. It's proof that your awareness is expanding. The students from the 'School District,' who have also witnessed the tragedies of the world, often develop a similar sense of urgency—just like you now—and tend to rush through their lives."
—"Then... does that mean...?"
—"However, it's also true that rushing is something we must not do."
—"Rushing...?"
—"Exactly. Now that the god Zeus and the goddess Hera were defeated fifteen years ago, there's no one left behind us anymore."
—"...!"
I immediately understood what Professor Leon was trying to tell me.
—"If we fail in the next mission to defeat the 'Black Dragon,' there's no doubt humanity won't be able to recover. The light of hope we've been reclaiming for the past fifteen years will be lost. And this time, we'll fall into true despair, bringing the world to its end. To avoid that ending, both adventurers and we must make thorough preparations."
The failure of one of the Great Missions of the Lower World: the
"Triad of Adventurer Requests."
Professor Leon continued explaining smoothly, saying that the repercussions back then were far too great.
—"The 'heroes' from fifteen years ago were too powerful and too magnificent. That's why... the loss of those 'heroes' was far too devastating."
So devastating that the world staggered and fell into a state of stagnation.
We must never repeat that mistake again.
Professor Leon continued, his voice filled with deep feeling and conviction.
He spoke as if he were a living witness to that era.
There were so many things I wanted to ask him, but after hesitating for a while, I finally asked the following question:
—"Professor Leon... did you know the 'heroes'? The families of Zeus and Hera?"
The fire crackled.
Sparks danced in the air.
The golden, lion-like eyes that had been fixed on me lowered and narrowed, as if searching for lost memories in the burning flames.
—"Can you tell me the contents of the 'Three Adventurer Requests'?"
—"Huh? Well... it was the defeat of Behemoth, the king of the land; Leviathan, the sovereign of the sea; and the Black Dragon, right?"
—"I once infiltrated a battle against Leviathan, the sovereign of the sea."
—"What?!"
At the unexpected revelation, I let out a loud gasp.
I immediately covered my mouth and looked toward Nina, who was sleeping right beside me.
Her small body shifted a little, but it didn't seem like she was going to wake up.
Relieved, I looked forward again without removing my hand from my mouth, and the professor was smiling wryly as he shrugged.
—"Rather than saying it was me, it would be more accurate to say that the entire 'School District' took part in the battle against Leviathan."
—"What...? What do you mean...?"
—"The 'School District'... its predecessor, the Hringhorni, was a 'floating fortress.' It was designed as a base to defeat Leviathan."
My face was filled with astonishment.
According to Professor Leon, to face the gigantic dragon that ruled the seas, it was essential to have a massive floating base.
At the time, the adventurers and Orario had come to that conclusion.
No matter how large the ships were, a single move from the monster would create giant waves that sank them.
Such was the magnitude of the creature known as Leviathan, the sovereign of the sea, that the adventurers of the Labyrinth City needed a vast 'land' above the ocean just to confront it.
For that reason, with the dwarves leading the effort and the help of the Poseidon Familia, a "gigantic circular floating base" was developed.
—"So, the 'School District' itself is what remains of the
'floating base' they used in the battle against Leviathan? Is that why
the layers are circular...?"
—"It's a remnant of its original design. Also, do you remember the
'blue feathers' on the ship? Those are actually trophies: Leviathan's
'blue fins.'"
—"...!"
At that moment, all the impressions and doubts I had when
observing the 'School District' connected like pieces of a puzzle.
The academic, residential, and control layers formed circles
because the original design was that of a 'floating base.'
The 'blue feathers,' which I thought were a device to control light,
turned out to be a mystical treasure, a drop from a great monster,
which contributed significantly to maintaining the gigantic structure.
It was, moreover, a symbol that humanity had defeated one of the
imminent endings, an emblem and a banner at the same time.
Now I understood everything about the nicknames I heard about the 'School District':
The giant 'three-layer pancake.'
The 'majestic back of a dragon.'
Someone even said that the "School District" was the "largest ship in the world."
That title was due to it being a symbol of the defeat of Leviathan, the sovereign of the sea.
—"Although back then the alliance of families known as the 'School District' did not yet exist, there's no denying that the battle against Leviathan laid the foundation for what would become the academy. Many of the sailors and technicians who took part in that battle still work in the control layer, maintaining the 'School District.'"
So that was what Professor Leon meant when he said that the "School District" participated in the battle.
I couldn't contain my excitement and leaned forward.
—"Then, Professor Leon, you saw the 'heroes' in that battle! Maybe you even fought side by side with them to defeat Leviathan!"
—"Me? No, I just stowed away."
—"Huh?"
—"I just wanted to see those heroes make fools of themselves."
—............"Huh?"
My hopes of hearing some incredible feat were quickly dashed.
—"I thought I'd laugh at them if they died like dogs. Although, well, it was also true that I wanted to defeat Leviathan with my own hands and prove something to them."
—"What are you saying?!"
Nina murmured something in her sleep, and I, startled, covered my mouth again.
Looking at the professor with a confused expression, he gave a bitter smile.
—"Back then, I... or rather, 'myself' was a real troublemaker. I did a lot of foolish things I'm ashamed of now."
—"That makes no sense!"
The Leon I knew was responsible, kind, and admirable—the kind of adult I aspired to be.
—"Although now that I think about it, this story sounds familiar…"
Suddenly, I remembered something Ais from the Loki family had told me recently.
—"Miss Ais said that in the past, you were kind of a... 'rebel.'"
—"Haha! 'Rebel'? That's not too far from the truth."
Leon-sensei let out an unusual laugh, then nodded deeply, as if he knew Finn and the others well.
That Leon-sensei had once been a "troublemaker" was no longer just a rumor—it was a fact.
Still, confusion took over me, and even though we'd drifted away from the topic of "heroes," I couldn't help but ask him directly about his past.
—"So… why was Leon-sensei... uh, a troublemaker? I just can't picture it. It doesn't match how he is now at all..."
—"Hearing you say that makes me happy, but it also embarrasses me a bit. Well, why was I a rebel, you say? Hmm…"
Leon-sensei brought a hand to his mouth, thoughtful, carefully choosing his words. It was strange to hear him use terms like "troublemaker"—not only because it didn't suit him, but because it sounded almost like a divine misunderstanding.
—"There are many reasons... but the main one was that I was a 'dwarf who didn't look like a dwarf.'"
—"A dwarf who didn't look like a dwarf...?"
—"Exactly. During the journey, you talked with Nina, right? My parents are half-dwarves."
—"Ah… y-you heard that...?"
—"You'd better assume you can't hide anything from a teacher."
With a slightly playful tone, Leon-sensei said this as I tried to mask my discomfort.
—"Even though I'm a dwarf, I'm tall, with long limbs. I don't have a thick beard or much body hair... I inherited more human traits than dwarven ones. That's why, back in my home village, my fellow dwarves rejected me. They envied me, threw stones at me, and bullied me... In short, I was a victim of what today we'd call 'bullying.'"
—"Wha—?!"
—"Back then, all I did was cry, until the bullying reached my parents too. That's when I snapped. I picked up my tormentors and... well, to put it bluntly, I left them half dead. I was expelled from the village."
Leon-sensei's words revealing that he had been bullied struck me harder than I expected. I couldn't process all the information and was left speechless. Seeing him hesitate as he spoke was unusual, but I just couldn't respond.
—"After that, I became a rebel. At first, I only hated the dwarves who had mistreated me, but when I moved to other cities, other races treated me like a freak too. They laughed at me, pointed fingers... and I caused trouble there too. I wondered why I had this body, even went as far as blaming my parents, who had always been by my side, insulting them and acting violently."
—"..."
—"I made them cry."
The smile Leon-sensei gave then was one of self-disgust, one I had never seen from him before. It was faint, but full of sorrow.
"Unable to bear it any longer, I left my parents behind and headed alone to Orario—the city of heroes. Back then, I foolishly believed it was a place where "everything was forgiven if you were strong." I hated the whole world and thought I could strike down anything I didn't like."
Leon-sensei's journey unfolded in my mind like an unexplored ocean.
I remember the first time I arrived in Orario, gazing up at its massive walls and gates with bright, eager eyes. What expression did Leon-sensei wear back then?
"No, I think… deep down, I just wanted to be accepted. I wanted a place where I belonged, where everyone recognized me."
Though he spoke of painful experiences, he did so without hesitation. His story moved me deeply.
Suddenly, I understood something.
Leon-sensei was probably ashamed of his rebellious past. He felt humiliated by his own weaknesses and carried that regret. But he had never run away from that part of himself.
He faced his weaknesses honestly, without hiding or pretending, and could speak openly about them.
I realized that this honesty was the mark of a truly strong person.
"So… what happened after that?"
I asked with some difficulty. Leon-sensei closed his eyes but still wore that smile—a smile no longer tinged with self-disgust.
"I met Lord Baldr. The one who, without even furrowing his brow, granted me his 'blessing'… and I spat at his feet. After that, I began venturing into the dungeons."
"You spat… at Lord Baldr's feet?!"
"Yes. In my rebellion, I thought I was unbeatable. Back then, I was so self-absorbed I believed I could take on anyone I disliked. But… that wasn't the case."
"Huh?"
"Those who stood in my way were real 'heroes.'"
As I opened my eyes in astonishment, Leon-sensei began recounting his story with a hint of amusement, like a bard weaving tales of a past I'd never witnessed.
"It was terrible. Madness. The fools of the god Zeus caused trouble everywhere, while the women of the goddess Hera said things no one understood. Ottar, Finn, and I kept getting dragged into their messes again and again."
The images that rose in my mind were of explosions erupting all over Orario, with Ottar and Finn being flung through the air, tumbling across the ground.
…That was hard to picture.
"I don't really understand what you're saying…"
"That's only natural. But it's the truth. No matter how angry I got, no matter how hard I tried to fight them, I was always defeated. My worries and frustrations meant nothing to them—they crushed them as if they were insignificant."
As my face tensed instinctively, Leon-sensei opened his eyes. He didn't seem angry recalling those days. Instead, he stared into the campfire, as if gazing fondly at precious memories.
"That's why I kept challenging those heroes, until the voices of ridicule and persecution I once heard no longer mattered."
"—!"
"'Damn them,' I cursed, frustrated and burning with resentment, trying to bring them down. I kept chasing after those countless backs... and eventually, I was drawn into the battle against Leviathan, the Lord of the Seas."
The conversation, which had wandered for a while, now returned—swinging like a grand arc—to its essential course.
"That's where I saw the 'heroes'."
It all came back to those great heroes.
"I finally understood what the word 'hero' meant. The strength, the nobility, the unyielding will I had once despised—all of it was seared into my eyes and carved into my heart."
He said it was terrifying. That he regretted rushing in so blindly.
When he stood before the vast, churning surface of the sea, like the end of the world itself, and the massive form of the sovereign that towered above it all—he realized what it meant to face the end that sought to devour the world.
He despaired.
But even so, he said there was hope. A hope that outshone the despair.
"I saw the radiance of heroes as they saved the world I once hated."
Warriors who did not bow to the sea's roar.
Song-weavers who pushed back against destruction.
And the back of a hero, landing the final blow upon a sea dragon whose existence surpassed human comprehension.
Master Leon's awareness, which had been gazing into the vast landscapes of the past through the flickering fire, slowly returned to the present—right here, to where I was.
He looked at me—at the person who stood here now.
"The god Zeus and the goddess Hera fell to the 'Black Dragon.' But the brilliance that was etched into me... the radiance of the heroes, has never faded."
"Master Leon..."
"I believe that scene must be revived. No... I need to kindle the light of heroes who can surpass even that memory."
Now, the living witness of that era, clad in the armor of a knight, made his declaration.
Above our heads, the sky was a pitch-black canvas—moonless, starless.
And in place of the magical barrier woven by the young girl, there now appeared a fairy sanctuary, bathed in an ethereal glow.
Shimmering white fragments of light floated and danced with the sparks—like petals drifting gently through the air.
The campsite, shielded within the sanctuary, lay peaceful... crystal clear.
Leon-sensei's emotions were so intense, it felt as though they were being transmitted directly to me.
"I've always wished—both in the past and even now—that more 'heroes' would rise," he said, his gaze sharp enough to pierce straight through me.
His golden eyes, like those of a lion, looked at me as if I already stood among those he called heroes.
"Do you understand the true purpose of this 'outdoor field study'?"
"The 'Dragon's Valley'?"
"No. The objective is you."
"—Eh?!"
His unexpected reply struck me like a bolt of lightning.
"I wanted to observe you closely. To see how someone who might become a 'hero' would react when confronted with the reality of the world... and the truths it hides. To see what emotions would awaken in your heart."
"Me...?"
"Forgive me if this sounds presumptuous. But this is how I truly feel."
Leon-sensei wanted to know more about me—about Bell Cranel.
Though he wasn't a god, he sought to test me in his own way.
Without hiding anything, Leon-sensei revealed his true intentions. He was like a just teacher, an upright knight, and a hero in search of new comrades.
Fixing his gaze on me, he declared:
"Tomorrow marks the end of this 'field investigation.' I want us to go on an adventure together. Allow me to evaluate your potential."
---
Fourth Round of the Orariopia Urban Games Festival: Three-on-Three Aquatic Battle!!
The winner is—Oraaaarioooooooo!!
Gods above, what a crushing victory!! They're unbelievably strong!!
The excited voice of the commentator, Ibri, echoed throughout the amphitheater as the results were announced. It was noon on the final day of the festival, and the excitement in Orario had surpassed even that of the opening day.
"Now that she's reached Level 6, she's unstoppable," someone remarked with admiration.
"Just keeping up with her movements is a challenge in itself," added another.
"No, the fact that you can coordinate with me at all proves your own exceptional talent," came the humble reply from Ryuu.
In the port city of Melen, now transformed into a battlefield where the only footing consisted of scattered small boats, the elf Ryuu—cloaked in white, her hood drawn low—exchanged light remarks with the Amazonian warrior Aisha and the human Asfi.
The overwhelming victory against the district instructors—who had initiated the magic battle—was so decisive that some spectators couldn't even cheer, left in stunned silence.
The lighthearted banter between the trio stood in stark contrast to the astonishment of the audience, who had just witnessed a crushing defeat dealt to the teachers of the school district.
"Did… did they really win…?"
"Y-yeah…"
"That's a Level 6 rookie?"
"Just hearing that sounds absurd."
Despite their doubts, the names of Ryuu and her teammates were now etched firmly into the collective memory of the crowd.
Meanwhile, the members of the Hestia Familia tried to blend into the background. Though they had nothing to be ashamed of, the display had been so spectacular that they couldn't help but feel slightly out of place.
However, the crowd's attention was already beginning to shift—toward someone else.
"If the 'Gale Wind' at Level 6 has already made her appearance, that means the final match will be…"
"Bell Cranel!"
"No doubt about it!"
A surge of voices echoed in unison, calling out to the young white-haired adventurer.
"Bell-niichaaaaan!"
"It's your turn!"
"Do your best!"
"Come on, Bunny Boy, get out here already!"
Among the cheers were the voices of children from the orphanage and the rough shouts of seasoned adventurers. There were jeers, sure—but there were also genuine smiles. Even if begrudgingly, everyone acknowledged that the young white-haired adventurer, so often bloodied yet always rising again, was the only one fit to bring the festival to a triumphant close.
The "budding hero" that Orario held so dearly.
"Tch, what nonsense…"
"Feeling proud, Master Hedinn?" Alfrigg asked with a teasing smirk.
"He's just being loud, that's all," the elf replied, adjusting his glasses without so much as a change in expression.
Hearing the unending cheers, Allen—who had only shown up for the final match—clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"I took part in Baldr's plans... but I wish at least you'd heard these cheers."
From the commentator's booth, Hermes watched the scene with a nostalgic gaze, idly toying with his hat.
"Incredible..."
Amidst the crowd, a petite goddess who had rearranged her work schedule just to attend whispered softly:
"I never imagined... that you'd become such an amazing adventurer, Bell-kun..."
Hestia smiled proudly, basking in the flood of cheers meant for her follower. The voices continued to rise, filling the air. They dreamed of the battles of the War Game, the duel with the black Minotaur, the fierce clash during the Faction War. All of Orario called out to a single boy—so awe-inspiring that even the students of the district held their breath.
The record holder for the fastest rabbit in the world, sprinting down the path of a "hero."
At first, I thought it was just a trick of the eye. But as we continued northward, the illusion peeled away, revealing its true form.
A frigid wind blew through the air.
A high-pitched sound whistled from the rushing currents.
Grains of gravel carried by the wind pelted our cheeks, as if warning us—"Stay away from here!"
It was something colossal, capable of piercing the sky itself.
"A... tornado?"
As the wind that reached us tousled my hair, I muttered in confusion.
A colossal vortex that seemed to reject all.
A fierce, unrelenting spiral—screaming in silence with a razor's edge—as it rose toward the heavens.
It pierced the blackened sky and the clouds, standing like a column that stabbed through the very firmament.
A symbol so overwhelming it needed nothing else. A landmark so imposing it reminded me of the Tower of Babel in Orario. Yet, the terrifying part was that this "storm" made even the towering city spire pale in comparison.
At a glance, the tornado spanned an area with a radius of at least a kilometer. It could consume not just a large city but entire territories. Though its height rivaled the Tower of Babel, its scale was beyond human comprehension.
Before this supernatural phenomenon—impossible by nature or human hands—I felt the greatest impact of this entire journey.
"What is… that?" I asked in a dry whisper.
"It's the 'Spiritual Storm' that keeps the 'Black Dragon' sealed," my master Leon replied briefly.
Nina, who also seemed to be seeing it for the first time, was left speechless. As we both listened to the howl of the wind, we tried to grasp the knight's words.
"That 'wind' is the pillar holding back the clock of the end. Thanks to it, the Black Dragon remains bound here, and the world still continues to exist."
"...!!"
"Very few in the world know this information. That storm is the 'Great Wind Seal,' created at the boundary between the ancient era and the age of the gods."
Leon's words took my breath away. At last, I understood.
Although the world had declared the 'quest for the three great wishes' impossible, the clock of the end had not yet struck because that storm held everything in place.
That 'Great Wind Seal' was, without a doubt, the 'mechanism of survival' for the underworld.
"Who could have created something like that?" I asked, still in awe.
"A 'Great Spirit' from antiquity. You know well who confronted the Black Dragon and banished it from Orario, don't you?"
"...The Mercenary King Waldstein...? No, the Great Hero Albert?"
Leon nodded gravely.
"Exactly. It was one of them, or perhaps both, who cast this seal to prevent the apocalypse. Its power is so colossal that only a Great Spirit could manage it."
"Then... that seal is the last line of defense for the world."
"That's right. As long as the 'Great Wind Seal' holds, the end will not come. But if it ever weakens, the Black Dragon will break free from its prison and bring destruction."
The weight of that responsibility pressed down on me with a force I had never felt before. The fate of all Orario — indeed, the entire world — depended on that storm remaining unbroken.
I first pronounced the less legendary name but quickly corrected myself to the one that echoed through history like lightning.
"That's right. The One-Eyed Black Dragon, who flew from the farthest reaches of the west after losing one of its eyes to the strongest hero, was sealed in this land by a Great Spirit who sacrificed herself."
I felt as if something was beginning to fall into place. Although I didn't fully understand, something inside me tried to connect these scattered pieces. Yet, unable to think clearly, I couldn't quite grasp the full connection.
"The Black Dragon, blinded by the hero, descended into this valley and gave an 'order.' It is said he called upon his fellow dragons that existed in the underworld to gather to him."
"...!!"
"The gods say he sought 'food' to heal his lost eye. At that moment, when most of the dragons had answered his call and gathered in this land... the Great Spirit created that storm. That was how she sealed away the dragons — the fiercest race that had ravaged the underworld — along with the Dragon King."
"So, that means… that place is…?"
"Exactly. That's what we call the 'Valley of the Dragons.'"
The colossal, vast reach of the tornado marked the entire "Valley of the Dragons."
The outside world was completely isolated from whatever was inside the storm; there was no way to observe what was happening within.
I could only imagine it: a "dragon's garden" where countless fierce creatures lived in a primitive state, or perhaps something closer to hell itself.
(If… if truly… ancient dragons still live inside that storm…)
Dragons with power equal to the original species born from the labyrinth, but who would also have accumulated strength over the years. If there were several of those "ancestral dragons" inside that storm…
The world would be doomed.
If creatures comparable to the floor masters of the labyrinth were suddenly unleashed, nearly all of humanity—except perhaps Orario—would be annihilated.
"In 'Theory of the End' classes, we learned about dragons descending from the valley and wreaking havoc. Is that…?"
"They are the 'snorts' of the Black Dragon, sealed away in slumber. Sometimes they shake the storm and allow some dragons to escape. That phenomenon, which we call the 'dragons descending from the valley,' remains the root cause of the invading dragon problem."
I held my breath and understood.
That storm was, without a doubt, the true source of the Underworld's existence.
The "Great Wind Seal" hadn't just created this world—it remained its final defense.
"This was… the 'Apocalypse.'"
The threat of the end that the Underworld had always faced.
"At the base of that storm, barrier devices have been installed by the 'Academy' to maintain and reinforce the seal. We can't get any closer, so we won't be able to see it directly."
I recalled hearing something similar in the Theory of the End classes with Professor Adler, yet the impact of those words still hit me hard. Those devices were likely installed by masters like Leon, on missions that risked their very lives.
It wasn't just the storm.
Also, the "Great Wall" we saw on the way here. The peace of the Underworld was preserved by countless people and spirits, even if it was as fragile as the flame of a candle that could be extinguished with a single breath.
"Nina, can you take out the 'Crystal' I gave you?"
"Ah, y-yes!"
Still dazed, Niina responded to Leon's instructions and began to pull an orange crystal from her backpack. It was a magical artifact that, together with a device resembling a pedestal, she started placing on the ground.
We were on a rocky plateau, far from the "Valley of Dragons." The distance between the two places had to be at least five kilometers. We were probably at the safe limit to avoid provoking the dragons.
Although the tornado's seal existed, just thinking about awakening an "Ancient Dragon" or the Black Dragon sent chills down my spine.
That was the overwhelming sensation, the suffocating pressure emanating from inside the storm.
"…?"
Then, something caught my attention in the distance.
At the edge of the clouds where the tornado vanished into the sky, something seemed to shimmer, like lightning flickering.
(Was it just my imagination?)
Focusing intently, the light that seemed to burst in droplets disappeared as if it had been an illusion, and nothing happened.
Perhaps I was too nervous, overwhelmed for the first time witnessing the "Valley of Dragons."
Unconsciously, my body had tensed up. I let out a small sigh and relaxed my shoulders.
"Is this what you wanted to show me as part of the… 'field research assignment'?" I asked quietly, keeping my gaze fixed on the roaring tornado that filled the air with its mighty sound, like an endless echo.
From behind me, Professor Leon responded:
"That's right. And from this point… the adventure begins."
That was when it happened.
The sound of a blade sliding out of its sheath echoed through the air.
That unmistakable and majestic clang of a sword being drawn, something I had heard several times during this journey.
—──────!?!
I reacted instantly, pushing myself hard against the ground.
There was no time to question the meaning behind this act. My only priority was to escape the reach of that attack.
However, the silvery arc of the strike had already anticipated every one of my movements, barely brushing past my head.
I felt no impact and suffered no injury. It was like the touch of a gentle breeze.
The only thing it managed was to precisely snatch off Rapi's "wig," sending strands of brown hair fluttering to the ground.
"Professor Leon… Leon?!" I exclaimed, incredulous.
"A magnificent reaction. And first of all, I must apologize. From this moment on, I will follow the impulses of the dwarf blood running through my veins."
As I quickly turned after completing my evasive maneuver, Professor Leon was already there, just as always.
Right in front of me stood the "knight" who embodied justice, fairness, and humility, holding a great sword in one hand.
My eyes widened in amazement, and Niina, who had also witnessed everything, was frozen and stunned.
As if everything had been planned to push us to our limits, a crystal placed on the ground began to glow. A beam of light shot up toward the sky, as if sending our "location" to some remote place.
(That feeling… could it be Divinity?)
No way…!
Although there was no one else around us, I could sense it.
That familiar feeling of "countless gazes" I had felt both during the War Games and the great faction battles.
The "Mirror of the Gods" was now open, transmitting our image to other places.
"Bell. Draw your weapon. The promised moment has arrived," said Professor Leon.
While a roar of nonexistent cheers echoed ghostlike in my mind, he looked at me steadily.
Holding his great sword in one hand, he seemed to be waiting for the showdown between us.
"Orario and the 'school district' will decide who is superior. But using that as an excuse, allow me to face you in this adventure."
As if unleashing an indomitable spirit, the most powerful knight let out a fierce smile, revealing the true intensity of his fighting spirit, which had been restrained until now.