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He flipped back to the page in his notebook where he had organized his quests.
First year, June, bonus stage event.
He chuckled.
A burst of laughter escaped from Davian's mouth.
'Bonus my ass.'
Bonus stage.
Just the name suggests a sweet device to give extra rewards, separate from the main story.
But the reality is not like that.
It's a kind of tower climbing event, and each time you clear a stage, you're asked if you want to challenge the next stage.
Of course, there's no actual tower.
But the problem is that the failure penalty for what's called a bonus stage is 'death.'
'This is a really crazy game...'
It's a free choice whether to participate in the next stage and get rewards.
But once you make a choice, you either clear the stage or die.
During the second playthrough, he accepted the first stage because it was a bonus and almost died.
The reward was just an ordinary item and a few mana points.
In the third playthrough, he managed to clear the third stage.
He cleared the first and second stages without difficulty.
But when he entered the third stage, the difficulty suddenly became too high.
After barely clearing the third stage, he didn't even think about challenging the fourth stage.
Of course, the rewards got bigger as he went further.
But that didn't mean he could risk death.
But now he's quite a bit stronger than he was then.
He might be able to clear up to the fourth stage.
Maybe even the fifth.
Then he'll be able to receive rewards he couldn't get in previous playthroughs.
But after that?
Should he just give up?
A spirit in blue clothes popped into Davian's head.
Ice Spirit Glacie.
If he asked Glacie for help...
When he felt like he couldn't go any further, he could at least go one more stage.
'Yeah. This is what a bonus stage should be.'
He saved his remaining mana points for the bonus stage.
It was to allocate them according to the situation of the stage he hadn't been to yet.
As he was finishing his thoughts.
Nuves's voice was heard.
"Davian... you're up early?"
"Nuves, you're the one who woke up late. If you're up, get ready quickly. It's a common subject morning class today."
Common Subject Class Lecture Hall.
Professor Mateo stood at the podium.
"Did everyone enjoy the festival? There was an unfortunate incident on the last day, but thankfully no one was hurt. The city and the academy are cooperating to investigate, so we'll be able to catch the culprit soon."
Latia turned her head and whispered to Davian.
"Davian, what's going on? You didn't hand over the terrorist to the academy?"
"Yeah. I thought there might be a use for him later."
"Use him? What are you planning? He's the one who committed the bomb terror at the academy. And he tried to kill us!"
"Shh."
Latia, who was about to argue further, ended the conversation before her voice got any louder.
Professor Mateo's words continued.
"There's something to announce before class. Next week, there's an individual exploration assignment. You'll be scattered across the continent to explore the given areas and submit a report."
A student raised his hand and asked.
"Individual exploration... is that an assignment to explore alone? Without a party?"
"Yes. The areas will be assigned by lottery. You'll usually go to mountain ranges, canyons, forests, or deserts where human footsteps have stopped."
Another student asked.
"Why do we only go to places where human footsteps have stopped?"
"There's a reason why human footsteps have stopped there. You have to go and find out why. It's good to write the report as detailed as possible to get a good grade. And when you face a threat you can't handle, return to the academy immediately. As with the entrance exam, we will distribute scrolls to return to the academy."
Warp magic scroll.
Large-scale distribution has been taking place from the entrance exam onwards.
In addition, Davian buys scrolls privately and draws magic circles separately to use them.
However, magic scrolls are not common or cheap.
It is only because it is Elton Academy that they are being used so easily.
First of all, the material for magic scrolls must be paper made from Contineo wood that can contain magic power.
This tree only grows in the Ebetere mountain range in the central part of the continent.
After that, it undergoes a special treatment process to prevent magic power from escaping.
This process requires a 6-star or higher magic tool crafting specialist mage.
The price of one magic scroll made in this way is equivalent to several months' salary for a city worker.
"Then isn't it too random? It's easier for some and harder for others."
"Who is it? The guy who asked a question without raising his hand."
"Ah! Sorry. It's Erban Nadium."
"How old are you now, Erban Nadium."
"Huh? I'm seventeen years old!"
"Seventeen. If you hadn't entered Elton Academy, you would have already been employed as a city guard. That means you're old enough to do your part. This is an individual evaluation, but it's also an exploration of places where human traffic has stopped in various parts of the continent. Your report will be reviewed by the academy and then sent to the royal family. And if there's a situation that requires action, the royal family will dispatch troops. As I said, there's a reason why human footsteps have stopped there."
Erban scratched the back of his neck as if embarrassed.
"Keep in mind. The name of Elton Academy is never light. That goes for you first-year students as well. During your seven years here, you will do many things for the Kingdom of Alkancia. Furthermore, for the peace of the human realm."
"Yes! I understand."
"Now, let's start the class. Open your textbooks."
Lunchtime, student cafeteria.
"Exploring alone for three days. It'll be a bit lonely, won't it?"
Bellum sighed deeply.
"I heard from my sister. It might be lucky to meet a monster. Some people come back without seeing a single moving creature for three days."
"Then what do you do? The report?"
"That's why it's hell. You have to find out why human footsteps have stopped to get points."
Liber chimed in.
"Some people discover newly created dungeons, and others meet bandit groups? I'd rather discover something like that than have a quiet trip. Well, of course, if I could choose."
Luna looked at Liber in surprise.
"Dungeon? If you discover a dungeon during the assignment, do you have to go in? Alone?"
"Then are you going to write in your report that you were passing by and there was a dungeon here? Of course, you have to go in. You have to check what grade of monsters come out. You have to draw a map up to the place you can explore."
"Ah... A dungeon alone. I can't go in. I'm just going to write that there was a dungeon here."
Nuves, who was tearing apart a large turkey leg, asked.
"Then what if you meet bandits or a band of thieves? Do you have to charge in and fight, and if you think you're going to lose, tear the scroll?"
Liber shook his head.
"Sigh, Nuves. It's exploration. Exploration! You have to find out how many people there are, where the base is, and what the range of activity is. What are you going to do if you charge in recklessly? And what are you going to do alone?"
"Ah, I guess so..."
Liber changed the subject.
"By the way, have you guys heard the news? It's not like exploration practice is important right now."
"Tteobeori, what kind of nonsense are you going to say again that you're so eager to say?"
Liber, undeterred by Bellum's reproach, stretched his neck forward and focused his friends' attention.
"Demons are starting to reappear."
"Demons?"
"Yeah, demons. Those demons who were completely driven out of the human realm by the great mage Fabian Hendricks."
"Is there anyone who saw the demons?"
"Uh. Actually, it's not certain yet. But according to information gathered from the family, there are sightings appearing little by little in various parts of the continent."
Even Latia, who was usually calm, listened to Liber's words with a rather surprised expression.
"Is it true?"
"Latia. Why would I lie? It's information that hasn't been accurately confirmed yet... But usually, nine out of ten times, it's soon revealed to be true, right?"
Luna muttered.
"Demons... Real demons with horns on their heads?"
"Then would it be fake demons?"
Bellum asked.
"But how? Didn't the Great Mage say that he closed all the dimensional connection passages after driving out the demons?"
"Yeah. I heard that too. So the demons can't unilaterally cross over to the human realm, right?"
Liber stroked his chin with his hand.
"There must be a reason. There is a cause and effect for everything."
An ordinary back alley bar on the outskirts of Kanzar City, the capital of the Kingdom of Alkancia.
Exitium.
A secret space located below the bathroom behind the bar building.
Fortis Karun, one of the mid-level executives of Exitium, frowned deeply.
"What? Are you saying that Davian Naone is alive and well?"
Vicente Patrick, who is in charge of communication with the spies in Elton City, replied.
"That's right."
"Did Sophie fail?"
"That's... It's a bit unusual this time too."
"What's so unusual again?"
"This time too, the operation was perfect. Sophie's explosives detonated perfectly on the stage where Davian was. Three other organization members witnessed the scene clearly."
"...And?"
"Davian is said to be alive. Not only that, but all the classmates who were on that stage with him are also alive."
Bang!
Fortis slammed the steel table with his fist.
The table crumpled like paper and crashed to the floor.
"How many people are failing! Just to deal with one academy freshman."
"Whether it's good luck or good skill... He doesn't seem to be an easy opponent."
"I'll have to take the time to see that guy's face sometime soon."
"Are you saying that yourself, Fortis?"
"Yeah. I need to check what kind of guy he is to be alive until now."
"Yes, I understand. I'll prepare it."
"Tell Dylan and Sophie to stay quiet for the time being. And tell the other organization members to watch them both."
"They failed to kill Davian, but neither of them were caught or detected."
Fortis leaned forward and approached Vicente.
An eerie energy came out along with a sharp gaze and enveloped Vicente's body.
"Are you sure? Did you check it yourself? If something goes wrong, will you, Vicente, take all the responsibility?"
"...Ah, no! I was imprudent. I will do as you command."
"It never hurts to be careful. Keep that in mind."
"Yes!"
Fortis leaned back on the backrest again.
"By the way. How is the dimension transfer passage going?"
"It is in progress in various parts of the Pax continent. It is still unstable, so it is only possible to summon one or two demons."
"We must accelerate the securing of the dimensional connection passage. That is the easiest way to destroy the Kingdom of Alkancia and take over the Pax continent. I will add more personnel and deploy them to secure a stable dimensional connection passage."
"Yes! Fortis."
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