Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

Hedin had once recruited him.

Lefia is still troubled by the word "adventurer" to this day.

I became interested because of praise from others, and even though I had some misunderstandings about it, I still wanted to try it, but I was hesitant.

Rafia believes many children encounter similar situations. Even if they find that the experience differs from their expectations, as long as they are determined, the outcome may be more successful than anticipated.

Lefia felt that perhaps she was just overthinking things.

Unfortunately, she still can't find what she "wants to do" or what "wants to pursue" in her life, which makes her hesitant.

"I see... Let me clarify first, many students actually share the same concerns as you."

"..."

"But given your situation, it seems that others have high hopes for you, which has become one of the reasons why you are confused."

"Yes, everyone is too kind to me."

With a wry smile, Leon listened intently to Lefia's story and offered her many options. He spread a large booklet on the table and then pointed to the contents, introducing them in order, such as the factions in the port city (Melon) and the labyrinth city (Oario) that currently offer internship opportunities to students, as well as the various career paths chosen by graduates of the "school district".

However, the indecisive Lefia could only murmur like a "unicorn rabbit," unable to reach a conclusion for a long time.

However, Lyon never showed the slightest impatience and continued to discuss future options with Rafia.

Lefia, who was working her brain out to the point of exhaustion, looked at Leon, who was sitting upright with his hands on his chin, deep in thought, without crossing his legs. She even had the inappropriate thought that "Teacher Leon is getting more and more handsome the more I look at him."

His handsome appearance was unlike that of elves, who were often described as "cold." He looked both capable and imposing, which explained why Alyssa and the others were so infatuated with Leon.

Another reason for Lyon's popularity is his chivalrous nature.

If Baldr is the god of people's ideals, then Léon can be said to be the embodiment of "knight", whose elegant demeanor alone can captivate all people.

Lyon himself is a role model for teachers. Although he is only a "guide" who strictly disciplines himself, it makes him seem very noble, which has transcended the image of an ordinary "teacher" and makes people think of the word "knight".

Indeed, his incredibly sincere attitude towards everyone makes him seem more like a "knight".

"Lefia, drink this."

"Huh...? Mr. Lyon, what's this...?"

"Remember to keep it a secret, okay?"

The negotiations have become a protracted battle, and night has already fallen.

Lefia still remembers the warmth of Lyon pressing his index finger to his lips and offering her a glass of mulled wine (Glühwein).

If Lefia hadn't met Alyssa, whose songs celebrated youthful love to the point of making people want to stay away.

Her first love was most likely Leon.

"Lefia, 'I' believe that one's own way out should be a conclusion reached only after much trouble, just like you are now."

"what?"

"So you didn't do anything wrong. Just worry and feel confused as much as you want. But remember not to let these feelings turn into laziness."

Lyon remained standing, leaning against the wall, and took a sip of steaming mulled wine, offering advice in his own capacity rather than as a "teacher."

"Setbacks that you encounter after careful consideration will make you better. But failures that you encounter without any trouble will, in most cases, not bring you any benefit."

"Mr. Lyon..."

"So think it over carefully. If you really can't come to a conclusion, then as Baldr said, spend more time thinking deeply."

He then added the word "then".

Leon conveyed the thoughts he could express to Lefia.

"When you are moved by something, remember to be honest with yourself."

"When something touches your heart..."?

"That's right, it was when I was deeply moved that I vowed to become a teacher."

Those gentle brown eyes that looked down at Lefia seemed so mature.

Yet, a radiance, like that of an innocent child, shines from the depths of their eyes.

When you decide on your path one day—

Let's ask Lyon why he aspires to become a teacher.

That was indeed what Lefia was thinking at that moment.

*

After listening to Leon's advice, Rafia decided to continue to think it over carefully.

Because she has come to understand that it is not a bad thing to confront one's own heart more deeply.

"Lefia, let's head to the 18th floor!"

"Is... uh, eh!? What are you saying!? Badain! Students in the 'school district' can only go up to the 15th floor at most!?"

"I absolutely want to see 'Under Resort' in person! Nathan's been convinced! And there are many others on my side; nothing can stop our adventurous spirit!"

"No, no! Professor Leon and the others have repeatedly warned us not to violate any of the dungeon's rules!"

"School rules and teachers' teachings exist so that people can break them!"

"That's absolutely not true! Ah, Badain! He's already run away... Oh dear, Yalisa! Come help me!"

Just as the "Special (Dungeon) Internship" was getting into its best—

Lefia will gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be an "adventurer".

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 13, Chapter 4: The Mentor, The Mentor

After completing her first "special (dungeon) internship," Lefia's guidance gradually got on track.

To elaborate further, it means establishing a relationship of trust with the "Seventh Squad".

Lefia earned respect by displaying the "ideal posture" of an Orario adventurer, which made Nano, Milia, and others admire her even more.

"When the 'Cave Labyrinth' is affected by an 'abnormal situation,' one of the emergency response methods is to go to a deeper floor to take refuge."

"Aren't the deeper you go in the dungeon, the more dangerous it becomes?"

"I have heard that there are safety points in the dungeon... but going back to the upper levels is always easier, right?"

"Because the 'Cave Labyrinth' features terrain known as 'Vertical Pitfalls,' you may encounter either the 'worst' or 'best' situation. Indeed, as Nano said, going back the way you came is undoubtedly the safest method... but sometimes there are situations where this is not possible. To be on the safe side, please keep this in mind."

"...Avoiding the 'vertical pits' should be the most important part, right? I heard that the appearance of pits is completely random and has no pattern...Is it really true that there is no pattern, senior?"

"That's an excellent question, Luke. Although the 'vertical pits' within the cave will constantly appear and be repaired, they are not limited to a specific location, but rather the pits will appear densely in different areas according to time periods—"

Whenever they finish their "special (dungeon) internship" and return to the "school district," they find an empty classroom to hold a reflection meeting and, incidentally, start a class.

The members of the "Seventh Squad" would actively ask questions, and Lefia would patiently help them answer them.

Although Luke was initially embarrassed, he did follow Lefia's instructions and later began to ask questions about adventurers and use polite language.

Although Luke hasn't changed his initial intention to "save people suffering all over the world," he no longer takes hasty approaches. He puts his current capabilities into practice, learning to move forward at the "fastest speed" that won't harm himself or his companions. To Lefia, the boy's fearless attitude is truly dazzling.

"Luke, who is often the main attacker, needs to improve his vision and skills as a forward and tank; conversely, Cole, who is more passive, needs to increase his initiative and a certain level of offensive methods; Mil needs to use his mental energy more efficiently and learn techniques related to 'parallel chanting'; and Nano should learn our (elves') 'heart of the great tree'... I can guide Nano and Mil, but it would be better for Luke and Cole to borrow the power of Teacher Leon and the others."

Most importantly, Rafia takes on a more proactive role as a "mentor".

Of course, the previous guidance had not been lacking; mainly, Lefia clearly felt the joy of teaching and the responsibility of guiding others. Yarisa, who brought tea to greet Lefia, watched her sitting in the guest room arranged by the "school district" writing furiously, and happily said, "The former top student (Lefia) is back."

Now that the "guidance" for the "Seventh Squad" is on track, the next step is to face the formal "lectures".

"—As an adventurer, there are countless people who are smarter and have accumulated far more experience than me. Therefore, what I can teach you is how the 'values' differ when you become adventurers from being a student in the 'school district.' I want to remind you that once you enter the labyrinth city (Orario), your worldview from your student days will be completely rewritten."

Lecture hall.

The bowl-shaped room was packed, with some students even standing to listen. The students' eager eyes were fixed on Lefia, who was speaking on the podium.

This "lecture," which was open to anyone and taught by a senior adventurer (Lefia), attracted a flood of applicants.

Students whose first choice was adventurers naturally wouldn't miss it, but students who didn't aspire to become combatants also came to sign up one after another, causing the school to temporarily change the location to the "First Lecture Hall" on the academy floor, which could accommodate the largest number of people.

The lecture was so popular because it was organized by a graduate of the "District" and an active Level 2 adventurer, as well as a member of the largest faction in the Labyrinth City (the Loki Familia). Incidentally, ordinary adventurers who come to recruit Familias do not hold "lectures," but Lefia, as a graduate of the "District," was entrusted with this important task.

"Dungeons are alive." Although this phrase is frequently mentioned in many theories and documents, it differs from our understanding as adventurers. We believe that "dungeons possess consciousness," and these underground labyrinths that endlessly produce monsters sometimes clearly demonstrate their intention to kill adventurers.

"...!!"

"I believe that all of you have explored monster lairs or ruins in your field research courses. However, in dungeons, it is equivalent to nature itself—no, it might be more accurate to think of it as fighting against 'natural disasters'. Even though adventurers have always been able to defeat monsters, they have repeatedly failed when faced with labyrinths."

When Lefia first heard the number of applicants, she panicked, but when she stood on the podium in front of countless students, she was no longer nervous at all.

Rafia calmly analyzed her changing emotions, realizing that she would have been incredibly nervous a moment earlier, but now she even had the energy to observe the students' reactions and continue her speech. The large blackboard she had prepared rang with the sound of chalk writing as she wrote neat Koine script and detailed diagrams on it.

"Besides having dungeons, if I had to name another characteristic of Orario, it would be the sheer number of its [Familias]. It's arguably the labyrinthine city with the most gods, and disturbances are commonplace. The most memorable line I heard when I joined was, 'Because we are the [Loki Familia], we must be careful not to be ambushed.' And I certainly learned my lesson the hard way later on—"

Besides the dungeons, Lefia also shared her experiences with Orario's Familias and adventurers within the limited time available. Her reasoning was that she intuitively felt her own experience and insights would be more beneficial to the students than information that could be easily obtained through investigation.

And this conjecture seems to be very correct.

What students want in a "lecture" is not the knowledge imparted by teachers, but rather firsthand "personal experience".

"Finally, we'll open for questions. Does anyone have any questions?"

"Will what I learned in the school district be useful in Orario?"

"Do you think the exploration (dungeon) faction and the production faction are equal in the city?"

"I feel there are many questionable policies regarding the guild's operations in the city! I'd like to hear Senior Lefia's thoughts on this!"

When they arrived at Lefia's place for the final Q&A session, the students eagerly asked questions.

This is truly a "school district"... no, this is what a "school district" should look like.

Students kept raising their hands to ask questions. Lefia couldn't help but feel a deep sense of emotion when she thought about how she had once been "one of them," and she tried her best to answer the questions.

"It's not just what you learn in the 'school district.' I personally believe that all knowledge acquired has the potential to be useful, but it must first be processed into 'wisdom.' It's just that production functions are less likely to attract attention due to their low profile, but there are many hidden talents in Orario. As for the guilds, although the security situation is indeed not perfect, I can understand it to some extent from the perspective of Orario's reason for existence."

"What are your thoughts on the world's fastest white rabbit (record holder)?"

"...I believe he is trying."

"Senior, you live under the same roof as Lady [Sword Princess], what kind of fragrance does she smell like!? Huff... Huff...!"

"It seems that some of your views need to be corrected. After this is over, please report to my room to receive your punishment."

Although Lefia gave perfunctory answers to some questions or simply smiled instead of explaining, the Q&A session still went very smoothly.

"What kind of place is the Unreached Territory?!"

"...Due to guild rules prohibiting disclosure, I cannot reveal information about the Deeper Realms. However, if I were to describe my impression of the place, I would call it 'hell'."

"...!"

"Compared to other floors, the scale and standards are completely different, and the threats are worlds apart; it's practically another world. Once adventurers venture into the 'unreachable territory,' their common sense will inevitably be 'overturned.' This is my personal experience."

As time goes by, this is the last question.

"Given the devastation happening around the world, do you think Orario's current actions are appropriate?"

This is also a question that Luke once raised.

Lefia didn't answer immediately, but instead looked around at each of her classmates who were watching her.

In order to let the four members of the "Seventh Squad" sitting at the back of the lecture hall hear her insights—Lefia, who has personally experienced loss and regret, decides to speak out what is buried in her heart.

"The world is what it is today because the gods (Zeus) and the goddess (Hera) failed to complete the three adventurers' requests. This understanding is not wrong."

"Yes, that is precisely why Orario has an obligation to respond immediately and show the world our sincerest sincerity—"

"However, on the other hand, it means there is 'no way out'."

"!!"

Lefia ignored the student's wide-eyed question and continued speaking.

"Legend has it that the male god (Zeus) and the goddess (Hera) possessed the strongest fighting power since the beginning of the 'Age of Gods,' but ultimately failed. Not only Orario, but even the gods were caught off guard. After thousands of years, the 'Black Dragon' has once again accumulated immense power."

This is one of the few memories that Riveria accidentally let slip.

Lefia, who was full of curiosity about the gods (Zeus), goddesses (Hera), and the "black dragon," was also greatly shocked after investigating the documents.

The two factions, each possessing Lv.8 and Lv.9 power, suffered a defeat.

This means that no matter how you estimate Orario's current combat strength, it is impossible to defeat the unshakeable fact that it is "Black Dragon".

The dungeon city of Orario encourages everyone to conquer dungeons.