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

Upon hearing a "sound," I quickly looked out the window.

"...'Flute music'? No, this is..."

Faced with this unfamiliar sound that I had never heard since I arrived in Orario, I couldn't help but mutter to myself.

Unbeknownst to Miss Eina, but only I, with my first-level adventurer's hearing, could discern a faint, deep bass voice—an orc guild employee ran in from the entrance.

The other party whispered something to the counter lady, and then the other staff members also took action at the same time.

Even the few adventurers present were no exception.

Everyone seemed to have sensed something and, as if wanting to join in the fun, they all ran out of the guild headquarters.

"Excuse me, is something wrong...? Everyone seems to have suddenly become very busy..."

As I was bewildered by this sudden situation, Miss Eina seemed to have figured something out and made an "Ah..." sound.

"It must be that the 'school district' is back."

—"School district"?

Faced with this unfamiliar term... no, I feel like I've heard it mentioned before.

I remember when I first visited the orphanage on Maze Street (Daedalus Road), Ray and the others mentioned it briefly...?

"Do you want to go take a look?"

"what?"

"The return of the 'School District' is like a celebration for the city (Orario), and the city walls should be temporarily open to the public."

Return, return to port?

Should the city walls be temporarily opened to allow people to go up?

Miss Eina smiled when she saw my confused expression.

"After all, I had no choice but to go and greet them."

However, she seemed to have not yet composed herself, and the smile on her face appeared somewhat stiff.

The place where Miss Ais and I often practiced—a place Miss Ais knew of where there was a path to sneak up the city wall—was the northwest side of the city wall.

The guild ordered the southwest side of the city wall to be opened to the public.

"They're here! We can see them now!"

"It's been three years!"

As Miss Eina and I headed south from the Guild Headquarters, located in the northwest of the city, and ascended the long staircase to the giant city wall, the cheers of a huge crowd immediately filled our ears.

Ordinary citizens, adventurers, guild employees, merchants, and travelers all flock here.

I was startled by the crowds crammed onto the city wall, and managed to squeeze to the railing.

“That’s…!”

I looked in the direction people were pointing, which was southwest of the city wall.

In front of the vast port city lies a huge brackish lake.

Beyond that lies the boundless ocean.

Now, there exists some kind of "colossal creature" on that distant sea horizon, whose outline can be clearly seen even by ordinary eyesight.

"There's a city floating on the sea!?"

After I saw the details of the "giant" with the excellent eyesight of an adventurer, I couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

The metal deck gleamed in the dazzling sunlight.

The colossal structure, composed of three overlapping "large discs," looks incredibly majestic and spectacular.

As for the things densely distributed on the disc, they are undoubtedly various buildings and a "giant tower".

The most striking feature is the "blue wings" that spread out from the inorganic structure, which at first glance resemble a "feathered robe" covering the entire "giant creature," and the composition looks as if people have built a city on the back of a sea dragon.

Is that a town?

city?

Or the country?

Could it actually be... a "ship"?

"That 'ship' is called the 'Hringhorni,' and it is the largest ship in the world, so large that no other ship can compare."

Miss Eina stood beside me, speechless with shock, her eyes narrowed as if she were gazing at another homeland.

I gasped as Miss Eina explained, and at the same time, something became clear to me.

What I heard at the guild headquarters was not a "whistle," but a "steam whistle."

The sound originated from a giant steam whistle made of "magic stone" of extraordinary specifications!

Its official name is the "Maritime Academic Institutions Special Zone"—commonly known as the "Academic Zone".

At the same moment I finished hearing those words, the people gathered on the city wall shouted with ecstatic joy.

"The 'school district' is back! Aa ...

The "super-giant ship" arrived amidst this cheer.

At that moment, I was stunned, and I could definitely feel my cheeks turning red with excitement.

I was unaware that I was based on the nature of an adventurer.

It was because it was the first time I had ever witnessed the "unknown".

In short, my heart was racing because of the arrival of the unknown world.

Volume 19, Chapter 2: Campus Hell

Porto Mellen –

Located on the shore of a lake three kilometers southwest of the labyrinth city of Orario, it is, as the name suggests, a "port city".

This place is adjacent to the huge brackish lake "Lake Rolog", which connects to the ocean, and is the "gateway to the ocean" for Orario, which is located on the westernmost side of the continent.

Countless foreign ships arrive at this port every day, transporting all sorts of people and goods to the "Center of the World." Conversely, transport ships sailing out to sea are laden with "Magic Stone Products." I've heard that Orario's exclusive trade channels for Magic Stone Products are primarily through sea routes, not land routes. Given this, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that ships from all over the world converge on this port city.

Although this is not my first time in Mehren, I always have the illusion of being in a "foreign country".

I've heard that brackish lakes, formed by the confluence of fresh and seawater, smell much less fishy than the seaside. But for me, who comes from a mountain village, this land always seems like an entrance to something extraordinary.

It's like a bustling street resembling an exotic bazaar, with fresh catches displayed at various stalls. Whether it's dark-skinned fishermen, foreigners from island nations or desert worlds, even the gods say this is the so-called "City of the Sea."

Surrounded by massive walls—literally isolated from the outside world—one almost forgets that Orario is actually quite close to the ocean.

In the past, I would probably have been excitedly looking around, my eyes captivated by the scenery of the port city.

But this time it was different.

"Whoa...!!"

With superb steering skills, the "super-giant ship" traversed the fjord and slowly entered "Lake Rolog".

This scene is truly breathtaking.

As the small boat that had just set sail—actually a huge sailing ship (Galeón) with a total length of over forty meters—hastily turned around, its blue plumage fluttering in the wind, like an elegant sea dragon, the "school district" gradually approached the harbor.

Its enormous shadow gradually covered countless stone warehouses and houses built along the shore.

Its height requires tilting your neck back until it hurts to see it clearly.

That enormous ship, just one of them, occupied the western harbor, which could originally accommodate hundreds of ships.

As I stared at the dumbfounded expression, deafening cheers erupted from the shore.

Welcome back, School District!

"What kind of adventure have you been through this time?!"

"Welcome to Mellen! Newcomers, kids!!"

The group began to dance.

Everyone happily held hands and danced in the port city under the blue sky.

Since the "school district" entered the brackish lake, the cheers and applause have reached a fever pitch.

The sheer number of people gathered on the shore made me wonder if all the residents of the port city (Meyron) had come here.

Many humans and demi-humans were waving or shaking flags, and some were even playing musical instruments.

Standing in the crowd, I glanced at the children running around and was stunned again.

"This is so spectacular...it's like some kind of celebration."

"Actually, you're not wrong. The 'school district' return trip every three years is a major event for Orario."

After I finished speaking, Miss Eina, who was standing next to me, helped to explain.

After we saw the colossal ships from the city walls—

"Actually, you can still go to the port city now?" At Miss Eina's invitation, we arrived at the port city (Meren).

In reality, Miss Eina saw my eyes light up like a child's and made this suggestion with a wry smile.

Orario's entry requirements were originally very strict—especially for members of the Familias and the main gods who were considered "urban combat forces"—they had to go through a very complicated process to leave the city... except for the "school district" return trip, which would be "specially lenient".

Although I didn't ask for details, the southwest gate will be open 24/7 during this period. However, adventurers will still have to be checked by the Ganesha Familia guards when they go out, but this time, thanks to the guild staff (Ms. Eina) accompanying them, they were able to pass through quickly.

So we arrived here with the endless stream of citizens leaving Orario.

"Um... what exactly is a 'school district'?"

"Well, to put it simply... it's the largest 'school' in the lower realms that travels around the world."

Even though we have been admiring the colossal ships entering the western harbor for some time now, the cheers and applause have never ceased.

After a while, people began to move like a tide, so we followed them.

Judging from the situation, we should be getting closer to this huge "school".

"The 'school district' is a mobile educational institution sponsored and operated by the guild. During their voyages, the staff recruit motivated children aged six to eighteen from all over the world to attend the school."

"The world? All over the world? Why do this?"

"First, the sponsoring guild advocated for this. Although many people have flocked to Orario, known as the 'center of the world,' with the Gods, that alone is not enough. In addition to the city's operations... the guild is desperately seeking talent to complete the three most important adventurer quests."

Miss Eina seemed inexplicably happy to see me completely expose my ignorance.

She seemed to see a child she thought was independent still needing care, and happily raised her index finger to begin the lesson.

"Furthermore, the gods who govern the 'school district' act based on their own divine will... no, perhaps 'enthusiasm' would be a more accurate description?"

"Huh? Gods...? Could that ship be...?"

"That's right, the 'school district' is run by multiple 'families' working together, making it a factional alliance."

My eyes widened when I heard the name "factional alliance".

At the same time, I felt a sense of relief.

Besides the well-known exploration (dungeon) and commercial types of "familias," there's also a type called the "academy type." This type recruits unaffiliated individuals, especially young children, teaching them various skills and maintaining the faction's operation by charging tuition. It's also quite common to recruit outstanding children directly into the familia after their studies.

Because academy-type Familias easily establish connections with local communities, generating demand for skilled personnel and employment, academies established in various locations under the name of their headquarters are often highly welcomed by local cities or countries. However, this requires many excellent members—that is, "instructors"—making this type of Familia reportedly far more difficult to operate than other types. Among the various Familia types where emerging factions have a high probability of failure if they act haphazardly, it is undoubtedly one of the most difficult.

Perhaps it's a prejudice stemming from my background in a poor village, but I always have this stereotype that "schools" are only for the children of wealthy families, or more precisely, only for nobles. However, this is what's known as academy-type "families"—as long as you provide equivalent compensation, including money, they will offer you the opportunity to learn.

Unfortunately, there is no academic faction in Orario—no, that's not right.

Could it be the exact opposite?

In order to create this huge educational institution, are all the academy-type [familias] gathered there?

"School district" is a collection of academy-type "family clans"...?

"Admission requirements have nothing to do with race, wealth, or qualifications; the only requirement is 'the will to learn'."

Miss Eina remarked as she watched the children run past her.

"The only requirement to join the 'school district' is your 'inquiry' about what kind of person you want to be and aspire to be."

It has nothing to do with one's background.

You don't even have to pay tuition.