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

"Nina? Should I say that it will be very difficult for me to read such a large number of books right away, or should I say that this is simply asking too much of me? It seems too much of a stretch for me..."

It was after lunch, and the meeting place was the empty classroom where we had agreed to meet earlier.

Having arrived at the classroom a step ahead and patiently waiting, I saw Nina placing dozens of heavy books on the table. The sight, so eerily familiar, made me tense, while the half-elf girl, a year younger than me, tilted her head in disbelief.

"Huh? Rabbi, you were admitted after being interviewed by the gods, right?"

"An interview...? Uh... well, I had a face-to-face conversation with God Baldr before enrolling..."

"Then there's definitely no problem! Those who qualify for the 'school district' are all people who genuinely possess the 'will to learn'! The key point is that the gods can detect whether the interviewee is lying, and if they lie, they won't be able to enroll, okay?"

Ah, so that's the admission method (examination system)...

Miss Eina once said that the condition for becoming a student in the "School District" is "the will to learn." Because the transcendent beings (Deus·Dea) can see through the lies of those in the lower realms, the gods' interviews can be considered a "perfect test of character." It is because those who are truly eager to learn gather here that the "School District" is hailed as the world's largest school.

But even having a passion for learning doesn't mean you won't be afraid when faced with a daunting amount of material...!

"Actually, I'm not very good at studying either... I'm sure you'd be quite anxious if you weren't well-prepared, right? So let's work hard together!"

very scary.

For the first time, I felt fear at the smiles of girls younger than me.

"Don't worry, I will guide you carefully!"

It's Miss Eina!

Miss Eina is right here!

This situation is exactly the same as the Dungeon Devil's Book Club!

The guild's signature product—"Fairy Break," a complete guide for half-elves.

This is the true nature of déjà vu!

Nina and Miss Eina are indeed sisters!!

"Let's begin!"

Forced to hold the quill pen, my only option right now is to grit my teeth and face the challenge after breaking out in a cold sweat.

"That's amazing!"

Outside the classroom window, the setting sun had completely disappeared below the horizon.

I lay sprawled on the table, burned to ashes, while Nina, sitting beside me, held the answer sheets for the impromptu quiz in both hands, praising me with a beaming smile.

"You actually got half the questions right on the test I prepared for you!"

"Is this... considered very impressive...?"

"Of course! After all, this is a subject you've never studied before, Rabbi! And you managed to answer half the questions correctly in such a short time!"

Unlike me, whose voice was hoarse, Nina seemed very excited.

Without a doubt... the reason I was able to achieve such good grades is definitely thanks to Miss Eina's book club.

Because once Miss Eina finishes teaching, she will definitely use a quiz to assess the results.

Another reason is that most of the exam questions were of the history type, requiring memorization and not calculation or verification. Perhaps my memory improved after I leveled up to Lv.5... No, that shouldn't be the case.

I think it was after becoming an adventurer that "remembering" what I had learned became very important—when facing the "unknown," if I didn't use existing information as a reference as much as possible, I might die a violent death—this made me develop the habit of using what I had seen before, and as a result, I successfully answered half of the questions correctly.

"Rabbi, you'll definitely catch up with the course content in all subjects very quickly if you keep this up! Wait a moment, I need to return these books to the library!"

Nina, genuinely happy for me, easily picked up the mountain of books and stepped out of the classroom. Using my half-dazed mind, I deduced that Nina had indeed acquired [ability points]... As for the person who had been waiting outside the classroom, they entered as if taking turns with Nina.

"Is it over?"

"Mr. Lyon..."

The teacher, who had flowing brown hair, couldn't help but smile wryly when she saw me looking exhausted.

"Although I could have interrupted you earlier, I thought it was for your own good, so I chose to continue... and it ended up being so late. It's all my fault for forgetting Nina's obsession with studying."

"I'm sorry," Mr. Lyon said, glancing at the already darkening sky outside.

Actually, I noticed that Mr. Leon, just as promised, came to the classroom immediately after school. Of course, I never thought of criticizing him. Nina was working so hard for my sake, and the reason Mr. Leon didn't interrupt the book club was probably because he believed that the students in the district (Rabi Frémish) really needed to preview the lesson content.

"Please don't take it to heart, teacher." I replied with a wry smile, and Mr. Lyon smiled back.

What are your thoughts on your first day of campus life?

"Well... at first I wasn't used to the name 'Rabi,' and even when someone called me by that name, it would take me a while to realize they were calling me, but now I'm used to it. Also... someone told me a lot about the 'school district,' which made me very happy."

That's wonderful.

I felt a little embarrassed when Mr. Leon nodded approvingly, and then I pointed out the things I needed to reflect on.

"I always feel useless as a student... I often feel very nervous."

"But you still managed to integrate successfully here."

"Is that so...? The other students all think I'm acting strangely..."

"That's not true. The point is that no one knows you're a 'Level 1 Adventurer'."

"!"

After hearing this sentence—

I realized what Mr. Leon was trying to say, so I couldn't help but open my eyes, which were covered by his bangs.

"I'm sure you've noticed that I've observed your interactions with the students around you several times during breaks, but no one has been able to discern your true abilities."

—Because he looks very weak.

--It feels very unreliable~

These are the comments I received from other classmates today.

In addition, I also passed by many students on the street and in the corridors of the school buildings.

But no one could tell that I was a "Level 1 Adventurer".

"As you know, there are many students in the 'school district' who have already moved up a grade. They are by no means dull-witted and blind, but can roughly estimate an opponent's strength by looking at their lower body, posture, and movements."

Based on the characteristics of "divine grace", the saying "never judge a book by its cover" is a fundamental rule for a warrior.

Mr. Lyon stated that, at least the students in the "school district" would not judge the "favored ones of God" based on their age, physique, or seemingly "weak" attitude.

The implication of this statement is, "Even so, I still managed to disguise my abilities so that none of the students noticed them."

...Just as the teacher said, I maintained a very poor "acting" performance all day today.

Conceal one's true strength (ability value).

I used last-minute cramming as a "cover-up" to avoid being discovered that I am Lv.5.

"May I ask where you learned all this?"

"...I'm just doing the opposite of what I've learned from others so far."

They are Miss Ais, Miss Ryu, and their master.

Although this explanation may sound a bit superficial, I believe it is thanks to the wise words of these people that I have been able to become a capable adventurer; therefore, by simply following their teachings in the opposite way, one might be able to act much like a novice.

In particular, the postures and manners instructed by my master—though they were for the purpose of a date—can still be used as a reference. I simply went against the various instructions that were deeply ingrained by my grueling training, and my posture became quite awkward, and my lower body was as unstable as an ordinary person's, ultimately creating a very unreliable first impression.

This tactic appears to have worked successfully, deceiving the students in the "school district".

If you encounter experienced high-level adventurers in the labyrinth city of Orario, especially those at level two or above, they will definitely be able to see through it.

Even Mr. Lyon, who was standing right in front of me, saw through me in no time.

"Concealing your strength... You really are an adventurer who knows how to 'fight back'."

I'm not that outstanding; I'm just trying my best to avoid being exposed.

I wanted to say that.

But when faced with that gentle smile looking at me—a smile without a single flaw—I don't know why I swallowed my words back.

"Rabbi, you said today that 'adventurers should not take risks,' right?"

When the portable magic stone lamp on the table became the only light source illuminating us, Professor Leon slowly changed the subject.

"……Yes."

"From now on, I will no longer be asking you in my capacity as a 'teacher,' but rather out of my personal curiosity, I would like to ask you a few questions..."

I was quite taken aback when Professor Lyon changed his way of referring to himself as "I," but I continued to listen quietly.

"I believe that no matter who it is, one day everyone will have to face the day of 'adventure'."

"...!!"

"This is not something that the person involved can control, nor is it related to whether they are an adventurer or not... What do you think?"

Lyon no longer gives the impression of a "teacher"; his eyes are sharp as blades.

Besides, how should I put it? I always felt that those eyes seemed to hold some expectation for me.

We fell silent for a moment, our eyes meeting.

With my eyes slightly widened, it took me a short while to slowly put my thoughts into words.

"...I also believe that the day when we must embrace 'adventure' will eventually come."

I recall my duel with the Minotaur.

The black giant (Goliath) I fought on the 18th floor.

Recalling the rematch with his rivals after meeting the heretics (Zenos).

Recalling the calamities, the harsh "deep layers," and the great battle with the goddess faction (Freya's Familia).

I continued, recalling all the "adventures" I had experienced up to this day, in addition to these experiences.

"No matter how much you avoid risks... if you keep choosing the safe path, you will eventually have to face the challenges."

I did not mean to deny Miss Eina's words.

For adventurers whose hearts are filled with desire and who seek the "unknown," this is indeed an invaluable lesson.

But reality contradicts this teaching; one day we will inevitably have to become "adventurers."

"In that case, what do you plan to do?"

Now I have the answer to this question.

"Prepare in advance, continuously improve yourself, and make yourself so that you won't be bothered even if such a day comes."

Having courage and being reckless are not necessarily the same thing.

However, people will eventually encounter situations where they must bear risks.

Although no one can be sure whether this day will happen a year from now, a day from now, or even a few seconds from now, in order to overcome this day, one must constantly enrich oneself in all aspects.

We must always strive to find the best solutions, be prepared, and be ready for anything.

Those who are called first-class adventurers must all be like this, and this is to avoid leaving any regrets.

I will honestly share the beliefs I gained after battling a whole group of the fastest lower-level (Flash Swallow) on my first "expedition".

"I see, so this is your answer, adventurer."

For a moment.

It really only took a moment.

Teacher Lyon wasn't looking at me with the same eyes one would give a student (rabbi), but rather as if he were evaluating "Bell Crane".

I have this feeling for no reason.

"Have you decided on the subjects you want to take?"

"Ah...yes."

Faced with this sudden question, I managed to regain my composure and nodded in response.

Mr. Lyon held out his right hand and said, "May I take a look?" After hesitating for a moment, I took out the elective registration form that Nina and I had decided on together from my bag and handed it over.

After glancing at the contents of the parchment, Mr. Lyon took out a quill from his pouch.

And they wrote some things on my elective registration form twice.

"I suggest you also take the courses 'Modern History' and 'Establishment Theory'."