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

"Don't worry about that! Lord Bader has already explained to the seniors that 'I sent him on a personal errand.'"

Nina and I chatted as we boarded the ship. The gangway in the harbor, like a drawbridge at a city gate, immediately made a sound and began to close.

This "school district," which could easily be described as "closed-door," now strictly enforces a policy of prohibiting outsiders from entering. If I hadn't become a "labie," I wouldn't just have been kicked out; I'd probably have been stoned to death.

Completely unable to make contact, until just now I could only stand in front of the super-giant ship waving my magic lamp, hoping they would notice me. At that moment, I felt like I wanted to die...

"Did you come alone, Mr. Lapi?"

"Yeah. They said they didn't know where there might be spies watching, so Lily and the others stayed at the base to keep watch."

We spoke in hushed tones as we made our way down to the very bottom of the super-ship, the control layer.

After some discussion at the base, I was assigned the task of "infiltrating and investigating".

As soon as they left Orario, they immediately changed their clothes and headed straight for the 'school district' parked in the port city.

In the end, the entire set of costume props borrowed from Lord Hermes should have been in tatters by the time of the "school trip" on the 25th floor. When did Miss Hill bring it over and fix it?

Or was it that this was something they had anticipated?

As expected, Miss Hill was absolutely not to be disobeyed...

"Oh no... I called him 'Lapi-kun' instead of 'Bell-senpai'."

Just as I tilted my head slightly and looked into the distance.

Nina, who was walking beside her, suddenly covered her mouth with one hand.

"Shouldn't we just call him Bell-senpai normally?"

"That would be too obvious, let's just call it 'Lapi'!"

"Really? Then... from now on, when we're alone together, can I call you Rapi-kun?"

"...? I... I don't care...?"

Faced with Nina's pleading gaze, I blinked and nodded stiffly.

The half-elf's classmate clapped his hands in front of his chest and shouted, "Great!"

"Come on, let's go, Mr. Lapi!"

I don't know why she would ask such a thing... but never mind.

Seeing her happily calling out the name "Lapi" made me happy too.

Nina grabbed my hand, and I hurriedly passed through the control layer, which was surrounded by exposed pipes and metal walls, then through the living area, and finally arrived at the sunlit school area.

"Guild Countermeasures Department, send more people!"

"We must fight to the end! The toughest metal is the culmination and pride of the school district's exploration! We absolutely cannot give it up!"

"Who cares about that guild's pig? Get Uranus out here to negotiate! This kind of bullying won't get away with it!"

"Let's also contact those cities that have close ties with the 'school district'! Call for their signatures to put external pressure on Orario! We need to question the guild's legitimacy!"

Okay, that's roughly what I can imagine...

The academy was shrouded in an astonishing heat, or rather, a murderous aura.

Everyone was running around, calling out to each other, and holding meetings in various places. The sound of heated discussions could be heard from the dormitory building with its windows wide open. The corridors were filled with armored racks for storing swords—the school district's specially made "mechanical" equipment—as well as wooden boxes and barrels crammed full of props.

Is this preparation for war...?

"Willpower forges the sword! Knowledge shapes the staff! And failure is our crown of glory!"

"We swear to defend the school district to the death! 'The Horn Cup and the Fountain of Knowledge stand with us!'"

"The horn cup and the spring of knowledge are with me!!"

I stopped and turned around.

There was a group of students forming a circle, reaching out their hands and overlapping each other's palms, their slogans ringing out loudly into the sky.

That was a slogan I had never heard before.

However, before infiltrating the 'school district', I had a feeling that I had heard Lord Hermes mention that phrase before.

"The slogan is..."

"Yes, that's the creed of the 'school district,' and a slogan that celebrates a garden of knowledge and wisdom..."

After listening to Nina's explanation, I suddenly realized what was going on and almost cried out in despair.

Students are willing to abandon their studies, which are meant to impart knowledge and wisdom, to defend the rights of the "school district," and it's fair to say that even teachers are involved.

Sure enough, things escalated.

A peaceful resolution is probably out of the question... After witnessing all sorts of scenes on the upper floors of the academy, I couldn't help but think that way.

Our unease grew, and we were just about to go to an empty classroom—the same classroom where I first introduced myself to Nina and everyone in the "Combat Technology Department"—for a secret meeting to sort out the situation when...

"""ah!"""

"what!"

They were three faces that looked all too familiar.

Dwarves and dark elves, and little people.

Iglin, Rachel, Chris... they are the members of the "Third Squad"!

“You, you…!”

"spy?"

"No! Uh, no... maybe it really is true..."

Iglin pointed at me in astonishment, while Reggie, as always, asked in a calm and brief tone.

Although I subconsciously denied it, what I did was essentially no different from that of a secret agent. Realizing this, I showed an embarrassed expression.

Nina froze, taken aback by the sudden turn of events, and just as the atmosphere was about to become awkward...

"Hey everyone, what's with all those awkward looks? Let's celebrate this reunion!"

"...! Chris..."

Chris, the little man, stood in the center of the circle we had formed, puffing out his tiny chest.

"Even if Laby's true identity is an adventurer, and his ears and tail are fake, he's still our partner! Because Laby's heart is fluffy and warm!"

Chris, brimming with confidence and spouting nonsensical arguments, momentarily stunned everyone, but only for a moment.

Nina burst out laughing first.

Then Iglin relaxed his shoulders, his expression softened, and a smile appeared on my face as well.

Even Leiqi's lips curled up noticeably beneath her black mask.

"We're the worst squad in history. Even if there's a genuine problem child among us, this isn't surprising at all."

"But suddenly disappearing like that won't do. It'll be lonely. A little bit..."

"...I'm sorry, Iglin, Rachel, Chris. I feel really embarrassed to have been exposed in that way."

"It's okay! We already asked Nina to check on Lappi's situation when she participated in the party experience! Even though it's turned out this way now!"

"……Thanks."

To be honest, I've always felt guilty.

Ever since becoming a "rabbit," I've felt guilty about lying to everyone.

Saying things like "keep your distance for now" or "take some time to sort out your feelings" might just be a nice excuse to avoid everyone.

That's why I'm so happy to be back in the 'Third Squad' like this.

In the entire 'school district' shrouded in a tense atmosphere, only this classroom, where everyone is together, feels so warm.

"So? What are you doing here? Since you're with Nina, this shouldn't be a conspiracy by Orario, right?"

"Yeah, I just want to know what the current situation is like in the 'school district'... What's everyone's opinion on this?"

"As you can see, everyone is just like their furious compatriots (the dark elves)."

"Student infighting isn't unusual in the 'school district,' but the last time it escalated this much was back when someone tried to poach Leon's students! It seems everyone now thinks Orario is unforgivable!"

After I answered Eglin's question, Rachel and Chris both spoke their minds without any reservations.

Chris then spoke frankly about what was on his mind.

"I don't like Orario as it is now either! I'm starting to hate it!"

"agree……"

"I can't accept it either. How can the City of Heroes be just like those barbaric countries and cities? I feel like I'm losing all hope."

After listening to what the three of them had to say, I couldn't help but shut my mouth.

Nina lowered her eyes apologetically.

Although she genuinely wanted to join the Hestia Familia, there was still something nagging at her heart. I can understand her feelings, but this time, I just can't stand by Orario's side.

To give an analogy, it's like having a flower that you've carefully nurtured and cultivated, or a piece of property that you've diligently saved up, taken away without explanation.

(As expected, it's probably hopeless to solve this all at once... In fact, it's hard to say whether the problem can even be solved at all...)

Through Nina and the others, I once again felt the will of the "school district" and couldn't help but ask myself, what should I do, and what should I do in the end? — Just then.

With a creak, the door to our classroom, which was empty of us, was suddenly pulled open.

"So you're here, rabi."

"Ah... Professor Leon!?"

A back as straight as a sharp sword, and lion-gold hair.

When we saw Mr. Leon appear in his black instructor's uniform, we couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

Like Nina and the others who were dumbfounded, my eyes were also full of questions: 'Why is the teacher here?'

"I heard from Lord Baldr that you had come here. So I handed over the Orario countermeasures meeting to my colleagues (Malik) and came to greet you."

meet……?

Seeing my bewildered expression, Teacher Leon extended his hand like a knight.

"Come with me. I have some personal matters I'd like to discuss with Lord Baldr."

"We want to go too!" It was perfectly normal for Chris and Rachel to protest like this.

After repeated apologies, including Leon's apologies and persuasion, I was able to be seen off by Nina and Iglin's farewells of "May you have a safe journey."

"Remember to tell me what you said in secret!" Faced with such conditions that I couldn't promise, I could only respond with a wry smile.

"Thank you for coming all this way, Lapi. Or perhaps it's better to call you 'Bell' from now on?"

"Ah, no, just 'rapi' will do!"

This is the tallest tower in the center of the 'school district', and it also serves as the 'temple tower' for the bridge.

I met Lord Badr, who was waiting for me in the principal's office on the top floor.

"Under Nina's guidance, it seems you've already personally experienced the atmosphere brewing in the 'school district'."

"Yes... things are much more serious than I imagined..."

"The greedy Royman and the guild's actions are far too hasty. It's so repulsive that anyone would find them offensive."

At this moment, only Lord Bader, myself, and Teacher Leon are in this principal's office.

Leon, the teacher beside me, spoke with a serious expression.

"The current situation is quite dire for both the 'School District' and Orario. We, the 'School District,' are the ones receiving investment from Orario, while Orario, in order to fulfill the world's long-cherished wish, must continue to work hand in hand with the 'School District' no matter what. Although everyone rationally understands this..."

"...The students can't get over it, right?"

"That's right. And we empathize with how the students feel. In fact, even the teachers have shown obvious distrust this time, and have even taken countermeasures first."

When I learned that the scope of the aversion was far beyond students, I was once again shocked.

Despite being terrified of hearing the answer, I hesitated for a long time before asking Professor Leon.

"What are Professor Leon thinking?"

Although we haven't known each other for very long, Leon-sensei has already made me want to become an adult like him. The thought of him possibly uttering negative comments and insults about Orario makes me feel extremely uncomfortable.