Ansubana’s decision was swift.
During the dungeon training, remote observation of familiars and detection of abnormal situations triggered an immediate halt of the exercise.
Most of the students who remained on the first floor were successfully transported outside the dungeon using a form of teleportation magic.
Rescue operations began immediately for those on the second floor and nearby areas, with seasoned teachers leading the efforts.
Earlier Snow von und zu Liechtenstein and their team members were rescued. Upon questioning, it was revealed that one student had gone back to the second floor to rescue two others, specifically those who had taken on the role of holding back threats to buy time.
— G-rank Gifted, Kasuya Takihito had made a hole in the wall.
However, some of the students’ testimonies were dismissed as magic intoxication when no hole in the wall could be found.
Snow’s team was left with some of the teachers, while the remaining ones hurried toward the second floor.
The training included minor troubles as well. After all, dungeon exploration is essentially a continuous challenge of dealing with the unpredictable.
Therefore, even sudden encounters with A-rank or S-rank monsters, while unlikely, were anticipated.
But that creature was dangerous.
The monster with that strange appearance seen through the familiar—it was…
“Professor Ansubana! Th-that creature from the familiar’s footage—is it—”
“I confirmed its wall-breaking action. There’s no doubt that it’s a monster above A-rank. However, its magic power—it’s not just a wall-breaker—it’s a Named ‘Designated Calamity-Class Monster’.”
“I-I knew it!”
The teachers, with their bodies strengthened by magic, ran like the wind, their faces tense with urgency.
A Named is a term for monsters above A-rank that have met certain conditions.
They are feared by adventurers as a harbinger of certain death.
Normally, they should only appear below the tenth floor, in the depths known as the “Poison Pits” among mages.
And yet…
“Wh-why is a Named appearing in such a shallow area! In the 200-year history of the Arjdhal Magic Academy, nothing like this has ever been recorded!”
“Something bad is happening… Professor Knoll, how many students have been secured with teleportation magic?”
“About 80% of the students have already been transported outside the dungeon, but 20% remain on the second floor!”
“Some noble students and a few reincarnated heroes have been identified from the roster. Snow von Lichte, Aki von Schwarz, Haru=Areyou, Natsu=Haryou, and—”
The names of those whose return had not yet been confirmed were read out.
Among them were a reincarnated hero of S-rank Gifted ability, scions of powerful noble families, and—
“Kastanita Kihito.”
“——…!!??”
Ansubana stopped in their tracks.
Not because they heard the name of the peculiar boy they had taken an interest in.
They were the first among the teachers to sense its presence.
“Huh!?”
“Wha—!?”
“Whaaaaa—!?”
The other teachers, a moment behind Ansubana, also came to a halt.
They had sensed it too.
Ahead on the broad path, beyond the shrouded darkness, something lurked.
More than sight, more than hearing, more than smell, their ability to sense magic—their essence as mages—sounded the alarm.
A chill ran down their spines.
They could only perceive that there was something incomprehensible beyond that darkness.
Unconsciously, the teachers released magic from their bodies, surrounding themselves with protective energy—an instinctive response.
Something was there.
But they didn’t want to see it.
A creeping dread approached, step by step.
A gulping sound came from one of the teachers.
All but Ansubana found their breathing grow shallow as it drew closer.
They recalled the moment when, for the first time, they encountered a monster, a creature that their own power could do nothing against.
Thump, thump, thump.
Their hearts pounded.
Their mouths grew parched, their lips dry.
The teachers began to tremble.
Step by step, the presence approached.
It was likely a form of power.
Warm, yet freezing to the bone, and above all, filled with malice.
What on earth is this—
Only one.
“Heh.”
Only Ansubana smiled faintly in the face of this power, with the demeanor of a warrior accustomed to and intoxicated by strength.
“Ah, it’s Professor Ansubana! Thank you for your hard work!”
“…Heh, brother, keep your voice down a little. It hurts… my wound.”
“Oh, sorry, Aki-kun.”
“It’s fine… You’ve always been like this, brother.”
Beyond the darkness, there were boys.
A tall, handsome boy who appeared injured, leaning on the shoulder of another with black hair and cat-like eyes.
Just the two of them.
“Wha—”
“Huh?”
“Oh my—”
And suddenly, the overwhelming pressure that the teachers had felt vanished.
As if the darkness had been dispelled by light.
But still.
“…Heh.”
Only Ansubana, a mage who had lived for hundreds of years, mastering magic, had seen it clearly.
The aura of red and black flames that had wrapped around the boy’s body.
It was something that magic could not explain in the slightest.
◇◇◇◇
“Waaaaah, you idiots, Aki and Takihito-kun, you idiots!!”
At the dungeon exit.
Aki-kun and I were currently being tightly held by Snow-san’s slender arms, unable to move.
Navi, is it okay if I shake her off?
《No, it’s not》
Okay.
“Uh, Snow, it hurts, you know.”
“Shut uuuuup! I’m healing you with spirit magic while hugging you, so be quiet!”
“Um, Snow-san, I’m not really hurt, so maybe it’s time to…”
“Idiot!! Takihito-kun, you idiot too! Why, why did you do something so dangerous?!”
Snow-san was sobbing and sniffling.
Hmm… as a protagonist, this is actually okay. Being able to worry about your friends this much is a big plus in my book.
But, why is she so worried about me too?
“I-I heard… it was a very dangerous monster… sniff… I thought both of you might die… The teachers’ magic power was shaking so much…”
“Ah, geez, I’m sorry, Snow. Look, please stop crying. I won’t… probably do something like that again.”
“Y-yeah, exactly. See, Snow-san, both of us are safe now.”
“Shut uuuuup!!”
Gyuuuuuuuu.
Uh-oh, she really doesn’t seem to want to let go.
“Hey, isn’t that…?”
“A G-rank Gifted, he survived…”
“There’s a rumor going around that he went to rescue an S-rank Gifted…”
“Isn’t it the other way around?”
I could feel the gazes around us.
Hmm, well, I’m still barely not standing out too much, so—
“As you can see, both I and Bro are alive. But honestly, I don’t really remember why we survived…”
“Oh, that. After Aki-kun fainted from blood loss, it lost interest for some reason and disappeared on its own.”
“Hmm, maybe it was intimidated by my brother’s spirit?”
“Huh?”
Snow-san froze.
She lifted her face that had been pressed against Aki-kun’s and my chests.
“…Aki, just now, what did you call Taki—Kasuya-kun?”
“Brother 《Bro》. It turns out that we’re practically best friends, close enough to call each other brothers.”
Aki-kun gave a sparkling smile.
The surrounding students froze.
And Snow-san had a look like a cat that just smelled something really stinky.
“Aki’s acting weiiiiird!!”
Snow-san’s cry echoed.
◇◇◇◇
And so.
That was how the dungeon training was suspended for the time being.
A special monster appeared that the academy hadn’t anticipated.
There were many injured, some even severely.
We, Snow’s team, were also questioned thoroughly about the incident.
Aki-kun and I got a serious scolding from the teachers.
But strangely, Professor Ansubana only called us in, asked briefly about the type of monster we encountered, and didn’t probe too much into the details.
Aki-kun was hospitalized at a place called the Healing Ward.
I, having no significant injuries, was in recovery.
In the end, that’s what the dungeon training turned into—a big incident.
About a week flew by after that.
During that time, I quietly continued my usual activities—curse-related tasks, farm work, and classes. I kept up my peaceful life at the magic academy.
Oh, and during that time, the Curse Brotherhood kept expanding its influence too.
Recently, White, Scarlet, and Kuro each formed their own sub-organizations.
White’s was a group of swordsmen called SWORD.
Scarlet’s was a group of mages called WAND.
And Kuro… well, he gathered a strange bunch of rats. Kind of overlaps with my zodiac, doesn’t it?
I think I was satisfied with how things were going.
But at the same time, I felt like something was missing.
I thought, maybe it’s time to stir up some trouble… but I haven’t made much progress with the individual storylines for Snow-san and the other main characters, so…
That was how my carefree days went on.
—Until Aki-kun stopped waking up at the Healing Ward.
Snow-san, with a pale face, came to tell me.
…Why?
