Outside, it was chaotic.
"Ugh, ugh."
"My arm... My arm won't move."
The area near the magic dungeon entrance teed with injured people.
Even the instructors, composed of active heroes up to interdiate level, had suffered various wounds.
Healers bustled about, treating the injured without pause.
The situation resembled the original work, but witnessing it firsthand... it felt even more vivid.
"..."
Not all the students had escaped from the dungeon yet.
The number of people gathered was far too small compared to the 200 first-year students.
My eyes quickly scanned for Noctar and his orc companions.
'There were no deaths in the original work.'
However, unlike the original work, the types of monsters that appeared in the dungeon were different.
Additionally, the instructors' delayed rescue of the students cast uncertainty on the outco.
Hopefully, there would be no issues.
"Ah."
Fortunately, I was able to find Noctar and his orc students. They sat calmly beneath a large tree, awaiting treatnt.
They had sustained serious injuries, but not enough to quell an orc's spirit.
I approached them.
"Did you guys encounter a flock of cockatrices as well?"
"Yep. We could have easily dealt with those bird-brained monsters if we had better weapons... What a sha."
Noctar spoke nonchalantly.
However, his injuries were quite severe.
His left arm was broken, and it appeared several of his ribs were broken as well.
I spoke sternly.
"This is not the ti to put up a strong front, Noctar."
"...Actually, I almost died. If it weren't for Andrew, that mage friend, I would have been done for."
"I see..."
As I chatted with Noctar and his orc friends, Senior Professor Rok appeared.
His serious expression had intensified.
Rok clapped his hands and announced,
"I know this is very confusing, but we'll be conducting interviews to understand what transpired inside the magic dungeon. When your na is called, co to the individual interview room. Oh, and classes will be canceled until we resolve this situation."
Despite the welco news of class cancellations, not a single student seed happy.
It was understandable, as most of them had faced near-death experiences just monts earlier.
Aside from Neike's team, Piel's team, and our team, everyone else had teetered on the brink of death.
'Fortunately, this aligns with the original work.'
I surveyed the area once more.
Neike and Piel's teams appeared to be in good condition.
About 30 minutes later, an instructor called the students' nas one by one. All students responded.
'Sure enough, there were no casualties.'
As I was passing the ti with Noctar and the orc students,
"Theo, Professor Rok is calling for you."
I was going to have an interview with Professor Rok, not just any instructor.
...In the original work, Rok had t with Neike.
Why ?
Leaving behind the surprised stares of the other students, I headed towards the individual interview room where Rok was waiting.
More than 4 hours had passed since I started my in-depth interview with Rok.
Before I knew it, it was already past 4 p.m.
"That's enough for today. It was a very informative ti, Theo."
Rok displayed more interest in than I anticipated.
In the original story, Neike's interview ended in under 10 minutes.
I shook hands with Rok, who offered his hand.
"Yes, it was an informative ti for as well, Professor. I'll take my leave now."
"Alright, be careful on your way."
Rok nodded with a satisfied expression.
That bald man certainly has so dignity.
Undoubtedly, he must be concealing sothing as well.
I don't know what it is since it wasn't in the original story, but I had the impression he could be at least the son of a high-ranking noble family.
'Anyway, I need to rest today.'
Both my body and mind were exhausted.
With that thought, I left the private room.
Afterward, I straightened my shirt collar and adjusted my overall appearance.
By now, the interviews for the later-called students should be nearly complete.
"Huuu..."
Taking a deep breath, I recalled my most pressing issue.
'Siena has shown interest in .'
As much as I'd like to deny it, the fact remains. Siena, an elf princess renowned for her beauty and popularity, seldom takes interest in others.
That's why, even after a sester had passed, she barely knew the nas of most of her classmates.
Yet Siena displayed blatant interest in .
In the original story, she was openly obsessed with those who intrigued her.
'I don't know why she's interested in .'
I rember what Siena said to Neike during their second year in the original story.
─ Hehe, Neike. You are the hero I have dread of since I was little.
Siena saw the protagonist of a novel she had read as a child in Neike.
I know the general story of that novel.
The protagonist of that novel was, as befitting a protagonist, overwhelmingly powerful.
He was a true hero who, together with his team, defeated the Demon King.
He was the polar opposite of Theo.
My sole goal is to graduate from the Hero Departnt with excellent grades.
I neither have the ti nor inclination to entertain Siena.
I'm not a pushover like Neike.
'I need to consider how to respond.'
It's difficult to simply push her away.
'Then... I need to gradually diminish her interest in .'
As I pondered and prepared to leave, I heard her voice.
"Hehe, Theo."
Siena, who had just exited another private room, approached with a smile.
"..."
Speak of the devil.
***
"So, Theo was the one who led both teams?"
The instructor asked multiple tis.
"Yes, if it weren't for him, we would have died long ago."
Siena answered unwaveringly.
"Alright, that's enough for today's interview."
"May I leave now? I'm rather busy."
Upon hearing Siena's sowhat urgent voice, the instructor nodded.
"…Fine."
Creak─
Siena imdiately left the interview room.
This was because her spirit inford her that Theo, who was having a eting with the senior professor in the next room, had just co out.
As the spirit had reported, Theo was outside.
Pretending their encounter was a coincidence, Siena greeted him with a smile.
"..."
However, Theo's expression did not convey any delight in seeing her.
Siena was not disheartened.
'After all, he's the hero I've finally found. It wouldn't be enjoyable if it were too easy~.'
Theo was the hero that Siena had been dreaming of for the past 150 years.
As she reminisced about their ti in the dungeon, Siena recalled how calm Theo had been when everyone else was trembling with fear of death.
Not only that, he encouraged his teammates to overco the crisis.
'He even refused my help.'
Witnessing his actions, she felt exhilarated. She couldn't help but smile, realizing that she had finally found the hero of her dreams.
At that ti, Theo was the true hero in every sense.
'Well, his strength seems sowhat lacking, but~.'
She could help him progress.
If he still seed inadequate after graduating from the academy, she would take him to the Great Forest.
In the Great Forest, elves had honed their skills for centuries, presenting an insurmountable challenge for humans.
"Hehe~."
Siena humd a tune as she looked at Theo.
At that mont, she was as elated as the first day she read 'The Rosdos Chronicles.'
The Rosdos Chronicles.
It was the novel that strove her to leave the great forest.
She had read it diligently every day for over ten years, nearly committing the entire content to mory.
Although it was a lengthy series, spanning five books, she was an elf.
She spent her days imrsed in the novel.
Before she knew it, Siena harbored a pure desire to beco 'Liri,' the protagonist's aide and female lead in The Rosdos Chronicles. Liri had nurtured the protagonist Rosdos into the continent's greatest hero.
'Liri' was an elf like her, soone Rosdos always relied on and trusted.
'How did Liri feel?'
Transforming a boy into a man.
A man into the continent's greatest hero.
The process of refining a rough gemstone into a polished jewel… How rewarding must that have been?
That's why Siena enrolled in Elinia Academy, known as the best Hero Academy.
Although Liri was a magic aide in the novel, Siena did not join the Magic Departnt.
The hero departnt was the best choice for her to find her own hero.
Graduating from the hero departnt didn't an she couldn't be an aide.
In fact, being in the Hero Departnt would make it simpler to monitor every move of the hero she admired.
'He'd appreciate that, right?'
Of course, he would.
Who wouldn't relish the prospect of becoming the continent's greatest hero?
Given enough ti, Siena was confident she could mold him into the greatest hero on the continent.
In the midst of these thoughts, an image of a girl suddenly crossed her mind.
A young girl who had entered the sa dungeon as him, with the sa hair and eye color.
'Her na was Aisha Waldeurk.'
It bothered her how Aisha cozied up to Theo.
'She's no match for , of course.'
Humans lived for only about 100 years, while Siena was an elf with a lifespan exceeding 1,000 years.
There was no way Aisha could compete.
After a few decades, Siena would be the sole companion by his side.
She could always request a dragon to prolong his life.
'Hehe.'
The thought of claiming him as her own filled her with excitent.
"…Uh."
As Siena reveled in these thoughts,
Theo suddenly felt a chilling sensation.
***
Bonus 2/6! Thank ya HmmSo and JDtheMad!
Enjoy the chappy!
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