Chapter 373
Chapter Title: The Underground Paradise, Shadow
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After the commotion.
Nine people gathered in Leo's room.
The four first-years were gathered together, listening intently to their seniors.
“So, what's this information you've found?”
Chelsea asked, tilting her head with her arms crossed.
In response to Chelsea's question, Karl spoke.
“There's something beneath Uargela.”
“Your proof?”
“I heard that students from another hero academy, not just ours, were recently dispatched to Elehem.”
The other students looked surprised at Karl's words.
“Another hero academy? Which one?”
“Azonia.”
Azonia, the hero academy for beastkin.
The southern part of the continent was indeed Azonia's main sphere of activity.
If Elehem was hiding a hero dungeon, it would make sense for Azonia to get involved.
“I heard the Azonia kids were last seen in the Uargela underground before they vanished.”
Chloe was impressed by Karl's statement.
“Where on earth do you get information like this?”
Hearing Chloe, Juen, who had been listening from the back, pouted.
“We had to wander through filthy back alleys and pubs all day for that.”
“You went through a lot.”
Karl gave his mentee, Juen, a wry smile.
Juen had suffered the most while they were gathering information today.
As the daughter of the southern Mage Tower's master, Juen looked every bit the noble lady.
Looking like such a noble lady, Juen was an easy target for the vagrants in the back alleys.
All sorts of lewd remarks and insults were a given, and some even brazenly made a move on her.
‘Well, Karl did teach them all a lesson.’
Juen glanced at Karl, who was looking apologetic, and put on a slightly prim expression.
“Anyway, while gathering information, we found out a few other things.”
Karl's expression darkened slightly.
“This country isn't what it seems on the surface.”
“Not what it seems?”
“It's exactly what you'd expect from the poorest nation. The country's situation is a complete mess. The outward appearance is literally just a mirage.”
Juen grumbled.
When they first arrived in Uargela, she had questioned the sight of the wealthy streets.
But wandering through the back alleys, she felt that this country was sick.
Hearing Karl and Juen, the other students also wore serious expressions.
A hero is not simply someone who fights Tartaros.
They are beings who lead and transform the world.
Guiding those they see toward a better place is also a hero's duty.
Therefore, as hero candidates, the story of this country heading for ruin was bound to concern them.
“Isn't there something we can do to help this country?”
Chloe's mentee, Betty, said with a worried face.
“Not right now. We have no justification. Besides, we're just first and second-years.”
Karl sighed, crossing his arms.
A heavy silence fell over the room.
“Class rep, what information did you get from the pleasure district?”
Iliana asked Leo, trying to lighten the mood.
“I also heard that there seems to be something in the Uargela underground. I was told the Elehem royal palace sent people there directly.”
The other students' eyes widened at Leo's words.
“And I also heard that the Elehem royal palace's reach extends to places other than Uargela.”
“Other places? Where?”
“The Forest of Monsters.”
“The Forest of Monsters, huh.”
Karl crossed his arms.
“Indeed, if a hero dungeon appeared there, it would be easy to hide.”
A land where the entire forest was cursed by the Monster Queen.
That place, in the distant past.
Before the Age of Calamity, it was the home of the elves.
And it was also Luna's home forest.
Since the Monster Queen was subjugated last year, the forest's curse should have been lifted.
‘Though you could only say it's truly over once all the monsters there are driven out.’
The complete liberation of her homeland was one of the things Luna wished for.
As Leo thought of Luna and gave a wry smile,
“In that case, shall we start by properly exploring the Uargela underground?”
Everyone nodded at Chelsea's words.
“I know the entrance. Let's meet tomorrow.”
At Leo's words, Luke spoke in a nervous voice.
“If it's underground, it must be some kind of labyrinth, right?”
“It must be.”
“Let's prepare thoroughly.”
Just as everyone was looking serious,
“I heard it's not a labyrinth.”
“Huh?”
“Then what is it?”
Leo said calmly.
“An illegal casino.”
***
The next morning, the group stared at the entrance leading underground, all with dubious expressions.
An entrance of unparalleled splendor.
And around it, dapper men in tuxedos were guiding guests.
Watching this, Chloe spoke in a dubious tone.
“You said it was an illegal casino. But is it okay for them to operate so brazenly like this?”
Seeing Chloe's confusion, Karl spoke.
“Considering what a mess this country is… maybe they're operating by paying massive bribes?”
Karl's words were correct.
The Uargela underground casino, like the Castle of Pleasure, is one of the pillars of Elehem's underworld.
A place that even the lord of Uargela dared not touch.
To that end, the casino provides enormous bribes to nobles and public officials to stay in operation.
‘And he said it was a lawless zone.’
It was literally a lawless zone.
And so, the nine students approached the underground casino.
“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. To the underground paradise, Shadow.”
A handsome man in a tuxedo greeted them elegantly.
Seeing the man, Karl stepped forward.
“Hello, we'd like to have some fun here.”
At Karl's words, the Shadow employee looked over the group.
Then, he made a troubled expression.
“I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen. You are not qualified to enter our Shadow.”
“If this is about our status, I think these clothes guarantee it, don't they? We're students of Lumerne.”
The status of a Lumerne student received VIP treatment everywhere.
That's why there were not a few who impersonated Lumerne students.
Of course, if caught, it didn't end with a simple warning.
However, despite Karl's words, the Shadow employee simply shook his head.
“The status of a Lumerne student does not qualify one for entry into our establishment.”
At those words, Karl looked perplexed.
‘Even being a Lumerne student isn't enough? Then what on earth do we need?’
While Karl, who hadn't expected to be denied entry, looked baffled,
Luke, who had been quiet, asked.
“What is this qualification you speak of?”
“The qualification is simple.”
Everyone tensed up at the Shadow employee's words.
Seeing the students, the Shadow employee smiled faintly and pointed to a place.
It was a clothing store.
“The qualification to enter our establishment is simply attire that befits our establishment.”
“Huh?”
The tense group suddenly looked deflated.
And they looked at the other guests entering.
They were certainly dressed splendidly, as if attending a party.
“If you return to me with suitable attire, I will assist you with your entry.”
The employee in the tuxedo bowed elegantly.
***
“No matter how you look at it, isn't this too much?”
Karl's face turned grim upon arriving at the clothing store next to Shadow.
“I get that these clothes are made of high-quality fabric, but what is with this ridiculous overpricing!?”
Karl shuddered as he checked the price tag on the clothes.
Austin responded to Karl's reaction.
“But didn't the academy give us a lot of funding?”
Karl clicked his tongue at Austin's words.
“Spoken like a true Jerdinger trainee knight, clueless about the ways of the world. This isn't about whether we received a lot of funding or not. What's important is whether you're paying a fair price for the goods! Does it make sense for it to be more than ten times the price of other clothing stores?”
As for Luke, he froze upon seeing the price of the clothes, muttering, “With this price, I could buy one loaf of bread… two loaves…” He was bewildered by a price that shattered his common sense.
It was then.
“Senior!”
Juen, emerging from the dressing room curtain, stood before Karl.
A pure white dress that highlighted the healthy, light-brown skin characteristic of people from the southern continent.
Accented with a white pearl necklace and bracelet, and wearing heels carved from ivory, Juen smiled brightly and did a little spin.
“How do I look?”
“You're beautiful, Miss Juen.”
“Oh, you've become a beautiful lady.”
Luke smiled brightly and clapped, while Austin expressed his admiration.
At that, a smug Juen gave a confident laugh.
Thump, thump—thwack!
“Huh?”
Juen looked flustered as Karl approached and grabbed her by the shoulders.
“S-Senior?”
Uncharacteristically flustered for the usually composed Juen, she called out to Karl.
Karl looked Juen straight in the eyes with a serious gaze.
“Juen?”
“Yes?”
Just as the flustered Juen's face began to turn slightly red,
“How could you pick something so expensive~! You promised me we'd save as much of the funding as possible… Keok!”
Juen's straight punch struck Karl in the solar plexus.
Her shoulders trembling, Juen stomped—thump, thump—towards the counter.
“I'll take this dress!”
Watching this, Luke and Austin looked at each other and laughed awkwardly.
Karl shot back up and sighed.
“If it weren't for her spicy fists, she'd be one of the top three beauties in the first year.”
Despite saying that, he reached out and took a hair ornament from the display case.
“You say that, but you're still buying it for her with the funding.”
Karl grumbled at Austin's remark.
“To appease her anger, I can't use the funding. I have to break into my personal savings. *Sob*. My precious money.”
As they watched Karl head to the counter with a tearful face,
“You two! What are you doing, not picking out clothes!”
Iliana, wearing a black dress with a short hem that gave her a lively feel, suddenly appeared.
“We've never picked out clothes like this before.”
Luke said with an awkward laugh, and Austin nodded in agreement.
Iliana glanced at Austin, then picked out two suits.
“Try this one on first and come out.”
“Yes, Senior.”
After Austin went into the dressing room, Iliana looked at Luke with a serious face and reached out.
“You, this one.”
“…Senior, this is a dress.”
“Yep, it's cute. It's perfect for you.”
“Here's a wig, too.”
Chelsea, who had appeared in a light green one-piece dress, even thrust a wig at Luke.
Just as Luke was about to cry,
“You shouldn't tease your juniors.”
Swoosh—
The dressing room door opened, and Leo came out.
Seeing him, Iliana's jaw dropped.
“I haven't seen the class rep in a suit since after the first semester midterms last year…”
Iliana, her mouth hanging open, said.
“You look like a complete gentleman.”
“Leo! You look amazing.”
Having grown much taller since last year, Leo, combined with his unique aura, exuded a mature atmosphere.
Watching him hook a finger into his tie to loosen it, as if it were too tight, Iliana muttered.
‘Even something so simple looks like a scene from a painting.’
She was reminded once again why Leo was in the top three most popular second-year male students as she helped pick out a suit for Luke.
“Th-This doesn't seem right.”
“Senior! You look so beautiful!”
Just then, Chloe's flustered voice and Betty's excited voice came from inside the dressing room.
A moment later, pushed from behind by Betty, Chloe emerged from the dressing room.
Wearing a light sky-blue dress that exposed her shoulders and collarbones with a slightly low-cut back, Chloe blushed faintly in embarrassment.
“Wow! Chloe! You're so pretty!”
Iliana's eyes widened as she burst out in admiration.
“You look so mature.”
Chelsea's eyes also widened in admiration.
At those words, Iliana grinned.
“Looking mature means… you look like an old…”
C-c-c-crack—!
“Eek!”
Iliana, who had gotten herself into trouble by needlessly teasing Chloe, hid behind Leo.
Chloe, who had been glaring, met Leo's eyes, blushed slightly, and quickly turned her head away.
Leo smiled faintly at Chloe.
“It suits you very well.”
“Th-Thank you.”
Answering primly with her face slightly turned away, Chloe smiled to herself.
And so, the group left the clothing store.
“Alright then, if everyone's ready.”
Karl grinned triumphantly.
“Let's go!”
***
Knock, knock—creak.
“Master.”
The man who entered the room bowed politely.
“What is it?”
A female wolf beastkin with gray hair and golden eyes asked, removing the long-stemmed pipe from her mouth.
The man spoke to her as she exhaled a puff of smoke.
“Another group of hero candidates has set foot in Shadow.”
At those words, the beastkin woman narrowed her eyes.
“And?”
Seeing her openly annoyed expression, the man replied.
“The student council president of Lumerne is among them.”
The beastkin woman, who had been holding the pipe in her mouth, paused.
Then, she tapped the pipe against the ashtray—tak!—and answered.
“You may leave.”
At her reply, the man bowed his head and left.
Creeak—!
The beastkin woman leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, rested her chin on her hand, and the corners of her mouth curled up.
“So, the God of Shadows has graced us with his presence, has he?”