Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Chapter 63 - 축하해, 용사님
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Congratulations, Hero
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By removing the countless 'cores' existing in the underground of Herba Great Cavern, they weaken the Demon King's precursor.
—That became the 'common goal for everyone' at Seraph Academy.
They had only just begun exploring the weakest among the countless cores, the D-rank mana core, yet the academy's atmosphere had drastically changed.
"This is ridiculous..."
"Is the gap really this big, this huge?"
"Fuck... red pills suck."
Everyone was like, "What the hell is this?" but after clumsily gripping their gear and completing the first exploration of the lower sector,
the 'report cards' were blatantly posted on the school bulletin board.
The rankings, coldly quantified without any cushions, caused a massive uproar.
Publicly revealing team scores on both the physical academy bulletin boards and the school community was far too violent a red pill.
Even students sensitive to subject score rankings had a label slapped on their foreheads from day one: 'This is your actual worth.'
There was no choice but to have few satisfied with it. Only a handful among the many students could occupy the top ranks, while the rest were mere extras.
Most students had no choice but to bluntly realize their position and feel displeased.
Even within that, reactions varied wildly.
Confused, angry, sad, or disheartened—
Or some felt potential, thinking, 'Next time, I'll do a bit better.'
These students' chaotic emotions turned into envy, admiration, and longing toward the top ranks,
the 'ecosystem predators,' that is.
This place was originally an academy made to train heroes to oppose the Demon King.
Those who sharply pierce through the rankings draw attention.
'Hmm.'
9th overall in the year? That's impressive.
I was nodding while looking at the academy bulletin board when our team came up in conversation nearby.
"'Stella Link'? Aren't they first-years?"
"Yeah? How'd first-years squeeze in? They haven't even finished skill theory yet."
These were second- and third-year upperclassmen who entered the academy first.
"Heard one got the Saintess's Blessing upon enrollment? 3rd in first-year S-ranks, name was Elysia or something?"
"Still just first-year rank."
"Ah—true. But she'll probably hit top-tier soon anyway."
"As long as the other first-years don't drag her down? Might get snatched by a second- or third-year party soon."
As expected, talk about Elysia comes up first.
We broke through the lower sector on day one and cleared the mid-sector in just three days, with the core right in front of us.
The top rankers are probably at a similar pace.
But they're all second- and third-year upperclassmen, way stronger than us by current growth standards.
Ah, exclude me from 'us.'
I've already mastered cheat swordsmanship that conquers the entire year, so I could smash a D-rank core anytime, but I have no intention of doing so.
I don't want to hog all the world's attention and make myself the sole protagonist.
The protagonist is already here.
The first-year board has a somewhat gloomy vibe.
The shock must have been too much for immature first-years on day one.
Sheltered kids freak out over dissecting frogs, but they had to kill fist-sized monsters like bugs.
And some even got scary attacks from those bugs.
First-years seem to have the most casualties and injuries.
Just one year difference and the tone's already abyssal!?
...Not really less bloody?
Anyway, upperclassmen seem like they'll manage somehow.
The posts are messy, but understandable.
They just want to share what they saw and experienced in the dungeon.
Everyone's excited to varying degrees.
The rapidly changing environment. The intense emotional turmoil from getting blood on their hands firsthand.
Plus the academy system praising it like heroic feats and ranking them,
maybe this is the peak atmosphere upholding 'strength' as the ultimate value.
On the flip side, maybe they don't want to think about the dead.
Convinced it's not their problem.
Easier to think those guys would've been held back anyway.
The closest to a hero party right now is 1st place 'Special Hunters'? Probably absorbed tons of year-wide S-rankers.
But these rankings are still contaminated. Need more time to see the true 1st.
The core we're diving is still way too low-level.
Rak's bright voice rings in the DM, making me chuckle.
Opening the door, Elysia and Rak were already set up with a feast waiting for me.
"Moro~! Come on in!"
Karina's here too, whole party's here.
The three pop birthday poppers at me, the last to arrive.
'Saintess looks happy too.'
"You're late, Moro. We waited!"
"Stella Link 9th place congrats party! Pop pop pop!"
"Where'd you even get poppers?"
I brush paper confetti off my shoulder and say,
"Went out quick and grabbed cake from the shop."
"Real birthday poppers, huh..."
Elysia blushes slightly, embarrassed.
"Everyone worked hard, so I made dinner to boost morale. Eat up, all of you."
"Gotta eat if Elly made it~ Even if I puke!"
"Means it'll be so good I'll overeat, right?"
Celebration party with everyone...
Me, who was stress-relieving with asphyxiation sex against black-haired busty delinquents,
now enjoying fun academy life like this.
Gives a weird sense of depravity...
"To Stella Link's 9th place! Cheers!"
We clink glasses of soda and laugh.
"We were 1st among first-years, right?"
"Yeah!"
"With Elly, it's a given~."
Karina's right. We're with the Saintess, highest growth potential in first-year.
No injury risk, and even if somehow hurt, heals in a second—huge advantage.
Dungeon runs without Elysia is unthinkable from here on.
"I barely did anything this time. Glad no one got hurt, but..."
"Thanks to Moro solidly watching our backs."
Scooping Elysia's homemade rice, I nearly choke.
"Cough! Cough!"
"Moro?! Water here! Water."
Saintess hands water quick; I gulp it down and calm.
"Y-yeah. Watched the rear."
Elysia's round ass flashes in mind, momentary fluster.
Anyway, dungeons often have rear ambushes, so me covering back is true.
Spot sneaky goblins, they make dumb "Eek, we're fucked!" faces—fun.
Grab by nape, smack 'em; party thanks me.
....
Honestly, pretty fun. Quite fun.
That fun's partly why I grinded Seraph Academy game hard.
"So strong without a sword, jealous. Moro's got big arm muscles, broad shoulders... so manly."
Rak pouts purely envious of my physique, comparing his skinny arms.
"Jealous? Bodybuilding's impossible for you, give up."
"Eeeh!!"
Huh, throwing a tantrum?
What can you do when exercise pumps estrogen in you?
"Bigger arms and bulk for what? Already mastered swordsmanship; bulking's off-limits."
"Happy with swordsmanship, but wanna be big enough to carry Elly one-armed..."
"Huh?"
Skinship with Elysia?
"You two dating?"
"Ah...!"
Elysia blushes.
"I like Rak as he is now. Can't hug him, but I can hug him tight instead? Rak's so lovable..."
"Hehe..."
...These guys. Already official?
Vibe says they've started dating.
Well, main heroine and protagonist; expected anytime.
"Treat Elly right, Rak. Or I'll do this!"
Karina playfully locks Rak's head in armpit, smothering in cleavage.
Fuuuuck~
Extra view of protagonist's lucky perv barrage is unreasonably enviable.
Use Hypnosis Ghost? On me too? Tit dive?
'Ugh, damn. Getting pulled into temptation...!!'
"E-embarrassing. Karina~~! Soft tits on my head."
"Yeah? Yeah? Treat her right~ Or I'll steal Elly ♬"
"...Rina. No more rubbing your tits on my boyfriend?"
'...Where am I? Who am I.'
Miss the delinquents.
Karina, scared by Elysia's glare, releases Rak, then locks eyes with me late.
"...? Why, Moro too?"
"If I did it'd def get weird..."
Full-grown guy burying face in Karina's bust and nuzzling?
—Definitely lewd scene. Rak's cute so it passes as gag.
But against reason, staring at Karina's tits makes me swallow hard.
"It's fine~. Not for Elysia, but I'm single~♥"
Th-then, one skinship hit~?
She's offering tit smother; can't refuse, right?
"Then..."
As I lean into Karina's embrace.
"N-no!"
Rak desperately yanks Karina back, vibe turns weird.
"Huh~?"
Huh...?
Rak yells desperately, grabbing Karina; atmosphere sours.
Like terrified I'd steal Karina from him.
....
....
"Got a girlfriend and clinging to me? Player~. Rak?"
"Rak's worried about loose morals. Karina, don't. Vulgar skinship in public."
Elysia warns sternly; weird vibe clears.
"You weren't really gonna bury your face in a friend's tits, right Moro?"
——Gulp.
"O-of course not. Was gonna sock you one."
"Good."
After Karina tit-nuzzle chance vanishes, Rak relaxes grip on my sleeve.
'Hmm, weird guy.'
Pretty silver-haired saintess girlfriend and all.
Protagonist greed for Karina too?
Infuriating if so, but reaction was desperately genuine.
Like he sniffed my hypnosis or something.
'But no signs till now...'
My Crisis Detection hasn't triggered in ages.
If Rak knew I had weird powers, wouldn't leave Elysia near me.
Atmosphere normalizes; after full feast,
when night deepens appropriately, I stand.
"Huh? Not staying?"
Elysia grabs like holding back.
"What, here? With you guys?"
"Yes, plenty space to sleep."
"What if I lay hands on you..."
"Moro wouldn't do that."
————.
Just blocked vulgar skinship saying clear gender lines,
yet says sleeping together fine.
Feels how much she trusts me, as Moro.
You wouldn't do bad things to sleeping women...
"Wouldn't even suggest to other guys."
"Thanks for Saintess's trust, but sleeping in same room's still weird."
"...Is it."
Felt like drawing a line somewhere?
Elysia looks reluctant to let me go.
"Dungeon tomorrow. Rest easy, all."
"Yeah. Night, Moro."
"Ah... Rak!"
Call Rak before leaving.
Rak, on all fours tidying futons inside, snaps head up.
"Yeah?"
"Our party officially registered at academy?"
"Yeah! Under review now."
9th overall, more than qualified.
All students can form temp parties,
but official recognition needs academy review and registration—minor paperwork.
Convenient for academy to track by party; win-win.
Official teams get dedicated buildings like clubrooms,
plus various perks, I recall.
"Heading out now? Karina's crashing here, stay and sleep!"
"Nah."
Enjoy your harem, hero dude.
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