The Underground Library Beneath the Old School Building (1)
The Old School Building's underground was home to monsters. Not that my reliable comrades had all turned into enemies—no, that hadn't happened yet, though such situations could arise. More precisely, beneath the library in the Old School Building lay a dungeon. In game terms, it was a challenge spot that players couldn't conquer without a second playthrough and level 90 or higher. In lore terms, it was a gateway between the underworld and the surface that had opened 500 years ago. The four heroes revered in this world as humanity's saviors had staked their lives to seal the "Demon Realm's Exit," then piled earth atop it, erecting the academy as a seal. And to ensure no one would ever choose to "open the Demon Realm's entrance and let its denizens spill onto the surface," they left no information behind and sealed themselves away.
Thankfully(?), nothing had happened for 500 years. The heavens managed this secret. "The Old School Building became the Old School Building because of the angels' machinations, after all." The angels thought. What if some mad student decided to explore the unknown in the Old School Building's library and discovered the entrance to the underground? More precisely, what if they uncovered the "grand magic" that the four saints had crafted to ensure humanity could never reach the underworld's depths? Naturally, humanity would challenge it. With no information left by the four saints, they'd think, "Ah, this must be the trial the four saints left for academy undergraduates—a test for humanity!" Never realizing it was a heartfelt seal meant to keep everyone away.
"Even the Goddess Church can't control it." The church wouldn't want that information spreading at all. They probably didn't even know there was a Demon Realm entrance beneath the Old School Building; they'd just scream that ominous signs meant humanity shouldn't approach. The heavens, the angels, would descend with warnings. Of course, this had nothing to do with the angels descending near the Old School Building. Those were just perverts borrowing human bodies to satisfy their urges—none of them bore a "noble angelic mission to hide the Demon Realm entrance by eliminating all variables." Unless they were archangels. And the archangels didn't share such matters with lesser angels; they monitored the Old School Building indirectly. Through the magic panels worn on instructors' wrists.
"We briefly possess the dreams of instructors devout in their faith to the goddess, then check their instructor reports through their bodies." The archangels possessed the faithful of the Goddess Church to guide humanity's path. Naturally, they monitored Old School Building info in near real-time, including reports from Instructor Esta and Instructor Cardisha Alreister. What if we asked those two not to do it? Couldn't we slip past the angels' watch, open the door to the Old School Building's underground, and conquer it easily?
"That's impossible." It had been possible in-game. Because those opening the Old School Building's door and descending were "Heaven's Sentinels." More precisely, people with devout faith in the Goddess Church, firm believers that heaven was right and the Demon Realm wrong. That's why the player and comrades could breach the final seal and "invade" the Demon Realm. At least in-game, you couldn't realize the angels—or goddesses—had ulterior motives, even if they were gender-bent angel girls. You just thought, "Ah, they're using the player and comrades as vanguards to exterminate demons." So when the protagonist and allies tackled the Old School Building's underground library—the so-called High Library—everyone cheered them on without obstruction.
But now?
"It'll make them uneasy." Judgment would waver. The Ash Witch's disciple. Gale. The princess of the Di Ershi Empire. "The last one's uncertain, but compared to other princesses, she's no major variable." On this continent, not worshiping the Goddess Church bordered on heresy. The world forgave mere non-belief, as long as you didn't outright deny or decry the goddess. And Phoenix Ludbekia. A sudden arrival. Even heaven couldn't pinpoint his origin. Or maybe they could. But speculation—"
"He's not from the Demon Realm; they must think he's some extraterrestrial they overlooked." Probably. From a planetary, cosmic view, my appearance wasn't rising from the underworld but crashing like a comet from space. If they'd observed my immediate actions upon arrival, it would look like an alien absorbing earthly knowledge to survive. In other words—not a denizen of the depths (what they call demons), but an alien. So they'd worry. What if he conquers the High Library and flings open the sealed Demon Realm entrance? If caught, the angels would intervene. Whether an archangel clips its wings to possess an academy undergrad, or the devout minion of the Goddess Church—the "Saintess"—infiltrates as a regular student. They'd approach somehow, so we had to hide our High Library visits. The first step: recruit the instructors without relying on their help. And to convince them, I'd created a situation where they could remove their magic panels—the ones signaling danger to staff if unworn for too long. Namely, massages.
At certain times, the two instructors received massages from Phoenix, removing their panels briefly to avoid bothering others. The first time, they'd panic. The second, suspect. By the third, mid-massage with panels on, a fake cough and thought of consideration hits. From the fourth or fifth, it becomes routine—they set panels aside for an hour without suspicion. Even if we talked during that hour.
A short while later.
"So, you're saying there's a secret dungeon-like thing under the Old School Building?"
"Yes."
I'd called Instructor Cardisha Alreister back after her academy report, and she sat beside Instructor Esta, listening intently with a serious face.
"Why keep it secret from the academy?"
Instructor Cardisha pointed to her empty left hand. Like Esta's, during "massage time" as far as outsiders knew, no contacts came without the magic panel.
"We don't know the threats inside, but we want to monopolize the experience points from it."
"Experience points, huh."
Game term, but not exclusive to games.
"Fair enough. If it's swarming with A-rank monsters, that combat experience isn't easy to come by."
How often do you fight A-rank monsters in life? We hit them once a month in special class training, monopolizing northern Ludbekia Marquisate's monster-infested zone for three A-ranks. No other trainee group faced A-ranks in those three sessions. They weren't ready, and instructors rejected proposals outright.
"If the High Library is what I think, staff might turn it into an academy-shared dungeon."
"......."
"Right? Secret means monopoly; known means 'special privilege.'"
"Hmm...."
"Still speculation, but fighting A-rank or higher alone makes it invaluable. Even without mana stones, the combat experience against high-level foes..."
"And if those monsters' descendants still live after 500 years, it's a chance to study weaknesses."
Instructor Esta cut in, sounding deeply regretful.
"500 years ago... the Age of Savagery. When the Demon King lived, humanity flailed to survive. Those era's monsters exist as 'illusions' in the High Library?"
"Yes."
This was the spoiler second-playthrough players uncovered.
"The High Library seems to hold 'trials' left by the four saints."
Rephrased for this era's understanding.
"Perhaps an illusory space where academy successors experience the saints' trials, forging heroes unbeatable against any monster."
Pretty convincing, right?
"A trial space the academy founders made for posterity."
Slightly off reality.
"I'd like to name it Seven Star Towers-Pandemonium."
"...Fine. Got it."
Instructor Cardisha grinned, pointing at Esta.
"So she can't, but I can?"
"Yes."
"......."
Instructor Esta pouted.
"S-rank and still jealous, huh."
"Hey, I'll join as operator~"
High Library. Library.
"If Instructor Cardisha studies magic engineering there, no one'll suspect library access."
Academy top starting grad student mode in first-year summer break? Normal.
"But... those trials, aren't they just legend? Your hunch?"
"If no trials exist, I'll quietly become a grad student."
"...Oho."
Deal struck.
"Phoenix, undergrad? I'll prep a thesis topic. Fetching your library pass now."
I'd bet a grad spot to open the Demon Realm gate. Failure? Just become a grad student.