The Old School Building's Underground Library (2)
"So, you're saying there's some kind of 'provision' left behind by the Four Founders in the basement of the Old School Building, for the sake of future generations?"
"You're talking about a seal that manifests the monsters they fought five hundred years ago through illusions?"
The moment I explained the situation to Unia and Rydmila Lionheart after securing the instructors' cooperation, the reactions came flying.
"I see. So the legend the Four Founders left for academy students was over there. This place really is a cradle for raising heroes, not some marriage market where you hunt for a spouse after graduation."
Rydmila Lionheart reacted pretty positively to the part about the academy's legend. She'd always been somewhat critical of Esdinas Academy's reality ever since she first arrived—or even before that—so it was no surprise she was hooked on anything that let her glimpse the academy's history.
"There's a separate space underground?"
Unia, meanwhile, zeroed in on the magical phenomenon—the 'illusions'—with keen interest.
"Is it a sealed realm you can't access by normal means? Or a dungeon stretching out underground? Spatial compression? A dungeon? Or something completely different? Maybe an endless staircase leading down into the depths!"
It wasn't so much excitement for exploration as fascination with the magic likely set up by the Sage among the Four Founders. She seemed thrilled at the chance to witness it firsthand.
The Hero, the Emperor, the Sage, the Saintess. And on a similar level, but one who didn't join their sealing of the demon realm and stayed on the surface to carry on their legacy in preparation for the future: the Witch, now known as the Ash Witch, Unia's mentor.
Unia herself had no idea. The Ash Witch's legacy was one of those things only a handful knew about, with info so restricted it could be counted on one hand.
At any rate, from a modern perspective, those Four Founders were SS-rank, Grand Masters in their respective fields. Beings who transcended humanity. Each one had surpassed level 99—the voluntary human limit—and pushed past 100.
They'd blocked the entrance to the demon realm with their own bodies, then created a massive dungeon of illusions in the cavern above their remains. Just how brutal would the difficulty be?
"Hey, Phoenix."
Evangeline di Ershi—presumed DLC character—raised her hand.
"Does that thing make money?"
"That's exactly the question I wanted to hear, Evangeline."
"D-don't listen! I mean, you can listen, but don't take it seriously in that pose!"
I scooped her up in an aggressive pose straight out of some extreme Western pO—nope, she let out a piercing shriek.
But her point was so crucial that I couldn't help praising her for it.
"Who the hell praises someone by doing this?!"
"Me. And I didn't say it out loud, did I?"
"You're staring at me with that 'good girl, ooh' look—what kinda nonsense is that?!"
"Oh, it's showing on my face?"
I set Evangeline back down and hardened my expression.
"We academy students have a duty to challenge the trials of our founders. As freshmen who'll lead the future in our fields—heroes in the making!"
"Suddenly going on about heroism feels off."
"That's what your fervent academy instructors would say. At least it's better than the ones preaching you gotta spend three years scouting prime baby-makers for after graduation."
"Hmm..."
"As long as no one's forcing responsibility or duty onto us, claiming to be a hero ourselves isn't so bad."
Rydmila Lionheart raised her hand quietly.
"It's just a matter of becoming the best in our industries, right? Especially with this unprecedented crisis we're facing."
"You're talking about the angels, right?"
"Yes, Miss Unia. Of course, context suggests angels are empowered by the Goddess Church, and the ones we've seen so far are probably twisted by mortal influences..."
Twisted minds. A roundabout way of saying 'those angels are lily-obsessed flat-chest flatteners.' In truth, they might have normal psyches, but I kept quiet to avoid shattering Rydmila's worldview.
Some harsh truths only stick after multiple personal encounters. Angels would keep descending from the heavens, after all.
"So..."
"So, does it make money?"
"...That's the important part, huh?"
"Obviously. Risk our necks against five-hundred-year-old monsters for no pay? Sounds dangerous. And most importantly..."
Evangeline clutched her throat dramatically, scowling.
"They say illusions come with the pain of death, right?"
"Yep. It's a trial from the Four Founders, after all."
"So we get nothing out of it? Just stumble out with experience fighting ancient monsters?"
"Pretty much?"
"I condemn you, Phoenix!!"
Evangeline thrust her hand skyward, bellowing.
"Pay up for unpaid labor!"
"We haven't even started working—it's a trial—but if you want compensation, I can provide it."
"Wha, really?"
"Duh. You think I'd drag 'comrades' into danger without paying them?"
"...Saying it like that makes me sound like the bad guy!"
Evangeline flushed red, yelling.
"I just meant I'd rather spend break on part-time gigs or monster hunts—stuff that earns scholarship money for next semester...!"
"Play your cards right, and you could be rolling in cash."
"...For real?"
"Yeah. Hear me out first. It's a hero's trial, right? What do you think waits at the end?"
"...What?"
"Dunno."
I actually did. On 100% clear, I conquered the Seven Star Towers' hidden secret—the final uncharted piece. Then headed to the demon realm.
Before that, I met 'them.'
"Maybe we get to meet the founders themselves?"
"...Oh."
Even as a DLC character, the lure of meeting five-hundred-year-old heroes up close was irresistible.
"Think about it. The monsters they fought appear as illusions. Beat 'em and go deeper—bam, you meet the originals, right?"
"They're... alive?"
"Probably not."
Petri-fied, but close enough.
"But even if dead, their souls, remnants, or soul fragments must linger."
"Whoa..."
"Just spinning tales from that convo to others? You'd rake in fortunes."
"...I see."
Evangeline snapped her fingers.
"No tangible loot, but repackage the experience, create new value—that turns into money, huh?"
"Bingo."
"And it's not just that, Evangeline."
Unia scanned the room with a serious face.
"If we can transfer illusions or personal experiences to others, the applications are endless—just mastering that magic alone. If it really exists...!"
"Fighting five-hundred-year-old monsters is the same."
Rydmila Lionheart chimed in.
"Beasts the heroes themselves battled, now gone from the world. Facing them is an honor. And A-rank monsters? The experience alone is huge."
"Definitely a win. But hey."
Evangeline raised her hand again.
"How do we know it even exists?"
"Well..."
"Can't just say 'Phoenix says so' for something this risky, right?"
"It's dangerous. Extremely."
"And you're telling us anyway?"
"You're comrades."
"Ugh... Can't back out after that."
"All questions answered, Evangeline?"
"One last one."
She asked with a grave look.
"You told us to wear swimsuits."
"Did I?"
"You already know what's inside those 'illusions,' don't you?"
"......."
DLC senses, maybe. Unlike the two vanilla characters, Evangeline pierced straight to the heart of it.
Listen well. If you must spoil but can't reveal sources, just say that.
A foolproof method.
"Not the time to say yet."
"What?"
"I see... The time hasn't come."
Dodge.
"What kinda answer is that?!"
"Won't give you the one you want... Kidding, kidding."
No.
"Truth time."
Lay it bare.
"I'm a divine apostle descended to this land with humanity's salvation in mind."
A (demon) god's apostle.
"Guiding you through the heroes' trials to avert the apocalypse bearing down on mankind."