Of all things, I ended up on the same team as Piel.
My head hurts.
Quickly, I enhance [Twisted Noble's Dignity] using the [Amplification Orb].
'...Piel, Andrew, me, Travis, Monica.'
We don't have a highly skilled tank like Max, but the team lineup isn't bad.
We're the only group in the class boasting two top-ranked students - Piel and Andrew.
Naturally, the Hero Department isn't stupid, so they've paired us with three students from the bottom rung.
A team composed of two top and three bottom-ranked students.
'Not bad.'
Given the right circumstances, I can perform at the level of an average student.
Moreover, I've teamed up with Travis several times before.
And Monica, who's more of a passive aide than a warrior, should be easy to manage.
Andrew may have a strong ego, but we interact regularly at club meetings, and he owes me one.
I should have no trouble controlling Andrew.
'The real challenge is Piel.'
She's a wild card at the moment.
Predicting her moves is next to impossible.
In the original game, Piel harbored a sense of inferiority towards Neike but was a character with a strong sense of fair competition.
But now, I have no idea.
Furthermore, I've been increasingly mindful of Piel.
That graceful sword dance of hers...
The stunning image of Piel that my enhanced [Observer's Eye] caught still lingers.
'...I can't help it.'
Anyway, the die has been cast.
There's no way to change a team that's already been decided.
All I can do is aim to come first in this practical evaluation as well.
Rok declared,
"We leave immediately. Meet at the Hero Department's front gate at once.”
With that, he left the classroom.
The students filed out after him.
'Let's hope for a smooth ride.'
Sigh...
With a heavy sigh, I joined the students.
Aboard a carriage en-route to Fosspatil Pass, the site of the Hero Department's 8th week practical evaluation 'Dungeon Exploration.'
"How long will it take to get there? I can't tell where we are because all I see around are trees."
"Well, next week is the mid-term exam period, right? So it should end this Friday or Saturday... I guess it could take about a day at most?"
The students gathered in their teams and chatted.
From the start, Piel, who hadn't spoken a word, sat as far away from me as possible.
Travis, seated beside me, chimed in.
"We're lucky. Not just Piel but Andrew, and even Theo! I'm counting on you all again! I'll do my best!"
Travis smiled warmly and chuckled.
He would have excelled in sales in the modern world.
"I... I'll try my hardest too!"
The innocent-looking, freckled Monica added.
"...I'll also do my best. I'm counting on you all."
Andrew added in a surprisingly gentle voice.
Although he said 'all', his gaze was fixed on me.
'What's up with him.'
Did he eat something off?
After calmly receiving his gaze, I opened my mouth.
"I'm counting on you too. Travis and I have teamed up before. I hope we can come first this time as well."
Perhaps it was the powerful word 'first' that provoked a reaction.
Everyone looked at me.
Travis and Monica grinned and nodded.
Finally, Piel, who had been gazing outside, responded.
"...I'm counting on you."
She murmured and returned her gaze to the window.
It was clear she didn't want to talk any more than that.
Travis broke the silence with a forced laugh.
"Ha, hahaha. That's something we should say. Piel, you're called one of the greatest geniuses in the continent, along with Neike. Anyway, I'll do my best not to be a burden!"
"Ri, right! I'll do the same!"
Monica hastily chimed in.
"Hmm. I'll give it my all too."
I nodded, pleased, as I watched them.
Travis, Monica.
Both of them rank at the bottom academically and practically, but they're not nuisances.
They know their place well.
They latch onto those who can secure the top spot when they can't.
It might be seen as freeloading, benefiting from others' efforts.
Still, I find such an ability incredibly valuable.
It's a skill I lack.
No, it's a behavior I can't adopt.
Not just because of Theo's trait [Twisted Noble's Dignity].
Even before I stepped into Theo's shoes, I had a strong sense of pride, and always aimed high.
Of course, if there's a great benefit to be had, I could resort to being a freeloader, but I'd rather not.
Travis broke into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha, then how about some snacks? I bought some from the new hot dog place. I got five to match our numbers!”
So, we enjoyed snacks, exchanged small talk, and killed time.
During this, my eyes met Piel's.
"......"
Like before, Piel stayed silent.
She merely stared at me with a sad look.
"......"
Ah, it bothers me.
Once again, Theo's emotions rise.
To maintain my dignity, I quickly turned my head and pretended to look out the window.
Thump thump thump──
I can fully feel Theo's overwhelming emotions.
'Haaah, damn it...'
There really should be no issue.
Before, Piel seemed very keen on stripping me.
If it was the actual Theo, he might've been screaming with joy.
But it's hard to imagine Theo doing something like that, even if the emotion is that intense.
Moreover, unlike the original game, now we must navigate a real dungeon in the Fosspatil Pass, not a magically created one.
'Dungeon exploration' is a lengthy evaluation, unlike 'monster subjugation' or 'artifact exploration', which took only half a day at most.
In the original game, Neike's team spent three days and two nights inside the dungeon.
We'll probably be in a similar situation.
Of course, we'll need to sleep by each other.
Who can predict what incidents or accidents might happen during that time?
'There's no way around this.'
If I could take a [Potion of Oblivion], obtainable only through special means, I could get rid of these feelings, but it would also erase all other memories and emotions.
I have no choice but to overcome it myself.
'I need to increase my tenacity.'
Tenacity naturally enhances willpower.
With that in mind, I toyed with [Romeo & Juliet] in my pocket, closing my eyes.
The cool touch brought comfort.
...I have to stay composed.
The Hero Academy students arrived at the Fosspatil Pass late at night.
"Ugh, what time is it? We left in daylight and only arrived now."
"We just passed 10 o'clock. It took about 12 hours... We arrived earlier than I thought?"
"Um, it took two days when we visited nearby before. This carriage must be very fast."
The students stretched as they got off the carriage.
They then surveyed their surroundings.
Pitch black.
A barren landscape of cracked land and towering rocks.
'It's exactly like what I saw in the original.'
Theo thought, as he scanned his surroundings.
Thud, thud──
Rok, disembarking from another carriage, spoke heavily.
"Everyone, gather by team and line up before me."
The students, previously preoccupied with their surroundings, lined up before Rok by team.
After Rok confirmed the student count, he commanded,
"Good. Instructors, distribute the supplies to the students immediately."
More instructors than during the previous practical evaluation sprang into action.
They retrieved large green backpacks from a large cargo transport carriage.
Thud, thud, thud.
The instructors laid the backpacks before the students.
One per team. Forty backpacks in total.
The students looked curiously at the backpacks, but no one dared to open them.
Upon completion of the distribution, Rok addressed the students.
"Within the backpack you've received, there's enough food and water for five people for one day. And there are five location-tracking magic crystals."
His words ignited a buzz among the students.
Most of them complained about why they only received one day's worth.
"······Everyone, silence."
Rok raised his hand, calming the students, before continuing.
"Real dungeon exploration begins with locating the entrance. There is a dungeon somewhere within the Fosspatil Pass, which you need to explore. The deadline is 1 PM on Thursday. Use all you can."
It was a daunting task for the first-year students, most of whom were in their mid-teens.
Only a handful of students had adequately prepared, as the full details were not provided.
Students murmured in despair, 'What should we do, what should we do.'
Yet, Rok's words remained unchanged.
"Divide the crystals right now, one per person. The exploration starts in 10 minutes."
With those words, Rok turned his back.
Following suit, the instructors also turned away and vanished.
Soon after, the silent Fosspatil Pass was filled with the students' disheartened cries.
"What should we do... There really is only a day's worth of food. And only three blankets."
"······We're doomed. They should at least tell us the location of the entrance. How are we supposed to find it in such a large place. Our team doesn't even have anyone with good eyesight."
"Ah, it's so cold. Let's start a fire first. ...What? No one brought matches?"
Looking at such students, Theo smirked.
Btw the author took the title from Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'.
