Raising A Hero – Chapter 9

Ch 9: .Academy

“There’s no reason to return to the dorm for two weeks. So, check carefully one last time.”

Instructor Andrei urged the trainees to check their belongings right before departure. They carefully checked inside their luggage one last time and slung it over their shoulders.

The trainees headed to a nearby Demon Realm under the guidance of the instructor. He said that they would explore the Demon Realm in the 5th week and the dungeon within the Demon Realm in the 6th week.

Although it was a place where monsters frequently appeared, he said that their level wasn’t that great. In other words, it meant it was suitable for gaining experience.

From the moment they departed from the academy, the instructor refrained from giving instructions as much as possible. Instead, Rolshar, who became the team leader, gave various instructions. Perhaps because he had experience, he imitated the role of a leader quite well.

The humans, along with various other races, spent a whole day walking to enter the Demon Realm. Perhaps because it was a place where monsters frequently appeared, the atmosphere was slightly eerie.

Still, thanks to having learned survival skills in the tutorial beforehand, they diligently prepared various things. The instructor only watched them from an observing standpoint. They didn’t interfere unless absolutely necessary.

Even if a monster appeared, the trainees had to handle it on their own. Of course, the instructors would step in if their lives were in danger, but occasionally, death accidents did occur due to sudden attacks. But what could they do? They had to blame the dead bastards for their lack of skill.

“The purpose of this field training is to foster organic cooperation among team members. You never know what might happen in the Demon Realm or dungeons. Therefore, it is important for the team leader to make appropriate judgments according to various situations, and for the team members to faithfully follow them.”

The instructor added that this field training would have a significant impact on their grades, so everyone should do their best in their roles.

Rolshar seemed determined to show an excellent example of a team leader this time, as his actions and words were more forceful than usual.

Of course, they didn’t enter the Demon Realm solely for survival. Their goal was to quickly track down and rescue a missing person in the Demon Realm. The instructors had beforehand planted such fictional characters and clues here and there in advance.

So, they began their search in earnest from early morning on the second day. And in the late afternoon, they finally discovered a clue. It was evidence that someone had stayed there.

The search ended there for the second day. And a monster appeared that night. Fortunately, thanks to the night watch quickly identifying it, they safely eliminated the monster.

They struck out on the third day. And on the fourth day, they found another clue. They explored the surrounding area more thoroughly.

The team members’ appearances gradually became more disheveled. From the start, they had to abandon the thought of looking pretty after entering the Demon Realm.

Anyway, they finally discovered a doll presumed to be the target on the afternoon of the sixth day. The search operation ended there.

“It was clumsy, but it’s good that you found it within the time limit.”

Expecting professionalism from the start was an excessive expectation. They were just supposed to gain various experiences.

After all, no matter how many days or years they practiced, newbies would only be flustered when they went to the real field. Because they had to experience things in the field that they couldn’t learn through practice. …To exaggerate a bit, you could say that even the air changes completely.

For now, the trainees safely completed the 5th week of field training. They rested comfortably on the last, seventh day.

And then the 6th week began.

The academy trainees all gathered in front of the Demon Realm’s dungeon. After spending a week in the Demon Realm, their appearances had all become unsightly. Most of the trainees seemed to have a desperate desire to abandon the Demon Realm and dungeon and return to the dorm.

Of course, such a desperate desire was mercilessly ignored. After Instructor Aslan’s long speech ended, teams entered the dungeon one by one.

Soon, it was the human team’s turn to enter. Rolshar held a torch and went inside. The other four team members followed behind him. And the instructor followed at the very end.

This time, the goal was exploration. In other words, to grasp brief information about the dungeon.

Except for the instructor and Ji-hyuk, the other four had quite nervous expressions. Well, it was probably their first time coming to a place called a dungeon.

Outside the range of the torch’s light, it was completely pitch black. Team leader Rolshar also didn’t seem to know what to do. So, they just walked forward aimlessly for now.

The dungeon was very humid. Water droplets that dripped from the ceiling continued to hit the team members’ crowns. There were also many puddles on the floor. So, the floor was slippery.

“Watch your step.”

Rolshar seemed to think it was an opportunity and said a word like a team leader for the first time in a while. Of course, he soon lost his words again like a mute.

Ji-hyuk felt a bit uncomfortable walking with only one torch to rely on. So, he asked Anna, who was walking next to him.

“You don’t use magic? You’re a level 2 magician. Can’t you make something that shines?”

Anna snorted with a dumbfounded expression.

“That’s level 4 magic. It’s impossible with my level.”

“…Is that so?”

His former magician colleagues made light orbs so well that he thought it was a very easy magic. If it’s level 4, it’s still quite a high-level magic….

They endured the uncomfortable visibility and went deeper into the dungeon. The deeper they went, the colder the air became.

The first day in the dungeon passed like that. Since it wasn’t a very large dungeon from the start, other teams came into view as well.

Still, there didn’t seem to be any monsters in the dungeon. It seemed they had entered with the purpose of showing them what a dungeon was like in the first place.

The problem that the trainees who entered the dungeon faced was drinking water and food. Fortunately, they found what seemed to be clean water, so they solved the drinking water problem.

However, they couldn’t find any food, so they conserved it as much as possible. In fact, that was the main reason they had entered this dungeon. It was an education to make them realize that it was very difficult to find food in a dungeon, unlike in a forest. Added to that was the importance of securing visibility.

Anyway, the team members felt that keenly for a week and came out of the dungeon. Everyone was almost starving, so their faces were gaunt. If it weren’t for the emergency rations they had brought, it wouldn’t have been strange if one of them had died. To think that a dungeon would be such a harsh placeㅡ. Everyone thought it was fortunate that there were no monsters.

“Alright, now you know what a dungeon is like, right? This isn’t a place you can enter carelessly. You have to be fully prepared.”

Instructor Andrei gave such advice to the exhausted trainees.

Anyway, the two weeks of field training ended like that, and they were able to return to the academy safely. The trainees fell asleep as soon as they lay down on the soft beds.

And after resting well for a day, the trainees finally entered the 7th week of the training course.

It was a training that synthesized all the training they had done so far. They had time to maximize their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. Even the instructor, who had been shouting fiercely every time, became a bit gentler from this point on.

“You will soon become members of the continent. Of course, you are still lacking. So, do your best until the end.”

Ji-hyuk also realized that many changes had occurred to him during the 7 weeks.

The stamina he had constantly trained now allowed him to endure running for a long time without difficulty, his muscles had become quite firm, and his mana capacity had increased much more than before.

Now, there would be no chance of him dying easily no matter where he was dropped off.

Now it’s a bit betterㅡ.

Of course, he was still only at the level of being usable. He still had a long way to go to reach his passing score. Still, he had changed beyond recognition from when he was struggling with just one Orc during the tutorial.

…Around the time the 7th week was almost over.

Instructor Andrei suddenly came to visit Ji-hyuk. Of course, he had been expecting the instructor to come someday.

“I have something to talk about. Follow me.”

Ji-hyuk obediently followed behind the instructor. They arrived at the training ground. Perhaps because it was late in the afternoon, there was no one around.

The instructor stared at Ji-hyuk for a moment and then slowly opened his mouth.

“I thought all Earthlings were weaklings, but thanks to you, my thinking has changed a lot.”

“Is that so.”

“I think you know it too.”

Ji-hyuk didn’t bother denying it.

“Honestly, I’ve seen countless geniuses while working as an instructor for a long time. There were many who couldn’t even be compared to someone like me.”

He just listened to the instructor’s words.

“However, my thinking changed after seeing you.”

Andrei’s gaze intensely stared at Ji-hyuk.

“They weren’t geniuses. A real genius is what you are. …It was a very fresh shock. And I doubt I’ll ever see another genius like you again.”

“You flatter me.”

“No, it’s not flattery. Honestly, genius is the limit of my expression. I’m so frustrated that I can only express it that way because my learning is shallow.”

Ji-hyuk nodded lightly.

“You probably know what your level is to some extent.”

“…Well, I roughly know.”

“Are you really an Earthling? Is the Earth I know different from yours? …How can you be so different from other Earthlings?”

“I am an Earthling.”

“…Well, I’ve lived long enough to see this.”

The instructor laughed in vain.

“Then what are you going to do in the future? I’ll grant you anything you want within my capabilities. I can also get a letter of recommendation from the person in charge.”

“I don’t need a letter of recommendation.”

“…Don’t tell me, you’re not thinking of joining a guild?”

“Yes.”

That was a bit unexpected. Andrei thought that Ji-hyuk would enter a prestigious guild and run on the path of success.

“Then?”

“I’m still thinking about my future.”

“Then it’s better to think about it after joining a guild. You have to make a living anyway. …I’ll arrange a suitable place for you. A place without a contract.”

“No, I’m fine with a guild.”

“Is that so? …I’m just worried. That someone with your talent has to worry about money.”

That was sincere. The instructor wanted him to devote himself solely to the path of the sword.

“I don’t have anything to ask for right now. I’ll tell you if I need anything later.”

“Alright, feel free to talk to me anytime. I’m fine with it.”

“Yes.”

The two parted ways like that.

Finally, the trainees welcomed the 8th week.

As soon as the 8th week began, countless guilds flocked to the academy as if they had been waiting. At the same time, the trainees also entered a fierce competition.

After becoming graduates a week later, they would inevitably face the problem of making a living. In other words, it meant that they had to solve the problem of earning a living, which the academy had been in charge of until now, on their own.

In fact, there weren’t many things that newly graduated chicks from the academy could do right away. At best, it would be a store clerk or manual labor. If they were lucky, they might be hired as porters for mercenary corps, but usually newbies weren’t hired.

In the end, the best option they could choose was to join a guild. So, they were desperate to go to a better guild.

…But in fact, the really great guilds didn’t come here to promote themselves. They only received recommendations from the instructors or the person in charge, Lallop, and recruited them.

Anywayㅡ.

It might be an exciting time for other trainees, but it was a series of boring times for Ji-hyuk, who had no intention of joining a guild at all.

Second-rate and third-rate guilds spared no effort to act like guilds that were even a little higher in rank. Some were tempted by unconventional conditions and filled out application forms.

Ji-hyuk endured this boredom with the pleasure of watching such things. However, 7 days was too long a time.

The third day of the 8th week, which they welcomed like that.

For some reason, the guild promotion ended quickly. Ji-hyuk cheered inwardly.

“There is someone I would like to introduce to you all.”

The Orc Lallop clapped his hands, asking them to welcome him with applause. Breaking through the pouring applause, someone went up onto the platform.

…Huh…?

Ji-hyuk’s eyes widened slightly as he saw the person who went up onto the platform.

“It’s Hero Elraim.”

…Had she ever come here before?

Ji-hyuk rummaged through his old memories. After thinking about it for a long time, it seemed like there had been such a time. …It had been so long that his memory was hazy.

Even if other races didn’t, at least the humans were half-entranced by her appearance. She was so beautiful that it made their eyes roll.

“I just stopped by for a moment. Well, I didn’t come to preach, I was just curious about what this class was like. …Well, looking at it, it’s a bit obvious.”

Hero, Elraim.

Just like a typical unlucky fairy.