Walking The Rope (5)

Outside, it was chaotic.

"Ugh, ugh."

"My arm... My arm won't move."

The area near the magic dungeon entrance teemed with injured people.

Even the instructors, composed of active heroes up to intermediate level, had suffered various wounds.

Healers bustled about, treating the injured without pause.

The situation resembled the original work, but witnessing it firsthand... it felt even more vivid.

"..."

Not all the students had escaped from the dungeon yet.

The number of people gathered was far too small compared to the 200 first-year students.

My eyes quickly scanned for Noctar and his orc companions.

'There were no deaths in the original work.'

However, unlike the original work, the types of monsters that appeared in the dungeon were different.

Additionally, the instructors' delayed rescue of the students cast uncertainty on the outcome.

Hopefully, there would be no issues.

"Ah."

Fortunately, I was able to find Noctar and his orc students. They sat calmly beneath a large tree, awaiting treatment.

They had sustained serious injuries, but not enough to quell an orc's spirit.

I approached them.

"Did you guys encounter a flock of cockatrices as well?"

"Yep. We could have easily dealt with those bird-brained monsters if we had better weapons... What a shame."

Noctar spoke nonchalantly.

However, his injuries were quite severe.

His left arm was broken, and it appeared several of his ribs were broken as well.

I spoke sternly.

"This is not the time to put up a strong front, Noctar."

"...Actually, I almost died. If it weren't for Andrew, that mage friend, I would have been done for."

"I see..."

As I chatted with Noctar and his orc friends, Senior Professor Rok appeared.

His serious expression had intensified.

Rok clapped his hands and announced,

"I know this is very confusing, but we'll be conducting interviews to understand what transpired inside the magic dungeon. When your name is called, come to the individual interview room. Oh, and classes will be canceled until we resolve this situation."

Despite the welcome news of class cancellations, not a single student seemed happy.

It was understandable, as most of them had faced near-death experiences just moments earlier.

Aside from Neike's team, Piel's team, and our team, everyone else had teetered on the brink of death.

'Fortunately, this aligns with the original work.'

I surveyed the area once more.

Neike and Piel's teams appeared to be in good condition.

About 30 minutes later, an instructor called the students' names one by one. All students responded.

'Sure enough, there were no casualties.'

As I was passing the time with Noctar and the orc students,

"Theo, Professor Rok is calling for you."

I was going to have an interview with Professor Rok, not just any instructor.

...In the original work, Rok had met with Neike.

Why me?

Leaving behind the surprised stares of the other students, I headed towards the individual interview room where Rok was waiting.

More than 4 hours had passed since I started my in-depth interview with Rok.

Before I knew it, it was already past 4 p.m.

"That's enough for today. It was a very informative time, Theo."

Rok displayed more interest in me than I anticipated.

In the original story, Neike's interview ended in under 10 minutes.

I shook hands with Rok, who offered his hand.

"Yes, it was an informative time for me as well, Professor. I'll take my leave now."

"Alright, be careful on your way."

Rok nodded with a satisfied expression.

That bald man certainly has some dignity.

Undoubtedly, he must be concealing something as well.

I don't know what it is since it wasn't in the original story, but I had the impression he could be at least the son of a high-ranking noble family.

'Anyway, I need to rest today.'

Both my body and mind were exhausted.

With that thought, I left the private room.

Afterward, I straightened my shirt collar and adjusted my overall appearance.

By now, the interviews for the later-called students should be nearly complete.

"Huuu..."

Taking a deep breath, I recalled my most pressing issue.

'Siena has shown interest in me.'

As much as I'd like to deny it, the fact remains. Siena, an elf princess renowned for her beauty and popularity, seldom takes interest in others.

That's why, even after a semester had passed, she barely knew the names of most of her classmates.

Yet Siena displayed blatant interest in me.

In the original story, she was openly obsessed with those who intrigued her.

'I don't know why she's interested in me.'

I remember what Siena said to Neike during their second year in the original story.

─ Hehe, Neike. You are the hero I have dreamed of since I was little.

Siena saw the protagonist of a novel she had read as a child in Neike.

I know the general story of that novel.

The protagonist of that novel was, as befitting a protagonist, overwhelmingly powerful.

He was a true hero who, together with his team, defeated the Demon King.

He was the polar opposite of Theo.

My sole goal is to graduate from the Hero Department with excellent grades.

I neither have the time nor inclination to entertain Siena.

I'm not a pushover like Neike.

'I need to consider how to respond.'

It's difficult to simply push her away.

'Then... I need to gradually diminish her interest in me.'

As I pondered and prepared to leave, I heard her voice.

"Hehe, Theo."

Siena, who had just exited another private room, approached me with a smile.

"..."

Speak of the devil.

***

"So, Theo was the one who led both teams?"

The instructor asked multiple times.

"Yes, if it weren't for him, we would have died long ago."

Siena answered unwaveringly.

"Alright, that's enough for today's interview."

"May I leave now? I'm rather busy." Upon hearing Siena's somewhat urgent voice, the instructor nodded.

"…Fine."

Creak─

Siena immediately left the interview room.

This was because her spirit informed her that Theo, who was having a meeting with the senior professor in the next room, had just come out.

As the spirit had reported, Theo was outside.

Pretending their encounter was a coincidence, Siena greeted him with a smile.

"..."

However, Theo's expression did not convey any delight in seeing her.

Siena was not disheartened.

'After all, he's the hero I've finally found. It wouldn't be enjoyable if it were too easy~.'

Theo was the hero that Siena had been dreaming of for the past 150 years.

As she reminisced about their time in the dungeon, Siena recalled how calm Theo had been when everyone else was trembling with fear of death.

Not only that, he encouraged his teammates to overcome the crisis.

'He even refused my help.'

Witnessing his actions, she felt exhilarated. She couldn't help but smile, realizing that she had finally found the hero of her dreams.

At that time, Theo was the true hero in every sense.

'Well, his strength seems somewhat lacking, but~.'

She could help him progress.

If he still seemed inadequate after graduating from the academy, she would take him to the Great Forest.

In the Great Forest, elves had honed their skills for centuries, presenting an insurmountable challenge for humans.

"Hehe~."

Siena hummed a tune as she looked at Theo.

At that moment, she was as elated as the first day she read 'The Rosdos Chronicles.'

The Rosdos Chronicles.

It was the novel that strove her to leave the great forest.

She had read it diligently every day for over ten years, nearly committing the entire content to memory.

Although it was a lengthy series, spanning five books, she was an elf.

She spent her days immersed in the novel.

Before she knew it, Siena harbored a pure desire to become 'Liri,' the protagonist's aide and female lead in The Rosdos Chronicles. Liri had nurtured the protagonist Rosdos into the continent's greatest hero.

'Liri' was an elf like her, someone Rosdos always relied on and trusted.

'How did Liri feel?'

Transforming a boy into a man.

A man into the continent's greatest hero.

The process of refining a rough gemstone into a polished jewel… How rewarding must that have been?

That's why Siena enrolled in Elinia Academy, known as the best Hero Academy.

Although Liri was a magic aide in the novel, Siena did not join the Magic Department.

The hero department was the best choice for her to find her own hero.

Graduating from the hero department didn't mean she couldn't be an aide.

In fact, being in the Hero Department would make it simpler to monitor every move of the hero she admired.

'He'd appreciate that, right?'

Of course, he would.

Who wouldn't relish the prospect of becoming the continent's greatest hero?

Given enough time, Siena was confident she could mold him into the greatest hero on the continent.

In the midst of these thoughts, an image of a girl suddenly crossed her mind.

A young girl who had entered the same dungeon as him, with the same hair and eye color.

'Her name was Aisha Waldeurk.'

It bothered her how Aisha cozied up to Theo.

'She's no match for me, of course.'

Humans lived for only about 100 years, while Siena was an elf with a lifespan exceeding 1,000 years.

There was no way Aisha could compete.

After a few decades, Siena would be the sole companion by his side.

She could always request a dragon to prolong his life.

'Hehe.'

The thought of claiming him as her own filled her with excitement.

"…Uh."

As Siena reveled in these thoughts,

Theo suddenly felt a chilling sensation.