――Congratulations. You have overcome the Trial of the Gods.
The voice of the angel announcement echoed across the first floor of the Zenith Tower.
The Divine Beast, Byakko, was still lying down.
"Eugene, Sumire-chan, thanks for drawing the Divine Beast's attention."
The one speaking was Claude, the key player this time, after a loud landing.
"Your special move was amazing, Claude!" (Sumire)
Sumire was hopping around, singing his praises.
"Taking it out in one hit is pretty impressive." (Eugene)
I commented.
"It was thanks to all the classmates' attacks up until that point. It was a combined effort."
Claude said humbly, without boasting.
He's the type who can say things like that casually. As expected of him.
It was then…
Byakko, who had been lying down just moments ago, suddenly got up.
My classmates stirred.
"Wawa?!"
Sumire quickly raised her staff in a fluster, while Claude and I lowered our stances, ready to move.
――Impressive job, Fledgling Heroes.
A voice echoed in our minds.
It was a voice I had never heard before.
However, it was a strangely intelligent voice that felt inexplicably reassuring.
Could this voice belong to…
"I can hear the Divine Beast-san's voice in my head!" (Sumire)
Just as Sumire said, it seemed to be the voice of the Divine Beast, Byakko.
I thought it was a fierce Divine Beast when we were fighting, but hearing its voice, it might actually be a gentle creature.
――Young Spearman, continue honing your skills.
Byakko disappeared after saying that, wrapped in a faint seven-colored light.
"It looked scary, but its voice was kind." (Sumire)
Sumire murmured.
"There was…a sense of ease in its tone. Was my attack not actually effective?" (Claude)
"Yeah, it probably held back." (Eugene)
I agreed with Claude's assessment.
Well, the Divine Beast acknowledged our strength and departed.
We had successfully completed the Trial of the Gods.
And thus, the Legendary Hero Department's class came to an end.
◇Sumire's POV◇
Here I am, standing in front of a room in the boys' dormitory of Lykeion Magic Academy.
Today is the one day out of every seven that school is off.
Normally, Leona-chan, whom I often hang out with, would be with me, but she had something to do today.
She said she was going out with Claude-kun, so I didn't want to intrude.
Sara-chan was busy with student council duties, and Teresia-san also had plans.
I could go shopping alone, but it's a rare day off.
So, I decided to come to Eugy-kun's room.
But I can't enter Eugy-kun's room at the moment.
The reason is…
(…I can hear voices from inside…) (Sumire)
More than one, on top of that.
One is Eugy-kun's voice, and the other is a woman's voice.
Sara-chan said she'd be busy today, so it shouldn't be her.
Could it be…he brought another girl in?!
Mumumu… Eugy-kun is pretty popular after all.
But he can't bring other girls aside from his girlfriends into his room!
"Eugy-kun, I'm coming in." (Sumire)
I opened the door without knocking.
It wasn't locked.
The door made a clattering sound as I looked inside.
"S-Sumire…?"
"Oh my, it's Sumire."
Inside were Eugy-kun and his childhood friend, Airi-chan.
◇◇
"Eugy-kun, are you headed to the animal club now?" (Sumire)
"Yeah, and Airi insisted on coming along." (Eugene)
"Why shouldn't I come along?!" (Airi)
"I'm just checking the barriers to keep the monsters in place. It won't be that interesting." (Eugene)
"Hey, Eugy-kun, can I come too?" (Sumire)
"Sumire too? Well, I don't mind." (Eugene)
"Why is your reaction totally different compared to mine?!" (Airi)
"Sumire's technically a member of the animal club after all." (Eugene)
"Huh? Really, Sumire?" (Airi)
"Huh? Is that right, Eugy-kun?" (Sumire)
"…You forgot?" (Eugene)
"N-No! Of course, I remember!" (Sumire)
Eugy-kun gave me a baffled look.
It is true that I mentioned wanting to join the club with him when we explored the Zenith Tower for the first time.
But since I never heard back, I assumed it didn't go through…
"Sorry, Eugy-kun. I haven't been active in the animal club at all…" (Sumire)
"No, your mana control was scaring the monsters, so you couldn't participate yet." (Eugene)
"Oh, I see…" (Sumire)
So I didn't have anything to do anyway.
Back when I first started at the academy, my magic was always out of control after all.
Even now, I still mess up a little.
"Hey, Sumire, how about we follow Eugy around today and observe?" (Airi)
"If Eugy-kun's okay with it… How about it?" (Sumire)
"Fine. Just don't complain if you get bored." (Eugene)
That's how Airi-chan and I ended up following Eugy-kun.
◇2nd Sealed Prison◇
"This is the 2nd Sealed Prison managed by the animal club, commonly called the Floor 0. It's a place where weaker monsters escaping from the Zenith Tower are teleported here to prevent them from entering the Dungeon City." (Eugene)
Eugy-kun was mainly explaining this to Airi-chan.
I have heard about this and have visited it before.
By the way, the first time I came, the monsters inside cowered in fear, pressing against the cages because of my mana.
(But now my mana control has improved!) (Sumire)
"Eugy-kun, how about going inside?!" (Sumire)
"No, I finished the inspection. Let's move to the next one." (Eugene)
""Huh?""
Eugy-kun's words surprised not only me but Airi-chan too.
We just arrived though?
"Eugy, you haven't checked anything yet." (Airi)
"I used mana detection I learned recently to check for any barrier issues. We're moving on since there were no problems." (Eugene)
"Wait, you can inspect the Sealed Prison without going in?" (Sumire)
"Yeah, pretty convenient, right?" (Eugene)
"…"
Airi and I exchanged glances.
The 2nd Sealed Prison is huge.
It's built to surround the Zenith Tower after all.
If I had to compare it to something in my previous life, it would be that it's over ten times the size of the Tokyo Dome.
And he inspected the barrier covering that massive structure instantly?
I don't know much about barrier magic.
But from Airi-chan's expression, I could tell what Eugy-kun was saying was extraordinary.
I know he wouldn't do a sloppy job.
Eugy-kun is always very serious when doing this kind of work after all.
So Airi-chan and I followed him.
"Hey, Sumire, how many places does the animal club manage for housing monsters?" (Airi)
"Let's see… Airi-chan…" (Sumire)
I explained what Eugy-kun had told me before.
-The 1st Sealed Prison is called the Ranch. No monsters here, just animals like horses and cows, managed by the animal, livestock, and agriculture clubs.
-The 2nd Sealed Prison is called the Floor 0, and it is where weaker monsters escaping from the Zenith Tower are kept.
-The 3rd Sealed Prison, called the Insect Cage, is where insect-type monsters are housed. That's where we're headed next.
-The 4th Sealed Prison, called the Hospital, is where injured monsters from battles are taken. The Health Committee handles their treatment.
-The 5th Sealed Prison, called the Graveyard, houses undead and ghost-type monsters, plus an actual monster graveyard.
"Hoh, there are so many places." (Airi)
"There are also the 6th and 7th Sealed Prisons…" (Sumire)
Just as I was about to explain further…
"Huh? Eugene-chan and Sumire-chan? What brings you here?"
We were approached by someone.
A tall, lanky figure with a slight hunch and wearing a coat resembling a lab coat.
"Hello, Carlo-senpai." (Sumire)
"Carlo-senpai. Today is the monthly inspection day." (Eugene)
"Oh, right. But I check the 3rd Sealed Prison daily, so it's fine." (Carlo)
Carlo-senpai, from the animal club, is a monster tamer specializing in insect-type monsters.
I'd seen a few of his monsters before…and they were terrifying.
"If Carlo-senpai says it's fine, then let's move to the Fourth—" (Eugene)
"Oh, about that. The club president wants to talk to you, Eugene-chan. I heard from the message bug." (Carlo)
"The president Media wants to talk to me? About what?" (Eugene)
"I didn't hear the details. I'll handle the rest of the inspection, so you can go see the president." (Carlo)
"Alright. Sumire, Airi, is it okay if the club tour ends here? I need to go meet someone." (Eugene)
I answered Eugy-kun's words without hesitation.
"I want to meet the club president!" (Sumire)
"I do too. If it's someone Eugy owes a lot to, I'd like to meet them." (Airi)
It seems Airi-chan shared the same thought.
Especially since I'm a member of the animal club.
In the past, I'd asked Eugy-kun several times to introduce me to other animal club members, but every time, he'd brush me off with, "They're not at school today. Maybe next time."
"…Well, I guess it's fine." (Eugene)
Eugy-kun seemed to hesitate for a moment but didn't object.
"Alright, Carlo-senpai. We're off." (Eugene)
"Okay. Say hi to the club president for me~." (Carlo)
After greeting Carlo-senpai, we left the 3rd Sealed Prison.
The 3rd Sealed Prison is located in a forest-like area surrounded by trees. From there, Eugy-kun headed deeper into a denser, overgrown forest-like space.
Huh? Isn't this the direction…
"Hey, Eugy-kun, shouldn't we head back to the school building to meet the club president?" (Sumire)
"The club president doesn't attend school. We're heading to their home." (Eugene)
"A student who doesn't go to school?" (Airi)
Airi-chan voiced the same doubt I had.
"They have a serious illness and are currently in recovery." (Eugene)
"…Are we really okay to meet them?" (Airi)
"…Eugy-kun, if it's a bother, I'll head back." (Sumire)
Both Airi-chan and I frowned.
We finally understood why it wasn't easy to meet the club president.
"It's not contagious, so don't worry. Just make sure you're respectful. The president can be scary when angered. Alright, let's go." (Eugene)
With that, Eugy-kun walked up to a door and began unsealing it.
Huh? This place is…
"Hey, Eugy, what is this big building?" (Airi)
"The 6th Sealed Prison. It's also called Calamity. Alright, let's head inside." (Eugene)
Yes.
This was the 6th Sealed Prison.
It's also known as Calamity.
It houses immensely powerful creatures, including dragon species in Calamity Designation.
Naturally, it's extremely dangerous.
This place contains monsters far stronger than those found on the lower floors of the Zenith Tower.
"Wait a second! Weren't we supposed to meet the animal club president?!" (Airi)
"The club president lives here." (Eugene)
""What!?""
Airi and I cried out in unison, stunned.
Aren't they supposed to have a serious illness?
I stepped into the 6th Sealed Prison while still confused.
.