Raised in Dungeon

After the opening ceremony ended, Allen wasted no time in making his way to Felicia, who was also actively seeking out his presence in the crowd.

"Good job," Allen praised, just emotionless as Felicia thought will be.

Felicia let out a sigh of relief, her expression a mix of weariness and discomfort. "I don't know why, but everything feels so suffocating. It's like every gaze is piercing through me. Did I say something wrong?"

"Well… they discovered that you gained admission to the academy through a connection."

"So that's it..."

Surprisingly calm, Allen asked, "You're not surprised?"

"It's no surprise that they knew; they must have been surprised because they never heard my name in the secunda class. I had hoped to blend in, to learn without drawing attention. But, well, that plan clearly went out the window."

As Felicia spoke, Allen couldn't help but notice something amiss. 'She said that calmly but her hands were still shaking. Just like in the castle,' he thought.

Sharik's voice rang out in the bustling hall, "Allen! Hurry up, they're asking us to gather over there!" He gestured towards one of the doors on the right side of the hall.

"Then I'll go first-" Allen said, but suddenly Felicia's hand firmly gripped Allen's robe.

"Hey..." Her voice softened. "Allen, you came here to follow me, but do you really have a purpose for entering this academy?"

There was a purpose.

After learning about the academy's ranking system, he harbored a desire to ascend to the top because he needed to converse with Eliphas about the demonic entity residing within him.

"I came to the academy as your knight, but actually, I also have my own purpose; I will talk to you about that later," Allen admitted, without any intention of hiding anything.

Felicia released her grip on Allen's shirt and smiled. "So that's it, then go," she said with a wry smile. However, observing her, Allen sensed an underlying sorrow. Unbeknownst to him, Felicia had intended to advise him to rectify the error in his faculty selection, realizing that being in the fighter faculty meant they would be separated for a while. As Felicia's knight, Allen should have chosen the same path. Yet, Allen also has a purpose in the academy, which makes it difficult for her to voice. She also wanted Allen to choose the path he wanted to.

"Don't worry," Allen reassured, his hands gently steadying Felicia's trembling form. "I'll have Reig take care of you. If there's anything, I'll come to you right away, and he'll surely manage until then."

Reig that was in Felicia's shadow came out as a black, fluffy cat, and jumped into Felicia's arms.

"Is this...?!"

"The black cat that you failed to save earlier, I had Reig eat it. I heard that the school allows students to bring familiars."

Felicia hugged the fluffy Reig-cat tightly, her face nuzzled into its thick fur. "It smells like you," she murmured, a sense of calm and comfort enveloping her.

"Does it? Maybe because he ate it when I hugged this cat when it died?" Allen replied nonchalantly.

"N-no! I'm just kidding!" Felicia hastily backtracked, her cheeks tinted with a subtle blush. "Then I'll get together with the others too! Take good care of yourself," she said, attempting to shift the focus away from the awkward

Allen turned around and went to where Sharik and the others were.

...

Guided by their respective senior, each faculty made their way through distinct doors that led to different door. Beyond the door awaited a lengthy corridor, each section marked by large doors reminiscent of the grandeur in the great hall.

The hallway, although reminiscent of a dungeon, exuded an unexpected cleanliness. The stone walls, fashioned from gray stone, bore intricate abstract patterns, adding an air of mystique to the surroundings. In stark contrast to the somber walls, the floor, crafted from a slightly slippery granite, mirrored the movements of those who traversed it. As students walked, the floor reflected a subtle, distorted image of their own feet.

"Welcome to the executive room of the Advanced Fighter Faculty," the senior announced as the students entered.

Surprisingly, the room resembled more of a comfortable break room than a typical office space. Soft sofas replaced rigid chairs, and the walls adorned with pleasant green cloth added a cozy touch to the atmosphere.

"Before you start class in the third hour, we'll introduce you to the faculty."

The Advanced Fighter Faculty, he explained, housed various majors, including Swordsmanship, Spearmanship, Archery, and Defense. Each major would allocate additional study time tailored to its specific discipline.

The breakdown of learning time was outlined as follows: 50 percent general classes, 30 special classes, and 20 percent compulsory classes.

50 percent for general classes, providing students with opportunities to explore subjects beyond their faculty, such as Fighter Faculty students engaging in Enhancer Faculty lessons..

Another 30 percent was dedicated to special classes, delving into the intricacies of each major.

Finally, compulsory classes are lessons for each major. In essence, this structure allowed students to immerse themselves in a comprehensive educational experience, blending general knowledge, faculty-specific skills, and collaborative learning across different majors.

"Since you haven't selected a specific major yet, we'll be focusing solely on special classes," the senior informed the assembled students. "The objective of today's session is to help you determine which major aligns with your preferences. You'll be showcasing your proficiency with each weapon provided."

Allen leaned in to whisper to Sharik, curiosity lacing his voice, "So, does that mean nobody has settled on a weapon in the secunda class?"

Sharik clarified, "In secunda class, there's no commitment to a specific major. I typically use a shield and sword, but our skills in archery, lance, and swordplay are all evaluated. By the time you pass praeterea, most students have a grasp of the fundamentals for each weapon."

"So, this demonstration is essential to guide us in choosing our majors, right? If everyone already made their decisions in secunda, showcasing skills with other weapons now seems a bit redundant?" Allen said.

"I heard that this is essential data for the faculty," Geirhild beside him responded. "They want to assess each student's proficiency in various fields, especially for the Arcaneblade Festival."

"Arcaneblade?" Allen questioned.

Francis, positioned behind Geirhild, interjected, "The festival to determine the strongest. Seriously, how do you not know anything? How did someone like you get into this school? What are you doing in secunda?"

Tired of Francis's constant interruptions, Geirhild sighed and retorted, "You've been bothering us all day. Don't you have any friends?"

The question seemed to catch Francis off guard, his face turning red. "You can't be so careless! I'm the prince of this town! I also have a friend! one or two!"

Then why didn't you go with your friends? Why were you eavesdropping all this time?"

"I can't stand hearing this black-haired kid's ignorance! That's all!"

"Stay away, then," Geirhild instructed, motioning for Francis to move aside.

"Ukh! Without you even telling me, I'll go too!" Francis huffed as he walked away.

Unfazed by the commotion, Allen, who was still curious, continued to inquire, "So, what's the Arcaneblade? Can we earn points from there?"

"Of course!" Sharik responded enthusiastically. "It's the fastest way to earn points! The Arcaneblade Festival, or officially the Field of the Cloth of Arcaneblade, is the grandest festival in Oxwadeshire. Students compete to be the best, and those who emerge victorious receive a substantial number of points. This is where the real hierarchy starts to take shape, as each rank carries a significant gap."