Chapter 18 - Dungeon Practical Training

"The turning of the seasons is a swift thing. A half-year has already passed since your enrollment."

Following the conclusion of our classes, we received a summons from Instructor Whip. It was the usual trio: myself, Big Sis, and the Young Lady.

Everyone by now recognized that whenever the instructor adopted such a roundabout way of speaking, it served as a prelude to her dumping some fresh hassle onto our laps. Consequently, we braced ourselves.

"To some extent, we have packed in the classroom lectures. Even so, everyone progresses at their own pace, so I cannot speak universally, but a few students have emerged who can be said to have sufficiently mastered the first-year curriculum."

...Well, everyone does have their own pace when it comes to studying. Whether you are fast or slow, as long as you achieve it within the designated period, that's all that matters.

"Students who have not reached the required standard will be expected to devote themselves to classroom learning moving forward. However, forcing the same upon those who have already achieved it is nothing but a waste of time. Therefore, those who obtain my permission as their homeroom teacher will be allowed to allocate the remainder of the period leading up to their promotion to independent research." "Independent research?"

What on earth was that?

"Independent research means freedom. What you learn, master, or investigate—you are free to do whatever you like." 

"Anything?!" 

"Within the bounds of common sense, naturally."

Tsk, she nipped that in the bud. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt a surge of excitement at the phrase "anything."

"Though you all study within the same academy walls right now, your paths after graduation will differ. The purpose of independent research is to firmly discern and absorb whatever will eventually prove useful for your own future."

By the way, the three of us—myself, Big Sis, and the Young Lady—had solidly completed the first-year curriculum and received permission for independent research. That was the reason for our summons.

Now then, what should I do? How about a "practical research course in sex"?! No good? Yeah, thought so.

"Lady Staff, your goal was to succeed your father and become Governor, correct? In that case, it would be quite fine to pursue a deeper accumulation of knowledge regarding domain management. Preparing for the second-year subjects in advance is also an option, as is entering high society to build an influential network for the future." 

"I see, that makes sense!"

... Is Instructor Whip giving actual, proper teacher-like advice? She's giving teacher-like advice?!

"...What will you two do, Sao, Calibur?" 

"What should we do?"

What kind of person am I going to become from here on out? What am I going to be?!

"Since Calibur's 'Divine Calling' is [Knight], it would be wise to look ahead toward a path that befits it. The orthodox choice is to join a knight order." 

"A knight order...?!" 

"Each domain maintains its own private order, and there are independent private orders as well, but the largest and most legitimate is, without a question, the Royal Palace Knight Order. Belonging to the elite unit directly commanded by Her Majesty the Queen is the ultimate honor for any knight." 

"Huh~ is that so? Then maybe I'll join too, the Royal Palace Knight Order?"

So casual?!

"Naturally, because of that, joining the Royal Palace Knight Order is no ordinary feat. Recruitment for new members occurs only once every few years, and hundreds of applicants flood in for a single vacancy. They test not only your actual ability but also your character, intellect, and righteousness of heart—it is a terrifying examination where even battle-hardened veterans are ruthlessly rejected." 

"...I think I'll skip joining the Royal Palace Knight Order."

So casual?!

"If you intend to aim for the pinnacle of knighthood, you must accumulate a vast amount of actual combat experience and deepen your knowledge starting now. Well, building strength and achievements will be beneficial in any form, so why not just aim for it for the time being? You might find a new perspective opening up to you through your efforts." 

"I see~ then I'll aim for it~"

I said, you're being way too casual?!

"And finally, as for Sao... what exactly should we do with you?" 

"What should we do with me?"

Teacher, you gave relatively accurate advice to the Young Lady and my sister, so why does it suddenly become such a total mess when it comes to my turn?

"Well, your 'Divine Calling' is the sole source of the problem. The [Pole Master] class is an unprecedented, ultra-rare class. That being the case, there are no past samples, and without samples, I have no way to advise you." 

"What kind of syllogism is that?!" 

"If you wish to make use of your 'Divine Calling', you will have to figure out what to do entirely from scratch. It is the destiny of a pioneer. Please blaze a trail for the sake of your juniors." 

"The responsibility is jumping through the roof?!" 

"If I leave it at that, I won't have a leg to stand on as a teacher, so I will offer some advice. Since there is nothing to rely on, won't your own desires decide everything when it comes to what you should do, Sao?"

Desires...?

"What you want to do as a [Pole Master]. That is precisely the compass that points toward your future."

What I want to do as a [Pole Master]...?! Collecting women from all over the world and thoroughly enjoying a harem, I suppose?

Having sex ten thousand times a day, making every single woman in this world pregnant with my children. I wouldn't let another man lay a finger on them. If the children the women bore were daughters, I'd have sex with those daughters too and get them pregnant. Sons, I don't care about. And then, the granddaughters born from them would also...

"I feel like my desires shouldn't be allowed to come true." 

"Do you possess some kind of self-destructive urge?"

When lust reaches its ultimate extreme, it leads to nothing but the end of days.

"............Well, as I said earlier, you are the very first case of a [Pole Master]. You'll just have to feel your way forward, so let's take it easy without rushing." 

"Thanks."

I will take it easy, without rushing, as I ravish them.

"At any rate, accumulating combat experience would be wise. Make sure you become capable of fully utilizing your supreme [Staff (SS) Arts] skill."

Though that isn't the true domain of a [Pole Master] either.

"Therefore, I have a proposal." 

"...What is it?"

The instructor's tone shifted, causing me to reflexively brace myself.

"Would you like to challenge the dungeon practical training?" 

"A dungeon?"

Was that the great labyrinth that is a staple of fantasy?! Expanding deep underground, trapping those who enter with its complex layout, and crawling with monsters. Dangerous, yet simultaneously containing mystery and romance. The kind of dungeon that houses a sealed archdevil at its absolute bottom?!

"Dungeons are scattered across various regions of the world and possess a vital connection to humanity. Massive hordes of monsters spill out from dungeons; if left checked, nearby towns and villages are wiped out. On the flip side, the minerals and monster materials harvested from dungeons are precious assets." 

"Yes." 

"If a dungeon lies within a domain, its appropriate management is the duty of the Lord. Children of combat vocations who serve as guards will also inevitably dive into dungeons. Therefore, our school provides a practical training period where students actually enter a dungeon to learn about them."

That is the dungeon practical training...?!

"But isn't that dangerous? Doing that for fresh new students...?!" 

"Indeed. Therefore, officially, dungeon practical training does not begin until the latter half of the third year. However, the abilities of Sao and Calibur are fully certified. Since you have also fulfilled this year's learning requirements, I consider it viable as part of the aforementioned independent research."

It's viable?! Diving into a dungeon is an option?!

"Accumulating combat experience will be a plus for you, just as it is for Calibur. So how about the two siblings spend the remainder of this academic year diving into the dungeon like crazy? I'm sure it will be a highly meaningful use of time." 

"Spending the rest of the year in a dungeon...?!"

Is that really meaningful? No, it probably is. It has to be, right?

"Understood. Please allow me to take the dungeon practical training!" 

"Me too, me too~"

My sister, who had been listening from the side, immediately agreed as well.

"A splendid reply. I knew you two would say that. However, you cannot undergo the dungeon practical training unconditionally."

What?! Is there some kind of screening process?!

"The issue is the lineup. No matter how capable you are, right now you are still students—viewed as half-fledged. We cannot allow such children to enter a dungeon alone." 

"True... They'd definitely bring up safety aspects and all that." 

"In official practical training, forming a party of five to six people is strictly mandatory. I want Sao and the others to abide by that when entering the dungeon, but as of right now, there are only two of you, Sao and Calibur..."

If the minimum is five people, it raises the question of where are we going to procure the remaining three? If this were official training, all the third-year students would be participating, so we could just form a party from among them.

However, as first-years—and moreover, as an exceptional case challenging the dungeon training early—there were no other companions around who could dive with us!

"...How about you, Instructor Whip? As our supervisor?" 

"I still have to instruct the students who haven't completed their compulsory curriculum. I cannot put that aside to..."

Right. Ensuring all students advance to the next grade is a homeroom teacher's job, after all.

"Ehh~? Then where are we supposed to recruit members from? We don't have any leads, do we?" 

"The best option would be to hitch a ride when this year's third-year students begin their dungeon training. They will be experiencing it for the first time and learning through trial and error as well, so there should be room for a sudden entry to be accepted." 

"M-Mixing in with the upperclassmen...?!"

Are we going to get bullied?

"There is an issue with that as well; the third-year dungeon training doesn't begin until two months from now." 

"Two months?!" 

"You two would have to wait until then."

Ehh~? When we're already overflowing with motivation~? Two months is such an awkward amount of time; I'd be at a loss for what to do in the meantime.

"Aren't the fourth-years or the final-year students already doing practical training? If we could get put into their groups...?!" My sister suggested. There it is, a nice idea.

"The upperclassmen have already solidified their parties, so there is no room to squeeze in. No matter how capable you two are, as first-year students, you won't be viewed as proper combat assets and will only be treated as a nuisance." "No good, huh?!"

In the end, do we really have no choice but to wait two months until the third-years start their training?!

"Ufufu, aren't you forgetting someone very important?"

The one who said that was Lady Staff?! Don't tell me, you?!

"I would also like to participate in the dungeon practical training, would that be an issue?" 

"Eh? Well, you have also been granted permission for independent research... and your Vocation was [Cleric], if I recall correctly? Recovery magic is highly prized during dungeon exploration." 

"Then it is settled. Please file the application for me alongside Sao and Calibur." 

"However, shouldn't you focus on preparing to succeed your father as Governor? If your family domain owned a dungeon, utilizing the experience might be a possibility, but..." 

"We do not have one." 

"Then all the more reason...?!"

Exactly. In the first place, we are only allowed to attend this academy as the Young Lady's companions, so we shouldn't drag her into our own circumstances!

"Living with the two of you for the past half-year has brought something home to me. The talents of you two are an unparalleled treasure for my domain. While I consider Sao and Calibur precious friends and family, and wish to support you from the bottom of my heart, I am also convinced that allowing the two of you to grow to your absolute maximum will inevitably bring immense profit to my domain down the line." 

""My Ladyyyyyyyyy!!""

Lady Staff’s kindness was bottomless, causing both Big Sis and me to embrace her, entirely overcome with emotion.

"I will follow you for the rest of my life! I will work for the Young Lady foreverrrrr!!" 

"I'm not going to join any Royal Palace Knights! Once I graduate, I'm returning to the countryside to work there foreverrrrr!!"

If she could bind assets like us to her in this manner, it was a massive victory for the Young Lady. As expected, Lady Staff might truly be a person of grand caliber. Though she had already established the ultimate bond with us through physical relations as well.

"Understood. In that case, I will submit the application for the dungeon practical training for the three of you including Lady Staff. Even so, the fact that there are only three of you remains a problem."

True. We were still short of the minimum required number of five. At this rate, the Young Lady's heartfelt devotion would go to waste.

"My, my, it seems you are in a tight spot?"

Appearing out of nowhere came an uninvited guest.

It was Bloom?!

"I happened to overhear your conversation. Actually, we have also completed our compulsory curriculum and are about to enter independent research. After all, I am exceptionally excellent as well. I was just agonizing over what specifically to study, but I have just made up my mind."

What does that mean? Don't tell me...?!

"Instructor Whip, More and I also request to undergo the dungeon practical training. Will you accept our application?" 

"By all means."

An immediate approval?!

"With this, combining our group with yours makes exactly five people—a party is formed. Shall we all combine our strength and conquer the dungeon together?"

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