The Grand Opening of the Orariopiad
The audience was filled with gods, adventurers, students, and teachers alike, all eagerly awaiting the start of the competition.
Meanwhile, among the seats of the Hestia Familia, some members voiced their concerns:
"Is this really going to turn into a serious showdown between Orario and the School District?"
"Yeah, but… where is Bell-sama? Even Hestia-sama hasn't given us a clear answer…"
"Just calm down, Lili. I'm sure he's caught up in something again anyway."
"You're the one who's not calm at all, aren't you!? Welf-sama, you made a magic sword too, so maybe you know something!?"
"I can't stay calm! Something is definitely going on!"
With Hestia busy selling Jyagamaru-kun at the festival stalls, and Ryu temporarily working at the Hostess of Fertility, the remaining members couldn't help but worry.
Meanwhile, in the broadcast booth:
『Now then, to officially kick things off, allow me to introduce today's special guest—Hermes-sama, the god of festivities himself! Come on in!』
『Thank you, Ibri-kun! Now, let me give a quick explanation about this festival: The "Orariopiad" consists of five rounds between the representatives of Orario and the School District. The first side to win three rounds is declared the victor, and the losing side must comply with the conditions set by the winners. The event will last six days, so get ready to enjoy it to the fullest!』
"Sorry for the delay—there's a lot to prepare!" Hermes added with his usual mischievous grin. "This Citywide Competition Festival of Orario is brought to you by our proud sponsors: the Divine Council, Denatus—that is, us!"
After his explanation, Hermes continued cheerfully:
『But enough talk! Let's move on to the team announcements and then the first round!』
As fireworks lit up the sky, the student representative Alisa and the adventurer Royman—who had been coerced into participating—stepped onto the stage. Royman held a bottle of stomach medicine.
"Under the smiling gazes of the fun-loving gods, the 'Citywide Competition Festival of Orario' was officially underway."
"Yaaah!"
With Nina's shout, her long staff gleamed and left a "trail of light" behind. It was a mechanical weapon crafted in the School District. Its specific name was "Anmystil Staff."
At the tip of the staff, where a jade-colored crystal was embedded in a blade-like section resembling a halberd, a magical blade of light about 3 selci (approx. 30 cm) thick appeared. The mage's staff had now transformed into a polearm. Enhanced by magic, the mechanical weapon sliced into the Gray Wolf, a four-legged beast leaping at them.
"Wow!"
"You can also fight up close!"
"That's because in Master Leon's classes, they taught me well too!"
Nina easily defeated the terrestrial monsters that lunged at her, and I, realizing I didn't need help, smiled at her. During the "Third Unit" exploration, Igurin and the others always wanted to be at the front, so I hadn't really seen Nina in anything but a supporting role. But she's also a legitimate student from the "district." She's skilled with the "staff art" lessons she's been taking and applies them well with her "spear." Even considering that terrestrial monsters are less potent than those in the dungeon, she had enough skill.
While smiling at Nina, who could fight well even as a healer, I passed by another "Gray Wolf" and defeated it, then looked toward another person.
A massive outbreak of Gray Wolves…? No, it looks more like a coordinated movement.
However, once again, I couldn't witness that person's battle.
Around Professor Leon, who had just sheathed his massive sword after elegantly twirling it, a circle of monsters was divided into two groups.
Professor Leon doesn't use metaphors in battle; he literally ends the fight instantly.
While my thoughts focused on the monsters or drifted toward Nina, a clear and piercing cutting sound echoed through the air. By the time I turned my head, everything was already resolved.
To me, that scene was like watching a master magician tuning his musical instrument.
(Just like Ais said… he's definitely level 7.)
When I first heard it, I couldn't believe it, but now I have no doubts.
Though he doesn't belong to Orario, this knight who surpasses even Ais and her group fills me with a reverent fear and a curiosity I can't suppress.
—"Hey, Nina… how much do you know about Professor Leon?" — I asked while we dealt with the remains of the monsters after the fight.
Crouching side by side, I whispered as quietly as possible:
—"Do you know which country he comes from, or if he's a human with blood from some legendary knight?"
—"Human? Professor Leon is a dwarf."
—"What!?"
The unexpected answer made me raise my voice louder than at any recent moment.
—"A… dwarf? Like Iglin? That kind of dwarf?"
—"Why do you call him 'sir'? But yes, that kind of dwarf."
—"B-but Professor Leon is tall, has long arms and legs, doesn't have a thick beard, and doesn't laugh 'Gahahaha!' while drinking beer!"
In my confusion, I blurted out an almost offensive comment full of prejudice about dwarves. Sorry, dwarves of the whole world!
Nina looked at me strangely, but soon burst out laughing as she understood.
—"Professor Leon's parents… both his father and mother are half-dwarves."
—"Half-dwarves…?"
—"Do you remember the history of races classes we took together?"
Seeing my confused expression, Nina raised her index finger and explained enthusiastically:
—"We studied 'dominant inheritance,' right? Hybrids between humans and demi-humans have latent traits from both races. Suppose the human gene is 1 and the dwarf gene is 2."
"Ah… yes, I think I remember something about that."
Niina continued, explaining as if teaching a younger sibling:
"If two half-dwarves have a child, the possible gene combinations are 11, 12, 12, and 22."
"…So there's a 25% chance the child will be human (11), a 50% chance they'll be a half-dwarf (12), and another 25% chance to be a full dwarf (22), right?"
"Exactly!"
Thanks to her explanation, the lesson started coming back to me.
"Professor Leon was born to two half-dwarf parents. Now, this is important." —Niina cast a cautious glance at Professor Leon, who was surveying the surroundings.
"Children of hybrids sometimes inherit human traits that demi-humans usually don't have, like above-average height or long limbs."
"…!"
"It's very rare, but that's why, although Professor Leon is a dwarf by race, he has a height and proportions that seem human — a true genetic miracle."
Hearing about this unique phenomenon, I finally understood.
Professor Leon is, without a doubt, a genuine dwarf, a child of the earth. His status must reflect attributes like great strength and endurance, yet his appearance inherited typical human features.
…This isn't envy or anything like that, but a 'tall and strong dwarf with long limbs' sounds so unfair it almost feels like a joke.
"B-by the way, it's also possible for hybrids and humans to have children. For example, if a half-elf marries a human, there's a 50% chance their child will be either human or half-elf!"
"Huh? Ah, yeah, I guess that makes sense."
For some reason, Niina added that embarrassing bit of information somewhat shyly, but I just nodded and glanced at Professor Leon.
With the monsters defeated, he now looked northward. His figure was far too imposing to associate with the dwarves I knew.
Even though Professor Leon is a dwarf, that doesn't change how I see him. Still, I can't help but wonder how someone can grow up to be such a righteous, noble, and admirable adult like him.
"You two. Sorry to interrupt, but ready your weapons. Another group of monsters is approaching."
"—!"
At Professor Leon's call, we both quickly got to our feet.
A monstrous shadow, visible only to the eyes of a Level 7, soon appeared within our field of vision.
Niina and I exchanged glances and nodded, preparing ourselves for the next battle.
Since leaving the view of the Labyrinth City of Orario behind, we had fought once.
Four times while I carried Niina in my arms.
Seventeen more times since the sky shifted from blue to gray.
In total, we had faced terrestrial monsters countless times.
"..."
"What's wrong, Rapi?"
Niina, who had surely faced more terrestrial monsters than I during her travels, looked at me with curiosity while I silently stared at the bodies of the fallen monsters.
Am I the only one who senses this… "strangeness"?
(…We're encountering more monsters.)
At the start of our journey, there were only a few. But after half a day, the battles had doubled—both in frequency and in the number of monsters.
(This is the surface. It's no comparison to a dungeon. Still…)
My senses had dulled after so many fights in Orario's dungeons, and I could barely recall how often monsters appeared in my home village.
Is this what the standard is like on the surface?
—Is that why Nina doesn't question it?
—Or maybe it's just a coincidence?
Even so… it feels strange to me.
As if exploring the depths of a dungeon, the enemies kept increasing the further we went.
This phenomenon became more obvious as we pressed forward.
That is to say, the farther north we went, the more monsters seemed to appear.
—What's up north? —I murmured to myself, quietly enough that Nina couldn't hear.
Professor Leon watched me silently, saying nothing.
"The first round of the Orariopiad City Competition Festival! The Duel of Mages! And the winner is... the district's master! From Baldr Class, Level 5, Malik Alfort!!"
Under the clear blue sky, cheers and shouts echoed in unison throughout Orario's circular arena—the Amphitheatrum.
"We did it!"
"Malik-sensei~~~!!!" the students shouted, bursting with excitement.
In the center of the battle stage, a handsome elf clad in a mage's robe waved to the noisy stands filled with pupils. Most of the female students cheered him with even greater fervor.
"Well, we lost the first match of the day."
"Even though neither the Loki Family nor the Freya Family were here..."
"Even facing Nelnatti, the prodigy mage of the Hathor Familia..."
"Though she's ranked second among the 'Best Mages' and third in the 'Cutest Elves' ranking..."
"Our Nerti..."
Murmurs continued as a group of gods and adventurers lamented the defeat of their favorite. Though she had reached Level 5 following the last Familia War and had shown joy at the moment, she now lay unconscious on the stage.
"Well, she's been struggling along ever since the era of the gods Zeus and Hera, but in the end, she's just a washed-up relic of her time. A dark-skinned girl with a pyramid tan, desperately pretending to be sixteen while hiding the fact she's over a hundred years old."
"Nerti will always be our eternal teenager! Quit insulting her!"
"Shut up before I curse you, idiot!"
"Oh no! It's turned into a full-on religious war between the gods of Orario!"
Tempers flared so much that the argument erupted into an all-out brawl between the followers of the various factions. Meanwhile, the citizens of Orario watched the disastrous outcome with frustration and disappointment, throwing comments toward the stage where the dark elf lay defeated.
"That's why they should've sent in the Freya Familia from the start!"
"They're still in the city, aren't they? We could've crushed it if we'd brought out the 'White Spirit Staff Hildrsleif'!"
"That sadistic elf with the angelic looks would've wiped the floor with everyone!"
"Damn smug bastard!"
"Work harder!"
"Insult me!"
"Step on me!"
"Laurus Hildr!"
"Gyaaaaaaaa!"
Frustrated by their loss, the crowd began hurling insults at the mighty Einherjar warriors—heroes forbidden from participating due to the rules. But then, as if in response, a sudden flash of lightning struck the exact source of each insult with uncanny precision.
The sheer accuracy—and the terrifying fact that someone had been listening to every word—left both adventurers and gods pale with fear. They quickly clamped their hands over their mouths and trembled. From that moment on, no one dared speak ill of the mighty Einherjar again.
In a corner of the stands, Mikoto watched the commotion with a tense expression. She cleared her throat softly and said:
"To reach Level 5 without living your life in the Dungeon… what kind of training could possibly lead to that?"
"There must be more to it than just strict discipline," someone added. "Maybe they passed a different kind of trial—something outside the Dungeon."
"A different kind of trial?" Lili asked, her brows furrowed in confusion, while Haruhime and Welf chimed in:
"And where would you even find something like that?"
Hedin, who could even hear those whispered conversations, murmured quietly as he watched from atop the circular amphitheater. The white elf, Malik—who had noticed their stares while inspecting his arm—looked up and glanced in the direction where a few figures had slipped away unnoticed.
"It was the School District—not Orario—that's been holding back the breach in the north."
Behind him, Alfrig and the four Gulliver brothers, munching on Jyagamaru-kun snacks, also turned their eyes silently toward the north. Not long after, Ibri's magically amplified voice echoed throughout the arena, where the crowd's emotions still hadn't settled—torn between excitement and disappointment.
"That concludes the first round of the Orario City Competitive Festival! Thank you to all participants! The next match—the grand team battle—will take place in two days! Until then, may the fires of your debate over the future of these representative duels burn passionately!"
Their journey pressed on, the Beor Mountains always to the west, and the Alv Range to the east.
With Nina in my arms, we raced ahead at full speed, led by Professor Leon. Despite the pace, the lionlike figure at the front exuded a calm, unshakable presence. Just keeping my eyes on his back made me feel safe.
Each time a monster appeared, he would stop to strike it down—making absolutely sure that no creature could slip away toward the nearby villages.
And it was then that I finally witnessed his swordsmanship.
The impact was beyond words.
The moment he unsheathed his blade, it was already over.
Unlike Ryuu's technique, his cuts were invisible, blindingly fast, and devastatingly powerful. Every movement—from the flash of steel to the clean re-sheathing of his sword—radiated a kind of refined nobility. It wasn't just skill; it was the poise of a true knight—one whose very presence inspired awe and unshakable trust.
Even if an enemy fell beneath his blade, they did so with honor.
"I am going to cut you down."
That single thought, honed to its purest form, was the essence of his technique.
For the first time, I understood what it meant to express unwavering conviction through every strike. At the same time, I couldn't help but feel that Professor Leon's flawless offense surpassed even Ottar's impenetrable defense. That's what it felt like—an absolute blow.
"My sword?"
"Since that day, I've never looked away, never forgotten my purpose while wielding it… All I can say is, that's what brought me to where I am now."
During a short break, I had dared to ask him.
And Master Leon answered plainly, without hiding a thing.
In truth, all Master Leon had done was just that—
Something so simple, so stubbornly single-minded, repeated millions—no, perhaps billions—of times, without end.
In that moment, my respect for him became even clearer.
Like a child gazing up at a hero they idolize.
—"Rapi, is there something to the west?"
—"Yeah… That's where the village I grew up in is. Brings back memories."
—"Really?! That's your hometown? I want to go! Well… not right now, but someday..."
—"Haha, yeah. Maybe someday, once I've sorted out a few things in my head."
As I found myself drawn to every movement of Master Leon, our journey continued.
It had only been two days since we left Orario, and the Beor Mountains had already faded from sight. In their place stretched a scattered chain of smaller ranges. The plains were no longer visible from here, but I narrowed my eyes toward the distant mountains, quietly tucking away the nostalgia stirring in my heart.
It hadn't even been a full year since I left that village. Visiting my grandfather's grave still felt far too soon.
When I glanced westward, I saw the sacred mountains to the east—the Alv mountain range—stretching northward. Maybe the end of those mountains was the destination of the "fieldwork" Master Leon had mentioned. As I watched his figure moving ahead, that thought settled in my mind.
Three days had passed since the journey began.
The sky was gray.
The clouds refused to break apart.
Perhaps they never would again.
—"…Is this…?"
Then, on our path northward, the first "impression" unfolded before my eyes.
It was a ruinous expanse.
A dead city.
A place where no trace remained of human activity or laughter—only a sea of rubble.
—"This city… no, our school district couldn't protect it."
We passed through collapsed walls until we reached what had once been a main avenue. Master Leon spoke without changing his expression.
—"When we received the call for help, the school district was dealing with invaders and monsters in the east. I tried to push forward alone to turn the tide, but… I arrived too late."
—"What appeared here?"
—"A dragon. Though Finn and members of the [Loki Familia] had already arrived, half the residents had already returned to the heavens."
—"…!"
—"The dragon was slain alongside Finn and his group. But since that day, all the communities north of here vanished. Except for one tribe… the people fled south."
With tears held back, they left behind their homeland.
At the cold, straightforward report, I held my breath.
The dead city spoke the truth with its silent presence.
—"The elves of Fanache village, comrades of the 'White Ice,' are the only ones remaining in the nearby forest, watching for any signs of change. They are ready to fall first and carry a message to Orario if anything happens."
Beside me, Nina lowered her gaze as she spoke. The reality of the "north," one we could no longer ignore, became clear.
This scene… I had seen it before.
Not in real life, but in class materials.
In an academy lesson called the "Debate of the End," a magical projection showed images: burned villages, destroyed elven settlements, collapsed cities, and countless refugees.
The images I saw back then were incredibly similar to what lay before my eyes now.
Professor Adler had explained it on that occasion:
These kinds of scenes don't disappear because there are still powerful monsters descending from "a certain place."
Yes, from "a certain valley."
—"Night will fall soon. Let's camp here tonight."
—"Master Leon, that's…!"
"Thanks for your concern, Bell. But I can't take my eyes off this city. I don't want to repeat the same mistakes. Before the regrets of that day fade, I have to etch them even deeper."
—"Master Leon…"
—"…I'm being a bit stubborn, even self-critical. Sorry."
Master Leon, while gazing at the city, turned toward me and gently shook his head, as if reprimanding himself after seeing his own reflection in my eyes.
"I don't want to impose my thoughts. Let's hear your opinions."
"I agree with camping here. It's a place that shelters us from the wind and rain—much better than a forest where we never know when a monster might appear."
"…I agree as well."
"No objections then. Nina, find a place to make a fire. Rapi, gather firewood. I'll try to prepare a bed more comfortable than the forest floor."
With clear instructions, Master Leon and Nina began moving about.
After hesitating for a moment, I decided to follow the master.
"Master Leon, about what you mentioned earlier…"
"Want an extra lesson, Rapi?"
"…Yes."
"I see. You really could become an excellent student."
Those words, which I had heard before, were spoken without a trace of irony. Then, the master, wearing a rare faint smile, added,
"But being gloomy in front of the students is a drawback, isn't it? From the perspective of the gods—like Lord Baldr—I might still be immature."
"Oh no, not at all!"
I clumsily tried to console him, though my words weren't the best.
"Well, my family… I mean, my fellow familia members, have always said they prefer someone who shows their weaknesses and is a little careless rather than someone perfect. So…"
For the first time, I saw Master Leon genuinely surprised.
And then, he burst out laughing.
"Ha ha ha, I see. I'll take that as a reference. I'm not sure if 'a man with flaws' is the ideal image for a teacher, but it's definitely worth considering."
His laughter, refined yet genuine, filled the air. Meanwhile, my face was burning with embarrassment.
Why do I always say things so out of place?
"So, Rapi, shall we… go pee outside together?"
"What are you suddenly talking about?!"
"You were the one who said it, right? That having flaws is better. Besides, my 'true nature' is pretty careless."
"I can't believe this…"
"Well, it seems being a teacher isn't easy, Rapi."
The sudden closeness caught me off guard, but Master Leon seemed to be enjoying the moment.
While showing subtle signs of concern, he also revealed his own vulnerabilities.
A teacher must be fair, but perhaps, depending on the situation, they need to adjust their approach for each student: showing seriousness and effort to some, while approaching others with a more relaxed and friendly attitude.
However, by doing so, fairness no longer remains equal for everyone.
The contradiction between the calling to guide students with diverse struggles and the role of a teacher —
I guessed that when Master Leon said "it's difficult," he meant precisely that contradiction.
"Maybe it's complicated, but still, when you share your honest feelings with me like this… it makes me very happy."
It wasn't just that, but…
In that moment, I spoke exactly what I felt.
Master Leon, walking beside me, stopped and looked back at me.
His sharp features softened by a gentle smile.
He reached out a hand and softly ruffled my hair.
It felt like an older brother — much older — was gently patting my head. A warm, slightly ticklish sensation.
Maybe we weren't supposed to be friends, but he treated me like we were — and that filled my heart with joy.
When I shared that feeling, Master Leon smiled again, eyes narrowing gently. He raised a finger to his lips and told me:
"Please don't mention this in front of the other girls."
"Why not?" I asked.
"Well, once I was caught patting another student on the head… and after that, a whole wave of them demanded I do the same for them."
I burst out laughing at his reply.