"The seasons go by so quickly. It has already been six months since you all enrolled."
After class was over, I was called by Teacher Whip.
It's the usual three of us: me, my sister, and the young lady.
Everyone already knew that when a teacher used such roundabout language, it was a sign that new trouble was about to befall them.
So I can survive.
"We've been able to do a fair amount of classroom learning. Still, it's hard to generalize because each student progresses at their own pace, but we're starting to see some students say they've fully completed the curriculum in their first year."
...Well, everyone has their own pace when it comes to studying.
It doesn't matter if you do it fast or slow, as long as you achieve it within the set time frame, that's fine.
"Students who have not yet reached the required standard will continue to be required to devote themselves to classroom study, but forcing those who have already achieved the standard to do the same is a waste of time. Therefore, those who have received permission from me, their homeroom teacher, will be allowed to use the remaining time until they are promoted to free training."
"Free training?"
What is that?
"Free training means freedom; you are free to learn, study, or research whatever you want."
"Anything?!"
"It's within the bounds of common sense."
Tsk, I got stabbed by a nail.
Surely I'm not the only one who feels excited by the phrase "anything."
"Although you are all studying at the same school right now, your paths after graduation will be different. The purpose of the independent training is to carefully determine what will be useful to you in the future and incorporate it into your life."
By the way, the three of us - myself, my sister, and my lady - managed to complete the first year's curriculum and were given permission for free training.
That was what the call was about.
Now, what should we do?
How about some sex training?
I guess it's no good.
"Your goal was to succeed your father as lord. So it would be a good idea to pursue your knowledge of how to manage the territory. You could also prepare for your second year's subjects, or you could go out into the world and build up a network of contacts that will be useful in the future."
"I see!"
....
Is Teacher Whip giving teacher-like advice?
Is he giving advice like a teacher?
"...What about Sao-san and Caliba-san?"
"What shall we do?"
Who should I become from now on?
Who will he become?!
"Since your vocation is to be a knight, it would be a good idea to look into a career path that matches that. The most orthodox path would be to join the Knights."
"The Knights...?!"
"Each territory has its own knight order, and some are even privately run, but the largest and most legitimate is the Royal Knights. It is the highest honor for any knight to belong to an elite unit under the direct command of His Majesty the King."
"Oh, I see. Then maybe I should join the Royal Knights?"
light!?
"So naturally, it is no mean feat to become a member of the Royal Knights. They only recruit new members once every few years, and hundreds of people apply for each vacancy. It is a terrifying exam that tests not only ability, but also dignity, intelligence, and fair-mindedness, and even the most veteran warriors can fail without mercy."
"...I'm quitting joining the Royal Knights."
light!?
"If you want to reach the top as a knight, you need to start now to gain more combat experience and deepen your knowledge. Anyway, gaining experience and proving yourself is beneficial in any way, so why not just aim for it? Perhaps your efforts will open up new prospects."
"I see, then I'll aim for that."
So it's light?!
"And lastly, Sao-san... what should we do?"
"What should I do?"
I thought you'd been giving your sister and young lady some pretty accurate advice, so why did you suddenly get so worked up when it came to my turn, Sensei?
"Well, it all has to do with your vocation. The class of [rod master] is an unprecedented and extremely rare class. So there are no examples from the past, and without examples there is no way to give you any advice."
"That's a syllogism!"
"If you want to make the most of your 'calling,' you have to think from scratch about what you yourself should do. It's the fate of a leader. Pave your own path for your juniors."
"My responsibilities just keep increasing!?"
"That alone won't be enough for me as a teacher, so I'll just give you some advice. Since you have no other options, I think it's up to you what you want to do."
desire...?
"What you want to do as a rod maker is the guide to your future."
What I want to do as a [rod maker]...!?
Are you enjoying your harem with women from all over the world?
I'm going to have sex 10,000 times a day and impregnate every woman in this world with my child.
I won't let any other man lay a finger on me.
If the child that the women give birth to is a daughter, he will have sex with her and impregnate her.
My son doesn't know.
And to my newborn granddaughter...
"I feel like my wish won't come true."
"Do you have a wish for annihilation?"
When desire reaches its peak, it can only lead to the end of the world.
"...Well, as I said before, you're the first case of a [Rod Master]. You'll just have to feel your way around, so don't rush and take it easy."
"Thanks."
I'll commit this without rushing and taking it easy.
"Anyway, it would be best to gain some combat experience. Make sure you make full use of your super skill, Staff Technique (SS)."
However, that is not the true skill of a rod maker.
"So I have a suggestion."
"...What is it?"
The teacher's tone changed and I instinctively stiffened.
"Would you like to try out dungeon training?"
"Dungeon?"
Is it that huge labyrinth that always accompanies fantasy?
It stretches underground, its complex structure can easily confuse anyone who enters, and monsters roam the area.
It's dangerous, but at the same time it also contains mystery and romance. The dungeon that may contain a sealed demon at its deepest depths!
"Dungeons are scattered all over the world and have an important connection to humanity. Large numbers of monsters overflow from dungeons, and if left unchecked, they can destroy nearby towns and villages. On the other hand, the minerals and monster materials extracted from dungeons are valuable assets."
"yes"
"If there is a dungeon within the territory, it is the lord's duty to use it appropriately. Children with combat jobs who serve as guards may have to enter dungeons. That's why our school has a training period where students can actually enter dungeons to learn about them."
That's dungeon training...!?
"But isn't it dangerous? Doing something like that to a freshman?"
"That's right, so the official dungeon training won't begin until the second semester of the third year. However, Sao-kun and Caliba-san's abilities are guaranteed. They have also met the requirements for this year's study, so I think it would be fine to include them as part of the aforementioned free training."
Is this OK?
Is it okay to go dungeon diving?
"Just like Caliba, combat experience will be an advantage for you two, so why don't you two spend the rest of the year diving into dungeons together? I'm sure it will be a worthwhile experience."
"Spending the rest of the year in the dungeon...?!"
Is that even meaningful?
No, I guess it's meaningful.
Isn't that meaningful?
"I understand. Please let me take the dungeon training!"
"Me too, me too~"
My older sister, who was listening nearby, immediately agreed.
"That's a good answer. I thought you guys would say that. However, that doesn't mean you can take the dungeon training unconditionally."
What!?
Is there some kind of examination going on?
"The problem is the lineup. No matter how skilled you are, you are all still students and considered half-baked. We can't let those kids enter the dungeon alone."
"That's true... I'm sure they would say that for safety reasons."
"In proper training, it is mandatory to form a party of five or six people. I want Sao-kun and the others to follow that rule when they enter the dungeon, but for now, it's just Sao-kun and Caliba-san..."
If there is a minimum of five people, then they ask, 'Where are we going to get the other three?'
If this were a regular training course, all students would take it in the third year, so parties could be formed from among them.
However, as this was our first year and an exception to the rule, we were attempting a dungeon training session and didn't have any other friends who would be willing to dive with us!
"... How about Professor Whip? Maybe as a mentor?"
"There are still students who have not yet completed their required courses, so I can't leave that aside…"
That's right.
It's the teacher's job to get all the students promoted.
"Eh? Then where should I start recruiting members? I don't have any idea where to start."
"The best thing would be to piggyback off of this year's third-year students when they start their dungeon training. It'll be their first time, so they'll also be learning by trial and error, and there should be room for someone to join in."
"Are you going to join the seniors...?!"
Won't you get bullied?
"Even then, there was a problem; the third-year students' dungeon training starts in two months."
"Two months?!"
"You guys will have to wait until then."
Huh? I'm already full of motivation?
Two months is an odd amount of time, and I'm not sure what to do during that time.
"Aren't the fourth-year and final-year students already doing their internships? Why don't we put them there…?!"
My sister said.
That's a nice idea.
"The upperclassmen have already formed parties, so there is no room for you to join in. No matter how talented you are, the first-years won't consider you a valuable fighting force and will only treat you like a nuisance."
"No good?!"
So in the end we have to wait two months until the third year students start their training?
"Ufufu, aren't you forgetting someone important?"
Was it Lady Staaf who said that?!
Could it be you?!
"I would also like to participate in the dungeon training. Is that okay?"
"Eh? Yes, you have been given permission to do your own training... and I believe your vocation is a priest, right? Recovery magic is extremely useful when exploring dungeons."
"Then it's settled. I'd like to apply together with Sao-san and Caliba-san."
"However, wouldn't it be better for you to concentrate on preparing to take over as lord in the future? If your family's territory has a dungeon, you may be able to put your experience to good use..."
"No."
"If that's the case, then all the more so...!?"
That's right.
In the first place, we are allowed to attend school as the young lady's companions, so it's not right to involve the young lady in our convenience!
"I've come to realise this after living with you two for the past six months. Your talents are an immense treasure to our territory. Sao-san and Caliba-san are precious friends and family to me, and I want to support you both. But I am convinced that allowing you two to reach your full potential will be to the benefit of our territory in the future."
"My Lady!!!"
Lady Staaf's kindness was boundless, and both my sister and I were so moved that we hugged each other.
"I'll follow you for the rest of my life! I'll work for you my lady for the rest of my life!"
"I won't become a royal knight! After I graduate, I'll go back to the countryside and get a job there!"
If we can connect our people like this, it will be a great victory for you, my lady.
Miss Staaf may be a big shot after all.
They also have the maximum bond of a physical relationship.
"I understand, then I will submit an application for dungeon training with Mr. Staaf, but even so, there is still the problem of having three people."
Right.
We are still short of the minimum number of five required.
If things continue like this, the young lady's dedication will be wasted.
"Oh my, you seem to be in trouble?"
Then something appears, uninvited.
Are you Bloom?
"I've heard about it. Actually, we've finished the compulsory course and will now be entering our free training. I'm also a very talented student. I was wondering what exactly I should study, but I've decided now."
What does that mean?
No way...!?
"Instructor Whip, Moa and I would also like to participate in the dungeon training. Would you be able to accept our application?"
"Okay."
Ready to accept!?
"So now we have a party of five people, including you and us. Let's all work together to conquer the dungeon."