The next day.
At last, the morning of the practical evaluation had arrived.
The students of Class A were riding in carriages on their way toward the underground dungeon.
"Isn't it fascinating?" Claudia said, her eyes filled with amazement.
From inside the carriage, Cindy gazed out the window.
"I can't believe there are so many dungeons and ruins gathered in such a small place like Roke Mountain…"
Knox shrugged lightly.
"FYI, Nefthis is a bit of a collector. Whenever she discovers an ancient ruin somewhere on the continent, she supposedly relocates the entire thing here to Roke Mountain." Knox said with a casual smile.
"Wow! The whole ruin?"
Knox, Cindy, and Claudia continued chatting excitedly.
Meanwhile, Merida didn't say a single word during the entire ride.
Well, as usual.
She was sleeping.
"Alright, we've arrived! Everyone, step out!"
Finally, the carriages came to a stop, and the students disembarked one after another.
Group 8 stepped down as well.
Then—
their attention shifted toward another carriage that had just stopped nearby.
Not only Group 8, but many of the surrounding students also turned their heads.
The previously lively chatter slowly quieted.
Because stepping down from that carriage was Meilyn.
She was using crutches.
"…They're screwed."
"I heard their main combatant got injured?"
Whispers immediately spread among the students.
"If their main fighter's in that condition, there's no hope. The whole strategy is ruined from the start."
"Well, that's a win for us."
"Shhh! Keep your voice down!"
Ignoring the murmurs around her, Meilyn walked forward with firm determination.
Her teammates from Group 7 silently followed behind her.
Watching this scene, the trio—Cindy, Claudia, and Merida—looked at Meilyn with worried expressions.
Knox, who also saw the scene, quietly shook his head.
Sigh…
"I can only say this—no pain, no gain," Knox muttered softly. "At the very least… she'll grow stronger because of this."
His gaze lingered on Meilyn as he spoke.
Kizen's underground dungeon was essentially a massive prison that held monsters captured from all across the continent.
And not only monsters.
It was said that the deepest level of the dungeon also imprisoned some of the most horrific criminals on the continent.
Walking behind the instructor, the students glanced around nervously.
From various directions, terrifying screams and monstrous howls echoed through the stone corridors.
"Hm, based on what I've heard—though it's only an unconfirmed rumor—they say there's actually an angel chained up and sealed on the very bottom floor of this dungeon," Knox said casually.
At Knox's words, Cindy and Claudia shuddered.
"D-Don't scare me! Angels? Seriously?" Cindy said.
"Hehehe. If demonkin exist, it wouldn't be strange for angels to exist too, right?" Knox replied with a playful grin.
Still… looking at this dungeon, it's not bad.
Maybe I could copy this design later for my armies.
As for who will oversee the construction…
Hmm… Igris wouldn't mind, right? Hehe.
Meanwhile, somewhere far away—
a knight clad in black armor suddenly sneezed.
The bug-like creature standing beside him slowly turned its head toward the knight with an expression that clearly said:
Did he just sneeze…?
Back with Group 8—
Fortunately, they didn't have to go that deep into the dungeon.
Their destination was a wide chamber surrounded seamlessly by brick walls carved directly from solid rock. Just like the training rooms above ground, a mana projector was mounted on the ceiling.
"This way, please."
When they entered, they saw Jane and several instructors already waiting.
It was the first class under Jane since the student protection period had ended, so the students immediately stood stiffly at attention.
Jane opened her mouth to speak.
"Attention."
"Attention!"
"In the morning, Groups 1 through 8 will proceed with their evaluations. Once inside the dungeon, you will be facing a live Cyclops."
The instructors walked around, handing each student a clipboard and pen.
It was the life waiver mentioned during the first class.
A document stating that no matter what happened inside the dungeon, Kizen would not be held responsible.
"Of course," Jane continued calmly, "if your life is more important than this test, you are free to put down the form and leave."
But the students had already steeled themselves the moment they chose to enter Kizen.
Without hesitation, everyone signed the waiver.
After that, the instructors began distributing the combat uniforms.
"Once again, the evaluation will be halted under three conditions.
"First, if the combatant is rendered unable to fight."
"Second, if any member raises their hand and declares surrender."
"And third, if a professor or safety officer determines the battle can no longer continue."
"The safety officer will be Agent Andrew, dispatched from Kizen Headquarters."
A man standing next to Jane, heavily armed with various pieces of equipment, bowed his head slightly.
He had an extremely stoic presence.
"Then we will now begin with Group 1's evaluation."
Group 1 remained where they were, while the other groups were guided to an upper-floor room.
It served as a waiting area where students could rest, and one entire wall was made of transparent material like glass, allowing a clear view of the battle area below.
"It… it really is a Cyclops!"
"That thing is huge."
"I didn't believe it would be a real battle until now."
"What do we do…?"
The waiting room buzzed with nervous voices as the students stared down at the massive Cyclops.
Meanwhile—
Knox's group remained calm.
Confident.
Even excited.
Of course, beneath that confidence there was still tension and nervousness.
Knox noticed it immediately.
So he smiled.
"Guys," Knox said casually, "after this test… how about we throw a party?"
Cindy, who had just swallowed nervously, instantly snapped her head toward him.
"Huh?! Did I just hear the word party?!"
Merida, who had also perked up slightly, asked quietly,
"…Party. What kind of party?"
Claudia leaned forward with sparkling eyes.
"Will there be a lot of food?"
Knox smiled.
"Of course there will be a lot of food."
He paused dramatically.
"As for the type of party…"
"I think a barbecue party would be nice, don't you think?"
"BARBECUE?!" Cindy shouted.
Knox grinned.
"And a lot of sweets~"
"…Sweets?"
Merida's tone didn't rise much, but her body froze instantly as if she had just been struck by lightning.
Knox continued calmly.
"And of course—appetizers, vegetables, salads, and drinks."
"Salad?!" Claudia asked, her eyes lighting up.
Knox chuckled.
"So… what do you think? Interested?~"
Cindy, Claudia, and Merida answered in perfect unison.
"Yes!!"
Knox nodded approvingly.
"Hehe. But before that…"
His expression suddenly turned serious.
"…we have to face a trial."
"A trial that we must not only pass—"
"—but pass with a perfect score."
He looked at the three of them.
"So tell me."
"Can you guys do it?"
Cindy, Claudia, and Merida shouted in unison.
"Yes!"
Knox raised an eyebrow.
"Hm. I think you're still lacking some spirit."
He raised his voice.
"I said—can you do it?"
"CAN WE DO IT?!"
This time the answer came louder.
"YES!!"
Knox grinned.
"Well done, cadets."
"Now…"
"Let's destroy that pitiful Cyclops."
Cindy, Claudia, and Merida raised their fists.
"OH!!"
Then the four of them looked at each other.
A moment passed.
"Pfft—!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Laughter echoed from Group 8.
Meanwhile, the other students watching the scene were left speechless.
But mixed in that silence was a strange sense of envy.
"…I'm jealous."
"Hmph. Don't make me laugh. If they fail after that kind of performance…"
"…Do you really think that's possible?"
"…."
Among the groups watching this scene was Group 7.
And their situation was the complete opposite of Group 8.
Group 8 was filled with confidence and laughter.
But Group 7 stood there in awkward silence, despair, tension, and a faint trace of hope mixed together in the air around them.
Then, Group 7 settled into a quiet corner on the opposite side of the waiting room and began discussing their plan.
"Alright, alright. Let's loosen up a little! We still have a chance!"
Rick clapped his hands loudly to break the tension and start the discussion.
Everyone exchanged ideas in a serious atmosphere. From time to time, cheers and screams from other groups echoed in the background.
They could roughly tell which groups had succeeded and which ones had failed.
Unsurprisingly, Hector of Group 3 had succeeded in the hunt.
Time passed quickly, and finally—
"Group 7, step forward."
It was impossible to say how quickly the hours had passed, but it was already Group 7's turn.
The members of Group 7 followed the instructor downstairs.
As Meilyn made her way down, the once-quiet students suddenly rushed toward the transparent wall.
"She's still going ahead with it despite her leg injury?"
"Is that even allowed? I thought the doctor put restrictions on her."
Then, a calm voice suddenly interrupted the murmurs.
"You guys… how about looking at it properly? Don't you think something's a little different with them~?"
Knox said while pointing toward Group 7.
"Wait… hold on a second!"
Someone leaned closer to the glass.
A student pointed toward the battlefield.
Simon was wearing the protective vest meant for the main combatant.
"It's Simon! They changed the combatant to Simon Polentia!"
"Is he going to be okay?"
"Of course not! They've been relying on Meilyn's Dark Flare all this time. Their entire plan just got thrown out the window."
"But how is a Summonology student supposed to fight a Cyclops?"
"Idiot. Isn't there Knox who can do that?"
"But he's not Knox Aznable…"
"He probably just wants to show he did his best until the end or something."
Just then, Hector, who had been occupying two seats by himself, narrowed his eyes sharply.
"Simon Polentia is the combatant?"
"S-So they say…"
One of Hector's faction boys laughed awkwardly.
Then—
a voice suddenly interrupted them.
"Didn't you always keep an eye on him?"
"Not going to watch~?"
When they turned, they saw Knox standing there with his arms crossed, still smiling.
"Isn't Simon your lovely rival~?"
"…"
A vein throbbed faintly on Hector's forehead.
But he simply closed his eyes and said nothing.