At this point, Van has been in the dungeon for 10 months.
He'd just returned from [Recess], and is now attempting to clear the 5th Circle.
But let us rewind for a bit.
Six months back. Four months after his exile; when Van had just defeated the level 1000 Wolfbeast and climbed to level 155.
His classmates, meanwhile, were still together.
Training and leveling up in the Royal Capital.
Location: Royal Capital of Aurelia – Varolon, Hero Training Grounds, late spring afternoon.
The sun was warm, the grass was green, and the air smelled like sweat and blooming roses.
"Fuck yea..." Kazuya huffed and puffed, wiping the sweat off his brow.
"I'm a level 17 baby!"
Kazuya spun his practice sword once and let the hobgoblin's body drop. A thin line of golden light lingered on the blade before vanishing.
The entire class spun and looked.
"S... Seventeen..!? Already!? Impossible..!"
"As expected of the Hero class, I suppose..."
"He just killed that level 20 hobgoblin..!! He's insane..!"
Kiriko squealed and threw herself at his arm. "Kazu-kun, you're insane! That's, like, almost triple what I managed!"
Takeshi whistled, leaning on his greatsword. "Tch. Still five levels ahead of me. Annoying bastard."
Mika fired a star-flecked arrow into a distant target just to show off; the bullseye exploded in glitter.
"Don't worry, we'll catch up eventually~"
Laughter rippled through the summoned class. Over thirty teenagers in shining, clean iron-lined uniforms, surrounded by gaping Aurelian knights and noble instructors who still couldn't believe their eyes.
The appointed head instructor, Sir Hicks, gave a low chuckle. "What stellar growth. Wouldn't you say, sir?"
The Captain of the Royal Guard of Varolon, Sir Nickelson, nodded as he stood beside him.
"Mere growth doesn't begin to cut it. Four months," Nickelson muttered, rubbing the stubble on his shaved chin. "Four months and even the weakest of them sits at level 4. The Hero himself just hit 17. My daughter Cerille has trained since she could walk, and they could probably beat her in a fight."
Another guard passing by let out a slow whistle. "Otherworlders truly are the Goddess's favorites, eh? At this pace they'll be ready for the Demon Lord's vanguard in mere 2 years."
Nickelson snorted. "Pfsch, cut the nonsense. The Demon Lord's estimated level is somewhere north of two hundred. Even if they catch up… That demoness will compensate for whatever she lacks in strength with experience."
The guard next to Hicks and Nickelson scratched his head, "Hmm… If you want experience, sir… What about, like, sending them to a dungeon to beat those brats into shape?"
"Absolutely not," Hicks snapped, "They're still children—"
"... Fine, you may be right." Nickelson replied flatly before clicking his tongue.
"Sir...?" Hicks turned to Nickelson, furrowing his brows.
"We've watched them play with their abilities long enough. Time to send a party of them into a proper dungeon. Let the stones teach them what sparring dummies can't and supervised training can't."
"But Sir, they're not ready for that kind of threat yet! I'll repeat this, they're but children—"
"Hicks," He looked at him, "They've stopped becoming mere children the moment they were appraised by the oracle. You know that."
"But a dungeon, sir?!" Hicks narrowed his eyes. "Even a low-ranked one has many variables that must be lived through first with a capable party if possible! You know that! And if one of them dies, you will..."
"I'm aware, Hicks. Enough!" Nickelson sighed, shaking his head, his long blond hair shifting with the motion. "Our wise king will not be pleased with my decision."
A moment of silence passed.
"Then sir, I beg you to reconsider. Their growth is fast enough as it is, isn't it? Let us supervise them until their rapid growth bleeds into instinct," Hicks urged gently, while Nickelson stared down at the training yard: Kazuya laughing, Kiriko floating, Takeshi flexing for applause.
"Rapid growth is meaningless," Nickelson said, his voice like gravel. "They are still children who think war is a game with extra lives. Petty, prideful, tribal, measuring cocks instead of swords, talking gossip instead of strategy. What this kingdom needs, Hicks..."
He turned, eyes hard.
"...are soldiers. "
Hicks fell silent.
"And don't patronize me, Hicks. I'm well aware of how a proper soldier must be raised,"
"Then—"
"But we don't have the time for slow guidance, now, do we?" Nickelson interrupted.
"... No, we do not." Sir Hicks said as he looked down.
"And swiftly raised soldiers aren't made by coddling. They need to hold themselves together when one of them dies on the battlefield. When they are disemboweled or torn apart by the enemy, they need the conviction to cast one more spell. Take one more swing... And a dungeon, in their case, is the greatest instructor they could have, if they survive."
Nickelson looked at Hicks, his gaze piercing.
"You know as well as I do that this is what we need. Not whatever they are at the moment."
No reply. Nickelson looked away, facing the group as he folded his arms; narrowing his eyes.
"Make the preparations. That's an order." Nickelson said finally.
"... Very well, sir. I shall." Hicks said before walking away.
"Wait," Nickelson stopped him.
"Yes, sir?"
"..."
"... Whatever arrangement you choose, keep the Hero out of it. Can't afford to lose him; as well as our High Saintess with the absolute barrier ability. I'll arrange their special training myself."
".... Of course." Hicks nodded before walking off.
He glanced at the guard making the offer.
"You look puzzled," Hicks noted at the guard.
"Well, not really, sir! I'm just excited that Sir Nickelson listened to my offer! I was kinda worried about saying it since I thought that he already considered everything… Y'know how he is. He always thinks things through about everything, and never takes us guards' advice and all. I think he's finally starting to see my worth!"
"... Well, enjoy it while it lasts." Hicks sighed as he kept on walking, glancing one final look at Nickelson.
Narrowing his eyes.
'I thought so too,' Hicks thought to himself before disappearing into the distance.
Across the yard, Kiriko floated three inches off the ground showing off her new halo skill while healing a line of practice dummies.
Takeshi arm-wrestled three palace guards at the same time and grinned as they lost.
And under the shade of a tree, Sato had been sitting with a spellbook open on his lap.
Rina stood a little apart, arms folded tight, watching Kazuya accept back-slaps and compliments. Her Sanctuary barrier flickered faintly around the group—habit now, automatic protection.
Kazuya noticed.
He jogged over, sweat making his hair stick to his forehead in that way all the girls liked. "Yo, babe. You've been weird all week. Still mad about that thing four months ago?"
Rina's jaw tightened. "Thing...?"
Her gaze narrowed.
"You threw a rock at his face, Kazuya. While he was being sentenced to death."
Kazuya rolled his eyes, smile never slipping.
"C'mon, Rina. He literally said 'I'll kill you all' in front of the king. What was I supposed to do, clap? Guy was unhinged. Everyone saw it. YOU SAW IT. He wanted to kill you too!"
"H-he was scared!"
"He was a walking curse. Oracle said so herself." Kazuya stepped closer, voice dropping to that soft, reasonable tone that always worked.
"Look, I get it. You knew him longest, right? Childhood friends and all that. But he's been gone for four months. Dead. Gone. You're letting a ghost ruin our spring, babe. You're being unhinged."
Rina flinched, eyes drifting away. "Unhinged...?"
"YES, unhinged," Kazuya said, lazily rolling his eyes.
"You keep makin' a scene. I told you this before. If you had such a big problem with what happened, why didn't you say something to the king? Why didn't you talk to that nice instructor Sir Hicks who babies everyone? Why is it only me you dump this on, even though you know exactly what I'm gonna say?"
"I... It's... Because... I..." she stuttered.
"It's because..." he said softly, taking her hands into his, voice melting into something tender, "you trust me. And I trust you. And because you trust me, you know I'll only tell you what's reasonable."
He stepped in, close enough that she felt his breath on her lips.
"And what's reasonable... is putting a smile on that pretty face of yours. Just forget about him, okay? I'll give you extra care tonight."
Rina's mouth twitched, switching between smile and frown... But his intoxicating breath made certain it landed on the former.
"F... Fine... damn it..." she whispered, cheeks pink. "I'm just sad, you know..."
"I know, babe. That's why I'm here for you."
Kazuya tucked her hair behind her ear and hugged her tight, as smooth as water.
The training grounds were beautiful: white stone walls, flower boxes, banners snapping in the breeze.
Laughter everywhere.
A bard who was allowed to come watch the training was already composing a ballad about "the Golden Hero Kazuya and his Saintess."
Kazuya lifted her chin with two fingers. "We're saving the world here. The actual world. The Demon Lord's legions are already burning border villages. So let's keep moving forward. Together."
"...Okay," she breathed.
"Good girl."
He kissed her forehead. "Now smile. We're having barbecue on the palace roof tonight. King's treat—"
"...Jesus Christ. What a fucking snake."
The calm, flat voice cut through the spring air like a needle.
Rina froze.
'W... What...?' She mumbled in her mind.
Kazuya snapped his head toward the sound.
'Who the fuck has the balls..!?' Kazuya thought.
Sato sat beneath the tree, spellbook still open on his lap.
"What was that?!" Kazuya barked.
Sato didn't even lift his eyes. He just pointed lazily at the tree roots.
"You didn't see it?" he said. "Big snake slithered right past you two."
'...' Kazyua swallowed once, narrowing his eyes at Sato.
'No. No way. He's still scared like a little bitch at the sight of me. He wouldn't have dared...'
Kazuya shook his head.
'Yeah. Just some nerd shit. He'd be dead otherwise.'
Kazuya blinked, annoyed but uncertain. "Ah... huh... whatever, man."
Sato didn't reply.
He turned a page, jaw tight, expression unreadable.
'Me and and you weren't enemies,' he thought, fingers tightening around the spellbook. 'If anything... I was indebted to you, Makoto.'
'I was Kazuya's target before you transferred to our school, you know?'
He sighed quietly. 'I was so relieved when that bastard picked on you instead...'
His finger twitched.
'It might sound like ass, but when I saw how Kazuya mocked your comics and NEET habits… I wanted to talk to you. Since I was the same. I guess our only difference is that I was more casual with everyone, and knew when to open my mouth.'
'And then… You were sentenced to die when it was supposed to be your redemption story.'
His lips tightened. 'After everything you went through... after I never even told you I was sorry...'
'And now Rina just brushes it aside after one talk with that motherfucker... A scumbag who got the lead role while someone like you was brought down on your knees by the entire world. How fucking ass is that?'
He shifted in his spot, gulping as he looked up.
'Maybe it's a good thing you died, Makoto.'
'This world is just fucked.'
'So, so fucked.'