Chapter 147
Dormitory No.1
The First Hero. Senior 1's combat power, which I roughly grasped from the spirits, was at a level that could instantly destroy an entire planet just by flicking his finger. But that was when we talked about the real one. Based on common sense, Senior 1, who defeated the Demon King Pedonar, cannot exist here.
Then, what can the clone do? The absurd setting of the human clone was amazing, but it was even more absurd because the ruler of the galaxy, who was against the Fantasy God, was on a business trip as a teaching aid for his juniors.
"How much weaker is it than the real thing?"
"It's the same."
"Don't lie. If the First Hero had been reproduced, this place would have been destroyed right away. And the expression 'heyday' is also wrong. That senior who rules the galaxy is still getting stronger. Eliza, tell me the truth."
"It's Elise."
"Don't change the subject with your name."
"Forgive me. I can't tell you the exact number because it's not information for S-Class, but it has the same combat power as the student council president of the secondary education course.
"It's ambiguous."
How am I supposed to know the combat power of the student council president?
"I'm sorry."
"I can't help it. So what's next?"
"Always wear this name tag on your left chest. It sticks like a magnet, regardless of the material of the clothes."
Elise, the maid, put a license plate or something on me.
[2300001-S]
Numbers and letters were embossed on a light rainbow-colored rectangular plate the size of a finger. The 'S' at the end would mean my grade. Then, what was the number in front? Elise answered as if she had read my thoughts.
"It means that you are the first examinee of the 23rd curriculum. However, this is only the order in which you began training as a hero, so it doesn't affect your grades or evaluation."
"What if I don't wear it?"
"This is also a choice. However, if you die when you aren't wearing it, you can't be resurrected. While living here, it serves as a credit card and ID card, and it also has a surveillance camera function, so you can get help if you are being treated unfairly."
"Hmm~"
It looks like I have to wear it anyway.
"Think well. Among the participants of this festival, Kang Han-soo is the only S-Class graduate. Equipment is free. You can use whatever equipment you like, whether it's from Fantasy or Earth. However, I guarantee that the quality is much better if you pay for it from the Festival Continent."
"I know that. Next?"
"I will guide you through the internal facilities of the Elementary Education Center."
"Am I an elementary school student at this age?"
*
The place I was in was the men's dormitory at the Elementary Education Center. But if you think that only men were crowded in there, you would be mistaken. This was because there were maids placed throughout the men's dormitory. For example, there was a canteen run by beautiful women on the first floor, alongside a barbershop, a public bath, a convenience store, a nurse's office, a library, and a cafe.
But it wasn't just nice places. There was a cramped communal dormitory for eight people on the second basement floor and four people on the first basement floor. Of course, you can't expect windows because it was underground, and the toilet and washroom were shared. Fortunately, the cleaning was done by the maids.
Even though they were grannies.
Compared to that, the upper floors were paradise. In the second floor dormitory shared by two people, each room had a toilet and shower. The third floor was converted into a private room used by one person, with a desk and bookshelves added and a maid.
And I'm on the fourth floor. With the addition of a kitchen, a living room, and a maid's room to the accommodation, the area was also spacious. The maids' level was Grade B on the first and second floors and Grade A on the third floor.
"What about the top floor?"
"There are additions of private swimming pools with mermaids and floating gardens managed by elves. They are all empty now, however."
"Is that cool?"
"As a Grade S maid, I was also originally only in charge of the 5th floor. But I came down to the 4th floor because I had no work to do. So far, Graduate Student Kang Han-soo is the only person on the 4th floor."
The women's dormitory was the exact opposite. Handsome and gorgeous servants worked instead of pretty maids.
"What about the tents out there?"
Simple tents were gathered in the space between the men's and women's dormitories in no small number.
"This is a campsite where graduates of F-Class and below live together without gender discrimination. We do not provide any support other than free meals, and it is forbidden to enter the dormitory unless it is a matter of business."
"Indeed...."
It was blatant discrimination.
"Currently, the graduates are out of the dormitory to work on their scores, so it is rather quiet. The graduates' grades are updated at the end of each month, and the ranking determines the ranking reward at the end of the festival. Graduate Student Kang Han-soo, do you have any other questions?"
"No."
I also decided to leave the dormitory.
*
There were various ways to earn points. Hunting, training, volunteering, gathering, achievement, fighting...
Each graduate's actions were reflected in the score. Still, it was the unchanging truth that hunting was the most generous act. The purpose of a hero's existence was to punish evil.
"We're looking for a healer to go hunting the two-headed mutant ogre! We will depart as soon as you come!"
"We are looking for B-Class or higher companion to subdue the bizarre demon that only abducts virgins! The first two people will go with us!"
"We're looking for an F-Class companion to kill the corrupted slimes that live in the sewers. If successful, you can advance to E-class! Goodbye to the cold and hard ground!"
In front of the dormitory, men and women were eager to recruit companions. Seeing that, I clicked my tongue.
"You should have leveled up at a time like that."
In computer games, there was a limit to the growth of characters. The level was set at a maximum, and every time the equipment was updated, things with slightly better performance were released for commercial purposes. This was because if an individual who boasted overwhelming strength monopolized the hunting ground, the entire server would collapse altogether.
But the reality was different. There was no growth limit. In the game, developers who were slaves to money set aside the user, then while doing so, they limit the level and tell them to level up the character while saying 'Yeah. You guys do it on your own. Ptooey!'
However, suicide was the only way to put a stop to reality. You can't quit easily if you don't like it. The phrase the rich-get-richer and the poor-get-poorer wasn't a phrase that appeared out of nowhere.
"Hngh?! Are you an S-Class hero?!"
"What the...it's real! The real thing has appeared!"
"I thought it hadn't been implemented yet?!"
Those who saw my rainbow name tag made a fuss. Finally...
"Brother! If you have free time, please show me your skills! It would be an honor if I could join your party. Haha!"
"Awesome, Brother. Please let me join your party. I will never disturb you. I will stay quiet and only stir slightly at night. How is it?"
Some people also secretly wanted to take advantage of me. I burst into laughter.
"Sorry, my party is already full. It's already perfect."
Flutter!
As if responding to my call, Saint H, summoned into the air, slowly glided down to the ground with three pairs of wings spread out. Gracefully like a goddess. It was a spectacular performance every time I saw it. Those who saw her for the first time were overwhelmed, regardless of age or sex.
"Hi-Hiplia...?"
"It's Lady Hiplia!"
"My Goddess is that man's companion...?"
"This is a nightmare! Lady Hiplia!"
Like Lanuvel, the first encounter on the Fantasy Continent, no hero didn't know Saint H, who was the face of the Hero Festival. Isn't she very popular?
"It seems like I'm back in my hometown."
Saint H, who looked around the fussy crowd, gently closed her eyes, breathed in, and spoke with a smile.
"Do you know where it is?"
"Yeah. I can specify your current location with administrator privileges. But with the overall remodel, so much has changed. I see a lot of things that I cannot read under my authority."
"That's too bad."
"Sorry for not being of any help."
"Nothing to be sorry about."
Ignoring the astonished warriors, I summoned the wings of a righteous hero and flew into the sky. After that, Saint H followed.
"Master. Where are you planning to go? Even though the rivers and mountains have changed a lot due to the intervention of the faculty, this is my hometown. I can guide you to some extent."
"It's not a place. There are people I want to meet."
"By any chance, are you talking about Elfheim, the third Elf King, and his daughter?"
"Right."
Especially that breast-loving Elf King needs to be beaten up. That cunning bastard! He pretended to confess all the information he knew to the benefactor who saved him from the bird-brained people, but in reality, it was only the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps those regretful actions were also fake.
"Well...from what I've seen as an administrator, it seems that he is running a human-friendly city of elves. The third Elf King, Elfheim, is a companion who followed the First Hero, but he is on a temporary hold as he does not engage in hostilities against God. The city he runs is a tourist attraction where you can learn about elves' culture and traditions."
"That information's convenient."
"My authority has been greatly reduced since I became your possession, but first of all, I am a festival official."
The smile on Saint H's face was unfazed as she flew side by side with me. She seemed happy to be back home.
"Let's go see him right away."
"Yes, I will guide you."
It didn't take that long to get to our destination, thanks to a more accurate guide than a compass and map. It was a pleasant journey without encountering any natives asking for help.
It was too grand to be called a city. It was a beautiful pure white castle. With the help of the spirits, everything was made of ceramic, from the sidewalk blocks to the buildings and walls. The city of elves was a sprawling piece of art. It was like a miniature of the Elf Kingdom of the Fantasy Dimension.
"Is it obvious since the same person is both the King and the Mayor?"
If I fly over the city walls, I could bypass the gates at the entrance to the city, but there was no need to sneak in. It would also affect my score.
▷Score: 101
▷Ranking: 2850
As soon as I arrived in this city, I got 50 points, and when I passed the checkpoint normally, I got an additional 50 points. Saint H explained as we were walking side by side.
"The farther you explore from the dormitory, the more points you earn. Master, if only you trespassed into the city a while ago, you would have lost 50 points and be back to zero. As an administrator, I took a quick look at the rules, and it places a lot of emphasis on the spirit of obeying laws.
"It's not a problem~."
I didn't need to worry about it. As a rational citizen born on a beautiful green planet, Earth, I naturally obeyed the law as if breathing.
▷Score: 91
▷Ranking: 3016
"...Hmm? Why did my score drop all of a sudden?"
"Guessing the look on the face of that panicked security guard, it's because you naturally trespassed in the city hall, Master."
"Is it illegal?"
The Mayor and I aren't strangers! If his daughter's chest had been a little less pitiful, I would be his son-in-law.
"Because the system doesn't even care about past relationships."
"It's not flexible at all!"
Reluctantly, I returned to the entrance to City Hall and revealed the purpose of my visit.
▷Score: 96
▷Ranking: 2991
Then I immediately got back half of the points I lost when I trespassed into City Hall. Are you saying that self-reporting reduces penalty points? A grin came out of nowhere.
"It's a really funny system."
As I agonized over this blind spot in the system, an elf woman rushed out of City Hall. Then she looked at me with a happy face and shouted.
"Hero! You are back!"
She was Elf K, the daughter of Boss K.
"Elf K. You still look healthy. Nothing has changed since I saw you forty years ago."
"That's mean! Look carefully!"
With both hands tucked across the pelvis below her ant-thin waist, Elf K gave a proud expression.
...What was I supposed to see? A yellow T-shirt revealed a pretty belly button, pink hot pants that emphasized those Elf-like buttocks and thighs, two pairs of earrings on the top and bottom of the pointed earflap...
It was like a normal girl's style on Earth.
"You don't look old-fashioned."
"Not my clothes. Here!"
Elf K, who gave a frustrated look to me, shrugged and pressed her chest.
"...I know what you want to hear, but my memory isn't good enough to notice the changes in motes of dust."
"Dust, you say...?"
The sound of laughter sounded out from beside the crying Elf K.
"Hahaha! Look at it! Your dad is right, isn't he? The Hero will never be able to tell the difference- Ugh?!"
Thump.
Boss K, hit by his fighter daughter's elbow, fell as he grabbed his stomach.
"You're still a noisy father and daughter."
Saint H spoke, showing off her superior figure. Boss K, who collapsed on the floor, raised his head, and his face suddenly became brighter.
"Oh-oh! Saint! You're still attractive and flexible as always! I'm talking about the fruit hanging back there."
"...Hey, Boss K."
"Ah! How have you been, Hero? It must have been peaceful for you to be with se-...beautiful Saint like this."
I pitied Elf B, who missed this kind of husband, but I responded with a grin.
"I heard you weren't just in a partnership with the First Hero? You forgot about all the Relics of Chaos that you knew of. And also the details of how this senior ran away and his unique abilities."
"Hahaha...."
The third Elf King scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.