"Now the exam for next week would be dungeon exploration. It's not conquering or collecting necessary items. Just dungeon exploration."
It's been a few months after the raid of the Pure elemental users.
Right now the City is half-way to its recovery. Which would completely recover at the end of the year.
"Okay all of you are now dismissed. Also don't forget to apply for a leave from the campus for your exam."
"""Yes ma'am."""
We answered in unison to our professor.
There are a few rules that were added this school year.
That's right, it's the new school year for us already.
Most of us weren't able to return to our home due to the damage we had received, especially the transportation like the trains and the landing pad for the airship.
The damage was huge. But it's not like I wanted to go back home anyways. I would just feel bad to not be able to get in touch with my little brother and sister, especially about what had happened.
And to everybody's surprise not many students came to enroll this year. So it is rumored that somehow the entrance exam was lenient for the new students.
But I really don't know because of the school's new policy I had to finish a lot of things. Like for my business it is important to gain new workers for it to function properly without me. especially now that we plan on expanding it
Which is also the reason why I need to do something to be able to get out of the academy's vicinity for a short period of time.
So right now after we were told we need to do necessary procedures for our upcoming test next week.
We proceeded to leave class to get our necessities to be ready.
~~~~~~~~
At the certain premise of the school a group which seems to be a family were talking.
"How are you feeling these past few months Litiia?
"Hmm? it's okay ...."
With a low voice she answered.
"I see that's good." the principal said to her in a somewhat awkward manner.
"Oh look you have something on your mouth let me clean."
Wiping off the crumbs on her face Lily gently moved her hands.
"…thank you.."
Although low it wasn't as awkward as she was talking to the principal earlier.
Afterwards the two, Lily and Litia were playing after they had eaten.
"I guess it takes time for her to warm up to us huh." The woman beside him said so.
"Yes, and I'm quite glad that Litia is fond of Lily."
"You're right but it might also be because she seems to be quite close to her sister's age. So she might feel closer to her."
They said they were feeling quite down and happy at the same time.
~~~~~~~~
"Hmph."
Right at a certain room of a certain princess. The said princess is currently being grumpy from a certain situation.
"Why can't he come home with a private airship?"
"We can't. Your highness you do know that it is for emergency use. Also there will be a lot of people opposing it."
"Yeah I know, but…. Oh yeah! Can I still send letters?"
"I'm sorry but I don't think that's possible."
"Come on, please Kiara?"
"It's not that I don't want to but the damage there was so heavy that the transportation vehicles and even the bird that acts as a messenger won't be able to do it at a fast rate."
"I see so the weekly contact would be turned to a monthly."
"That's how it is."
"Come on."
The princess widely flailed her legs as she hated the current situation.
Seeing this the maids and Kiara were exasperated. After all, the person they are taking care of is such a tomboy.
"But I'm glad you're here. I really thought you are going to apply to join with big sister Milly."
"As much as I want to work with Lady Milfiera. I was given an important task by her Majesty."
"I see"
"Well then if you understand please continue your study and finish all the tasks that your Tutor has left you."
"Let me do it later. I wanna play with Dylan first."
"You can play after you are done."
"Eehhh…."
"Please, your highness."
"Fine then."
The two continue to banter as they do their respective duties.
~~~~~~~~
'Right now here for the dungeon exploration exam. And with me are a surprising combination of people.
Which leads me to suspect if the principal knows my identity.
Only to learn later that the group is determined by a magic processor, known as the computer.
The group I am with were the same people I took my rank up exam in the guild with. The only difference is that Talia's not here with us or him.
"Okay I guess we are now grouped together by our teachers. Well some of you might have known me already but I'll introduce myself.
I am James."
James then introduced himself to us and he then continued.
"I'll be acting as your guide and protector. And no I am not your examiner. The schools have their own ways of grading. Well then let's introduce yourselves now shall we?"
"My name is." We then introduce ourselves with me being the last.
"And I'm Anglos. Nice to meet you all."
"Everyone come here!"
As we were done introducing ourselves to each other the teachers called for all of us.
"We are now going to distribute this to all of you."
They then gave us a metal tablet. Along with some metal sticks.
"During your exploration you will have to list down what you discovered inside. But what you must do is write down the answer to the question of what the Magic tablet shows you."
They then explained to us how we will be graded.
"Once questions will pop up on the Magic tablet. You must answer those questions or you can just skip them."
"Also you can't ask for others help once you do it will automatically change the questions so please be careful."
"The Magic tablet corresponds to your ID and automatically gives questions."
"Well then that's all good luck students"
As they left those words to us little by little we were led to our respective dungeons to explore.
~~~~~~~~~
As we got in the dungeon we all looked at our tablet and from the looks of it. It was not yet time for us to answer.
And as we walked in Kim started to talk to everyone.
"I'm so surprised we were in the same group."
"Yeah that's unexpected." Replied one of the twins.
"Well we don't have Bolt or Talia with us though."
"That's true. Also we can't deny how awesome Bolt is right now."
"Oh yeah you were right. He's Amazing. How was he able to deal with those guys down with ease?"
"I also heard something about how he joined the assault team's second group."
"Oh yeah that one he made a great contribution at that time."
"Yeah you're right"
All of a sudden they talked about what I did which really surprised me.
But I guess that's to be expected after all that had happened.
Still this is making me embarrassed after all they continued to praise me as if I was a celebrity.
"To think we took the same exam as him last time."
Then the group turned solemn. Well that's to be expected although we were connected during that test we still felt regret during that time.
"Ah, no I didn't mean to." One of the twins who said that suddenly became flustered.
"It's alright." Said his brother as he patted him on his back.
Now that I see properly he has an automotive hand huh.
"Yeah it's okay. Plus we are leaving out someone with us so I guess we should stop there." James then followed up and reminded everyone I was here
"Yeah you're right. Sorry about that." The twin then turned towards me as he apologized.
"No it's okay." Receiving his apology was kinda awkward so I hurriedly responded to make him feel okay. After all, he didn't mean to say it.
We then dive deeper into the dungeon along the way questions started to pop up at everyone's metal tablet. Including mine, now this tests our knowledge about the dungeon which our teachers have taught us at the beginning of this new school year.
"Wow there is a lot of stuff here that I don't know."
"Well that's to be expected after all the lessons that you guys took at the first grading are just there to help you rank up."
"Eh so that's why."
"Yeah so now that you are all full fledged adults due to creating a core, everything from here on out will be mostly how you can make use of what you have."
"Because we just ranked up?"
"That's right. It's not like you can magically skip a rank or two and be better than your peers after all."
"I see, right now they want to challenge us by ingraining us with as much knowledge as they can with the best methods they know."
"Correct again."
We then started our exploration. It is not stated when we will stop but our limit is mostly in the first three floors of the dungeon.
So right now our only goal here is to finish filling up our tablet with as many answers as we could before the time limit.