Dungeons. The source of the economic, technological, and military might of the Northern World over the rest of the globe. Manaliths were the premier source of convenient portable accessible energy.
Even if handled by those without mana, there was practically zero danger because even when manaliths are jumped, discharged, or what not, the mana merely fizzles out into the atmosphere. Mana explosions can only occur under specific conditions, none of which are present in a manalith especially without the intervention of someone who can handle mana.
Manaliths were the number one export of nearly every country in the Northern World in terms of revenue and profit. The processed versions of manaliths were worth even more out there due to their ease of use.
Manaliths were the crystallized form of mana, usually refined from either mana cores hidden inside monsters or from the dungeons itself.
Very rarely do monsters exist in places outside dungeons, thus the majority of mana cores were harvested from dungeons.
The exorbitant value of manaliths made dungeons a national resource tightly controlled by the ruling powers. Thus, it also fell to reason that the kingdoms regulated and held administration of dungeon diving.
The Empire had four dungeons in total: one in Lumisade, in Feind, in Verge, and in Edelasse. Dungeons were especially unequal in its productivity and difficulty. The dungeon with the lowest production of manaliths was the dungeon in Lumisade. There was a variety of factors contributing to this lack of productivity, but the main reason was the low quality of mana cores coupled with the high difficulty of the dungeon itself.
On the other hand, the dungeon in Verge was on the complete opposite side of the spectrum when compared to the one in Lumisade. It had very high quality of mana cores with a suitable gradual rise in difficulty as you go deeper into the dungeon.
For combat majors, there were really only three realistic paths they could take after graduation.
First was the military. Graduates who go into the military would all be fast-tracked to officers, the rank of which depending on their performance. This was the choice that most combat major graduates wanted to take. It was a simple path to success in life with no drastic twists and turns with a regular salary and government benefits.
Second was dungeon diving. Dungeon diving was administrated by the nation, but that didn't mean that it wasn't open to the public. You just had to apply for registration and comply with the regulations set by the governing body. The most prominent of which was to sell all the mana cores wholesale to the government as soon as you exit the dungeon.
Third was neither. In this case, combat majors just had to render either sufficient service to the country or a flat sum, especially if they had plans to emigrate out the empire.
With all these said, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that the classes concerning the dungeon was the most important classes for any combat major.
Last week, right before class ended, our instructor for Dungeon Combat mentioned that we would experience a pseudo-dungeon this week, leaving nearly everyone excited for the following week.
Throughout the week, our general combat class instructor — Berthard — brought each team a monster to slay every morning. Each of us was made to kill a monster directly and individually. Even Esther — Team Elfman's support major — had to kill a monster on her own.
She used her staff like a club as she slammed it on the rabbit-turned-monster's head repeatedly. It honestly felt like hers was the most painful way to go than when everyone else did it, because she had a hard time finding the finishing blow.
The third Friday finally came and we — Me, Vera, and Reina — arrived at the predetermined meeting point. Located at the exact center of the College of Combat's jurisdiction was a bunker-like building made of reinforced metal. The heavy gated door was still closed and a lot of people were already waiting around the entrance.
There were small areas dedicated to resting and healing which were currently filled with students waiting for things to start.
It wasn't long after that when multiple instructors came and stood in front of the gates with Berthard standing in the middle. He stepped forward.
"This is the academy's very own pseudo-dungeon, or more clearly, Artificial Dungeon Simulation. A project borne from the trifold collaboration between the College of Mana, the College of Sciences, and the College of Combat."
"All you have to know is that you will have to go in as a team and reach a certain checkpoint. Inside, you will find monsters of suitable difficulty for your level up until you reach the checkpoint. Once you do, you will then have to bring what you get from the checkpoint back up to the surface."
"For this session, there will be no scoring on the number of monsters you've slain. Any questions?"
A still silence encompassed all six hundred students in the area. Every combat major freshman was present today. If I had to guess on someone willing to break the silence and ask a question, it really could only be —
"How will we be scored?"
The question, predictably, came from the person beside me: Reina.
"It will only be told after the session."
"Is there any expectations of safety measures in place inside?"
"No. Healing will be provided both at the checkpoint and here outside."
"Will we be observed throughout our time inside?"
"Yes. Easily visible observational devices are in placed in the area up until the checkpoint."
"Do the monsters inside have mana cores? What should we do with the monsters we will slay?"
"Yes. For now, only take the mana cores and leave the corpse be."
Reina nodded and ceased her questions. "Anyone else?"
This time, no one did. Either everyone was still too intimidated by Berthard's demeanor or Reina had asked every question in their mind.
"As you enter the pseudo-dungeon, you will be given a band which you have to keep with you at all times. You must show this band at the checkpoint and when you return here. Begin."
At his words, the gate creaked and groaned as it opened, revealing dark passages lit only by sunlight. Some teams immediately rushed in, in hopes of reaching the checkpoint first.
Thankfully, Reina wasn't as hurried as they. We double-checked our weapons and equipment.
I was wearing a doublet under a brigandine as my armor with a sword hanging by my waist and a staff hung around my back. I elected to not bring a bow, since I didn't really see much use for it currently even if it was one of my electives. I had a lantern on the opposite side of my sword.
If one compared my equipment to Reina's and Vera's however, they'd definitely think that I was too armored. Reina had her gauntlets on, a form fitting long sleeved cloth shirt with a bit of padded leather at front with a matching pair of pants. The only other thing she was wearing that had metal was her steel-toed combat boots. A lantern was also hanging from her side attached to her belt.
Vera, for her case, had her staff and wore something similar to Reina. A bit of padded leather, but she was mostly wearing cloth. To be fair, it was probably fine for her since she was our dedicated rearguard at this point.
Throughout the week at home, Professor Ilmarë and Petra helped us learn magic well enough for us to be able to use it for today. This time, we actually did have long distance options.
"Yo! You going in yet?" A boisterous voice piped up at us. It was loud enough for other people around us to come looking.
"Idiot! Keep your voice down! Dumbass!"
I turned around just in time to see Esther whacking Leon on the head. The two human members of Team Elfman had come by with the other two members, Liltissë and Ingwil, following along.
"There's no need to put even more eyes on us!"
I smiled. What Esther said was kind of true. As members of Combat Class One, we were already being kept track of my everyone in our year. The special privilege of having the dean as an instructor was something envied by many.
"We'll go in after double-checking our stuff."
"You're all so sagacious!" He chuckled, eliciting another head whack from Esther. "That's not even how you use that word! Just use well-prepared, cautious, or prudent like a normal person!"
Our team's relationship with Team Elfman had gotten a bit closer now over the week.
"Anyways! We'll be heading in first! It's a competition, okay?! Bye!" Lando immediately rushed out, leaving his teammates behind. "Come on! You guys!"
The three of them sighed and trudged towards their teammate as they bid us goodbye.
With all our stuff ready to go, we passed by Berthard as we crossed the open door.
"You need me to wish you luck or something?" His gruff voice sounded incredibly bored.
Reina had no qualms about rebutting. "The band."
He yawned as he motioned for another instructor to hand us our bands. It had the time we entered the door printed on it along with our team name.
With the band now worn, we entered the dungeon.