Chapter 64: Announcement

The Headmaster walked forward, but it still took some time for the students to settle down. Dustin only stopped talking after Raul nudged him, and the remaining conversations slowly faded as the Headmaster looked over the room.

"A Yellow-grade dungeon has been approved for a supervised academy expedition." The Headmaster announced.

Someone seated a few rows ahead immediately turned towards his friend, but the Headmaster continued before the whispers could spread.

"The dungeon has been secured, and the expedition will take place within the approved areas. Professional summoners will accompany the selected students, alongside members of our own training staff."

"Yellow?" Dustin whispered as he leaned slightly towards Raul.

Raul nodded without taking his eyes away from the front.

Leon adjusted himself in his seat. Green dungeons were one thing, but a Yellow-grade dungeon could contain Grade 3 and Grade 4 monsters. There would actually be monsters inside that could properly challenge his stronger summons, though exactly how much of the dungeon they would be allowed to explore was another matter.

The Headmaster waited for the murmuring to reduce before continuing.

"This expedition is intended to give suitable students experience against threats beyond those encountered in ordinary academy practice. It is not open to everyone."

Several of the students who had started speaking stopped again after hearing that.

"Selection has been based on demonstrated ability and performance. Those selected will receive the expedition schedule and attend the required safety briefing before departure."

The Headmaster stepped aside, allowing Lex to come forward.

"I want everyone listening to understand what secured means." Lex said as he looked over the students while the Headmaster walked off the stage. "The dungeon has been assessed, and the areas we intend to use have been checked."

His eyes slowly moved across the room as he paused for a brief moment.

"You will follow the assigned route, remain with your group and obey the accompanying professionals. If you are told to withdraw, you withdraw. You do not stay because you think you’re about to win." He said.

Leon looked towards the unfamiliar summoners while Lex spoke. They all appeared comfortable standing before the entire assembly, with one of them having his arms folded while watching the students instead of Lex.

"Nobody goes after a retreating monster on their own." Lex continued. "Nobody decides to explore a passage because it looks empty. You will be told where you can go and what you can engage."

Dustin settled back into his seat. Lex wasn’t speaking particularly harshly, but he sounded like an instructor explaining rules he expected everyone to follow.

"The dungeon is considered controlled. That does not make it harmless. Some of the monsters there are strong enough to injure or kill you. The supervisors are there to keep the expedition within its limits, but that depends on you following the procedures."

The room had become much quieter than before.

"If you cannot do that, you will not participate."

Lex returned to his place beside the other instructors, and by then, the Headmaster had climbed up the stage platform again and stepped forward again with a list in his hand.

"The following students have been selected." He stated.

"From the first year, Leon Carter."

As soon as the name left his lips, Dustin immediately turned towards Leon, along with several other students seated farther away. Leon had already expected that he would at least be considered once he heard the purpose of the expedition, but hearing his name still felt good.

"Linda Storm."

Leon looked across the first-year section and found Linda seated a few rows away. Her back was straight and her attention remained on the front, only giving a small nod when her name was called.

’Leon and I, huh? Not surprising.’ She said in her mind as she kept paying attention.

The Headmaster looked down at the list again.

"From the second year..."

"That’s it?" Dustin whispered as he turned back towards Leon.

"Right? I was expecting Ray too." Raul said quietly.

Only two students had been chosen from the first year.

Leon looked at the list in the Headmaster’s hand before glancing towards Linda again. She had also noticed that the Headmaster had already moved on to the second years.

"Seth Collins." The Headmaster had moved on to third years. Seth was the only one called from the Fourth years.

Leon recognized the name immediately. It was the same Seth he had fought during his first match in the tournament. Leon hadn’t really thought about him since then, but Seth was seated closer to the front, looking quite pleased after hearing his name.

Several more names followed.

Leon recognized some of the students when they reacted, though he didn’t know most of them well enough to care much about their selection. Whatever the academy used to choose them, they had clearly done enough to meet the requirements.

Aaron Grey’s name wasn’t called.

Everyone waited until the Headmaster finished the third-year list before looking over their section. They couldn’t tell why Aaron had been left out. He had reached the tournament finals, and even with the limitations of his summon, there were few students in the academy who could confidently defeat him.

Dustin seemed to notice it too, but he remained silent while the Headmaster continued speaking.

"Lex will accompany the expedition with the assigned academy trainers. The professional summoners standing here will also be part of the supervising team."

The Headmaster introduced the visitors before explaining that the selected students would be divided into groups. The details of each group and the exact arrangements for the expedition would be given during the safety briefing.

Leon listened carefully. He didn’t particularly care which group he was placed in, but he wanted to know how much freedom they would be given inside the dungeon. Judging by everything Lex had said, it probably wouldn’t be much.

That was reasonable though.

Leon could take both Great Swordsmen into a Yellow-grade dungeon, but his own body was still nowhere near as durable as theirs. If something managed to get past them, he couldn’t afford to take the kind of attack they could. Having professional summoners nearby wasn’t a bad thing, especially since this would be his first time entering a Yellow-grade dungeon.

But even then, that was only a limitation he faced because he had to use his strength wisely. Perhaps soon, once he was sure, he wouldn’t be hiding his strength anymore... and that time was coming very soon.

The assembly ended shortly after, and conversations started almost immediately. The students who had been selected began looking for one another though within their level, while those who hadn’t were discussing the list and why certain people had been chosen.

Leon heard his name more than once as students moved past him, but didn’t pay attention.

"Well." Dustin said as he stood and stretched his arms.

Leon looked up at him.

"Guess you’re finally getting away from us."

"You sound disappointed."

"I’m not."

"We might actually get a quiet afternoon." Raul said as he picked up his things.

"You two are usually the ones talking." Leon replied while standing.

"That’s because someone has to." Dustin said.

’Am I a bad friend?’ Leon thought to himself, but he knew it was still largely jkingly that they had said that.

They followed the rest of the students out of the assembly hall. Once they were outside, Dustin looked at Leon again.

"A Yellow-grade dungeon. That’s a good chance."

"Should be." Leon said with a nod.

"You don’t sound very excited."

"He sounded the same after winning the tournament." Raul said, waving a hand freely.

"Fair point."

Dustin looked towards some of the students gathering nearby.