Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 374
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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374.
Thud- Thud-
After getting properly dressed, the group that had entered the underground casino, Shadow, stood on the stairs.
Whooom-!
Watching the stairs automatically moving downward powered by magic stones, Chelsea muttered with a hmm- sound.
“They must have quite a lot of money. Just look at how they made the entrance stairs.”
“You can say that again. Look at the ceiling.”
Cal looked up at the ceiling and clicked his tongue.
The ceiling, which gleamed as if coated with gold, had expensive-looking gems embedded in it like stars.
Between the gems, magic stone lamps emitting bright light caught their attention.
“They’re showing off their wealth so blatantly that it almost looks vulgar.”
“I agree.”
Juwen nodded at Betty’s words.
“Leo, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
Chloe, who was at the front, asked Leo who was lost in thought.
“I was thinking about this underground casino.”
More precisely, it was about Rodia’s Treasure Trove located beneath this place.
According to Larel, there was a labyrinth on the path to Rodia’s Treasure Trove.
‘She said this casino was built on top of that labyrinth.’
When Leo asked what was inside the treasure trove, Larel shook her head.
‘I don’t know exactly what Rodia left there either. However, I do know that it’s a conquest reward obtained from the Heroes’ World, like Seirun’s Cometes.’
Leo recalled Cometes sleeping in his extradimensional space.
The strongest existing magic staff that simultaneously contained Luna and Seirun’s mana.
Since it was something left by Rodia, who could be called the leader of the Heroes of the Cataclysm, it might be an item comparable to that Cometes.
‘First, to get to the labyrinth, we need to pass through this casino.’
Clank-!
Thud- Thud- Thud-
The stairs stopped.
Leo’s group moved their steps along the corridor.
Unlike the flashy entrance, not a single magic stone lamp was visible, and only a door at the end of the corridor with light seeping through could be seen.
“Welcome to Shadow.”
“Welcome.”
Those guarding the door greeted the group and opened the door.
Flash-!
Everyone slightly frowned at the bright light.
And everyone’s mouths fell open at the scene that unfolded inside.
The interior beyond the door reminded them of a social club’s lobby.
Beautiful melodies played by an orchestra flowed from the hall beyond the lobby, and neatly dressed attendants moved about with elegant gaits.
“The atmosphere is different from what I expected.”
Chloe tilted her head.
Those who had been secretly tense at the mention of an illegal casino looked relieved.
Leo approached the lobby counter.
“Good day, sir.”
A woman in a suit standing at the counter bowed with a kind smile.
“Customers, if you have anything that can prove your identity, could you please place it on the counter?”
At the staff member’s words, the group took out their Lumern student IDs from their pockets.
The staff member who received the student IDs examined them carefully.
Then she reached under the desk and placed nine small boxes on the counter.
“In order, these belong to Luke, Austin, Betty, Juwen, Iliana, Cal, Chelsea, Chloe. And Leo.”
The staff member who placed each student ID on top of the boxes smiled brightly.
The group looked puzzled as they picked up the boxes, put away their student IDs, and opened the boxes.
Click-
“Cards?”
“They look like platinum?”
“Wow, is that a diamond embedded there?”
“Only the class president’s is a different color. His is black.”
“These are our store’s membership cards. All nine of you have been verified as Lumern students. Luke, Austin, Betty, Juwen, and Iliana are Platinum grade, while Cal, Chelsea, and Chloe are Diamond grade.”
Everyone looked amazed at those words.
“How do the VIP grades work?”
At Austin’s question, the staff member continued with a smiling face.
“There are Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond grades.”
Hearing that explanation, Iliana made a slightly displeased expression.
“I have a question. Why isn’t the class president in those grades? And why are they Diamond when I’m Platinum?”
“Hero Academy students are basically given Platinum grade. After that, we upgrade to higher grades based on reputation and school performance.”
“Then why is he Diamond?”
Iliana pointed at Cal.
“Cal Thomas was given Diamond grade for having conquered the Divine Blacksmith’s world.”
“Pfft… Iliana. Among the 2nd years, you’re the only one at the same level as the freshmen.”
“Ugh! How dare you, Cal!”
“Hey! How dare you! How can a Platinum speak so rudely to a Diamond!”
“You! Stop right there!”
Iliana, who was provoked by Cal teasing her, charged at him.
Cal ran away from Iliana while annoyingly teasing her.
“Take this!”
Iliana took off the heel she was wearing and threw it.
The heel flew like a boomerang and hit Cal precisely in the temple.
“The reason Leo Flobe is not in the VIP grades is because he is someone we dare not grade. We call such people ‘King.'”
“What kind of people receive King grade?”
When Juwen asked with a curious face, the staff member thought for a moment and smiled brightly.
“King grade is given to those with status and prestige comparable to a nation’s monarch.”
Everyone’s mouths gaped, but Chelsea and Chloe nodded as if it made sense.
“Well, he is the Lumern Student Council President.”
“His external prestige is comparable to the head of a decent hero family or a king.”
With the two shrugging their shoulders behind him, Leo asked.
“So, what’s good about receiving a high grade?”
When Leo waved his card and asked, the staff member smiled.
“Each VIP grade has areas in our store that you can access. For King grade, you can consider there are no restricted areas.”
“Is that so? Then can I go underground too?”
“Underground…? This place is underground though?”
“I mean further underground than here.”
Leo tapped the floor with his toes.
The staff member’s eyes widened at those words, then she smiled.
“Regarding that inquiry, it’s difficult for me to answer at my level. I recommend having a meeting with our store master.”
“What do I need to do to have a meeting?”
“You need to pay 100 million points in a lump sum using the points used in our store.”
“Is it possible to exchange shillings for points?”
“Yes. It’s possible. 1 point equals 1 shilling.”
“Gasp?”
“Huh?!”
“Then… 10 million gollings?!”
It was an astronomical amount.
Cal’s fatigue recovery potions sold for 5 shillings per bottle.
And there were 10 shillings to 1 golling.
Everyone wore expressions of shock.
“Are there other methods?”
“There’s also a way to earn points by participating in events that happen in our establishment.”
“You’re telling us to gamble?”
“That’s also a good method, but our establishment has countless ways to earn points besides gambling. This place is… in the Shadow World, after all.”
Everyone gulped nervously at that dangerous-looking smile.
Cal crossed his arms.
“We received 2000 gollings per person as support funds… this is really impossible.”
Having said that, Cal glanced at Chelsea and Juwen.
“What are you looking at?”
“Couldn’t we borrow some money from the rich young ladies?”
“Do you think 10 million gollings is some dog’s name?”
At Chelsea’s words, Cal scratched his head vigorously.
“Right.”
It was when everyone was pondering.
“For now, let’s go inside and enjoy ourselves. VIP customers receive 10,000 points for Platinum grade, 20,000 points for Diamond grade, and 50,000 points for King grade.”
At those words, everyone’s eyes widened.
“Can we exchange that money and take it out?”
“Of course.”
Everyone clicked their tongues watching the staff member answer cheerfully.
Just by entering this place, they had easily obtained money that ordinary people couldn’t casually handle.
“Wouldn’t asking other students for help also be a method?”
“That’s true, but… it’s questionable whether they’d acknowledge it. In this place, the master of this place would be the law.”
At Luke’s words, Betty shook her head.
“Let’s go in first and think about it. I’m hungry since I didn’t even eat breakfast.”
Iliana said while looking at the buffet set up in the hall.
“Right, let’s eat first and then think about it!”
***
The buffet prepared in the hall was full of all kinds of luxury foods.
Servants bustled around, offering fine wine and champagne to the students.
When Iliana tried to accept it, Chloe narrowed her eyes.
“We’re students. No alcohol.”
“Come on! We came to a place like this! Don’t be petty!”
When Iliana protested, Chloe spoke even more firmly.
“Absolutely not. We came here because of a mission.”
At those words, Iliana had no choice but to put down the wine glass.
“Juwen.”
“Tch, such a goody-two-shoes.”
Juwen was caught by his classmate Betty while secretly trying to drink a glass of champagne.
Meanwhile, Leo and Cal, who had gone to the casino, returned.
“Wow, the gambling hall here is really a gambling hall.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look. There’s no one in the hall.”
Despite the atmosphere that any noble would love, there was no one in the hall.
“Everyone’s playing games in the casino.”
Cal clicked his tongue.
“From what I saw, they all seem to have quite high status… but their eyes have gone crazy. You guys, absolutely don’t show your cards. They kept asking to borrow money.”
Cal grimaced, recalling the old gentleman who had begged him.
It had been a very unpleasant experience.
“So, did you find out how to earn points?”
“Yeah.”
Cal crossed his arms.
“What is it?”
“Fighting Arena.”
“What?”
“This casino has a fighting arena. People with some strength earn money there.”
“What? That’s simple. We’re Lumern students after all.”
Iliana said as if it was perfect.
“No, not at all.”
“What?”
“This casino’s fighting arena has ‘rules’. Basically, ‘mana use is prohibited’. They put on mana restraints.”
At those words, Iliana hesitated.
“You can’t know your opponent either. You might fight other customers, or you might fight magical beasts or monsters. And people die quite often.”
At those words, everyone wore tense expressions.
“What else is there?”
“There’s also a Maze Escape Relay and chess.”
“For chess, we have Chloe.”
Chelsea looked at Chloe.
She was Lumern’s chess champion.
“Since it’s the underground world, there must be something dangerous.”
Leo crossed his arms.
“Let’s learn more about this casino first. If it really doesn’t work out, giving up is also an option.”
‘I could infiltrate alone next time.’
He had come as a Lumern student to explore the Hero Dungeon.
And there was no Hero Dungeon here.
In that case, he could cleanly withdraw and go to the suspicious Monster Forest.
For Leo, Rodia’s Treasure Trove wasn’t immediately urgent.
Everyone nodded at Leo’s words.
“Let’s meet again in the hall in an hour.”
At Leo’s words, Luke raised his hand.
“Senior, what should we do about the points?”
“If they’re needed for information gathering, actively using them wouldn’t be bad either. Or…”
Leo glanced at the casino interior.
“We could try some games.”
“Hey, Leo! You’re telling us to gamble.”
The students wore flustered expressions at the unexpected words.
Leo chuckled at that.
“Since we came to this place, experiencing various things wouldn’t be bad either.”
“Wow, that sounds like something a bad mister would say.”
Chelsea threw a slight jeer.
Leo chuckled and ruffled Chelsea’s hair.
“I think learning about the darkness of the world as a hero is also studying.”
***
Having parted with his companions, Leo walked around inside the casino.
Under the dazzling lights, all kinds of games were in progress.
Cheers erupted or anguished cries burst forth.
This place was an abyss where one could glimpse the nature and essence of humanity.
Thud- Thud-
Leo, who had been walking, suddenly raised his head.
‘It feels like someone’s watching me?’
He could feel gazes from the magic stones embedded throughout the ceiling.
They were probably ‘surveillance’ magic stones.
He could feel someone watching him through those magic stones.
Normally, gazes through magic are nearly impossible to detect.
However, Leo’s senses were incomparably sharper than others.
Leo, who had been walking, stopped in front of a certain room.
A golden crown shape was embedded in the black door.
Surin who appeared to be doorkeepers blocked Leo’s path.
“This is a space only accessible to ‘Kings’.”
At those words, Leo pulled out a card from his chest.
The doorkeepers who confirmed it bowed their heads and opened the door.
Leo entered the room and narrowed his eyes.
Under the dim lighting, silhouettes could be glimpsed here and there.
He didn’t feel much presence of people.
“Welcome, guest.”
Then a clear voice was heard from beside him.
‘This voice is…’
There was a subtle killing intent embedded in the voice.
When he turned his head, there was a girl wearing a black rabbit ear headband bowing her head.
“I am Rabbit, who will be serving you in this place…”
The outfit of the girl who raised her head was strange.
She had blue eyes reminiscent of a lake.
And pure white hair.
Thanks to that, the black rabbit ear headband stood out even more.
But what stood out even more were the ‘cat ears’ wearing the headband.
The girl in black rabbit costume froze stiff upon seeing Leo.
Leo asked the girl who was opening and closing her mouth like a broken cat.
“What are you doing here?”
At that question, the girl, Ar, tried to run away without hesitation.
Leo reached out and grabbed Ar’s tail.
“Don’t just grab a lady’s tail like thaaaaaaat!”
Ar, with her fur standing on end, shouted at Leo as if hissing.
“So, what are you doing here?”
Ar, who had become a black rabbit, held her tail in her arms and rolled her eyes around, then soon puffed out her chest and said.
“I’m working!”
“Why?”
“To pay off my debt!”
“…”
Leo let out a deep sigh.
In this place, there was only one kind of debt, but he asked with a hopeful heart.
“Is it gambling debt?”
“Yes!”
Looking at Ar who was so confident, Leo muttered.
‘The kids at our Academy shouldn’t be idiots like her.’
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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