Chapter 16: The Meetup

Four days later, on the day of the dungeon expedition, I was in my room getting ready.

I wore the standard-issue robe from Altmegia Academy. It was a sophisticated black design, with a magical crest intricately woven in silver thread that shimmered faintly in the light.

This robe had magic-conducting thread woven into it to boost the effectiveness of spells, and it also provided defensive capabilities superior to most normal armor.

Inside the leather pouch on my hip, I had a store-bought map from the academy store, some rations, and a few mana potions.

“Hee hee… Perfect.”

I confirmed that I had everything and nodded in satisfaction.

Finally, I checked my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were brimming with confidence.

“Alright! Today, I’m going to show off my amazing leadership skills and make them all admit that I’m the one on top!”

I slapped my cheeks lightly with both hands to fire myself up.

Smack!

A crisp sound echoed through the room.

I opened the door, left my room, and headed for my sister’s. Standing in front of her door, I knocked.

Knock, knock.

“Elena, are you ready? It’s time to go.”

Elena’s cheerful voice came back from the other side of the door.

“Coming, Nee-sama!”

A moment later, the door clicked open. I couldn’t help but stare in utter shock at the sight of Elena standing there.

“…Huh?”

Standing before me was Elena, saddled with a gigantic backpack.

The pack was so big it practically swallowed her small frame, and it was bulging, clearly stuffed to the brim.

“U-Umm… I can’t really get out…”

The sheer width of her backpack was caught on the doorframe, and she was struggling to get through.

I instinctively put a hand to my forehead and sighed.

“Elena, just how much did you pack in there? This is a day trip, you know. Are you planning to set up camp or something?”

I muttered in disbelief, pressing my palm to my forehead. The dungeon expedition was scheduled as a day trip.

A water bottle and a light snack should have been more than enough. Elena clutched the straps of her backpack tightly, a worried look on her face.

“But… I’ve only ever been in the beginner dungeons for class, so I’m a little nervous. I wanted to be ready, just in case…”

I puffed out my chest in response to her words, declaring forcefully, as if to blow away all her anxieties.

“There’s no need to worry. I’ll protect you.”

The look in her eyes was one of pure respect and trust.

“Nee-sama…!”

Seeing her delighted expression, a grin spread across my face.

Alright! Affection points, get!

I did a mental fist pump as I started to sort through Elena’s baggage.

The contents of her pack, however, were shockingly diverse. An extra-large mana recovery potion, a first-aid kit, a portable tent, a water purifier, cooking utensils, the stuffed sheep, and a massive amount of food… It was like she was preparing for a long-term survival mission.

In the end, it took quite a while to pull out all the unnecessary items and pare it down to the bare essentials. By the time I was done, we barely had any time left before the meetup.

“We have to hurry, Elena!”

I quickly finished sorting her things, grabbed her hand, and dashed out of the house.

When we arrived under the large clock in the academy courtyard, the other three were already waiting. Ichinose had her arms crossed, watching us quietly.

Carnelia was grinning and waving at us, while Prefa stood behind her, looking a little nervous and trying to hide.

“Looks like everyone’s here,”

Ichinose said, glancing over at us. I felt like her voice held a hint of irritation.

“Yes. I believe some of you already know each other, but let’s do proper introductions anyway.”

I took a breath and puffed out my chest proudly.

“I’ll start. I’ll be serving as this party’s leader, Michelle Starium. My specialty is wide-area-of-effect attack magic. I will lead you all to a decisive victory in this dungeon.”

I finished my introduction with a smile and prompted the person next to me to go, continuing clockwise.

Next, Elena, who was standing beside me, took a step forward.

“I’m Elena Starium, a second-year in the middle school division. I use healing magic. I’ll do my very best to support everyone, so it’s a pleasure to be working with you.”

Though a little nervous, Elena finished her introduction confidently and gave a small bow.

Next up, Carnelia waved with a smile.

“Carnelia Liberius, a first-year at Altmegia Academy! I’m Michelle’s best friend, and I specialize in long- to mid-range combat. I’m excited to work with you all to clear this dungeon today! Nice to meet ya!”

Elena, looking pleased, waved back at her. Then, Prefa took a step forward with a nervous expression. Her fluffy ears twitched, and her face was filled with anxiety.

“I-I’m Prefa Reroriu, a first-year at Altmegia Academy. I use illusion magic. I’ll… I’ll do my best not to get in anyone’s way… Please take care of me.”

Her voice was small and faint.

Lastly, Ichinose introduced herself in a flat tone.

“Me…? Ichinose Kaede, first year. As you can see, I use a sword. Leave the front line to me.”

There wasn’t a hint of embellishment in her words; she was simply stating facts. She seemed just like a finely honed blade.

“Well then, now that introductions are out of the way, let’s get going.”

With that, I started walking toward the dungeon reception area. My heart was quietly soaring in anticipation of the battle to come.