077 The Calm Before the Storm

"Well then, since you've all brilliantly cleared the Rank Exam—and although Allen's result was unfortunate, let’s also roll this into a celebration for Weiss's victory in the Adventurer Tournament!"

That bastard Duke—better known as Mineral—shouted the toast while shooting frequent, irritating glances my way.

I wasn't happy. I definitely wasn't pleased.

"Weiss-sama, congratulations once again!"

"Weiss, congratulations."

Lilith and Cynthia, sitting to my left and right, beamed at me with identical, radiant smiles.

We were currently gathered at a certain tavern, though we were drinking juice instead of ale. It wasn’t just a matter of our ages; with a group this large, it was simply easier to avoid any drunken complications. The interior was reasonably spacious, and we’d managed to reserve a massive, rectangular wooden table that dominated the room.

Looking around, I didn't see any other kids our age. At our table sat Cynthia, Lilith, Carta, Olynn, and Cecil. Then there was Allen, Shari, Duke, and for some reason, Nell—the girl I'd fought in the semifinals.

Counting myself, there were ten of us in total. Talk about an oversized after-party...

Everyone held a drink in their right hand. The beverages were fizzy, like ginger ale—a specialty of Bruno that carried a distinct blend of sweetness and bitterness.

Raising his glass high, Mineral let out a roar. "Noblesse!"

It was the standard toast used among the students. His voice carried surprisingly well in a crowded room. Well, at least the loud-mouthed bravado suits him.

"Debibi!"

Incidentally, Debi was here too. He was currently gulping down juice, a wide smile on his face that suggested he found it delicious. I wondered if he could supplement his energy with physical nutrition instead of just my mana.

The table was laden with platters of fruit, but that was only the beginning; the staff brought out dish after dish in an endless parade. The aroma tickled my nose. Countries with high adventurer populations usually boasted excellent food—largely because there were so many people who viewed a good meal as their only reason for living.

"Here we are: the Bruno Potage. And for the main course, Bruno Fish and Bruno Steak."

The server set down the city’s famous delicacies. At the Academy, health and balance were the priorities, but in this country, "filling your belly to the burst" was considered the highest virtue.

Consequently, the portions were... gargantuan.

"Whoa, that looks amazing! I love meat!" Olynn chirped.

"It really does look lovely. Though, I wonder if we can actually finish it all," Cecil added quietly.

The energetic Olynn and the serene Cecil. Beside them, Carta was contentedly nibbling on a single piece of fruit. Looking at them, I realized this trio actually had a decent social balance.

"Duke! That steak is mine!"

"Whag are you talking abou—?"

"Honestly, you two! Have some manners!"

On the other hand, Duke and Allen were the same pair of idiots no matter where we went. Shari really did have her work cut out for her.

"How much food did those kids order?"

"Man, look at that spread... I'm jealous."

"Hey, pipe down. See those uniforms? They're from Nobless Academy."

"Are you serious? That famous group?"

The adults at the surrounding tables were gawking. It was partly the sheer volume of food, but mostly the cost. Most of us were nobles. I hate to say it, but none of us really cared about the price. It wasn't meant to be a slight against the commoners; it was just the reality of the gap we were born into.

Meanwhile, Nell’s behavior caught my eye. She looked... off.

"Um... I think I'll pass on the food," she murmured.

"What? You don't like steak?" I asked.

"Eh?! N-no, it's not that! It's just... maybe it’s a bit much for me! I’ll just stick to the soup! Maybe!?"

Come to think of it, despite her strength, her clothes were looking a bit worse for wear. When we were ordering, I'd seen her thrusting her hands into her pockets, likely checking for spare change.

Good grief.

"It's my treat," I said. "Eat your fill and don't worry about it."

"Wait... really? But there’s so much!"

"Don't sweat it. No one at this table is worried about money."

Cynthia, catching onto my exchange with Nell, softly pushed a plate of steak toward the girl. "Please, it's quite alright."

"Then... I won't hold back! Thank you for the food!"

She began to eat with a ferocity that reminded me of a starving stray cat. Watching her profile as she inhaled the food, I couldn't help but feel she resembled someone I knew.

Most adventurers were just chasing a dream of hitting the jackpot. In that sense, we noble-born adventurers were the outliers. Nell was likely the former type. But with her level of skill, her rank was bound to skyrocket eventually.

"Id'th delithiouth... tho delithiouth!"

Watching Nell stuff her cheeks with steak while literally shedding tears of joy was, I had to admit, a little funny.

"Don't choke on it, at least."

Apparently, I had let a small smile slip. Mineral was quick to pounce on it.

"Oh! Weiss is smiling! Everyone, look! Mark this day on your calendars!"

"It really is a rare sight," Shari teased.

"Really?" Allen tilted his head. "Doesn't he smile pretty often?"

Both of them joined in on the teasing. Honestly, every single one of them is way too cheerful.

...Well, maybe it was okay for today. It wasn't such a bad thing to eat until I was stuffed without worrying about my impending doom for once.

"Debi! Debibi!"

Unexpectedly, Debi had transformed his Dark Sword into a makeshift knife and was currently tackling his steak with the refined grace of a high-ranking noble. He even had a [Dark Napkin] tucked into his collar.

Hmph. He’s tidy, just like his master. I'll have to praise him later.

By the time we finished, I wouldn't say we'd cleared the kitchen out of ingredients, but the stack of empty plates was high enough to be seen from the street. Most of that was Nell’s doing; she eventually started crying again, claiming she’d never be able to eat a meal this fancy ever again.

Seriously, what kind of life was she living before this?

The sun had fully set by the time we decided to call it a night. Since we were staying at different inns, we prepared to part ways in front of the tavern. Tomorrow, Allen and his group were heading to another country. Cecil, Olynn, and Carta were leaving too.

My own business in the city was finished, but I figured I might find a place in some other country to continue my training.

As we were saying our goodbyes, Olynn trotted over and poked Debi’s cheek. He still had that annoyingly cute, boyish expression on his face. He shouldn't have been drinking, so why were his cheeks so red?

"It looks like you and Debi-chan are getting along great," Olynn said.

"Yeah. Thanks to you, he's been quite an asset."

"Ehehe, I'm glad to hear that!"

"De... Debi..."

Debi was nodding off after his big meal, so I dismissed him back into the darkness.

My heart felt unusually calm. Inside the gates of Nobless Academy, everyone was a rival, but out here, it was different. Maybe that was why I felt so at peace.

However, the phenomenon of Noblesse Oblige is a cruel mistress; she loves to strike the very moment you let your guard down. Just like the Calamity that struck during the Sword-Magic Cup.

And then, it happened.

"Crap! This is bad! Emergency Call! An Emergency Call has been issued!"

A lone adventurer came sprinting down the street, screaming at the top of his lungs. The quiet night air shattered instantly. I looked around and saw squads of soldiers beginning to mobilize.

What the hell now?

"Weiss, what is an 'Emergency Call'?" Cynthia asked, looking confused.

"...It's an adventurer term," I explained. "Basically, it means 'if you can hold a sword, get your ass to the guild immediately.'"

It wasn't surprising that a high-born noble like Cynthia didn't know the term. It was common slang for adventurers, but it was almost never used in practice. I only knew it because of my knowledge of the Original Story.

It was only ever issued when things were catastrophically bad.

Naturally, some people react to such calls without hesitation. Allen and Olynn were already running after the messenger.

"Weiss-sama, what should we do?" Lilith asked.

"Well, we should at least hear them out. If it sounds like too much of a pain, we can just back out."

I signaled Lilith, and our entire group moved toward the Adventurer’s Guild. A massive crowd had already gathered. I tried to push through the throng, but as soon as people recognized me, the sea of bodies parted.

"Whoa, it's the winner, Weiss!"

"Thank god! He actually showed up!"

Wait, what?

Inside the guild, I saw the middle-aged examiner from earlier along with dozens of adventurers I didn't recognize. Most were C or B-Rank, with a few A-Ranks mixed in. S-Rankers like Teacher Milk or Eva were among the elite few in the entire world, so I didn't expect to see any here. My mana-sense told me the same story my eyes did.

Vance, the examiner who had overseen our test, stepped forward to address the room.

"As of today, the Giant Dungeon to the west has... collapsed."

A "Dungeon Collapse" occurs when mana overflows or the dungeon is neglected for too long without being cleared, causing the physical barriers to dissolve.

And the result? The monsters inside spill out into the world. Strangely, these monsters don't try to establish new territories outside; instead, they migrate en masse toward the nearest active dungeon.

It’s a phenomenon known as a "Stampede."

Just because they're "migrating" doesn't mean they aren't dangerous. They will tear through anything in their path. If a city happens to be in the way, it gets leveled. Entire nations have collapsed because of this.

"Based on the predicted route," Vance continued, "the horde is going to pass right through the General Residential District on the west side of the city."

Bruno was a massive country, and it had expanded horizontally. The outer walls were extensions where the commoners and the poor lived. If the Stampede hit, those homes would be wiped off the map.

For the people living there, losing their homes was a death sentence. No one was going to step up to help them. Without property, they’d be forced into debt-slavery or simply starve.

"...No," Allen whispered.

He was the one most affected by the news. His own hometown had been erased by a Stampede, and he had lost his entire family to it.

I knew that history. But then, I processed the rest of the report.

"Of all the luck... a Giant Dungeon?" I muttered.

"Weiss-sama, you know it?" Lilith asked.

"Yeah. It's the worst possible type. Every single monster in there is a giant-class species."

"...Oh no."

Memory flashed through my mind. This was one of the side stories from the game that rivaled the main plot in sheer scale. In the game, the "main" event happened in a country further ahead where a group of heroes successfully defended the borders.

However, the game lore mentioned that several other countries suffered "fatal collapses" during that same period. It was just a single line of flavor text in the game, but I realized now—this country, Bruno, was one of those casualties.

In the Original Story, if you cleared this side story, you were hailed as a hero. The countries that were sacrificed along the way were never mentioned again.

On our way to the tavern, I’d seen poor families desperately trying to pack their belongings. They must have known they were on the path of the horde. There had been so many young children among them.

"This is an Emergency Call," Vance said, bowing his head deeply. "Bruno’s soldiers are mobilizing, but we need more hands. The mission isn't to exterminate the horde—we just need to divert their path as much as possible. We promise the rewards will be substantial. Please... lend us your strength."

Unlike regular adventurers, these examiners were locals. This city was their home.

But even with a generous outlook, this was a suicide mission. I wouldn't call it a world-ending Calamity, but with Teacher Milk and the others gone, it might as well be. Based on the tournament, Allen and I were likely the strongest people currently in the city.

Which meant everyone was looking at us.

"Wh-what do we do? This sounds suicide-tier bad."

"I don't know... I want the reward, but I want to stay alive more..."

The adventurers’ eyes naturally gravitated toward us. They were waiting to see if we would commit before they risked their own necks. No one wanted to join a losing battle.

However, I already knew who would be the first to jump in.

"I'll do it," Allen declared, his voice firm. "I'm going to fight."

"Me too!" Olynn added.

With those two committed, Duke and Shari followed as a matter of course. Cecil looked at me, her expression analytical. She understood the power gap, so she was waiting for my lead.

I had no attachment to Bruno. Honestly, I didn't care if the country collapsed or if the poor were sold into slavery.

But...

I remembered my father’s letter. Make the name of House Fanscent known.

I liked my father. I wanted to fulfill his wishes where I could. If I won the tournament as the youngest champion in history, cleared a dungeon, and then repelled a Stampede? There could be no greater achievement to bring home.

I guess this is as good a finale as any.

"Lilith, Cynthia. Looks like we're taking a little detour."

When I spoke, the tension left their faces, replaced by small, knowing smiles. Seeing that, Cecil let out a soft breath and smiled too.

"I'm in," I announced. "But I have one condition. I don't take orders from the brass. If I'm allowed to move as I please, I'll help."

"O-Of course! That’s more than enough! Thank you!" Vance cried.

With my participation confirmed, the rest of the room found their courage.

"Cecil Antwerp. I will also participate."

"Carta Wiore. I'm in as well."

"Nell too! Nell's gonna fight!"

As my group and the others stepped forward, the rest of the adventurers began to shout their names.

This was going to be a life-or-death struggle. The teachers we usually relied on weren't here to save us.

But our opponents were monsters. I didn't have to hold back against monsters. Plus, I had some brand-new magic I’d been itching to test out.

Consider this a dress rehearsal for the real Calamity.