Heroine Creation: All My Summons Are Custom Made-Chapter 31: I Choose That Gate

"A rare honor, Dean Ordenance," the Head Dungeon Instructor said, bowing his head respectfully toward the robed man.

Dean Ordenance held up his hand. "Carry on, Instructor. I am merely here as an audience today. I wish to observe the First Years."

The Dean’s calm, resonant voice echoed across the Higher Dungeons floor, but its effect on the students was anything but calming.

A collective, anxious thrill shot through the remaining freshmen. To be watched by the Dean of Awakener Supreme was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Posture straightened. Hands tightened around staffs and sword hilts. Every single student suddenly felt a burning need to do their absolute best to impress the second most powerful person in the Academy.

"Very well," the Head Instructor said, turning back to the elite group. "Listen closely. Because these areHigher Dungeons, you’ll be operating on a completely different philosophy.

"Out there in the real world, when the waves of Gehenna crash against our walls, you do not fight only alongside your own Class Group. A Knight needs a Healer. A Mage needs a Vanguard. Despite your Class rivalries, you are all Awakeners."

He paced in front of the line of students.

"Therefore, you will be assigned in pairs. Two students per gate, strictly from different Class Groups. You will coordinate, or you will fail. Because we had seven top performers, we required an eighth to make the pairs even. Kallan Kallahan, step forward."

From the Elementalist line, Kallan jogged up to join the elite group. He shot Lancet an evil grin, causing the Architect to look away sharply. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Phiodor Blaze crossed his arms, his chest puffing out with absolute pride. Another Elementalist in the Higher Dungeons. He shot a smug look at Maecil, clearly relishing the fact that his Class Group had the highest representation on the top floor.

"Go ahead and select the Dungeons you want to challenge, if you and someone select the same, you’ll be paired with them. But only with someone outside your Class Group."

The eight students began to shuffle around, studying the nameplates of each swirling Dungeon Gate.

Lancet ignored all of the ones lined up in front of them and shot his gaze at the far end of the hall. There, he spotted what he was looking for.

Sitting at the very edge of the floor was a Dungeon Gate that was separated with a panel of gold plating. The Gate was a maelstrom swirling crimson and black, and from its look alone, one could tell it was a more dangerous Dungeon.

Lancet read the nameplate, [ Terror of the Orc King ]

Yup. That was the one.

In the original light novel, Terror of the Orc King was a Higher Dungeon that was just dangerous enough to be called a Difficult Dungeon, though it technically wasn’t.

It was infested with high-tier beasts and dangers, but came with a massive upside. It gave an absurd amount of EXP, CP, and Profits.

More importantly, Lancet recalled something. If this was the second week of the curriculum, the main loot was going to drop from the Orc King.

In the novel, Renan’s future rival had stumbled into it during a group Dungeon expedition after it had returned to the loot weeks before — specifically the second week of the School Year.

With the buff the loot gave him, the rival used it to terrorize Renan and the First Years for an entire semester.

Lancet absolutely needed that loot.

He immediately raised his hand.

"Excuse me," Lancet called out. He pointed toward the churning red vortex. "Can I be assigned to that Dungeon?"

The Instructor froze. He slowly lowered his clipboard, staring at Lancet as if the boy had just asked to jump into a volcano.

"That is the Terror of the Orc King!" the Head Instructor said, his scarred face tightening in disbelief. "It’s so dangerous it’s basically a Difficult Dungeon rank. You have to have some kinda death wish, kid."

The surrounding students immediately broke into harsh, judging whispers.

"Is he insane?"

"He thinks just because he has Astensia Valengard, he’s suddenly a god."

"He’s so pompous. I hope his Grace runs dry and he gets his ass handed to him."

"Leogardt, I highly advise against this," the Instructor warned, stepping closer. "Your performance last week was exceptional, but relying entirely on a high-drain summon in a prolonged, hyper-lethal environment is a death sentence."

Lancet stood his ground, his expression unyielding. "I understand the risks, sir. But you asked us to choose and I choose that Gate."

The Head Instructor frowned, clearly about to deny the request outright. But before he could speak, he glanced over his shoulder at the dais.

Dean Ordenance was watching Lancet intently. The old man’s eyes narrowed in thoughtful calculation, perhaps wondering if this was the moment Lancet would reveal the true depths of his "Architect" class.

Slowly, the Dean gave a single, firm nod.

The Instructor sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Very well, Leogardt. If you wish to throw yourself into the fire, the Academy will not stop you. You are assigned to the Terror of the Orc King!"

Off to the side, Phiodor Blaze grinned like a jackal.

’Finally,’ the Elementalist-D Instructor thought. ’His own stupidity is going to lead him to fall flat on his face. Challenging a borderline Difficult Dungeon? He is mad.’

Lancet took a step toward the red portal, already calculating his Grace management for the boss fight, when another voice rang out.

"Instructor."

Renan Falconhart raised his gauntleted hand, the silver thing glistened like a beacon.

"I, too, wish to challenge that Dungeon," Renan declared, his voice ringing with absolute, heroic conviction.

Lancet’s eyes widened as he turned his head. No. No. No.

He wanted to scream. If Renan was in there, the loot was going to be split. The EXP would be halved. And the special item — the entire reason Lancet had painted a target on his own back to get into this specific death-trap — would be at risk of falling into the protagonist’s overpowered hands!

The Instructor looked between Lancet and Renan, weighing the options. "Alright then," he finally conceded. "I was worried that no one would want to pair with Lancet in such a Dungeon, but you were the top two students from last week’s Basic Dungeon."

"I suppose putting our strongest sword and our strongest summoner together is a sound enough strategy for a Dungeon of that caliber. You two are paired."

Lancet gritted his teeth, his fingernails biting into his palms as without looking directly at him, he watched Renan walk over.

The Knight took his place beside Lancet in front of the violently churning crimson gate. The heat washing off the portal was intense, but the tension radiating between the two boys was heavier.

Renan turned his head, his striking silver eyes catching Lancet’s gaze. He gave Lancet that same quiet, intense look; a silent acknowledgment of sorts.

It was the look of a protagonist respecting a worthy rival.

’Get out of here with that shit,’ Lancet sneered in his mind. ’What a pretentious, prideful hack!’

His real face remained perfectly composed, but his monologue continued with a string of violent curses. Slight frustration was an understatement. He was practically vibrating with annoyance.

The loot wouldn’t be as much as he wanted. It would still be plenty, sure, but it would have been an absolute monopoly if he had been paired with literally any other of the top seven. Now he had to compete with the universe’s favorite child.

"Pairs, prepare yourselves," the Instructor’s voice boomed over the hall.

Lancet decided to let go of the frustration and focus. It was no longer a challenge to get the main loot now, it was a full on competition.

If he wanted that hidden loot, he was going to have to outpace the Heavenly Knight himself.

"Enter the Gates!"

Without hesitation, Lancet and Renan stepped forward together, plunging into the burning red abyss.

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A/N: Welcome to the first locked Chapter! Things are heating up so remember to support to keep updates pouring out faster!