Transcendent Gene
Chapter 243: Scenario Quest [1]

Chapter 243: Scenario Quest [1]

Once Gio had spoken, it didn’t take long for the group to move to a more private location where they could talk without any ears on them.

"So, a Scenario Quest. Are you serious about that?"

Serene was the first to speak. She and Shiro were both second years, but their attitudes were completely opposite.

Shiro, who never paid attention to anything that didn’t involve physical activity, was merely excited based on what he’d heard about Scenario Quests.

Serene was excited as well. How could she not be? Scenario Quests couldn’t usually be chased. One could only experience it by being in the right place at the right time.

However, the mere concept was already filled with unknown dangers. There were questions that had to be asked.

"I’m serious," Gio said.

"I have some sources. They just started observing the changes in the environment earlier today, but it’s verified information. I can guarantee its existence."

"Then, I assume we don’t know anything else about it?"

Gio shook his head.

"We can assume a lot of things, but there’s nothing set in stone. What we know is that Scenario Quests adjust their difficulty to the level of the individuals inside, so the amount of danger depends on who else will be there."

He knew what that level was, but he didn’t have a way to frame the information as something he obtained without magic.

"The location is deep in the Hazanam Rainforest. Have you guys heard of the Godspark Mountain Range?"

"Yes. It is an incredibly hostile Wild Zone where only the weakest monsters are at our level," Neriah said.

"You think we can survive a Scenario Quest in such a place?"

"I can," Gio immediately responded.

"Because this Scenario Quest looks like it’s going to be a bit special."

He could see the documents in his head as he spoke.

"There have been reports across the mountain range of people having their strength suppressed. It would be a much bigger issue if it was only happening to humans, but the monsters in the ecosystem are being affected as well."

"The reports are from people who claim that they were able to easily fight monsters that used to be much stronger than them because both of them were suddenly suppressed to the same level. These reports started only a few days ago..."

"...so you think it must be related to the Scenario Quest. You believe we’ll have a fighting chance because that strength suppression will equalize everyone."

"Precisely."

Serene got the idea immediately. Once she’d said it, Neriah understood as well. Shiro was still sitting dumbly, as he didn’t care about a single piece of this information. He would rather get there first and figure out the rest later.

"You’re crazy," Serene said, shaking her head.

"Did you get strong so fast because you’re always doing things like this?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"I see...then count me in. I think fighting outside is exactly what I need right now."

Gio grinned and looked over at Neriah and Shiro, who both shrugged with different expressions.

"I said I will go where you go. That has not changed."

"Are we done talking? Are we finally leaving?"

"Not yet," Gio responded.

"We’re going to be gone for a little bit. Our first goal is to get permission from the school."

"And how are we supposed to do that?" Shiro asked.

"Well, that’s easy."

Gio glanced at Neriah.

"I happen to have seen the Headmaster before. I just went to the office yesterday and asked if I could get an appointment. They agreed."

"An appointment...when?"

A quick glance at a holowatch was enough to answer that question.

"Around ten minutes from now...? Anyway, we should get moving if we don’t want to be late."

"You– hey!"

Serene’s complaints couldn’t reach him. Gio was already running away by the time she opened her mouth. Shiro and Neriah were at his side not even a few seconds later, and with a slightly annoyed expression on her face, Serene soon followed.

They were a group that had already bonded through battle. Frankly, they were closer than Gio realized. He didn’t comprehend how different he was around them when compared to his personality alone.

The version of Gio they brought out was much more easy-going. This relaxed state where he could laugh and joke didn’t exist in the past. He was never that kind of person.

But friendship gave him an unknown kind of confidence. With his comrades at his side, he charged into the Headmaster’s office and talked his way into getting what he wanted.

He didn’t tell the Headmaster about the Scenario Quest, but he did say that the four of them wanted to go on an adventure outside to further their studies.

Knowing the Headmaster’s personality, it was only natural for him to allow the leave. He had seen the strength and potential of this group already, so he wanted to see them challenge themselves in high-stakes scenarios.

He gave them permission to be absent for a month and two weeks, which was a more than long enough period to travel without wasting time.

At least while they were present, he mostly accommodated everything they wanted.

And when they had finally left...

"Ryla."

He called out to the air. All of a sudden, smoke fell down through the air conditioning vents and formed into the shape of a person.

When that shape became tangible, it revealed the figure of a woman with her auburn hair tied in a tight bun and a mask covering the bottom half of her face, revealing only the bright green color of her eyes.

"Yes, Headmaster," she said, bowing slightly.

"You heard them, didn’t you?"

"I did. Would you like me to supervise?"

"No need. Follow them slowly and just make sure they don’t die. With a group like that..."

He couldn’t help but smile.

"...they’ll find out if we look too deep into what they’re doing."

The Headmaster had to admit that he hadn’t been paying attention to all four of them. Serene was popular, so he knew about her. He’d heard of Shiro’s rocky reputation. As for Neriah, he hadn’t paid her much attention after the first incident at the entrance ceremony.

However, when he looked at them now, all of them were just as worth watching as Gio was. All of them had a new air around them as if they were facing the world in a different light.

’And that came from merely training.’

His grin widened.

’I can’t wait to see what they become after this time.’

Ryla disappeared from his office, leaving him alone once more.

He looked out the massive wall of windows behind him with a vague expression on his face.

’Geniuses are rising much faster than ever before, but with them...’

Dark clouds covered the skies.

Fortune and misfortune always came in pairs.

There was only so much he could do to protect the students. They had to carry the rest of the weight on their own shoulders.

’I can only make sure they grow up in time.’

Regardless of what the Ten Great Clans and NEXUS wanted to say, the world’s undercurrents were getting messier by the day.

And in the Headmaster’s own opinion...

’...humanity is not ready to face them.’

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