Chapter: 342
I always think about it, but Benedict is way too over the top.
We’ve had crystal conversations at least three times a week.
It’s like, why is he getting all emotional the moment he sees my face after such a long time?
And seriously, how strong is he?
When he hugged me from the other side, I literally felt like I was suffocating!
I tried to push him away with all my strength, but how can my arms not even budge?
Is this guy even human?
It’s like he’s from an entirely different breed or something!
…Hmm, if we’re going by that logic, then I must be from a different breed too.
[If those people who were fussing over your rumors think so, they must believe you’re a different breed as well.]
Normally, I would deny it, but after eavesdropping on everything while waiting for Benedict, I couldn’t shake my head.
He’s the one who will carry on the glory of the Alrn family.
He’ll elevate the kingdom’s reputation.
Some say he might even become a monster that surpasses Benedict Alrn. Hearing how people think of me really opened my eyes.
Looking back, I’ve done a lot of insane things.
I think to myself that a veteran at the Soul Academy has to pull off stunts like this, but for those without this background knowledge, it comes off completely differently.
[I’m amused hearing them talk. The kid who was once so scorned is now eliciting admiration from others.]
Grandpa is swelling with pride as if this is his personal achievement, but as the person in question, I can’t smile so easily.
I can’t accept that everything except my personality was given to me by the gods!
That goddamn pathetic disgusting perverted god gave me that personality!
Everything else is stuff I fought tooth and nail to earn!
I brushed off the rest of the nonsense they said, but when I heard that, I couldn’t hold my mouth shut.
If Benedict hadn’t jumped in from afar, I’d have probably grabbed him by the collar.
“Lucy. Lucy. Are you listening to Papa’s words?”
…Ugh, damn it. He caught me zoning out while trying to think about something else. I thought he wouldn’t notice if I pretended to listen.
“Rude? I know! But what can I do! Listening to Benedict fuss over things gives me the creeps!”
“Yup, I’m listening!”
“Don’t worry. Your goofy dad’s loud voice is annoyingly clear enough to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“Haha! Glad to hear that!”
Benedict’s fussiness didn’t die down even after I clearly exhibited my annoyance.
Even with the food in front of me from Tierra Mars, the best restaurant at the Soul Academy, he was too busy singing my praises to even touch a dish.
It’s such a waste for the delicious food to get cold.
If I had known this would happen, I would’ve just brought my dumb friend along.
That way, I would have seen her happy smile.
“Lately, your Papa has been struggling to hold back his desire to show up where people gather. I can’t help but hear praises of my daughter everywhere I go!”
That’s because they’re just flattering you out of fear!
Lucy’s done so many incredible things, there’s no way all they would do is praise her.
…But, honestly, now that my misdeeds are entangled in her notoriety, it’s not so easy to blame Lucy.
“When the bard comes, it’s the same! The song composed by the apostle of the Art Guild praising your beauty is all the rage! Whenever the bard comes, I get an earful from the butler!”
Ugh, seriously? That nutcase made a song that good!?
So much that it’s sung in every city they visit?!
As much as I want to think this is just an exaggeration by Benedict, considering the Art Guild apostle’s artistic talents, it might actually be true.
I have no idea what kind of song is circulating, and I don’t want to find out.
Knowing what it’s about will definitely leave me squirming in self-loathing.
“Nowadays, I’m all wrapped up checking the reports from the Dungeon Studies. There are so many praises for the dungeon you made, I can’t help but smile every time I hear it!”
He saw that, huh?
Well, it makes sense. For male nobles, checking the reports from the Dungeon Studies is almost a part of their job.
Hearing about all the praises my dungeon has received got me wondering one thing.
Did Benedict actually conquer that dungeon?
Does this musclehead, who looks like he’s filled with brainless muscles, really manage to get through the dungeon’s gimmicks by himself?
“Why are you asking something so obvious? Wouldn’t a father conquer the dungeon his daughter made?”
Benedict spoke confidently, but I couldn’t easily believe him.
With physical abilities as ridiculous as his, he’d have to be a total klutz in figuring out any gimmick in the dungeon.
Why would he need to think when he has a body like that? He could just smash everything in his path, and the dungeon would bend to his will.
“The best part was making you believe you’d escaped from a dream. You read people’s minds very well.”
But as I listened to what Benedict was saying, I started to believe that he really did conquer the dungeon.
The things he was saying weren’t just typical commentary you could get from reading a guidebook.
How could someone who’s so physically inclined also be this clever? It’s a total balance break!
[As previously mentioned, this also applies to you.]
‘That’s not true at all!’
If I were smart enough, would I even bother praying to the dice god every time I took a test?
[…Really, you don’t have to be this knightly.]
‘What do you mean by that?’
Not quite sure, but I feel like he’s mocking me, and just as I was about to express my annoyance towards him, Benedict said something unexpected.
“Oh! Right, Lucy. I actually had something I wanted to ask you.”
‘A request?’
“A request? It’s from goofy Papa.”
“Yeah. I heard that when we head to the academy, we can experience the dungeon you made. Can I go in just once as well?”
*
The Dungeon Studies final exam venue was still bustling with people long after the test had ended.
The difference now was the types of people creating the buzz.
During the actual examination, it was filled with students, but now it was packed with people here to experience my dungeon.
Thanks to that, the work for the teaching assistants hasn’t dwindled at all.
No, actually, I should say it’s even increased.
The ones they have to deal with have shifted from academy students to those with real power.
In a medieval fantasy world, are the people who can move just anywhere really ordinary?
If you cross the wrong person here, you could lose your head both literally and figuratively.
Maybe that’s why the faces of the assistants attending to guests looked utterly wrecked.
They were all crying just a little while ago because the test was over, poor things.
But what can I say?
You chose this grad school!
If you’ve decided to become a servant, you might as well go all in!
“Count Alrn! It’s been a while!”
“Oh! Lord Mold! It’s been quite some time. Have you come to conquer the dungeon my daughter made?”
“Yes! I couldn’t hold back after seeing it in the reports!”
“Hoho, I’m glad to hear that! Ah! Count Rubby! I heard you’ve been resting in your territory after the war.”
“Exactly. That’s why I’m here for some leisure.”
While I am pitifully sympathetic towards the assistants, Benedict was happily chatting with the nobles in the testing area.
His demeanor is nothing like how serious he was during the Partran Festival; it looks like they’re all old friends.
The nobles who were showing happiness around Benedict were also greeting me.
They complimented me on my looks and talents, saying they had heard the rumors, but when they received my snarky replies, their expressions could not keep up.
Of course, no one got mad at me for being rude; they were just careful around Benedict.
“Have you come to experience the dungeon as well, Count Alrn?”
“Yes. Since it’s a place my daughter made, I’ll try conquering it myself.”
“Wow, if it’s Count Alrn, you’re sure to set a new record!”
“Alrn renewing a record set by Alrn. That sounds romantic.”
“Record?”
“Yes, look over there.”
One of the nobles pointed to the speedrun record for the dungeon.
“After the dungeon was opened to outsiders, many have tried to conquer Lady Alrn’s record, but none have succeeded.”
Just as this person said, the nobles challenging the academy dungeon were all aiming to beat my record.
After all, it’s ridiculous for an underage girl to have records that none of them could surpass.
However, those challengers soon realized just how high that record’s bar was.
Even after countless attempts, the record showed no signs of cracking.
Currently, the second-best record is still a full minute behind mine. I won’t describe what the early records looked like since that’s a given.
In the process, some people even questioned whether the record was real, but a video of me performing the speedrun quickly silenced those doubts.
“Wow, there’s no way I could possibly catch up.”
“That record can only belong to Lady Alrn.”
“I keep trying, yet each time I’m left in awe.”
The nobles surrounding Benedict spilled words of admiration, but I couldn’t relate to any of it.
Even if those guys were physically superior, their statements still felt strange.
I really don’t get it.
I showed them the answers to the speedrun, so why can’t they replicate it?
If only they copied what I did, they would conquer it way faster!
[Dear girl, normal people don’t analyze variables in a dungeon down to 0.1 seconds.]
‘That’s why I’m saying that’s wrong! To break records, you need to put in that level of effort!’
Speedrunning is no joke!
If they don’t even make that effort, don’t sing my praises!
Frankly, it just frustrates me when so-called experts scratch my nerves! Holding back my retorts while biting my lips, I could hear Benedict chuckling.
“Hmm. I guess I need to put in the effort to become a proud father.”
After saying that, Benedict stepped into the dungeon.
I rushed away from the nobles that bothered me and ran to the teaching assistant.
I wanted to keep an eye on how Benedict would tackle my dungeon through the crystal.
I’m curious! How will Benedict, someone who’s clearly beyond common sense, conquer my dungeon?
Seizing the crystal from the assistant, I blinked as I watched Benedict standing in the training ground.
…Wait, what?
Why is he already in the first room?
He just went in a moment ago, so how did he cross the hallway already?
As my expectations were blown away by his speed, Benedict pulled his arm back.
‘Should I pull something tricky!?’
And in the moment he thrust forward—
All the soldiers and knights standing in the training ground fell over.
Naturally, the door leading to the next room opened.
‘Excuse me, grandpa.’
[What? ]
‘Are you seriously saying we’re the same human being after seeing that?’
How can this guy even be regarded as the same species as me? That’s just nonsense!
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