Chapter: 372
In the past, I posted various strategy guides on the community forums. It wasn’t really to help others; I just thought of it as proof of how hard I’d been grinding in the game.
So, when Arthur asked for dungeon strategies, I didn’t think much of it at all. I figured I’d just tell him the same things I’d written about in the forums before.
But as I started writing on paper, I realized that wouldn’t do. Arthur wasn’t some random user sitting behind a monitor; he was the one stepping into the dungeon and facing monsters head-on.
It was impossible for him to grasp a method tailored for a user.
So, I deleted everything I had written and started fresh. I recalled the time I first conquered the Soul Academy and remembered building the foundation for dungeon strategies by overcoming all sorts of mods.
The book I created based on those memories became an incredible tool—one that could conquer any dungeon in this world, as long as the reader fully mastered its contents.
However, it contained so much information that average people wouldn’t even dare to read it, but I didn’t feel the need to revise it.
The one who would read that book was Arthur. If he had an intelligence stat over 100, there was no doubt he could easily understand it.
With an intelligence stat of 58, I could do it, so why couldn’t he? It didn’t make sense!
So, today when I left dungeon conquest in Arthur’s hands, I was hopeful. There he was, all pumped up right until we entered the dungeon.
I even thought maybe I had given him too long of a timeframe. But as we went through the dungeon, I realized I had overestimated Arthur.
First off, he was pretty bad at reading the paths. I told him there’s a lot of patterns at the junctions that would help him find his way, but he kept getting lost. I also told him to skip unnecessary mobs since it was a waste of time, but he insisted on fighting every single one. He was so busy with his own movement during the boss fight that he didn’t even take the time to check the mechanics.
Oh, I was dying to give him advice at that moment. I almost thought my teeth would shatter from holding it in.
He was just fumbling his way through, mimicking me without absorbing any of what I had written in the book. Watching him, I could naturally predict the outcome of our bet.
And just as I expected, Arthur failed to clear the dungeon within the four-hour timeframe.
“Six hours, huh?”
“Wait, am I seeing this wrong? Why does it look like six hours have passed? The poor prince who was so confident couldn’t possibly fail!”
Despite my sarcasm, Arthur bit his lip, not responding. He was likely reflecting on the mistakes he made. At least he seemed to understand what he did wrong.
“Um, Lady Alrn.”
While I thought he was feeling relieved knowing his faults, Joy defended him.
“Please don’t be hard on the Third Prince; it’s partly our fault that the strategy took so long.”
I had a ton of counterarguments ready.
Considering our party’s stats, we could certainly have cleared it in under four hours.
If it weren’t for the stray paths, there wouldn’t have been a time crunch.
Being unable to manage the party members properly was a failure in command.
But I didn’t see any point in voicing those out loud. What good would it do to mention the errors Arthur must have already guessed? Instead, I promptly led three of us to the next dungeon.
“Third Prince, watch closely.”
“Poor prince, you’ll see just how pathetic your command was.”
Better to show Arthur the ideals he should be chasing after.
*
When we stepped into the next dungeon, Arthur expected Lucy to demonstrate her signature dungeon strategies.
He anticipated an approach that seemed to grasp everything in the dungeon, as if she were reading numerous futures and choosing the best path.
However, this time Lucy didn’t use that approach. Instead, she became a seasoned mercenary, leading us through without any flair.
“Look at those amateurs up ahead. No need for magic against those scrubs. Airhead, just get the magic circle ready.”
“Is this even a setup for a trap? Not even interesting.”
“Don’t bother with those pathetic trash behind us, just run. Giving them any attention is a waste.”
“This one’s such a perverted fool that he can only see cute me? I’ll draw their fire, so you pelt them from behind. Your magic might be soft, but this perv is even worse!”
Choosing a straightforward approach rather than the usual chaos, our speed was a bit slower than usual but still quick by Lucy’s standards.
The fact that she could finish clearing the dungeon in under an hour, as someone guarding the entrance reported back, only proves that Lucy Alrn is able to awe others, even while taking the straightforward route.
After conquering two dungeons in one day and returning to our lodging, Arthur isolated himself in his room, going over the events of the day.
He thought he understood most of the theories in the book, but as soon as he faced the real thing, he realized he had been arrogant.
It was a given that there would be plenty of mistakes, and focusing on what he had to do resulted in failure to manage others properly.
Even though the dungeon wasn’t too difficult for our level, losing the bet was entirely his fault.
The only fortunate thing was that Lucy Alrn pointed out how he could fix his issues.
Even though Lucy could easily revert back to her prophet style, she chose to lead the dungeon according to a knight’s style. The intent was clear to anyone: to show Arthur the way forward.
Knowing this, Arthur followed Lucy, keenly observing her every move as they progressed through the dungeon. He came to realize that she was performing everything from the book as if it were second nature.
It was beyond just skilled—it felt like her soul was ingrained with the methods to conquer dungeons.
Watching her, Arthur became painfully aware of how monstrous Lucy Alrn was as a person, while also gaining a significant insight.
The essential part was the perspective. A person directing a dungeon conquest must not only focus on what’s in front of them but encompass all the scenery around them in their mind. That’s how they could lead perfectly without mistakes.
And to carry out such maneuvers without thinking about dungeon strategies themselves required reaching a level where movement came naturally.
…
Even from today’s events, it’s evident that Lucy Alrn’s true nature is kind-hearted. If she were genuinely malevolent, she wouldn’t be showing such consideration.
Is that entity who once manipulated sailors distorting Lucy Alrn’s true feelings? Blocking her from expressing her genuine thoughts? Why?
I couldn’t begin to guess the reasoning behind it. The way that creature spoke, it seemed they bore no ill will toward Lucy, which only made it more puzzling.
Arthur sat there, staring at the book on dungeon strategies that Lucy had once gifted him, lost in thoughts that wouldn’t come.
How long did he wait? The sudden knock on the door jolted him back, and he stared blankly at the dried ink on his pen before turning his head.
“Third Prince, do you have a moment?”
“Joy? What is it? Oh, come in.”
As Joy stepped in, she glancingly scanned the book Arthur had laid open.
“I apologize for coming in so late.”
“Don’t worry about it. But what is it? You were making such a fuss about being tired.”
“Oh, that…”
“Huh?”
“Lady Alrn told me to pass something to you, Third Prince.”
Arthur blinked as he looked at the rabbit-eared headband Joy was presenting.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a headband.”
“I already know that. What I meant was… this is the punishment Lucy Alrn mentioned, isn’t it?”
“Yes. She said you have to wear it until this trip is over.”
“Seriously?”
Arthur couldn’t help but curse under his breath, but that didn’t make the headband disappear from in front of him.
After a while, he stared silently at the headband before sighing deeply and putting it on his head.
At that moment, Joy quickly pulled out a fan and covered her mouth, but the fan could block her view, not her laughter.
“Just laugh out loud.”
“Ah… pfft. No! How could I! Ha ha ha!”
Arthur’s face turned bright red as he tried to say something to Joy but spotted Frey standing in the hallway behind her.
“I see, so the Third Prince has those kinds of tastes. That’s understandable.”
“It’s not like that! Frey! This is…”
“Don’t worry, it suits you well.”
With a straight face, Frey said that and walked down the hallway as if nothing happened. Stunned by the unexpected reaction, Arthur rushed past Joy to follow Frey.
“Wait! Give me a chance to explain! Please! I need to save my honor!”
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