Chapter: 236
Luka volunteered today to monitor the dungeon raid. He wanted to engrave the epic duel between Lucy and the Second Prince in his memory.
After all, the academy map had mysteriously vanished from his desk once, so this battle promised to be entertaining.
Luka expected a tightly contested match, but reality had other plans. Lucy, entering the academy dungeon solo, began clearing it with overwhelming speed and a series of bizarre antics.
Flying using the power of the Yeti and a lightweight scroll. Utilizing wolf instincts to break through the forest. Forcing the 40th-floor boss into a suicide dive. Poisoning the 60th floor boss to death—among other dazzling displays.
“What am I even watching?”
Caught in awe, Luka, the dungeon studies professor who designed the dungeon himself, realized he had underestimated Lucy profoundly. The blessing she carried concerning the dungeon was far beyond anything he could have imagined.
After only half a day, Lucy emerged victorious from the academy dungeon.
“How am I supposed to explain this to the other professors?”
The dungeon studies professor’s face turned pale as he realized he had no way to justify that it wasn’t a miscalibration of difficulty. But that wasn’t something for Luka to worry about.
“I’ll go explain that this isn’t some error to the students first.”
“…Good luck.”
As Luka stepped forward to make his explanation, everyone acknowledged Lucy’s victory as legitimate, but the victor herself didn’t seem satisfied with the situation at all.
Despite the surrounding congratulations, she wore an ambiguous expression, muttering, “I need to see what the Peasant Prince’s level is. I’m curious how excellent he thinks he is to think he can beat me.”
Upon hearing that Lucy was planning to provoke the Second Prince, Luka thought her confidence was a bit excessive.
She was always on the lookout for promising talent at the Soul Academy, so she definitely knew what the Second Prince was capable of.
The Second Prince was strong. His talent outshone that of most active knights and could barely be denied even by the knight commander’s standards.
No matter how excellent Lucy was for her age, she was still young, in a growing phase.
The one-year gap during this growth period is immense—it’s not something to be compared with adults’ aging.
Could Lucy’s talent close that gap?
Though Luka questioned her confidence, he didn’t intervene.
Why should he when she was diving headfirst into her own trial? Rather, he should help support her as she faced it.
Luka made arrangements for Lucy and the Second Prince to face off without distraction, letting the duel unfold.
Watching the battle unfold, Luka’s expression was serious.
His face showed a weighty concern, as if he was prepared to intervene for any minor accident, and those around him thought Luka was that considerate teacher solely worried about his student.
But underneath that solemn façade, the real Luka was humming to himself while observing the clash.
Once again, the black aura collided with the pure white divinity. It was a tense standoff, neither side willing to give an inch.
Ironically, the one who retreated was the divine white, but not because he was being overwhelmed by the black darkness. It was a deliberate strategy to disrupt the balance and aim for its master.
With the push from his opponent gone, the Second Prince leaned forward. Consequently, his defense became weak, and Lucy seized the moment.
The shield smashed into the Second Prince’s side, and his body was sent flying to the ground.
“Is this it? ♡ So the Peasant Prince’s muscles were just for show? ♡ All that imposing appearance but absolutely empty, just like a fool muscle!? ♡”
Even though the Second Prince stood up again with a grimace, his body was clearly at its limit.
The outcome was certain. No matter how hard the Second Prince fought from here on out, it wouldn’t change anything.
While Lucy maintained peak performance, the Second Prince was already in a condition where he could collapse at any moment.
The noble talent of Alrn Lucy was real; she was completely overwhelming the Second Prince.
Though, of course, one had to consider that the Second Prince was entirely drained, while Lady Lucy had enjoyed ample rest. Still, the difference was clear.
Had they fought at full strength, it might have been a more enjoyable match. However, that difference was a minor detail. The outcome wouldn’t have changed.
The Second Prince couldn’t defeat Lucy Alrn.
She read every aspect of the Second Prince’s fighting style with perfection.
From the start, Luka had watched the duel unfold and witnessed multiple facets of Lucy Alrn’s abilities.
Her shield skills had grown immensely compared to when she entered the academy.
Her physical abilities were impressive enough to stand toe-to-toe with the Second Prince.
She had an impressive flair for manipulating her opponent’s emotions.
Everything about her abilities was remarkable, but the most astounding thing for Luka was Lucy’s combat logic.
In every exchange, she consistently selected the optimal move.
Not just blocking with her shield but using her movements to disrupt her opponent, feigning strength, and shapeshifting the conflict until her opponent began to second guess, at which point she’d press her advantage.
Lucy Alrn had read the Second Prince from the start.
His abilities. His character. His attacks. She understood everything and had been playing him like a fool.
Such a playstyle, seemingly treating her opponent like a toy, was no trivial feat to acquire.
It wasn’t enough to just have great talent, come from a fine lineage, or be gifted—such skills require combat experience.
Countless battles fought, many life-or-death confrontations navigated, all lead up to gaining that strategic insight, so how did this young girl manage to acquire it?
As Luka marveled at the power of the stars, he pondered the Alrn family’s training.
What kind of extraordinary training could grant a girl who wasn’t even an adult judgment superior to many veteran mercenaries?
If he ever had a chance, he would definitely ask for a perspective on that.
…What’s that?
Luka’s eyes caught a glimpse of the dark aura swirling around the Second Prince’s sword.
It was resting ominously atop the sword, a weighty and oppressive presence.
An aura with distinct characteristics. That was something one could only manage beyond a certain level of mastery.
Did he awaken such a trait in a dire situation?
Seeing that, Luka made a bold proposal to Lucy.
It was an intentional misinterpretation, but it didn’t matter. After all, Lucy hadn’t explicitly stated her intentions. Luka had never broken any of her commands.
“Professor Luka, isn’t that dangerous? Regardless of Lady Lucy’s desire?”
Indeed, it was dangerous. At the very least, it wasn’t an attack any ordinary academy student could handle.
“Don’t worry; I’ll step in if it gets too dangerous.”
However, Luka had no intention of stepping in. He wanted to see how Lucy would respond to this.
As the Second Prince, lost in a frenzy, raised his sword, Lucy pushed her shield forward.
Then, the divinity that she wielded began to gather at the front of her shield.
A divine presence of overwhelming density.
Warm, almost hot. It shone like a tiny sun, expanding across her shield according to her will until it formed another shield before her.
“…Hah.”
Luka, captivated by the sight, forgot he was wearing a mask and gasped at the magnificence.
Could it be that the divine was personally crafting her?
Oh dear. Lady Lucy shines too brightly. Even before her crafting process is complete, she radiates so much light it’s blinding.
How radiant will she glow once her work is truly done?
Is she trying to turn the dark night sky into day, fading all the stars?
While struggling to suppress the chuckle bubbling up inside, Luka regained his composure and turned to the dungeon studies professor beside him.
“No need to intervene, right? Professor Jesel?”
“…I believe so.”
The pure white shield, glowing with divine light, effortlessly absorbed the descending sword of the Second Prince.
*
The moment the Second Prince’s sword fell upon the shield of divinity, Luka felt certain.
That sword could never pierce through my shield. The darkness of the Second Prince must inevitably yield before the brilliant shine of the shield.
My expectations weren’t off. After a lengthy standoff, the exhausted Second Prince was the first to collapse.
Overpowered by the shield’s light, the Second Prince, falling to the ground, stared up at the sky, laboring to breathe as if he could never rise again.
Confirming this, I withdrew the divinity from my shield and approached the Second Prince.
Perhaps because he had just fought fiercely using all his strength, some rational thought returned in his eyes.
“It’s… like a monster…”
With a haggard voice gazing up at me, the Second Prince triggered a laugh.
Monster? That’s what I wanted to say!
It hasn’t even been a year since the game started, and he’s reaching a level where he adds unique characteristics to his aura—what’s he trying to pull?
If I hadn’t been training my ass off with Grandpa, I’d have been in big trouble!
‘Good job, Lucy.’
“Not bad for a Peasant Prince. You didn’t do as well as me, but how many can?”
“Damn… filthy… bitch…”
– Ding!
Before the fatigued Second Prince could fully close his eyes, a chime resounded in my head.
[Quest Complete!]
[Successfully gave the Second Prince a reality check!]
[Reward: “Shock Conversion” has been granted!]
It’s here!
It’s here!
It’s heeeere!
I internally cheered at the confirmation of my reward.
Shock Conversion.
One of the crucial skills for any character who takes damage while fighting on the front lines.
The effect converts some of the damage taken into usable resources.
So, now, even blocking an enemy attack will restore my divinity!
I can endlessly recover and become an invincible shining wheel of faith!
Ah, I can’t wait to test it out.
I want to feel firsthand how incredible this skill is.
Let’s use it in one of the trials Luka was supposed to prepare tomorrow.
No, maybe I’ll go tonight?
It’s not like missing a night’s sleep will matter.
[Hey, Girl.]
Unable to contain my excitement, I was grinning when Grandpa called me in a low voice.
‘Huh? What is it?’
[Look around.]
Around? What about my surroundings?
Brought back to reality by Grandpa’s voice, I felt the gazes of those nearby on me.
There were various kinds, but the students’ expressions were mostly the same.
Fear. Or perhaps terror.
…Did I do something wrong?
Why are they looking at me as if I’m some street thug?
I didn’t do anything crazy, did I?
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