Chapter: 321
Jeff smiled as he watched Joy, surrounded by numerous admirers, being the first conqueror of the dungeon.
With her fan covering her mouth, she seemed to say that it was nothing special and that, as a descendant of the Partran family, she ought to accomplish this much. The grace she possessed truly embodied the elegance of a lady from the duke’s family. However, having known Joy since she was very young, he could guess the expression hidden behind that fan.
She must be thrilled with all the compliments showering down around her.
Even though she finds the admiring gazes uncomfortable, she’s certainly struggling to maintain a pleased smile.
Jeff looked at her with fondness, feeling glad he had intentionally pretended not to know about the dungeon’s gimmicks.
If he had stupidly informed the second prince about those gimmicks and allowed him to snatch away Joy’s status as the first conqueror, Joy would definitely have held a grudge against him.
Imagining Joy shouting, “Big Brother! I really hate this!” made Jeff hold his aching heart and once again praise his choice.
“That guy.”
At the sound of a voice from the side, Jeff turned his head to find Cecil, his half-brother, looking at him with a subtle expression.
The most prominent emotion he read on Cecil’s face was jealousy.
However, unlike the second prince who had, in the past, been unable to control his temper and spread venom around, he now seemed to be suppressing such feelings within himself.
Had something shifted in him? He never thought he would change.
It might be time to reassess the second prince. He used to feel there was no reason to be close to him, but it seemed he might have some value after all.
Grabbing the throne still looked impossible, but there wouldn’t be any harm in leaving some basic connections for the future.
“Your Highness, the second prince.”
“What is it?”
“It’s time to head back into the dungeon.”
Let’s now pretend to gradually realize the gimmicks.
“Though I may have lost my status as the first conqueror of the entire year, I still have remaining glory, don’t I?”
By providing one clue at a time, he’d hint that he could be a useful tool and also make it seem like he owed him something.
“I already intend to keep challenging. I’ve invested too much to give up now.”
“Ha-ha! I’ve said something pointless. My apologies.”
While he was disappointed that he wouldn’t get to see Joy gloating any more, there were things that had to be done.
More than anything, he just knew that later on, Joy would come running to boast about how she beat him, and it wouldn’t be enough to just see her cute side then… or would it?
Seeing our Joy’s cuteness is something that can never be enough!
Ah, damn it. Should I just suggest taking a bit more time to rest? Perhaps I could stall under the pretext of needing to gather clues?
“Let’s skip the apologies and get moving. If I can’t be the first, then at least I should aim for second, right?”
Sadly for Jeff, he wouldn’t be granted any more time to waffle.
Before he could say anything else, Cecil stood up, leaving him no choice but to follow, lamenting about his utterly unnecessary sincerity.
*
“Truly, Lady Partran, accomplishing something we couldn’t even dream of!”
“Oh my! But you, Lady Rumley, have also been closely chasing Lady Partran!”
“Exactly! Until midway, it felt like we couldn’t see an inch ahead!”
“Oh-ho-ho! It was just luck on my part.”
In a garden where noble ladies were fake-laughing and building relations, Toby was pacing back and forth, repeatedly trying to gather the courage to approach, only to release deep sighs.
To enter the dungeon again, he must first confront Lady Rumley and persuade her.
There’s just no way he could intervene there!
How could he possibly approach that crowd and ask her for favors only to meet scrutinizing gazes?
Should he just wait for another chance?
Maybe wait for Lady Rumley to be alone later.
No, that won’t do.
With the exams nearing their end, every moment counted! He couldn’t afford to waste time.
To go inside the dungeon and confirm if his thoughts held true, he needed to persuade Lady Rumley ASAP!
Caught between self-preservation and his desire for dungeon conquest, Toby resolved himself and moved forward.
“Who… are you?”
“Ah! I remember now! The commoner who entered the dungeon alongside Lady Rumley!”
“Why is someone who only rode the coattails of the lady here?”
Despite the whispers of disdain from several ladies, Toby firmly pressed on until he arrived in front of Avery.
“What can I do for you, Toby?”
“Lady Rumley. I have something important to discuss. Could you spare me a moment?”
“Is it about the dungeon? I believe I’ve already conveyed my stance on that matter.”
Indeed, Avery had already declared to Toby that she had no intention of conquering the dungeon anymore.
She had expressed in less-than-noble terms how she was too exhausted to continue.
“Hasn’t it only been a few days? Have you forgotten already?”
“No, I haven’t forgotten.”
“Then you must know my answer is still the same.”
Just as expected. Remembering the shudder-inducing sight of her turning him down, Toby had anticipated her refusal.
And of course, he had prepared ways to turn that refusal into acceptance.
“In that case, I’ll have no choice but to seek help from that person.”
“…That person?”
“Yes. You know who I mean.”
Toby, who had entered school as a special case while bouncing around a mercenary group, had little to no ties with the nobility.
It would be a different story if it involved his father, but Toby wasn’t personally acquainted with any nobles.
So, if he dared to demand help, it could only mean one person.
Lucy Alrn.
The eldest daughter of the Duke of the Border and the top student of the Soul Academy.
A figure known throughout the Soul Academy and strangely someone Avery couldn’t seem to contend with.
“Ugh. Fine. Let’s talk for a bit.”
Realizing what Toby meant, Avery shrugged, though her hands hidden under the table were trembling as if she were nervous.
Once all the other noble ladies shot Toby disdainful glares and walked away, and just as he was sure he’d get a good scolding from his father during the break, Toby found himself alone with Avery, who had completely abandoned her calm demeanor.
With a cold gaze fixated on him as she rested her chin on her hand, Avery said, “You came here to ask for me to enter the dungeon with you, right?”
“Yes. That’s correct. I need to confirm something.”
“You’re quite the curious one, aren’t you?”
With a teasing remark, Avery let out a long sigh before adding the next sentence.
“I am thankful to you. Although I was forced to join you because of Lady Alrn, it’s true that I reached a high point in the dungeon, thanks to you.”
Without Toby, Avery’s party wouldn’t have reached anywhere, let alone the first floor.
Having lived as a lady in the royal court, their practical experience in such matters had been lacking, making it impossible for them to reach high.
Avery genuinely felt grateful for that part.
“But that’s where our limits lie. We can’t climb any higher without the might of the third prince’s party.”
Even for ladies from the royal court, the desire for achievement was not absent.
The admiration, the envious glances, and the glory of competing among esteemed figures.
With those thoughts in her mind, Avery had put all her focus on conquering the dungeon, hoping to share those tales in high society later on.
So much so that she had neglected other exams to the point of abject failure.
Nevertheless, even with Toby’s knowledge of the dungeon, their abilities were insufficient compared to those in the lead.
Avery and her party had ultimately given up on conquering the dungeon, stuck in place as others leaped forward.
“You best know that, even if we try entering the dungeon again, nothing will change.”
Because she had benefited from Toby’s help. And because Lucy was backing Toby up.
Avery had tried to persuade him kindly to let it go, but Toby simply shook his head resolutely after hearing everything.
“No. Things will change. If I’m correct, conquering that dungeon doesn’t require brute strength.”
“Excuse me?”
“I will explain it now. Please listen to what I have to say and decide whether or not you want to enter the dungeon.”
Avery initially thought he might be rambling nonsense, but as Toby’s words flowed, a light gradually sparked in Avery’s eyes.
By the time Toby concluded his story, she was already speaking about going back into the dungeon without hesitation.
And the next day.
On the final day of the academy’s term exams.
Avery’s party successfully became the second among the first years and the third overall to conquer the dungeon after Cecil’s party.
*
Once I saw Arthur and the gang stepping out from the dungeon, I rushed to meet them.
You see, the thing about punishment is that it’s most terrifying before it happens; once it’s done, it doesn’t seem like much, right?
I wanted to wrap this up quickly so I could put my heart at ease, but unfortunately, things in this world don’t always unfold as I wish.
“I’ll tell you about it after finals are over.”
“It’s better to not rush things, right?”
“I apologize, Young Lady. Please wait just a bit.”
“I can divulge now. Can’t you pick up on that? Ugh. Got it. I’ll keep quiet for now.”
And so, I found myself waiting for the punishment that would come after the final exams.
I truly hope their wishes don’t change before the exams end.
A day passed filled with anxiety about whether they might turn around and demand something outrageous.
At noon, the moment the academy’s final exams concluded, I found myself with the Dungeon Studies Professor at the exam site.
Perhaps due to the recently concluded exams, the place felt chaotic.
Students clustered together, some exclaiming, saying they understood the strategy now and pleading for just one more chance from the TA.
Others were pouting, lamenting that they were doomed to fail.
There were those pulling their hair out out of frustration, already resigned to whatever I might say.
And there were students who despondently gazed at the dungeon entrance.
Many students expressed various emotions, creating quite a ruckus in the exam hall, so much so that they didn’t even notice my presence.
“What a mess.”
The Dungeon Studies Professor chuckled dryly, attempting to calm them with amplification magic, but I interrupted him.
‘I’ll handle it from here.’
“Don’t do anything unnecessary, self-proclaimed professor.”
From this moment, this was my stage.
I had to relieve my stress by mocking these scrubs who couldn’t even figure out the dungeon’s gimmicks, so it was crucial that he didn’t steal my spotlight.
“Understood. Do as you please.”
Seeing the Dungeon Studies Professor step back, I concentrated divine energy into my voice.
One of the applications of physical enhancement. I never thought I’d wind up using a technique I planned to activate for provocation like this.
“Look here, scrubs!”
From this point on, I would explain step by step how to conquer the dungeon.
Everyone get ready to listen with gratitude!
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