Chapter: 120
Phoebe had teamed up with the Holy Knights of the church for dungeon strategies a few times before.
To pass the Academy’s exam, one had to know how to tackle dungeons, so she had to enter one just to learn.
It wasn’t dangerous.
She was a Saintess of Lord Jushin; how could those with her be anything but formidable?
For any respectable family, those who could occupy the top ranks must’ve come just to challenge lower-tier dungeons.
To be precise, Phoebe didn’t really raid the dungeon; she merely experienced it.
However, thanks to her exceptional mentors, Phoebe had learned how a typical dungeon strategy unfolds.
Her understanding of dungeon tactics was much more cautious.
A dungeon always begins in the unknown, which means she had to move forward considering everything.
Where could a monster appear?
Are there traps in this path?
Is this the right way?
Can we conserve enough stamina for the next battle?
Of course, it was entirely possible to smash through all variables with overwhelming skill, but usually, one had to tread as carefully as crossing a frozen lake.
However, Lucy Allen’s approach to dungeons was different.
Her dungeon strategy was a script written for a play.
On the stage of the dungeon, Lucy was the director, screenwriter, and actress creating a theater production.
This could hardly be called a dungeon raid.
Everything unfolded just as Lucy commanded; how could it be called a strategy?
“Turn the corner ahead after ten steps. Three weak orcs. I’ll lead and knock them over as we pass.”
Even when Lucy gave orders before confirming whether monsters were present, no one raised an objection.
Phoebe was the same.
And indeed, as they turned the alley, three orcs were waiting for them.
When Phoebe first entered the dungeon, she doubted Lucy’s words.
Even though Lucy was exceptionally skilled, commanding with certainty in a dungeon full of countless variables seemed impossible.
Yet, Lucy naturally turned the impossible into possible.
At first, Phoebe thought it was mere coincidence.
But after ten times, twenty times of such luck, coincidence turned into inevitability.
Inside the dungeon, Lucy seemed to have received a divine miracle.
Having witnessed that miracle repeatedly, Phoebe couldn’t help but wonder.
Could this really be the Apostle of Armadi?
Could anyone loved by Armadi create such miracles?
“Ugh!?”
Phoebe’s thoughts shattered when Lucy slammed into an orc.
As she was riding on Lucy’s shoulder, she too felt the jolt from the impact.
After trampling over the fallen orc with her armor, Phoebe felt a wave of nausea and cast a miracle for motion sickness.
Ugh.
While being carried helplessly was uncomfortable, it was definitely better than running like Lady Allen.
At first, Phoebe refused to be carried by Lucy.
After all, she was a Saintess.
From her standpoint, maintaining at least a minimal dignity and poise, being treated like a burden on the shoulder of someone much smaller was hard to accept.
‘Are you sure? With the sloppy stamina of the Saintess, you’ll drop out midway.’
‘It’s fine.’
Phoebe had resolved to endure whatever hardship, but she soon found herself acknowledging her arrogance.
With her legs giving way and lungs burning, gasping for air, every three steps she stumbled and banged her head against the floor, she instinctively bowed her head.
Some things in the world couldn’t be conquered by sheer mental strength.
Thus, Phoebe, enduring shame, hopped onto Lucy’s shoulder and realized Lucy was deliberately slowing down for her sake.
Ugh. Joy.
You must have known it would be like this, so why didn’t you say anything?
If you’d given me a heads-up, I wouldn’t have been sprawled on the floor in embarrassment or inconvenienced anyone.
Surely you didn’t intend to play a prank on me, did you?
If it was just a simple forgetfulness, I wouldn’t say anything, but if it was intentional, I’m going to lecture you!
“Another monster.”
Despite Phoebe’s resolve, Lucy’s feet didn’t stop, and the dungeon raid proceeded smoothly.
10th Floor.
20th Floor.
30th Floor.
40th Floor.
50th Floor.
60th Floor.
As the levels ascended, the size of the dungeon grew, causing slight delays, but that was it.
The party’s pace didn’t slacken one bit.
Even now, they dashed with a speed comparable to decent cavalry while conserving their stamina.
Phoebe, riding on Lucy’s shoulder, was getting exhausted just from trying to stay steady.
So this is what it’s like when the two with the greatest talent on the continent train to their limits.
How on earth did Joy keep up with these two normally?
Now I understand why Lady Kent wished me well before entering the dungeon.
This isn’t something an average person can endure.
Right before heading to the Boss Room on the 70th floor, Lucy set Phoebe down and scanned the surroundings.
“Shoddy Swordsman. You okay?”
Finally!
Are you actually thinking of resting a bit now?
Phoebe could have opened her mouth to avoid being a burden while practically hanging like a sack, but she was on the brink of collapsing.
Consequently, she longed for rest more than anyone standing here.
Phoebe swallowed hard and assessed Frey’s expression.
Strangely enough, Frey seemed to be deep in thought.
What was she pondering?
She could just say let’s take a break.
No matter how extraordinary Lady Allen or Lady Kent’s stamina was, they were still first-year Academy students.
Even if they had a handle on everything about the dungeon, charging forward without rest could lead to accidents.
So, they must rest.
Absolutely!
“It’s fine. I’m good.”
However, what came out of Frey’s mouth was the opposite of her expectations.
Fine, you say?
How can you be okay after sprinting up to the 70th floor!?
Right now, you’re gasping for air!
What if you mess up when facing the Boss on the 70th floor?
Of course, the previous bosses were thoroughly prepared by Lady Allen, allowing them to crush opponents without a proper battle, but this time might be different.
There must be a reason Lady Allen asked for a break!
Sending her thoughts to Frey with her eyes, Phoebe soon caught Lucy’s gaze and blushed, looking down.
“Then let’s keep going.”
With Lucy’s new declaration, Phoebe resigned herself and cast her recovery magic again.
Though it was only a temporary fix, without it, she wouldn’t have survived.
I’d rather the 70th-floor Boss be tricky and difficult.
If that were the case, I’d be forced to rest.
But Phoebe’s hopes were dashed once again.
“Dispose of the intruders.”
As soon as they entered the Boss Room, a massive spell was cast by the Boss, but it was blocked by a scroll Lucy had used.
Then, as Lucy activated another scroll, the gigantic spell used by the Boss triggered, decapitating it.
The entire sequence took barely a minute.
That was too short a time for Phoebe’s exhausted body to recover.
With the Boss’s body sprawled on the ground, Lucy stood before Phoebe.
Now having let everything go, Phoebe hopped onto Lucy’s shoulders without hesitation.
*
About half a day after entering the dungeon, we stood before the door to the 100th floor of the Academy Dungeon.
Ideally, I would want to dive straight into the strategy, but Phoebe wasn’t in good shape, so we couldn’t.
To comfortably tackle the 100th floor, her Divine Magic was essential.
If we went in like a lifeless log, unable to even speak, any variables might arise.
We still had some time before the Academy Dungeon closed, so maybe we should rest a bit.
When I paused my steps and set Phoebe down, she collapsed to the floor as soon as she touched down.
This was a sight I had never seen of the Saintess, disheveled and worn out—how surprising!
In Soul Academy, she was always such a dignified character.
Well, even a Saintess is human, and when exhausted, there’s little that can be done.
Looking away from Phoebe, I observed Frey, who, while tired, wasn’t in a state of being unable to move.
Her stamina had significantly built up from training with me.
Originally, she’d need to rest multiple times, but now she was toughing it out till the end.
Thanks to that, despite Phoebe’s presence in the party, our speed in raiding the dungeon was incredibly fast.
So, Phoebe, who hadn’t been able to take even one break, was on the verge of dying, but what could be done?
This was something that had been decided the moment she nodded to join the dungeon raid.
If she didn’t want such extreme experiences, she should’ve refused from the start.
Letting her know in advance should be required, right?
But there’s no law saying that!
I haven’t done anything wrong.
If she wants to complain, she should’ve checked beforehand.
And by the way, I’m giving her a proper reward for making her go through this.
Being named the first conqueror of the Academy Dungeon, that’s not small potatoes!
This is quite a title of honor.
My reputation and status in the game have already gone up significantly.
Plus, with the rewards given to the first conquerors, the payback for being wiped out today should definitely suffice.
Right now, it might be tough, but later she’ll look back and think, “Ah, Lady Allen really had it all figured out,” feeling grateful.
While silence reigned during the break, Phoebe, sprawled out, blushed and adjusted her posture.
Looks like she’s finally coming back to her senses.
It’ll still take some time for her stamina to fully recover, but at least it seems she can chat now.
“Phoebe.”
“Shoddy Saintess.”
“…Hehe?!”
Startled, Phoebe almost bit her tongue in her response, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
I’m starting to see why the Mesugaki Skill calls her the Shoddy Saintess.
Sometimes, her real sloppy side pops out.
“Don’t worry. I’m not telling you to move. Just listen.”
“Were you afraid I’d tell you to move? Hehe. You really are something. Don’t worry, it’s nothing like that. Just sit back and listen.”
This time, Phoebe’s role is important, you see.
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