Chapter: 251
“Did the sloppy guy who made this really think anyone would fall for such a trap? Does he think that just because he’s a monkey, everyone else is too?”
Lucy Allen said this as she lightly jumped over the trap, while Luca couldn’t relate to her words at all.
The very small and faint magical resonance existing in the hallway was definitely not sloppy.
Who would fall for such a trap? Most people would!
Even I would have been in danger if Lady Allen hadn’t mentioned it; what about ordinary adventurers? If such a trap were in a regular dungeon, countless damages would have occurred.
Luca thought that internally but kept it to himself. Ever since they entered the hidden location in the academy’s old building following Lucy, these things had happened countless times.
Navigating through a lightless maze and finding the way forward seamlessly.
Being able to discern every trap that appeared along the way.
When monsters would emerge, Lucy would swing her mace and smash their heads before they even thought to attack her, making her look more like a prophet than a human.
Luca, who had enough experience with Lucy’s abilities from watching her conquer the Academy Dungeon, found that experiencing it beside her was completely different from watching it on screen.
So, every time Lucy displayed her amazing talent, he was left in awe, only to get scolded by her and receive disdainful looks from Karl.
Luca was used to the former response, but the latter was too much for him.
The look from Karl seemed to say, “You’re only this amazed? You really have no discerning eye, huh?”
To Luca, who took pride in being a craftsman, those scornful looks were unbearable, so he chose to admire in silence while pretending to be accustomed to it.
No matter how he thought about it, it was unfair. Isn’t Lady Allen and her escort knight special? Anyone would be amazed by this!
Just imagine telling the story to those nobility who value honor.
They would salivate and rush at the lady, praising her regardless of her past after hearing her various tales of heroism.
They believe that conquering dungeons is both a noble’s duty and honor.
How difficult a dungeon was conquered, how many dungeons were tackled, what great achievements were obtained within, and how many life-threatening experiences were survived—these are seen as proof of nobility.
Even if it were his eldest son, if he had no experience conquering dungeons, they’d simply call him a fool and wouldn’t bestow titles upon him.
Therefore, of course, those nobles, who have more than enough experience conquering dungeons, would praise Lady Allen’s feats until their mouths dried up.
So why was he receiving looks suggesting he shouldn’t be this amazed? He could hardly understand!
Luca wriggled in frustration, but there was no one there to empathize with him.
Those too familiar with the light that is Lucy Allen would only call him a crybaby for shouting that it’s unfair.
“It’s already over. The person who made this must have thought it was difficult, right? The reality is, it’s just a stroll in the park for a small girl to laugh and chatter while conquering it.”
At least the good news for Luca was that he didn’t feel the need to dwell on his sense of injustice for long.
It only took 2 hours to reveal the hidden dungeon in the academy’s old building.
There were countless paths and an abundance of malicious traps, so just one mistake could lead to wandering endlessly in the dungeon, and yet, it took just 2 hours to reach the end.
“How can you not be amazed after seeing this?”
Checking his pocket watch, Luca couldn’t help but let out a heh.
“Ha. Really. I wonder how much longer you’re planning to stay a giggling monkey. Is it so hard to see things through human eyes?”
“Understand. My lady. It’s just that common sense has solidified, and they’re stuck in it.”
After hearing the banter between his master and her servant, Luca gritted his teeth. He planned to challenge Karl to a duel later.
*
<...It's eerie. Why does this feel strangely familiar?>
The grandpa kept saying this throughout their conquest of the hidden dungeon in the academy’s old building. He felt the structure of the dungeon hidden in the old building was too familiar.
[My lady, you might not believe this, but one of my comrades loved making mazes like this.]
I knew who the grandpa was talking about.
One of those who stood at the forefront when the Evil God was unleashed from its seal and tried to turn this world into hell.
One who had their hands on most of the magical system that currently exists.
They disappeared one day as if they’d vaporized, creating legends of them still being alive somewhere.
[The grotesque tastes present here can only be explained as his.]
The grandpa’s suspicion was right. The one who created a maze that couldn’t be breached without the stone tablet was the Great Wizard Erginius, who had been grandpa’s comrade in the past.
‘Is that so?’
I knew this but didn’t tell grandpa the truth.
If I told grandpa all the facts, I’d have to explain the story behind it as well. That’s not something he’d want to hear.
I didn’t want to see grandpa clutching his nape and collapsing. I don’t know if a skeleton has anything to grab onto, though.
And honestly, even if I didn’t explain, grandpa would eventually find out anyway, so there was no reason to strain my mouth over it.
[So he has something to do with this academy? Why?]
I ignored grandpa’s question and kept walking forward.
Originally, the hidden dungeon in the academy’s old building is a maze that cannot be passed through without the guiding stone tablet. If one doesn’t follow the path it indicates, they would find themselves returning to the entrance before they knew it.
But in this case, the creators were a bit sloppy. The path indicated by the stone tablet was fixed to just one.
Of course, while the path was ridiculously complex and hard to memorize, that wasn’t a problem for me.
If memorizing was efficient, I’d just memorize! That’s what a walking trash would do!
Those hours I had cursed through were rewarded even after the world had changed after a long time.
Took about 2 hours, right?
I must have slowed down a bit because I was considering the two following me.
Well, anyway, I could still get back before morning at this rate.
Thinking that, I grasped the door handle.
I didn’t need a break.
It had only been a 2-hour stroll; why would I need to rest?
“Intruders.”
As soon as I pushed open the thick iron door, a voice greeted me.
Having long since lost all flesh and organs from dying—having lost reason, memories, and even worn out souls—yet somehow still remembering its purpose.
No, believing it remembers.
“Not at all. They can’t be intruders.”
[That voice is!]
The one sitting on a crude stone chair, staring at us while pressing down on its knee bones, stood up.
“…My lady, step back. That’s dangerous.”
Before I knew it, Karl drew his sword and stood in front of me.
“Professor Karl is right. That’s not someone the lady can deal with right now.”
Luca pulled a dagger from his possession.
It wasn’t strange for Karl to react that way. But not for Luca.
There was only one reason why the guy, who would usually gladly put me forward against most threats, stood guard for me.
I wouldn’t gain anything by facing that thing.
The moment I stood before that skeleton, I would be dead meat.
Their judgment was spot on.
I couldn’t defeat that guy yet.
In about six months, maybe. But not now.
I knew that much.
How could I not? I must have visited this place thousands of times by now.
And yet, the reason I confidently came here was that I didn’t need to defeat that skeleton.
Before it’s a dungeon, this is a place of trials.
“It was the laxness of the monsters coming out of the dungeon that was the problem. I was too careless.”
“Now’s not the time for that. We need to think of how to deal with that thing.”
The two practitioners with outstanding skills quickly assessed the disparity between their abilities and devised strategies.
The one sitting to the side, however, didn’t even give them a glance.
He was fixated on me. Just me.
As if trying to suck me into the void of his long-gone, void-black eyes.
“You, who are loved by the gods.”
<...Hmm?! No, no. That’s not it. He's just mimicking that... Ah. Ah!>
Then he spoke to me in a line I’d never heard in-game before.
“State your name.”
‘I’m Lucy Allen.’
“Lucy Allen. A name befitting a mentally ill skeleton.”
“Lucy Allen, huh? I appreciate the proud introduction, and I’ll introduce myself. This knight’s name is Garad. Once a part of a hero’s legacy.”
[Hahaha! Erginius! This nutty bastard stayed a fool until the end!]
As soon as the skeleton finished his introduction, grandpa burst into laughs and foul language.
Nothing strange about it.
This skeleton’s true identity was a homunculus created by the Great Wizard Erginius reminiscing about his comrades.
It was a maniacal skeleton who believed himself to be a hero and bore all the ridiculous traits of one, just as the Mesugaki Skill described.
From grandpa’s perspective, it must feel like watching his friend’s embarrassing moments get preserved in history.
“…Garad?”
“Heroic remains, is it? No way. That can’t be.”
Ah, damn. I might burst into laughter because of the gap between grandpa and the two beside me.
One side was super tense, while the other was losing it!
Calm down. Let’s keep it together. If I suddenly burst into laughter here, I’d just look like a lunatic.
“What brings you to this place?”
‘I want the shield you have.’
“The shield belongs to a mentally ill skeleton? You came to reclaim it?”
“I see. That’s all there is, huh?”
[Haha!]
As the skeleton nodded, grandpa’s laughter grew louder.
Ah, this is just ridiculous.
“Since you are one loved by the gods, I would like to give it to you, but unfortunately, I lack the authority to do so.”
‘What then?’
“I get you’re happy to have someone to talk to after a long time. But could you consider the time wasted due to a mad skeleton?”
“…Ah, I’m sorry.”
[Hehe. Laughing like a maniac but still powerless in front of a young lady!]
Grandpa! Please, keep it together!
“I’ll get straight to the point. You must pass the trial I give.”
No matter how trivial the trial may seem, it still demands one’s full attention!
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