Chapter: 291
One of the Dungeon Studies Professors at Soul Academy, Jessel let out a long sigh while checking the dungeons to be featured in the final exam.
“…It’s just gotten too difficult.”
There’s no way I can make this an exam. If other professors see this problem, they’ll definitely mock me as if I’ve made a mortal enemy of the freshmen.
Damn old men! If they’re so good at dungeon design, they should create their own problems!
Just because they’re older, they throw in their own problems and then criticize us, saying this won’t work and that won’t work.
I really wish they’d all just drop dead.
“Haah. How did this dungeon design end up like this?”
Even just until lunch today, it was a fairly decent dungeon, so why has it turned into a Magical Labyrinth that not even current professionals can tackle, let alone the students?
Reflecting on it deeply, Jessel soon realized what the cause was.
While making the dungeon, I couldn’t stop thinking about Lucy Allen, and that’s how this happened.
Lucy Allen.
The top student of the first-year class at Soul Academy.
A monster already far beyond the level of students, a genius rewriting the history of Soul Academy.
And one of the few attending the Dungeon Studies class that Jessel teaches.
Recalling her arrogant tone and annoying smile, Jessel tightened his grip unknowingly.
When Lucy first enrolled at the academy, Jessel had a good impression of her.
Ignoring the rumors about her, Jessel only focused on the impressive performance she showed in the entrance exam, convinced she would accomplish great things in the future, and wanted to support her growth.
However, this resolution didn’t last long.
“Is this what you call a question? Tch. With such shoddy skills, you’re asking such shoddy questions!”
Even before the week was up after the semester began, Lucy Allen had surely become someone Jessel was determined to put in her place.
“Why are you sleeping? There’s nothing to learn, no fun, and not even anything to look at, so how can I not sleep?”
“Do you think I wouldn’t know this? Hahaha. Just look at your face thinking you asked a sharp question. Truly shoddy.”
“You don’t even know this as a professor? Really? Wow. How on earth did you even get a professorship?”
During the semester, Jessel did everything he could just to see Lucy Allen’s mouth drop open even once.
He tried every possible method to say things like “You don’t even know such basics?”
However, every attempt always returned just a condescending gaze and a tone filled with disdain.
“What? You want me to tell you why this conclusion came about? Just like that? Go ahead and say it, ‘Please, Professor Allen, teach this shoddy, stupid self-proclaimed professor!’ Then I’ll teach you.”
Lucy Allen was not just arrogant; she was a genius among geniuses with the capability to back it up.
“Aaargh! I’m so pissed off!”
While recalling past events, she shouted out loud and ripped up the papers where she had designed the dungeon, scattering them into the void.
With the determination to get back at Lucy Allen, all the twisted ideas inserted into that dungeon would be useless anywhere anyway; she might as well vent her frustrations through it.
“Damn it! If she knows dungeons so well, let her make one… Ah.”
Yeah, tell her to create a dungeon.
Since I can’t possibly evaluate it, I’ll just say we can substitute this for the exam.
Though she’ll surely mock me at first, I can endure that.
Just thinking about laughing at her when she returns with something like this is enough for me to manage!
“Hey, Professor?…”
While staring into the void and grumbling, an Assistant Professor, seemingly concerned, spoke up at the sight of Jessel laughing like a crazy person.
Jessel turned his head and glared at the Assistant Professor with bloodshot eyes.
“Assistant Professor.”
“Yes!”
“Go immediately to Professor Karl and tell him I have something to relay to Lady Allen.”
Lucy Allen. Let’s see how well you can handle this.
*
The story conveyed from Karl was as follows.
Due to my current level surpassing that of the first-year academy students, I cannot be evaluated through the Dungeon Studies class exam.
Therefore, I will take a top score for the Dungeon Studies class assessments with the condition that I will create the dungeon for the final exam in place of my evaluation.
“I could tell you were troubled in many ways.”
Karl, who conveyed this story with a wry smile, defended the Dungeon Studies Professor, but no matter how I think about it, this is a shabby way to offload the work.
Since he’s too lazy to do his own job, he’s passing it off to me somewhere.
Doesn’t that Dungeon Studies Professor have a slave or something?
If making a problem is too bothersome, he could have just asked his slave to do it instead of trying to offload it onto me!
I really don’t get it.
“Are you refusing?”
Did Karl, who tilted his head in question, take that as my refusal? He stated that he would go to speak well with the Dungeon Studies Professor.
‘No. I’ll do it.’
“A smart dog would have better sense than this. Even the title of Shoddy Dog is too good for you.”
You’re giving me the chance to create the dungeon directly!
Not some digital dungeon on a screen, but one that will actually be used in the exam!
How could I possibly refuse this!?
Even if I were to consider the payment I’d receive, I would put everything on the line to take this free opportunity to create a dungeon, plus guarantee a good grade!
That’s truly a golden opportunity. No, that professor must be mad!
I absolutely won’t refuse.
No, I can’t refuse.
If the Dungeon Studies Professor changes his mind later, I’ll just have to kidnap him to ensure I make that dungeon!
This has been my dream!
When was it again?
Before I set foot in this world.
Back when I complained that it was a trash game after barely a few thousand hours and said there’s nothing to do.
Back then, I had tried to make a dungeon myself.
It all started when I got into a heated online argument with a particularly nasty modder.
“Here I am, being so picky while eating food my mother made for me. What a degenerate little brat.”
“Didn’t have a mother, so I wouldn’t even know what being degenerate means. LOL.”
“Wow, you’re such a crazy bastard. If you’re so unhappy, then go make your own, you little shit.”
In response, I left a comment saying that whatever I made would be better than anything he produced.
Afterwards, I looked up all sorts of information to create a mod.
Initially, I had an extravagant dream of making the best mod with my awesome knowledge.
But that dream hit the wall of reality hard.
First of all, Soul Academy isn’t a game that provides a modding tool.
And secondly, I had no knowledge of programming whatsoever.
At first, I stubbornly tried to learn coding to make a mod, even buying books, but that motivation didn’t last long.
Within just a week, I put “You Can Do It Too! Python for Beginners!” up for sale at a second-hand market, and that bastard charged me with a burger for my foolishness.
Even after that, every time I faced some horrible mods, I thought about wanting to create a dungeon myself, but every time I failed and never succeeded in making a mod.
I thought it was a lifelong desire that would never come true, but the day I could finally fulfill that dream has finally come!
Right now, just the gimmicks popping into my head are more than dozens.
Since the dungeons are made by the academy, I can’t just throw every gimmick in there.
But that’s okay. The quality of the dungeon isn’t determined by the number of gimmicks.
“What? Is there something to be happy about? Your expression is bright.”
While I was pondering what kind of dungeon I should create, Arthur finished a duel and spoke to me.
“Is the Third Prince who was so confident finally bested by me? Isn’t it funny?”
“Despite struggling, you won, so what nonsense are you talking about! If you hadn’t thrown down your sword in the last moment and charged, you would have lost!”
“That’s true. The Third Prince did well. Just not as good as me.”
“Someone who would’ve lost had things gone a little differently!”
“Yeah. I got lucky and won. Wow. How exciting.”
I could only blink as I watched Frey nonchalantly burst Arthur’s bubble with a blank expression and dry tone.
Frey. Was that guy good at banter like this?
Even if he usually spouted nonsense in his own style, I didn’t think he’d directly provoke someone.
…Wait, could this be because of me?
Did he start to imitate the provocations since he’s getting into duels with me?
Now that I think of it, he did have fun provoking me during the first semester final exam.
Realizing I’ve inadvertently created a horrid hybrid, I stepped back a little.
“Let’s fight again! This time, I’ll definitely!”
“No way. The Third Prince is so shoddy it’s boring.”
“Are you afraid to lose to me?!”
“Yep. I’m scared. So, I won’t.”
“Y-you!… Frey Kent!!!”
It was Karl who stepped in to mediate their fight.
He reassured Arthur, whose sanity was about to fly away, stating that both of their duels were even, and it wouldn’t be surprising who won.
Though Frey added a few more quips here and there, just the fact that Karl, who even I couldn’t beat, spoke lent authority to his words.
In the end, even Frey had no choice but to agree with Karl’s words.
As time passed, Arthur regained his sanity, let out a long sigh, and returned to the original topic.
“So Lucy Allen, why were you smiling?”
‘Me…’
“Let me clarify; I’m going to make the dungeon for the final exam instead of that self-proclaimed Dungeon Studies professor. Just thinking about the shoddy ones who will be crying inside there made me smile.”
“…What? You’re going to make the dungeon for the final exam?”
Upon hearing my story, Arthur turned to verify if my words were correct with a look towards Karl.
When Karl nodded to affirm the meaning of the glare, Arthur turned back to me, inhaled deeply, and spoke in a tone as serious as one couldn’t believe was from someone who had just been yelling at Frey.
“Lucy Allen, I have one request. Please do not set the difficulty based on your level. If you do, it could lead to a disaster where the entire first year fails.”
As he created a heavy atmosphere, I wondered what he was going to say, only to find it’s unnecessary worry.
‘I understand.’
“Pitiful Prince, do you think I wouldn’t know that most of the first years are just utter shoddy fools?”
“Of course, you would know! But do you not lack common sense? I can see it coming! You’re the one who would think a dungeon would be easy for a third-year to pass, but it ends up being a monstrous dungeon!”
Arthur’s voice gradually raised as he gave various advice.
Things like, I shouldn’t take their lives, they shouldn’t have trauma from the dungeons, and to remember that other exams are waiting.
I know that those pieces of advice stem from his concern for me, so I understand I should listen carefully.
But you know.
There’s a limit to good advice. Cross that line, and trouble starts. I’ll understand the heart of a tyrant.
“Do you understand! One more time…”
“Pitiful Prince♡ You sure talk a lot like a girl♡”
“…What? Why are you raising your mace?”
“I just thought you seemed like you wanted to become a pitiful princess♡ I’m simply here to help♡”
“Uh, I thought you were offering advice, but it seems I overstepped my bounds. I apologize. So can you please lower that fearsome weapon?”
“Eh♡ You don’t have to decline♡”
“Sorry! I’m sorry! I got carried away with my words! I’ll do anything, so please let her go!”
“I’m glad you’re pleased♡ I wish I had known earlier that the pitiful prince was a pervert wanting to become a girl♡”
As she took a step forward, with the mace on her shoulder, Arthur raised his voice toward Karl and Frey in a panic.
“Don’t just stand there! Help me! At this rate, I’ll—”
“I apologize, Third Prince. It’s the lady’s wish.”
“Lucy isn’t shoddy and scary. I’m sorry.”
“You bunch of heartless scoundrels! I will never forget this day!”
With a voice filled with resentment, Arthur drew his sword and took a step back.
“You act like a shy kid in puberty♡ Seeing you run from this kind-hearted angel♡”
“Yeah! An angel is an angel! An angel come to announce my end!”
Oh, what an exaggerated statement.
Don’t worry, Arthur. I won’t kill you.
I’ll just check if you were slacking off while I couldn’t keep an eye on you.
Just roll until the moment before you die.
Got it?
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