Chapter: 292
After spending a great time with Arthur, I realized this little guy really wasn’t getting it.
But that’s not all. He was growing at a steeper pace than I had anticipated.
He hadn’t even started his second year yet, and he was already using his aura!
Not just some basic grasp of it, but he had truly become skilled enough to use it in real combat!
No matter how much I shared the fastest ways to grow, isn’t this a bit too fast?
I knew he was a genius, but I didn’t expect his talent to be this exceptional.
Had it not been before the rise of the Divine level, I might have been in trouble.
“Looks like you’ve been working hard, Third Prince.”
“I can’t believe the Pitiful Prince has become this strong. You must have put in a tremendous amount of effort. Hahaha. Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that you’re still a sloppy loser compared to a girl two heads shorter than you.”
Arthur, sprawled on the floor, didn’t respond to my words.
No reaction. He looked like a corpse. Just as I was pondering if I had hit the wrong nerve, Frey ambled over and patted Arthur’s back.
“The Third Prince hasn’t done anything wrong. This is just because Lucy is too strong.”
“Lady Kent is right. Your Highness, what you’ve shown is remarkably high for your age.”
“Don’t bother with useless comfort. Just leave me be. It seems it’ll take some time for this heartache to heal.”
Ah, so it’s just shock from losing even after using every trick he had.
Good thing, too. I was worried I might have turned the Pitiful Princess into a real tragic case due to my power control.
‘What they say is true…’
“Indeed. The Pitiful Prince was strong for a sloppy loser. You should have seen how terrifying it was when he desperately tried to mar a cute girl’s face. I almost screamed out of how ugly it was!”
“…Lucy Allen. I find it strange for a loser to say such things. Would you kindly shut up?”
With Arthur’s shivering voice, I hurriedly shut my mouth. I added an “I’m sorry” in my mind, knowing I had no clue what unholy words might come next.
Mmm, no matter how I looked at it, staying here wouldn’t bring any good.
Seeing Arthur train with more effort than I had asked reassured me that it was time to make a quiet getaway.
But you know, if Arthur didn’t have any issues with me, why the heck did he run away after seeing my face yesterday? I just don’t get it.
[Are you truly clueless enough to tilt your head in confusion?]
‘What do you mean by that?’
<...You do not understand human hearts. Isn’t it obvious?>
‘Are you saying Arthur ran away because he was surprised by my changed appearance? That can’t be true! The Third Prince isn’t some silly pervert!’
No way someone would have strange feelings for such a tiny kid, right?
Only those losers like the Sloppy Fox, the Church’s Apostle, or pathetic perverts like the Shoddy Pedo Lord would think like that.
The Arthur I knew has normal thoughts, unlike those perverts.
‘Oh! Is it because perverts see only perverts?’ I was thinking of that old man as someone I could trust!
[What kind of slander is that! What do you think of yourself!]
As I let Grandpa’s rant slide by one ear, I wondered about the reason for Arthur’s flight, but no decent answer came to me.
It seemed that he was hiding something, but I couldn’t figure out what. Since everything seemed fine when we met again today, it didn’t seem to be a huge problem. I’ll just let it slide for now.
[Are you listening!? Lately, you haven’t shown yourself any respect!]
Could it be that my recent teasing built up and burst out?
Grandpa’s nagging continued until I arrived at the Dungeon Studies Professor’s location.
I’ve been quite a bit of a troublemaker lately; I can’t deny that fact.
But come on! What am I supposed to do when his reactions are just too funny to ignore?
Watching a usually solemn person yell and get flustered inevitably puts a smile on my face.
If he doesn’t want to be teased, maybe he should stop showing such funny reactions!
I kind of get now why the past Lucy used to tease people…
No, I shouldn’t understand the old Lucy’s mindset.
Understanding her would be a big no-no.
[I understand you feel close to yourself in this way, but I just wish you could show some minimal respect.]
‘I can’t not respect you, old man! I always think you’re amazing in my heart!’
<...Is that so?>
‘Of course! I remember seeing you perform miracles against the Evil God! I still think about it! The sun rising in that dark cave!’
[Cough. What is that? Compared to what I accomplished in my prime, it was nothing.]
‘Really!? You are the legendary Holy Knight Ruel!’
[Does that naively flattery really make me feel less angry? ]
Grandpa. You say that, but your shaky voice gives you away!
Even if I used to just mess around, you’re secretly thrilled when I praise you!
‘This isn’t flattery; it’s genuine flattery! Grandpa!’
[Flattery is flattery. What do you mean by genuine flattery?]
‘The respect I have is real!’
<...I simply cannot win against you with mere words.>
Feeling accomplished in soothing Grandpa’s heart, I decided I had to maintain a proper balance between teasing and praise as I stepped into the Dungeon Studies Professor’s office.
“Lady Allen.”
Recently, maybe she hasn’t been sleeping well? She had deep dark circles under her eyes.
“I was just waiting for you. Have you heard from Professor Karl?”
‘Yes. About that…’
“I heard. The shoddy professor acknowledged he can’t evaluate me with that foolish head of his.”
Despite the words translated as Mesugaki Skill, the professor gritted his teeth, but I paid him no mind.
I’d long given up trying to win over that guy.
“So, have you made any decisions?”
‘Yes. I’m planning to create a dungeon.’
“Right. I’m going to show you what a proper dungeon is, so you’ll know how someone like you even became a professor. Hah. Really. I’m just too kind.”
Every time my voice slipped out, the Dungeon Studies Professor’s face turned bright red.
Isn’t he gonna collapse from a spike in blood pressure?
I’m kind of scared that under the notorious name Lucy Allen, I might have a note that says, “Has raised blood pressure to the point of death.”
“…Assistant Professor.”
“Yes!”
“Let me explain the details.”
The poor graduate student caught between the Dungeon Studies professor and me, sweating profusely, approached me and bowed deeply.
“Uh! Lady Allen! Would you grant this shoddy trash the honor of explaining things to you?”
His overly respectful demeanor was a bit burdensome, but I wasn’t too shocked.
‘…Uh. Um. Yes.’
“Phew! You seem to get the gist. Go ahead and talk!”
I’ve been doing this for a day, so it’s not new.
Last time I flipped the commoner dorm upside down, I had Luca handle the culprits appropriately.
Those fools were lingering around, and who knows what stupid things they might do?
Luca handled my orders well. But perhaps a bit too well.
I never expected those culprits would disappear overnight from the Academy.
This incident gave rise to the ridiculous rumor that Lucy Allen makes anyone who offends her vanish!
In reality, I simply had the troublemakers quietly expelled, but rumors tend to spread more quickly when they’re sensational.
Thanks to that incident, I became a target of fear for common students and staff alike.
Ah, thinking back to this makes me mad again.
It’s nice that the kids who used to pick fights have disappeared, but can you believe they beg for their lives to the point of practically knocking their heads on the ground if they even brush against my clothes? Isn’t that a bit excessive?!
Why do I have to be treated like trash when I haven’t done anything?!
Even if I had given up some reputation, this is going too far!
“Uh. Uh! Lady Allen! Was there a part of my explanation that was lacking?!”
Snapped out of my thoughts by the terrified assistant professor’s voice, I sighed and bit my lip at the sight of her about to smack her face into the ground.
‘You can’t leave it there. Can you please explain one more time?’
“Could you speak a bit more clearly? I can’t understand you at all. You seem like a pathetic loser. Explain it properly again.”
“Yes! I’ll do my best… gulp!”
“Hah. Enough. Assistant Professor, just carry on with your work. I will explain!”
Maybe the assistant professor couldn’t stand the stammering anymore. Stepping up, the Dungeon Studies Professor made the assistant professor’s face visibly brighter.
My reputation at the academy must have plummeted so much!
What did I do to deserve this level of fear? I haven’t done anything!
Aaaagh! It’s so unfair! Why am I being treated this way when I’ve stopped the resurrection of the Evil God twice?!
I might have felt less wronged if I’d actually tormented someone instead of this!
Just then, the Dungeon Studies Professor spoke up.
“First, you should know that the dungeon for the final exam is primarily for testing what you learned in class. Therefore, the contents of the dungeon should include topics within the exam range. I thought you were already aware since I previously informed you.”
‘Did you let me know?’
“I told you? Really? Are you sure you’re not just mixing things up, you fool?”
“…I clearly informed you, or did you not hear it?”
Ah, right.
My apologies, Professor.
But, I had better things to do than sit through your ramblings in Dungeon Studies class.
Why would I listen when I already know everything being said?
When I nodded confidently, I saw the Dungeon Studies Professor’s mouth twitch.
“I’ll say this again. The range for this exam is gimmick-type dungeons. The strategies related to various dungeons that cannot be overcome without using your head.”
He struggled to suppress the rising volume of his voice as he explained several gimmicks and their solutions that he had taught during class.
It was probably because it was first-year material that there were hardly any bizarre types of gimmicks.
Are we supposed to incorporate those gimmicks into the dungeon design?
“In addition, there are several other conditions. The size of the dungeon, difficulty, capacity limitations, and…”
The restrictions are quite tight.
But then again, creating a dungeon isn’t free; it’s obvious there are various realistic limitations.
Listening carefully to what the professor said, I rifled through the knowledge in my head.
To create an ideal dungeon while using the resources given to me effectively…
Hmm…
As I pondered with my arms crossed, a great thought crossed my mind.
If I could make use of this gimmick, it would be the best solution, but I wonder if it’s possible.
‘Um, Professor, is it…?’
“Hey, just checking, does this pathetic academy have the capability to replicate something like that?”
That was a question I expected a difficult no as the answer, but the professor’s reply was something completely different.
“It’s not that hard. But what do you plan to do with that gimmick?”
…It’s possible?
Are you telling me I can actually use this gimmick?!
Hehe.
Hehehehe.
Hey, academy first-years!
Get ready for a lesson on what a real dungeon is!
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