Chapter: 295
The discussion with the Dungeon Studies Professor brought me a lot.
It’s true that I have a lot of knowledge about dungeons, but all of it is as a user of the game, not from the perspective of a creator.
Because of that, there were several deficiencies in the dungeons I created in terms of detail.
For example, when I designed the dungeon, I put in the monster patterns rather roughly.
I set a concept and used a combat style that matched it.
This isn’t a major issue. After all, the way monsters move is already determined.
However, it’s not perfect.
Monsters that repeat fixed movements are no different from dolls. It’s fine when you first see them, but once opponents get used to them, they don’t feel alive.
The solution the Dungeon Studies Professor suggested was this:
“If you collaborate with the Combat Studies Professor, you can record the movements and apply them directly.”
Writing out every detail of combat logic would take time and effort, and the final result might not even be great.
However, if I were to record the movements of the Combat Studies Professor and apply them as is, creating opponents that feel alive would be possible without much hardship.
“Normally, it’s hard to get cooperation at this time since Combat Studies Professors are busy. But you have someone you can boss around, right?”
I promised the Dungeon Studies Professor that I’d send Luca and Karl over.
I told him they could use them as much as they wanted.
In addition to this, I learned about various magic elements used in the dungeon.
“Artificial dungeons lack that ominous atmosphere unique to dungeons. It’s because they aren’t composed of the evil god’s magic.”
Heavy magic. Stuffy air. Sounds that feel unnaturally loud. An ominous feeling as if something is chasing you.
Dungeon creators have long contemplated the lack of these elements and ultimately succeeded in replicating the unique atmosphere of a dungeon through magic.
“Normally, it’s standard practice to leave resources for such elements, but since this is your first time, I’ll make sure you can add more resources.”
“…Wait. Can the tech of this shoddy academy even add such things?”
“That sounds good. It should be possible. If not, I’ll make it so.”
The Dungeon Studies Professor also gave me various pieces of advice on detailed elements, and based on that advice, I added new gimmicks.
Oh, it’s not just that I learned from the Dungeon Studies Professor.
There were many details I didn’t know, but for the core parts of the dungeon, I knew more.
So, I shared some insights with the Dungeon Studies Professor.
Like how to create traps that are infuriating for those trying to clear them.
Or gimmicks that are so annoying you’ll just curse.
Or how to design a hellish difficulty that makes you feel like you’re close to clearing it, but you just can’t give up.
There were so many points to cover that the Dungeon Studies Professor’s classes got canceled. Thanks to my collaboration, several classes had to be suspended, but who cares about such trivial things?
The important thing is! My created dungeon became even more perfect!
…Though, in the process, it ended up exceeding the set capacity by quite a bit, but since the Dungeon Studies Professor was going to finish it no matter what, it should be okay.
Probably.
After finishing all that discussion, I came for dinner feeling a satisfaction deeper than ever.
This is why it’s nice to have people with common hobbies.
Once everything is over, maybe I’ll try to become a Dungeon Studies Professor.
It would be so much fun to torment students with the dungeon I created.
If the kids complain and say they can’t do it because it’s too much, I can just provoke them with Mesugaki skill to make sure they have no choice but to do it.
“Look at those sloppy little kids who can only lie down♡ You can’t even handle this much?♡ Sigh It can’t be helped♡ Professor~ we are still sloppy little kids who can’t leave our mother’s arms~ please lower the difficulty~ If you cry and beg, I’ll maybe consider an adjustment♡”
If I say stuff like that, they’ll naturally lash out.
Are there many annoying chores if I become a professor?
That’s okay. I can just dump those on the TAs.
Isn’t that what all professors do?
…I was just joking, but it sounds actually fun. Maybe I’ll give it a try when everything is over.
“Lucy Allen.”
While I was humming, waiting for the food to arrive, a voice called out. Turning my head, I saw Arthur staring down at me with a heated gaze, though I didn’t know when he got here.
‘What is it, Third Prince?’
“Why are you glaring like that? Pitiful Prince. I understand you want to engrave the cute and pretty me into your eyes, but it feels a bit perverted.”
“…I was not glaring with that intent!”
I had only given a slight smirk, but Arthur’s face turned red as he raised his voice.
His voice was so loud that everyone in the dining hall turned to look at us, and Arthur’s face turned even redder in embarrassment before he quickly sat down.
Even now, and when he’s being teased by Frey, Arthur is so easily provoked. He was a cooler character in the game.
Well, it’s more entertaining for me this way.
“Third Prince, did you secretly drink some alcohol? Your face is really red.”
As I quietly observed Arthur who was pouting his lips, Joy, who had been dining with the Young Ladies, joined our table.
Seeing the Young Ladies looking over here with worried expressions makes me think that something might have happened.
“…Shut up, Joy.”
“Just a moment ago, it was more about you.”
“Joy.”
“I’m sorry. It’s been a while, Lady Allen. I heard you were held up by the Dungeon Studies Professor today.”
‘How do you know?’
“How do you know, foolish Young Lady? Are you stalking me? No matter how much I like you, that’s a bit much.”
“I didn’t do that. I just asked the professor since you were absent, that’s all.”
Joy’s comment about her worrying because of the various incidents really made me smile without noticing.
Ha. Seriously. This is why I can’t help but like Joy.
‘Thank you for worrying.’
“Pfhuhuh. The Young Lady of the Duke’s Family has separation anxiety, huh? I see~ You must have been troubled with my absence~ How can I comfort you? Hug you? Pat you?”
“…I think I’m worrying too much!”
Just then, as Arthur and Joy’s faces turned red in equal measure, Frey quietly took a seat to my left.
Following her, Phoebe appeared and naturally took the seat to my right.
Once our usual group gathered, Arthur seemed to have regained his composure and let out a long sigh.
“Going back to the beginning. Lucy Allen. What I wanted to ask is what kind of Magical Labyrinth you created.”
‘Huh? What do you mean?’
“What nonsense is that?”
When I tilted my head in confusion, Arthur calmly continued.
“It’s just a simple deduction. After a long and lengthy talk in the professor’s office, if anyone sees you smiling with true happiness, there can only be one reason for it. You must have created a dungeon that satisfies you. And a dungeon that would satisfy a unique person like you must certainly be a Magical Labyrinth.”
…So my face melted so much that it was noticeable, huh?
Arthur’s deduction is partially correct. The majority of my joy comes from the satisfaction of having created an excellent dungeon.
But there’s one thing he’s wrong about!
‘It’s not a Magical Labyrinth! It’s not!’
“What do you mean Magical Labyrinth? Do you think I’m this twisted person who’s eager to torment other sloppy ones? I’m not at all. I’m a genuinely kind person who has created a dungeon that any sloppy student can clear.”
I strongly claimed my innocence, but the suspicious gazes didn’t waver even a bit.
I really feel wronged!
After all the trouble I had in the troll dungeons, how could I produce such a twisted place?
Of course, I made it so any student could clear it!
Originally, if it were such a hellish place, the Dungeon Studies Professor would have just rejected it! Right?!
The one to refute my words was Joy.
“Lady Allen, you may not know, but Professor Jessel has been famous for his high standards for a long time. In the past, he actually made a dungeon with a clearance rate of 0%.”
…
Was the problem the professor gave that difficult?
Really?!
I could feel the consideration he had to match the first-year students’ level everywhere, but was that really hard?!
Realizing he had a high opinion of the students’ levels, I shut my lips, and Joy and Arthur both let out sighs in unison.
“We’re ruined.”
“At this rate, won’t everyone fail the Dungeon Studies final exam?”
“Not everyone. As long as this guy is in front of us.”
“…You’re right. If we could just enter with Lady Allen!”
‘Um, I’m sorry, but…’
“Ha. You’re all such losers with no pride. You really think that’s possible? I’m not taking the exam.”
“Are you just going to create hell and escape on your own?”
“How wicked of you, Lady Allen.”
Is this really grounds for me being blamed?!
Thinking in a sensible manner, if a person who designed a dungeon takes an exam with the party members, that’s cheating! Of course, that’s not allowed!
“…Hey, Third Prince. Joy. I think you’re both putting undue pressure on the Young Lady.”
“Saintess. This guy deserves that much pressure. Otherwise, our final exam will become hell.”
“Exactly, Phoebe. If we don’t lower the difficulty even a little bit, who knows how many people will despair.”
Though Phoebe tried to defend me, she quietly retreated, unable to argue against Arthur and Joy’s claims.
…Uh. Well, I do feel like I set the difficulty a bit too high.
‘Um. Well, you see…’
“Puhaha. You seem desperate to make the dungeon easier. But what can you do? It’s already out of my hands~”
Since the Dungeon Studies Professor already took the finished version away, I can’t change it even if I want to!
In all honesty, I’m not too keen on changing it. That was a flawless dungeon with nothing to touch.
“Is that already finished? In just one day?”
“Stop showing your genius in these matters! Lucy Allen!”
“O great Armadi, why do you bestow such trials upon us?”
Seeing Joy and Arthur say that, I was in cold sweat, trying to resolve the situation.
‘You… Everything will be okay!…’
“Don’t worry. I’ve made it so you can challenge it the entire final exam period for losers like you.”
“…Unlimited attempts? Does that mean I might not know whether I can clear it even after challenging it throughout the final exam?”
“That’s not all. Third Prince. It’s at a level of difficulty where sharing strategies among students is meaningless.”
‘And you don’t have to worry about failing!…’
“And you know, that foolish professor said he’d allow points for those who fail, considering the level of the first-year losers. Even if the first-year level is incredibly low, nobody will fail!”
“Were you just not even considering the idea of clearing it till the end?”
“…It feels like hell is looming before my eyes.”
“Yeah. I’ve decided. I want to redo first-year.”
Why is this happening?!
Every time I try to lighten the mood, why does the atmosphere around the table get heavier?!
Even the normally expressionless Frey seems to join in, while I notice Phoebe subtly raise her hand.
“Um, Young Lady.”
‘What now?!’
“What is it, Sloppy Saintess?”
“If it’s such a hard place, will there be some kind of reward at the end?”
…Ah.
Ah! How did I make such a mistake!
The end of the dungeon should naturally have a reward worthy of the hardship! Otherwise, there won’t be enough motivation to clear it!
I and the Dungeon Studies Professor both overlooked it since we are people who find value in clearing the dungeon itself!
I’m just glad I caught on before it was too late. I need to go discuss it with the Dungeon Studies Professor tomorrow.
“You didn’t even think of rewards at the end.”
“I guess we can just avoid failing and fill our scores elsewhere.”
“That’s a decent plan. It’s better than struggling meaninglessly in some place.”
‘Argh! Don’t do that! I worked so hard on it, don’t just pass it by!’
“How cowardly, running away? Such losers!”
“Yeah, I’m scared. I’m scared and can’t do it.”
“If I devote everything to this and fail other exams, I might have to redo first-year. Rather, it’d be better to give up.”
No wayyyy! If it’s true that I miscalculated the dungeon’s difficulty, then no one other than you guys will be able to clear it!
So just don’t give up! Please!
It’d break my heart if no one could clear the place I gave my all to create!
‘Reward! I’ll give rewards! If you clear the dungeon to the end, I’ll give you whatever you want! So please clear it!’
“Is the reward that important? You materialistic losers. Fine. If you clear it to the end, I’ll give you whatever you want. Of course, you guys are so lame that you probably won’t get that far.”
As soon as I finished speaking, silence fell over the previously rowdy table.
“…Anything?”
“Anything?”
“The Young Lady just said ‘anything’.”
“Lucy, you said ‘anything’.”
Arthur, Joy, Phoebe, Frey.
These four, who were just lamenting despair moments ago, now glared at me with serious faces.
It finally sunk in that I had made a slip of the tongue, but I couldn’t take back my words.
The atmosphere was sharp enough that if I joked, I’d likely get stabbed with a knife.
‘Y-Yeah. That’s right.’
“Cough. Try your best. I doubt those losers who just said they couldn’t do it will actually be able to.”
Defeated by the pressure of their gazes, I reluctantly nodded, and the four of them exchanged glances like they had become one, standing up together.
Thus, I was left alone, blankly staring at the backs of their heads while I blinked.
…Uh.
Did something big just happen?
No way right?
It should be fine, right?
Those four who think of me as a friend wouldn’t do anything bad.
It’ll be okay.
Right?
[No way it’ll be okay.]
‘Just tell me it’ll be okay during these times!’
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