Chapter: 318
The final floor of the final exam dungeon.
Using the records of the academy dungeon, Arthur’s party reached the front of the boss room, preparing for battle as they had done countless times before.
At first, they tried to find the optimal direction by changing various strategies with each attempt, but by now, such discussions were unnecessary.
They had already figured out the best way to prepare.
In the middle of this preparation, Arthur recalled what Joy had said before they entered the dungeon.
“If we can’t defeat the final spell, we should just prevent magic from being used in the first place!”
When he heard her excited words, Arthur had doubts about whether that was truly possible.
Intervening in a magic circle created by someone else was incredibly difficult, let alone interfering with one belonging to someone far above them.
Having learned about it in magic class, Arthur knew just how absurd that idea was.
“Don’t worry, Third Prince. I’ve engraved that magic circle in my mind countless times, so it’s definitely possible to interfere with it!”
However, Joy stood confidently in front of Arthur’s doubts. Her unwavering confidence that she wouldn’t fail only made Arthur feel more anxious.
Typically, when Joy puffed up her chest, it was often followed by some strange mistake and catastrophic failure.
Based on past experiences, Arthur urgently tried to deter her.
“Besides, even if failure is expected, that’s no reason not to challenge it, right?”
Hearing her additional words, he fell silent.
She was right.
As long as they had an infinite number of opportunities, an expected failure was no reason to avoid a challenge.
In fact, it was strange not to take a challenge. Hadn’t Lucy Allen told him that clues only come after facing a challenge through this dungeon?
“Okay. Let’s give it a try.”
“…Um. I have one request for the challenge. Could you hold off on the 5th floor boss until the end without me, just in case?”
Arthur recalled those words and smiled wryly. “Is that even possible?”
He had said yes to give it a shot, but whether it was truly feasible was another matter. The 5th floor boss was no easy opponent.
Thinking about this, Arthur rubbed his neck when Frey suddenly pulled at his sleeve, prompting him to turn in that direction.
“Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
“This time, I’ll act on my own.”
“…When have you ever listened to me?”
He didn’t understand why she, who often acted on her own and caused mayhem, would now say she would do as she pleased.
“I didn’t act on my own.”
“No, you meant you had restrained yourself, right?”
“Yeah.”
Arthur stiffened at Frey’s innocent tilt of her head, as if asking why he even questioned it.
You were just acting on your whims, and now you’re saying you’ll act even more freely?
“You do realize we have to function without Joy, right?”
“Exactly, that’s why I’m saying this.”
Seeing the conviction in Frey’s eyes, Arthur considered for a moment before sighing and nodding.
He didn’t particularly like Frey’s unilateral actions, but he acknowledged her talent.
If it were anyone but Lucy Allen, Frey would have still been considered an unrivaled genius, so if she spoke this way, there ought to be some method behind it.
If it was a reckless statement, well, he could always have a word with her after she caused trouble later.
“Just to be sure, does the Saintess have anything to say?”
At this point, he couldn’t help but ask, and Phoebe nodded with her usual gentle smile.
“Third Prince.”
“Yes.”
“Stay relaxed.”
“…Yes?”
“When Joy was around, it was alright for you to step back while coordinating. But now that she’s not here…”
What Joy had previously been responsible for now fell to Arthur. So, instead of worrying about coordination, he should focus on trusting everyone to do their jobs.
“Lady Kent, myself, we’re all capable enough to handle our shares in any situation. You don’t need to carry everything alone.”
“…That’s true.”
Upon hearing this, Arthur realized what he had been missing.
He had been trying to control everything according to his own thoughts so far, as Lucy Allen had done.
Lucy’s method seemed so efficient that he had naturally come to mimic her approach.
However, there was no reason to do so now.
Everyone knew what needed to be done, so why should Arthur coordinate the situation?
“Trust us.”
Phoebe spoke as she gazed into Arthur’s eyes.
“I will.”
Arthur nodded in reply, sensing that he had arrived at the end of his preparations.
Now, the one thing left for Arthur’s party to do was simple.
Defeat the boss of the 5th floor.
“Let’s begin.”
Arthur pushed open the door to the 5th floor, and a chilling air along with a nauseating voice seeped out.
“How was my mansion? How were my memories? Were they enjoyable? Fun?”
The Fallen, arms wide open, surrounded by a flow of magical energy, exuded an oppressive force that could take one’s breath away, but Arthur’s party remained composed before him.
They might have stiffened when they first heard that voice, but after having heard it more than a hundred times, they simply thought, “Here we go again.”
“Now it’s the final act. I hope it pleases your hearts until the very end.”
“Wha—”
Unconsciously trying to give orders as usual, Arthur found Frey rushing past him before he could finish.
With her sword wrapped in aura, she attempted to cleave the Fallen’s neck before he could even draw his sword.
However, the Fallen, showing no sign of confusion before the sharp attack, merely wore a slimy grin.
Instead, he effortlessly blocked Frey’s attack with his aura-covered hand.
“Impatient, aren’t we? As an actor in this play, shouldn’t you allow for some dialogue?”
“Not particularly?”
Frey replied to the Fallen’s question in a flat tone, as she launched a fierce sword dance that was unimaginable from her emotionless face.
“How sad. Truly sad.”
In that moment, Frey swiftly retreated.
Sadness was a word spoken.
Eyes dyed a blue hue.
A blatant opening urging an attack.
Realizing it was a gimmick not to attack, she retreated.
What’s this?
You could do it alone?
Arthur let out a laugh.
Until now, he had rushed to call Frey’s name as soon as she displayed that posture.
He had hurriedly raised his voice, afraid she might swing her sword under the weight of her own attack.
But all that had been unnecessary.
Frey knew how to navigate that gimmick herself.
If that was the case, she could have said so from the beginning.
With a chuckle, Arthur drew several magic circles around him.
Since you’ve shown you can do your part, I’ll showcase that I can do mine too.
Although Arthur’s magical mastery was admittedly inferior to Joy’s, he was still far beyond the average human.
His abilities surpassed the level of a first-year student, more than enough to tackle the boss’s gimmick.
“Let’s change the color of the stage!”
As the Fallen raised his voice, red energy swirled around his body.
One of the gimmicks possessed by the 5th-floor boss.
Attack all designated areas within a given time frame.
If they failed to attack all the red energy, a deadly magic would threaten the attackers’ lives.
But this time, that threat didn’t come to pass.
As soon as he saw Arthur, the Fallen was too late.
A downpour of magic bullets, like droplets, burst forth from the center of Arthur’s magic circle, striking all the red spots and neutralizing the Fallen.
“Good job, Your Highness.”
“Enough with the useless praise; focus on your own tasks, Frey.”
“…You’re really a bit mean.”
“Not compared to you.”
The two of them bickered before the stumbling Fallen drew his sword, silencing them as they moved to fulfill their respective roles.
Afterward, Arthur’s party silently went about their tasks.
As the Fallen unleashed curses, Phoebe quickly purified him.
When he charged with his sword drawn, Frey blocked him and put up a defense.
And while this was happening, Arthur, having composed his magic circle, advanced on the Fallen.
In that process, Phoebe healed a wounded Frey, and in the meantime, Arthur slipped forward to create openings.
Despite lacking anyone to lead them, they continued to execute their tasks fluidly.
Of course, there was a certain gap that arose from Joy’s absence.
Without someone to coordinate, some noise was inevitably created.
Nonetheless, Arthur’s party did not falter.
They pressed onward, each of them desperately holding together their seemingly crumbling bridges towards success.
“Hahaha! Yes! Great! Let’s keep going until the end!”
How long had they been at it?
At some point, the Fallen sprayed red magic in a fit of laughter.
The final pattern of the 5th-floor boss.
The gimmick that had brought Arthur’s party to their knees countless times.
The disaster that seemed impossible to counter.
Seeing it come together, Arthur exhaled roughly and turned his head back.
“Joy!”
Now it’s your turn.
You’ve brought us here as you wished, so let’s make our struggles worthwhile!
Receiving Arthur’s gaze, Joy smiled as she grasped the red jewel hanging around her neck.
A gem that Lucy had recently gifted her.
Having steadily contained magical energy over time, it had become Joy’s secret weapon.
Taking a light deep breath, she infused her magical energy into the gemstone and closed her eyes.
At this moment, she didn’t need her physical sight reflected in her retinas.
What was needed was the vision of a wizard who sees only magic.
A sense sharpened by years of training as the Young Lady of the Partlan family.
I see my magic.
I see the red magic of the Fallen.
I see the picture he is drawing.
The magic circles we had faced countless times till now.
The spell I had envisioned in my mind repeatedly until this very moment.
It was no different from what I remembered!
With a smile pulling at her lips, Joy unleashed the magic contained within the gemstone and opened her eyes.
A fiery red magic with fire attributes brushed against her cerulean irises.
Her magic spread out, pushing against the Fallen’s crimson energy.
Joy’s magic and the Fallen’s faced off, baring their fangs as they fought to hold their ground.
“It’s futile! Do you really think a half-wit like you could stop me?!”
“Coming from a lazy bum who can’t even manage themselves despite being from the nobility, that’s rich!”
In a moment where even the slightest misalignment could cause everything to collapse, the smile on Joy’s lips strengthened her vigor.
Sorry, but I won’t lose!
After all, others brought miracles to get me here, so I can’t afford to fail!
If I do, I can already imagine the Prince, Phoebe, and Young Lady Kent giving me a hard time!
So make sure you become my offering for success, you slacker nobility!
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