Chapter: 338
For the male nobles of the continent, dungeon exploration skills are a kind of pride.
Who has cleared more dungeons? Who has conquered the tougher dungeons? Who has obtained the more fantastic items from dungeons?
The competition that started as an obligation of nobility proceeded as a way to showcase each other’s greatness, but there was one critical problem.
It was that it was hard for them to have conquered the same dungeons.
Dungeons generated on the continent share certain commonalities, but the finer details often differ, so the nobles’ pride battles rarely come to a conclusion.
I cleared a dungeon that was wider. The monsters inside were more threatening. There were more tiers. The boss was ridiculous.
These kinds of mudslinging fights usually ended with the one in a higher power winning.
The powerful had to feel the discomfort of possibly having thrown the match on purpose, while those beneath them had no choice but to harbor resentment over their unfair defeats.
In such circumstances, one noble had a funny idea.
“What if we artificially create a dungeon and hold a contest? Wouldn’t that solve everything?”
Thus, the magic of artificial dungeons was developed, still in use today, and many nobles began to showcase their excellence by conquering dungeons created by each other.
This competitive method has continued to evolve to this day, and recently, what has been trending among the enthusiastic noblemen is the Dungeon Studies Academy Journal.
This magazine, produced by scholars studying dungeons, introduced several dungeons worth attempting every week, and the quality of these dungeons was so good that many nobles chose to explore the dungeons in the academy journal instead of creating their own.
As a result, whenever male nobles gathered, the topic of whether they had explored the academy journal’s dungeon of the week would definitely come up.
For those who frequently met with other nobles, they had to ensure they explored the academy journal’s dungeon every week.
“Hm.”
This was the reason why the First Prince of the Soladin Kingdom, Rene Soladin, was holding the Dungeon Academy Journal.
He had indeed set remarkable records in numerous artificial dungeons and displayed excellent results in actual combat, proving his exploration skills, but given his position, he couldn’t just be satisfied with that.
As the first prince of the kingdom and a prominent heir to the throne, Rene constantly faced numerous suspicions, so he had to show each time that his abilities had improved compared to before by conquering the journals’ dungeons.
However, Rene didn’t particularly enjoy exploring the academy journal’s dungeons.
No matter how different they tried to make the dungeons created by people, they inevitably ended up similar in many aspects.
Wouldn’t anyone get tired of clearing dozens or hundreds of dungeons that all looked alike in their eyes?
“This is quite… interesting.”
But today was different.
Rene’s eyes, as he scanned the dungeon featured in the journal, sparkled with deep interest.
His skills in using the dungeon’s gimmick were superb.
If he tried to think carelessly, he would end up falling for his own traps.
But was it merely stingy?
Not at all. The creator of this dungeon was exceedingly kind.
Looking away from the front and glancing around, he noticed countless hints scattered about.
To those who catch on to the strategy, it was a wonderfully accommodating dungeon.
To those who recklessly charge in without knowing anything, it brought trials.
It was a dungeon he genuinely liked after a long time.
If only such dungeons were submitted to the journal all the time, he could always open the journal with a racing heart.
After finishing the dungeon exploration, Rene checked the name of the designer.
If the same designer were to create another dungeon in the future, he would also conquer it.
“…Lucy Allen?”
Rene was taken aback when he found an unexpected name and then let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“Yeah. What she’s created wouldn’t be strange at all.”
Thinking about the extraordinary conduct she displayed during the Partlan Festival recently made it understandable.
To perform such outrageous things while exploring a dungeon, one would necessitate deep knowledge about dungeons. It was reasonable for her to create such an entertaining dungeon.
As he thought this, Rene nodded to himself and glanced at the solution on the back.
He was curious about how this talented individual named Lucy Allen would interpret this dungeon.
To his astonishment, the explanatory text registered in the journal was quite decent.
There’s no way that arrogant one wrote this coherent piece!
Ah, it must have been reviewed and corrected by Soul Academy.
Got it. That grad student must’ve had a tough time.
And…
Hmm.
Before the end of Soul Academy, if he visited, he could conquer this dungeon directly.
After seeing the last note, Rene leisurely sipped his tea while contemplating.
There was a justification.
Arthur and Cecil were attending the academy, so he could use the excuse to check how the kingdom’s representative educational institution was progressing.
Plus, he could meet that Lucy Allen girl.
“Rene, what are you doing?”
As soon as he heard a woman’s voice from behind, Rene hurriedly stood up.
“First Queen.”
The First Queen of the Soladin Kingdom, who was currently performing most of the duties on behalf of the ailing king.
The very person who was Rene Soladin’s mother.
Kabati Soladin gave a smile when she saw Rene acting stiffly in a formal manner.
“Rene. I’ve told you so many times, but there’s really no need to do this when no one is watching.”
“No, Your Majesty. This is how I feel at ease.”
“Alright, I get it. Just sit down for now.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“You were reading the Dungeon Studies Journal. Was the dungeon that just came out good?”
“Yes. I think it’s the best submitted this year.”
“Oh my! For Rene to say that, now I’m curious.”
Kabati, having taken the journal from Rene, examined it with a crescent smile in her eyes.
Even though she’s the First Queen, it would take her some time to clear that dungeon, so I might as well prepare some tea beforehand.
Rene quietly stood up and used his magic to prepare tea, but Kabati’s eyes remained glued to the journal.
After a while, she finally spoke as the aroma of tea began to fill the room.
“Rene.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“When is the day of the Soul Academy’s end-of-term party?”
Why is she suddenly asking me?
Feeling perplexed internally, Rene immediately answered outwardly.
“December 1st.”
“Not long left now. I guess I’ll have to be busy for a while.”
“…Are you planning to attend?”
“Yes. Though we’re not related by blood, both Cecil and Arthur are my sons.”
Isn’t it necessary to check how those two are living?
Kabati said this with a smile, but Rene had trouble believing her words.
The Kabati he knew wasn’t one to give such consideration.
“Then I’ll take my leave for now. Rene, make sure to keep your schedule open for that day.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
After Kabati left, Rene was left alone, staring at the tea that was now cold and letting out a sigh.
*
“I refuse, Lucy Allen.”
Arthur looked at me with an expression that showed no hint of sincerity.
“It’s not a small gap, yet you were overwhelmingly defeated. If you were to take on the role of the first-year representative, what would others think?”
‘That…’
“Why? Isn’t it already common knowledge that the Pitiful Prince is sloppy? Would it matter if they look down on you a bit more?”
“…Are you really asking that out of ignorance? Tch. Seriously annoying. I never imagined I’d come to understand how Jack feels.”
Seeing Arthur click his tongue, a strong urge to retort surged within me, but since I was in no position to do so, I bit my lip instead.
“Think about it, Lucy Allen. Born with numerous scandals following you, is it going to be pleasant to acknowledge such humiliation? How much gossip will there be?”
…Uh. If you come at me that way, I’m left with nothing to say.
“Even if these rumors are ignored, you still have your pride. Do you know how sad it is to accept what a loser gets as an undeserved favor from a winner?”
I couldn’t rebut Arthur’s points about why he had rejected making a speech at the entrance ceremony.
It was too logical; everything I said would just sound forced.
Ugh.
If I had known this, I would’ve answered incorrectly a few questions during the final exam.
My scores would have been baaaad!
Why on earth did I forget about this event?
Is it because I’ve been next to Joy and caught her cluelessness like a disease?!
Did I become a clueless Mesugaki!?
As I lamented my own stupidity, Arthur propped his chin and spoke up.
“Anyway, why don’t you want to make that speech? If it’s to look down on others, isn’t that your specialty?”
“…”
“You could talk just like when you demonstrated your dungeon studies exam strategy. What’s the problem? Your reputation couldn’t possibly drop any lower.”
Hearing those dry facts being stated monotonously, I finally reached my breaking point and stood up.
“Huh? What? Lucy Allen.”
“Come with me♡ Pitiful Prince♡ I’ll show you what kind of disaster your silver tongue can cause♡”
“Is that what you… No. Wait. I’m sorry. I’ve been thoughtless. So please, put down that mace! Aaaargh!”
Even after being rejected by Arthur, I refused to give up and kept moving forward.
“I don’t want to! I want to see the Young Lady standing on the podium wearing the outfit I chose for her!”
“Uh… I’m sorry. To stand on the podium instead of highborn ones is…”
“Um. That is… Eek! I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”
But after countless attempts, all I received back was a consistent refusal.
Setting aside my own needs, the very fact that I had to step on the podium ahead of Arthur and Joy felt too burdensome.
Aaaagh!
If Jack were here right now, I could just force him to do it!
Why did I say I’d be a first-year again next year!
[Give up, young lady. How could you hope for an answer? ]
‘Nooo!’
[Instead of that, it’d be better to think about how to make a successful speech. I can help, so let’s consider it. ]
‘…Yeeees.’
Eventually, upon realizing that there was no escape from the speech, I started brainstorming with Grandpa on how to clear it as cleanly as possible.
But honestly, there seemed to be no good answer.
Even if I said the same thing, when translated with the Mesugaki skill, it commonly resulted in different words, making it impossible to write a speech.
I even entertained the idea of just winging it and running away afterward.
“You know, I have a good idea.”
After racking my brain for a long time, the Sloppy Fox chimed in.
‘What is it?’
“What is it?”
“Become a bunny girl and accessorize so that everyone is left speechless! Make them so distracted by your face that they can’t hear your voice!”
Seeing the Sloppy Fox drooling with excitement, I couldn’t hide my disdain.
You just want to see me dressed up as a bunny girl.
Sigh. It was my bad for expecting something reasonable from this pervert.
It’s not like the other kids are just reusable trash like the Sloppy Fox or the Perverted Apostle, so that sort of thing is impossible…
No, wait.
Isn’t there a possibility if I play it right?
At the very least, distracting them until I finish my speech before coming down should be perfectly doable.
With that thought, I swung my head towards the Sloppy Fox.
“…Huh? What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Then I caught the Sloppy Fox by the waist and pulled him into my arms.
“Hyah?! W-what are you doing all of a sudden? Waaaaah?!”
Sloppy Fox!
You can be helpful sometimes!
Is this the wisdom held by the spirit of the forest!
Alright! Let’s test out this method against my friends!
This plan seems worth a shot!
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