Chapter: 465
“Professor Luca. You’ve been visiting often these days.”
“Hahaha. It’s about time the second-year students are set to head out to the external dungeons. I keep coming back here, wondering if anyone’s planning to go to a dangerous place.”
As Luca chatted, he stepped into the administrative office.
The professor he used to have ties with had been expelled due to an incident related to Lucy.
It was the price he paid for messing with someone he shouldn’t have touched because he didn’t like them.
He should have been more aware of where the line was if he was thinking of crossing it.
But since he didn’t see it, what can be done?
He has to die.
Betrayal. Anger. Fear. Shock.
Remembering the mixed emotions reflected in that person’s eyes, Luca instantly wiped him from his mind and offered a smile to the new administrative professor.
The new administrative professor was a noble from the First Queen’s faction.
Being from a powerless family, he had an obsession with achieving merit, so he had rushed in when he learned there was a vacant position.
Thinking he would be easy to deal with, Luca placed him in a position he could utilize well.
Feeling that it was a favor, the administrative professor easily overlooked whatever Luca was doing.
Just like now, as Luca broke the rules by examining the paperwork of others.
“There are fewer applicants than I expected. Is it because the difficulty of this Academy Dungeon is high?”
“There aren’t many who have surpassed the 50th floor, to begin with. Even those students are opting to keep conquering the Academy Dungeon.”
This year’s Academy Dungeon was indeed of considerable caliber, to Luca’s eyes.
Some even claimed the victor of this year’s dungeon had already been decided within those involved in the Dungeon Society.
So, typically, those who would casually explore the Academy Dungeon were instead focusing on the challenge.
Lady Allen and her friends likely had an influence too.
Even if it seemed impossible to conquer, they proved there was an escape route.
While checking the few conquering application documents, Luca found Lucy’s name.
Is she going out again after being outside last week?
She’s really active these days.
Is this another sign from Lord Jushin?
Luca tilted his head as he checked the name of the area Lucy wrote she would go to.
If I remember correctly, that place doesn’t have any presence of the Evil God.
Is that it? There’s nothing that could even be called a presence.
The only ones staying there would be three types.
Those who desire death. Vagabonds fleeing to conceal themselves. Mercenary groups managing the area under the commissions of nobles.
No one else would seek out that barren location. There’s nothing to gain from wandering around there.
Why would Lady Allen apply to visit such a place?
The Lady Allen I know wouldn’t waste her time on a meaningless venture.
She is someone obsessed with efficiency. Especially if it involves her friends.
“Hmmm.”
I’ll have to check this out.
“Oh. You’re looking at the documents related to Lady Allen. I’ve been pondering over it for many reasons. It would be wise to deny it based on the risk level, but it’s her…”
“It’s fine. Let’s pass it. If any other professors complain, I’ll persuade them.”
“If you say so, Professor Luca, I’m more than happy.”
Seeing the beaming administrative professor, Luca smiled back.
I hope we can still smile like this later.
“Oh. Professor Luca, did you wear gloves before?”
“No, I found something I liked recently and have been wearing them.”
“Indeed. They seem like good ones.”
*
As the weekend morning rolled in again, I handed each of my friends a space pocket.
“What’s this?”
“What do you think, Pitiful Prince? Want to take a guess with your poor imagination?”
“There’s nothing to guess. You’re not the kind to give us gifts. It must be something we need for where we’re going.”
At Arthur’s indifferent reply, I simply drooped my eyes as if struck by his words.
“You think that’s going to fool me? How many times have I been tricked by you?”
I won’t answer. I’m just bowing my head and sealing my lips. All I need to do is this. The rest, others will take care of.
“Third Prince.”
“Prince, this is too much.”
“This is on the Prince’s fault.”
“No! What the heck! Why am I being blamed for this! Given what Lucy Allen has done so far, isn’t this more likely a prank!”
Struggling to suppress my grinning mouth, I waited for my friends’ pressure to escalate.
Under the 3 to 1 pressure, a flustered Arthur finally let out an unwilling apology.
“Uh, what… Sorry. I was suspicious.”
“Puhahahaha!”
Hearing that awkward voice, I ultimately failed to suppress my laughter, letting out a series of giggles filled with disbelief.
“Ah, really. The Pitiful Prince is so fun to mess with. I just want to poke him every time I see him.”
“…Damn.”
“Come on, Pitiful Prince, you enjoyed it too! Why pretend to be angry? You really like it, don’t you? You’re just a perverted prince!”
“Who’s calling me a pervert?!”
Ignoring Arthur’s shout, I explained to my friends what was inside.
“Look closely, you shoddy ones. What’s in here is water and food.”
“What! Didn’t I say my guess was right!”
Last week, the place we visited had plenty of food, so there was no issue there.
There was quite a decent town nearby, and the forest itself wasn’t a problem for finding food, so there wasn’t any need to worry.
But where we’re going now isn’t like that. That sand-stained place hardly has even good-looking lakes, let alone grass.
“Is it the western desert…?”
“I visited once to encourage them. It was a hellish place. It’s going to be a tough journey.”
“A desert? Sounds boring.”
Nodding at my friends’ words, I agreed.
The western desert was not a place I wanted to visit either.
There are a few hidden things, but none of them would be useful for me now.
Since I couldn’t quite imagine just how damn terrible the desert would be for a weak character like mine when real-time stamina would be draining.
After going there, I planned never to return.
“What can I do? Since your abilities are shoddy, we must go there.”
“Answer me! Didn’t I say my guess was right!”
“Just quietly follow along, you shoddy ones.”
“Damn! Let me give you a slap, just one smack!”
“Shouting to hit a girl, the Pitiful Prince is really barbaric.”
“Why do you only respond to this kind of thing… Aaaah!”
*
The place we arrived at via the Translocation Technique was an oasis on the edge of the desert.
This spot was a must-stop for travelers heading into the desert, and it was bustling with quite a few people.
“…Who are those people over there?”
“Why are people from the Academy here?”
“What should we do? Should we greet them?”
As soon as people caught sight of us, they quickly recognized our identities and began to murmur.
Well-connected with nobles, mercenaries are good at remembering the faces of famous people.
Yet, on seeing us, some opened their eyes wide and hurriedly withdrew.
They must be trying to hide their identities.
Amidst the commotion created due to our arrival, I looked for the person I had called in advance.
The mercenary group I summoned through Karia must be waiting.
“It’s been a while, Lady Allen.”
A man who walked up and knelt before me was the mercenary I met at the Patran family festival.
He had said he was indebted to Benedict and upon seeing my friends sprawled out due to the aftereffects of the Translocation, he continued.
“I heard you took care of our son. Thank you very much. Because of you, he’s now got connections with noble families.”
“…Huh? What are you talking about? I cared for a powerless mercenary’s son?”
“Do you remember the name Toby?”
Toby?
Oh! I remember!
He was the commoner boy who conquered the dungeon I created last semester.
His idea for conquering the dungeon was impressive, so I had paired him up with Avery.
Honestly, it was a waste to have him conquer dungeons with someone like Avery.
If he had teamed up with more capable people, he could have had a proper competition at the top.
“I’m glad you remember. That’s wonderful.”
The mercenary leader smiled brightly at my expression. What was just a casual action for me seemed incredibly gracious in his eyes.
“To repay the favor, I promise to serve you to the best of my ability for this journey.”
His words were earnest. Following him outside the oasis were mercenaries organized as if they were an army.
“If you ride inside the carriage, we’ll take you to the predetermined destination.”
The carriage, pulled by a beast that looked much larger and fiercer than normal horses, was far more comfortable than one would expect in the desert.
According to Joy’s explanation, it was a special guest carriage equipped with all sorts of magic for convenience.
“This carriage seems too luxurious for use in a desert. It looks like it’ll be a comfortable trip.”
As I looked around the carriage with a light smile, Joy added a few more spells on top.
They were apparently a secret from the Patran family to make the trip more comfortable.
Just as the wheels of the carriage began to move and the interior started to rattle, Arthur, who had been sealing his lips out of irritation from the morning’s teasing, finally sighed and lifted his heavy lips.
“Well, it’s about time I wanted to ask something. Lucy Allen.”
“What is it, Pitiful Prince?”
“Who is that Great Wizard who’s supposed to give us advice? Why is he staying in such a dangerous place?”
Seeing the concern in Arthur’s voice about whether it’s someone who needs to hide their identity, I responded lightly as if it were no big deal.
“He’s an old madman who used to be famous. His head’s a bit off, but his skills are on point.”
“So who is he?”
“He’s also someone with the glorious title of hero.”
“…A hero, you say. No way.”
As I noticed my friends’ natural gaze focusing on me, I nodded with a laugh.
“Yes, he’s the crazy guy you can think of with your shoddy imaginations.”
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