Chapter: 494
Arthur read the dungeon strategy book Lucy handed him countless times.
At first, he was curious about how someone named Lucy Allen could be so exceptional at dungeon strategies.
Then, he was amazed by the vast knowledge contained in the book.
After some time, he thought about giving Lucy Allen a taste of her own medicine for looking down on him.
Recently, he vowed to defeat her at least once and get the answer he wanted.
He continued to read the book.
What Arthur realized was that Lucy Allen’s knowledge was not something simply handed down by God.
Her start may have been the Lord’s blessing, but it was Lucy Allen who embodied it and made it her own.
All the traces of her efforts were left in that book.
Perfect strategies for trivial monsters that didn’t concern him.
Methods to bypass traps that could be charged through.
Ways to navigate existing dungeons and even find paths in completely new dungeons.
All those written words conveyed how sincere Lucy Allen was about dungeons. And how much effort she put in to become that sincere.
For that reason, Arthur didn’t doubt what Lucy wrote in the book.
The playful tone unique to Lucy seemed like it was meant to tease someone, but what was clearly embedded within was her sincerity.
Accepting and embodying that sincerity, Arthur could now feel his own achievements.
There’s a trap on the right. Something hidden behind the obvious.
Looking at the trap’s structure, it seems that the moment it activates, the path forward will be blocked.
A barrier to prevent escape.
That place is not the correct path.
I need to take a different route.
Hmm, the monster waiting over there resembles what Lucy Allen described.
Those sloppy puppies are sensitive to sound, so if I make a loud noise, they’ll piddle around like fools.
That statement was right. Thanks to that, I can pass through easily.
Now it’s a puzzle. If I think based on the clues I’ve memorized, the answer will come out quickly.
As Arthur smoothly progressed through the dungeon, he gradually became perplexed by the stern expression of the little girl.
Is this trial really supposed to be this easy?
If the fragment of the original creator is directly involved, there should be something much harder, right? Otherwise, how can one prove their qualifications?
It’s definitely strange. It’s too easy. I even think the dungeon Lucy introduced for last year’s final exam was more brutal.
No, objectively, that was more hellish.
If given just one chance to strategize that place, would anyone be able to clear it in one go?
Arthur let out a snicker and quickened his pace.
If I linger in this place, who knows what kind of things Lucy Allen will say to me.
Even now, it’s obvious I should be the target of ridicule for a long while, but if I delay further, how much of my dignity will be shattered?
Not long ago, Arthur imagined himself replacing Karl, who was crawling on the floor as a chair, and shuddered.
That can’t happen. If that situation arises, I’d rather bite my tongue and die.
“Ugh.”
Sweating coldly and moving forward, Arthur suddenly frowned at the little girl who appeared beside him.
“Has the trial already ended?”
“I wish it were, but no. It’s the worst situation. The Evil God’s energy is interfering here.”
“…What?”
“I’m doing my best to stop it, but it seems I’m too outdated.”
At the little girl’s bitter smile, Arthur’s expression grew serious.
Come to think of it, Lord Erginius also mentioned that it was time to reinforce the barrier.
The magic circle that’s been here for hundreds of years can’t hold its original strength forever.
I can understand that with my head, but it’s hard to accept it in my heart. Damn.
“That means the intervention of the Void is beginning, right?”
“It’s already being gradually progressed. Look. The monsters in front of you. Isn’t it getting harder to distinguish their appearances?”
The little girl’s words were an undeniable truth. Arthur’s vision was mixing truth and falsehood.
“I need to break through the trial before they completely take over. Is that possible?”
“At this point, it’s not a matter of possibility or not.”
Since he had come this far, Arthur had no other choice. In the end, it’s a race against time.
Will the Power of Void completely take over this magic circle faster, or will Arthur surpass this trial faster?
“I have to.”
If it’s a race against time, Arthur was confident in that domain. The opponents he’d been fighting to win had overwhelming strength in that aspect.
Arthur, who desperately struggled to defeat Lucy, didn’t think he would lose in this battle.
“What kind of face would I show if I lost in the place I was entrusted to?”
*
– You killed us.
No. It’s you who pushed yourselves into death.
If you had overcome the trial, you could have become a star, but the failure is yours.
– You sacrificed us for a dream that couldn’t be achieved.
Wrong. The reason my dream seemed distant was that you lacked talent.
Look at the star known as Lucy Allen.
See that star shining brighter than the sun in the sky. If you had shone as brightly as that, my dream would have already been fulfilled.
– In the end, you’re a useless person who can’t do anything alone.
Yes. I gave up shining brightly alone.
Is this wrong? Is it a sin to choose reality over struggling with empty dreams?
Why is romance called romance? It’s because it can’t be achieved.
I vowed to achieve my dream in reality rather than live as a fool wondering about romance.
As Luka walked down the alley, he answered the voices that echoed and ripped apart their existence.
There was no hesitation. No guilt.
If he were to stop for the sake of conscience, he wouldn’t have walked this far.
During that process, Luka felt something dirty spreading due to the oath he had broken.
Faster than anything that had been spreading before.
He didn’t know exactly what was happening, but he ignored the phenomena happening in his body and looked ahead.
To think coldly, the actions of Lady Allen were merely a means of dragging out time.
Even if these spirit beings surrounded the area, they could not deal any lethal damage.
Maybe one or two could be reduced in number, but that’s all.
In a way, it’s strange.
What’s the advantage of dragging out time?
The more the erosion of the Void intensifies, the more advantageous it should be on this side, right?
He didn’t know exactly what they were aiming for, but there’s no need to play into their hands.
By now, the erosion must have progressed to some extent, so should I try to make the opponent anxious?
“Remnus. Can we contact the outside? I want to know the progress of the erosion.”
“They say it has swallowed over half of it. However, the resistance from outside is also gradually intensifying.”
“Then let’s start using what we prepared.”
The various golems he had brought in, under the pretext of using them for creating the Academy Dungeon.
Once the erosion by the Power of Void is complete, those items will become a force of one, rampaging within the barrier the moment the Followers of the Void imbue them with power.
“Lady Allen. I’ll tell you, as you must be hearing, the golems are going to massacre. Those inside the barrier will die helplessly. It’s because you were incompetent. Because you assisted. They will die.”
Now, you, who pretend to be strong on the outside but are weak on the inside, can you stay still after hearing this?
Can you forcibly ignore their deaths?
I can confidently say you won’t be able to. If you were a person who could achieve your wishes without disregarding the sacrifices of others, the Lord wouldn’t have chosen you.
“Puhahaha♡”
As expected.
From beyond the darkness of the corridor, the laughter of a little girl echoed. It was a clear and beautiful laugh that was impossible to ignore.
“All day long, just blabbering♡”
Her red, split hair scattered in the air.
“If you try to act tough like that, doesn’t it make you feel miserable?♡”
Those eyes, deeper red than blood, shone brightly even in the darkness.
“Looking at your weak state instead of acting tough must make you want to die♡”
Her grinning lips made it seem like she, not Luka, was in a favorable position.
“Maybe you can’t distinguish between your imagination and reality?♡ Huff Cough How pitiful♡ How ugly must your reality be for you to become deranged?♡”
Undeniably, the small, beautiful girl who could not hide her admiration stood confidently before Luka and the crowd of Followers of the Void.
“What reality did you wish to deny so much?♡ Are you impotent in your pursuits?♡ Is your talent as pitiful as your decorative hair?♡ Or is it your dream that will never be realized?♡”
Luka felt veins popping on his forehead every time Lucy’s words pierced his ears, but he suppressed his emotions.
The moment he fell for those words, it would go exactly as she intended.
It must not be. The initiative must be on my side. I must be the artisan.
“Haha. Do you really have time to talk like that?”
“……”
The moment Luka spoke, Lucy kept her mouth shut. She was pretending to be relaxed, yet she seemed anxious inside.
“While you’re saying that, people on the surface are dying one by one, you know? Weakly…”
“Puhahahaha♡”
Just as Luka was about to say that she wouldn’t be able to withstand it, Lucy’s laughter interrupted him.
The first time he heard her laugh, Luka thought she was acting. He believed she was laughing intentionally to appear relaxed.
“Even if you try to soothe your embarrassment with laughter, it’s meaningless.”
“Cough Hack Perverted professor♡ You really are dumb?♡ Do I seem like I’m pretending to laugh?♡”
“Even if you try to act tough.”
“Puhuhuhu♡ The one acting tough is you♡ Talent and passion are all pathetic, dumbass♡”
…It’s not an act?
No way?
That can’t be true.
If something variable had occurred, I should have known by now!
“A♡ Are you seriously thinking your words are true?♡ Do you think your dumb plan won’t be hindered?♡”
“Ha. Go ahead and talk as you wish. Nothing will change.”
“…Professor Luka! From above!”
The moment a bewildered voice came from the Followers of the Void, Luka hurriedly turned his gaze towards Lucy.
“Cough Hack To think I have to deal with someone like this♡ I feel so sorry♡ Don’t you?♡”
Her laughter was filled with ease.
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