“Is the idiot who made this trap really that stupid? Who do they think would fall for such a trap? Do they think everyone else is a monkey just because they are one themselves?”
Lucy Alrn said this as she effortlessly jumped over the trap, but Luka couldn’t relate to her words at all.
The faint, small traces of magical energy existing in the corridor were by no means flimsy.
Who would fall for such a trap? Most people would.
Even I, myself, would have been in danger if Miss Alrn hadn’t mentioned it; what about ordinary adventurers? If such a trap were in a regular dungeon, there would have been countless casualties.
Luka thought this internally but didn’t voice it. Ever since stepping into the hidden area of the academy’s old building following Lucy, this kind of thing had happened countless times.
Not only did she quickly find her way forward in a labyrinth with no light, but she also discerned every trap that appeared along the way.
When monsters showed up, it was as if she anticipated their moves, swinging her mace to crush their heads before they even attacked. She looked less like a human and more like a sort of oracle.
Luka, having seen Lucy tackle the academy dungeon, had a rough understanding of her abilities, but watching it on screen and experiencing it beside her were entirely different.
Thus, Luka was in awe every time Lucy displayed her talents, only to be met with teasing from Lucy and scornful glances from Kal.
The former was expected, so the damage was minimal, but the latter was different.
The scornful gaze from Kal seemed to say, "You’re surprised by such a little thing? You really have no discerning eye."
For Luka, who took pride in being a craftsman, that condescending look was unbearable, so he ultimately chose to marvel internally while appearing accustomed to the situation.
No matter how I think about it, it’s unfair. Isn’t Miss Alrn and her escort knight an exceptional case? Anyone would be surprised by this!
Just try telling this story to the nobles who value honor.
They would drool and rush to the lady, and upon hearing her many tales of bravery, they would praise her regardless of her past.
They believe that conquering dungeons is both the duty and honor of a noble.
How difficult a dungeon was conquered. How many dungeons were cleared. What great things were acquired inside. What perilous experiences were endured. Such things are considered proof of nobility.
Even if it’s their firstborn son, if he has no experience in dungeon conquest, they would call him a simpleton and refuse to grant him a title.
Thus, naturally, those who have overflowing experiences in conquering dungeons would praise Miss Alrn to the point of wearing their mouths dry upon seeing her achievements.
Why should I receive that kind of scorn when I’m amazed by such things? I can’t understand it at all!
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Luka wriggled in indignation, but there was no one here to empathize with him.
Those who had grown too accustomed to the light that is Lucy Alrn would only call him dramatic if he shouted that it was hot here.
“It’s already the end. The one who made this pitiful trap must have thought it was difficult, right? The reality is that a small girl can casually conquer it as if it were a walk in the park.”
At least Luka was fortunate that his time of feeling indignant was short.
It only took two hours to reveal the hidden dungeon in the academy’s old building.
With numerous paths lined up and filled with traps brimming with malice, the time taken to reach the end of a place where one could get lost forever in a single misstep was only two hours.
“How could one not be surprised by this?”
Luka checked his pocket watch and let out an involuntary chuckle.
“Ha. Really. I don’t know how long they intend to remain as screeching monkeys. Is it so hard to see things from a human perspective?”
“Please understand, young lady. The common sense is so ingrained that they cannot escape it.”
Having overheard the banter between the mistress and her servant, Luka ground his teeth. He thought he would challenge Kal to a duel later.
<...strange. Why do I feel a sense of déjà vu?>
Throughout the entire dungeon exploration in the academy’s old building, the old man kept saying such things. He claimed that the structure of the dungeon hidden in the old building felt all too familiar.
<Girl. You may not believe it, but one of my companions loved making mazes like this.>
I knew who the old man was talking about.
One of those who stood at the forefront when the evil god was unleashed, attempting to turn this world into hell.
The great wizard who had his hand in most of the current magical systems.
The one who vanished one day as if evaporated, leading to tales that he might still be alive somewhere.
<I can only explain the grotesque tastes that exist here as belonging to that fellow.>
The old man’s suspicion was accurate. The labyrinth that could not be invaded without a slate was created by the great wizard Erginius, who was once a companion of the old man.
‘Is that so?’
I knew this but didn’t tell the old man the truth.
If I were to tell the old man everything, I would have to explain the backstory as well, which would not be a good story for him to hear.
I didn’t want to see the old man clutching his neck and collapsing. He might not have a neck to grab, but still.
And anyway, even if I didn’t explain it to him, he would eventually find out, so there was no reason to exhaust myself explaining it.
<That fellow is related to this academy? Why?>
Ignoring the old man’s question, I walked ahead.
Originally, the hidden dungeon in the academy’s old building was a maze that could not be passed without the guiding slate. If you didn’t follow the path indicated, you would soon find yourself back at the entrance.
However, regarding this maze, the creators were somewhat sloppy. The path indicated by the slate was fixed to just one.
Of course, that path was ridiculously complicated and hard to memorize, but that was not a problem for a rotten fish.
If memorizing was efficient, a rotten fish would memorize it!
At that time, the time I spent cursing was properly rewarded even after many years when the world had changed.
Was it about two hours?
I was a bit delayed because I was paying attention to the two people following me.
Well, still, at this pace, I should be able to return before morning.
Thinking that, I grasped the doorknob.
I didn’t need a break.
I had only taken a stroll for about two hours, so what kind of rest would I need?
“Is it an intruder?”
The moment I easily pushed open the thick iron door, a voice was heard.
Having lost all flesh and organs after such a long time dead,
Losing sanity,
Losing memories,
And even though the soul had worn down and decayed, he still remembered only his purpose.
No, it was the voice of someone who believed he remembered.
“No, that can’t be. There’s no way you’re an intruder.”
<That voice is!>
The one sitting on the rough stone chair, gazing quietly at us, stood up while pressing down on his knee bones.
“...Miss. Please step back. That is dangerous.”
Before I could say anything, Kal drew his sword and blocked my path.
“Professor Kal is right. The current lady cannot face that being.”
Luka pulled a dagger from within his robes.
While Kal’s overreaction wasn’t strange, Luka’s was.
If it were a regular threat, he would willingly push me forward, but he stood in front of me for one reason only.
That facing that skeleton would yield nothing for me.
The moment I stood before that skeleton, I would be met with instant death.
Both of their judgments were accurate.
I still couldn’t win against that thing.
Maybe after six more months, I would stand a chance, but not now.
I knew that fact all too well.
How could I not know? I had visited this place thousands of times without a doubt.
Yet, despite that, the reason I confidently approached this place was that I didn’t need to defeat that skeleton.
This place is a trial ground before being a dungeon.
“The monsters that appear in dungeons are the problem. I let my guard down.”
“This isn’t the time to be saying that. We should think about how to deal with that thing.”
They were two martial artists with exceptional skills. Recognizing the gap between their skills and that of the opponent, they quickly began to formulate a strategy.
However, the skeleton seated on the chair didn’t even glance at them.
He simply looked at me. Only me.
As if trying to pull me into the depths of his black eyes, which had long lost their sight.
“Child of divine love.”
<...Hmm?! No, that’s wrong. It’s not that guy. It’s someone mimicking that... Ah!>
Then he spoke to me. With words I had never heard in the game before.
“State your name.”
‘Lucy Alrn.’
“Lucy Alrn, huh? Thank you for the proud introduction; I shall introduce myself as well. The name of this knight is Garard. Once, I held a portion of a hero's legacy.”
<Ha ha ha! Erginius! This insane guy was a total fool until the end!>
As soon as the skeleton finished his introduction, the old man burst into wild laughter, swearing.
It wasn’t strange at all.
That skeleton’s true identity was a homunculus created by the great wizard Erginius, who reminisced about his companions.
As the Mesugaki skill said, he was a psychotic skeleton who believed himself to be a hero, possessing all the ridiculous traits of a hero.
From the old man’s perspective, it must have felt like watching his friend’s dark past being enshrined.
“...Garard?”
“A relic of a hero? No way. That’s impossible.”
Ah, damn. I felt like laughing too because of the gap between the old man and the two beside him.
One side was highly tense, while the other side was laughing uncontrollably!
Calm down. Let’s calm down. If I suddenly burst out laughing here, I’d just look like a madwoman.
“What brings you to this place?”
‘I'm here to retrieve the shield you possess.’
“I came to reclaim the shield, which is too much for a psychotic skeleton.”
“Indeed. That would be the only reason.”
<Ha ha ha!>
As the skeleton nodded, the old man's laughter grew louder.
Ah, this is really chaotic.
“Since you are one favored by the divine, I would like to give it to you, but unfortunately, I do not have the authority to do so.”
‘What then?’
“I’m glad to have someone to chat with after a long time, but could you please consider that I am wasting time because of this insane skeleton?”
“...Ah, I apologize.”
<Ha ha! Even while imitating a madman, there’s no escaping etiquette in front of a girl!>
Old man! Please, calm down!
“I shall get straight to the point. You must pass the trial that I impose.”
No matter how trivial the trial may be, you need to focus when the time comes!