One of the professors in Dungeon Studies at Soul Academy, Jesel let out a long sigh while inspecting the dungeons to be included in the final exam.
“...It’s too difficult.”
This cannot be used as an exam. If the other Dungeon Studies professors see this problem, they will surely mock it, saying it’s like making enemies of the first-years.
Damn old bastards. If they’re so good at dungeon design, they should create their own problems.
Just because they’re young, they throw everything in and criticize what’s wrong with this or that when making exam problems.
I really wish they would just drop dead.
“Hah. How did the dungeon design end up like this?”
Even just until lunchtime today, it had been a somewhat decent dungeon. Why did it become a magical ruin that not even a student or someone working in the field could conquer?
Reflecting on it, Jesel soon realized what the cause was.
It was because he had been conscious of Lucy Alrn while creating the dungeon.
Lucy Alrn.
Current top student of Soul Academy's first year.
A monster evaluated as having already surpassed student level, a genius rewriting the history of Soul Academy.
And she was one of the students attending the Dungeon Studies class taught by Jesel.
Remembering her arrogant tone and annoying smile, Jesel unconsciously tightened his grip.
At the time when Lucy first entered the academy, Jesel viewed her favorably.
Ignoring the rumors surrounding her, he had firmly imprinted in his mind the impressive performance she showed during the entrance exam, believing she would become someone great in the future and wanting to help her grow.
However, this resolve didn’t last long.
“Is this what you call a question? Seriously. With skills like yours, your level of questioning is pitiful.”
As the academy semester started and within just a week, Lucy Alrn became someone Jesel desperately wanted to slap down.
“Why wouldn’t I sleep? There’s nothing to learn, it’s boring, and there’s nothing to see, so how could I not sleep?”
“Did you really think I wouldn’t know this? Hahaha. Just look at that face acting like you asked a sharp question. It’s truly pathetic.”
“A professor doesn’t know this? Really? Wow. How the hell did you even get that position?”
Throughout the academy semester, Jesel tried his best to see Lucy Alrn make a fool of herself even once.
He attempted everything to say something like “You don’t even know this?”
However, the return of all those attempts was always just a condescending glance and a derisive tone.
“What? You want me to tell you how I reached this conclusion? Off the cuff? Come on, Professor Alrn~ please teach this pathetic, stupid self-proclaimed professor~ then I’ll teach you.”
Lucy Alrn wasn’t just arrogant; she was a genius with the ability to be arrogant.
“Ugh! I’m really pissed off!”
Recalling the past, she screamed and randomly tore up the papers she had designed the dungeon on, scattering them into the air.
The dungeon that had ended up filled with all kinds of monstrous things just to get back at Lucy Alrn could be used nowhere. So, she might as well use it to vent her anger.
“What a bitch. If she knows dungeons so well, then she should just make her own... Ah.”
Yeah. I should just tell her to make a dungeon.
Since I can’t evaluate it at all, I’ll say I’ll substitute this for the exam.
At first, she’ll throw all kinds of mockery at me, but I can endure that.
When she brings back the dungeon and I can laugh at her, asking if this is all she could manage, I can endure it!
“Uh, Professor?...”
While glaring into space and fuming, Jesel’s behavior caught the attention of the assistant professor, who spoke up with concern.
Jesel turned her head and glared at the assistant professor with bloodshot eyes.
“Assistant Professor.”
“Yes!”
“Go talk to Professor Kal right now. Tell him I have a message for Lady Alrn.”
Lucy Alrn. Let’s see how well you handle this too.
Currently, my level far exceeds that of a first-year student at the academy, so I cannot be evaluated with a Dungeon Studies exam.
Thus, in exchange for granting me the highest evaluation in the Dungeon Studies class, I will create a dungeon to be used in the final exam.
“I could see you were troubled in many ways.”
Kal, who conveyed this story, defended the Dungeon Studies professor with a wry smile, but no matter how you look at it, this is just passing the buck.
Because he was working, he’s probably just passing this off onto me.
Does that Dungeon Studies professor have a slave?
If he was really too lazy to make problems, he could have just asked his slave to do it. Why does he have to pass it on to me?
I really don’t get it.
“Are you going to refuse?”
Did he think my tilting head was a sign of refusal? Kal said he would go and talk to the Dungeon Studies professor.
‘No. I’ll do it.’
“A smart puppy would have better sense than this. The title of ‘pathetic dog’ is wasted on you.”
He’s giving me a chance to create a dungeon directly!
Not just any dungeon, but a dungeon that will actually be used in the exam, not just on a screen!
Am I crazy to refuse this!?
Even if I have to give something in return, I’d throw everything I have to create a dungeon for free and have my grade guaranteed!
This is totally a boss move. No, the professor is crazy!
I absolutely won’t refuse.
No, I can’t refuse.
If the Dungeon Studies professor changes his mind later, I’ll create the dungeon even if I have to kidnap and confine him!
This was my dream!
When was it again?
Before I even stepped into this world.
I was saying ridiculous things like having nothing to do after just a few thousand hours.
At that time, I had tried to create a dungeon myself.
It started with a confrontation with a notorious modder on the bulletin board, just like any other time.
“You’re so picky about something given for free. What a bastard. When your mom sets the table, do you pick at everything?”
“I can’t even act out because my mom isn’t here. Bye.”
“Seriously, you’re a total psycho. If you’re that mad, why don’t you create something yourself, you piece of shit?”
I left a response saying even something made with my feet would be better than what you made.
At that point, I wanted to create the best mod with my awesome knowledge, but that dream hit the wall of reality.
This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.
First of all, Soul Academy wasn’t a game that provided separate modding tools.
And another thing. I had no knowledge of programming whatsoever.
At first, I had even bought a book, thinking I’d learn coding to maintain my pride and create a mod, but that motivation didn’t last long.
Within less than a week, I ended up selling “You can do it too! Python for loners!” on a second-hand market, and I fell victim to the modder, who made me sprinkle hamburgers according to his commands, paying the price for my foolishness.
After that, every time I faced a terrible mod, I thought about wanting to create a dungeon myself, but every time I tried, I just kept failing, never successfully creating a mod.
I thought it was a lifelong unfulfilled desire, but finally, the day has come when I can fulfill that dream.
Just the gimmicks popping into my head right now number in the dozens.
Since it’s a dungeon created by the academy, I can’t just slap all the gimmicks together.
But that’s okay. The quality of the dungeon isn’t determined by the number of gimmicks.
“What a joy! Is something good happening? You seem bright.”
While thinking about what kind of dungeon to create, Arthur, who had just finished his duel, spoke to me.
“It’s funny that the overly confident third prince ended up losing to me in the end.”
“What nonsense! You won by struggling! If you hadn’t thrown your sword in the last moment and charged, you would have lost!”
“True. You did well, Prince. Just less pathetic than me.”
“You were the one who would have lost if you had made a slight mistake!”
“Yeah. I got lucky and won. Wow. I’m so excited.”
As I watched Frey burst out laughing at Arthur’s outfit with a blank expression and a dry tone, I couldn’t help but blink.
Frey. Was he always this good at banter?
Even if he made me mad with his nonsensical attitude, he would never provoke his opponent directly.
...Could it be because of me?
Did he start to imitate provoking because he trained with me?
Now that I think about it, he had some fun provoking me during the first semester's final exam.
Realizing that I had inadvertently created a terrible hybrid, I subtly took a step back.
“Let’s fight again! This time, I will definitely!”
“No thanks. You’re pathetic, so it’s boring.”
“Are you afraid of losing to me?”
“Yeah. I’m scared. So, I don’t want to.”
“Y-You!... Frey Kent!”
Kal intervened in the two’s fight.
He grabbed Arthur, who was about to lose his mind, and assured them that their duel was evenly matched, stating it wouldn’t be strange for either to win, thus ending their argument.
Frey added a few more words in between, but Kal's statement, which even I couldn’t surpass, carried authority in itself.
In the end, even Frey had no choice but to agree to Kal’s words.
After a while, regaining his composure, Arthur let out a long sigh and returned to the initial topic.
“So, Lucy Alrn. Why were you laughing?”
‘Me...’
“I’ve been tasked with creating the final exam dungeon instead of a self-proclaimed dungeon studies professor whose qualifications I can’t fathom. Thinking of the pathetic ones who will end up crying in there made me laugh.”
“...What? You’re creating the final exam dungeon?”
After hearing my story, Arthur turned to Kal to confirm if my words were correct.
As Kal nodded in understanding, Arthur turned back to me, inhaled deeply, and spoke with a serious voice that was hard to believe came from the person who had just yelled at Frey moments ago.
“Lucy Alrn. I have one request. Please do not set the difficulty based on yourself. If you do, the entire first year might face the disaster of failing.”
Realizing the atmosphere had suddenly turned serious, I wondered what he was going to say, but it turned out to be unnecessary worry.
‘I know.’
“You think I wouldn’t know that most of the first years are pathetic?”
“I’d assume you do! But don’t you lack common sense! I can see it without looking! You’re the one who will create a dungeon that even third-year academy students can’t pass while saying it’s easy!”
Arthur raised his voice gradually, giving all sorts of advice.
Like saying not to take lives, not to let anyone get trauma from dungeons, and to remember that other exams are waiting.
I understand that these suggestions come from worrying about me. So I know I should pay attention to them.
However, come on.
There’s a limit to sensible advice. If you cross the line, it becomes a problem. You start to understand the heart of a tyrant.
“Do you understand? Once more...”
“Poor prince! You chatter like a girl!”
“...What? Why are you raising your mace?”
“I think it’s because the poor princess wants to be one! I’m trying to help you especially!”
“Ah. I thought you were giving advice, but it seems it was too much. I will apologize. So, can you put that deadly weapon down?”
“Ah, you don’t have to be polite♡”
“Sorry! I’m sorry! I spoke too much! I’ll do anything, so please let him go!”
“I’m glad you’re glad♡ It would have been great if I had known the poor prince was a pervert who wanted to be a girl♡”
Taking a step while shouldering the mace, Arthur raised his voice desperately towards Kal and Frey.
“Don’t just stand there, help me! At this rate, I’m going to!”
“I’m sorry, Prince. It’s the lady’s will.”
“Lucy isn’t pathetic and is scary. I’m sorry.”
“You damn heartless bastards! I will never forget today’s events!”
Screaming with rage, Arthur drew his sword and took a step back.
“You’re really embarrassing for a kid going through puberty♡ Seeing you run away from this angelic girl♡”
“Yeah! An angel is an angel! She’s an angel here to announce my death!”
Oh, come on. What exaggerated nonsense.
Don’t worry, Arthur. I won’t kill you.
I’m just going to check if you’ve been slacking off while I wasn’t paying attention.
Just roll until the moment you’re about to die.
Got it?