After spending a pleasant time with Arthur, I realized something: this guy seems to be quite a bit behind.
Is that all? He was growing at a pace even steeper than I initially expected.
He hasn’t even started his second year yet, and he’s already using Aura!
And not just in a grasping-at-straws way; he’s become proficient enough to use it effectively in real situations!
No matter how much I taught him the fastest way to grow, isn’t this too fast?
I knew Arthur was a genius, but I never thought his talent would be this exceptional.
If it hadn’t been for the increase in the level of the divine, I might have suffered a severe defeat.
“Looks like you’ve worked hard, Your Highness the Third Prince.”
“I never thought the poor prince would become this strong. You must have put in tremendous effort. Heh heh. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re still pathetic compared to a girl who’s two heads shorter than you.”
Arthur, sprawled out on the floor, offered no response to my words.
There was no reaction. He looked just like a corpse. As I pondered whether I had hit him too hard, Frey approached and patted Arthur's back.
“Your Highness the Third Prince did nothing wrong. This is all because Lucy is too strong.”
“Lady Kent is correct. Your Highness, what you displayed was extraordinarily high for your age.”
“Don’t waste your time with pointless consolation. Just leave him be. It seems it’ll take some time for the wounds of his heart to heal.”
Ah, so he was just shocked that he had tried everything he could but still lost.
Thank goodness. I was worried I might have inadvertently turned him into a truly poor prince because I couldn’t control my strength.
‘Both of your words are correct...’
“Right. The poor prince was quite strong for a pathetic person. It was frightening to see you struggling to mar the cute girl’s face. I almost screamed because it was so ugly!”
“...Lucy Alrn. I think it’s strange for the defeated to say such things. Can you please be quiet?”
At the tremor in Arthur’s voice, I hurriedly shut my mouth. I added a “sorry” in the back of my mind, knowing that something horrifying might come out.
Hmm. No matter how I look at it, I don’t think staying here any longer will yield anything good.
Having confirmed that Arthur was training harder than I had instructed, I thought I might slip away quietly.
But, you know, if Arthur had nothing to prick his conscience about, then why did he run away as soon as he saw my face yesterday? I don’t understand the reason.
<Are you truly confused about it?> ‘Well, yes?’ <...You don’t understand the human heart. Isn’t it obvious?> ‘You can’t be suggesting that Arthur ran away, shocked by my changed appearance? That can’t be! Your Highness the Third Prince isn’t some kind of foolish pervert!’
Thinking logically, there’s no way he would have strange feelings upon seeing someone as small as me.
Only those fools like the foolish fox, the apostle of the Artistic Order, and pathetic perverts like the Pedo Deity would think that way.
The Arthur I know is a person with normal thoughts, different from those perverts.
‘Ah! Could it be that perverts only see other perverts through their eyes?! I thought I could trust that old man!’ <What kind of slander is that! What do you think of yourself!?>
I tuned out the old man’s raging while pondering the reason Arthur ran away, but I couldn’t come up with a reasonable answer.
It seems like there’s something he wants to hide from me, but I have no idea what it is. Since he seemed fine when we met again today, it doesn’t seem like a big problem. For now, I guess I’ll just let it slide.
<Are you listening!? Lately, you’ve been showing too little respect for yourself!>
Could it be that my teasing had built up and finally burst?
The old man’s nagging continued until I arrived at the Dungeon Studies professor's location.
Lately, I have been teasing him often. I can’t deny that fact.
But, come on. What can I do when his reactions are just too entertaining!
When I see a normally serious person raising their voice and exploding, I can’t help but smile.
If he doesn’t want to be teased, then he should just stop showing such interesting reactions!
I think I understand why Lucy used to tease people in the past...
No, that’s not right. Her teasing was on a level of tormenting and oppressing others.
I shouldn’t understand the mindset of the old Lucy.
<Do you understand? I can accept that you see yourself as friendly, but I would like you to show at least a modicum of respect.> ‘How could I not respect you, old man? I always think you’re amazing in my heart!’ <...Really?> ‘Of course! I saw you perform miracles against the Evil Gods! I still remember! The sun rising in that dark cave!’ <Humph. What does that matter? Compared to what you did in your prime, it’s nothing.> ‘Really!? Truly, old man! You are the legendary paladin Ruelda!’
<If you butter me up like that, do you really think it will quell my anger?>
Old man. While you say that, your quivering voice is quite honest, isn’t it?
It’s such a joy to hear my granddaughter praise me, even if you can’t be honest about it.
‘This isn’t flattery; this is sincere flattery! Old man!’ <Flattery is flattery. What do you mean by sincere flattery?> ‘The respect I have is genuine!’ <...So be it. I cannot win you over with words.>
Having successfully calmed the old man’s heart, I thought about maintaining an appropriate balance between teasing and praise as I entered the Dungeon Studies professor's room.
“Lady Alrn.”
Has she been unable to sleep well lately? Dark circles were prominent under her eyes.
“I’ve been waiting for you. Did you hear from Professor Kal?”
‘Yes. About that...’
“I heard. The pathetic professor acknowledged that with his foolish head, he can’t evaluate me.”
Despite the words translated with the Mesugaki skill, the professor gritted his teeth, but I didn’t care.
I had long since given up on trying to win that person’s favor.
“Uh... So, have you made a decision?”
‘Yes. I’m going to try making a dungeon.’
“Right. I’ll show you what a proper dungeon is, to a professor whose qualifications are suspect. Ha. Really. I’m just too kind-hearted.”
With each word escaping my mouth, the Dungeon Studies professor's face flushed red.
Isn’t he going to collapse from high blood pressure at this rate?
I’m scared that under the infamous name of Lucy Alrn, it’ll be added: ‘Causes high blood pressure and kills people.’
“...Assistant Professor.”
“Yes!”
“Please explain the details to her.”
The unfortunate graduate student caught between the Dungeon Studies professor and me approached me, sweating profusely, and immediately bowed his waist.
“Excuse me! Lady Alrn! Would you grant me the honor of explaining to you?”
While his overly respectful demeanor was a bit burdensome, I wasn’t overly flustered.
‘...Uh. Um. Yes.’
“Puhuh. You’ve got the gist. Go ahead and spill it.”
This wasn’t a new situation.
Last time, when I overturned the commoner dorm, I ordered Luca to handle the instigators appropriately.
I didn’t know what foolish actions those idiots would pull if they kept lingering around.
Luca executed my order well, but perhaps too well.
Who would have thought the instigators would disappear from the academy overnight?
Because of this incident, a bizarre rumor spread throughout the academy that if you angered Lucy Alrn, she would evaporate!
In reality, we just quietly expelled those who caused the problem, but it’s a well-known fact that sensational rumors spread more quickly.
Thanks to this, after that incident, I became a figure of terror for common students and staff at the academy.
Ah. Just thinking about this makes me furious again.
While it’s nice that the troublesome kids have disappeared, it’s a bit much for them to bang their heads on the ground and plead for their lives just from brushing against my clothes!
Why should I have to be treated as a tormentor when I didn’t do anything!
Even though I’ve given up on my reputation, this is too much!
“Uh. Uh. Lady Alrn, was there something lacking in my explanation?!”
I snapped back to reality at the assistant professor's terrified voice and bit my lip at her look that seemed about to slam her head into the ground.
‘Can you repeat that? Could you explain again?’
“Can you not speak clearly? I can’t understand you. You pathetic loser. Explain it properly again.”
“Yes! I’ll do my best... hiccup!”
“Hah. Enough, Assistant Professor. Do your job. I’ll explain.”
Was it because he couldn’t bear to see the assistant professor nearly crying? The Dungeon Studies professor stepped forward, and the assistant professor’s face noticeably brightened.
How far has my reputation fallen in the academy?!
What did I do to make them so scared? I haven’t done anything!
Aaargh! It’s so unfair! Why should I, who thwarted the resurrection of the Evil God twice, be treated like this!
While I was thinking that it would be less unfair if I had actually tormented someone, the Dungeon Studies professor spoke.
“First of all, what you need to know is that the dungeon for the final exam is meant to test what you learned during class. Therefore, the content of the dungeon must include the material covered in the exam scope. I thought I had informed you previously, but...”
‘Did you inform me?’
“Did I? Really? You must have mistaken it, you foolish girl.”
“...I’m pretty sure I informed you, but did you not hear?”
Ah, that’s right.
I’m sorry, Professor.
But I’ll be seeing that dungeon studies class soon.
What do I care about what the professor says? Since it’s all common knowledge, there’s no reason to listen.
When I nodded confidently, the Dungeon Studies professor’s mouth twitched.
“I’ll say it again. The exam scope is gimmick-based dungeons. This involves strategies related to various dungeons that you cannot surpass without using your head.”
The Dungeon Studies professor struggled to suppress his rising voice as he explained the various gimmicks and their solutions that he had taught during class.
Since this is material from the first-year class, there are hardly any outrageous gimmicks.
I suppose we have to design the dungeon with those gimmicks in mind.
“There are several other conditions. The size of the dungeon, difficulty, capacity limits, and...”
The restrictions are quite tight.
Well, creating a dungeon isn’t free. There are bound to be several realistic limitations.
While listening to what the professor was saying, I rummaged through the various knowledge in my head.
To create an ideal dungeon while using the resources given to me as efficiently as possible...
Hmm...
While continuing my thoughts with my arms crossed, a good idea suddenly came to mind.
If I can use this gimmick, that would be best, but I wonder if it will work.
‘Excuse me, Professor...’
“Hey, are you asking if this pathetic academy has the ability to recreate such a thing?”
That was a question I thought would have a difficult answer, but the professor’s reply was completely different.
“It’s not that difficult. How are you planning to use that gimmick?”
...It’s possible?
Can I really use this gimmick?!
Hehehe.
Heheheheh.
Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.
First-year students at the academy.
Just wait.
I’ll show you what a proper dungeon is.