The conversation with the Dungeon Studies professor brought me a lot of insights.
While it’s true that I have extensive knowledge about dungeons, all of it comes from the perspective of a game user, not as someone who creates games.
Because of that, my dungeons had several shortcomings in terms of detail.
For instance, when I created dungeons, I roughly included monster patterns.
I would establish a concept and use a combat style that suited it.
This isn’t a major problem since the movements of the monsters are already specified.
However, it’s not perfect.
Monsters that only repeat predetermined movements are no different from puppets. While it may seem fine at first, once the enemies become familiar, it fails to give the feeling of facing a living adversary.
The solution the Dungeon Studies professor proposed was this:
“By collaborating with the Combat Studies professor to record movements and applying them directly, you can achieve that.”
If I were to write out all combat logic in detail, it would take a lot of time and effort, but the result might not be very good.
However, by recording the Combat Studies professor’s movements and applying them directly, it becomes possible to create monsters that appear to move on their own without much trouble.
“Normally, professors from Combat Studies are quite busy during this period, so it’s difficult to seek their cooperation. But, you have someone you can make use of, don’t you?”
I promised the Dungeon Studies professor that I would send Luca and Karl.
I told him he could use them as much as he wanted.
In addition to this, I learned a lot about various spells used in the dungeon from a detailed perspective.
“Artificial dungeons lack the unique ominous atmosphere of a dungeon. That’s because it’s not created by the power of an evil deity.”
Heavy magic, suffocating air, sounds that seem unnaturally loud, an ominous feeling as if something is chasing you, etc.
Those who create dungeons have been pondering the absence of these elements for a long time and have ultimately succeeded in recreating the unique atmosphere of dungeons through magic.
“Originally, the proper method would be to keep resources aside for these elements, but since this is your first time, I’ll ensure that I can add more resources.”
“...Wait a minute. Is it possible to add something like this with the pathetic academy's technical skills?”
“That sounds good. It should be possible. If it isn’t, we’ll make it happen.”
Additionally, the Dungeon Studies professor provided me with various detailed advice, and based on that advice, I added new gimmicks.
Ah, of course, it wasn’t just me learning from the Dungeon Studies professor.
There were several detailed aspects I didn’t know, but regarding the fundamental structure of the dungeon, I had more knowledge.
So, I shared various things with the Dungeon Studies professor.
How to create traps that would make you curse from the perspective of someone conquering them.
About gimmicks that would make you involuntarily exclaim how awful they are.
Ways to make it so that even with a ridiculously difficult level, it feels like you can just barely make it through, making it impossible to give up.
There were so many topics to discuss that the Dungeon Studies professor’s classes ended up being canceled. Although my other classes were suspended in collaboration with the Dungeon Studies professor, what does it matter for such trivialities?
The important thing is that my created dungeon has become even more perfect!
...In the process, various things were added, and I exceeded the set capacity by a long way, but since the Dungeon Studies professor said he would complete the dungeon even if he had to knock out other professors, it should be fine.
Probably.
After finishing all that discussion, I felt a deeper satisfaction than ever as I went to dinner.
This is why it’s good to have people with common hobbies.
Once everything is over, should I become a Dungeon Studies professor?
It would be quite enjoyable to torment students with the dungeon I created.
If the kids complain and say they can’t do it, I could provoke them with my Mesugaki skill to make them have no choice but to try.
“Look at these pathetic little kids who can only lie around♡ Can’t even handle this much?♡ Haah♡ It can’t be helped♡ Professor~ We’re still pathetic little kids who can’t leave our mother’s embrace~ Please lower the difficulty~ If they cry and beg, I might consider easing it just this once♡”
If I said something like that, they would naturally fight back.
Being a professor would bring a lot of annoying tasks, right?
That’s fine. I can just pass those on to the teaching assistants.
Isn’t that what all professors do?
...I was joking, but it actually sounds fun. Maybe I’ll try it someday when everything is over.
“Lucy Alrn.”
While I was humming, waiting for the food to arrive, I heard a voice. Turning my head, I saw Arthur, who I didn’t know when he arrived, looking down at me with a sharp gaze.
“What is it, Third Prince?”
“Why are you staring at me like that? I understand you want to engrave the cute and pretty me in your memory, but it’s a bit perverted.”
“...I didn’t stare at you with that intention!”
I merely smiled slightly, but Arthur flushed and raised his voice.
His voice was so loud that the gazes of everyone in the dining hall turned toward us, and Arthur’s face turned red again from the many stares, quickly taking a seat.
Even now, and when he’s teased by Frey, Arthur falls for provocation too easily. He was a cooler character when in the game.
Well, from my perspective, this is more entertaining, so it's fine.
“Third Prince, did you sneak a drink? Your face is really red.”
As I quietly observed Arthur, who was pouting his lips, Joy, who had been dining with the noble ladies, joined us.
From the worried expressions of the noble ladies, it seemed like there was some issue.
“...Shut up, Joy.”
“Just now, it was more of a Third Prince’s fault.”
“Joy.”
“I’m sorry. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Alrn. I heard you were held up by the Dungeon Studies professor today?”
“How do you know?”
“How do I know? Silly noble lady. Are you stalking me? I might like you, but that’s a bit much.”
“I didn’t do that. I just asked the professor because you were absent.”
Since she often gets involved in various incidents, Joy seemed to worry about me, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Ha. Really. That’s why I can’t help but like Joy.
“Thank you for worrying.”
“Puhuhuh. A noble lady of the Duke’s family has separation anxiety. I see~ You must have been really troubled not having me~ How should I comfort you? Should I hug you? Or should I give you a pat on the back?”
“...I must have worried you too much!”
As Arthur and Joy’s faces turned equally red, Frey quietly sat down to my left.
Following him, Faivy appeared and naturally took the seat to my right.
Once the usual members had gathered, Arthur seemed to regain his composure and let out a long sigh.
“Let’s go back to the beginning. Lucy Alrn, what I want to ask is what kind of Hellish Dungeon you have created.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Arthur, regaining his composure, calmly continued.
“It’s a simple inference. After finishing that long conversation in the professor’s office, if anyone sees you smiling happily, there can only be one reason. You’ve created a dungeon that satisfies you. And a dungeon that someone like you would be satisfied with must surely be a Hellish Dungeon.”
...Was my face melting to the point that it was that obvious?
Arthur’s inference was partly correct. The satisfaction I felt from creating a wonderful dungeon made up most of my happiness right now.
But there’s one thing that’s wrong!
“It’s not a Hellish Dungeon! It’s not!”
“A Hellish Dungeon? So, that makes me sound like someone who is desperate to torment other pathetic people. That’s not true at all. I’m just a kind person who made a dungeon anyone can conquer.”
I confidently asserted my innocence, but the suspicious gazes didn’t wane at all.
No, it’s really unfair!
There’s no way I, who struggled through all those troll dungeons, would create a monstrous place!
Of course, I made it so that any student could conquer it!
If it were truly such a hellish place, the Dungeon Studies professor would have rejected it outright! Right?!
Joy was the one who countered my statement.
“Alrn, you might not know, but Professor Jesel has been known for having high standards for a long time. In the past, he actually created a dungeon with a攻略 rate of 0%.”
...
Was that professor's problem that difficult?
Really?
They had seemed considerate, matching the level of first-year students here and there, and that was hard?!
Realizing I had underestimated the students’ abilities, I closed my lips, and at that moment, Joy and Arthur both sighed as if they were one person.
“We’re doomed.”
“At this rate, everyone might fail the Dungeon Studies final exam.”
“Not everyone. There’s this guy right in front of us.”
“...That’s true. As long as I can enter with Alrn!”
“Um, I’m sorry, but...”
“Ha. You fools have no pride whatsoever. There’s no way that will work. I’m not taking the exam.”
“Are you just going to create hell and escape on your own?!”
“Truly wicked, Alrn.”
Is this something I should be scolded for?!
Common sense dictates that the person who created the dungeon cannot take the exam with the party! Of course, it’s not allowed!
Visit fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm for the best novel reading experi𝒆nce.
“...Um, Third Prince. Joy. I think you’re being too hard on the noble lady.”
“Saintess, he deserves this much. Otherwise, our final exam will turn into hell.”
“That’s right, Faivy. If we don’t lower the difficulty even a little, who knows how many people will fall into despair?”
Though Faivy tried to defend me, she couldn’t argue against Arthur and Joy’s claims, so she quietly withdrew.
...Um, I might have set the difficulty a bit too high.
“Um. There’s that...”
“Puhahhah. You seem desperate to make the dungeon easier. But what can you do? It’s already out of my hands~”
The Dungeon Studies professor had already taken the final version away, so I wouldn’t be able to change it even if I wanted to.
To be honest, I don’t particularly want to change it. It’s a perfect dungeon with no flaws!
“Have you really finished everything already? In just one day?”
“Don’t show your genius in such matters! Lucy Alrn!”
“O great Armadish, why have you bestowed such trials upon us?”
Arthur and Joy said that, but seeing Faivy also despairingly bring her hands together made me break out in a cold sweat as I tried to salvage the situation.
“Um, it’ll be fine!...”
“Don’t worry. I made it so you pathetic people can challenge it as much as you want throughout the final exam.”
“...You can challenge it infinitely? Crazy. So, it’s at a level where we don’t know if we can conquer it even if we challenge it for the entire final exam!”
“Not only that. Third Prince, this is at a difficulty level that makes it meaningless for students to share攻略 methods with each other.”
“...And there’s no need to worry about failing!”
“And, you know. That idiot professor said that he would allow students to earn points even if they fail to conquer it, considering the low level of first-year idiots. Even if the first years are pathetic, not everyone will fail!”
“Didn’t you assume that they wouldn’t be able to conquer it till the end in the first place?”
“...It feels like hell is dancing before my eyes.”
“Yeah. I’ve decided. I want to retake the first year.”
Why. Why did it turn out like this?!
Every time I tried to lighten the mood, why does the atmosphere around the table just get heavier?!
Even Frey, who usually has no emotions, added a comment, and while I was looking around, Faivy subtly raised her hand.
“Um, noble lady.”
“What is it now?!”
“What is it, pathetic Saintess.”
“If it’s that difficult, what kind of reward will we get when we reach the end?”
...Ah.
Ah! I can’t believe I made such a mistake!
The final part of the dungeon must obviously have a reward that matches the struggle! If not, it would lack the motivation to conquer it!
Both I and the Dungeon Studies professor are people who feel rewarded by conquering dungeons, and I had overlooked that!
I’m glad I realized it even now. I need to discuss it with the Dungeon Studies professor tomorrow.
“You didn’t even think about rewards?”
“Shall we just avoid failing and gather points elsewhere?”
“That’s okay. It would be better to suffer in a meaningless place.”
“Ah! Don’t do that! I worked so hard to create this, so please don’t pass on it!”
“Wow. Are you so scared that you’re running away? You pathetic little losers!”
“Yeah. I’m scared. I’m scared and can’t do it.”
“What if you give everything to this and mess up the other exams? You might have to retake the first year. It’s better to give up instead.”
No! If it’s true that I misjudged the dungeon’s difficulty, then no one besides you guys will be able to conquer it!
So please, don’t give up! Please!
It’s a place I worked so hard to create, and if no one can conquer it, it would break my heart!
“I’ll give you rewards! If you conquer the dungeon all the way to the end, I’ll give you anything you want! So please, conquer it!”
“Is the reward that important? You’re all materialistic. Fine. If you conquer it all the way to the end, I’ll do anything for you. Of course, it’s not like pathetic people like you will reach the end.”
As soon as I finished speaking, silence fell over the previously noisy table.
“...Anything?”
“Anything?”
“Lady. You just said anything.”
“Lucy, you said anything.”
Arthur, Joy, Faivy, Frey.
These four people, who had been complaining just moments ago, now looked at me with hardened faces, glaring with intense gazes.
Realizing that I had just made a slip of the tongue, I understood I couldn’t take back what I had said.
If I said I was joking, the atmosphere would be as sharp as if I had been stabbed with a knife.
“Yes. Yes, that’s right.”
“Cough. I wonder if those who were just whining can do it.”
Under the pressure of their gazes, I had no choice but to nod my head, and the four of them exchanged glances, then stood up as if they were one.
As I was left alone, I blinked as I watched their backs.
...Um.
I feel like something big has happened.
It can’t be, right?
It should be fine.
Those four, who consider me their friend, wouldn’t do anything bad.
It’ll be okay.
Right?
<It’ll be fine.> “Just tell me it’ll be fine at times like this!”