After successfully clearing the first chamber in about thirty minutes, Arthur relaxed his shoulders, watching as the guards faded away.
“We’re finally used to clearing the first room now.”
When they had first entered the dungeon, it had taken them hours just to get through the first room. They had to figure out the dungeon’s tricks one by one while facing off against various soldiers and knights.
But not anymore. Now that they knew the method to overcome each obstacle, Arthur and his party could clear the first room without a single scratch.
“The difference between knowing and not knowing the tricks is huge.”
Joy shrugged, noting how the fight ended before she even had a chance to cast a spell, and Arthur gave her a wry smile.
“Well, Lucy Alrn must have designed this dungeon so that any student could clear it. Knowing the tricks would make a huge difference.”
Strength and weakness weren’t the main points here.
Lucy had likely structured it so that anyone could pass if they figured out the mechanisms in each room.
Otherwise, a dungeon as insane as this would never have been made part of an exam. “The same should go for the second room ahead. Let’s move on.”
No one in Arthur’s party questioned his suggestion.
Having endured much harsher trials under Lucy’s guidance, this level of challenge now seemed normal to them.
As they entered the second room, Faivy brightened their vision with light magic and cast various buffs on her party members.
Joy surrounded herself with multiple magic circles, ready to cast spells at any moment.
Frey held his sword with both hands, tense and prepared to move at a moment’s notice.
Arthur, however, did nothing. His hand rested leisurely on his sword hilt as he simply looked around.
“Third Prince?!”
Joy was startled by Arthur’s relaxed attitude, but he ignored their voices.
Instead, he took a step forward, smiling as he saw the wolf emerge from the shadows.
“Are you here to die, Third Prince?”
“No, I’m here to clear this room. Just watch.”
As prey approached, the wolf predictably opened its jaws.
Anyone else would’ve retreated.
They would’ve run for survival.
They would’ve trembled with fear.
But Arthur didn’t.
He stood still, watching the massive jaws that could swallow his head whole, the fangs sharp enough to pierce through iron, and the tongue eager to taste his flesh and blood.
The wolf’s jaws closed around Arthur’s head.
“Just as I thought.”
Then, something strange happened. Arthur, who should have been thrown out of the dungeon after being bitten by the wolf, spoke calmly from inside its mouth.
“...What?”
“What... is going on?”
“What is this?”
Ignoring his stunned companions, Arthur took another step forward.
His face, trapped within the wolf’s maw, passed through its body, moving deeper inside.
“Lucy Alrn... she’s really something else.”
When Arthur reached the center of the wolf’s body and kicked something hidden inside, the illusion shattered with a whimper, revealing what lay behind it.
“...A baby wolf?”
“Yes, this is the true form of the wolf that threw us out of the dungeon multiple times.”
In hindsight, it was absurd.
The wolf had been fast enough to make it impossible to escape, and so powerful that even Arthur’s party could barely endure against it for a few minutes.
How could ordinary students be expected to dodge such a monster and find clues?
“Then why were we ejected when we were attacked by the wolf?”
“Likely because we didn’t recognize it as an illusion. If you get attacked without realizing that, you’re forced out.”
“A method only possible in the Academy’s dungeons.”
“Exactly. Ha. That Lucy Alrn, she’s clever.”
They had all been completely fooled.
If he hadn’t seen Toby’s party clear the dungeon, he would have been lost for much longer.
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“Thinking she’d set up something extravagant was my mistake.”
It turned out, Lucy’s design was far more straightforward than he had anticipated.
Whether it was because the professors kept her in check or Lucy herself had put extra care into it, it made things simpler.
If the upcoming rooms followed a similar pattern, they could find a solution by assuming the dungeon was designed for everyone to complete.
“So all the struggles we went through...”
“We were just playing into Lucy’s hands, that’s all.”
“Seriously...”
“That’s... disappointing.”
Realizing all their desperate efforts had been nothing more than overreactions, the three companions let out a hollow laugh, while Arthur shrugged.
“Since that’s how it turned out, let’s go check out the next room. I’m curious to see what new horrors are waiting for us.”
Considering the difficulty jump between the first and second rooms, the third room would surely be an extreme challenge.
But that was fine. Now that they understood the pattern, it would be easier to clear.
Feeling confident after conquering the second chamber, Arthur overlooked one crucial fact.
Lucy.
Lucy Alrn, who was more skilled in dungeon design than anyone.
Could it be that she hadn’t anticipated the challengers picking up on this pattern?
Oblivious to this realization, Arthur and his party entered the third room—and soon paid the price for their oversight.
“Cancel! Cancel that! Lucy Alrn has no sense of ‘normal’! Neither do the Dungeon Studies professors! What were they thinking giving her full control—!”
On the first day of the Academy’s final exams, countless students challenged the Dungeon Studies test, yet none made it past the third room.
“No one’s made it past the third room?”
“Wow~ How pathetic must the students be if they can’t even get through the third room?”
I was taken aback when the Dungeon Studies professor briefed me on the current progress.
I didn’t expect a fast clear rate, but isn’t this a bit much?
“Only the top students from each grade managed to clear the second room. Most of them either got stuck there or couldn’t even pass the first room.”
“...Really?”
“Puhaha! They’re even worse than I thought. Maybe the ones teaching them are the real problem? Dumb professors?”
“It’s crossed my mind too. Seeing someone actually smash through the wolf illusion made me question everything.”
Wait, what?
Someone actually broke through the wolf illusion?
What kind of madman would do something like that?
“Are you familiar with the second son of the Rahvi family?”
...Ah.
If it was that monster in human form, it made sense.
The Duke’s son, Kurten Rahvi, blessed by Seft, the God of Destruction, was the quintessential ‘strength over brain’ character.
A powerhouse stat and skill build optimized for a single, devastating strike—he was a staple in discussions about theoretical max damage.
People like him might as well be called ‘romantic’ characters, often impractical in real battles, though great for thematic roleplay.
If Kurten, blessed by the God of Destruction, was the one who crushed the wolf, it made sense.
The blessing likely shattered the illusion magic itself.
“His tactic of charging up for one massive hit while his teammates stalled doesn’t seem like something a third-year would come up with.”
Seeing the professor mutter about where he went wrong with his teaching, I couldn’t help but laugh.
That was more of a problem with Kurten Rahvi’s unique personality than with the professor’s methods.
“Professor, don’t worry too much...”
“It’s not that big of a deal, is it? Anyway, that boneheaded prince will eventually hit a wall where he’ll have no choice but to think.”
“Yes, but I’m concerned he might try to bulldoze his way through even when the Dungeon Studies test is almost over.”
Come on. Kurten Rahvi may be dense, but he’s not that dumb.
...Actually, considering it’s him, that’s a bit terrifying.
“Am I really at fault for this? Is my teaching method the problem?”
Not knowing how to respond to the professor’s doubt, I shifted my gaze elsewhere.
Let’s see. Who’s currently challenging the third room?
The first name that catches my eye is Arthur’s.
So he figured out that the wolf was an illusion, right after Toby did.
Placing second among all grades at the Academy was impressive, but honestly, I expected better from him.
After everything I’ve taught him, he’s still struggling in the third room?
At this rate, he’ll never become the sword mage I envisioned!
Fine, Arthur. My soft approach has clearly failed. I was going to let you train on your own during the break, but I’ll change my plans.
I’ll add him to the grueling training I’d planned with Jakal. By the time he’s done, he’ll have learned something.
Let’s see... the rest of the names...
Avery’s party doesn’t matter; she’s just riding on Toby’s coattails.
The fact that the Second Prince is on the list is surprising.
How did this musclehead figure out the wolf was an illusion?
Oh, Jeff’s with him. That makes sense. If Jeff’s handling the thinking, it checks out.
Everyone else is mostly third-years.
So experience with various dungeons does give them an edge, huh?
There are a few second-years, but no noteworthy names.
Among the first-years...
Vishi?
How did she get through the second room?! I doubted she’d even manage the first room, let alone the wolf.
Oh, right! She’s got Adrie with her!
If Adrie, that old strategist, provided some tips, that explains it.
Adrie’s insight is practically a cheat code among Academy students.
Seeing she hasn’t cleared the third room yet means Adrie isn’t giving her all the answers. I’ll have to tell her to rein it in.
Otherwise, there’s no point in holding these exams.
“Nearly forgot the main point, Lady Alrn.”
As I finished reviewing the list, the professor finally broke away from his self-doubt and called out my name.
“It’s about the hints we’re distributing one by one from day two onward.”
What she held out was the list of hints I had personally written.
Think about it.
If too many students fail, who would they blame?
Me.
I’m already disliked enough; making things worse isn’t an option.
So I made some hints as a safeguard, so no one would completely flunk if they tried hard enough.
At first glance, it might look like a charitable act—like, “Wow, Lady Alrn, you’re an angel!” But there’s a big problem with the hint list.
“Are you really sure you want to distribute the hints as written? Phrases like, ‘Hey, loser~♡ Can you see the hint? Got eyes, haven’t you?♡ Can’t spot the odd detail on that crappy guard?♡ Oh, right!♡ If you’re looking at this hint, you probably got destroyed♡ Puhaha♡ Pathetic♡ Bet you’re too scared to go back in after seeing this♡...’ haven’t been edited out.”
Right. I wrote it myself.
“No! Please, revise it! Change it back to the original content!”
“Why even ask? That’s the perfect tone for the useless losers who’ll need these hints.”
Aaargh! What’s perfect about that?!
If I distribute it as is, my reputation will be ruined!
Forget fancy language—just write it properly! Write it properly!
“Please edit it!”
“Ha, how many times do I have to repeat myself? A professor dumber than a goldfish is concerning.”
Noooo!
My reputation!