From the second year at Soul Academy, the value of the Academy Dungeon drastically decreases.
Starting from the second year, unlike the first year, students can challenge external dungeons.
This change affects both the experience gained and the rewards.
Not only can you aim for proper compensation and improve your reputation, but you can also obtain fateful encounters through various quests.
Compared to tackling the Academy Dungeon, the merit of tackling external dungeons is significantly greater.
The only thing that differentiates the Academy Dungeon is the reward for being the first to conquer it, but even this is lacking when compared to what can be gained from wandering through external dungeons. So, unless you're working on achievements, it’s standard to just meet the minimum requirements for entering and then abandon it.
At first, I had planned to follow the game strategy, but as I began making plans, I started to wonder if I really had to do that.
After all, this isn’t a game.
Unlike in a game, where you are limited by the system’s constraints, now I can move freely if I want to.
To put it bluntly, if I conquer the Academy Dungeon in a single day, I can collect the first conqueror reward and still move on to external dungeons later.
Once this idea crossed my mind, I gathered my friends and, after preparing a class schedule, brought up the topic of the Academy Dungeon.
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“I’ve seen the announcement about the Academy Dungeon. Are we going to challenge it as soon as it opens again?”
“We’re going to. It’s just a crappy dungeon created by incompetent professors from this pathetic Academy, so it’ll be nothing to worry about.”
“Lucy, who are you going with this time? Hm?”
Freya, eager to join me in the dungeon, clearly expressed her desire with her whole body, and right next to her bright eyes, Faivy’s subtle sense of expectation followed.
“Well... I’m not sure, but I don’t think I’ll be going with someone who doesn’t listen and just causes trouble?”
“Heehee.”
“And definitely not with someone who was nagging at me non-stop yesterday.”
“My lady, you know that wasn’t because I meant to hurt you.”
“Not the person who pinched my cheek so hard, huh?”
“...I’m sorry.”
“Puhahaha. It’s ridiculous how easily you’re falling for it. You guys are so pathetic~. If I told you to lick my feet while going into the dungeon, I bet you would actually do it. Right?”
“Lick?”
I barely stopped Freya, who was about to kneel, and surreptitiously turned my gaze to Arthur, who was unusually silent.
Why is he lost in thought today?
Has he hit puberty?
Considering his age, it’s not entirely strange.
Hmm. I don’t know for sure, but it seems like it could be easy to rack up some embarrassing past moments.
Arthur is the kind of guy who would say something like, “The flames of hell! Bind yourself to my sword!” and fight in reality.
Some people might think that’s cool, but it’s optimized for making him a prime candidate to be embarrassed later.
Recalling my own middle school days, when I was deep in the “cringe” phase and did all kinds of ridiculous things, I grabbed Arthur by the shoulder and gave him a serious look.
“Poor Prince. Next time you’re choosing a skill name, consult with me beforehand. I don’t want to laugh myself to death from your awful sense of humor.”
“...What nonsense are you suddenly talking about?”
Arthur looked at me like I was some weird person.
Hey! I gave you a sincere and serious piece of advice, and you’re returning it with that kind of look?!
It’s so annoying.
Just wait. Once you start doing some cringey stuff in the future, I’ll tease you mercilessly in the mesugaki way.
I’ll keep teasing you until your face turns so red it could explode!
“Enough with the jokes, let’s talk about the dungeon. You must have thought about it, right?”
I clicked my tongue lightly and, having written up a list of grievances in my mind, shared my plan with my friends.
“Let’s make a bet. Who can conquer the Academy Dungeon first?”
Right now, I can bring everyone into the dungeon without worrying about the player limit.
However, that’s only true for normal dungeons.
In the artificially created Academy Dungeon, my powers don’t work, so it’s impossible for everyone to enter the dungeon together.
So, the plan is to split into two parties—just me and four others—to tackle the dungeon.
This way, it’s more efficient, and I can also see how well Arthur and Joy have internalized what I’ve taught them.
...And, most importantly, by making this bet, I can get back at them for the humiliation I suffered in the second semester.
I may be petty, but I haven’t forgotten that humiliation.
“...A bet over the Academy Dungeon?”
“...My lady, that’s a bit...”
“Splitting into parties is fine, but a bet...”
“Lucy, that’s so petty. Really pathetic.”
Of course, my friends didn’t have a good reaction.
Given how often they’ve seen me perform reckless stunts in dungeons, to them, suggesting a bet is just an invitation to make fun of me.
And, honestly, that’s exactly what I meant by it.
“Scared?♡”
So what if you are.
“Are you nervous?♡”
So what? What are you going to do about it?
“Puhuh~♡ If you don’t think you can win, then it’s best to start wagging your tail from the beginning♡. It’s admirable that you know your place♡. Should I pat your head?♡”
What are you going to do in front of my mesugaki skill’s provocation?!
It’s definitely true that my friends have grown used to my tone.
At this point, they can laugh off my usual playful remarks without much thought, especially when my mesugaki way of speaking isn’t really serious.
But when I activate the provocation effect of my mesugaki skill, there’s no way they can keep their cool!
“Why are all your eyes so sharp?♡ Do you think you have the right to be angry at losers who start wagging their tails before trying anything?♡”
You can see that their lips are trembling, huh? Just a little more, and I can really push them.
“Alright~♡ I’ll tell you what you should be saying~♡ Sorry for acting out when I’m such a pathetic person♡. We are humble servants of the noble Allen family♡.”
Just a little.
Just a little more.
“Say it fast♡, and then I’ll forgive you for running away without wagging your tail...”
“Enough, Lucy Allen!”
The moment Arthur slammed the desk and stood up, I couldn’t help but giggle.
Good.
Now that I’ve provoked them enough, maybe it’s time to sweet-talk them a little.
I’ll get them to accept the bet naturally.
The conversation was going exactly in the direction I wanted it to go.
The three of them, except for Freya, are familiar with politics and socializing, right?
So what? When they’re heated and can’t see anything other than their anger, staying calm like me is definitely an advantage, right?
Of course, just because I can play with them doesn’t mean I set conditions in my favor alone.
I’m already kind of forcing this bet, so it would be unfair to impose additional unreasonable conditions.
So, I added some restrictions, like entering the dungeon a day after it opens, not skipping floors, or not passing bosses without fighting them.
Of course, I refused any excessive restrictions. Even though I believe I can win under any condition, there’s always the “what if” factor.
I can’t fully grasp how much my friends have grown yet.
Maybe.
Just maybe.
If Arthur and Joy have fully internalized the dungeon strategy book I gave them, there’s a chance I could actually lose.
Petty?
Small-minded?
I know! But honestly, it’s worse to lose the bet than to become a trashy person, okay?!
I’ll win!
I’ll win this time and get back the humiliation from before!
<Are you saying that not taking revenge on the time you tried to make the 3rd prince dress up as a rabbit isn’t a revenge yet?>
‘That was a legitimate bet!’
<So, you’re admitting this one isn’t justified, huh.>
‘...Shut up.’
The day the Academy Dungeon opens.
Parna Kent was eagerly awaiting the opening of the dungeon doors.
Among the artificially created dungeons, the Soul Academy Dungeon is the largest and most well-structured.
Parna, excited about the fact that she’d get to conquer it with her newly made friends, could hardly contain her excitement.
“Chester! How much longer until the Academy Dungeon opens? How much longer?”
“Do you not remember asking the same question thirty seconds ago?”
“I remember! So, how much longer?”
“By now, it’s thirty seconds less than the last time you asked.”
“So, what’s that time?”
“...It’s 30 minutes left now.”
Chester, resigned to Parna’s innocent gaze, finally answered with a sigh.
She had never been so energetic before, but this level of excitement was unusual.
Could it really be that the idea of conquering the Academy Dungeon is making her so happy?
Just before Chester began to wonder if he wanted to go back before entering the dungeon, Jackal appeared.
Having missed the entire second semester last year and repeating the first year, Jackal, upon seeing Parna’s sparkling eyes, couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Barrow Young Master! We’ve been waiting!”
“Are you that excited to enter the Academy Dungeon?”
“Yes! Totally!”
Normally, Jackal wouldn’t care much about the Academy Dungeon.
He might eventually go for his grades, but he wasn’t in a rush to run toward it as Parna was now.
However, on the day the Academy Dungeon opened, he had moved because of Chester’s earnest request.
‘Young Master, I can’t handle Kent Young Lady’s excitement by myself. Please, save me.’
Jackal, who had no choice but to accompany them, muttered while looking at Chester.
“We’re partners now, so I guess I’ll have to tag along.”
“Barrow Young Master. Barrow Young Master.”
“What is it? Do you have any questions?”
“Yes! Can you tell me what the dungeon is like inside? I heard you went last year!”
Last year... Thinking about the time he nearly died while trying to conquer the Academy Dungeon, Jackal gave a wry smile and answered the bouncing Parna.
“Well, it’s not difficult to explain, but the experience from last year probably won’t help this year.”
“Why?”
“The whole dungeon’s direction will be totally different.”
At the end of last year, Lucy Allen’s final exam dungeon had shocked the Soul Academy professors.
The dungeon, praised by both the Academy and outsiders, had enough impact to inspire the professors’ passions.
Thanks to that, even the lower-ranking professors, who would normally not be involved, were drawn into making the Academy Dungeon.
The dungeon opening this year is rumored to be the largest and most elaborate dungeon in the history of Soul Academy.
“Parna Young Lady. Just a heads up before we enter the dungeon—don’t move until the orders come. This dungeon is going to be pretty wicked.”