“Is the idiot who made this trap really that stupid? Who do they think would fall for such a trap? Do they think everyone else is a monkey just because they are one themselves?”
Lucy Alrn said this as she effortlessly jumped over the trap, but Luka couldn’t relate to her words at all.
The faint, small traces of magical energy existing in the corridor were by no ans flimsy.
Who would fall for such a trap? Most people would.
Even I, myself, would have been in danger if Miss Alrn hadn’t ntioned it; what about ordinary adventurers? If such a trap were in a regular dungeon, there would have been countless casualties.
Luka thought this internally but didn’t voice it. Ever since stepping into the hidden area of the academy’s old building following Lucy, this kind of thing had happened countless tis.
Not only did she quickly find her way forward in a labyrinth with no light, but she also discerned every trap that appeared along the way.
When monsters showed up, it was as if she anticipated their moves, swinging her mace to crush their heads before they even attacked. She looked less like a human and more like a sort of oracle.
Luka, having seen Lucy tackle the academy dungeon, had a rough understanding of her abilities, but watching it on screen and experiencing it beside her were entirely different.
Thus, Luka was in awe every ti Lucy displayed her talents, only to be t with teasing from Lucy and scornful glances from Kal.
The forr was expected, so the damage was minimal, but the latter was different.
The scornful gaze from Kal seed to say, "You’re surprised by such a little thing? You really have no discerning eye."
For Luka, who took pride in being a craftsman, that condescending look was unbearable, so he ultimately chose to marvel internally while appearing accustod to the situation.
No matter how I think about it, it’s unfair. Isn’t Miss Alrn and her escort knight an exceptional case? Anyone would be surprised by this!
Just try telling this story to the nobles who value honor.
They would drool and rush to the lady, and upon hearing her many tales of bravery, they would praise her regardless of her past.
They believe that conquering dungeons is both the duty and honor of a noble.
How difficult a dungeon was conquered. How many dungeons were cleared. What great things were acquired inside. What perilous experiences were endured. Such things are considered proof of nobility.
Even if it’s their firstborn son, if he has no experience in dungeon conquest, they would call him a simpleton and refuse to grant him a title.
Thus, naturally, those who have overflowing experiences in conquering dungeons would praise Miss Alrn to the point of wearing their mouths dry upon seeing her achievents.
Why should I receive that kind of scorn when I’m amazed by such things? I can’t understand it at all!
Luka wriggled in indignation, but there was no one here to empathize with him.
Those who had grown too accustod to the light that is Lucy Alrn would only call him dramatic if he shouted that it was hot here.
“It’s already the end. The one who made this pitiful trap must have thought it was difficult, right? The reality is that a small girl can casually conquer it as if it were a walk in the park.”
At least Luka was fortunate that his ti of feeling indignant was short.
It only took two hours to reveal the hidden dungeon in the academy’s old building.
With nurous paths lined up and filled with traps brimming with malice, the ti taken to reach the end of a place where one could get lost forever in a single misstep was only two hours.
“How could one not be surprised by this?”
Luka checked his pocket watch and let out an involuntary chuckle.
“Ha. Really. I don’t know how long they intend to remain as screeching monkeys. Is it so hard to see things from a human perspective?”
“Please understand, young lady. The common sense is so ingrained that they cannot escape it.”
Having overheard the banter between the mistress and her servant, Luka ground his teeth. He thought he would challenge Kal to a duel later.
Throughout the entire dungeon exploration in the academy’s old building, the old man kept saying such things. He claid that the structure of the dungeon hidden in the old building felt all too familiar.
I knew who the old man was talking about.
One of those who stood at the forefront when the evil god was unleashed, attempting to turn this world into hell.
The great wizard who had his hand in most of the current magical systems.
The one who vanished one day as if evaporated, leading to tales that he might still be alive sowhere.
The old man’s suspicion was accurate. The labyrinth that could not be invaded without a slate was created by the great wizard Erginius, who was once a companion of the old man.
‘Is that so?’
I knew this but didn’t tell the old man the truth.
If I were to tell the old man everything, I would have to explain the backstory as well, which would not be a good story for him to hear.
I didn’t want to see the old man clutching his neck and collapsing. He might not have a neck to grab, but still.
And anyway, even if I didn’t explain it to him, he would eventually find out, so there was no reason to exhaust myself explaining it.
Ignoring the old man’s question, I walked ahead.
Originally, the hidden dungeon in the academy’s old building was a maze that could not be passed without the guiding slate. If you didn’t follow the path indicated, you would soon find yourself back at the entrance.
However, regarding this maze, the creators were sowhat sloppy. The path indicated by the slate was fixed to just one.
Of course, that path was ridiculously complicated and hard to morize, but that was not a problem for a rotten fish.
If morizing was efficient, a rotten fish would morize it!
At that ti, the ti I spent cursing was properly rewarded even after many years when the world had changed.
Was it about two hours?
I was a bit delayed because I was paying attention to the two people following .
Well, still, at this pace, I should be able to return before morning.
Thinking that, I grasped the doorknob.
I didn’t need a break.
I had only taken a stroll for about two hours, so what kind of rest would I need?
“Is it an intruder?”
The mont I easily pushed open the thick iron door, a voice was heard.
Having lost all flesh and organs after such a long ti dead,
Losing sanity,
Losing mories,
And even though the soul had worn down and decayed, he still rembered only his purpose.
No, it was the voice of soone who believed he rembered.
“No, that can’t be. There’s no way you’re an intruder.”
The one sitting on the rough stone chair, gazing quietly at us, stood up while pressing down on his knee bones.
“...Miss. Please step back. That is dangerous.”
Before I could say anything, Kal drew his sword and blocked my path.
“Professor Kal is right. The current lady cannot face that being.”
Luka pulled a dagger from within his robes.
While Kal’s overreaction wasn’t strange, Luka’s was.
If it were a regular threat, he would willingly push forward, but he stood in front of for one reason only.
That facing that skeleton would yield nothing for .
The mont I stood before that skeleton, I would be t with instant death.
Both of their judgnts were accurate.
I still couldn’t win against that thing.
Maybe after six more months, I would stand a chance, but not now.
I knew that fact all too well.
How could I not know? I had visited this place thousands of tis without a doubt.
Yet, despite that, the reason I confidently approached this place was that I didn’t need to defeat that skeleton.
This place is a trial ground before being a dungeon.
“The monsters that appear in dungeons are the problem. I let my guard down.”
“This isn’t the ti to be saying that. We should think about how to deal with that thing.”
They were two martial artists with exceptional skills. Recognizing the gap between their skills and that of the opponent, they quickly began to formulate a strategy.
However, the skeleton seated on the chair didn’t even glance at them.
He simply looked at . Only .
As if trying to pull into the depths of his black eyes, which had long lost their sight.
“Child of divine love.”
Then he spoke to . With words I had never heard in the ga before.
“State your na.”
‘Lucy Alrn.’
“Lucy Alrn, huh? Thank you for the proud introduction; I shall introduce myself as well. The na of this knight is Garard. Once, I held a portion of a hero's legacy.”
As soon as the skeleton finished his introduction, the old man burst into wild laughter, swearing.
It wasn’t strange at all.
That skeleton’s true identity was a homunculus created by the great wizard Erginius, who reminisced about his companions.
As the sugaki skill said, he was a psychotic skeleton who believed himself to be a hero, possessing all the ridiculous traits of a hero.
From the old man’s perspective, it must have felt like watching his friend’s dark past being enshrined.
“...Garard?”
“A relic of a hero? No way. That’s impossible.”
Ah, damn. I felt like laughing too because of the gap between the old man and the two beside him.
One side was highly tense, while the other side was laughing uncontrollably!
Calm down. Let’s calm down. If I suddenly burst out laughing here, I’d just look like a madwoman.
“What brings you to this place?”
‘I'm here to retrieve the shield you possess.’
“I ca to reclaim the shield, which is too much for a psychotic skeleton.”
“Indeed. That would be the only reason.”
As the skeleton nodded, the old man's laughter grew louder.
Ah, this is really chaotic.
“Since you are one favored by the divine, I would like to give it to you, but unfortunately, I do not have the authority to do so.”
‘What then?’
“I’m glad to have soone to chat with after a long ti, but could you please consider that I am wasting ti because of this insane skeleton?”
“...Ah, I apologize.”
Old man! Please, calm down!
“I shall get straight to the point. You must pass the trial that I impose.”
No matter how trivial the trial may be, you need to focus when the ti cos!
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