chapter_0237

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
237

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
237

Luca volunteered to monitor
the dungeon conquest today. He wanted to engrave the duel between
Lucy and the Second Prince in his memory.

Especially after the map of
the academy dungeon that had been left on his desk disappeared
unexpectedly, it was clear that this duel would be interesting.

Though Luca had expected a
tense duel between the two, the reality was different. Lucy, who
entered the academy dungeon alone, began to conquer it at an
overwhelming speed, displaying a series of bizarre tactics.

Using the yeti’s strength and
a lightweight scroll for flight. Breaking through the forest by
utilising a wolf’s instincts. Forcing the 40th-floor boss to fall to
its death by manipulating its charging route. Poisoning the
60th-floor boss with its own venom, and so on.

“What am I even
watching?”

Luca couldn’t help but admit
he had underestimated Lucy, as he watched scenes impressive enough to
shock the professor of dungeon studies who had designed this dungeon.

The blessing she had
concerning dungeons was beyond anything Luca could fathom.

In just a mere half-day, Lucy
had conquered the academy dungeon and emerged outside.

“How am I going to
explain this to the other professors?”

The dungeon studies
professor’s face turned pale as he seemed unable to think of a way to
convince others that it wasn’t due to a mistake in difficulty
adjustment, but that wasn’t Luca’s concern.

“I’ll go explain to the
students first that this isn’t a mistake.”

“…Go ahead.”

As Luca stepped up to explain,
everyone had to acknowledge the legitimacy of Lucy Allen’s victory,
but the victor herself didn’t seem satisfied with the situation.

Despite the congratulations
around her, she wore a vague expression and said:

“I need to confirm the level
of the Idiot Prince. I’m really curious about how skilled he thinks
he is to believe he could beat me.”

When Luca heard that she
wanted to provoke the Second Prince, he thought the young lady’s
confidence was excessive.

He was always keenly searching
for stars to uncover at Soul Academy. Naturally, he was also well
aware of the Second Prince’s skills.

The Second Prince is strong.
His talent has already surpassed many active knights, and even the
current Knight Commander acknowledges him as a genius.

No matter how exceptional
Lucy’s skills are for her age, she is still young. She is still in a
growth phase.

A gap of one year during such
a growth period is immense, much greater than a year among adults.

Can Lucy’s talent be
overwhelming enough to close this gap?

Luca had doubts about Lucy’s
confidence, but he didn’t try to dissuade her.

Why would he interfere when
she is the one facing the trials? Instead, he should help her
confront them.

Luca perfectly fulfilled
Lucy’s wish. He ensured that Lucy and the Second Prince could duel
without any distractions.

Watching their ensuing battle,
Luca’s expression was serious.

His stern expression suggested
he would intervene at the slightest mishap. Observers might have
thought Luca was a devoted teacher worried about his students, but
that wasn’t entirely the case.

Behind the mask of a concerned
teacher, Luca’s true nature hid, secretly delighting in the view of
their fight.

Once again, the black aura and
pure white divine energy clashed. The intense standoff showed neither
side was willing to back down.

Although the pure white divine
energy retreated, it wasn’t because it was overpowered by the black
aura. Instead, it was a strategic move to unbalance and target the
master of the black aura.

With the disappearance of his
opponent’s force, the Second Prince’s body leaned forward. As the
Second Prince’s defence weakened, Lucy did not miss her chance.

A shield struck the Second
Prince’s side, sending him flying through the air before crashing to
the ground.

“Is this the end?♡ Your
muscles are just for show, aren’t they?♡ Imposing on the outside,
but hollow within, like an idiot’s muscles?♡”

Although the Second Prince
stood up again amidst the ridicule, his body had reached its limit.

The outcome was clear. No
matter how desperately the Second Prince struggled, nothing would
change now.

While Lucy was still in
perfect condition, the Second Prince could collapse at any moment.

“Lady Allen’s talents are
real. She completely overwhelmed the Second Prince.”

“We should consider that
the Second Prince was utterly exhausted, whereas Lady Allen was
well-rested. Still, the result would have been the same.”

“Even in an optimal
state, the fight might have been more entertaining to watch, but it
wouldn’t have changed the outcome.”

“The Second Prince cannot
defeat Lady Allen.”

“She has completely read
the Second Prince’s fighting style.”

Luca, who had watched their
duel from the beginning, witnessed several displays of Lucy Allen’s
abilities through the course of the battle.

Her Shield Technique had grown
immensely compared to when she enrolled in the Academy.

Her physical abilities were
now impressive enough to compete in a power struggle against the
Second Prince.

The use of vocabulary that
shakes the opponent’s emotions.

Among many things remarkable,
what surprised Luca the most was Lucy’s combat logic.

During their exchanges, she
always chose the best possible move.

She not only blocked with her
shield but also disrupted her opponent with movements, pretended to
clash with him in a power struggle, and when the opponent began to
doubt, she pushed them even harder.

Lucy Allen had read the Second
Prince perfectly from the start.

She understood his abilities,
his personality, his attacks—everything. She used this knowledge to
toy with the Second Prince.

Such good combat logic, as if
playing with the opponent, isn’t something easily attained.

It’s not simply because one
has extraordinary talent, a good lineage, or many resources.

What’s needed to obtain it
is struggle.

It’s something you gain only
through countless battles and life-and-death struggles with numerous
opponents.

How could such a young girl
possess it?

Luca reaffirmed his desire to
hone his own abilities and at the same time became curious about the
Allen family.

‘What kind of training that
produces children with better judgement than most seasoned
mercenaries before they even come of age?

If the opportunity arises, I’d
like to see it for myself.

…What’s that?’

What suddenly caught Luca’s
eye was the black aura surrounding the Second Prince’s sword.

It wasn’t merely sitting on
the sword, but it also carried weight and pressure of its own.

The aura possesses its own
ego. That’s something only those who have surpassed a certain level
can handle.

‘Has he attained
enlightenment in an extreme situation?’

Observing this, Luca received
Lucy’s confident gaze towards him.

Although it was an intentional
misinterpretation, there was no problem. After all, it’s not as
though Lucy herself said anything directly. He had never disobeyed
Lucy’s instructions.

“Professor Luca, isn’t
that dangerous? Even if the Lady desires it.”

Indeed, it was certainly
dangerous. At least, it wasn’t something an Academy student could
handle.

“Don’t worry. If it
becomes dangerous, I’ll respond personally.”

However, Luca had no intention
of intervening. He wanted to see how Lucy would handle it.

As the Second Prince, who had
reached a state of oblivion, raised his sword, Lucy brought her
shield forward.

Then, the divine energy she
possessed gathered in front of her shield.

The overwhelming density of
divine energy.

Warm to the point of being
hot. It was as if a small sun was spreading out across the shield
according to Lucy’s will, creating another shield in front of the
original one.

“Haah….”

Luca, who had taken in the
sight, forgot he was supposed to be wearing a mask of professionalism
and let out an amazed sigh.

‘Indeed, she is the one whom
the gods love and are personally crafting. Ah, my Lady is so radiant.
Even though the crafting isn’t complete, she’s so bright that it
feels like my eyes could go blind.

Just how dazzlingly will you
shine when the work is finished? Are you planning to turn the dark
night sky into daylight and outshine all the stars?’

As he struggled to hold back a
laugh, Luca regained his composure and turned to speak to the Dungeon
Studies professor beside him.

“No need to intervene,
right? Professor Jessel?”

“…Yes.”

The shield, bright enough to
outshine even the sunset’s crimson light, effortlessly blocked the
descending sword.

The moment the Second Prince’s
sword struck the shield made of divine energy, I was certain.

I knew that his sword wouldn’t
pierce my shield. In front of the brilliantly shining shield, the
Second Prince’s darkness was powerless.

I wasn’t wrong. At the
conclusion of this rather lengthy standoff, the exhausted Second
Prince collapsed first.

He lay sprawled on the ground,
gazing up at the sky, breathing heavily, seemingly unable to get up.

Seeing him, I dispersed the
divine energy gathered before my shield and approached the Second
Prince.

Perhaps because he had poured
out all his strength and vented his fury just moments ago…

His eyes showed signs of
rationality returning.

“A monster…”

The Second Prince’s hoarse
voice, looking up at me from below, made me laugh.

A monster, huh. That’s what
I wanted to say.

It’s been less than a year
since the game started, and he’s already giving his aura, an ego?
What a joke.

If I hadn’t been training
rigorously with Grandpa, I would’ve been in big trouble.

‘Good job.’

“As far as Idiot Princes
go, you weren’t too bad. Compared to me, you’re nothing, but
still.”

“You damn… witch…”

Ding.

As soon as the exhausted
Second Prince closed his eyes, a notification sound rang out.

[Quest Clear!]

[You have successfully
disciplined the Second Prince!]

[The reward [Impact
Conversion] has been granted!]

It’s here!

It’s heeere!

I silently cheered upon
confirming that the reward had been granted.

[Impact Conversion]

For characters who fight in
the vanguard, this is a must-have skill.

Its effect is to convert a
portion of the damage you receive into your own energy.

In other words, now, simply
blocking enemy attacks will restore divine energy!

I can become a perpetually
regenerating divine shield!

Ah, I can’t wait to test it
out.

I want to experience firsthand
just how excellent this skill’s performance is.

Let’s test its performance in
one of the trials that Luca said he could prepare for tomorrow.

No, should I go tonight?

It doesn’t matter if I miss
one night of sleep.

As I was grinning in
anticipation, Grandpa quietly called out to me.

‘Yes? What is it?’

Look around? Why?

Returning to reality at
Grandpa’s voice, I could feel the gazes from around me.

Although the types varied, the
students’ gazes were mostly similar.

Fear. Or maybe terror.

…Did I do something wrong?

Why are they looking at me
like I’m some kind of street thug?

I didn’t really do anything,
did I?

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