chapter_0296

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
296

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
296

The conversation with the Dungeon Studies professor provided me with
a lot.

It’s true I know a lot about dungeons, but all of that is knowledge
from a player’s perspective, not from a creator’s perspective.

Because of this, my dungeon had several gaps in terms of detail.

For instance, when I designed the dungeon, I inserted monster
patterns in a rough manner, setting up the concept and assigning each
a suitable combat style. That works, in a way, since the monsters
have predetermined movement. However, it’s not perfect.

Monsters that only repeat set movements are no different from
puppets. They may be impressive at first, but once players become
familiar with them, they lose the sense of fighting a living
opponent.

The solution the Dungeon Studies professor proposed for this problem
was simple:

‘Just record the Combat Studies professors’ movements and apply
them directly.’

If you try to manually write out every combat behavior, it consumes a
lot of time and effort, and the results might not even be that great.
However, if you record a Combat Studies professor’s movements and
apply them directly, you can easily create enemies that feel truly
alive.

‘Usually, Combat Studies professors are too busy this time of year
to help. But you have people you can work to the bone, don’t you?’

I promised the Dungeon Studies professor that I’d send over Luca
and Karl, with instructions to use them as much as she liked.

I also learned about various magic details used inside dungeons.

‘Artificial dungeons lack the naturally ominous atmosphere of real
ones. That’s because they’re not created from the energy of evil
gods.’

Heavy mana. Stifling air. Sounds that echo louder than they should.
The ominous feeling of being pursued by something unseen.

Dungeon creators have long struggled to recreate these elements
artificially, but they eventually succeeded in replicating the
atmosphere through magic.

‘Usually, you’d leave some resources available for such elements,
but since it’s your first time, I’ll set it up so you have some
extra resources to work with.’

‘…Hold on, can a low-tier academy even pull something like that
off?’

‘Great idea. It might be possible. If not, I’ll make it
possible.’

The professor also gave me pointers on various other details, which
helped me add new gimmicks to the dungeon.

Of course, I wasn’t just learning from the professor.

While there were many details I didn’t know, there were plenty of
fundamental aspects I knew more about.

I even shared some insights with the Dungeon Studies professor.

Like how to create traps that make players curse just by encountering
them.

Or gimmicks that make them swear uncontrollably.

Or the art of making things so frustratingly difficult that they feel
like they’re just about to make it, which makes giving up
unthinkable.

We had so much to discuss that the Dungeon Studies professor ended up
canceling her class, and several of my other classes were canceled in
collaboration with her—but what’s a small sacrifice like that?

The important thing was this: my dungeon was now even more perfect!

…In the process, I ended up adding so much that I far exceeded the
available resources, but since the Dungeon Studies professor said
she’d take responsibility and get it approved, it should be fine.

Probably.

After finishing all those discussions and heading to dinner, I felt a
deep sense of satisfaction like never before.

So this is the joy of having someone who shares your hobby.

Maybe I should become a Dungeon Studies professor when this is all
over.

Torturing students with my dungeons sounds like a blast.

If any of them complain it’s too hard, I could just taunt them with
my [Mesugaki] Skill so they feel compelled to give it a shot:

‘You pathetic little kids who can only flop on the ground♡ Can’t
even handle this?♡ Ahh, I guess there’s no helping it♡
Professor~ we’re just pathetic little babies who still need our
mommies~ Please lower the difficulty, pretty please~ If you cry and
beg, maybe I’ll consider it.♡’

That should do it.

If being a professor means dealing with tedious tasks, well, I could
just pawn those off on the teaching assistants.

Isn’t that what professors are supposed to do anyway?

…That started as a joke, but now it actually sounds like a lot of
fun. Maybe I’ll give it a try when everything’s over.

“Lucy Allen.”

As I waited for my food, humming to myself, a voice interrupted my
thoughts. I turned to see Arthur glaring down at me with a prickly
expression.

‘Yes, Third Prince?’

“Why are you staring at me like that, Pitiful Prince? I understand
wanting to get an eyeful of my cute and pretty face, but staring like
that is kind of creepy.”

“…Th-that’s not why I was staring!” Arthur’s voice rose,
his face turning bright red.

He was so loud that everyone in the dining hall turned to look at us,
and, embarrassed by the attention, Arthur’s face flushed even
redder as he quickly took a seat.

Arthur really has a weakness for taunts. In the game, he was so much
cooler than this.

Still, this is a lot more fun for me.

“Third Prince, did you sneak in a drink or something? Your face is
so red,” I said.

Just then, Joy, who’d been eating with the young ladies at another
table, joined us.

The concerned glances from the young ladies suggested she’d excused
himself, saying there was some kind of problem.

“…Mind your business, Joy.”

“I just happened to overhear.”

“Joy.”

“Apologies. It’s been a while, Lady Allen. I heard the Dungeon
Studies professor kept you busy today?”

‘How do you know that?’

“How did you know, Airhead Lady? Don’t tell me you were stalking
me. I know I’m great, but that’s a little much.”

“It wasn’t like that. You just missed class, so I asked the
professor,” Joy replied, explaining that she was worried since I
often get caught up in incidents.

I couldn’t help but smile a little.

See, this is why I can’t help but like Joy.

‘Thanks for the concern.’

“Fufu. So the great lady has separation anxiety. Were you suffering
because I wasn’t around? How should I console you? Hug you? Pat
your head?”

“…Remind me to never worry about you again!”

Arthur and Joy’s faces were equally red as they protested, and at
that moment, Frey silently took the seat to my left, while Phoebe
joined and settled to my right.

Only after our usual group had gathered did Arthur calm down enough
to sigh deeply.

“Back to my original question, Lucy Allen. I want to know exactly
what sort of labyrinth you’ve created.”

‘Excuse me? What do you mean?’

“What on earth are you talking about?”

I tilted my head in feigned innocence, and Arthur, having regained
his composure, continued calmly.

“It’s a simple deduction. If anyone sees you smiling that
contentedly after a long conversation with the professor, it could
only mean one thing: you made a dungeon that even you’re satisfied
with. And if you’re satisfied with it, it’s bound to be some kind
of labyrinth.”

…Was my expression that transparent?

Arthur’s reasoning wasn’t entirely off. Most of my happiness came
from the satisfaction of having created a solid dungeon.

But there was one thing he got wrong!

‘It’s not a labyrinth!’

“A labyrinth? That makes it sound like I’m just dying to torture
poor students. I’m not like that at all. My dungeon is set up so
even the most pathetic can conquer it.”

I declared my innocence, but the suspicion in their gazes didn’t
waver in the slightest.

This is so unfair!

Why would someone who’s suffered through so many troll dungeons
create something that ridiculous?

Obviously, I designed it so that anyone can get through it!

Besides, if it really was that hellish, the Dungeon Studies professor
would’ve rejected it herself, right?

Joy was the one to counter me.

“Lady Allen, you may not know, but Professor Jessel has a
reputation for having very high standards. She once created a dungeon
with a zero-percent clear rate.”

…

The professor’s questions were that hard?

Seriously?

I’d gone to great lengths to tailor everything to a first-year’s
level, but that’s hard?

Realizing I had overestimated the students’ level, I clamped my
mouth shut, and both Joy and Arthur sighed in unison.

“We’re doomed.”

“We’ll all fail the final Dungeon Studies exam.”

“Not everyone. At least this one right here will pass.”

“…True. If only we could enter with Lady Allen!”

‘Um, excuse me…’

“Pathetic. Look at you, begging for a solution that’ll never
happen. I’m not taking the test.”

“Creating hell only to run away on your own!”

“You’re truly diabolical, Lady Allen.”

Is this really something I deserve to be criticized for?

Think about it logically. A dungeon creator taking the test with
others would obviously be cheating! Of course I can’t do that!

“…Um, Third Prince, Joy, aren’t you pushing Lady Allen a bit
too hard?”

“Saint, this is necessary. Otherwise, our finals will become hell.”

“Exactly, Phoebe. If we don’t lower the difficulty somehow, who
knows how many people will be in despair.”

Phoebe, who had been trying to defend me, couldn’t find the words
to refute Arthur and Joy, so she withdrew.

…Well. Maybe I did set the difficulty a bit high.

‘You know, it’s already…’

“Pft. So desperate to make the dungeon easier? Too bad. It’s
already out of my hands~”

The Dungeon Studies professor had already taken the final version, so
I couldn’t change it even if I wanted to.

To be honest, I didn’t want to change it. It was perfect as it was.

“You finished it already? In just one day?”

“Must you flaunt your genius in every area, Lucy Allen!”

“Oh, great Armadi, why have you given us this trial?”

Seeing even Phoebe clasping her hands in prayer made me break into a
nervous sweat.

‘Uh, I… I’m sure it’ll be fine!’

“Relax. For pathetic students like you, I made it so you can keep
trying all through the final exam period.”

“…Unlimited attempts? Damn. Are you saying we might need all that
time and still not clear it?”

“That’s not all, Third Prince. Even if students share strategies,
this is a dungeon where that won’t help much.”

‘And… and don’t worry about failing!’

“By the way, that bumbling professor is making it so you’ll get
points even if you fail to clear it. So, no matter how pathetic
first-years are, no one will fail completely, probably.”

“So she didn’t even expect us to clear it?”

“…I feel like hell is staring me in the face.”

“Yeah, I’ve decided. I’m just going to repeat the first year.”

How did it come to this?!

Each attempt to lighten the mood only seemed to make things worse.

As even the normally stoic Frey threw in a comment, I noticed Phoebe
timidly raising her hand.

“Um, Lady Allen.”

‘What now?’

“What is it, Sloppy Saint?”

“If it’s that difficult, is there a reward if we reach the end?”

…Ah.

Oh! I’d made a huge mistake!

The end of the dungeon should obviously include a reward worthy of
the effort! Otherwise, there’s no real motivation to clear it!

The Dungeon Studies professor and I had both overlooked this because
we find the challenge of a dungeon intrinsically rewarding.

Thank goodness I realized this now. I’ll need to discuss this with
the professor tomorrow.

“You didn’t even think of a reward?”

“Should we just skip it and get points elsewhere?”

“That’s a good idea. Better than suffering through a pointless
nightmare.”

‘No! Don’t do that! I worked so hard on this; don’t just skip
it!’

“Oh, are you really scared? You pathetic little weaklings, huh?”

“Yes, I’m scared. I can’t handle it.”

“If we waste our time there, we might fail other tests and have to
repeat the first year. It’s better to give up.”

Nooo! If the difficulty is truly too high, none of the other students
will be able to clear it!

Please, don’t give up! I worked so hard on it, I’ll be
heartbroken if no one even tries!

‘Rewards! I’ll give you rewards! Clear the dungeon, and I’ll
give you whatever you want! Just, please, please give it a shot!’

“Is a reward that important? You materialistic ingrates. Fine. If
you clear the dungeon, I’ll do anything you want. Of course,
there’s no way weaklings like you will make it to the end.”

As soon as I finished speaking, silence fell over the once-noisy
table.

“…Anything?”

“Anything?”

“Lady Allen, did you just say… anything?”

“Lucy. You said anything.”

Arthur, Joy, Phoebe, and Frey—the four of them, who had been
despairing a moment ago, fixed me with piercing stares.

Realizing I’d misspoken, I tried to backtrack, but there was no
turning back now.

The atmosphere was so tense that if I denied it, they’d probably
stab me with a fork.

‘Y-yes. That’s right.’

“Heh. Desperate now? Let’s see if the weaklings who were whining
just a minute ago can actually manage it.”

As I reluctantly nodded under the pressure, the four exchanged
glances and then stood up as if in unison.

Left alone, I blinked as I watched their backs.

…Oh.

I think I might’ve gotten myself into trouble.

Or maybe not?

Surely, everything will be fine.

After all, they’re my friends, and they wouldn’t do anything bad.

It’ll be fine.

Right?

‘Just say it’ll be fine!’

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