chapter_0170

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
170

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
170

“Dungeon exploration, huh?
So, you’re planning to assist the Allen Count’s Family?”

“Oh ho, Lucy Allen. I
thought you were just Benedict’s troublesome daughter, but it seems
you have some admirable qualities.”

When I mentioned that I was
heading to clear a dungeon, Phoebe gave a gentle smile, and Arthur
looked amazed.

Listening to them talk, it
seems they thought I was planning to help Benedict and gain some
experience.

It’s not unusual. That’s what
most nobles usually do.

In the world of Soul Academy,
dungeon exploration is a noble’s duty.

Just like knights in the
Middle Ages protected the people from various forces, a noble with a
fief is required to clear dungeons to protect the populace from such
threats.

If they fail to do this
properly, they must endure criticism from other fief holders, and if
the situation becomes severe, they may witness revolts from the
people.

However, dungeon exploration
is both a duty and a right.

Clearing a dungeon allows one
to obtain various rare items.

Nobles with fiefs generally do
not relinquish the dungeons within their own domains to others.

Why would they give away
something that could contain valuable items? If they’re lucky, it
might even be their ticket to a better life!

Given this situation, it’s
usually considered a great insult to clear a dungeon located in
another fief without permission.

Of course, it’s possible to
force your way with power and status, but that could easily spark a
rebellion. Grandpa taught me this while we studied history together,
and there are indeed a few real examples.

Did I ever clear a dungeon
around Soul Academy without permission? Well, I didn’t get caught,
did I? That works for me. No problem at all. If they have a problem
with it, they should have dealt with it first.

Anyway, when a noble family’s
child says they are going to clear a dungeon, it usually means they
are talking about a dungeon within their own territory. Usually.

“Why should I clear a
dungeon in our territory? That’s something my foolish father can
deal with himself.”

But not for me. There’s
nothing tasty to be obtained from clearing a dungeon near the Allen
Family’s territory.

Of course, I’d be training
hard with Possell, but wasting the entire vacation period on training
alone would be a pity.

There’s so much to gain
during this period!

“…Huh? Then which
dungeon are you planning to clear?”

‘The Menestail Dungeon.’

“I’m going to the
Menestail Dungeon where all the sloppy adventurers gather.”

As I mentioned before, most
dungeons require the permission of the local ruling noble to clear.

However, not all dungeons are
like that.

Do you remember the dungeon I
cleared in Evans?

Unlike other dungeons, that
one didn’t disappear after defeating the boss.

Knights had to periodically go
and sweep out the monsters inside the dungeon.

Since the Evans Dungeon wasn’t
very large, this wasn’t an issue.

But what if the Evans Dungeon
had been large in scale?

If the monsters inside weren’t
cleared out daily, the entire area could turn into a catastrophe.
Furthermore, what if the monsters inside it were much more
threatening?

There are several such
dungeons in the game Soul Academy.

If the monsters inside are not
subjugated regularly, they pose a threat significant enough to
devastate the surroundings.

Places that not just a single
noble family, but even an entire country, would find difficult to
manage.

Claiming rights over such
dungeons could lead to disasters that would sweep away those making
the claims.

This was a threat to the
people but also a headache for the rulers.

The value that could be gained
from these dungeons was certainly immense.

However, trying to swallow
everything could lead to death from overconsumption before even
taking a bite.

Amid such a situation, the
emperors of various nations chose to fully open the dungeons.

Anyone could come and attack
the dungeon and take the treasures inside.

In exchange, a portion of the
gains from inside had to be offered to the country.

Nobles who managed their own
territories had no reason to even glance at these dungeons.

They were already busy
managing the dungeons within their own territories, so why would they
eye dungeons far away?

However, it was different for
adventurers. To them, who wandered in search of dungeons they could
raid while pleasing various nobles, a dungeon that they could enter
without any conditions was like a new world.

The country would solve its
problem and collect taxes—beneficial. Adventurers would gain
dungeons they could raid at any time—beneficial.

As their interests aligned,
large dungeons became places that anyone could challenge.

The dungeon I am talking
about, the Menestail Dungeon, is like that too.

This dungeon, located near the
Norta Territory of the Magic Empire, is an Unfading large-scale
dungeon. At first, the Magic Empire tried to deal with it on their
own but eventually gave up. It was resolved by opening it to
adventurers.

Of course, anyone could
attempt it under the condition that anyone could challenge it, even
foreigners or nobles.

I plan to go there.

I also have something to
discuss with Alsatine, and above all, Armadi gave me this quest.

As long as the terrifying
words [GAME OVER] are waiting for me, it’s mandatory.

“Menestail? Are you really
planning to go that far?!”

The first to react to my words
was Joy.

Unlike a noble lady, she
slammed the table and yelled, then, noticing the stares directed at
her, coughed awkwardly and sat down.

She seemed embarrassed, as she
covered her face with a fan.

“If you intend to challenge
a large dungeon, why not go to the Seinable Dungeon?”

“I’m thinking the same. Is
it really necessary to go all the way to Menestail? If you go to the
Seinable Dungeon in the kingdom, we can offer you various
conveniences.”

Hmm. How should I explain
this? Maybe I should have just said I’m going to attack a dungeon?

While thinking about whether
to call Grandpa, Phoebe spoke up softly.

“Both of you, Lady Allen
must have her reasons. Hasn’t it always been this way?”

“Well… That’s true.”

Nice! Phoebe! If I had said
that, it would have seemed forceful, but when you say it, it’s
convincing! Is this the difference in usual conduct?

Phoebe, having calmed them
down, turned back to me.

“Then are you going to spend
your entire vacation conquering dungeons?”

‘No…’

“Of course not. Why would I
waste my valuable time in such a sloppy dungeon?”

Sure, I’m going to the
dungeon, but that’s not all I’ll be doing. I have other tasks to
take care of.

Besides, I need to show my
face to Benedict. If he doesn’t see his daughter during vacation, who
knows what that daughter-crazy father might do.

‘But why are you asking?’

“Sloppy Saint, why are you
asking?”

“I have something I’d like
to suggest for the vacation.”

Phoebe explained that she
wanted to return the favour for the help I gave her before.

As it didn’t seem polite to
refuse her earnest suggestion, I nodded, and then Joy, who was beside
her, cleared her throat.

What? Suddenly?

“Lady Allen, could you spare
me some time as well? There’s a festival happening right before the
break ends.”

…What?

An invitation to a festival in
the Partan Territory?

Really?!

‘I’ll go!’

“What? Airhead Lady, you
really want to hang out with me that badly? Well, I guess I have no
choice. I’ll play with the lonely Lady who has no friends.”

Of course, I’ll go!

There’s no way I’m missing
this!

I’ll make time for it somehow!

The cutscene at the festival
featuring Joy was my favourite in the game Soul Academy!

Do you think I’d miss the
chance to see that with my own two eyes?!

“Really?”

‘Yes! Of course!’

“Still asking? Why would I
even consider not going?”

“No. Then I’ll send an
official letter to the Allen Family.”

Hehe. Hehehehe. Not only will
I participate in an event I only saw beyond the monitor, I’ll get to
hang out with Joy and watch that cutscene.

Great. Now I feel motivated to
spend my vacation fruitfully!

I’ll wrap up my other plans as
quickly as possible and head to Partan Territory!

“What is this? Joy, are you
not inviting me?”

Just as I was thinking about
the event with Joy, Arthur spoke up brusquely.

What’s this about? Are you
jealous? Is losing your friend such a big deal?

What a petty prince.

“Of course, if His Highness
wishes, I must extend the invitation.”

“Joy. I want to go too.”

As soon as Joy nodded
reluctantly, acknowledging her lower rank, Phoebe, who was standing
beside her, spoke up.

“Phoebe? Aren’t you busy
with church matters?”

“Something came up, so I’ll
be taking a break.”

That break was at my
suggestion. Knowing the truth about the church, going back to its
core would only cause her more anguish.

Rather than putting her body
and mind through unnecessary suffering, it’s better for her to rest.

This is perfect. Staying in
the Academy all the time would get boring anyway.

She can come to the Partan
Territory, have some fun, and relieve some stress.

“If Phoebe wants to join, of
course, she should be invited.”

“Me too. I want to go too.”

The last voice in the
conversation was Frey.

Just a moment ago, she had her
cheeks full of food, but somehow, she had swallowed everything and
spoke up.

Why would someone who seemed
so uninterested suddenly want to join? Was she just following along
because everyone else wanted to go?

“Well… Then, I’ll send an
invitation to the Kent Family as well.”

Despite her seemingly cold
exterior, Joy is quite sensitive inside.

There’s no way she could
refuse when her somewhat close friend Frey expressed a desire to
join.

And so, the five people
gathered here would reunite at the festival in Partan Territory.

[Lucy! What are you talking
about!]

That night, I intentionally
contacted Benedict to resolve a matter I had been putting off.

Benedict was visibly delighted
that I reached out first, but as soon as I brought up my intention,
his eyes widened and his voice grew louder.

[You mean to say you’ll bypass
the Allen Family’s estate and head straight to Menestail?!]

What I brought up was exactly
what I had told the others earlier in the day.

I wanted to head straight to
Menestail to level up in the dungeon.

[No! Absolutely not!]

As soon as he heard my words,
Benedict became flustered and vehemently opposed the idea.

It was a natural reaction.
Considering that it was a large dungeon located in another country,
where it would be difficult to get help in an emergency, there was no
way a doting father like Benedict would allow it.

Predicting his opposition, I
insisted that I had to go, but Benedict’s refusal was far more
relentless than I had expected.

Even when I pretended to be
sulky, got angry, or even tried to tear up clumsily, Benedict stood
firm in his decision that he couldn’t permit the trip to Menestail.

As expected, going to a large
dungeon in another country must have seemed too dangerous.

[Just to be clear, don’t
even think about sneaking away and going on your own! I’ll give my
orders to Karl!]

So even if I try to slip away,
he’ll personally come to catch me.

Ugh. There’s no other choice,
I guess.

Armadi would be thrilled, so I
didn’t want to use this move unless I had to!

[Lucy, answer me.]

“Is it truly, truly not
possible?♡ Stingy Papa?♡”

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