chapter_0252

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
252

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
252

“Whoever designed this sloppy dungeon must be an idiot. Who would
fall for a trap like this? Just because they’re a monkey doesn’t
mean everyone else is too.”

Lucy Allen spoke with clear disdain as she effortlessly vaulted over
a barely visible trap. Luca, however, didn’t share her confidence.

The faint traces of mana woven into the corridor were far from
trivial.

‘Who would fall for a trap like this? Most people would,’ Luca
thought.

‘Even I would’ve been at risk had the lady not pointed it out. How
could an average adventurer avoid something like this?’

In a normal dungeon, a trap of this caliber would have claimed many
lives.

Luca kept his musings to himself. Since entering the hidden area of
the old academy building with Lucy, similar scenarios had unfolded
numerous times.

Navigating through a pitch-black maze without faltering, finding
paths as though by instinct.

Detecting every single trap they encountered along the way.

And even when monsters appeared, Lucy swung her mace preemptively, as
if she knew where they’d strike from, smashing their heads before
they even had a chance.

Despite seeing Lucy’s prowess in action at the academy dungeon,
Luca couldn’t help but be amazed by the difference between watching
her through a screen and experiencing it firsthand.

Each time Luca expressed awe, Lucy scolded him, while Karl shot him a
pitying look.

He could endure Lucy’s reprimands—that much he expected. But
Karl’s gaze was different.

That unimpressed look—’You’re impressed by just this?’—as if
Luca had no discernment, was unbearable.

For Luca, a craftsman with his own pride, Karl’s condescending gaze
was something he simply couldn’t accept. Eventually, Luca decided
to internalize his amazement and pretend he had grown accustomed to
everything.

‘I swear this is unfair. Aren’t Lady Allen and her knight just
ridiculously talented? Anyone else would be stunned by all this! If
you told this story to any nobles, I bet they’d be clamoring to
meet Lady Allen and praise her deeds, regardless of her past.’

To those nobles who believed that dungeon-conquering was both a
noble’s duty and an indicator of their honor.

Who thought true nobility meant proving yourself by overcoming the
toughest dungeons, taking treasures, and narrowly escaping death.

The type of people who would call even their eldest sons cowards if
they hadn’t fought through at least one dungeon, denying them
titles as a result.

‘I bet they’d sing praises of Lady Allen nonstop if they heard
about her achievements here.’

Yet here Luca was, being ridiculed for being amazed. He couldn’t help
but feel slighted.

Unfortunately, no one around would share his grievances.

Lucy Allen’s brilliance had numbed them. Complaining about the heat
of a blazing sun would just get him accused of whining.

“Already done. Whoever designed this must have thought it was hard,
but really, it’s just a casual walk for a cute little girl like
me.”

If there was any mercy for Luca, it was that his suffering didn’t
last long.

It only took them two hours to reach the end of the hidden dungeon
within the old academy building.

Despite its countless winding paths and traps full of malice—fail
once, and you’d wander the dungeon forever—they’d reached its
heart in just two hours.

“How is anyone supposed to not be amazed by this?” Luca muttered,
laughing in disbelief as he checked his pocket watch.

“Heh, really. Are you still acting like an overexcited monkey? You
really can’t see things from a human’s perspective, huh?”

“Understandable, Lady Allen. He’s locked into his rigid
worldview. It’s tough to escape that.”

Hearing the banter between the lady and her attendant, Luca clenched
his teeth. It was one thing for Lucy to criticize him, but to have
Karl belittle him as well… someday he would challenge Karl to a
duel.

Throughout the dungeon, the Grandpa kept muttering to himself. He
insisted that the layout was somehow familiar to him.

I knew who Grandpa was referring to.

One of those who fought on the front lines when the evil gods had
broken their seal to try and turn the world into a living hell.

The grand magician who had his hand in nearly every modern magical
system.

The same one whose sudden disappearance had led to countless rumors
that he might still be alive, hiding somewhere.

The Grandpa’s suspicions were accurate. The one who designed this
maze—which only opened with the use of the tablet—was indeed his
former comrade, Karon.

‘Really?’

I knew this, but I didn’t say anything.

If I started explaining everything I knew, I’d also have to reveal
some backstory—a story that wasn’t pleasant for the Grandpa to
hear.

I had no desire to see him choke his own neck and keel over, not that
a mace even had a neck to grab.

Besides, it’s not like he wouldn’t figure it out for himself
eventually, so there was no reason to waste my breath.

Ignoring his questions, I continued walking forward.

The old academy’s hidden dungeon was filled with a maze that
couldn’t be passed without the guiding tablet. Without following
its lead, you’d find yourself right back at the entrance without
realizing it.

But the developers had slipped up with this one. The path it pointed
out was fixed.

The route might have been annoyingly complicated, but being a
hardcore player means things like that aren’t really an issue.

If memorizing a path was efficient, we memorized it—that’s just
what hardcore players did!

All those hours cursing at this game had paid off. Even after all
these years, with the world around me completely different, I still
remembered every detail.

Two hours—not bad.

It would have been quicker, but I had to accommodate my two
companions.

Still, this pace meant we could return before morning.

I thought that as I gripped the handle of the door ahead.

There was no need for rest.

Why would I need rest after a mere two-hour stroll?

“An intruder?”

As I effortlessly pushed the thick iron door open, a voice echoed
out.

Even though it had lost its flesh and organs long ago, had forgotten
its memories and its reason, even though its soul had worn thin,
there it was—holding onto a purpose it still believed in.

“No… No, not an intruder.”

The skeletal figure, sitting on a crude stone seat, slowly pressed
its knee joint and rose.

“Lady, stay back. That thing’s dangerous.”

Without hesitation, Karl drew his sword, stepping protectively in
front of me.

“Professor Karl is correct. Lady Allen, that’s not an opponent
you can face.”

Luca also drew a dagger from his coat.

It made sense for Karl to be wary, but not Luca. For Luca, who’d
gleefully let me deal with most threats, to stand guard spoke
volumes.

It meant that confronting that skeleton would gain me nothing—just
a swift, meaningless death.

Their judgment was right—I couldn’t win against it. Not now.

Maybe in another six months, but not today.

I knew that.

How could I not? I’d visited this place thousands of times in the
past.

Yet, here I was, confidently approaching this skeleton, because
defeating it wasn’t the goal.

This dungeon wasn’t about beating enemies—it was about facing a
trial.

“The monsters in this dungeon lulled me into complacency. I let my
guard down.”

“This is no time for regret, Professor. We need a strategy to deal
with that creature.”

The two experts quickly analyzed the situation, assessing their
strengths against the skeletal knight before them.

The skeleton, however, paid them no mind.

It stared solely at me.

Even without eyes—they’d decayed long ago—its hollow sockets
bore into me, as if trying to pull me in.

“One blessed by the god.”

“Speak your name.”

‘Lucy Allen.’

“Lucy Allen—you half-rotted sack of bones.”

“Lucy Allen… I thank you for introducing yourself so boldly. In
turn, I shall introduce myself. I am Garad, once a fragment of a
hero.”

Grandpa burst into laughter the moment the skeleton finished its
introduction.

Not that I blamed him.

This skeleton—the homunculus made by Grand Magician Karon in memory
of his fallen comrade—really did carry all the goofy traits of that
so-called hero.

For Grandpa, it must have been like seeing his friend’s
embarrassing past immortalized.

“Garad?”

“A hero’s remains? There’s no way…”

Ugh, damn it. Between Grandpa and the two idiots beside me, I felt a
laugh bubbling up.

One side’s as tense as a spring, the other can’t stop laughing!

Focus—focus. Laughing here would just make me look insane.

“Why have you come to this place?”

‘I want the shield you have.’

“I’m here to reclaim the shield that’s wasted on a delusional
bag of bones like you.”

“I see… I see. Yes, that makes sense.”

As Garad nodded in understanding, Grandpa’s laughter grew even
louder.

Ugh, seriously, this is chaos.

“If you are one blessed by god, I’d love to simply give it to
you, but alas, I lack that authority.”

‘Then?’

“I understand you’re excited to have someone to chat with after
so long, but maybe consider the one wasting her time talking to a
deranged skeleton?”

“Ah… Apologies.”

Grandpa! For the love of… can you calm down for a second?

“I shall be direct, then. You must pass my trial to claim it.”

No matter how easy a trial may seem, it’s still something to focus
on.

A half-assed attempt would only lead to more trouble.

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