After Lucy went inside, I (Joy) was trying to follow her, felt that the atmosphere of the door leading into the dungeon had changed for some reason.

 

Until then, she had felt nothing, but why did she feel the creeps as soon as Lucy entered?

 

I, who was entering the dungeon for the first time, looked around, but couldn’t find anything strange until she walked in.

 

Was this how it was always like?

 

I followed Lucy into the dungeon.

 

The atmosphere around her had completely changed even though they had only passed through one door.

 

The scenery that seemed to have been a laboratory but had been closed due to some accident was a new sight for me.

 

In the middle of it all, I was looking at the way out of the room with my arms crossed, frowning.

 

Lucy’s serious expression, which always had a mischievous note to it, made me think that this person was someone who locked in when needed.

 

But to be honest, I didn’t trust Lucy very much.

 

Because I remembered Lucy’s ruckus in high society.

 

Lucy was taught by the knights of the Allen family?

 

Yes.

 

She may have been taught.

 

But learning and putting it into practice were completely different things.

 

The knights of the Allen family were certainly some of the best on the continent, but that didn’t give Lucy any credit.

 

The various rumours going around behind the scenes said that Lucy wasn’t someone who would improve with education.

 

Then why did I hand over the command to Lucy?

 

The reason wasn’t all that great.

 

I was so angry at Lucy’s provocation.

 

I was so confident that I handed it over to Lucy, saying, “Do whatever you want, whether you mess up or not.”

 

That’s why I regretted handing over the command to Lucy emotionally.

 

It was the academy entrance exam, and she wondered if it was okay to entrust command to a miscreant like Lucy.

 

However, it was difficult to take back what she had said emotionally.

 

For some reason, I didn’t want to admit my mistake in front of Lucy.

 

It’s strange.

 

Why was I this angry?

 

Why do I become so impulsive whenever I stand in front of you, Lady Lucy?

 

I couldn’t understand my emotions.

 

Before meeting Lucy yesterday, I promised myself not to get involved with Lucy, so why was I engaging in a war of nerves with Lucy now?

 

Jacob entered the dungeon last, with the sound of stepping on rubble.

 

As soon as everyone entered the dungeon, the entrance to the dungeon disappeared.

 

Now, there were only two ways to get out of here.

 

Clear the dungeon or use the emergency escape tool the interviewer gave you when you entered.

 

Of the two, the latter would mean disqualification from the academy entrance exam, so there was really only one way.

 

Clear the dungeon.

 

“Foolish Young Lady.”

 

I frowned at the sound of my ‘name’ being called.

 

Did you decide to call me Foolish Young Lady instead of my name?

 

We’ll see, it’ll be over soon.

 

After the exams are over, you’ll be the Foolish Young Lady, and I’ll be Young Lady Joy!

 

Still, I was better off than our other member.

 

She even gave me the title of Young Lady.

 

On the other hand, Jacob, who was lower in rank and position than Lucy, lost not only his proper title but even his own name.

 

A brat.

 

Isn’t that too much?

 

At least she should have called him by his name.

 

“As I said before, I’ll take the vanguard instead of you sloppy people. I’ll go ahead, so follow me while keeping an eye on the rear. Even a sloppy person with no experience in dungeons can do that much, right?”

 

What the heck.

 

Are you bragging about having cleared a dungeon once?

 

Even then, the knights of the Allen family would have been in front while you just watched from behind!

 

I grumbled inside, but I didn’t show it on the outside.

 

It wasn’t the time yet.

 

When you make one mistake, I’ll find fault with you and make you cry!

 

But unfortunately, there was no situation where I could find fault with Lucy.

 

Even I, who only learned dungeon strategies from books, could see that Lucy was leading the command almost perfectly.

 

“There’s a trap up ahead that looks sloppy. I don’t know who set it, but it seems like they thought that I was an idiot who fell for traps like that, others wouldn’t even fall for them.”

 

Lucy never missed the traps that the academy had set up while she was exploring.

 

On top of that, she knew how to dismantle the traps, so Jacob and I didn’t really have anything to do when the traps appeared.

 

If they just stayed behind, Lucy would take care of everything.

 

Maybe because he was worried about Lucy doing everything by herself, Jacob approached Lucy to help her, but Lucy firmly refused his help.

 

“You little brat, are you trying to ruin things with your sloppy hands? Stay in the back.”

 

Although her tone was somewhat strong, I thought Lucy’s judgement was right.

 

Although I was seeing Jacob for the first time, Jacob seemed clumsy to me.

 

Maybe it was his first time in a dungeon like me?

 

If this was a place for practice maybe it’d be okay, but this was a place for a test.

 

She couldn’t give Jacob a role since she was sure he would make mistakes.

 

I comforted Jacob, who returned gloomily.

 

“It’s okay, everyone has a role.”

 

Jacob slumped his shoulders after hearing my words.

 

Why are you feeling discouraged?!

 

I comforted you just now.

 

Was my tone strange?

 

Or my actions?

 

Or maybe my choice of words was wrong?

 

Ugh.

 

I can’t guess at all.

 

Let’s just keep our mouths shut and be quiet.

 

Talking any further would only lower our morale.

 

I felt the dreary atmosphere of the party and felt myself missing my family.

 

Brother!

 

The other young ladies who are taking the Academy exam!

 

Where did you go?

 

I miss you all!

 

Lucy’s activities didn’t end with finding traps.

 

She also showed off her outstanding skills in combat.

 

“After turning the alley, there will be three worn-out golems. I’ll go first and draw the attention of those antiques, so you sloppy ones, support me from behind. You can do that, right?”

 

As she said, as soon as they turned the alley, three human- shaped golems were waiting for them.

 

Two golems were holding clubs and one was holding a staff slightly behind them.

 

As this was their first real battle, Lucy ran forward while I hardened my lips and prepared my magic.

 

“You worn-out trash! Are your joints creaking because they’re broken?”

 

Lucy’s provocation towards the golems, who had no intelligence or anything, seemed like a useless act to Joy.

 

Was it some kind of self-hypnosis to replenish her confidence before going into battle?

 

However, as soon as Lucy finished speaking, the golems’ gazes turned to her.

 

As if they understood what Lucy had said.

 

What is that?

 

I was naturally curious, but I could ask that later.

 

Right now, it was my turn to help Lucy.

 

If I did nothing here, Lucy would definitely ignore me again.

 

I don’t know about anything else, but I don’t want to be ignored by Lucy any longer! (In terms of dungeon skill)

 

Let’s support Lucy first.

 

I can slow down the golems’ movements with magic, and we can think about providing firepower support later.

 

“Cruel winter winds.”

 

I drew a magic circle by weaving magic threads.

 

What I was drawing was the wind that froze everything that blew in the northern winter.

 

As soon as the magic circle was completed, ice that had grown from the ground caught the golem’s feet.

 

Lucy didn’t miss the golem staggering at the sudden blockage.

 

The mace in her hand swung and the golem’s head was smashed.

 

Good.

 

The first move was perfect.

 

Now, the next spell.

 

“Idiot, don’t do useless things and save your magic.”

 

The moment I was about to squeeze it out, Lucy stopped me.

 

“I’m just saying, don’t waste your meagre magical powers on these scraps since I can dispose of them by myself.”

 

The moment I got angry at Lucy’s words, I didn’t argue further and followed Lucy’s words.

 

Magic power was not infinite.

 

It was right to conserve it.

 

Lucy dealt with the two golems leisurely, just as she had declared.

 

She blocked the attacks with her shield to create an opening and then smashed the golem’s head with a single blow, making the golem look like an easy opponent.

 

“Is it because it’s an entrance exam? There are weak monsters.”

 

“Jacob, you’ll have a hard time dealing with that right?”

 

“Huh?”

 

I, who had learned basic self-defence as a duke’s heir, could guess to some extent how strong the monsters moving before me are.

 

The golems were not weak.

 

They were slow, but they moved clearly, and they were definitely difficult opponents.

 

It’s just that Lucy was stronger than them.

 

What would have happened if Jacob, who seemed awkward even holding a weapon, had been surrounded by those three golems?

 

There was no need to ask.

 

He would have been disqualified after getting hit once.

 

“You two.”

 

Despite having to deal with three golems almost alone, Lucy wasn’t the slightest bit tired.

 

Her stamina has improved tremendously.

 

Where did Lucy, who used to lean against the railing and rest while going up the stairs, go?

 

“Let’s go quickly, there’s no time to rest.”

 

Of all Lucy’s abilities, the one that I admired the most was her ability to find her way.

 

It was obvious that both Lucy and I were entering this dungeon for the first time, but Lucy was surprisingly good at finding her way.

 

It wasn’t just the paths that were visible.

 

She showed off several hidden passages as if she were the teacher who created this dungeon.

 

“Lucy, how do you find your way so well?”

 

I was so amazed by her appearance that I forgot to call her a spoiled brat and asked that question.

 

Then Lucy, who was stepping into the hidden passage, turned her head slightly and smiled her usual mischievous smile.

 

“Are you curious?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Keep wondering. I won’t tell you.”

 

…

 

The golems in the dungeon were all worn-out antiques.

 

As I fought against these scraps that would fall over with a single hit to the head with a mace, the tension gradually diminished.

 

Strange.

 

Even with the proper support from Joy, was it really this easy?

 

The golems in the game seemed much stronger than this.

 

Did they adjust the difficulty level for the academy entrance exam?

 

That must have been it.

 

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had it this easy.

 

Thanks to that, I was able to push through without stopping for a moment.

 

If the battle had been tough, I would have had to take a break in between, but this time, it was easy.

 

In that way, we were able to arrive in front of the dungeon’s boss room in less than an hour.

 

“This is probably the best record in Soul Academy’s long history, right?”

 

I asked, hoping for an answer, but I didn’t get one.

 

So, I looked back and saw the two people who couldn’t even raise their heads because they were trying to control their heavy breathing.

 

…

 

Huh.

 

Did I run too carelessly?