Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy

Chapter 171

The adventurers in the guild threw glances my way, but none dared to approach.

That was mainly because the two people guarding me were far too intimidating.

According to the old man, Karl was emitting a threatening aura that kept the adventurers at bay. They probably didn’t have the guts to come closer.

‘Is there really such a thing as an aura?’
<Of course. Those who have reached a certain level can suppress others with just their gaze.>

I listened to the old man’s tales of his past, where he ruled the battlefield just by his presence, with one ear and let it out through the other as I approached the reception desk.

“Welcome. You’ve arrived at the Menesteil Guild.”

The person there was a man with shoulders broad enough to fill the desk. His face was covered in numerous scars, looking so rugged that a timid person wouldn’t be able to utter a word before him.

But I was fine.

Having seen plenty of rough faces in the Alrn family, I was somewhat accustomed to it, but more than that, I had seen this receptionist’s face often before.

He was someone I encountered every time I came to the Menesteil Guild from Soul Academy. Instead of fear, I felt a sense of familiarity.

“What brings you here?”
‘Well…’
“I’m going to raid the pathetic Menesteil Dungeon. Hand over the certificate, tough guy.”

The receptionist awkwardly smiled at my brazen words.

He’s kind in a way that’s true to the game. His rugged appearance deters adventurers, but he’s a nice guy like receptionists in other cities.

“Are the three of you entering together?”
‘Yes.’
“Okay. Can’t you tell just by looking?”

“I see. Since it seems like you’re newcomers, let me share a few details first.”

What flowed from the receptionist's mouth was an introduction to the Menesteil Guild.

Request submissions, selling loot, taxes incurred during dungeon raids, and various precautions to take when raiding a dungeon.

I had heard all this over dozens of times, so I barely paid attention to what the receptionist was saying.

“Now, let’s proceed with the certificate issuance. First, could you tell me your names?”
“It’s Karl.”
“My name is Alsetin.”

‘Lucy Alrn.’
“Lucy Alrn, huh? Remember this well, tough guy. You’ve got a rare face for a commoner.”

The receptionist had been maintaining a businesslike expression until he heard my name, at which point his pupils flickered slightly.

“Um, are you the Lady Lucy Alrn of the Soladin Kingdom?”
‘That’s right.’
“What? Did you know? You’re quite something for someone who looks so unremarkable.”

A crack appeared on the receptionist's face, which spread across his entire expression as I nodded.

Seeing a person who looked like they could go toe-to-toe with an orc sweating profusely was quite refreshing.

I remember when I first possessed Lucy, the knights of the Alrn family acted the same way.

<It seems your reputation has spread all the way to the Mage Empire.> ‘I didn’t want to know that.’

I had a suspicion after reading a report Alsetin brought me about various incidents of rudeness committed by nobles from other countries, and it turned out to be true.

Sigh. This damned reputation of mine! I’m so tired of seeing people flounder whenever they hear the name Lucy Alrn!

The receptionist, clearly well-informed about Lucy, proceeded with the certificate issuance process quickly and accurately.

“If you stop by the guild tomorrow morning, you’ll be able to receive your certificate.”

Thanks to that, I was able to get the certificate much quicker than expected.

Regardless of how the process went, as long as the result was good, that was all that mattered.

By the time we finished the certificate process and exited the adventurer’s guild, dusk had settled, and night had fallen.

Walking through the noisy streets filled with various rough adventurers, I arrived at the front of a shabby-looking inn.

Karl showed a troubled expression upon seeing it. He didn’t say anything since it was my choice, but it was clear he had a lot to say.

He must be thinking something like, “There’s no way I can let a lady sleep in a place like this!” He really worries about those kinds of things.

I pretended not to notice him and stepped inside the inn.

The owner there was a man with an indifferent expression.

Most innkeepers would welcome guests, but he was different. He simply offered a light nod.

When I stood at the counter, he continued to stare blankly at me without saying a word, looking like someone who had completely lost all social grace.

However, the moment I took out the crow seal from my pocket, his expression changed.

Life returned to his once ash-gray face.

“So, a guest from the Newman family, I see. My apologies.”

Cities built around large dungeons gather a multitude of things.

People. Goods. Rumors.

So, the Newman family, which operates on the basis of the underworld, almost always establishes branches in cities with large dungeons.

This was one of those places.

“Are the three of you staying? What duration will it be?”
‘Two weeks.’
“Up to two weeks.”

“Understood. I’ll show you to your rooms right away.”

With those words, a woman emerged from the room behind the counter.

She greeted us politely and instructed us to follow her.

Where she took us wasn’t the typical second floor with regular rooms.

It was a place hidden beyond a door in a room filled with dust and miscellaneous items, seemingly used as a storage room.

Unlike the shabby exterior of the building, the interior was more well-decorated than an average noble’s mansion.

This would be our accommodation while we raided the Menesteil Dungeon.

This is why I got the crow seal! It really comes in handy!

“There are no other guests at the moment, so feel free to use it comfortably. If you need anything, just let me know, and I’ll prepare everything I can.”

The woman working at the Newman family introduced herself as Nick.

Of course, that was a meaningless request. Has anyone ever called someone by their name with the Mesugaki Skill?

Nick’s name was whimsically changed by the Mesugaki Skill.

“...Nick?”
‘Sorry! But I can’t help it! Please understand!’
“Yeah. It fits you well since you look gloomy. You like it, right?”
“...Yes, of course.”

After that trivial issue passed, there wasn’t much else to deal with.

The most I did was ask Nick to help me find a transmutation mage.

Well, that makes sense since there’s nothing I can do at the moment.

If this were a game, I would be running around taking on various minor quests for maximum efficiency, but now I can’t do that either.

Who would ask a bratty little kid who adds “pathetic, trashy, incompetent” to everything they say for help?

I was turned down in the academy, so it would probably be the same here.

Since there’s no quest I absolutely have to take on, I’ll just rest today.

No practice mode or anything; I’m just going to sleep deeply.

<Are you already thinking about starting your training?>

As I lay in bed, planning to sleep until tomorrow morning, the old man spoke up.

Old man, what are you talking about? I’m going to raid a dungeon tomorrow! I need to rest!

<What nonsense are you talking about? During times like this, you must train harder to maintain your sense of real combat!>

The nagging old man wouldn’t relent.

So, against my will, I was dragged into practice mode and had to train chaotically all night.

The concept of the Menesteil Dungeon is a volcano.

If I describe it as a dungeon built beneath a blazing volcano, would that be easier to understand?

With this concept, the various monsters and gimmicks below are also related to the volcano.

For example, the temperature inside the dungeon is so high that if you enter without preparation, you take burn damage every few minutes.

The monsters inside are all related to fire as well.

Traps associated with lava, flames, and rocks abound.

In the game, these were merely gimmicks that increased the difficulty of the dungeon, but now that it has become reality, the feeling was different.

The interior of the Menesteil Dungeon felt like a sauna in and of itself.

I was taken aback when I first entered here; my skin felt like it was on fire.

Even now, we were still at the entrance of the Menesteil Dungeon.

Considering that this dungeon has a total of 80 floors and the temperature rises the further down you go, the depths could rightfully be called a hell of fire.

Of course, I had anticipated this.

I expected that the oppressive heat would gradually deplete my stamina. It was obvious how terrible that heat would be.

Confident that my predictions had not been wrong, I took out the item I had prepared from the spatial pocket Alsetin had given me.

[Eternal Winter Magic Stone]
[This magic stone is rarely found in the northern mountains covered in perpetual snow. It retains the terrible cold of the north.]

From the description given by the appraisal skill, it’s clear that this magic stone contains coldness.

Originally, it was used to enchant weapons or as materials for magic scrolls, but this magic stone has one more additional effect.

It spreads its coldness to lower the temperature around it!

“Lady Alrn, if you use that now…”
This magic stone, which was jokingly referred to as “air conditioning gem” among users because it is often used while raiding the Menesteil Dungeon, showed its proper effects now that the game had turned into reality.

As soon as I took out the stone, which I had turned into a necklace, and put it around my neck, cold air burst forth from it.

Whoa, this is refreshing… No, it’s a bit too refreshing, isn’t it?!

Thinking I might freeze to death at this rate, I hurriedly took off the necklace.

What is this? What is this?! There’s a limit to how refreshing something can be; this is just weird!

Did I ask for an air conditioner? Did I ask to be thrown into a freezer and freeze to death?!

I shot a glare at Alsetin, implying that he had prepared the wrong item, and he gave me an awkward smile.

“I’ve prepared what you requested, Lady Alrn.”
‘But this is too effective!’
“Hey, pathetic information dealer. Can’t you properly reflect the requests of the client? This is way too excessive! How long are you going to live as a useless moron?”
“However, the Eternal Winter Magic Stone is like that in all cases…”

So, is this the influence of the game turning into reality?

In the game, it merely served to eliminate the dungeon penalties, but now that it has become real, the term “the terrible cold of the north” has materialized?!

This is absurd. At this rate, I can’t use this necklace!

“I’ve heard while I was getting the necklace that you can use it without penalties after the 20th floor of the Menesteil Dungeon.”
‘Then what about before that?’
“Hey, pathetic useless information dealer. What about before that?”
“Isn’t this bearable enough? I’ve heard that everyone just strolls around until the 20th floor.”

Is that what you’re saying right now?!

You want me to endure this terrible heat?!

Especially while wearing plate armor?!

“Girl, can you later receive the clothes you wore today? It would be nice if you could just give it to me without washing it.”
‘Shut up. Please.’
“Dumb fox, shut it. I’m getting annoyed.”

Since it has come to this, there’s only one way forward.

Speedrun.

I’ll fill today’s raiding quota as quickly as possible and escape from this hell of fire.