Who Designed This Underworld Dungeon?
Chapter 270 - 211: Academy Gate: You’re Not Qualified

Chapter 270: Chapter 211: Academy Gate: You’re Not Qualified

"Are you sure the time is up?"

Gapar asked, frowning. He had just been forcefully silenced for two seconds by Roger’s earth-shattering scream; the kid was louder than a Bomb Dragon.

What do sword practitioners value? It’s the state of unity with heaven and earth, also known as an epiphany. The quickest way to an epiphany is through meditation after battle.

He had just barely begun to sense the onset of such an epiphany—an experience he hadn’t come close to in many years—and now, suddenly, he felt it while inside the Sain Dungeon.

Perhaps it was because he had spent the whole day matching wits with novel challenges, and after the passion subsided, the sense of security from the large bonfire had a wonderful interaction that made him faintly understand something.

Bonfire, fire, the thing I’m about to realize should be named after fire... Fire Will, perhaps?

But then Roger’s howl interrupted that feeling.

He really felt like killing him!

Turci conjured a sandglass in the air, the sand already run out, and said:

"If my Time Measuring Magic isn’t faulty, then the closing time for the Dungeon has indeed passed."

Would a Magic Professor’s magic have problems? Especially something as simple as a low-tier Time Measuring Sandglass, the probability is very, very small.

Gapar couldn’t help but consider whether they really couldn’t leave.

This is strange, there are a few Dungeons that operate 24 hours without closure, but Sain has always been known to shut down punctually and never works overtime.

What’s happening today? Could it be that another anomaly is about to occur?

If the Sain Dungeon could be open all day, it doesn’t seem like a bad thing, as the time available for exploration would undoubtedly be extended.

But Gapar and his group were tired today, overwhelmed by too many new things, and they were sick of it.

At this moment, the only consolation would be a warm bedroom and a soft bed, topped with a full night’s sleep.

"Can we use the Transfer Token?"

He pulled out the Transfer Token that could take them to the real Magic Classroom area, but after infusing it with Magic Power, there was no response. It seems like it won’t work.

Seeing this, Turci fell into thought. Generally speaking, there are three common ways people leave the Dungeon: being teleported out when dead, being kicked out when the closing time arrives, or leaving through the initial Teleportation Gate.

The first method was too demeaning for them, and the second was no longer an option.

But the third... they had come here after sneaking past the Seal watched by Mugram, there was no Teleportation Gate!

"There must be a hidden way out somewhere." She said "Maybe it’s disguised as a Seal, or perhaps an undiscovered Teleportation Gate."

"Let’s go look for it." Gapar suggested.

They must search, as they don’t want to spend a lifetime in the Sain Dungeon, but where to start?

Why not ask someone?

"Oh, it’s you guys, my loyal customers, welcome." Curry said his routine greetings.

But has his tone become more lively?

Turci considered for a moment and then asked if he knew a way out to the outside world.

Curry’s reaction after hearing this was somewhat strange, as if he had suddenly frozen, motionless.

What’s this situation? Did my words unintentionally shatter this residual shadow’s worldview?

But Curry’s abnormal state lasted only for a few seconds, and he quickly responded to Turci’s words.

"Ah, I understand, you must have accidentally entered this research area, no wonder you’re clueless about this place."

Was it their imagination, or did it seem like Curry’s tone suddenly became more animated, a little different from before?

"The instructors and students haven’t left this place for a long time, but I know some rumors about ways to leave."

Everyone pricked up their ears.

"It’s said that a Mage who longs for the outside world secretly constructed a Teleportation Gate and concealed it somewhere around Lake Lienia, I have a rough guess of the hiding place, but..."

"But what?"

"There are several possible locations."

Curry pointed towards the Reyalucaria Magic Academy and said:

"It might be hidden in some corner of that academy."

"It could also be hidden atop the high mountains to the east."

"Or it might be in the deeper lakes to the northwest."

If this were a game, options would pop up at this point for the player to ask for more detailed information about these three directions.

But that would seem like stretching out the playtime, so "Curry" just said it straight.

"I don’t know about inside the academy, everything depends on your own exploration, be careful not to disturb the groups of Mages."

"If you want to head towards the northwest lakes, it’s best to do so during the day when the sunlight suppresses many Monsters that thrive in the darkness."

"If you wish to go to the high mountains in the east, then I suggest departing towards the northeast from here, after walking some time, you should see a broken bridge leading up the mountain. Climbing that would be much easier than climbing the mountain itself."

The clue was revealed all of a sudden.

Turci wanted to ask for more information, but Curry started repeating the same things again. Although there was more emotion in his voice, repetition is repetition, which made him look even duller than a dazed cat.

She shook her head at everyone; it seems no more information could be gleaned.

Out of gratitude, she consumed some more souls at Curry’s place—an expression of a professor’s dignity.

"Where shall we go first?" Roger raised the question.

"The Teleportation Gate to the outside world is hidden inside the academy... That sounds pretty strange, doesn’t it?"

Wouldn’t it make more sense for such a secretly crafted thing to be as far away from the academy as possible, or is the intention to play a game of hiding in plain sight?

Forget it, the thought processes of Magicians are always inscrutable. Those renowned Mages can all be considered "hardcore tough guys."

In the end, everyone decided to head to Reyalucaria Magic Academy. They initially planned to make it a target for exploration tomorrow, but now that the Teleportation Gate might be hidden inside, they decided to explore it concurrently.

Gapar and his company’s footsteps grew fainter and fainter until their figures could no longer be seen.

Curry sat there blankly until he verified through some method that the others had truly left before he began to move his stiff arms and muttered to himself:

"I made an oversight in the design. I forgot to leave them a clue about the Teleportation Gate."

Gong Qiying twisted his neck—it was precisely because he noticed the oversight that he pretended to be an NPC midway through.

In fact, after the large safety zone of Lake Lienia was established, a Teleportation Magic Array would appear in the center of the town, able to directly teleport people to the outside world.

But he didn’t have a Teleportation Magic Array in his building list. The actual implementation involved nesting teleportation trap chests, one inside the other, ultimately connecting to a real Teleportation Gate to achieve a similar effect.

Why didn’t he just place the Teleportation Gate directly in the safe zone? There are reasons for that.

To maintain a consistent style, each themed tier is connected by the identical "Teleportation Magic Array," but only the "first tier" of Lake Lienia’s Teleportation Magic Array can send adventurers back to the outside world. The teleportation of other theme tiers can only go up or down one tier.

Consequently, if one delves too deep into the Val Underworld, it would be difficult to ascend as each rising tier entails a stripping of spiritual power. Rising more than three tiers in a short time could trigger certain events. However, if one explores downward, the Underworld will offer rewards.

The real Teleportation Gate of Val Underworld lies in the deep lake to the northwest, as he had mentioned earlier. Probably only Gapar will use it this time. At other times, adventurers would enter and exit the Underworld through the town before the Academy Gate.

It might serve as a difference in experience between pioneers and those who follow.

"But it seems they went straight to the academy... No problem, they can’t get through the main gate anyway, they’ll still have to go northwest in search of the key."

"If they can’t find a way out after a long search, it would be just right. Let them experience life in a lifestyle-oriented Underworld for once."

Gong Qiying stood up, canceled his Mimicry, and reset a Curry here before teleporting back to the City Lord’s room.

Not long after he left, several somewhat familiar voices rose from the town before the Academy Gate.

"Boss, look over there. There’s someone there. Let’s go check it out."

"Maru, don’t yell so loud; I can hear you..."

A handsome blond young man and his companions arrived at Lake Lienia for the second time.

——————————

Reyalucaria Magic Academy, a place which had become rather attractive after various scenes set the stage in earlier times.

Now having witnessed its genuine visage, indeed, no one would be disappointed by it. With its architecture perfectly fitting the imagination of a "Magic Academy" - fantastical, beautiful, and mysterious - even the head office of the Magic Association seemed like a rural bumpkin by comparison.

It’s believed that this magic academy must have been the pilgrimage site for all magic learners of its era!

And the road to it is fraught with difficulties:

You must dodge the disguised Shrimp Ember King and Crab Ember King.

Avoid startling the balloons hanging with Doll Soldiers.

Face the challenge of not laughing at the oddly-faced Platinum Son’s performances.

Steer clear of Ghosts and Ghost Riders, and also be wary of more formidable beasts that may follow.

If you manage to survive these challenges, congratulations—the academy is built on a cliff, meaning you still have a mountain to climb.

The path up the mountain is likewise filled with obstacles. Calia Soldiers and Flame War Cars form an impregnable defense, while Knight known as "Hound" might dash out at any moment to strike you down.

Skipping classes is impossible. Thinking of using the Flying Skill to soar directly up the cliffs? Then the mismatched Mouse Shooters hidden on the mountain would show their might. Actually, they might not even be necessary—the Big Mouthed Little Demons before them are enough to teach those who wish to fly a lesson.

Turci covered her cannon-blasted, tattered clothes and ground her teeth in anger. She should have never listened to Roger’s advice to use the Flying Skill.

Having endured the barrage of cannon fire and arrows, people would dutifully attempt to break through the Calia Soldiers’ checkpoint, only to find that the standard challenge was, in fact, the simplest.

Some hidden pathways may present a lower difficulty, but they remained undiscovered at the moment.

Wait until the dog has finished licking the face... no, wait until Discouragement Brother’s Elemental Bottle is empty, until the Tachi Hero has accomplished his Dragon Ascension, until Soul V has finished his Marathon. Finally, people arrive before the majestic academy gates.

Touching the seal conjures a familiar phrase.

[You’re not worthy, you’re not worthy.]

Gapar’s eyes turned red, and he drew his sword to strike, only to have the blade repelled.

This is the second time, the second time he has encountered such mockery!

"Hold on, there’s a map in the corpse’s embrace."

Turci suddenly said.

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