Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The new Instance Dungeon was too difficult!
That was what the gamers thought after they challenged the new Instance Dungeon.
The combat pace was extremely fast, and there was no fixed tactic to deal with the BOSSES. The skills in the game couldnât be understood as there were no proper explanations. The gamers couldnât pinpoint their location or find BUGS to exploit. They had to depend on their capability to defeat the BOSSES.
The graduating students in Specter College had to put in more effort as the difficulty had been raised just like what the gamers experienced. They were in a mutually disadvantaged situation.
The real winner was Sherlock, who sat in front of the computer to read comics, play computer games, and browse the discussion forum.
The gamers had to spend Reputation Points and game coins to challenge the Instance Dungeon. After being killed, they had to spend Reputation Points and game coins to redeem their equipment. The gamers were enthusiastic in challenging the Instance Dungeon, and death was as common as breathing.
A portion of the gamers was unable to earn Magic Stones in Winterfell. Sherlock had introduced some good stuff like the eggs of the Houndhead Man, which were limited to a hundred and had rare labels. The gamers were racking their brains on how to obtain them.
A Houndhead Man egg cost a hundred Magic Stones. Only the rich gamers could afford it.
As for the Houndhead Man pet hatched from the egg, Sherlock found that the creature was very cute based on his observations in the Dungeon and on the discussion forum.
But the gamers didnât think the same way.
[Is there an issue with aesthetic value in the game âDungeon: Eternal Kingdomâ? You call the label cute?]
Then there were a bunch of pictures of small Houndhead Man pets.
The fangs werenât proportional to the huge head, and the skin was grayish red as though it was burnt. The triangular eyes were inverted, and blood vessels that looked like tree roots climbed all over the body. The creatures looked like an extremely ugly and shrunk version of the three-headed Hell Hound without two heads.
The Houndhead Man pets or Hell Hound pets were only as tall as the gamersâ calves when hatched.
The pet didnât take clay, only meat, and the meat created by the gamers using Mana wasnât accepted.
The pet loved Large Lizards Meat, Spider Meat, and Dire Wolf Meat.
It wasnât possible to keep one without money as the pet ate like Eggface.
Most of the gamers felt the pet was too ugly. Only a small portion of the gamers who played âWorld of Warcraftâ thought otherwise.
âThe uglier the creature, the better the character, and the greater the value for keeping it. What do you know?â
While Sherlock was browsing the discussion forum, he heard a knock at the door.
âCome in.â
Brainiac walked in.
âLord Sherlock, Iâm here to report information.â
Brainiac nodded and brought a bag of documents to Sherlock.
âItâs information transmitted from Specter College. All twenty groups of candidates who took part in the Level A examination graduated successfully. The graduation rate skyrocketed while the costs also increased. The cost of a Level A examination is equivalent to ten Level B examinations. Specter College was very pleased with the results. Even parents gifted the college with pennants.â
âThatâs good news. Making our customers happy is our first motto,â Sherlock said rightfully.
âAccording to my speculation, itâs only a matter of time before the Gnomes and Houndhead Men defeat the Lich students in the Level A examination grounds.â Brainiac frowned and said, âPardon me for being direct, but your servants arenât fools. They will assimilate experiences, and they have a hive awareness, which brings considerable group benefits. From my observation, they are faring better and better in the Level A examinations. In the future, if the students are unable to graduate, Specter College will be complaining again.â
âIs that an opinion of Professor Bacon?â Sherlock asked.
âNo, Iâm suggesting it for Lord Sherlockâs benefit and consideration. We have to maintain the median graduation rate, like before. If the students are unable to graduate again, the college will make things difficult for Lord Sherlock,â Brainiac said earnestly.
âHmm, what you have said makes sense. Iâm also considering the issue. Since we already have the Level A and B, why donât we add Level S and SS?â Sherlock said.
Brainiac rebuked quickly, âLord Sherlock, this isnât possible. From what I know, students have mastered their most powerful servants for the Level A examination. The only way for them to be stronger is for them to fight in person, but that isnât safe for them. The college wonât allow that to happen.â
âIâm not asking them to fight in person. Letâs not talk about creating more difficult examinations. If the graduation rate declines, we can consider making our servants slower and decreasing their damage and the acuity of their senses. The more intelligent candidates can approach me with Magic Stones...â
Sherlock hesitated to continue. Brainiac was taken aback, and he asked, âLord Sherlock, are you implying accepting bribery? And intentionally reducing the difficulty of the examination by making the Gnomes and Houndhead Men less combat worthy?â
âI didnât say that. Thatâs your own reasoning. If there are any problems, youâll be responsible,â Sherlock waved his hand and said.
âI understand...â Brainiac nodded and bowed to Sherlock before walking out.
âLord Sherlock, Brainiac is very concerned about the examinations at Specter College,â Bru said to Sherlock after Brainiac left.
âSince Professor Bacon is in charge of the examinations and he is the student of Bacon, naturally, he will be concerned,â Sherlock said.
âIâm not worried about the graduation rate. The new Instance Dungeon has just commenced. The gamers and the Lich students are both adapting. Am I right?â
âThatâs correct,â Bru agreed.
Sherlock took out some paper and a pen and started writing.
âSpecter Collegeâ Examination, Level A Examination Notes (Hardcover Version 1.22)