It’s an Academic Fact That Rankers Are Model Students – Chapter 76

Chapter 76: About That Time When I Went to the Dungeon and There Was a Paladin (1)

[This is the first time you’ve made a Common item.]

[Dexterity has increased by 1.]

[1 hour has been added to the Dimensional Study Room.]

[Gel Pencil]

▶A normal pencil wrapped in soft gel. Thanks to the gel, you won’t get tired even if you hold it for a long time. However, the squishy gel is annoying. The water also seeps out, making it damp, and its durability is poor.

▶Tenacity increased by 5%

▶Concentration decreased by 10%

▶Grade: Common

“Hehe.”

Past or present.

There is still a famous mechanical pencil popular among Korean students.

It’s called the Alpha Gel Sharp!

The grip of this mechanical pencil’s firm and durable jelly is arguably the best in the world.

The pencil Kyung-joon just made was inspired by this mechanical pencil.

Of course, the stats are not that great for actual use.

Nevertheless, Kyung-joon was delighted.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if I could properly research this and make a good writing instrument?”

He couldn’t make the air conditioner he wanted on the first try either.

He had to research and study to make it.

<It would be much better if the gel was harder and didn’t leak water.>

“You’re right. More firm and solid.”

He had a direction for his research.

He thought he should look into general chemistry and polymer chemistry a bit more.

Polymer structure theory, polymer solid theory, polymer solution theory, and so on.

<Polymer solution theory. This book seems to be the key. It is said to be a study that deals with the properties of colloids or solutions, such as the gel you just made.>

“Oh, that’s it. Good, good.”

He also decided what to study.

Next was the research material that would form the basis of his research.

“Earth Slime core won’t work here.”

<Yes. It burns up quickly even if you put in a little bit of mana, so it’s impossible to make it more durable.>

He had to find the materials.

Like when he went to the Fairy-Elven Magic Academy to make a dedicated scroll with the Tree of Memory for the air conditioner.

“Is there any slime that’s really firm?”

<How about going to a dungeon?>

“Oh.”

This time, he had to go to some dungeon and get a slime core.

A very firm and tough one.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

Slime Labyrinth Dungeon.

This is a place created by the slime sorcerer, Limurimu, and it is a dungeon with an entry limit of 2 or more people.

“Cackle! Kuahahaha!”

Somewhere in a basement.

Limurimu was watching a crystal ball.

━Ugh! What the! My sword won’t work…!

━How can a slime be this tough!

━Kyaaaak!

The screams of adventurers raiding the dungeon.

Limurimu had installed video memory stones throughout the dungeon so he could watch the adventurers raid the dungeon in real time.

Why?

Because as the creator of the dungeon, he needed to see how the dungeon was actually being raided.

And also…….

“Kkeukkeu! Kuahahaha! Good! Good! Become even more slimy! Scream for your life covered in slime! Kuahaha! Kuahahahaha!”

……because Limurimu’s unique and greatest hobby was to watch adventurers struggle helplessly against slimes.

“Who dares call slimes the weakest species! You fools who don’t know the beauty of slimes! Chew on your own ignorance of having ignored slimes all this time and become nourishment for my children! Kuahaha! Kuahahahaha!”

Adventurers who dismissed slimes as the weakest species.

But the slimes Limurimu made were different.

The slimes that Limurimu had spent his entire life researching were more resilient, intelligent, and powerful than any other slime.

In terms of level, they were close to level 200!

Furthermore, each slime had special abilities, so it wasn’t like you could just kill them with high damage.

Thorough analysis and strategy were required.

At the same time, there were so many of them that Limurimu’s Slime Labyrinth was known as a very difficult dungeon among players.

So much so that only a few rankers had cleared it!

[The adventurers have been wiped out.]

[Collecting items.]

[1 High-grade item, 2 Rare items.]

“Oh! Two Rares! This is a good haul, a good haul! With this as my capital, I’ll make even stronger slimes!”

Limurimu’s pointed ears perked up excitedly.

They were not elf ears.

They were much smaller and sharper than elf ears.

They were the ears of a Demon.

[New adventurers have entered the dungeon.]

[Number of entrants: 2]

“Oh my. More prey. There’s been a lot of fools lately who don’t seem to value their lives, haven’t there?”

Limurimu licked his lips with his long tongue and looked at the crystal ball.

But then something unbelievable happened.

━Hmm? What’s that? I feel some faint mana being emitted.

━There it is. Yeah, yeah. Aha, so that’s like a CCTV.

━Huh? Paladin? Uh, who am I talking to? It’s just me talking to myself. It’s a habit.

“W, What the…… Could it be……? “

Did he just notice the video memory stone that no one had ever noticed before?

No, that’s impossible.

“There’s no way…… he’s not a fairy…… At least an elf might not know, but for a mere human to notice this……”

It was happening.

As if to prove it, the man in the crystal ball was looking straight at Limurimu.

And then he waved.

━Hello there?

Just like how people playfully pose and wave when they see a CCTV.

And then……

━See you at the end. Dungeon Master.

The man shot an Energy Bolt towards Limurimu.

Crack!

And then the video cut out.

“……”

Static. Sizzle.

The crystal ball showing the entrance of the dungeon only showed meaningless noise.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

A few hours before Kyung-joon entered Limurimu’s Slime Labyrinth.

A popular post was uploaded on 『World Inven』, the largest community site in The World.

[World Inven’s Latest Popular Post]

[Subject: Where is the dungeon with the strong slimes?]

[Author: 2ndPlaceinSchool]

[Content: I need to catch a really strong slime right now. Are there any dungeons like that? Recommendations please]

[Likes: 164] [Dislikes: 3]

▶[ㅇㅇ]: Cho Yong-pil going up, Choo Shin-soo going down

▶[Recommendation Fairy 1]: I’ll give you a like

▶[Recommendation Fairy 2]: Done^^

▶[Recommendation Fairy 3]: Sigh… This is the last time, okay?

▶[Author]: Crazy b@stards

▶[PhantomSherlock]: Are you talking about Limurimu’s Slime Labyrinth by any chance?

└[TheWorld’sGreatestMerchant]: Yeah, sounds like it. But the way he’s asking, he seems like a noob who can’t clear it.

└[TheWorld’sGreatestMerchant]: What are you doing not working?

└[PhantomSherlock]: I’m on break lol

└[TheWorld’sGreatestMerchant]: Pay cut

└[PhantomSherlock]: Connecting right now

▶[PigeonEatRice]: Coo

└[PigeonEatRice]: Coo coo coo coo coo

└[PigeonEatRice]: Coo coo coo coo coo coo coo coo coo coo

└[PigeonEatRice]: (Image of a pigeon eating rice)

▶[MilitaryWifeHighSchoolGirl]: Hawawa Slime Labyrinth is so scary

└[MilitaryWifeHighSchoolGirl]: (Image of BJ Meeguning with wide eyes)

▶[CombatWizard]: Ugh, those crazy and otaku b@stards are here again

└[PigeonEatRice]: Coo coo coo coo coo coo coo coo coo coo

└[PigeonEatRice]: (Image of a pigeon eating rice)

└[MilitaryWifeHighSchoolGirl]: Hawawa Physical-nim is so scary ;ㅅ;

└[MilitaryWifeHighSchoolGirl]: (Image of BJ Meeguning running away)

└[CombatWizard]: You two better watch your stomachs

└[CombatWizard]: I’ll beat you up the moment I see you

▶[CombatWizard]: Oh right. Author-nim. Limurimu’s Slime Labyrinth is in the Uranga Wetlands between the Kingdom of Francois and the Kingdom of Deutschland. You’ll find it if you look for the Soggy Forest there.

└[CombatWizard]: The dungeon entry limit is a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 people, but you’ll need to be at least level 200 to get a party. But the strategy there is so tricky that people don’t go there often lol

└[CombatWizard]: If you’re going to go when you’re leveled up, be prepared.

└[Author]: Okay, thanks for the detailed explanation

▶[ㅇㅇ]: ????What the hell, why are all the rankers gathered in this post?

．

．

．

Currently, Kyung-joon was in the Soggy Forest of the Uranga Wetlands.

“So this is the place.”

He could see players gathered in the forest plaza ahead.

They were busy forming parties.

“Looking for a dealer with high piercing and accuracy! Archers and spearmen welcome!”

“Looking for one more person for a boss try party! Bards and priests welcome!”

“Can a thief join?”

“Ah, a thief……”

“A thief is a bit……”

Kyung-joon passed them and went straight to the dungeon entrance.

Kyung-joon checked the dungeon description window and clicked his tongue, as expected.

[Limurimu’s Slime Labyrinth]

▶Cackle… Kuahahaha! You ignorant and pitiful fools who don’t know the beauty of slimes! Come! Come! Come quickly and become nourishment for my cute slimes! Kuahaha, Kuahahahaha! -Limurimu-

▶Recommended Level: Lv.200 or higher, 1st Promotion or higher

▶Dungeon Type: Artificial Dungeon

▶Dungeon Grade: Unique

※This dungeon can only be entered by a party of 2 to 4 people.

※Entry is not allowed for those above level 280.

“So there really is a 2-person entry limit.”

<It seems you have no choice but to form a party.>

“You’re right. I think I can clear it alone, but……”

Although Kyung-joon was a solo player, he decided to form a party this time as he had no other choice.

He went back to the center of the forest plaza and looked around to see if there were any decent parties.

“Looking for one more person for a boss try party! We’re good to go as soon as you join!”

The party that had been looking for one more member since earlier.

Thinking that the faster, the better, Kyung-joon decided to give it a shot like the rejected thief from before.

“I’m a wizard, can I join the party?”

“Oh, a wizard. Is that okay?”

The party leader’s face brightened up a bit at the sound of the word “wizard.”

It was a stark contrast to the thief from before.

It was understandable.

It would be very difficult to clear the Slime Labyrinth with a thief’s short dagger.

The party leader subtly added his requirements.

“It would be perfect if you have some buff skills.”

“I don’t have buff skills. But I have high DPS and I know the strategy well.”

“Hmm…… Is that so? Well, we have enough DPS… Wait a moment.”

The party leader asked Kyung-joon for a moment and talked with the party members.

They all seemed to have pretty good equipment.

On the other hand, Kyung-joon was still wearing his beginner clothes, so the looks he received weren’t very pleasant.

“Why is his equipment like that?”

“To have come this far, he’s definitely not a beginner.”

“Is he hiding his items?”

“Some rankers do that sometimes……”

“Party leader, just ask his level for now. If he’s a ranker level, it might be a piece of cake.”

“That’s right. He might not like it if we ask about his items, so let’s not ask.”

“Alright.”

The party leader, finishing the conversation, looked at Kyung-joon again.

His expression was full of anticipation.

“If you don’t mind, could you tell us your level? Just roughly how much.”

“It’s around the early 100s.”

“Hey~ Don’t lie.”

“It’s true.”

“……Really?”

“Yes, really.”

As if to prove his point, Kyung-joon turned on his status window sharing, showing only his level.

▶Kyung-joon (Player): Lv.136 (0th Promotion)

Ugh!

The party leader’s forehead creased severely as he saw Kyung-joon’s status window.

He was really in his early 100s and hadn’t even completed his 1st Promotion!

The party leader, composing himself, spoke with a stern and serious expression.

“I’m sorry. We only accept those who are level 200 or higher. We can’t accept anyone below late 100s. I hope to see you again if fate allows.”

“Okay.”

There was no need to cling to someone who clearly didn’t want him.

Kyung-joon readily nodded and went to find another party.

However,

“Ah, that level is a bit……”

“Please level up a bit more.”

“If you have really good items, we’ll accept you. Not beginner clothes.”

“No, you haven’t even done your 1st Promotion, why are you here already…… It’s more amazing how you even got here.”

None of the parties accepted Kyung-joon.

At first, seeing his confident expression and beginner clothes, they often thought, 『Could he be a ranker cosplaying as a beginner?』

“It won’t work.”

But in the end, when they found out his real level, they rejected him right away.

“I think I’ll have to hire someone with money.”

<→>

<Master, before that, how about trying to talk to them over there?>

“Ah, over there?”

Kyung-joon turned his gaze to the corner of the forest plaza.

There, a middle-aged man was standing with a picket sign.

<Ranker 6th Place>

▼DPSPaladin (Player)

『Greetings. I’m a paladin who can deal damage, heal, and tank. Looking for party members. Current party members (1/4).』

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