Chapter: 104
After being active elsewhere, Nakrad returned to the vicinity of the academy only to find that all the dungeons he had earmarked were gone, resulting in an uh… of disbelief.
What on earth is going on?
It’s not like they were just left alone; someone must have found and strategized against them using Tariki’s power.
It’s possible for one to be found by chance.
But nearly a dozen dungeons all being conquered?
There was no need to wonder who the culprit was.
The one who conquered the dungeons had left traces behind as if to taunt Nakrad.
The Apostle of Armadi.
Did that shoddy god provide you with any revelations?
I should’ve killed her that day, after all.
I thought I could toy with her, but look where it got me.
Grinding his teeth, Nakrad let out a long breath.
It has become difficult.
This is how the plan gets twisted.
I was planning to recruit a single foolish girl to create chaos in the academy by exploiting her desires.
When the dungeons ran rampant, I was supposed to sprinkle Tariki’s power amidst the chaos, but now!
Nakrad wiped his face.
Is my arrogance hindering what God desires?
I wish I could atone with my life right away, but I can’t at the moment.
Even if I did, it wouldn’t change reality.
Even if it’s twisted, I must find a way to achieve what Tariki wants.
That is the Apostle’s mission.
If it comes to my life, I can offer it later.
If only I had time, I would have looked for other alternatives.
But there isn’t even time for that.
“If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have left.”
What good does it do to successfully spread Tariki’s glory?
I failed to fulfill Tariki’s wishes.
Biting my lip until it bled, I pondered.
‘Child.’
I heard a voice.
‘My child.’
The voice flowing from the shadows wrapped around me.
I recognized this voice.
Because it was Nakrad, I recognized it.
“Ah, Tariki.”
The Apostle of Evil God immediately knelt in reverence.
Tears streamed down my face as the voice of God spoke kindly despite my mistakes.
‘Do not worry. Our center has prepared everything.’
“Ah.”
‘The power granted by that being shall also flow toward you.’
*
Days passed after starting to erase the dungeons surrounding the academy, and it was the day before midterms began.
I was finally cracking open a book to study for the test I would take tomorrow.
[Can this really be called studying? I’m just flipping through the pages.]
‘Since my blessing remembers, there’s no problem.’
[Girl, you know studying is not simply about getting high scores…]
Now adept at tuning out Grandpa’s nagging, I half-heartedly replied while scanning the book’s contents.
Hm! I really don’t get it!
I’ve thought about this for a while, but trying to learn something without any foundation or common sense is impossibly difficult.
If I truly want to study, I might as well start with books aimed at 7 or 8-year-olds.
I can’t keep sleeping during class forever; maybe I should at least pretend to study later on.
Lost in thought while flipping through the pages, I finally closed the book and stretched.
I had logged everything I needed for tomorrow’s test; I could just review it right before the exam.
Huuuh, maybe I’ll take a day off after the test.
I’ve been so caught up in conquering dungeons lately.
I’ve been taking out three dungeons per day just to have a little ease for a day or two.
From midterms onward, I even participated directly in battles rather than just commanding from behind.
Despite all the hardships, I still gained a lot.
My level surpassed my original goal and reached 25,
and thanks to acquiring various minor items, my pockets are fuller now.
Through the process of gaining practical experience, my mace proficiency and shield proficiency also increased significantly.
At this point, even Grandpa, who saw me fighting, said I’d be able to hold my own against a decent knight.
Of course, ‘decent’ doesn’t include the knights of the Allen Family.
Grandpa mentioned that those training there were all extraordinary beings, and that right now, I couldn’t bear against them.
To hold my own against even knights from our family, I need to train even longer.
Still, I can feel that even during duels, Karl is still showing me some leniency. Do you think the knights from the family would be any different?
Regardless, this growth rate is amazingly steep.
If I had to compare it to a game, it’s fast by any measure.
All the intense training I went through in the Allen Family before entering the academy is finally paying off.
Now, I might actually win against senior students who are strong enough to be in the second year.
No matter how you look at it, this is thanks to that shoddy god.
By constantly throwing obstacles in my way, that shoddy god has allowed me to become stronger so quickly.
I wonder what that petty evil god was thinking while seeing how his troubles became my aids.
“Lady Allen!”
I turned my head at the sound of a girl’s voice knocking on the door.
Who could it be at this hour? It’s bed time!
Even if it weren’t late, no one would come to my dorm.
Could someone be playing a prank?
I tilted my head as I got up and opened the door, only to find Visi standing there.
“Lady!”
‘What is it?’
“What’s the matter? Supporting cast, Lady.”
“Please help me! You’re my only support!”
Help you?
Visi’s sudden outburst puzzled me as she quickly explained.
Her story was like this.
Tonight.
She was talking to a ghost in a haunted mansion when suddenly the ghost hid her in a closet.
Shortly after, a figure painted in black broke into the mansion.
The ghost, displaying strange powers it never showed before, fought against the black figure but ultimately lost and had a stone of garnet pushed into its chest.
“As soon as the stone was embedded in Adri’s chest, a dungeon entrance appeared right there. Adri disappeared completely; she was surely sucked inside that dungeon!”
Listening to Visi’s explanation, one thought floated in my mind.
Why did this incident happen so soon?
The creation of dungeons based on the ghost of the mansion had already occurred in the Soul Academy game.
As I mentioned before, the being creating dungeons in this world is that shoddy god.
This god, the lord of various evil gods, creates dungeons to spread chaos in the world.
This is Agra’s unique authority, but it’s also a power that can be passed down to other evil gods.
The problem is that the other evil gods who received this power can’t create dungeons anywhere like Agra can.
They are weaker than Agra, hence they need a focal point to create a dungeon.
Something with enough power or history.
In that sense, the ghost of the haunted mansion is perfectly suited to be that focal point.
Having resided there for a long time, it carries deep history and, at the same time, bears enough resentment to become a haunting spirit.
However, the birth of the dungeon based on a ghost is expected in the second year of the academy.
It’s an event that would occur a year from now when Agra’s seal weakens more.
So why is this happening now?
“Please help me, Lady Allen! Please! Help me rescue Adri from the dungeon. I’ll do anything you ask, so please!”
Seeing Visi, eyes red and tears streaming down her face, a sigh escaped me.
Wondering why this has happened won’t change anything.
What I should consider is something else.
Whether or not to help Visi.
Or whether to ignore her wish.
If Visi’s request was a simple one asking to conquer an ordinary dungeon, I would have nodded without a second thought.
Like any other dungeon, I could just charge in with Karl and Alsatine and smash my way through.
But the dungeons created by evil gods other than Agra possess unique characteristics.
Solo play.
I would have to conquer the dungeon alone.
That means taking on everything that happens inside by myself.
Even if crazy variables arise in there and I meet my end.
Could I just send in Karl?
I would like to do that, but it’s impossible.
Regardless of whether Karl is scared of the ghost, there’s an undeniable fact.
The theme of that place is necromancy.
Just like before when I confronted the necromancer, it means becoming completely immune to physical attacks.
If Karl were to go in alone, he would only be tormented by ghosts, making it impossible to conquer.
Unless he could imbue the mace with divinity, but…
Haa.
I know full well what a dungeon made from a ghost would be like.
I know precisely what monsters will appear inside, what the pathways will be like, and how to strategize against the boss.
Difficulty?
With my current state, it’s entirely conquerable.
The reason it is tricky is twofold.
Firstly, I can’t physically attack the monsters inside due to their nature,
And second, the various curses and debuffs used by the ghosts are disgustingly troublesome, but either way, I can handle them.
Especially now that I’ve gifted a ribbon, reducing some of their resentment, I believe I can manage it.
Still, the reason I hesitate is solely one.
I don’t know what will happen inside.
I can’t predict what Agra, that petty evil god, will do.
Look, right now he’s causing something that shouldn’t happen, right?
He’s probably waiting for me to be alone before making his move in there.
I can confidently say he would intervene with the intent to kill me.
Thinking about it rationally, saying no would be the right choice.
This request places me at the juncture of whether I’d merely be losing a ghost or if I’d entangle myself in it as company.
No matter how pitiful the girl in front of me looks, it would make sense to turn her down coldly.
“Lady Allen!”
I know.
I know, but…
Haa.
Fuck.
Seriously.
I cannot bring myself to utter the words of rejection.
– Ding!
As I wiped my face, I suddenly heard a sound and raised my head.
This isn’t a dungeon, so there’s only one person who could be sending me a message.
The Shoddy God.
[Quest: Save the Ghost!]
[Rescue the ghost that has become the key to the dungeon!]
[Reward: Dungeon Escape Pass (Prepaid)]
[Failure: None]
Huh?…
What? Dungeon Escape Pass?
Is it what I think it is?
Ha!
Hahahaha…
…
Shoddy God, do you know that?
It’s been a long time since I became your apostle, but this is the first time I’ve felt you actually want to give me something.
If you could do this regularly, that would be great, Lord Armadi.
You mean to say to go if I want to be saved?
Got it. I’ll go.
“Let’s go, Visi.”
“Let’s go, supporting cast, Lady.”
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