Chapter: 115
Arthur was going on and on about how he seemed to have better grades than Joy in most of the exams.
Joy, on the other hand, repeated countless silly mistakes, and thanks to that, she got the wrong answers on many questions she shouldn’t have.
Had this world flowed as it normally would, Joy would have scored around 9th or 10th as usual.
But what drastically raised Joy’s scores was none other than the Magic Manipulation Class.
Since it’s a class that anyone learning magic has to take, both Joy and Arthur were enrolled, and they ended up taking the same exam.
The professor of that class was someone who emphasized practical skills, so naturally, the exam for the Magic Manipulation Class was hands-on.
“This time, the assignment was about how many magical spells you can handle stably at once.”
Hearing Arthur’s story, I understood why Joy thanked me.
That was what I had been practicing with her.
“The Foolish Young Lady showed phenomenal skills in that exam.”
Joy must have worked on her proficiency in magic manipulation every night until she ran out of mana, just as I instructed.
There was no way her proficiency level, honed by a user rather than an NPC, wouldn’t stand out.
Joy proudly received the highest score in the Magic Manipulation Class, surpassing everyone else.
The strict professor, who had given perfect scores only to four people in his lifetime, had done it again.
Arthur also displayed excellent skills in that exam, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy the professor, who had already witnessed Joy’s miraculous talent first-hand. Therefore, Arthur received a significantly lower score compared to Joy.
“Do you understand my grievance?! It’s bizarre to have rankings flipped based on a single exam score! I didn’t even perform poorly in the Magic Manipulation exam! If looking only at overall rankings, I placed 2nd! But the score gap between 1st and 2nd was too large, causing the ranks to flip!”
I had to admit that Arthur had reason to feel wronged.
He had won in all other exams, so it would indeed be frustrating to drop ranks because of just one test.
“Nonetheless, Your Highness. A win is a win! It’s shameful you can’t acknowledge that.”
“Joy! You’re unbelievable!”
Joy was all smiles, clearly delighted that she had beaten Arthur.
It was truly rare to see her, with her fearsome appearance, looking so joyful. Was she bursting into laughter by her own standards?
Had she been secretly holding onto resentment from being teased by Arthur all this time?
“Honestly, you should’ve achieved a higher score. If you had, you wouldn’t have to lose to me.”
I don’t know who taught her, but she had learned to deliver zingers quite well.
Arthur seemed unable to keep up with the rapid-fire facts being thrown at him.
At this rate, he might blurt out some vulgarities!
After thoroughly teasing Arthur, Joy turned her head toward me.
“It’s thanks to Lady Allen. Because you asked him to practice, I could receive the professor’s high praise.”
“Damn it, Lucy Allen. What is this? Have you met the Prophet in black clothing or something?!”
The Prophet in black clothing? What’s that?
As I tilted my head at this unfamiliar story, Arthur sighed.
“Oh right. You don’t have any friends.”
‘Arthur?’
“Pitiful Prince? Are you being a pain right now?”
“Sorry, I misspoke. Let me explain as an apology.”
The Prophet in black clothing seems to be a rumor circulating among the students of the Academy.
They say if you walk around the nearby town at dusk, you might encounter a man in black clothing who provides answers to the questions you ask him, but only if you pay the appropriate fee.
Of course, the accuracy of his answers is 100%!
Sometimes, he even suggests solutions to problems you’re worried about.
Having heard all this, I realized the true identity behind this rumor.
That’s Nakrad!
What on earth is that guy doing in the back alleys?
He hasn’t fully lifted the seals on the Evil God he serves, so if the hunt begins, he’ll be toast!
Is he trying to bulk up his own team now that the sloppy Princess has failed?
Is he really putting his life on the line for this?
Looks like he’s pretty ticked off at me.
Hmm. I should plan on taking Karl and Alsatine along to mess with that guy later.
With Grandpa’s sensing ability, it shouldn’t be too hard to find him.
“Are you telling me you didn’t know about this rumor at all?! What’s this? So, Lucy Allen, are your insights not just limited to the Dungeon, but also reach the Academy?!”
“Well, it wouldn’t be odd if it’s Lady Allen, would it? Your Highness.”
“Still, he is… ugh. Lucy Allen! Be fair next time! Do you understand?! Fairly!”
Um, excuse me. I knew nothing about this!
I had absolutely no clue what would be on the mid-term exam.
The game never gave you such information.
If I had known, I would have panicked when the log went kaput during the exam!
I just told her what you should generally do when leveling up a wizard character, and it just happened to connect!
Don’t expect anything weird from me!
‘I swear, I don’t know anything! I’m just an idiot!’
“Heh. Are you begging, Pitiful Prince? But I really don’t know anything, you know? No matter what you say, I know nothing.”
“Don’t lie! Lucy Allen! Are you only going to take care of your own people?!”
No, I really don’t know anything!
*
Finally shaking off Arthur, who was trying to get me to spill some information for next time, I attended several classes at the Academy.
Maybe because it wasn’t long after the mid-term exams ended, but it didn’t feel like everyone was focused on class, and the professors seemed to understand this and wrapped things up quickly.
Thanks to that, I had some time to spare, and I immediately headed to the alleyway on the Academy street.
I had left something at the mansion.
– Hello… Ah. What is it? Is that you?
As soon as I stepped into the mansion, Adri appeared with a bright smile, but upon seeing my face, she immediately frowned.
Even though she doesn’t like me as much as Visi, isn’t this a bit too much discrimination?
If I hadn’t been used to this kind of treatment, I would have been hurt!
I tried to talk, but Adri just gave me a face that was like “Here we go again.”
This is really too much.
Do you think I’m just some kind of pushover?!
Most people tremble at the sight of me!
Am I really that scary?!
– Anyway, why are you here?
‘I came to play with you.’
“Did you come to keep the Lonely Old Hag from dying alone?”
– Oh really? Then if I say I’m not lonely, will you leave me alone?
‘I won’t!’
“Why should I listen to a Lonely Old Hag? I don’t want to!”
– sigh Fine, do as you wish.
Seeing Adri wave her hand like she was too annoyed to deal with me made me want to tease her more, but I decided against it.
I had things to do.
Walking past the sulking Adri up to the second floor, I found the sword I had nearly thrown aside the last time I escaped the mansion.
– You came here to find that?
‘Yes.’
“Ah, right.”
I was thinking of gifting this to Karl, who was getting busier with his duties as a professor.
The sword he’s been using is good, but it’s probably not as good as this one.
Besides, Karl calls himself my dog.
I can only imagine how he’ll wag his tail when I give him a gift.
– Be careful. That holds the Curse of the Spirits. It’s fine for you, but an ordinary person would die from the curse.
As I pondered how to calm down Karl, who’s bound to be all excited, Adri flatly advised me.
Oh, are you worried about me right now?
Even though you complain about it and say to leave quickly, I guess you’re still thinking about it?
You really are like an old lady who has lived alone for a long time, struggling with conversations with others.
It would be nice if you would just honestly say you’re worried.
Seeing Adri, I laughed loudly, and she quickly averted her gaze.
– I was just worried that disaster might come of that!
‘Oh. I see?’
“I didn’t say anything! What is it, Old Hag? Feeling attacked? snickers Just like a socially awkward Lonely Old Hag. Want a hand? Or should I hug you? You don’t have to be embarrassed.”
– Just go away!
Seeing the items in the mansion starting to remind me of memories, I quickly fled outside.
While I wouldn’t lose to Adri, if we got into a fight, the mansion would probably crumble.
Escaping from the mansion, I clutched the sword and headed toward the church.
I know about the curse attached to this sword.
It’s the sword imbued with the obsession of a Holy Knight who became a spirit to kill the spirits.
Any person wielding this sword becomes enveloped in hostility and hatred toward the spirits.
In the game, when you encounter spirits as enemies, you get a penalty that makes you uncontrollable.
I can’t just give Karl something that could lead to a big problem down the line, right?
If that guy disappears, who’s going to protect me!
So I need to resolve this curse beforehand.
By the way, I’m a VIP at the church.
Since I’ve done two curses for Agra, no matter what they think inside, they act nice on the surface.
So they should be able to easily handle the task of removing the curse on this sword.
Heading to the church with a light heart, I encountered a familiar face in front of it.
‘Saintess.’
“Shoddy Saintess.”
It’s been a while since I’ve seen her since the infirmary.
How strange.
Before, it seemed like we ran into each other often.
Is it just my imagination?
We might have crossed paths a few times, but maybe I just didn’t remember?
“Ah, Lady Allen. What brings you to the church?”
‘Yes, I need to…’
“Right. I need to lift the curse on this sword. Even this shoddy church can manage that, right?”
“…Could I see that sword for a moment?”
Is the most qualified person trying to help me?
If Phoebe lifts the curse, I can trust her with it without hesitation.
I handed over the sword without any hesitation, and Phoebe gazed at it intently.
Clink! Clank!
Ever since she had been taken in by the church and raised as a Saintess around the time she began to mature, Phoebe had an abnormal level of detailed knowledge about anything related to Jushin Church.
This object is certainly a product of the Jushin Church.
It’s a precious item that can only be received by someone at the level of a high-ranking official.
Where did you get this antique that’s more suitable to be called a relic than a modern item?
And to think it’s an object inscribed with the Curse of Spirits, penetrating even blessings?
Unable to hold back her curiosity, Phoebe asked Lucy, who nonchalantly explained it.
“It’s got the Shoddy Jushin’s guidance after we conquered the dungeon, and this was the reward.”
You received guidance from the Shoddy Lord?
Hearing that, Phoebe lifted her gaze from the sword and looked at Lucy curiously.
Again?
Just you?
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