Chapter: 125
In the world of Soul Academy, there exists a forest of considerable size, where those who can be called its masters reside.
In the distant past, these beings were considered gods, possessing abilities unmatched by ordinary creatures, and they bestow great blessings upon those they recognize.
It goes without saying that these once-deified beings do not grant even an audience to just anyone.
They only allow their faces to be seen when they deem a person worthy.
However, this condition varies among the spirits; in the case of the spirit of Siluf Forest, it’s force.
In the game, you could meet them once you reached a certain level.
Something like, “You’re a promising candidate worthy of meeting.”
So, I wasn’t worried at all.
I thought, since I had been leveling up steadily, I’d be able to meet them just fine.
I believed getting recognition wouldn’t be too hard either.
Even by game standards, my current force was top-tier.
Having a good fight against the spirit would be much easier than facing Nakrad.
But who could have predicted this twist!
“I heard just the other day. It has been decided to go to Saitil Forest.”
‘Why on earth?!’
“Such a slapdash. What’s the reason?”
Saitil Forest, of all places!
That’s supposed to be the destination for the second semester!
Why has the order of forests suddenly changed?!
“I heard it was due to safety concerns. This year’s academy has had too many incidents, hasn’t it? They judged Saitil Forest a more suitable place to ensure student safety than Siluf Forest.”
Oh, that’s the reason?
Karl, although he said he didn’t know the specifics, I had a good hunch.
Simply put, the master of Saitil Forest cooperates much better than the one of Siluf Forest.
It’s better to protect students from various commotions in Saitil Forest.
If safety is the reason, then there’s no way to contest that.
Ha. Damn it. This is really troublesome.
Isn’t it still possible to gain recognition from the forest’s master even if the forest changes?
In theory, that’s right.
But let’s think this through a bit.
Since I’ve been a veteran gamer, I’ve memorized how to gain recognition from each forest’s master, right?
So why am I stressing out like this?
To meet the master of Saitil Forest requires favorability.
Simply put, you need beauty or dignity.
To raise this stat, I can’t just recklessly throw myself into battles like I’m doing now.
I need to show an interest in beauty, cultivate dignity by mingling in the social circle, and even hire a personal tutor to learn.
Among these, what have I done so far?
Nothing at all.
All I’ve done is raise my level, spec, and proficiency for combat.
I’ve done nothing to raise my favorability.
What that means is that my current favorability is just as it was when I created the character!
What do I do now?
If I continue like this, I won’t gain recognition from the Saitil Forest master.
Sure, if I have high favorability companions like Phoebe or Joy, I might catch the master’s eye, but if that sloppy fox doesn’t recognize me, it won’t mean anything!
No way. I can see the harassment from the Shoddy God creeping up on me.
“Young Lady? Are you alright?”
‘Silence.’
“Sloppy. Close your mouth.”
“Yes, understood.”
Think. I can’t just sit here doing nothing.
I don’t know what that humiliating failure penalty entails, but I sure don’t want to find out.
The environment isn’t that bad.
I have debt owed to Alsatine, and Newman family resources are at my disposal.
It’s definitely possible to find ways to raise my favorability.
Then what’s important now is how much I need to increase my favorability.
While deep in thought, I looked up at Karl.
The simplest way for me, who can’t see the status window right now, to check my favorability is to observe NPC reactions.
NPC reactions change depending on the favorability stat.
To be specific, if the favorability is low, their reactions get cold, and if it’s high, their reactions become friendly.
“Karl, am I pretty?”
“Sloppy. Am I pretty?”
“Of course, why would you even ask? Young Lady, you possess an appearance akin to an angel descended from the heavens. Your skin is…”
‘That’s enough.’
“Because it’s creepy, stop! You sloppy lolicon.”
Right. If I ask you, that’s the kind of answer I’d get.
I don’t know why it turned out like this, but he’s one of those who dotes on his master.
I’ve done nothing to him, yet I can’t figure out why my favorability with him is so high.
Who should I ask then?
Asking just any ordinary NPC won’t return a good reaction.
Before we talk about favorability, there’s a reputation issue.
When they hear the name Lucy Allen, they grimace. Do you think asking if I’m pretty will yield a proper answer?
The only one left who could offer an objective evaluation around me is…
Joy has high favorability, so she can’t be objective.
Frey will likely give some weird answers.
Phoebe will only say nice things, rendering it meaningless.
Visi or Avery Alsatine will sugarcoat their comments because they’ll watch my expressions, so I’ll exclude them.
So, Arthur, I guess?
Hmm. He should be suitable.
Since we fought once before, he likely holds no grudges against me, and his favorability isn’t particularly high either.
Judging my current favorability based on his reactions will likely be the most accurate.
*
Ever since losing to Joy in the mid-term exam, Arthur has been busy honing himself.
He had previously been quite diligent but has ramped up his efforts recently.
Back then, he was grumbling while throwing around words in various ways, but no matter what, a loss was a loss.
If only Arthur had received a slightly higher score. Frankly speaking, if he had just outperformed Lucy Allen, then there wouldn’t have been any problem at all.
The ridicule he endured from that defeat weighed heavily on Arthur, who vowed to not only surpass Joy but also crush Lucy Allen’s pride next time.
However, the problem was that Lucy Allen was moving further away.
“Is the first clear of the academy dungeon?”
The first person in the long history of the academy to become the inaugural clearer in their first year, first semester.
Lucy Allen.
This was already a foreseen outcome.
She had everything about the dungeon in her palm.
To her, the academy dungeon was merely a place that could be conquered whenever she wished.
Thus, having achieved such results was only natural.
“She possesses such talent; it would be fine to be a little lazy.”
Yet she seemingly continues to leverage her abilities to achieve even greater results.
It’s as if she is running towards a realm where no one can catch up.
“But someday, I will definitely achieve victory against Lucy Allen.”
This may sound arrogant, but I have never once thought of myself as under-talented compared to others.
I firmly believe I am a shining star as well.
No matter how bright Lucy Allen shines, one day I will catch up and surpass her.
And then I will ask.
I will ask the meaning of what you said back then.
“Me? Pitiful Prince. You dream big, don’t you? You, the sloppy one, getting beaten every day.”
Arthur, clenching his fists while thinking this, cautiously turned his head to the voice that came from behind him.
There stood the very opponent he had just resolved to win against.
Lucy Allen. Dressed in the academy uniform, she looked up at Arthur with her eyes lazily half-open.
“…What did you hear from the beginning?”
“From the start, huh. Pfft. Are you feeling inferior, Pitiful Prince?”
He was lost in emotions during his training, and she’d heard everything from the very start?!
Arthur felt an indescribable embarrassment and urgently turned his head to hide his reddened face.
“What brings you here?”
“I just wanted to ask. The sloppy pitiful prince who feels inferior to a girl.”
“…Just cut it out. I messed up.”
Having grown accustomed to being teased as a prince, Arthur found it unbearable how Lucy treated him like a toy.
While Lucy chuckled at his flushed face, she nodded, as if realizing something, and then got to the point.
“Excuse me, Pitiful Prince. What do you think about me with your sloppy eyes? Am I pretty?”
“Huh? What on earth are you talking about all of a sudden?”
Am I pretty?
Why on earth would she ask such a thing without any warning?
“Just answer. If not, I’ll reenact what you muttered all by yourself…”
“N-no. Wait! I’ll answer!”
Damn it. I let my weakness slip in front of this person.
I hope this doesn’t come back to haunt me later.
What was the question again?
Am I pretty?
Arthur swiped his face and looked at Lucy’s face.
Objectively speaking, Lucy was rather pretty.
Even someone like Arthur, who lived among the world’s beauties in the royal palace, could confirm this.
Her skin was as smooth as if untouched by even a single flaw despite enduring fierce training that would make ordinary knights tremble.
Her ruby-colored eyes sparkled as though embedded with actual rubies.
Her hair resembled red silk, so much so that he felt the urge to stroke it without realizing it.
Standing silently, lips shut like a crafted doll made by a skilled artisan, Lucy Allen was undoubtedly beautiful.
There were few in the entire social circle who could compare with her.
Arthur couldn’t deny this fact.
But he couldn’t bring himself to tell Lucy that she was beautiful.
Once he spoke that, who knows what annoying words might spill from those minuscule lips of hers.
“Well, I guess you’re passable.”
“Really?”
When Arthur spoke bluntly, Lucy showed clear signs of disappointment.
Ah, um.
Did I mess up?
No matter how annoying Lucy Allen is, she’s still a young lady; saying she’s passable is quite rude, isn’t it?
“Erm… It’s a joke. You’re among the beautiful ones.”
“Hmm. Is that true, Pitiful Prince?”
“Yeah.”
“I see. Well then, train hard. You can’t beat me, the sloppy pitiful prince.”
“Now that you’ve got what you wanted, scram!”
“Hehe. Okay. I’ll be going now.”
Arthur watched Lucy’s light footsteps walking away and let out a sigh.
Did she really come all the way just to ask that?
*
Hmm. Since those words came out of Arthur’s mouth, it seems my favorability isn’t that low after all.
If I got to hear that I’m pretty, it must be at least above average.
This level is sufficient for me to cover with items.
Okay. I see the answer.
Shoddy God! No matter how much you oppress me, I’ll break through!
That’s what a veteran gamer does!
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