Chapter: 130
Phoebe stared blankly around her.
The yellow walls covered in children’s doodles. Old furniture that was all but ruined.
When the wind blew in, a musty smell mingled with the dust, and in the kitchen, where mealtime was approaching, shouts and screams were more common than laughter.
A place that became a cherished and beautiful memory for young Phoebe. The orphanage.
Normally, this place would be buzzing with countless children, but today it was strangely quiet.
As if everyone who had stayed here had left Phoebe behind.
“How do you feel, Phoebe?”
Feeling something odd and tilting her head, Phoebe turned to the kind and warm voice coming from behind her.
There stood a man.
He wore a spotless white outfit, and the warmth radiating from his outstretched hand was palpable even from a distance. His face shone with a divine light so brilliant that Phoebe couldn’t even dare to look directly at it.
“Lord Armadi.”
Lord Armadi? Phoebe questioned her own utterance and then shook her head.
What am I thinking? That person is Lord Armadi. The one who reigns over countless gods and scatters love evenly across this world.
The great god whom I’ve revered until now and will continue to revere.
Phoebe, how could you doubt that?
“I chose this place, the scenery of the orphanage where you spent your childhood, as a venue for our conversation. Do you like it?”
“Did you recreate this place, Lord Armadi?”
“Yes. It is the place most precious to you, isn’t it?”
Armadi’s words were correct. This orphanage was indeed Phoebe’s most treasured place.
Before she took on the task of being a saintess, it was the place where she could laugh innocently. A place where she could play with friends without a care in the world.
Even now, when she occasionally dreams, she remembers running around the orphanage; if this place isn’t precious to her, where could be?
“Since it’s a long-awaited view, shall we walk around and chat?”
“…Is it alright for me to talk with you, Lord Armadi? You must have already heard all my prayers, but I’m not a righteous person.”
She harbored hatred towards others, envied them, and wished for her own downfall. She couldn’t hold back her incorrect curiosity and ended up bargaining with the Apostle of the Evil God.
On top of that, countless transgressions Phoebe had committed were stacked up in her memories, so how could it be alright to converse with the great Lord?
As Phoebe clasped her hands together and bowed her head, Armadi came closer and gently lifted her chin with his warm hand.
“What are you saying? If the saintess, who has worked harder than anyone else, does not have the right to talk with me, then who does?”
“But…”
“Didn’t I tell you before? It’s okay to make mistakes. What matters is…”
“Whether you can repent for your wrongs and change your actions.”
“Exactly. So don’t say you’re not worthy. Don’t you still have a chance?”
Oh, merciful one. Even allowing this ungodly and wicked person to be forgivable and embracing them, I am so happy that I don’t know what to do.
“Now, let’s move and have a slow conversation. Don’t you have many things to say?”
As Armadi extended his hand, Phoebe hesitated momentarily before taking it.
Ah, Lord Armadi, this is how you repay my faith. My faith was never in vain.
If this is a dream, I wish to never wake up. I wish to remain in this dream forever, by Lord Armadi’s side.
As she thought so, a sudden unease crept in, but she shook her head and ignored it.
With the being she longed to meet right beside her, how could she have other thoughts?
*
“Phoebe…”
“Are you saying that the Sloppy Saintess has been devoured by an illusion?”
“Exactly. She has no intention of waking from the illusion. In reality, she has settled on an illusion that will never happen, wishing that her delusions will last a lifetime.”
Such a foolish and dull child. The Sloppy Fox laughed as it spoke.
Of all people, Phoebe got caught up in an illusion.
Thoughts gushed chaotically in her mind, unable to fathom the unforeseen situation.
I knew Phoebe was shaken far more than in the game. But I never thought it was this serious. After the success of the Prayer of Purification last time, she should have regained some self-esteem, so why?
My head throbbed, and I pressed my forehead with my palm.
Such things hadn’t never occurred in the Soul Academy. If a character’s mental strength was low and they faced a trial, they would often be swept away by an illusion.
But there were a few characters who were completely immune to the trials.
For instance, Frey wouldn’t fall apart even when facing what she desired within an illusion because she couldn’t feel emotions, and Phoebe overcame it no matter how low her mental strength was, so there shouldn’t have been a problem.
Even more so, she should have found it easier to pass the trial this time since she knew its content.
What good would it do to think about this now? Flubble was already out in the open.
“Lady Allen. Lina said that if things continue like this, Phoebe will sleep for a lifetime. What should we do? What can be done?”
“Hold on a second.”
“Sloppy Lady. Be quiet.”
I sighed, cutting off Joy’s voice, which sounded as if she might cry.
Is there no method? There is. If there wasn’t, I wouldn’t have even considered participating in this trial in the first place.
It’s a simple story. The one who created the illusion is right in front of me. Naturally, the solution will exist with them.
I looked up at the Sloppy Fox, who was grinning without a care in the world, and upon my gaze meeting theirs, their smile only broadened.
“If you wish to ask for help, I will refuse. Trials are trials. Even if it goes wrong, it’s something that girl has to bear.”
This Sloppy Fox becomes friendlier the higher one’s favorability is.
If their favorability reaches extremes, they may even give away everything they possess to that person. In some cases, they might even become a willing slave.
So, when this Sloppy Fox says no, it simply means your favorability is too low.
The solution is simple. Just raise your favorability even more to the point where you can charm the Sloppy Fox back.
Conveniently, there are various items in my inventory capable of boosting favorability.
“Lina…”
“Sloppy Fox. I have something to discuss just between us.”
“Do you wish to be alone with her? A confession, perhaps? It’s good to be proactive, but wouldn’t it put a strain on her heart…?”
“That’s not it.”
“Stop the nonsense. Breathing in the same space as a hideous pervert like you makes me want to die of disgust, but I’m tolerating it.”
“Ahh. The harsh gaze and denouncement are delightful. Every part of my body feels invigorated.”
Even when watching through the monitor, it felt like a cringe-fest whenever they said something, and it was worse in reality. It was so grotesque it made my skin crawl.
But they are the only solution, so what can I do?
I promised to resolve this myself and sent Joy and Frey outside, then began taking items out one by one from my inventory.
First up was the Sweet Perfume of Rano. It’s a consumable that instantly raises favorability when sprayed on the body.
“What a pleasant scent. Now, with the fragrance added to this flower that is you, the bees won’t know what to do.”
“Now…”
“Now, do you think you’re willing to grant my request?”
“No. You are beautiful, but that’s not enough.”
As the Sloppy Fox grinned and fawned, they still weren’t at the level of being convinced. The next items I pulled out were various cosmetics, selected as the very best among consumables I could use now.
Since I had learned how to use them before entering the academy from Erin, I had no hesitation as I moved my hands.
“Oh my. This is something. Beautifully added on top of beauty. But still not enough to shake me, huh?”
Not enough? What’s next? The items I brought out now were various accessories that would instantly boost favorability upon wearing.
“How about now?”
“What about now? You perverted Sloppy Fox? Does your twisted sense align?”
Once I adorned myself with all the items prepared, the Sloppy Fox was left speechless.
“Wha–!”
The moment I smiled back at the Sloppy Fox as they stared blankly at my face, they turned red and took a step back.
Just a moment ago, they had been spouting grotesque words like a perverted old man, but now it was different. There was a genuine response as if they were enchanted by something.
Is this enough? Are you thinking of waking Phoebe now?
After a moment of silence, wiping the drool flowing from their mouth, they averted their gaze and stammered.
“W-Well, um. Right now you exude an allure even more fox-like than me, but still. Still…”
Is that still not enough?! Why! I’ve almost got it! Can’t you just let it slide?! Can’t you nicely nod in agreement for some rounding up?
There were still methods left. There was an item in my inventory that had been firmly seated.
An item that would greatly raise my favorability more than anything I’ve used so far.
Ugh. I really didn’t want to use this!
“Um, Lina. Just for a moment…”
“Sloppy Fox. Don’t peek at me like a pervert; get lost. When I call you, come back in.”
“Huh? Is there still something left? Can I expect something to steal your heart?”
“Could you please just get lost?”
“Are you saying that a beastly creature like me can’t understand your words? I said get lost, you perverted livestock.”
“Okay. I’ll step out for a bit.”
The Sloppy Fox, unable to control their cackling smile, went outside, and I laid the bunny girl outfit on the bed.
I thought I’d burn it after going back, but it’s becoming necessary to wear it. Damn it.
[Will you wear it?]
“Wha?!”
“What?!”
A sudden voice startled me, causing me to shudder as I realized Grandpa was nearby and sighed.
‘This is the quickest and easiest method, you see.’
It’s not that there aren’t other methods. If given a few days, I could find numerous ways to wake Phoebe.
But if there’s a method that can be solved immediately, there’s no reason to stall. Since I had suggested going through this trial first, it would only be right for me to take responsibility.
[It seems you’re having a rough time.]
‘Thanks for the comfort. But that’s that, and you should just stay in my inventory for a moment.’
[Huh?! Young lady! Just a moment.]
I sincerely didn’t want to engrave my black history in the eyes of someone who had been sitting next to me for 24 hours. I would definitely regret later if I had to deal with it.
After putting Grandpa in my inventory, I stared at the bunny girl outfit on the bed and sighed deeply.
It’s fine. I’m just going to show it to that Sloppy Fox. As long as I can endure the nonsense from that crazy Sloppy Fox, there shouldn’t be any problems.
Having wrapped up my self-justification in my mind, I placed my hand on the joint of my armor.
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