Chapter: 133
Seeing the phrase about increasing rewards didn’t make me feel happy at all. After all, the last time I saw a similar phrase, I got the enhancement of the Mesugaki Skill.
When I think about it again, it’s horrifying. Shoddy Dog. Lewd Saintess, and so on. The Mesugaki Skill, which I used to hurl all sorts of words to those around me whom I had some affection for, was truly a nightmare.
Even now, the situation felt similar. After hardship, I cleared the quest given by the Shoddy God and complained about Him while receiving my reward.
Of course, compared to last time, the intensity of my insults to the Shoddy God wasn’t as severe. Back then, I nearly faced death, and the reward I got was so shoddy that I lost my mind, while now I was just grumbling a bit.
But still. Would the shoddy God care about that?
That petty and childish individual, who seems to have many flaws in their personality to be called a magnificent god, wouldn’t care about the severity of insults. They’d just think about the audacity of that rude girl who insulted them.
Thinking about it, it seems that the karma I’ve built up until now isn’t just a couple of cases. What kind of titles have I used every time I called the Shoddy God?
As I contemplated it deeply, I got scared and stopped.
Hmm. Was it a bit blasphemous? Judge! This isn’t my fault! It’s Lucy inside me who blurted out nonsense!
I intended to talk about the glory of Lord Armadi, but Lucy interrupted and called Him the Shoddy God! You can’t be serious, right?!
What can I do! Honestly, even you, Judge, would’ve cursed the Shoddy Sadistic Masochist God if you were in the same situation!
[…]
Is this what it feels like for a death row inmate waiting for punishment? Waiting for it is tougher than the punishment itself. Ah, damn it. What can I do by staying still? Let’s put on some armor. The others are probably waiting for me.
– Ding!
As I relaxed my crossed arms and picked up the armor sprawled on the bed, I heard a notification sound.
Is it a coincidence? You didn’t do this on purpose, did you? Should I believe that it’s not? Either way, whether I believe it or not, the message’s content will reveal if it’s a coincidence or not.
The message floated before me, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at it. It seemed like it would have bad content.
It can’t be that the Mesugaki Skill gets enhanced again, right? Like the tone getting worse, or some compulsion on my actions, or that I’ll get provoked just by saying a word and end up challenged to a duel randomly!
If not that, what joke are they about to play on me? I don’t know. I can’t imagine. Is it because I’m a self-centered human that I can’t perceive the will of the magnificent Shoddy God?
Ugh. Whatever. It’ll probably just be some harassment. After all, I’m just a fun toy for the Shoddy God, so they’re not going to do anything extravagant, right?
Thinking that, I lifted my head and read a few characters of the message before quickly lowering my head.
[…The skill will be enhanced.]
Shit?! Is that what I imagined?! Is the Shoddy God so sloppy in thought that the level of harassment is no different than what a mortal would think?!
No. No! Let’s calm down. I haven’t confirmed what’s above yet. Who knows? The character in front might not even be the Mesugaki Skill.
I cautiously lifted my head again and confirmed the entire message, forgetting to blink.
[‘Iron Wall’ skill will be enhanced.]
[If you block an attack at the precise timing, the damage of the attack decreases.]
Parry.
In a game that emphasizes control, it’s naturally a feature.
Parrying also existed in the Soul Academy. It was a technique that was very tricky to time correctly and was used only by veteran gamers.
In other words, it was an essential technique for veterans. Without it, bizarre acts like boss hunting barehanded were simply impossible.
When this world was still a game, I used it well. However, parrying, being one of the game features, has vanished with the reality setting in.
But now it’s back as the enhancement feature of the Iron Wall skill. To be precise, it’s a subsidiary version of the Parry, but who cares!
The parry feature is back!
I couldn’t believe it, so I read the text in the message window repeatedly.
It was just like when I started the Soul Academy game and accidentally obtained a game-ending item, staring at it repeatedly in disbelief.
“Puhuh. Hahaha.”
Before I realized it, laughter bubbled up. The laughter starting deep in my heart seemed to erase the word ‘stop’ from the world, and I laughed heartily in the room for a long time.
Finally, when I somewhat regained my senses, I clasped my hands together and raised a prayer towards the heavens.
Oh noble, glorious, and majestic Lord Armadi! Thank you. By giving a gift instead of punishment to this blasphemous unbeliever, how much of a merciful and great person you are—it’s truly enlightening!
From today on, I shall offer my nightly prayers of gratitude towards where Lord Armadi resides.
Yay! It’s parrying! The parrying that brought bliss with a fantastic feel to it!
Ah, I want to go fight quickly. I want to parry!
Thinking about it, there are plenty of perfect dummies in this forest to practice the parry function on?!
Hah. Today, the first-years of the academy are so dead.
Heh. Heheheh.
*
“So, to save me, Lady Allen…”
“Lady Allen wouldn’t wear such revealing clothes for no reason, would she?”
Phoebe, who heard from Joy why Lucy was in a bunny-girl outfit, widened her mouth in shock and then lowered her gaze, cupping her hands to her chest.
Right. A person with common sense wouldn’t put on such embarrassing clothes willingly.
Lady Allen has done various outrageous things, but she at least maintains a minimum level of dignity. Even if her tone is rough and she criticizes others, she has never caused issues with her behavior or appearance.
If that person wore such shameful clothing, there must be a reason. But I didn’t even consider that and just wondered why Lady Allen is like this. I thought she was vulgar for a moment.
Lady Allen was enduring the humiliation for me, who couldn’t wake up from the illusion, and here I am!
… I should go apologize.
Resolving that in my heart, Phoebe stood from her chair and spoke up.
“I’ll go see Lady Allen.”
While pondering which words to choose, Phoebe found herself at the door where Lucy was.
She said she was changing clothes, right? But it’s surprisingly quiet for someone in armor. Is she doing something else inside?
As she approached the door to knock, she realized it was slightly ajar. Is she changing in another room?
Without thinking, she peered through the gap and spotted Lucy praying, revealing her bare skin amidst the armor scattered on the floor.
Dressed in an air of divinity while facing the Great God.
Like viewing a piece of religious art hanging at the center of the Jushin Church.
Who would look at Lucy, who usually showed an obnoxious smile while looking down on everyone, and think of her this way?
Phoebe gazed blankly at the scene.
I wonder if Lady Allen is conversing with Armadi right now? Is she listening to him?
Unlike me, who must hear voices in a false illusion, she must be absorbing the real voice of Armadi into her ears.
Then suddenly, Lucy’s mouth curled into a smile. A sincere smile, different from her usual annoying grin.
Seeing that, Phoebe unintentionally took a step back before forcing herself to stop.
I mustn’t run away. Phoebe. Turning away just means repeating the same mistake.
When one makes an error, what’s most important is repenting and correcting it. Don’t back away. Move forward.
Taking a deep breath once more, Phoebe knocked on the door.
“Lady Allen. Are you okay right now?”
“Shoddy Saintess? Please wait a moment. You’re best at waiting, right?”
“… That’s true.”
My life has been nothing but a time of waiting.
*
The reason Phoebe came to find me was to apologize and express her gratitude.
She felt sorry for falling into an illusion despite my warning and thankful for enduring the shame to rescue me.
To her words, I just said it was my responsibility for dragging her into this trial, but Phoebe wouldn’t have it.
So I decided to simply accept Phoebe’s apology. Though she has a good heart, she can be stubborn at times, making it impossible to let it go.
Afterward, when I returned to the reception room, the Sloppy Fox gathered us together.
“Now, I shall grant you rewards for passing the trial.”
Finally.
Although the character Sloppy Fox is annoying like a pervert, the blessings she grants are of high quality.
As can be understood from the fact that her trial involves the mind, the rewards for the trial are also related to mental aspects.
The content is like this: it increases resistance to mental debuffs. Simply put, it lowers the probability of falling into illusions or being entranced.
As you can understand from the explanation, the blessing given by the Sloppy Fox is the skill I need the most right now.
If I get hit by the debuff from the Mesugaki Skill, it’s game over for me. Any skill that lowers that probability is always welcome.
With my heart pounding, waiting for the reward, the Sloppy Fox coughed lightly and added more.
“However, young lady who follows the god, you are the exception. You were devoured by the illusion, after all.”
That makes sense. Phoebe didn’t pass the trial. But thinking about how anxious Phoebe seems now, it feels like she needs the blessing.
If it were game-Phoebe, I wouldn’t have worried at all, but the Phoebe next to me keeps staggering as if she might fall.
Hmm. Is there no way?
“Yes, I understand.”
Seeing Phoebe nodding that it was right, I started thinking.
Now that I think about it, the Sloppy Fox is a masochist. If I sincerely berate her, wouldn’t she love it?
Since the quest given by Lord Armadi is also finished, I can go out casually now. If worse comes to worst, I could kick the Sloppy Fox’s butt while wearing a bunny suit.
Alright. Shall I take revenge on the humiliation inflicted by the Sloppy Fox and berate her a little?
“Sloppy Fox♡ Why are you so petty?♡ Ahaha♡ You want to be insulted for rambling nonsense, don’t you?♡ Pervert♡ Just looking at you makes me nauseous♡”
“Beautiful young lady, that’s not the case.”
“Liar♡ You, a hopeless masochist, felt joy while getting kicked in the butt, didn’t you?♡ Pervert♡ Admit it, you want to be trampled by my feet♡ Aren’t you just a fox in disguise?♡ Huh?♡”
The Sloppy Fox blushed and began to tremble her lips at my provocation. Hmm. No matter how serious a masochist she is, it seems she can’t endure the provocation of the Mesugaki Skill.
While I was contemplating whether I should put on the bunny suit, suddenly the Sloppy Fox knelt to the floor.
“Wang! Wangwang!”
Then she crawled on all fours, barking like a dog.
Sigh. How can this be the owner of the forest?
…
I really dislike her.
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