Chapter: 135
The students of the academy were mostly in a sloppy state, just as I expected. They seemed to think there wouldn’t be any battles between students, allowing ambushes way too easily!
Of course, there were those who were aware of the risks of plunder here and there. Those who had connections to upperclassmen or those who failed to advance to the second year and remained in the first were among them.
Unlike the others, they shot me piercing glares, taking the possibility of ambush seriously.
The most useful one during this process was Phoebe. As a Saintess of the Jushin Church with a high reputation among the students, no one could maintain their tension in front of her smile.
They were too quick to believe our words that we were just passing through, never imagining that the Saintess would engage in plunder.
Without Phoebe, things would have been much more inconvenient! My reputation still crawls in the depths, even if things have gotten a little better.
If the title of Saintess hadn’t offset that, conducting such a comfortable massacre would have been impossible.
‘These people…’
“Hey. These sloppy guys are weak, but they’re carrying a lot of loot, huh?”
“Don’t! That’s not allowed!”
‘Even to the quota…’
“What’s this? Do you want to give me everything, scrap?”
“Grrr…”
It might be because this party had some first-years mixed in, but the amount of loot they possessed was considerable.
Maybe it was due to their experience in field studies; it was certainly tempting. Well, it couldn’t compare to Arthur’s party.
That guy Arthur is truly capable. How does a fresh first-year gather nearly a hundred pieces of loot in one day?
Well, everything the Ant worked hard for all day ended up in the hands of those mesugaki operators.
I should’ve been more careful when investing, huh?
“I’m so sorry. It couldn’t be helped.”
Looking at the ones sprawled on the floor, groaning in pain, Phoebe was gathering her hands.
She convinced everyone that it was all for the growth of the other students, but it seemed like her heart was still uneasy.
But you know, Phoebe, I feel sorry for you in truth, but it probably sounds like teabagging to those listening.
Wouldn’t it be annoying if someone who planted traps while pretending to be safe said such things?
“It’s okay, Saintess. I understand that it couldn’t be helped.”
“Right! Saintess, it isn’t your fault.”
Looking at the crowd, it seemed that wasn’t entirely untrue.
[It’s the difference in usual behavior.]
“Grandpa, please don’t hit me with facts.”
I get why they’re reacting this way. Phoebe has a fantastic usual image while mine crawls in the gutter.
If Phoebe did this alone, it would be “Saintess, why?” but here I am next to her.
They must be thinking I’m the one encouraging the Saintess to commit such acts!
It’s so unfair to me!
Of course, it’s true I got her to do this, but I didn’t coerce her! I persuaded her slowly!
I did say something like, “I’m experiencing this humiliation because of you, and you won’t even do one thing I want!” but still!
Hmm. Ugh. Anyway, it’s unfair! I didn’t do anything wrong!
[Oh Armadi, why did you accept such a child as your apostle?]
‘If I could hear that answer, please let me know.’
I’m curious too! Why did it have to be me?
Was there some kind of meaning behind it, or did you just want to play with me like a mesugaki toy while hearing criticism?
‘Phoebe…’
“Shoddy Saintess, we don’t have time for that. There are still countless sloppy guys to loot.”
“Ah. Yes. I’ll just treat these people.”
With her last line, the looks directed at Phoebe and me became even more distinct.
Ironically, I’m the one who allowed them to be treated.
So you all think I’m the villain, huh?
Alright. Then let me show you what a real villain is.
Just a day has passed since the field study started. You all have three more days in this forest with me.
Brace yourselves. I’ll let you know how difficult and arduous things are going to get.
[Hey girl, didn’t you say you wanted to raise your reputation someday?]
‘I gave up on that a long time ago.’
*
With her eyes wide open, Visi, who was guarding the campfire, ultimately couldn’t resist her fatigue and began to doze off.
Today, she was overflowing with enthusiasm while wandering through the forest. Adri found her smiling in her sleep, drooling as she dreamed with a happy face and chuckled along.
It felt nice being able to wander with Visi outside.
Not long ago, Adri, who became the boss of a dungeon due to the Apostle of the Evil God was finally released from being a haunting spirit.
Being a sorceress and possessing enough power to control a dungeon allowed Adri to resist the limitations of being a guiding spirit.
Yet, since her true nature was that of a spirit, even if she escaped the mansion, she needed a place to stay. A place with ties to her.
Fortunately, Adri had someone linked to her. Visi. A grateful person who regarded her as a friend, despite her being a sorceress.
Thanks to that, Adri, who settled next to Visi, could finally explore the world at the end of her long loneliness.
She had to stay cooped up in that old mansion for so long, but there wasn’t an ugly place in the world she finally saw again.
The buildings. The forest. The roads. The sky. The people.
Now looking at Visi like an immature sibling, but when Adri first came to this forest, she was so excited she went crazy.
She forgot she had to pretend to be a bright little girl by Visi’s side and caused commotion.
That innocent appearance fit her role, and thankfully, otherwise, Visi would have tilted her head in confusion.
While gazing at the stars in the night sky, Adri reflected on how wonderful the outside world was, suddenly sensing a presence approaching from afar, she stood ready.
This energy, it must be that brazen brat. Seeing it heading directly this way makes me think they’re coming to meet Visi.
No way. That brat doesn’t have deep feelings for Visi. They probably see her merely as a convenient target to use, so there’s no way they’d come at this late hour.
They must have some other intention.
Adri recalled when Visi’s party met another party earlier that day.
Upon meeting Visi’s party, instead of greeting, they launched an attack.
Even when Visi’s party asked what was wrong, all they kept saying was that it was a field study.
The reason Visi’s party could win that battle was that Adri, unbeknownst to her, lent a hand to Visi.
If not, Visi’s party would have easily been subdued by them.
After that, Visi’s party got to hear their story.
‘We got plundered last night too.’
Their explanation went like this.
Last night, a party led by Lucy Allen was raiding multiple parties.
After that, various parties started realizing the essence of the academy’s field study and began ambushing each other, causing great chaos throughout the forest.
‘There are now only two kinds of people in this forest: those being plundered and those plundering.’
The ones who attacked Visi’s party told everything, begging to leave them just the quota.
The purpose of these mischief-makers creating a massive chaos in this forest is plain and simple.
Plunder.
Should I wake Visi? As Adri was pondering this, she shook her head, seeing Visi sleeping against a log in deep slumber.
That brash brat can talk to me just fine. Let’s just send them back with words. No need to wake the one peacefully sleeping.
Finally floating in the void, Adri headed toward Lucy’s direction.
Did Lucy sense Adri approaching? She stood alone in the middle of the forest, separated from her party.
“Lonely Old Hag? What brings you here? Shouldn’t you be stuck in some stinking corner like a proper sorceress?”
– I keep saying I’m neither old nor alone! You brat!
Lucy immediately picked a fight the moment she saw her face. Ugh! Seriously! If it wasn’t for the grace I received from her, I would’ve smashed her by now!
“Answer me, hag. Even if you’re senile, you can still talk, right? Or do I need to bring you some dentures?”
– Ughhh…
With each word exchanged, Adri, who suffered from one-sided insults, decided to explain the situation quickly and tell her to scram.
– This is Visi’s party in front of us. So don’t you dare touch them.
“Why?”
– …Aren’t you acquainted with Visi?
“Yeah, I know the visiting young lady. But what’s the problem? This is a field study. Should be strong if you’re angry. You’ve been holed up in a corner for too long, must be confused about right and wrong, huh? Lonely Old Hag?”
What a unreasonable brat. Regardless of whether she knows someone or not, she thinks she can act however she wants?
Adri looked at Lucy’s unfazed demeanor and spoke with irritation.
– If you keep this up, I’ll get involved.
Adri said it as a warning, but she had no confidence if it would have any effect.
After all, this is Lucy Allen.
Even at her strongest, she toyed with others like a monster when she was the boss of the dungeon. Adri knows it won’t be easy to beat that nightmare.
While she could hurt her party members, ultimately defeating Lucy Allen is going to be a daunting task.
Despite being on edge internally, Lucy surprisingly backed off more willingly than expected.
“Just because a Lonely Old Hag is trembling in desperation looks pathetic, I’ll let you go back.”
– So, I’m telling you!
With a mocking laugh, after Lucy left, Adri returned to where Visi was.
What she found was Visi sprawled on the floor, snoring like a baby.
Looking at her, Adri felt as if the hardships she just endured flew away, causing her to smile.
Visi. You should really be thankful you have such a good friend, you know that?
*
“What a mess.”
That night, as the second day of the field study was coming to a close, Professor Anton, who taught Combat Studies, lamented openly in a gathering of professors at the academy.
“Isn’t this exactly what we induced?”
“That’s true, but it’s progressing too fast. At this rate, distrust among the students will be rampant once the field study ends.”
It was indeed true that the academy’s professors induced the discord. The whole point of this field study was to get experiences in the continuous real combat.
However, the scale of this conflict had grown too much.
Currently, parties meeting each other were only worried about plundering the loot like beasts, which was never what the academy professors had envisioned.
“Our Lady Allen was too impressive on the first day.”
It all began with Lucy Allen’s plunder.
She attacked countless parties when they relaxed on the first night. On top of that, she suggested that if you’re angry, why not plunder a weaker party?
Those who were plundered by Lucy began attacking other parties, and those parties continued the cycle of ambushing others…
And thus, a vicious cycle emerged.
“Our Young Lady is indeed talented.”
“Professor Karl, such words… Ha. Forget it.”
Ignoring the atmosphere of the professors, Karl puffed out his chest, causing several sighs to escape among the professors.
Those professors who had spent several months with Karl knew just how much that skilled knight respected his young lady.
Whatever was said, he would just let it go in one ear and out the other.
“Let’s discuss how to manage this. This is too much.”
There were still two days left in the field study, and if the current atmosphere persisted, it wouldn’t have a good influence.
As Anton spoke, most professors agreed when Luca raised his hand.
“Professor Luca, what’s up?”
“Is it necessary to intervene? It seems to me that students will bind together even without our interference?”
“Yes, what do you mean by that?”
Seeing Anton blink in confusion, Luca chuckled.
“Isn’t there a common enemy?”
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