Chapter 182

Chapter: 182

Karl sat on the chair, blankly staring at the sword that Lucy had gifted him.

It was the sword that had gotten chipped while stopping Karia’s dagger.

At this moment, what dominated Karl’s mind was weakness.

He had thought he was strong enough.
He believed he could shake off any threat directed at the Young Lady.

But what had he been doing when the Young Lady’s life was in danger?

He couldn’t even keep up with the opponent’s movements.
He didn’t even see the hand holding the dagger, let alone its trajectory.

If it hadn’t been for the Guardian’s Brooch…
If it hadn’t been for another being protecting the Young Lady…
If it hadn’t been for the Guardian’s Protection…
He would have had to watch the Young Lady fall before his eyes.

I am weak.
So dreadfully weak.

As he clenched the table in frustration, he heard a sound as the door opened.
Suddenly standing up, Karl rushed toward the priest who had come out.

“Is the Young Lady?!”
“She’s fine. She’s just asleep from exhaustion and will wake up soon.”

Hearing the priest’s assurance, Karl collapsed onto the floor like a broken doll.
Thank goodness.
Really, thank goodness.
Really…

“When are you going to keep doing this?”

It was Alsatine who pulled Karl up after he had been sitting on the floor for a while.
Lifting him up, he tossed Karl onto the chair and sighed as he looked at Karl’s reddened face.

“It’s understandable that your head is messy because of your weakness, but if Lady Allen is healthy, isn’t that enough?”
“…That’s true.”
“Your weakness is something you can shake off later. Am I wrong?”
“No. You’re right.”

Regretting what had already happened wouldn’t change anything.
What’s important is not letting the same thing happen again.
To do that, he would need to keep striving forward.
To become a knight worthy of the Young Lady.
He had been too complacent.
He had forgotten what was truly important, all because he was happy to finally meet his long-desired master.

There would be a lot to do when he returned to the Allen Family.

Having barely gathered his thoughts, Karl let out a deep breath and raised his head again.
“So, Alsatine, are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t get why you’re asking back when you already know everything.”

Alsatine, grumbling at Karl’s lack of subtlety, continued with a sigh.
“That’s my master, but it wasn’t her.”

Alsatine recalled the time he faced Karia.
He hadn’t understood any of the informant’s signals.
He hadn’t even kept the basics he was told.
He was looked at like a bug.
That couldn’t have been his master.
It shouldn’t have been.
His master wouldn’t make such basic mistakes.
The one who had insisted that even the smallest piece of information be gathered wouldn’t recklessly swing a weapon.
That auntie, too overly affectionate for someone from the underworld, wouldn’t cry buckets on the day of parting with that kind of face.

“That’s all.”

After answering like that, Alsatine fell silent, and Karl didn’t ask anything further.
A heavy silence settled naturally on the table.
*

When I regained consciousness, what I saw was a gray-white ceiling.
It was something familiar that I had seen every morning ever since I came to Menestel Street.

[Have you awoken?]
‘Grandpa.’
[I was worried since you’ve slept for so long.]
‘We escaped the dungeon safely, right?’
[Yes.]

Hearing grandpa’s affirmation, I covered my eyes with the back of my hand and let out a sigh of relief.
As my vision was obscured, Karia’s expressionless eyes floated into my mind.
Those deadly eyes that activated the Mesugaki Skill’s penalty just by looking at me.
The attack that followed.
If it hadn’t been for the Guardian’s Brooch, if that Sloppy Fox hadn’t been by my side, I would have lost my head to that dagger.

Karia’s movements were so fast that neither I, Alsatine, Karl, nor even the Iron Wall Skill could keep up.
Was that memory bringing back that fear? My head throbbed painfully.

I had faced near-death experiences several times up until now, but I could never get used to that feeling of tightrope walking between life and death.
It would probably be the same in the future.

Pressing my forehead hard, I realized something felt off about my body.
Back when I first possessed Lucy’s body, I might not have known, but now I was far from fatigue after countless training sessions.
Even after moving my body all day, I could wake up rejuvenated the next morning.
So why did I feel so heavy?

It was true that I had pushed my body to the extreme to withstand facing Karia, but it shouldn’t have resulted in this.

“That’s the influence of your host.”

As my throbbing head refused to ease, I furrowed my brow, and I heard the voice of the Sloppy Fox.
She lay by the sunny window as always, in her fox form, only opening one eye to look at me.
“Do you remember? I told you that your level isn’t enough for you to exert your power?”
‘Yes.’
“Right. You declared yourself sloppy.”
“And I spent your vitality to break that restriction this time. It’s better than losing your life, right?”
‘Um… vitality…’
“Sloppy Fox. Are you talking about lifespan?”

“What, do you think my host is some sort of demon? It’s not that. It’ll just mean your body will feel bad for a while. You won’t need to worry; you’ll recover in about two days.”

Finishing her explanation, the Sloppy Fox closed her eyes, saying not to disturb her since she was tired.
If it had been normal, she would have boasted about something, but seeing her close her eyes like that, it must mean she wasn’t in great shape either.
That pervert saved my life?
I had thought of her as a burdensome nuisance when I first saw the Sloppy Fox in my bag. How unpredictable the world can be.

Since she saved my life, I should repay her later. If she wants something, I should just…
No. I might end up in a situation I can’t imagine if I say something unnecessary. That perverse girl’s taste goes beyond my imagination.

I’ll just give her a present instead.
Letting out a long sigh, I leaned against the wall and opened the quest window.

The quest to save Menestel was still there.
Hey, Armadi. Is this something you think I can wake up from?

If this were a game, it might be possible. With my current specs, I could have somehow defeated Karia.
But that’s if it were in a game. This is real life.
This definitely feels like you’re pushing me to die. You piece of trash.

Don’t you have anything to say? You granted me playful quests when I compared myself to Agra, but now you’re silent?
If your ineptitude nearly cost your apostle’s life, it’s normal to take responsibility.

I’m so mad right now.
While feeling my frustration bubble up, I almost hit down on the bed, only to feel a pinging sensation in my head.
Barely holding my blurred consciousness, I chuckled.
Oh wow. Dizziness? That’s not a word I thought I’d ever relate to.

Am I turning into a sickly Mesugaki girl?
That name sounds like I’d die if I tried to teach her a lesson.

[Young Lady. Are you okay?]

While I was being tickled by useless thoughts, I heard grandpa’s voice.
‘I’m fine.’
I’m not going to die from this, right? The Sloppy Fox said I’d be fine after a few days.

After a long moment of silence following my nonchalant reply, grandpa quietly spoke.
<...No matter how I think about it, this situation is too dangerous. I don’t know what the Lord Jushin desires, but I think it's right to give up.>

That was surprising. Hearing the word ‘give up’ from grandpa.
Unlike me, he’s a devout believer in the Shoddy God, believing there’s a meaning behind whatever command the god gives.
For him to suggest defying the Shoddy God’s revelations first speaks volumes about his judgment.
So, grandpa, your safety is more important than their revelations?

Hahaha. Where did that old-fashioned grandpa who can’t even think about giving up go?
‘I refuse.’
<...Young Lady?>
‘I’m not planning to give up.’

I had been really angry and cursing the Shoddy God, but that’s different.
I have no intention of giving up.
The uncertainty of what will happen if I fail is one reason, but there’s something more significant.
This is new content that wasn’t in the game.

Karia, in the game, always appeared dead.
Even if I used cheats and rushed to meet her right after enrolling, that was the case.
But now, that’s different.
She’s alive.

Sure, she’s being manipulated by the Evil God, but that’s all.
Her soul still lingers in her body.
Do you get it?
That means I can save Karia.

This is a boss that never existed in the game.
A strategy never attainable before.
New NPCs we could only speculate about through Alsatine’s story created by her existence.
Additional events that would arise from her existence.
And now you want me to give up?
You think I, who has played that utterly ruined game for over ten thousand hours, can just let this go?!

[How can you face the Evil God’s minion! Didn’t you experience it firsthand? If they decide to, you’ll be killed in a single strike!]
‘I know that much.’

Grandpa. I’m the one who barely escaped the threat of death. I’m not crazy enough to think I can win against that guy.
[Then what will you do! What can you do against an unbeatable opponent?!]
‘Why must I face that guy?’
[Huh?]

It’s simple. Grandpa.
If the opponent is an unbeatable monster, all I need to do is summon an equally unstoppable monster on my side, right?

As a matter of fact, I know a monster I can call upon at will.
Wobbling a bit, I got up and pulled out the crystal ball I had kept in a drawer, placing it on the dresser.
Then, as I poured my magic into it, a hazy image appeared over the crystal ball.
[Lucy? Lucy?! Luuuuucy!]
“Papa♡”
[Yes! Lucy! It’s Papa! Are you okay?!]
“Some old woman is bothering me♡ Teach her a lesson♡”

   

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