Chapter: 193
The Partlan territory festival quest’s mini-game is made up of half physical skill and half luck.
You can lower the ridiculous difficulty of the game by increasing your stats, but that’s about it. There’s no way to just skip the mini-game.
If it’s something that can be solved physically, then skills can get you through it.
But when it comes to matters that need luck, there’s no way around it. All you can do is prepare as much as possible and pray to the heavens for success.
When the failure rate is only 1% and you still fail, you just get so mad that you can’t even speak.
Originally, the part I needed to pay attention to was the luck factor.
Since I could somehow get past the physical part, it was crucial to eliminate any chance of failure.
But now, it’s the total opposite.
Luck is fine. After all, I can get above average scores on tests by randomly guessing, thanks to the favor of the Dice God.
I might not win everywhere, but I should still get decent results.
But now there’s a problem with my usually reliable physical abilities.
My weakened body can’t handle the usual tough training at all.
According to Grandpa, I was at a level where I would lose to Joy in a physical fight!
With this garbage body, there’s no way I can pass the festival’s mini-game!
If I go in unprepared, I’d have to give in to the creepy pervert known as Lord Armadi’s desires.
After returning home, I had my eyes on various clothes in Lucy’s wardrobe, and as soon as the auction house in the trading city of Nig opened, I decided to pay a visit.
If I found a suitable dress, I’d just fail and wear that!
Man, I was shocked while looking through Lucy’s clothes one by one.
How could there only be landmines in her wardrobe?
Even in a trashy game, it’s only polite to at least give me a safety zone!
“Sloppy Fox…”
“Sloppy Fox…”
“Are you asking me to get rid of the nausea?”
With the help of the Sloppy Fox, I got out of my motion sickness and walked outside to where the teleportation device was set up, supported by Erin.
The moment I laid my eyes on the trading city of Nig, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
There are so many people here. I had a rough idea thanks to the crowds in the game, but this is beyond ridiculous.
At this level, shouldn’t it be called a wall of people instead of just a crowd? I can’t even move forward.
“Excuse me, Young Lady.”
As I furrowed my brow feeling the nausea returning, Possell effortlessly lifted me onto his shoulder.
“Just trust me. We’ll get through comfortably.”
Possell, who would surely make any baby cry with his smile, seemed particularly reliable today.
Yeah, in the face of overwhelming power, walls of people mean nothing.
Today, it was Possell, not Karl, who was in charge of my safety.
The reason was simple. That guy, Karl, has been rolling around like he wants to die ever since returning to the Allen family.
He said getting trounced by Karia in the Menestel Dungeon weighed heavily on his heart.
Personally, I think Karia was just excessively strong, while Karl did more than enough. But what can you do if he’s not satisfied?
So with Karl gone, someone else had to take over my escort, but considering my physical condition, Benedict wouldn’t allow just anyone.
After going through various discussions, the chosen one was Possell. A knight who holds the 2nd-in-command spot in the Allen family by force. He was someone who could protect me no matter what variables arose.
I once heard that Possell couldn’t beat Benedict, but he could at least draw things out.
Back then, I didn’t realize how amazing that was.
Now I do. To be able to carry on a protracted battle against someone who can take on the attacks of an Evil God, even if imperfectly.
From the enemy’s perspective, it’s terrifying, and from our side, he’s an incredibly reassuring figure.
[Well, he's still just a human.]
As I watched Possell effortlessly push through the crowd, I thought how reliable he was, when Grandpa spoke up.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
[Well, compared to the Evil God and my comrades I battled, he may seem like nothing.]
Ah, is Grandpa jealous right now? Because I’m complimenting someone else instead of him?
Hahaha. Normally, he’s this nagging old man, but sometimes he can be cute like this.
“Really? Grandpa was stronger than Benedict?”
[Of course. If I had my body, I could teach someone like Benedict a lesson.]
“Come on. That’s a lie. You can’t prove it, so you’re just boasting.”
[What if it’s true?! I’m Ruel! The Holy Knight Ruel who saved the world! There's no way I could lose to a knight struggling against an imperfect Evil God!]
What Grandpa said is probably true.
After all, it’s the hero party led by the Holy Knight Ruel that defeated the fully unleashed Evil God in battle.
In his prime, Grandpa would undoubtedly be a monster beyond human abilities.
But still, it’s just hilarious seeing the old man who usually only nags wanting praise, so I couldn’t bring myself to be honest.
“Isn’t it normal for old tales to be exaggerated?”
[No, it’s not!?]
While I was messing around with Grandpa, the Possell Express smoothly brought me to the auction house.
Unlike the bustling streets crowded with merchants and buyers, the area around the auction house was relatively quiet.
Only those with status, such as nobility or merchants, could enter, so the area was secured against the crowd.
Just as I thought I could finally catch my breath and was stretching, that happiness was instantly shattered.
“I’m sorry, Lady Allen. You cannot enter here.”
The moment I tried to enter the auction house, a frantic auction manager rushed over and blocked my way.
This was completely unexpected. No wonder, I’m a Count’s daughter!
Not just any Count’s house, but the illustrious Allen family with a high reputation on the continent!
I would easily meet the entry requirements for the Nig Auction House, so what’s the problem?!
“Why can’t I go in?!”
“Hey, you blockhead. Why can’t I? Explain it in a way I can understand.”
Showing my clueless disbelief, the manager was sweating coldly and stammered out an explanation.
The problem was the past misdeeds of Lucy.
Before I possessed her, Lucy had a love for extravagance. If it was flashy, she went nuts for it.
It was perfectly natural that she would visit the Nig Auction House to get whatever she wanted.
Lucy, the worst troublemaker who even insulted the gods, was like a strategy weapon, causing incidents everywhere she went, so it was no wonder she stirred trouble at the Nig Auction House too.
When she failed to purchase an item she wanted, she would go and throw a fit at the competitor with a higher bid.
Not just once, but habitually.
Thanks to Lucy’s bullying, those afraid of her mischief turned away from the auction house, causing Ng to make a decision.
They outright banned Lucy Allen from entry.
[Young lady, what did your past self do…]
It felt unfair. That was not my doing. But being unfair doesn’t cancel out the karma residing in this body.
[It's probably because you never learned to respect your elders. How scary.]
With Grandpa ranting as he teased me, I lightly bit my lip as the head of security bowed his head.
“I’m sorry! But the rules are the rules, and I can’t do anything about it!”
The manager, terrified I might throw a tantrum, still managed to express his frustrations as a member of society.
What should I do?
I need to get inside the auction house, even if it’s for a glimmer of hope.
But I can’t enter by normal means; I’ve ended up on the blacklist.
As I bit my lip and brainstormed, no suitable method popped up.
The fact I hadn’t considered this problem at all played a huge role. If I’d known in advance, I would have thought of some way to handle it!
…What if I triggered the Mesugaki Skill to cause a ruckus? It might force them to attack first and give me a justification for getting in.
“Miss.”
Possell’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up to ask him with my eyes.
What is it? Do you have a plan?
“Look around.”
Around?
Finally shifting my gaze, I noticed countless eyes fixed on us.
Curiosity. Interest in gossip. Worry. Fear. Unease.
“It might be better to back off for now.”
He was right.
If I stirred any more trouble here, it would only add another line to Lucy’s infamous reputation.
Sure, there’s not exactly a bottom I could drop to, but I still had a few good relationships I should be mindful of.
Nodding at Possell’s words, he lifted me back onto his shoulder once again.
*
After stepping away from the auction house entrance, I sought out the Newman family’s stronghold in Nig.
It’s an auction house frequented by various nobility and merchants. Now, there was no way I could sneak in with underhanded methods alone.
I could force my way in with Possell’s strength, but then I wouldn’t be able to participate in the auction, would I?
I wanted to buy an item, not steal one.
With the unexpected situation and inadequate preparation, the only place I could rely on now was the Newman family.
The underworld giants with networks set up throughout the continent. If I could borrow their power, something might come from it.
The Newman family’s outpost in Nig was a shop selling tacky souvenirs.
When I was excited while traveling, these seemed cute, but they easily turned into junk later.
At the first sight of our party, the clerk greeted us with a bright smile and started recommending various items, but as soon as I pulled out the Crow’s Seal, he abruptly switched his tone.
“Let’s go inside! We have much better stuff in there!”
Naturally, what was inside wasn’t more trinkets.
They were people working under the Newman family.
Worried I might surprise Erin and Possell, I had warned them in advance, but when they saw the interior, both of their eyes widened.
“Greetings, Benefactor of the Newman Family. I am Key, in charge of this outpost.”
The man, who gave a somewhat light impression for an informant, introduced himself politely, but it didn’t hold much significance.
“Hello, Key.”
“Yeah, nice to meet you. You look like the type to like other people’s women?”
As soon as the Mesugaki Skill labeled him a slacker, his title got fixed as such.
The somewhat strained smile on his face showed he wasn’t overly comfortable as I explained my situation.
I wanted to get into the auction house but couldn’t. Was there any way around it?
“There are a few options.”
Without much contemplation, the slacker laid it out.
Even though the security at the Nig Auction House is tight, there are still spots that can be exploited.
“But there’s one problem: Young Lady, you’re so beautiful that you stand out.”
However, even if I somehow got inside, that doesn’t solve the issue.
If I break in through illegal routes and get caught, I’ll just be chased out.
“So I’d like to propose something: How about disguising yourself?”
Disguise?
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