Chapter: 213
When I used to go to school, vacations were always too short.
As the start of the new semester approached, I would involuntarily let out a scream of “Already?!”
But not now. I was still quaking at the thought that my vacation wasn’t over yet.
When the heck will I be able to upgrade my spec on my own? I’ve had enough rest by now!
I know, this reward is a consideration from the shoddy god for all the hardships I’ve endured.
But that rest was taken while I was a sickly mesugaki.
Now that I’m back in shape and able to train at a level equal to the Allen family knight, this automatic growth is still in effect.
I’m stuck in a daily grind of meaningless training!
Aren’t I supposed to just chill?!
Right, that’s true.
But, you know! How much can a freeloader do in this damn fantasy world?!
What do you think I can do in a world with no smartphones or PCs?
Taking a break is fine for a day or two, but when it drags on for a month and then two, it becomes unbearable to just sit around!
The reason I decided to head there a few days before the academy’s opening was precisely because of this.
At least there would be more to do than when I was at the mansion. I might even get a few minor quests.
“M’lady, are you really going?”
Erin, who had stuck by my side throughout the break, politely suggested that I shouldn’t go, but I wasn’t that oblivious.
I knew how annoying it could be to have someone hovering over you all day long.
So I thanked her for her hard work and headed to the academy with Karl.
Despite the long break, the streets of the academy looked just as they did before.
Of course. The academy hadn’t crumbled, so it wasn’t likely that decades-old streets would suddenly change.
But my thoughts shifted the moment I visited the alley, wondering if Alsatine had returned.
“Hello! Guest!”
“Hello!”
In the past, Alsatine’s informant hideout had been a gathering place for shady characters.
A place that a normal person would avoid because it looked scary and dirty.
But not now. Every thug pretending to be tough was behaving respectfully.
…Am I hallucinating? Is someone putting on some kind of illusion?
Is this a dream? No way. I haven’t dreamed in months because I’ve been training with Grandpa.
Just as I was frozen in disbelief at the odd scene that looked like someone used a hypnotic application, a person came down from above.
“Employer! Long time no see.”
“Long time no see, Lady Allen.”
Karia’s expression was confident, while Alsatine looked awkward. It was clear who was leading this situation.
It seemed like the master, missing for ten years, was displeased with how her disciple was doing.
“How’s it going? Looking good?”
As if reading my confusion, Karia descended the stairs and spoke.
“I was teaching him something I hadn’t taught before after seeing how far off he was. It’s a bit different, right?”
Not just a bit! The baldy who used to lick a dagger was now standing at attention like a soldier! The contrast was insane!
“It seems like you want a more detailed explanation, so to put it simply… Hmm. Have you ever been to the Newman family’s base?”
‘Yes.’
“There’s this grumpy old maid there.”
“Was there anything ordinary about it?”
Thinking back, yeah. The Newman family’s base was no different from any typical shop.
They didn’t seem to want many customers, and the service was lousy, but it was certainly a shop one would expect to find.
“It’s not bad to create an atmosphere like our disciple’s, driving people away. But the problem with this method is that when something goes wrong, you can get raided by the local power players.”
Something bad. So that means if a big crime happens, it could anger the local powers.
Even if there’s a connection with the local powers, you never know when they’ll throw you under the bus. Following Karia’s explanation, it seems best to run a place that’s merely under the radar and scraping by.
“The best places are too crowded that you can’t even tell who’s there. You can’t just create that vibe on a whim. So this feeling is good.”
‘Too much…’
“Isn’t it even more eye-catching? I can imagine that grumpy old baldy standing straight, and people would be whispering about him being crazy.”
“I told you. I’m teaching him. He won’t change.”
Ah, so that’s the suggestion for the next base then.
Thank goodness. If it had stayed like this, it would have been incredibly burdensome.
“First, come on up, Employer. I’ve got some things to discuss.”
After guiding me into a room and skillfully dismissing Karl, Karia cut off the sounds from outside. She said it wasn’t something a normal person should hear.
“I felt while investigating with my disciple that the Jushin Church has become more dangerous than before.”
Karia said.
Even when she worked in the shadows of the kingdom, she knew the Jushin Church wasn’t exactly crystal clear.
However, even though there were still a few shady people, there were assuredly good people there, which kept some sort of balance.
“Not anymore. The balance has collapsed.”
While it’s true the Jushin Church has a wide influence across the continent, the center of all that power is the Holy Land.
And now, there are hardly any sincere believers left in the Holy Land.
“Back when making lists, I found it alarming that those I identified as dangerous are all consolidated at the top.”
Even though it hadn’t been long since the investigation began, Karia sighed, saying that the conclusion was already evident.
“Employer! This isn’t all that urgent, is it?”
‘Yes, that’s right.’
“Why, Auntie? Is it hard to move like you used to because you’re getting old? Can’t be helped, huh? I understand, incompetent auntie.”
“…That’s not it! Even if I hadn’t lost my strength, I could have solved this kind of thing in a month!”
It’s not about age.
She was saying she needed more time because of the careful and detailed investigation required due to her loss of strength, but after looking at the floor and taking a long breath, she managed to regain her composure.
“Just take this for now.”
Karia handed me a small notebook.
Wondering what was written inside, I opened it and immediately had to swallow a gasp at the contents on the first page.
– Cardinal Kin Krisha
Born as the third son of the Krisha family, known for its deep faith…
He often uses his influence to acquire something undesirable…
Having previously raped the daughter of the Peloa family… (Evidence obtained. True.)
When negotiating, he makes it known that he is aware of corruption…
The notebook detailed the corruption held by the church’s power players. Not just small stuff; if it were to go public, it’d cause a massive uproar.
The stuff written at the back was similar. There were thorough parts and careless parts, but everything spoke of the power players’ corruption.
“I gathered this when I worked previously. I wrote down everything I remembered from simple controversies to confirmed facts.”
Time may add some new parts, but according to Karia, it probably wouldn’t decrease.
As those thoughts crossed my mind, Grandpa’s voice echoed in my head.
<…Is that true, Young Lady>?
‘I don’t know either.’
To be precise, I should say that there are things I know and don’t know.
Even among high-ranking members of the church, some are significant, while others are nearly inconsequential.
Even if I’m like sewage, I wouldn’t know parts not covered in the game.
So I can’t be sure if everything here is true. However, at least based on what I know, most of what’s written here is true.
Saying I don’t know doesn’t mean the other parts aren’t true as well. I wouldn’t expect any lack of diligence from someone called the shadows of the former kingdom.
Even while thinking this, I chose to say I didn’t know, considering the shock Grandpa would have.
If I just nod and go “yup” to everything I’ve done while making excuses for the shoddy god, then all this becomes the truth, right?
While a doubter like me thinks these guys are trash, Grandpa is different.
He used to be part of the church and was instrumental in the Jushin Church’s rise, believing in the words of God to save the world. The shock he would face would be on a different level than mine.
Even if Grandpa has spoken of various shady aspects of the church, accepting that it has become wholly rotten garbage wouldn’t be easy.
This is the kind of matter that should be revealed one step at a time.
For now, a cautious ambivalence is fine.
Eventually, even if I don’t want to know, I will.
“That’s old info, so don’t trust it too much, just use it as a reference. You know not to show it to others, right?”
‘Who would I show this to?’
“Don’t worry. Unlike others, I don’t enjoy gossiping because I’m still young.”
“…Then that’s a relief. Anyway, for now, put up with that. I promise to update the info in two years at the longest.”
Without hesitation, Karia promised to bring something more concrete soon.
Is that bravado? Or genuine confidence?
I don’t know Karia well enough to be sure.
But if her words are the result of serious contemplation, then Karia is likely more competent than any informant I know.
If she has come out alive from the game, she might have been treated like a broke character just like Phoebe.
“Now that I’ve updated you on the situation, we should get to the crux of the matter.”
The crux? You mean this all wasn’t the main issue?!
You handed me a bomb in this form while treating it as secondary? What the heck is the real deal then?!
I didn’t want to know, but Karia was still talking.
“This is about you, Employer. I thought it would be better for you to know before the second semester starts.”
‘Me?’
“Yeah, Employer. Acting like you don’t care about people’s opinions, but actually keeping a close eye on them, our Employer.”
She picked up on that too?! Seriously, Karia does not take mesugaki skills lightly at all.
Sigh If only everyone had Karia’s perceptiveness! Then I wouldn’t be misinterpreted all the time.
“I’ll let you know in advance for your mental preparation, but it’s bad news.”
‘What is it?’
“Auntie, hurry up and say it. Taking your time is enough for your single life!”
“…I swear if it weren’t for the grace I received, I’d give you a smack.”
As she spoke while exhaling, Karia brushed her hair back and continued.
“Let me get straight to the conclusion. You have become someone who is envied by both commoners and nobles. In short, you have made more enemies.”
…What?
What does that mean, Karia?!
Why does my rising reputation lead to more enemies?!
Hey! Shoddy God! Do your job right?!
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