Chapter: 311
The evening of the second day of the Academy’s final exam.
Having completed all the tests for the day, I decided to treat myself to a reward at the Academy’s dining hall.
It was truly a tough day.
I had taken three exams starting from this morning.
You can imagine how hard it was to cram the exam material into the log feature during the short breaks.
I was so busy that I had to rush through lunch and read my books!
Well, thanks to my hardships, I think my exam scores will turn out pretty well.
[If I can do this much by cramming last minute, shouldn’t I just study consistently from the beginning?]
Hearing my grumbling, the old man gave me a typical “back in my day” speech.
Of course, if I had studied in advance, I wouldn’t have had to scramble like this.
But hey, I couldn’t help it!
I had a shoddy pervert god giving me atrocious quests when I needed to prepare for exams!
Because of that trashy revelation, I had to focus on dungeon crafting instead of studying for the tests!
So all my use of the log feature is the fault of that sloppy god!
The fact that I couldn’t keep up with my studies is also the pervert god’s fault!
I’m just a victim tossed around by a god driven by lust!
[I've never seen an apostle shift the blame to the god they serve before.]
‘It’s fine! I’ve been through a lot thanks to the god!’
<...Hmm. You have indeed gone through a lot.>
‘Right? Right?’
The amount of suffering I endured because of that sloppy god, and the things I have done for them, makes this kind of self-justification seem trivial…
Ah! Here it comes! The parfait I ordered!
I stopped grumbling at the old man, my eyes glued to the parfait the waiter brought.
Wow. Is that a strawberry parfait today? It looks absolutely delicious!
With an excited cheer at the dazzling sight, I quickly grabbed my spoon to scoop out a portion of the parfait.
Vanilla ice cream, chocolate, and topped with strawberries.
What a luxurious sight it is!
If I could, I would want to stare at this forever, but ice cream melts away at some point.
Better to store this image in my memory and stomach.
As I opened my mouth wide and shoved three layers into my mouth, a sigh of admiration escaped my lips.
Yum!
It’s so sweet and refreshing!
But that’s what makes it good!
Lost in ecstasy, my spoon moved nonstop, shoveling the parfait into my mouth.
Waku Waku! It’s so good, I can’t stop my hands!
[Ha. So be it. If you can smile brightly, we’ll consider it the god's oversight.]
The exam period special parfait was massive, nearly reaching my nose when placed on the table, but I had no trouble eating it.
Just think of how I usually move!
When I recall the calories burned during that hellish training, this is nothing!
Having annihilated the parfait, I laid down my spoon with a satisfied smile.
Heh. The dining hall, already filled with good food, has menus that go completely wild during exam periods, and I love it!
I wish they could offer such menus regularly. But I guess they can’t due to realistic limitations?
Having successfully replenished my energy with sugar, I stretched and stood up from my seat.
Now, should I head to meet Adri? I need to tell that girl to take it easy…
Hmm? Standing up, I realized everyone’s eyes in the dining hall were fixated on me.
With stares pouring in from students of all grades and genders, I almost stepped back without thinking.
What’s going on?
Why are people who usually avoid my gaze glaring at me today?
Oh no. Could it be that hints were distributed today?
If they’re glaring at me because they’re all riled up about that, we’re in serious trouble.
If the mood is like this even for the first hint, the next one will cause an even bigger uproar.
‘What’s up♡ You got humiliated and still came back for hints?♡ Were you awakened to hidden preferences?♡ Do you enjoy being teased now?♡ Eww~♡ Gross~♡’
If I were to see a hint starting with those words, wouldn’t the already angry crowd pile on their hatred for me?
Imagining that terrifying future, I resigned myself to the cruel reality and sat back down.
And then I ordered another parfait.
No matter what I do here, those glares aren’t going to change.
If that’s the case, I’ll just eat something delicious to relieve my stress.
Under the piercing stares, I polished off the additional parfait I ordered and headed towards Adri’s mansion.
Recently, Adri has been clinging to Visi, but her true origin is ultimately the mansion’s spirit.
If I release any divine energy from that mansion, it’s bound to attract attention.
– Hey! Are you planning to purify me right now!?
Ta-da! That’s how I can summon Adri.
‘Hello, Adri.’
“Puhaha! Look at how shocked you were! So pathetic.”
– Are you really saying that after pointing a knife at my neck!? You crazy girl!
I tried to disperse my divine aura without causing harm, but isn’t she overreacting?
Someone like Adri wouldn’t be so easily purified.
As I puzzled over my lack of wrongdoing, Adri trembled with her shoulders and then let out a cold sigh.
– …So what did you come here for?
‘I came to ask you to calm down.’
“I came to deliver a message to take it easy, old hag. I know your granddaughter is cute, but you’re going overboard.”
I know Visi’s head is spinning over things, and she’d want to give her some advice.
But being too much is not okay. Visi is in the middle of conquering the fourth room just like Arthur’s party; that’s just too much!
Thinking about Visi’s party’s power, it’s downright absurd.
– Oh. So, you came to talk about the dungeon?
Adri seemed to suspect that might be the case, avoiding my gaze as she massaged the back of her neck.
– But seriously, your dungeon is way too hard.
‘Is it hard? Like, really?’
“Hard? Really? Haha, old hag, you’re a lot dumber than I expected!”
No way. Adri can’t say it’s hard.
What are you supposed to do if a place designed with students in mind ends up being too hard for you?
– I’m not saying it’s hard!
‘And…’
“And it’s more like, old hag, you seem to be forgetful. That’s an exam, you know?”
The dungeon is, after all, for the final exam.
If it’s not difficult, it loses its distinction, and that’s a problem.
‘Do you understand?…’
“Your foolishness is a nuisance to your insignificant granddaughter. If you’re not senile, you can understand, right?”
– Hah. Fine. I’ll let them do it themselves.
Well, that conversation wrapped up easier than I thought. I expected her to be more stubborn.
– Is that all you wanted to say?
‘Uh, yep.’
“By the way? Why the long face? Want me to keep you company?”
– If I have time, there’s one thing I want to ask.
‘What is it?’
“What is it? Do tell. I’ll at least listen.”
What could possibly pique her curiosity to initiate a conversation with me? She doesn’t seem very fond of chatting with me.
– What’s the deal with that accessory made by the Arts Church’s Apostle? Why are the kids making such a fuss about it?
Adri, uncertain why nobles and tycoons are risking their lives over an accessory, couldn’t help but chuckle.
‘Should I show it to you?’
“Only if you really insist, but…”
– …Tch. Fine, I’ll ask.
The reward for the dungeon’s conquest has long been handed over to the Academy, so I can’t show that.
But the accessory crafted for me by that perverted Apostle is still in my possession.
Though they look different, this is an accessory made by the perverted Apostle too.
It should be enough for her to understand why everyone is so enamored.
As I pulled it from my inventory and offered it to Adri, she froze with her mouth agape.
I understand that feeling.
When I saw it for the first time, I was so shocked that I couldn’t even hear the perverted Apostle’s enthusiastic explanations.
– Is that a hairpin…?
‘That’s right.’
“So even an old hag like me can tell what it is? Yup.”
The perverted Apostle gave me a hairpin I could use instead of a ribbon when tying my twin tails.
It’s not flashy, yet it exudes sophistication; it doesn’t stand out too much, but doesn’t hide in my hair either, gently asserting its presence. This hairpin is such a refined piece that even I, who knows little about fine things, can feel its elegance.
You’d be surprised that I received such a precious item just for a bunny girl outfit.
Of course, I didn’t voice that thought. If I give them the slightest opening, I’d have no idea what kind of crazy things that perverted Apostle and Crow Goddess would ramble on about.
– This was made just for you, huh?
‘You can tell just by looking at it?’
“Do you really think that? Can you be sure?”
– Of course. You’d naturally understand when you see the thoughts contained within this hairpin.
Adri shrugged, saying she was once the daughter of a renowned noble house.
I have no clue what to say in response. No matter my words, with the mesugaki skill translating, it’d sound like a lewd remark.
– Can you show me how it looks when you wear it?
Hearing Adri’s request, I hesitated for a moment.
The last time I wore that accessory, it caused a stir.
The perverted Apostle kneeled before me, thanking me with tears in his eyes.
And by his side, that sloppy fox had already transformed into a human, presenting a collar I didn’t even know when he had prepared it, bowing down.
…Thinking about it, it seems like that was indeed the fault of the two trashy beings, the perverted Apostle and that sloppy fox.
Comparing such beings to Adri seems deeply unfair, so maybe I should try it on once.
It’s been nearly a year since I wore twin tails, so this hairpin’s placement was familiar to my hands.
I put on the hairpin and brought my face closer to Adri, who opened her mouth in shock once again.
What’s up? Since this girl loves to throw around mean comments, I expected her to say that the accessory is wasted on me. Why is she silent?
As I lowered one eyebrow and waited, Adri swept her hands across her face.
– Hey.
‘What?’
“Why.”
– Don’t wear that in public if you can help it.
I know the value of that accessory, so I only plan to wear it during significant occasions anyway.
But Adri’s reaction seems slightly different than what I had expected.
As I tilted my head while taking off the hairpin, Adri let out a sigh of relief.
So what’s the deal?
How horrid could I possibly look wearing that accessory?
– Since I’ve done you a favor, I’ll give you one piece of advice.
‘Advice?’
“Advice? An old hag like you is giving me advice?”
– Just make sure to be careful until the academy’s vacation arrives. The number of people wanting to take you down among those attacking the dungeon studies exam is gradually rising.
I don’t know what the hint said, but hearing that everyone who saw it curses me made me smile wryly.
I should consider it a good thing that students are enthusiastically conquering the dungeon I made, but when I think that their purpose is to “educate” me, it’s impossible to feel at ease.
Damn you, mesugaki skill! Why do you always try to ruin me!
Could it be that this is a scheme from that shoddy god?!
Gathering everyone in the dungeon to “educate” me like that!
Hey! You perverted, lustful god!
As if that makes sense for your apostle to be your punching bag and expect me to like it!
– Well, I don’t think it’ll change much even if a bunch of idiots gather. But still, you never know where that fury might fly.
‘…Thanks for the advice!’
“Hur hum. Worrying about your well-being? Oh lonely old hag. While feigning grumpiness, you secretly want me to be safe? Pfft. You’re embarrassingly bashful in an unexpected way.”
– …I might never offer advice again!
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