Chapter: 415
At first, I thought it was just a simple coincidence and let Visi be.
Even if I thought she looked sloppy, from others’ perspective, she was probably someone they would call a big shot, so why not get up and check it out? It must be really burdensome.
Especially for Phoebe, who probably looks like a grim reaper from Visi’s point of view, there’s no need for that unnecessary worry. But Visi kept glancing at me for several minutes.
At this point, it’s safe to say she has something to say. Even if it’s just a misunderstanding, she can’t complain, right?
I asked my friends for permission and stood up in front of the flustered Visi, who didn’t know how to react.
“Ah. Lady Allen?”
“Flunky Lady. Aren’t you being a bit too shy? Looking around like a girl in love for the first time!”
“…Yes. Yes?”
“Ah, if you’re in love with me, I’m sorry. Being too cute and pretty is an offense sometimes!”
“That’s not it?!”
Visi yelled, hurriedly fixing her posture under the gaze of my friends.
I mean, they’re just watching out of curiosity, why’s she turning so pale?
Is she really that timid?
“Flunky Lady. So what did you come here for?”
“Ah. That’s because of Adri.”
I figured it was strange not to see Adri around; it must be related to her.
After hearing her out, I led Visi’s arm and headed deeper into the building.
Talking about necromancy isn’t something meant to be discussed openly in front of others.
Visi is just a half-baked necromancer, so she’s harmless, but the real necromancers do things on a whole different level. Necromancy is taboo for a reason.
With that awareness of necromancers, the suppression against necromancy is taken to another level.
If the game’s background holds, once it’s known that Visi is involved in necromancy, not only she but her entire family could be finished.
Knowing that, I booked a private room to freely talk with Visi, using the seal Karia gave me to block any sound and then sat across from her.
“What happened to the lonely old hag?”
“This time, the Saintess defeated the followers of the Evil God.”
“For a sloppy Saintess, she put in some effort. But why?”
“Because of that, the church’s priests are moving actively.”
Last time the followers of the Evil God showed up in the streets, it was a huge shock for the church people.
How could they have stealthily infiltrated the area they were guarding without realizing it?!
If it hadn’t been for the Saintess, we would’ve been attacked by zealots of the Evil God without a clue!
After processing thoughts like that, the priests began patrolling the streets with fervor and determination, not wanting to let the same thing happen again.
They were desperately going around the streets, trying to ignore even the smallest hint of corruption.
“Adri’s mansion was no exception.”
Adri, an excellent necromancer, always kept her aura hidden.
Currently, she’s like a ghost enjoying the world beside Visi, having discarded any hatred or greed. She was working hard not to act in ways that would threaten her existence.
Until now, Adri had successfully deceived the church, but that wasn’t the case anymore. The patrols of the Jushin Church priests were increasingly threatening Adri’s neck.
“She’s hiding underground now, but who knows how long that will last?”
After listening to all of Visi’s explanations, I crossed my arms and pondered.
There won’t be any less patrols from the priests moving forward. The followers of the Evil God will desperately target the academy, and the more chaotic their attempts become, the tighter the security will be.
How did Adri survive in the game?
Wasn’t this kind of thing nonexistent when it was still a game?
Realizing there was nothing to refer to, I decided to meet and talk with Adri. It seemed like her opinion would lead to something.
So, after slipping out of the academy and onto the streets, I chewed on my lips under people’s gazes.
Getting attention from others was something I was familiar with.
Since I first stepped into this world, I’ve always lived under the gaze of others.
However, the attention I was receiving now felt way different from usual.
Of course, the glances from people were filled with clear interest.
“Is that looking lady Allen?”
“She seems prettier in real life than in the accessories.”
“Is she really the protagonist of those numerous rumors? Something feels off!”
“If you saw that lady in the social circle, you’d never say that.”
“Don’t approach her out of curiosity. You might experience something horrible.”
“…If it’s a lady like that, it wouldn’t be too bad to get stomped on. Ahem.”
Just how much impact do the accessories from the Arts Church have?
Receiving a mixture of curiosity and wariness from the crowd, I finally sighed in relief when I arrived at Adri’s mansion.
I couldn’t believe there would come a day when I’d be grateful for the mess Lucy had caused in the past.
If it hadn’t been for the reputation that Lucy built up, the people in the streets would’ve definitely charged at me all at once.
… Given this situation, maybe I should stir up some trouble again. If I don’t create an atmosphere that’s hard for them to approach, a horrible event might happen.
Shivering at the thought of the scenery returning from the Arts Church, I seriously contemplated causing a stir in the social circle when—
“Why are you here?”
“Eep?!”
I squeaked in surprise at Adri’s sudden appearance popping up from the ground.
“Ha! Hahaha! What’s this? Little brat, you’re scared too?!”
“…Shut it, you foul-mouthed lonely old hag.”
“Pfft. Your earlier scream was still ringing, you know? ‘Eep?!’ How precious. Kugh. Hahaha.”
Hearing Adri’s mocking laughter, I frowned but then flashed a smile.
“I came to check on you since it seemed dangerous, but you don’t seem that panicked, huh?”
“…Ah.”
“Or am I wrong? Do you want to rest comfortably now? I could purify you if you’d like. Hmm?”
As I slightly raised my divine grace toward Adri, she backed away in horror.
“What—What’s this?! Why has it become denser than before?! What happened during vacation?”
“Why are you running away, lonely old hag? Didn’t you want to die?”
“I’m already dead?! And it’s not like I—Aah! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Is that enough?!”
“Weren’t you a noble? Why don’t you know the etiquette for apologizing?”
While I stared blankly as I took out my mace, Adri trembled and eventually bowed her waist.
“I—I’m sorry. I must have been rude.”
“Hmph. I still don’t like you, but you’re older, so I’ll let it slide this time. Ah~ I’m just so kind, you know?”
I gave a light tap on her head as payback for what happened earlier, then checked the current situation along with a shaking Adri.
“It’s embarrassing, but we can’t stay in the mansion any longer. If a bishop-level shows up, I won’t be able to help it.”
That’s right. No matter how skilled Adri is as a necromancer, there exist matchups. If she faces a bishop-level priest without proper preparation, she’ll just get purified.
“And hey, little brat, what on earth did you do to get your image plastered on accessories circulating around the streets? It’s dangerous enough that the Jushin’s love is represented by you!”
On top of that, the growing accessories from the Arts Church became a problem for Adri.
An accessory depicting me, being an Apostle of God, was serving the role of a holy artifact on its own.
Though I hadn’t realized it before, it wasn’t surprising at all.
My portrait aside, those who made those accessories are disciples of the Arts Church.
If their zeal as clergy is embedded in those accessories, it makes sense that they could serve the role of a holy artifact.
…Could it be that the Sloppy God painted a big picture?
Had I been unaware of the Sloppy God, I might have marveled at his wisdom, but I’ve seen too much of the Sloppy God’s ugly side.
If it’s just the Sloppy God or the Pervert God, it might simply be they wanted some merchandise of mine. When you come down to it, it’s likely that they just stumbled upon their desire.
“Anyway, the situation is the worst, there’s nowhere to go in the academy.”
Lifting my head at Visi’s annoyed tone, I shrugged and spoke up.
“Then let’s go somewhere else. Is it that you’re scared of the outside, lonely old hag?”
“If I leave this mansion, I’ll be cut off from Visi! I can’t just leave that clumsy child alone!”
If we leave the academy to help Visi, we can’t, but staying in the academy will surely lead to Adri being purified someday.
The fact that there’s nowhere safe for Adri means there aren’t many good options for me either; she’ll hardly escape the church’s gaze wherever we go in the academy.
Ah.
I’ve got a good idea.
A thought that would be good for both Adri and me.
“Old hag. I know a good spot that’s dark and damp, which a spirit would like.”
“A good place?”
*
“…There’s a place like this?!”
The spot I led Adri to was the hidden underground of the academy I had visited months ago to get a shield.
This location, inaccessible without the stone plate, was nearly impossible to even guess the presence of, unless you were with the people from back then.
If Adri hid here, no matter how good the priests were, they wouldn’t find her. Unless she herself made a fuss wanting to be killed, of course.
“This is nice. The gathering of foul energies is especially satisfying.”
“I just knew you’d like a place like this since you’re like a cockroach.”
“…Eww!”
Adri seemed to have a lot to say but couldn’t bring herself to say it to me.
There’s a stark difference in our standings! She can’t win through power and can’t win through reason either, so she just has to endure whatever I say!
As I watched the trembling old hag, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to tease her until she explodes, but I suppressed that impulse.
There are things I need to ask from her, and it wouldn’t be ideal to do it while she’s furious.
I’d have countless chances to tease Adri later, so let’s postpone the fun for now.
“Lonely old hag.”
“What is it?”
“You have nothing to do except stalk the flunky anyways, right?”
“…Why’s that?”
“Since you’re following her, could you explore a bit inside the academy as well?”
While there’s information from the headmaster, he won’t be able to hear the secretive talks. He’s just an outsider.
But Adri isn’t. As a sorceress, she can hear all sorts of secretive discussions.
As long as she remains undetected, that is.
“Can you do it?”
“I don’t want to! I came here to avoid danger, and I don’t want to….”
As she protested, Adri forced a smile seeing the divine energy gathered in my hands.
“I’ll do it. No, I have to. Yes. I will do my best.”
Bowing politely, eager to help, Adri kept her promise shortly after the academy resumed classes.
She came with information about those involved with the First Queen’s faction trying to test me.
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