Chapter: 477
With just a week left until the midterm exams, the sound of classes in various classrooms of the academy fades away.
Professors, aware of the brutal exam material at Soul Academy, give students some breathing room out of consideration. Of course, some professors go about their duties regardless of students’ screams, but most tend to mind the students’ reactions.
After all, the students who step into the academy will hold considerable power in the future.
Originally, during this time, I would have been locked away in Joy’s room, studying by force and choice.
Joy usually poured all her time into me, so there was no way she’d let me be during such a time.
Not long ago, I even felt like my intelligence was on the rise, and I was prepared to throw myself into study hell.
However, the situation has changed. It’s become clear that Luca, that troublemaker, is going to gamble his future and life, so how can I just sit there and study?
[It seems possible to tackle the situation itself.]
“Right. Anyway, we have Phoebe on our side.”
Phoebe’s voice carries significant weight, especially in areas related to the Evil God; it’s even higher than that of a country’s king.
If she says something is happening within the academy, factions like the First and Second Queens would have no choice but to listen, and that would severely twist Luca’s plans.
[The problem is that the enemy’s plan is likely fairly complete by now.]
“Yeah, I found out too late.”
But I don’t think it will collapse so easily. Phoebe and I have caused some disruptions, and there’s no way Luca wouldn’t take that into account.
If it were before the plan proceeded, that might be a different story, but with some progress made, Luca will start to act desperately as soon as the situation becomes ambiguous.
[The best course of action is to strike before he acts out. Ugh. Faction fights are such a nuisance.]
Even the headmaster of the academy can’t do something as he wishes; that’s the reality we currently face.
While it’s possible to use Phoebe or my connections to disrupt the plan, making a radical move to completely ruin it is absolutely impossible.
Damn it. I want to summon the ultimate weapon, Benedict. If he storms in with the Knights, we could smash the Evil God’s goons to smithereens!
But ever since Benedict said he was going to chat with the distant branches of the Allen Family, I haven’t been able to get in touch with him!
Last year, he would contact me at least once a day, but now it’s barely once a week!
When I saw just a hint of fatigue show on that monstrous Benedict’s face, it was clear that talking to the distant branches of the Allen Family wasn’t an easy task.
…Still, if it’s Benedict, when I genuinely plead for his help, he’d drop everything and rush to me.
Because he’s that kind of person. He’d do anything for his daughter.
Knowing that, I couldn’t put unnecessary pressure on him.
While having Benedict around would definitely make things easier, it’s not like I can’t proceed without him.
It’s a shame I won’t get to see the expression of Rickety Luca getting smashed to pieces, but that’s about it.
[What can I do?]
“I’ll just let the enemy do whatever they want.”
Now, even if I move by myself, it won’t bring about a significant change.
So rather than provoking the enemy, it’s better to let them proceed with their plans.
With a week left until the midterms, even if Luca spends another week, it won’t lead to any dramatic changes. However, that week given to me is completely different.
“First, I’ll drop hints to the people around me. After that, I need to move frantically.”
*
“From now on, I’m done playing with that loser.”
Upon hearing this, Joy briefly felt her thoughts stop.
Luca is going to link up with the Followers of the Void and cause trouble? The very Luca who has achieved so much at the academy over the past few years?
“Hmmm. That guy.”
However, Arthur, who was next to Joy, seemed indifferent.
“Pitiful Prince. Do you know anything about that disgusting pervert?”
“When we made that bet last year, an incident occurred. I thought it might be related to that Luca guy.”
There were certainly suspicious signs based on various circumstances, but he didn’t delve deeper since nothing happened afterward. Joy raised her eyebrows slightly, then broke into a light smile.
“Surprising. I thought the pitiful prince just got played like a fool.”
“I did get played like a fool. The reason I didn’t take it a step further was that I was worried it might provoke a hornet’s nest.”
Arthur, who felt like a bastard child, sighed and crossed his arms.
“So what you’re trying to tell us is to prepare but not to move first.”
“Whoa. You catch on quickly, just like a sly prince.”
Lucy’s laughter made the looks of others shift awkwardly.
Are you throwing yourself into danger alone again?
Are we just something to protect?
Can’t you trust us?
Everyone thought this but kept it to themselves, suppressing the worry that it might be a burden to Lucy.
“All alone again?”
In the sudden silence, Frey’s voice blurted out.
“That’s sneaky.”
Others scolded Frey with their eyes for his obliviousness, but he didn’t care a bit.
“Doing your own fun stuff alone.”
“You dumb swordsman. I’m going to suffer in your place, okay?”
“Let’s go together. I want to be next to Lucy.”
“Huh? Well, I guess it’s fine.”
“That’s not fine!?”
“Is it not fine!?”
“Is it not fine!?”
Everyone was stunned by Lucy’s unexpected comment and blurted something out, but seeing Lucy’s unamused eyes, they all cleared their throats and backed off.
Looking at him, Lucy covered half her mouth with her palm, giggling, and then turned her gaze back to Frey.
“What’s really fun might be on this side! There are a bunch of idiots in this shabby academy who believe in the Void.”
Everyone here understood what Lucy was getting at.
If she genuinely cherished them like babies in a stroller, she wouldn’t leave them behind but would take them along.
Because she trusts them, she leaves them in a place without confidence.
“If you’re so scared of that dumb swordsman and want to run away crying, I might take you with me. What do you want?”
“…Umm. Got it. I’ll stay here.”
As Frey hid his disappointment and stepped back, Lucy found him cute like a well-behaved puppy and left.
Left behind, they could only stare at the closed door, each lost in their own thoughts.
“First, I’ll let Cecil know. Even if it’s not in detail, I need to prepare in case my brother’s forces move.”
As Arthur shared his thoughts, Joy chimed in like she had been waiting.
“Then I’ll warn the young ladies to be careful. Given the kidnapping incident last time, it wouldn’t seem strange at all.”
“Well, I’ll let the church know there might be something going on. Due to what happened at the start of the semester, everyone is on high alert, so I believe it would be a quick response if something happens.”
“Saintess. Pardon me, but are you telling everyone among the clergy?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll only tell those I can trust.”
Arthur still looked worried, but Phoebe smiled softly at him.
If it were the Phoebe of the past, she might have been displeased, but not anymore.
Under the Lord’s name, she had learned that not everyone is warm-hearted, and she knew Arthur’s worries weren’t entirely misplaced.
And that was why she could nod confidently.
Phoebe could see those with the warm-heartedness of the Lord.
Amidst their conversation, Frey suddenly jumped up.
“Frey. Where are you going?”
“To train.”
“…Train?”
“No matter what comes my way, it’s training to cut through. This time, I’ll land a hit on Lucy before it reaches her.”
*
Phew. Thank goodness the excuses worked. It would have been incredibly annoying if Frey clung on like a leech. That simple-minded fool can be a help too.
[Can I ask what you’re planning to prepare?]
“It’s nothing too grand. It’s just that preparing something great like I did in Burrow Territory feels a bit much, right?”
If I wanted to create a miracle, I could certainly do it. By visiting Count Arteia’s place and giving prayers and blessings, I could grab everything I want.
If that doesn’t work, I could just ask the Perverted Apostle to craft some trinkets for Count Arteia personally.
Nonetheless, the reason I don’t consider this has two major points.
One, it’s too eye-catching.
With all the attention already on me because of the trinkets, if I pull off a miracle, the Jushin Church will definitely turn their eyes toward me.
For someone like me, who shouldn’t get discovered as an Apostle of God, their interest is nothing but bothersome.
The other reason is that if I perform a miracle, Luca will probably like it.
Just think about it. It’s an event that a student like me shouldn’t and couldn’t create unfolding right under Luca’s made-up scenario.
Then, he would die smiling in that final moment.
Thinking that he crafted this piece, me.
That cannot happen. It must not.
That troublemaker’s end must be nothing but emptiness.
How much have I suffered at Luca’s hands! There’s no way I’m letting him go easily!
Even if it’s an unreasonable grudge from beyond the monitor! Nevertheless, I can’t allow him to die with a grin!
“I’m going to summon the person who Luca loves and hates the most in the world.”
<…Is it the person you brought up when you provoked Luca before?>
“Yes.”
This individual was someone who traveled with Luca before he became a professor at the academy.
The one who brought despair to Luca with only his own talent.
An active Sword Saint.
Originally, this character was supposed to play a significant role for Frey in the game’s story.
“How does it feel to be a foolish boulder gazing at a shining star from the sky? Just imagining their reaction when they face an even brighter star brings a smile to my face.”
Just thinking about it makes me laugh involuntarily.
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