NOVEL NEXT Chapter 53
Chapter: 53
The monster that emerged from the ground was the Tohryong and the other monsters it led, just like in the game.
Since this served as the tutorial at Soul Academy, we couldn’t fight the Tohryong.
It wasn’t a matter of being unable to fight as a level 1 character; the system had made it impossible to intervene from the start.
Instead, we had to learn how to play the game by dealing with other random monsters.
During that time, various key characters in the game teamed up to take down Tohryong.
I often thought about wanting to take down that Tohryong while repeating the tutorial, but never expected an opportunity like this to arise.
And it was with specs that were unmatched compared to the tutorial.
If I weren’t a character in the game, I would have been purely delighted.
As I was moving forward, I saw a student who had fallen and didn’t know what to do, along with a golem made of dirt trying to attack him.
If left like that, he wouldn’t get hurt.
The monsters moving around were all being controlled by the academy side.
But I was here with my weapon for my reputation.
It would be better to show a good performance here.
If I couldn’t improve my reputation and ended up being treated like a cockroach throughout my time at school, I— with my fragile mentality— would just die!
I increased my speed and positioned myself in front of the student, blocking the spirit’s punch with a shield created by divine power.
It felt light.
Compared to the sword strikes from Karl, who usually sparred with me, it was like a kitten’s little punch.
After pushing aside that punch, I brought my mace down on the golem’s head.
After confirming the golem crumbled, losing its power source, I turned my gaze back.
‘Run away.’
“Hey, weakling. If you can’t even run on your two legs, at least crawl away!”
The student, hearing my words, scrambled to get up and fled with the other students.
Considering I saved him, he should at least say thanks.
Was my tone that rough?
But if that kid wasn’t such a shameless person, I could hope he’d show gratitude for my help and tell good stories about me from behind.
Thinking that, I dashed toward the Tohryong again.
There were already a few students around the Tohryong.
These brave souls were buying time for the other students to escape, but unfortunately, their skills didn’t match their courage.
Even though this Tohryong wasn’t a true dragon, it was still of the dragon kin.
Its basic specs were on a different level compared to ordinary monsters.
These kids, who had just entered the academy, couldn’t handle it.
But that Tohryong was being cautious and attacking moderately; if it had gone all out from the start, they would have fallen long ago.
I stood in front of the one who had braced themselves for the Tohryong’s raised foreleg.
The moment the Tohryong brought its foreleg down, an iron wall was established.
“Block it!”
I responded by moving my shield.
Crash. The moment the Tohryong’s foreleg hit the shield, my feet slid back slightly.
This had some decent power.
It felt like about the same as Posell’s light punches.
But seriously,
Do you think I’ve sparred with Posell a few times?
Do you have any idea how many times I’ve rolled on the ground fighting him, who has no concept of going easy?!
This much is nothing.
[Hey girl. Don’t think about attacking. The Tohryong is...]
‘Grandpa, do you think I wouldn’t know that?’
Do you think this rotten thing from Soul Academy doesn’t know its traits?
You’re really underestimating me too much.
I pushed the foreleg aside and regained my stance.
Tohryong is famously known for having high defensive power among dragons.
If I focused on attacking, I could deal some damage, but I’d be neglecting my defense.
If I were the only one who could fight here, I would have swung my mace despite the risks, but there were plenty of damage dealers around now, so it wasn’t necessary.
Just as the Tohryong was about to raise its foreleg again, flames hit its head.
Wow, it seems like the power has increased since the last time I saw it!
“Lady Allen, hold on!”
Looks like you’ve grown a lot since taking the entrance exam, Joy?
As the Tohryong was struck by the fireball and glared at Joy, a new character rushed in from a distance, aiming for the Tohryong’s tail.
The next Sword Saint, Frey, swung her sword and pierced through the Tohryong’s scales, but she couldn’t slice through them entirely.
As the Tohryong screamed and moved its tail, Frey clicked her tongue and retreated.
“It’s tough.”
The excited Tohryong was about to swing its attacks indiscriminately.
No way! That would be bad.
What are you doing taking your eyes off me with an opponent right in front of you?
I guess there’s no choice. Looks like it’s a kid who lacks focus.
I’ll help you focus on the opponent.
“Hey, lizard brat!”
The moment I called out, Tohryong turned its gaze toward me.
“Did hanging out underground make your brain shrink like a bug?♡ I know you’re dumb, but I’d appreciate it if you’d show a little self-awareness?♡ How dare you take your eyes off me? It’s so rude!♡”
Look at me, you sloppy lizard!
Was my provocation effective?
As the ecstasy welled up inside me, the Tohryong roared and swung its tail at me.
Even as the massive mass of its attack fell like a whip, I wasn’t flustered.
I was confident that such a thing wouldn’t break me.
‘The servant of God shall never crumble before the onslaught of evil.’
Sturdy divinity.
A buff spell that enhances physical abilities while defending, unique to Holy Knights.
As my prayer concluded and the blessing filled my body, the tail struck down.
Boom!
The moment the tail hit the shield, I instinctively gritted my teeth.
No matter how angry it is, isn’t this a bit too unreasonable?
If I were an ordinary person, I would have been flattened from 3D to 2D?!
While I was resisting the weight that pressed down on me with my arms crossed, I suddenly felt a surge of strength.
It was a different feeling than the buff effect of the Mesugaki skill.
Among the students of Soul Academy, only one person could provide this kind of proper buff.
The timing was just right. Lady Saintess.
With the help of the buff, I pushed away the Tohryong’s tail, causing it to lose its balance.
“Are you okay, Lady Allen?”
Phoebe approached me, trying to cast recovery, but I declined.
‘I’m fine, so please take care of others.’
“Sloppy Saintess, how about recovering your own eyes first? I don’t need help, so why don’t you go somewhere else?”
I could see Phoebe’s smile slightly stiffen.
Even the Saintess couldn’t handle the provocation from the Mesugaki skill?!
“Lady Allen…”
– Roar!
‘Saintess, please concentrate on the buffs from behind!’
“Sloppy Saintess, just assist from the back!”
If we talked any longer, I was gonna see the Saintess’s smile collapse, so I hurriedly dashed toward the Tohryong.
What if I end up being the first person Phoebe hates?!
*
Joy sighed in relief and was amazed upon seeing Lucy push away the Tohryong’s tail and topple it over.
How could such strength come from that small body?
Even though she was blessed by Phoebe, that blessing only amplifies the strength one already possesses.
If Lucy didn’t originally have such impressive power, she wouldn’t have been able to produce such a result.
I thought about how she showed her true power when fighting in that hellish dungeon last time, but how did she become this strong?
Was she truly the Young Lady of the Allen family, a family that has produced countless heroes in the world?
As soon as Tohryong lost its balance and fell, the Burrow Ducal Family’s young knight dashed at the Tohryong.
Holding a spear, he attached himself to the Tohryong’s head and attacked, showing his determination to achieve something no matter what.
Regardless of the Burrow young knight’s intentions, his charge was a hassle for Joy.
She had to hastily retract her magic, fearing he might get caught up in it.
When fighting alongside Lady Allen, there was no need to worry about such things.
As she was thinking that and planning a new spell, the Kingdom’s Third Prince, Arthur Soladin, leisurely showed up beside her.
“You’ve improved a lot in magic, Joy.”
“Your Highness, is this really a time for leisurely evaluation?”
As Joy spoke sharply, Arthur chuckled.
They’ve known each other since childhood.
Arthur knew well that despite Joy’s stern demeanor, she was only complaining.
“I rather want to ask you, Joy. Is there a reason to rush?”
“Tohryong and its subordinates are attacking the students!”
“Joy, that’s why you’re called the Foolish Young Lady.”
Arthur’s joke made Joy frown.
“What did you say?”
Though her expression was filled with vengeance, Arthur didn’t flinch at all.
“Look around you, Foolish Young Lady. Despite the sudden incident, there’s not a single injury, right?”
“Why are you calling me Foolish Young Lady too… huh?”
Only then did Joy realize that there was no one in pain, groaning from injuries.
This was definitely strange.
Even if the academy’s newly admitted students had some level of skill, their opponent was Tohryong.
There should have been countless injuries, and it should have been chaotic, yet the situation was eerily calm.
“Foolish Young Lady, that’s not the only strange thing. Look around. The Tohryong’s subordinate monsters are quietly watching the fight.”
Indeed. Up until their first appearance, the subordinates that seemed ready to attack the students were now just standing there, watching the fight.
Why are they watching their leader fight?
“Above all, none of the professors are intervening in the battle.”
Upon hearing Arthur’s words, Joy shifted her gaze toward where the professors were.
Since an incident occurred during the academy’s entrance ceremony, the professors, who should have been the first to rush into combat, were merely observing the fight.
They were only helping the fleeing students, maintaining order.
Despite being close enough to intervene at any moment, they were not taking part in the battle.
“Why?”
“The answer is obvious. Foolish Young Lady, you can probably guess it without difficulty.”
Just as Arthur said, it was a straightforward answer once one thought about it calmly.
“This assault is orchestrated by the academy.”
“What is the academy’s intent?”
“To test the abilities of the new students.”
“Exactly. Joy. You’re quite sharp when calm.”
“…Does that mean I sound weird when I’m not calm?”
“Exactly. When that happens, you’re a Foolish Young Lady.”
As Joy openly showed her annoyance, Arthur couldn’t help but laugh.
The more he did, the worse Joy’s expression became, but Arthur didn’t worry at all.
This timid Young Lady wouldn’t actually do anything reckless.
Arthur glanced past the sulking Joy to see Lucy defending against the Tohryong’s attacks.
Being the Allen family’s Young Lady must mean she truly possesses exceptional skills.
She moved well, and her judgment in critical moments was impressive.
He couldn’t find even one flaw to point out.
“Come to think of it. With skills like those, it’s no wonder she ranked first in the entrance exam.”
“…Huh?!”
At Arthur’s muttered comment, Joy made a sound unbefitting of a Ducal Young Lady.
“Joy, what’s wrong?”
“Your Highness. Was what you just said true?”
Arthur tilted his head, even as Joy’s trembling voice caught his attention.
“Are you saying the Young Lady Allen ranked first in the entrance exam? Is that true?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“No way. That’s a lie. It can’t be true! Your Highness, please tell me that’s a lie.”
“I wish it were a lie, too.”
If it were, I wouldn’t be getting insulted like this.
As Arthur answered resolutely, Joy stared blankly at his face.
Seeing her expression, Arthur couldn’t help but grin.
He didn’t yet know what kind of person the Young Lady Allen was, but she certainly had a knack for nicknames.
Foolish Young Lady suits her all too well.