NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54
Chapter: 54
As the Tohryong launched its attack, a divine barrier interfered instead of me, blocking its strike.
“Lady Allen.”
It was Phoebe.
I was feeling a bit down from being called sloppy just moments ago, and yet she still came to help me! Truly a Saintess! She’s shining bright!
“Are you all aware that everyone is watching us?”
Thanks to Jack and Frey, who were charging at the Tohryong like crazy after being pushed back by the barrier, I had some time to glance around at the students.
Just a moment ago, they had been screaming in confusion, but now they were watching us with excited faces, as if they were about to munch on popcorn.
It wasn’t just the students who were watching.
The professors standing before them and the golems surrounding us were doing the same.
At this point, it seemed everyone had a grasp of how things were unfolding.
Well, considering the clues scattered around, only Jack and Frey would be so wrapped up in tormenting the Tohryong that they’d miss the situation.
“Looks like this assault was prepared by the Academy.”
“I guess so.”
“Sloppy Academy certainly pulled a stupid move.”
I replied to Phoebe and dashed towards the Tohryong, smashing its claw with my mace.
Gradually, cracks began to form on the claw, and it eventually shattered and fell to the ground.
– Kwoooooo.
The Tohryong raid was nearing its end.
It was certainly comfortable to have clear DPS dealers like this.
As long as I was tanking in front, victory was a natural outcome.
Pure bliss.
I hope we can form parties and continue to work together like this.
I was braced to go solo, but having allies made things way easier.
Given my current reputation, it seemed impossible, but you never know what the future holds, right?
In the end, the Tohryong couldn’t withstand our onslaught.
Claws were broken.
The tail was severed.
Wings were clipped.
With its eyes pierced, the Tohryong let out a pitiful whimper compared to its earlier boisterous roar and fell to the ground.
At the same time, applause echoed from those watching us.
I felt just like a gladiator in an arena.
“Huh?”
“What’s going on?”
The two, who had shown no interest in how things were progressing, tilted their heads in confusion as they heard the applause.
Feeling sorry for them, I passed by Phoebe, who was explaining the situation, and made my way towards the group of students after sheathed my weapon.
“Impressive.”
At that moment, the Pitiful Prince struck up a conversation with me.
Why was this guy, who usually showed indifference to anyone but those he’s known since childhood, suddenly taking an interest in me?
“You definitely have the qualities to take the representative position from me.”
Was it because of the entrance exam?!
I didn’t realize that rejecting the representative spot was just the beginning of the snowball effect?!
Right! The Soul Academy entrance exam scores are made public up to the top 20!
If people saw me in the first place, it’d definitely have an impact one way or another!
But now wasn’t the right time, was it?
How did this guy know about the scores released after the entrance ceremony was over?!
“I might know about you, but let me introduce myself again. I am the Third Prince of the Soladin Kingdom, Arthur Soladin.”
Since the prince introduced himself, it would be polite for me to respond, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak.
I couldn’t figure out what to call Arthur.
Joy is the Foolish Young Lady. Lucy is the Sloppy Saintess.
But how should I address Arthur?
Should I call him the Pitiful Prince? Or the Sloppy Prince?
Either way, it’d be the worst outcome!
Blasphemy! Blasphemy!
No matter how powerful a count’s daughter I might be, I shouldn’t be saying such things to a prince!
“Lady Allen?”
How about a word or two back?!
I racked my brain desperately, but no breakthrough came to me.
As long as the Mesugaki Skill exists, I couldn’t escape this compulsion.
There’s no choice.
I’d inevitably face him while living at school, huh.
Let’s think of it as getting whipped beforehand and just blurt it out.
With my determination firm, I looked at Arthur.
‘Hello…’
“I don’t know why you’re asking, but I’m Lucy Allen. Pitiful Prince.”
“…Huh?”
Seeing Arthur, eyes wide in disbelief at my words, made only one word come to mind.
I’m screwed. Totally screwed.
This was not a situation where I could think about damage control.
Saying “Pitiful Prince” to someone who hates being pitied the most!
“Could you repeat that? Lady Allen?”
Arthur curled up the corners of his mouth, but his eyes weren’t smiling at all.
Looking at him glaring at my frozen eyes made me feel like I could hiccup.
“I wanted to confirm that I didn’t mishear…”
“Good day to you.”
As I was at a loss for words, a voice interjected between us.
It was one of the golems from Tohryong’s underlings.
A human sound was coming from there.
This voice was definitely… Luca?
“Thank you for your hard work against the Tohryong. It was a fantastic battle that’s hard to believe you’re an Academy student.”
‘Thank you.’
“Is that all you wanted to say?”
“No. I believe they will resume the Academy entrance ceremony now. If you find it hard to move, I can take you there with this golem.”
‘That’s okay.’
“Did my head turn to a golem too, or do I look worn out?”
“Ahaha. I’m glad to hear that.”
I never expected that there would come a moment where I’d be happy to see Luca’s face.
Thank you! For giving me a justification to navigate this situation!
I’ll remember this incident and make sure to thoroughly ruin you when the time comes!
Sorry, but there’s no option to not ruin you!
You’re a troublemaker, after all!
‘I’m sorry, Prince…’
“Sloppy Academy has no sense of timing. I’d love to continue our conversation, but I must be going now. Farewell, Pitiful Prince.”
In the rush of the moment, I accidentally said “prince” again.
When I lifted my previously bowed head, I saw the prince’s face, now devoid of the energy to smile.
Ha. I’m done for.
My mind was gone blank, and I couldn’t think straight, so I hurried off toward where the students were gathered.
[He’s glaring at you from behind.]
‘I didn’t need to know that!’
As I returned to the ranks of students, everyone made way for me.
The fear in their eyes was still there.
If anything, it seemed even worse than before.
Could it be that realizing the brat I thought was just a jerk actually had some strength made them feel this way?
Normally, I would have been intimidated by this fact, but this time it was okay.
I was already at rock bottom, so there was no more place to fall!
“I imagine you’re all surprised by what just happened.”
Judy’s voice brought me back to reality as I blankly stared at the podium.
“As you all might guess, this assault was something prepared by our Academy. The reason for this was to see how you would respond in a crisis.”
“As you all know, there was a troubling incident during our last entrance exam.”
When Judy mentioned the incident, all gazes turned towards me.
“Fortunately, it was resolved without harm, but if things had gone wrong, some could have lost their lives.”
“Even in a perfectly controlled Academy Dungeon, such a crisis can arise.”
“If we were to enter a real dungeon, what do you think would happen?”
Judy paused and looked around at the students.
As if giving them time to ponder.
“Dungeons are full of variables.”
“No matter how experienced an adventurer, predicting what happens inside a dungeon perfectly is impossible.”
“If a crisis strikes unexpectedly and chaos ensues like today, what do you think would happen?”
“Speaking as someone who once worked in the field, you all would be dead.”
As Judy’s words rang true, a silence fell among the students.
When giving speeches in a game, I never spoke so ruthlessly.
Was it the reaction to the incident during the exam?
“You will eventually be the ones to tackle dungeons.”
“Regardless of your location, you will find yourselves inside dungeons.”
“When you create that confusion, it could take away everyone’s lives.”
Judy, who had been observing the somber atmosphere amongst the students with a serious expression, suddenly broke into a smile.
“However, you don’t need to worry. I’ll now teach you how to prepare for it.”
“Starting today, the Academy will teach you how to survive.”
“We’ll ensure you learn how to respond to any crisis that arises.”
“When the day comes that you graduate from Soul Academy, you will be capable of tackling any dungeon.”
“I will make it happen.”
After saying this, she bent slightly to bow before lightening her voice, which had been serious just moments ago.
“Now, the entrance ceremony has concluded. You may check the class assignment list at the entrance of the Academy…”
*
If you were to ask Arthur what word he hates the most in the world, he would pick “pitiful.”
Born from a night of folly committed by the king and conceived as the son of a baroness far removed from power, he lost his mother in an unknown accident when he was just five years old and, along with that loss, he completely fell out of favor with the king.
Despite being a prince, he lived a pitiful existence.
Everyone thought so.
However, Arthur hated the word “pitiful” and the sympathetic gazes associated with it.
Because the moment he became the “pitiful” one, he could not uphold the promises made by his mother.
Arthur did everything he could to not be pitied.
He even strove to become someone who could receive everyone’s admiration, to the extent where they wouldn’t even think of calling him “pitiful.”
On the day of his mother’s funeral, he wanted to be the person who could stand proud and declare that he was not pitiful when the king referred to him as “the pitiful child.”
Arthur’s efforts bore fruit.
Now, no one pitied him.
He was seen as a genius.
A remarkable person.
Everyone praised him, and no one dared to call him “pitiful.”
Or so it was.
“Pitiful Prince.”
The scornful laughter and derisive eyes directed at him.
Even after quite some time since parting with Lucy, he couldn’t shake off that image from his mind.
Was it said that he enjoyed disparaging and criticising others regardless of their status?
The rumors were not entirely unfounded.
The Pitiful Prince, huh.
Ha. Damn it.
This wasn’t a time for me to tease Joy.
*
– Ding!
As I blankly watched the students head towards the Academy building, my mind snapped back to reality at the sound of a message window popping up.
[Quest Clear!]
[You have successfully enrolled in the Academy!]
[Consequently, rewards will be given!]