NOVEL NEXT Chapter 62
Chapter: 62
Suddenly, something I never expected popped out of Karl’s mouth, and in an instant, my mind went blank.
Calm down. Did I really talk to only a few people yesterday?
What if Karl brought back a completely trashy quest?
Let’s not get ahead of myself.
Expectations only lead to greater feelings of betrayal.
‘Karl, that request you mentioned…’
“Sloppy. Is that request to go fetch something from a rundown shack in the alley?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
‘Then…’
“So you received the key too?”
“By the way you know, it seems this is indeed Armadi’s revelation.”
Karl started nodding to himself and pulled out a rusty iron key from his pocket, handing it to me.
The moment I received it, a message window popped up in front of my eyes.
– Ding
[Request from Female Student]
[Please enter the abandoned house and find the female student’s belongings]
[Reward: 30 Silver]
Not getting ahead of myself? What do you mean “not getting ahead of myself?!”
Karl! Well done!
I thought you were just a sloppy swordsman who stalked me, but it turns out you’re actually a loyal knight who’s always thinking of me!
I was so happy that I almost wanted to jump in and hug Karl, but the Mesugaki Skill didn’t allow that.
Instead, the Mesugaki Skill made my body move toward Karl, boldly reaching my hand up.
I had no idea what this motion meant, but Karl did.
As soon as he saw me moving, he knelt on one knee.
Then, Karl’s head reached exactly where my hand could touch.
Wait a second. Huh?
Whatever I was thinking, the Mesugaki Skill moved my body without permission.
My hand patted Karl’s head, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
…
Hey, do you realize you’re being treated like a dog right now?
Karl, are you really okay with being treated like a loyal hound instead of a loyal knight?
That thought crossed my mind, but I kept it to myself, as it felt like I would ruin the smile on his face.
‘Thank you, Karl.’
“Efforts for a sloppy are commendable, huh?”
“No, I just did what a knight ought to do.”
As I was petting the head of a full-grown man, I couldn’t help but feel a bit enlightened, but I forced myself to ignore it.
Let’s think of something else. Something different.
Right. It’s about the quest.
The request from the female student, which you can first get at Soul Academy, looks like a minor quest just by the reward.
However, the real deal about this quest isn’t the reward the female student offers.
It’s the fact that I can enter the abandoned house.
Inside that building, there’s a path leading to a hidden dungeon!
Originally, it was a place you had to reach level 10 and gain some proficiency in after playing the game, but now I’ve completed all that work?!
Perfect. I have to go in tonight.
While thinking about the quest, a new question popped up in my mind.
Other things are fine, but how did Karl get this?
This is a quest you can only get if you talk to the female student first, right?
Karl, who doesn’t care about anything other than the training or doors, wouldn’t have talked to her.
‘Karl…’
“Sloppy, how did you hear about this request?”
“About that?”
When I threw the question, Karl excitedly replied.
On his way to meet me yesterday, he happened to overhear the female student talking about me.
So he pretended to ask for directions, saying he’d help if she was in trouble.
“And then the next day she came to me and told me her troubles.”
As I listened to Karl’s story, I felt the gap between us.
When I tried to talk to her, she was super wary.
But when Karl talks to her, she comes running to share her troubles immediately?
That’s just unfair.
It’s true that I’m a bit aggressive due to the Mesugaki Skill.
And my reputation isn’t great either.
But the first time for both Karl and me was the same, wasn’t it?
What’s the difference that he’s trusted right off the bat?
Is it looks? Is it a looks problem?
Karl is definitely good-looking.
Among those who make girls cry just by talking, he’s the only one who can make them smile.
But does that looks of his completely crush the wariness they feel?!
Karl’s face is not some hypnosis app!
It’s so unfair.
How come some people are distrusted for merely initiating a conversation while others’s favorability rises?!
“Lady. It seems people are starting to come.”
Karl said that and carefully slipped out of my hand, getting back on his feet.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think I can act familiar where there are people. It would be of no benefit if it becomes known that I’m a knight of the Allen family.”
‘Do as you please.’
“Do what you want. Sloppy.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
As he got up and headed back to prepare for class, people started to enter the classroom.
They looked at my face with a perplexed expression and headed to a place far from me.
I should be happy that I received a quest I thought I’d never get in my life, but why does my chest feel empty?
Fortunately, this feeling didn’t last long.
Because a destructive force that didn’t care about my expressions or tone had appeared.
“Are you in on this too?”
Frey entered the classroom, saw my face, and rushed over with a bright smile.
The reason she suddenly showed interest was all too obvious.
She must be looking forward to a duel with me.
The combat studies class led by Professor Anton aims to improve skills through dueling.
It’s annoying, but in a way, it’s good.
It’s better than her trying to cling to me to duel after school, so let’s just do it now!
While I was engaging in half-hearted chit-chat with Frey’s chattering, I noticed a guy walking towards me.
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that face somewhere before.
I can’t remember his name.
Except that the Mesugaki Skill referred to him as a Junior.
Oh well. Does it really matter?
After all, the Mesugaki Skill is going to call him Junior anyway, so whatever I call him in my mind is the same.
“Greetings, Lady Allen.”
‘Hello, Junior.’
“Hey, Junior, you look fine, eh?”
“Thanks to you.”
As the Junior greeted me, the eyes of others were drawn to us.
Most were curious, while some looked concerned.
Is it really such a rare occasion for someone to talk to me?
Reflecting for a moment, I recalled that only a handful of people had talked to me today, so I had to admit it was indeed rare.
“I came to express my gratitude. Last time, I was too flustered and only sent a letter, but I figured it was better to say it face-to-face.”
The Junior said that and bowed deeply, almost to the ground.
“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, Lady Allen, I would have died.”
I knew what he meant by the greeting, but it was merely a burden to me.
That incident happened because of me.
‘Don’t worry about it.’
“Were you just waiting for the right moment to say a timid thank you? That’s so Junior-like. Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t because of you that I pushed forward.”
“Haha. Still, it’s thanks to you that I’m alive.”
*
“Yo, are you insane?!”
As soon as Jacob Reiz returned to his seat, his close friend Harry Sauber exclaimed in shock.
“Why?”
“Why?! Allen! Why are you talking to the Allen lady?”
Harry yelled at his friend and glanced over at Lucy Allen, who was forming her own space in the corner.
“Because she’s the one who saved my life.”
Jacob vividly remembered the hellish place he escaped from.
If Lucy Allen hadn’t been there, Jacob wouldn’t have been able to stand here.
“Still, her reputation isn’t great. Who knows what might happen to you.”
Harry whispered while furrowing his brow as Jacob chuckled dryly.
True, Lucy Allen doesn’t have a good reputation.
Anyone from a noble family who stepped into the social circle would have heard of Lucy Allen’s infamous reputation, and naturally, Jacob had heard of it too.
However, Jacob didn’t fully believe the rumors.
There were so many stories going around that while not everything could be false, he thought most were misunderstandings.
Someone who willingly puts themselves in danger for others can’t simply be a bad person.
“Most of it is probably a misunderstanding.”
With Lucy Allen ranking first in the academy entrance exam, how could the rumors of her being bad at studying be true?
Jacob thought there must be a lot of malicious rumors about her.
“Anyway, don’t get too close. Right now, there are rumors flying that Lady Allen has caught the eye of the Third Prince.”
“The Third Prince?”
“Yeah.”
Harry’s frantic warning hinted at deep concern about the trouble they might face if they accidentally got on the Third Prince’s radar.
Lady Allen, what kind of trouble have you caused in just one day?
Just as Jacob was about to ask Harry for more details on the rumors, Professor Anton, the combat studies teacher, appeared.
Making a sound as if to announce his presence, he entered and scanned the room with a smile.
“Greetings, everyone. I am Anton, the combat studies professor. I’m here to teach you how to fight.”
“As you know, this class aims to gain experience through duels among students. Specifically…”
Despite Professor Anton’s lengthy explanation, the students’ reactions were lukewarm.
Seeing this, Professor Anton coughed lightly and said,
“Um, is it hard to understand? It might be better to demonstrate, so is there anyone willing to step forward for a duel?”
As Anton finished speaking, one hand shot up among the students.
Frey Kent.
She was the young lady from the Kent family, known for producing exceptional swordsmen for generations, and has the highest probability of becoming the next Sword Saint.
“I’ll duel Lucy Allen.”
“Sloppy swordsman.”
“That was agreed upon, right?”
“If you fight me, you’ll find out just how sloppy your swordsmanship really is, are you okay with that?”
“Are you scared?”
“Don’t make me laugh. You think I’m weak enough to fall to your shoddy sword?”
No one dared to interrupt the sparring match between Frey and Lucy.
They were all too aware of the possible consequences of getting involved.
As Frey and Lucy stepped forward, Professor Anton smiled approvingly.
“It seems that the two most outstanding martial artists from this entrance exam volunteered. How delightful.”
As the two distanced themselves and assumed their stances, Harry turned to Jacob.
“Who do you think will win?”
“Lady Allen.”
“You must be brainwashed or something! Kent Lady can’t possibly lose in a duel! She’s considered the best talent in the history of the Kent family!”
Normally, Harry would have been right.
Frey Kent had won multiple tournaments in the kingdom with an overwhelming performance.
How could Lucy Allen defeat Frey Kent, even if she had performed outstandingly in the entrance exam?
However, Jacob’s thoughts were different.
“I know, but Lady Allen will win. We could bet on it.”
“Bet? I’ll bet 1 gold.”
“That’s basically a month’s worth of meals!”
“Are you chicken?”
“No.”
Jacob remembered Lucy Allen overwhelming a monster that looked like a witch in the dungeon.
How could such a capable person lose to someone else?
Jacob simply couldn’t imagine that scenario.
“Let’s bet.”