NOVEL NEXT Chapter 69
Chapter: 69
Unlike some people, Visi was aware of the situation because she had friends.
So when Lucy mentioned she needed someone, Visi sensed what Lucy was getting at.
This person is trying to drag me into a match.
Visi felt a strong urge to just get up and leave.
There had been no benefits in joining Lucy Allen’s party.
Having to go into a dungeon with this Sloppy Young Lady, who seemed unable to learn any language other than poisonous words, was the last thing she wanted.
It was a match she couldn’t win.
More importantly, she would have to stand on the opposite side of the Third Prince, who had both justification and benefit on his side.
Even though it had been less than a day, the public opinion at Soul Academy had already tilted sharply.
The Third Prince, who proposed a fair match to the one who had insulted him, and the Sloppy Young Lady who ungrudgingly accepted it.
It was crystal clear which side to support.
To stand against the Third Prince in this situation?
That was like asking the students at the academy to throw stones at her.
Not only that.
Taking Lucy’s side wouldn’t just affect her reputation at the academy.
The whole social circle would hear rumors about her.
That she was opposing the Third Prince and siding with the Sloppy one.
It wasn’t exactly political suicide, but it was still a crazy move.
Yet, Visi couldn’t leave this place because Lucy Allen had a grip on her weakness.
“If the party member doesn’t help me, I’m afraid my mouth will become really loose.”
Necromancer.
A taboo Visi must never reveal.
“I might just go to that old, shabby church and spill everything to that Shoddy God.”
Lucy said nonchalantly, fiddling with the cross-shaped necklace hanging around her neck.
A necklace from Jushin Church.
An item given only to those who did significant deeds in the church.
How this blasphemous person could call Lord Armadi a Shoddy God to receive that necklace was a mystery, but it was clear that Lucy Allen had ties with the church.
After all, she could even use Divine Magic.
What if she reported Visi to the church as a Necromancer?
Visi had heard about the fates of Necromancers who were exposed to the church from her mentor.
The horrifying sight that would make one wish for death itself.
That was one outcome she had to avoid at all costs.
It was preferable to take the hard road than to be captured by the church, tortured, and meet her end.
“… so if I become a party member, that’s fine, right?”
“Not bad for a Sloppy one, you’ve got some quick wits, huh? That’s right.”
As Lucy chuckled, Visi clenched the hand she had hidden under the table.
If I had power… I could smack that Sloppy Young Lady in the head and yell, “You’re the sloppy one!”
Just then, Lucy pulled out a bead from her clothing.
It looked like just a simple orb, but Visi instantly realized what it was.
“That’s the reward for taking down the Necromancer last time. I thought you’d know what it is.”
Although her level wasn’t high yet, a Necromancer was still a Necromancer.
There was no way she could miss the pure mana contained in that orb. Visi’s gaze was fixated on the orb filled with mana.
If she could channel such mana into her own body, she would definitely reach a higher level.
She would be one step closer to the realm she desired.
“This is a valuable item. You’d have to pay a fortune even in the Underworld to get it.”
Lucy was right.
Necromancy was regarded as a taboo by the church.
Of course, items related to Necromancy couldn’t be found in the light, and even in the shadows, they were hard to come by.
For someone like Visi, a younger noble, it was undoubtedly out of reach.
“I’m not a stingy person who makes people work for free, you know. Sloppy Young Lady. If you help me beat that pitiful prince, I’ll give you this. What do you say?”
Visi stood up from her chair and approached Lucy.
Then she politely bowed her head to Lucy.
“I’ll do my best!”
“Not needed. Sloppy Young Lady. I don’t expect anything from someone like you. Just breathe behind me.”
*
“Can I trust a Necromancer?”
After sending off the Sloppy Young Lady, Grandpa quietly asked me.
His voice contained an ominous emotion that was different from usual.
It was unavoidable.
Most Necromancers were often subordinates of the Evil God.
How could Grandpa, who had fought against the Evil God for a lifetime, have any good feelings towards Necromancers?
“It’s okay.”
There was a significant gap between the Necromancers Grandpa thought of and the Sloppy Young Lady.
There was no way for someone who once seriously worshiped the Evil God to be similar to a Sloppy Young Lady who stepped on that path just to see her brother one more time.
“I won’t say more since the situation is unavoidable, but always be cautious.”
“Yes. I understand.”
I thought it was excessive worry, but I nodded anyway.
It would be better to reassure him like this rather than rebel unnecessarily.
“So what will you do now?”
“I need to prepare.”
“You don’t even know how the dungeon is structured?”
“I know.”
Of course, I had memorized how to construct the dungeons created in the first semester at Soul Academy.
Which monsters appeared on each floor.
What bosses appeared every ten floors.
What strategies were needed to face them.
How each field was organized.
The hidden items and secret routes that the professors hid while creating the dungeon.
I knew it all.
There wasn’t a dungeon within the Soul Academy game that I didn’t know.
It was impossible not to know about the academy dungeon, the main stage of this game.
Seeing that I answered I knew, Grandpa didn’t ask any further.
I had already been known for carrying out several bizarre tasks under the pretense of the Shoddy God.
He probably thought my unconventional actions were influenced by that Pervert God.
With some things to gather, I returned to my dormitory and pulled out a pouch from my room.
The pouch of gold coins that Benedict had given me when I arrived at the Academy! It contained a whopping 20 gold.
Enough for a normal noble student to use as living expenses for a year, and Benedict had given it to me as pocket money separate from my living expenses.
“More money is always better than less,” he said.
While it’s true that more money is always good, can a student really receive this much?
Isn’t this the reason Lucy had a habit of wasting money? Damn you, Benedict.
You handle fights and jobs so well, but why are you such a disaster when it comes to childcare?
I took out two gold coins from the pouch and stepped outside again.
In a typical city, evening is the time when the streets prepare for sleep.
With no electricity, night is just a time for resting in this world.
However, the streets of Soul Academy were different.
Around the academy, the most active time for the bustling city was none other than the evening.
The Academy students, who are the ones most capable of spending money in the city, are free to roam during this time.
Today too, the evening streets of Soul Academy were lively, but I passed by that scene and headed towards the back alley.
Although I could potentially find what I was looking for here, the quality was just too low.
There was no way to find good items in shops available at the game’s start.
Eventually, I could get decent items after meeting several conditions, but that was impossible for now.
That’s why I chose a different place.
As I opened the door to the back alley tavern, eyes were cast on me once again.
However, the nature of those gazes was different from before.
There was no hostility or suspicion.
What was present was merely caution.
Now, I’m the customer, right?
“Lady Allen. What brings you here today?”
The man who had once picked a fight with me and got beaten up by Alsatine politely inquired about my business.
“Hello…”
“Hey, you old man. I came to see the Information Peddler.”
The man’s eyebrows twitched at the insult thrown at him and his boss.
But he didn’t get angry like before.
He had looked like a tremendous hothead when I first saw him.
Was it simply because he was an outsider back then?
“He’s upstairs. I’ll get him…”
“No… I’ll go myself to fetch that lazy Information Peddler who wouldn’t come down.”
I knew where Alsatine’s room was. I had visited it before.
I passed by the man who made way for me and knocked on Alsatine’s door before opening it.
“Who…”
Alsatine frowned, looking up, only to change his expression hurriedly when he saw my face.
“It’s Lucy Allen.”
“What? You got a problem, Information Peddler?”
“No, no. What brings you here?”
“I came to buy something.”
“Isn’t there only one reason I would come to this shabby and filthy place? I’m here to buy something.”
“Well then, please have a seat.”
Following Alsatine’s guidance, I closed the door and sat down.
He quickly hid some of the documents sprawled in front of him as I moved.
Was there some important information? But there was no need to hide it from me.
Whatever it is, it’s definitely not better than what’s in my head.
“Last time…”
“Did you investigate what I told you?”
“The Burrows Family Necklace? Yes. I’ve pinpointed its location and expect to secure it within this week.”
Already? That was fast.
I thought it would take at least a month.
While it was good news, it wasn’t what I asked about.
“Not that.”
“What about the other thing?”
About your mentor.
You must’ve investigated, right?
With the information network you have, you should have at least found a small clue by now.
“Yes, of course, I investigated. I found sufficient evidence to deem that your assertion is valid. Your mentor’s whereabouts were confirmed there.”
Good. That means Alsatine wouldn’t dare to upset me until I reveal information about his mentor.
If I made any requests, he’d surely try his best to help.
“I’m curious how you managed to obtain such information, but I suppose you won’t share, right?”
“Of course not.”
“Why are you asking something obvious, Information Peddler? Want to make my mouth sore for no reason?”
“Haha. That wasn’t my intention. Ahem. Now then, back to the main topic. What items did you come to buy?”
I handed Alsatine the list of items I had prepared in my pocket.
He looked it over and raised one eyebrow slightly.
“Are you heading to explore a dungeon?”
“Yes…”
“Alright then, Information Peddler. Can you get all of this top-notch stuff within a week?”
“Of course. But…”
Before Alsatine could finish, I took out two gold coins and placed them beside the paper, causing Alsatine to break into a bright smile.
“I’ll have it ready for you in three days.”