LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 55
Chapter: 55
Oh right. This was also a thing?
The biggest reason I struggled to get into Soul Academy was this, but something huge just happened, and I completely forgot.
Even while reading the message window, I didn’t really have any expectations.
When I think about Shoddy God being related to the system, there’s a high possibility this is connected to Shoddy God, right?
It’s just a cheap trickster who gives a quest system after becoming my apostle. What great reward could he possibly give for clearing my first quest?
[‘Emotion’ skill has been unlocked.]
[The new main quest ‘You Were Born to Be Loved’ has been opened.]
Huh?
Wait a second.
What?!
The new quest isn’t that surprising.
I never thought the quest would end with the entrance exam anyway.
But emotion. Emotion is different.
The Emotion skill existed in the game too.
Since Soul Academy was a game that pursued an excessively high level of realism, sometimes the item descriptions could be lies.
There were cases where NPCs pulled tricks with that.
At that time, the ‘Emotion’ skill was necessary.
The higher the proficiency of this skill, the easier it is to figure out the true value of an item.
In fact, among the items in Soul Academy, there were even ultimate tier items that could only be found by maxing out the Emotion skill.
But how is this skill going to apply in reality?
When I played the game, it applied automatically when I hovered my mouse over the item.
I took out Ruel’s Mace to check the skill but couldn’t feel anything special.
Other skills of mine hit me with a sudden feeling when they activated.
Is it because my proficiency is still low? Or is there a different activation method?
I thought it might be similar to other web novels, so I stared at Ruel’s Mace and murmured ‘Emotion.’
Then a new message window appeared before me.
[Ruel’s Mace]
[This is the mace used by Holy Knight Ruel. It seems to feel divine energy.]
[????]
So this is how it works?
Since I just learned the skill, my proficiency is low, so the description isn’t coming through properly, but I can grind it out.
This is awesome.
Shoddy God!
Finally, you’re giving me what I need?!
If you had done this earlier, I wouldn’t have to call you Shoddy God!
Alright. Feeling good!
From now on, I’ll add ‘Lord’ behind your name!
Shoddy God!
Thank you!
Getting one of the skills I thought I needed most made the gloomy feelings I had just a moment ago lift a little.
Now it’s time to check the quest.
[You Were Born to Be Loved]
[Until the final exam, raise the favorability of two students in Soul Academy above 70.]
[Reward: ???]
[If failed: GAME OVER]
Huh?
For a moment, I doubted if what I saw was real, so I splashed water on my face and looked at the quest window again.
But doing that wouldn’t change reality.
I’m sorry, Shoddy God.
I just started calling you that, and now I feel like I need to take it back.
No, if I just take back ‘Lord,’ it might hurt your feelings, so I’ll take back something else too.
Hey! Shoddy! How am I supposed to clear this?!
Favorability of 70?! Is that even possible?!
Soul Academy has a favorability system.
It’s a system where you can increase favorability by doing activities with NPCs, completing NPC-related quests, or giving gifts to become closer.
Even if you’re not interested in the story, you have to pay attention to favorability because it increases stats when you share the same party.
But let’s skip that for now since it’s not crucial.
Speaking specifically about the favorability value, zero feelings towards a stranger is at 40.
The lower it falls, the worse the relationship becomes, and the higher it climbs, the closer you become.
So what does that favorability of 70 spoken in the current quest even mean?
It’s roughly the level of thinking of each other as close friends.
It’s what you call “true friends.”
People who can share their inner struggles without any burden.
When playing the game, that value wasn’t too hard to achieve, but now the situation is different.
There’s no way I could be that close with someone else!
Right now, it’s questionable whether I can even make one friend during my time at Soul Academy.
And now to make two true friends in half a year?!
Give me a break!
You’d be better off giving me a quest to clear a high difficulty dungeon instead!
If you did that, I’d somehow twist myself to give it a shot!
But not this!
Shoddy. You’re just too cruel.
It was already a dirty hard job to start at Soul Academy in Lucy’s body, and now you’re throwing an even higher mountain at me?
You just want to watch me suffer, right? Don’t you?
What kind of apostle is this twisted mess?
You just want to torment me and watch me struggle.
Do you enjoy watching a girl like me break down in tears?
Absolutely not. It will never go your way.
Just wait.
No matter what hardship you throw at me, I won’t break.
I’ll endure and survive, and then I’ll come for your throat.
You think you’re safe sitting on your little god complex, huh?
In Soul Academy, even gods can be killed, you know?
I will make you regret making my life miserable.
The slightly better mood I had suddenly plunged back into despair.
The feeling of improvement was abruptly shattered by the harsh reality.
I pledged internally that I would survive by any means necessary, but the reality was anything but friendly.
What’s the problem, you ask?
Everything is the problem.
From the fact that everyone thinks I’m a total wreck due to Lucy’s past reputation.
To being forced to attract attention because of the Mesugaki Skill.
To not being able to see other people’s favorability.
Thinking back, the question was wrong.
In this case, I should be asking what isn’t a problem. Finding that would be quicker.
Of course, I know how to raise the favorability of all the characters.
I’m a veteran gamer of Soul Academy.
But… but.
Damn it, Shoddy Lucy.
Damn it, Shoddy Mesugaki Skill!
“Lady Allen.”
At the sound of my name being called, I lowered my hand and looked up to see Joy’s serious expression.
She had left her usual entourage behind and came to talk to me alone, so she must really be mad.
“What do you mean by Pitiful Prince?”
Oh, that part?
Right. Joy has been friends with Arthur since childhood.
If she heard me call him Pitiful Prince, that’s something worth confronting me about.
“Did you say that after understanding the circumstances of the Third Prince?”
I know.
Joy, I don’t know how well you know Arthur, but you probably don’t know him better than I do.
Not all characters at Soul Academy have lived peaceful and happy lives.
Some have lived without a blemish like Joy, while others exist in full-on misfortune.
Arthur is one of those unfortunate people.
Secret of his birth.
Death of his mother.
Neglect by his family.
Gossip in the palace.
After all the anguish, he has become one of the most unfortunate characters in Soul Academy, pursuing perfection almost obsessively.
And I just called someone like that the Pitiful Prince.
I’ll probably have to keep calling him that from now on.
‘No, I didn’t know.’
“Foolish Young Lady. Should I really need to know about the Pitiful Prince?”
She knows all about the context, but I boldly replied that I didn’t know.
If I said I knew, I’d really become an irredeemable piece of trash!
“If you didn’t know, then why do you call the Third Prince that way?”
‘Just because.’
“Because he looks pitiful? Just like how you look foolish?”
When I boldly spoke, Joy sighed.
“Then from now on, don’t call him that.”
So she believes I didn’t mean any harm?
Thank goodness for that.
At least it seems she doesn’t think too badly of me after rescuing her in the dungeon last time.
But I couldn’t agree to her request.
I don’t want to call Arthur the Pitiful Prince either!
‘Why not?’
“Why should I, Foolish Young Lady?”
“Because… I can’t tell you why.”
I figured as much.
Unless Arthur himself shares his circumstances, no one can speak on his behalf.
The reason I asked why was because I was looking for this kind of answer.
This way, I can confidently move forward.
‘If you don’t tell me the reason…’
“Is that so? Well then, I will just keep calling him Pitiful Prince.”
“No.”
‘See you later…’
“Goodbye, Foolish Young Lady. I’ll be taking my leave first.”
As she turned to walk away, I could hear Joy getting mad behind me.
But I didn’t look back.
I’m supposed to lower my favorability, yet it seems I can’t help but lower it further.
I’m not particularly someone who cries often, but tears were about to come out.
[Seems like you’re having a hard time because of the blessing.]
‘Seriously. Thank goodness I at least have a grandpa.’
I never knew how grateful I would be to have someone to talk to.
[What on earth is Armadi thinking? ]
‘Let’s not talk about that.’
[Oh, so you’re bringing up the Lord? ]
‘Right now, that Lord is about to take my head off?!’
Fortunately, Arthur is someone without succession or backing.
If he had said something like this to the Second Prince or First Prince…
It wouldn’t be strange to be arrested for blasphemy!
Wait a minute. Isn’t the Second Prince currently enrolled at Soul Academy?
If I were to nickname him when we meet, would that…
No way. Absolutely not.
I should avoid him as much as possible.
I shouldn’t even approach the second-year classroom.
*
As I opened the door to my assigned Class A of the first year at Soul Academy, all eyes were on me.
Most had expressions of wariness or unease.
Is that brat really in the same class as me? The same eyes were there.
What if the person sitting next to me bursts into tears?
Among them, there were some different kinds of gazes.
The Holy Knight, who kindly smiled even after hearing all sorts of harsh words, was definitely smiling,
And the Third Prince was openly glaring at me with hostility.
Joy’s followers were frowning and whispering amongst themselves while looking at me.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I could guess the content.
It’s probably criticism towards me for giving Joy a disrespectful nickname, Foolish Young Lady.
Whether I looked here or there, it was clear everyone’s favorability toward me was rock bottom.
“Hey.”
Wow. This is seriously bleak.
Where do I even start fixing this?
First, I need to pick two characters who were easier to raise favorability with in the game.
[Hey Girl! Somebody behind you is trying to talk to you.]
‘Is it me?’
Following Grandpa’s words, I turned my head to see a girl slightly taller than me standing there.
With her black hair tied back, she had indifferent red eyes staring straight at my face.
The next Holy Knight of the kingdom.
Why is Frey Kent trying to talk to me?
Oh no, this isn’t good…
“Let’s fight.”