Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy

I won’t say it’s completely not my fault that the current situation is a mess.

But honestly, I never thought it would end up like this at all.

Who would have guessed my friends’ obsession would be this strong? This is what happens when you’re popular, it’s exhausting.

But you know what? If we’re talking about blame, my friends are actually the ones with more problems.

If they had just left me alone, I could have solved things myself and we could have laughed together afterwards, but they went and jumped the gun, causing all this chaos.

If they hadn’t come up with unnecessary ideas and had waited for me to finish everything, none of this would have happened.

If they’re going to charge in, they should at least do it directly to me. What’s with causing trouble from behind?

The more I think about it, the more my irritation is rising, so I’ve decided to kindly educate my friends.

Who do they think they are, talking about whether they can have me or not?

It should be the other way around.

“Lucy, please make me your most beloved slave.” Something like that.

It’s sad to have friends who don’t even know their own level, but what can I do? The nice me has to understand.

*[It seems like their personality has gotten weirder compared to before the curse was lifted.]*

“Don’t you think my surroundings have become strange compared to before?”

*[It has definitely gotten weird.]*

“And by the way, my grandpa is also guilty in this situation.”

*[Who would have expected that even girls would come charging in?]*

“You should have expected it. That’s what grandpa is for.”

*[Oh, that's true.]*

“Just know this: the reason I’m doing nothing right now is solely because last time was too much. If you don’t want to end up like that again, you better be careful.”

With a *clearing of the throat*, grandpa shut up and looked down, and I could see the gazes directed toward me.

Most of those people I didn’t know, but one thing was certain: they all looked noble.

They had different appearances, cultures, and seemingly different personalities, but they must have all received proper education and grown up in good environments.

Naturally, the audience watching them was the same.

Most were acquaintances of the participants, wealthy people of high status, and bards greedily hoping for new tales.

And in one corner of the arena, there were priests on standby for any accidents, and today they looked particularly worried as they stared towards the center.

Because among the participants in the arena today was a key figure from the current Jushin Church.

“…Y-Young Lady?”

Phoebe, who was so flustered she forgot to call my name, staggered as if her eyes were shaking wildly and regained her composure only after receiving help from the side.

However, her pale face showed no signs of recovery.

“Miss, shall we get started?”

I nodded in agreement, crossing my legs, and Karl stepped forward, trying to appear all cool.

“Thanks to the mercy of Lady Lucy of the Allen Family, you have been given this opportunity! Please show us all a wonderful performance before the lady and many others!”

Karl, who received the authority from Karia yesterday, explained the rules without a hitch.

This preliminary round can simply be described as a battle royale.

All participants from one group will face off at once, and those who become incapacitated will naturally be eliminated. The last one standing will rise to victory.

Just by hearing this much, you can tell this isn’t exactly a perfectly fair skill competition. The chance of outside elements interfering is exceedingly high.

In a fight where large interests are at stake, this method is rarely used, but this time is different.

It means even the weak have a chance.

If the weak happen to be high-status individuals, then they will naturally welcome these rules.

“Then, let’s begin the match!”

As Karl’s shout echoed, the participants exchanged glances and fell back.

Those with connections huddled together while those with hostilities watched for chances to draw their swords.

In the midst of this wild scene, Phoebe was still clearly dazed.

I still can’t understand if Phoebe actually cooperated with Frey’s foolish suggestion.

It’s true she has excellent skills, but that’s only as a healer.

As a combatant, Phoebe isn’t that impressive.

Of course, in the game, there are entertaining strategies that put her with good basic performance on the front lines, but this is reality, right?

Phoebe had trained with me and was a typical cleric protecting everyone from the back line.

These petty fighters can just be overpowered by sheer strength, but what about those behind?

How can a healer like Phoebe defeat others who have endlessly trained to fight against the Evil God, like Frey, Arthur, and Joy? In the end, she’ll just get what she lost back.

If it was someone like a sloppy fox pervert standing over there, I would have just shrugged it off, thinking, “Oh well, weird taste.”

But Phoebe is different.

There’s no way she would want to hand me over to someone else.

Knowing Phoebe’s obsession better than anyone, I was puzzled that she chose to participate in the bet instead of stopping Frey even though I knew she would lose to others.

“Saintess, are you okay?”

I wondered if she had some kind of confidence, and one participant approached Phoebe.

It was a pure display of worry, mixed with the intention of bringing her to their side.

Only then did Phoebe seem to snap out of it, smiling faintly and nodding her head toward the participant.

“Of course I’m okay. Thank you for your concern.”

“No, it’s not a big deal. But, Saintess, if you happen to be here alone…”

“And I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to return your goodwill.”

“…Excuse me?”

The moment Phoebe unleashed her Divine Magic, I instinctively realized what kind of magic it was.

I hadn’t become skilled in Divine Magic.

I just recognized it. It was one of the many spells Phoebe used when casting her healing magic.

Magic that acts upon human sensation to make the healing process painless.

It’s one of the symbols of Phoebe’s kindness and the reason my friends avoided my healing magic.

However, the difference between Phoebe’s normal magic and this one was that this one wasn’t aimed at reducing pain.

Phoebe’s magic was exactly the opposite.

“*Agh! Cough! Gah!*”

“*What the… It hurts! Ah! Shit! Aaaah!*”

“*Help… meee!*”

One by one, people around her began screaming in pain and collapsing to the ground.

*Screams* echoed from all directions, and many were bubbling at the mouth, while those who barely endured the pain seemed too busy trying to maintain their composure.

“Saving a person and killing a person are not that different. Poison can become medicine, and medicine can kill people.”

At least a few strong ones resisted Phoebe’s magic and stood their ground, but fear showed in their eyes just as much.

“I wanted to keep it quiet.”

“Saintess.”

“For now, we should push that person outside.”

With Phoebe’s cold smile, the strong began to retreat, reaching a tacit agreement to cooperate among themselves.

“May I request the cessation of magic?”

Trying hard not to show fear, the one in the lead asked Phoebe, but she shook her head without changing her expression.

“I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. It’s already been done.”

“Well, I guess there’s nothing we can do then. Everyone…”

“Such a sad day.”

With that statement, Phoebe unleashed several more spells she had prepared.

She bound movements with Divine Ropes, inserted seals that inflicted pain based on the sins of the people, and drained warmth from them.

During this, someone who managed to escape the bindings charged at Phoebe, but she merely glanced at him and cast a buff on him.

The man couldn’t adapt to the suddenly heightened physical capabilities and flew off, colliding with another participant.

“Please do not resist. I will not injure you.”

When the one-sided massacre ended and Phoebe stood alone, some among the audience began to exchange glances, wanting to cheer, but they quickly silenced themselves under an even greater hush.

How could anyone shout in joy when the victor, Phoebe, sighed somberly?

Watching this pitiful scene unfold, I couldn’t help but chuckle as I descended onto the arena floor.

“Phoebe.”

“…Y-Young Lady.”

“Is my name truly Young Lady?”

“No! It’s just… Lucy! What brings you here?”

“I’ve gotten into trouble because of the foolish things you did.”

“What foolish things?”

“It’s just so strange. It’s one thing for that fool Frey to behave stupidly, but to think the trusted Phoebe would join in?”

As I deliberately provoked her, I noticed tears welling up in Phoebe’s eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Lucy. I should have stopped Young Lady Kent, but I just couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.”

“Did you really want to marry me? Hahaha. You pretended to be innocent on the outside, but you’re totally a pervert inside, aren’t you?”

“Absolutely not! I just wanted to stop someone from monopolizing you…!”

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

Before she could say anything, Phoebe closed her mouth and lowered her head, breathing heavily.

Seeing her look like she might burst into tears just with a light touch made me smile as I grabbed her chin and made her look at me.

“I’ll believe you since you’ve done a lot up till now.”

“R-Really?”

“But, you know, if you end up losing to me later, I’ll punish you double, just so you know.”

As I gently pushed Phoebe away, I returned to my original position.

Then, I signaled to Karl, and he shouted out loud enough to resonate in the arena.

In response, the previously silent audience yelled along, but the winner, Phoebe, looked at me with sad eyes and quietly spoke to the priests rushing towards her.

“Just take care of them until they wake up. No one here was harmed.”

---