LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 86
Chapter: 86
The story of the game called Soul Academy is divided into two main parts.
Main and Sub.
Here, the main quest isn’t really anything extraordinary.
It’s your typical hero story where the protagonist seals the Evil Gods that have appeared in the world again.
Personally, I think it’s a pretty average story—not good, not bad.
What people actually enjoy more are the various sub quests.
Stories related to each character, hidden tales in certain regions, or those connected to specific items, you know?
But, let’s be real.
In the end, sub quests are just sub quests.
Whether you complete them or not, the world doesn’t change much.
However, if you fail the main quest, it definitely affects the world, you see?
Who knows how messed up things will get if they fully revive?
Failing the main quest means game over.
What happens afterwards is for the residents of the world who lost the protagonist to know.
How would I know?
I’m just sure that the revival of the Evil Gods won’t bring about anything good.
Especially from my standpoint as the Apostle of Armadi.
Even now, every time I enter an outside dungeon, Agra starts causing trouble, and just wait until he fully revives.
What kind of mess will happen then?
So, from my perspective, I have no choice but to keep an eye on the main quest.
Furthermore,
[Please observe what happens in the Academy Square.]
[Reward: ???]
It seems like our Shoddy God wants that.
He sent me this message as soon as I woke up this morning!
I thought, “Wouldn’t it be enough to just bother me no matter what happens in the world?” But I guess he’s concerned?
Or is he plotting how to screw me over with this again?
It had me thinking for a bit, but since it’s something I was already determined to do, I had no reason not to.
And he promised a reward, so why not?
So, as soon as I finished my morning prep, I headed out to the streets by myself.
Normally, I would definitely bring Karl along, but that guy seems to have fallen behind on his Academy work because of me.
Even though he’s technically a professor now, being a professor means there are certain responsibilities you have to fulfill, but Karl has put all that aside to prioritize my requests.
It was a very “Karl” kind of decision, but not the best one.
After all, he needs to do his job to continue staying here.
“Lady Allen. Please let this guy finish his work.”
Anton, the Combat Studies professor, humbly said this, and I couldn’t just ignore him, so I ordered Karl to wrap things up.
Anyway, what’s about to happen today is the starting event of the main quest.
Whether the protagonist is there or not, it’s the people on the Academy streets that need to deal with it.
If I, as just one person, butted in, would it really make any difference?
Even if danger arises, there are plenty of people nearby who can help, so what’s the point of whether Karl is there or not?
Thinking like this, I arrived early at the Academy Square and glanced around.
The guards assigned to this area were the same as usual.
There are also priests who volunteer here every weekend.
And there are professors from the Academy patrolling the streets, checking if anything happens to students.
With this level of backup, any Apostle of Evil God attempting an attack would be dealt with easily.
Let’s see. The main story event was definitely happening between 2 and 3 PM, right?
Since there’s still a lot of time left, maybe I should get some other tasks done first.
For now, let’s go meet Alsatine.
I need to get a new shield.
*
“You want a shield made by a dwarf blacksmith, correct?”
‘Yes. That’s right!’
“Exactly. Information peddler.”
Since the day I got money from our last bet, I’d been pondering what kind of shield to get.
After all, I plan to secure a top-class shield before I become a second-year student, and there’s no reason to spend 10 platinum coins on one, is there?
Soon enough, I’ll have places to spend money, so it’s better to save if I can.
So, I thought about getting a shield made by one of the fantasy world’s races.
A shield made by dwarves who know how to hammer better than anyone else.
If the dwarf has even enchanted it, I could use it throughout my first year.
“Of course, it’s possible. At a fair price.”
‘Here you go. You’re getting paid well!’
“Here. Information peddler. With this, even a merchant who sold his conscience won’t complain.”
I pushed a platinum coin in front of Alsatine, and he nodded.
What I said wasn’t an empty compliment; I really did pay generously.
Considering that you can usually get a shield made by a dwarf for 7 gold coins, I essentially tipped an additional 3 gold coins as a service fee.
Even Alsatine wouldn’t be able to complain about this.
“I’ll get it to you as quickly as possible.”
After hearing his promise that he’d have it ready within a week, I stepped outside the store, but I still had plenty of time left.
Hmm. Since that’s the case, should I take a leisurely stroll around the Academy street?
I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had a chance to relax.
Where should I go first?
Maybe grab a skewered dish that I heard is cheap but delicious, on the bridge where the protagonist and a heroine had a tragic parting…?
Huh?
While I was wandering in an alley, a familiar profile caught my eye.
Usually, she has her hair tightly curled and tied back, wearing something more casual, but today she’s in white clothing and even wore a mask to cover her face.
Still, there was no fooling my eyes.
No wonder; that outfit is what Joy wears every time she disguises herself in the Soul Academy game.
What is Joy doing here?
Normally, she’d be at a social gathering with noble young ladies, laughing and chatting away around this time.
As I tilted my head in confusion, I realized Joy was gazing up helplessly at a shop’s sign.
Ah. So Joy came here to eat bread?
This place’s decent, but isn’t there a bakery you like more?
Maybe she’s just wandering around since it’s still early in the Academy term?
“Joy!”
“Foolish Young Lady! What are you doing there?”
At the sound of my voice, Joy turned her head out of habit but quickly averted her gaze upon seeing my face.
That alone already revealed her disguise, but Joy seemed to think she could cover it up and walked past me as if she didn’t hear.
“Joy, you’ve already been caught.”
“Foolish Young Lady. Do you think I’d really think I wasn’t caught? That’s a pretty sloppy and dumb assumption for a Ducal Young Lady.”
As I shouted behind her, Joy flinched at my words.
Then she turned around creakingly and spoke in a voice much lower than her usual tone.
“Foolish Young Lady? Who are they?”
Pahaha!
“Puhut.”
…Cough!
The moment I heard that voice, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Wow. Seriously. I get that you want to change your voice, but come on, Foolish Young Lady.
If you’re going to disguise it, do it properly!
With a voice like that, who would believe you?
It was so absurd that even Grandpa couldn’t stop laughing at this point.
As my laughter grew louder, Joy’s shoulders started shaking more, and she finally sighed and removed her mask.
“…How did you know?”
“It was obvious.”
“Foolish Young Lady. Really. Since when did you think you could walk around like that and not get caught?”
“Who even walks like that?!”
Joy yelled out and then rubbed her face in exasperation.
“Lady Allen.”
Then she looked down at me with her characteristic icy gaze and cautiously began speaking.
“I don’t know if you’d believe me, but the reason I’m here is to get some bread.”
‘I know. Joy wouldn’t do anything strange, right?’
“Sure. Foolish Young Lady. You’re a coward who doesn’t even have the guts to do anything weird.”
When I reassured her that I didn’t suspect her, Joy’s eyes went wide, and she started mumbling.
Looks like she didn’t expect me to believe her so quickly.
Well, since I know everything happening here, it’s no surprise, but if I were someone else, there would be a riot.
This situation is pretty strange: the Ducal Young Lady is walking around disguised in an alley.
What a juicy piece of gossip material.
“Really?”
‘Yeah. Really.’
“Foolish Young Lady can’t even trust her benefactor? You’re such a suspicious coward.”
“That’s not it… No. It’s not that. I’ll trust you.”
Joy seemed about to say something, then shook her head and finally nodded.
I wonder if Joy genuinely trusts me.
Does she believe I don’t have the connections to spread rumors?
Considering her personality, she probably thinks it’s the former, but the latter is also true.
Even if I started gossiping about her, who’d even listen to me?
At most, it’d just be Karl, right?
“Anyway, Joy, take care.”
“Foolish Young Lady. Stop acting foolishly. What if bad rumors start spreading?”
“…I never expected to hear that from Lady Allen.”
Upon hearing my words, Joy let out another deep sigh.
I really shouldn’t be the one saying such things, considering how recklessly I’m wandering around the alley.
Joy, the behaviors of someone with much to lose differ from those who have nothing to lose, right?
Huh? Wait a second, Young Lady. I sense the Evil God’s energy!
Just as I was about to tell Joy that this bakery is closed every Sunday, Grandpa suddenly spoke up.
What? Is the event about to start already?
Lunch time hasn’t even come yet!
Why are those Apostles so industrious?
Our Shoddy God said he’d give a reward if he saw this, you know.
Even though he’s typically useless, he does hand out rewards properly, and I really want to receive it.
After saying goodbye to Joy and thanking her for her hard work, should I dash over to the square right away?
“Where is it?!”
If the attack hasn’t happened yet, I might be able to arrive before it does…
They are coming here.
Here? This alley?
Why?
Aren’t they attacking the temple in the square?
What the heck are they aiming for here?
Run! It’s a strong one. You can’t handle this right now!
Before I even had time to think, my body was already in motion.
I couldn’t just leave Joy behind, so I quickly threw her over one shoulder and dashed toward the square.
“I sensed the energy of Armadi, but it’s just a little brat.”
Armadi.
The name that Evil Gods hate the most.
And right now, he’s my Shoddy God.
The moment I heard that name, a laugh slipped out involuntarily.
This useless, pathetic Shoddy God really does nothing to help.
As I bit my lip and tried to enlarge the mace I’d kept in my pocket, a message popped up in front of me.
I thought it was Agra saying he’s keeping an eye on me, but no.
[Hold on]
[Hold out until the people in the Academy street arrive]