Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy

Chapter: 90

Ding! Ding! My Favorability just hit over 70!

I shut my eyes and opened them again, rubbing my face and checking it one more time.

But no matter how many times I looked, that message was still there.

Wait, what?! Joy’s favorability is over 70?!

I wasn’t expecting this at all, so it felt like the biggest reward ever.

My favorite character actually likes me!

What could be bigger than that?

Sure, her liking me is probably more like seeing me as a benefactor than a friend, but who cares!

Friendship isn’t something you can just decide to have, right?

Being friends just happens naturally as you hang out!

Just that one little message made me feel like I got enough payoff from nearly dying a moment ago…

If I can win Joy’s heart, then a mere hole in my body is nothing! Heck yeah!

With renewed confidence that I could laugh off whatever came next, I checked the next message while smiling.

Ding!

[You succeeded in enduring against the Apostle of Evil God!]

[Reward: Full recovery of physical condition.]

Ah, so that’s why I was feeling fine!

Shoddy God sure knows how to do maintenance on toys, doesn’t he?

But if that’s the case, why not make sure they don’t break in the first place?

Why make them meet their doom?

Is he some kind of sadist who enjoys watching things break?

If that’s the case, he’s truly a wicked bastard.

Sadist-Pedo God, huh?

But today I’m feeling good, so I’ll choose to believe it’s not true.

There’s no way the so-called Lord of the World is a pervert who claps when a girl bleeds, right?

Thinking that, I glanced over the next message.

This one was also from Shoddy God.

[You succeeded in repelling the Apostle of Evil God!]

[This is currently an achievement that cannot be attained!]

[The skill that performed the best during this process will be enhanced!]

…Wait a minute.

Stop!

Whoa! Whooooa!

Why the heck is this getting enhanced?!

Hey!

No! Lord Armadi!

What are you planning?!

I gritted my teeth to repel your enemy!

An unattainable achievement, you say!

Then you should reward me properly; why are you screwing me over?!

I couldn’t muster the courage to look below because it was too horrifying, but what could I do?

The result was already in.

At least calling my sword Shoddy instead of Shoddy Dog might mean the penalties have eased up a bit, right?

Yeah! Let’s think positively.

I’ve been betrayed every time I thought positively until now, but maybe this time will be different!

Please, I beg you, Lord Armadi.

Don’t gift your toy any more hardship than this.

As I prayed in my heart and lowered my head, I saw.

[Reward: Decreased penalty for Mesugaki Skill.]

I buried my face in the blanket.

Ohhhhh!

Thank you so much, Lord Armadi.

This untrusting believer has always insulted and threatened you, yet you show mercy to such a believer!

I’ve always doubted your will, but not anymore.

Now I see you’ve given me these hardships for this moment!

Oh, Arman!

I will pray at the church every holy day without fail.

I’ll even offer donations.

I’ll take my friends to church too!

Karl? Frey? Visi?

Just say the word!

I’ll make them your believers in a heartbeat!

Arman!

Smiling like a fool, I let that message go and reached the last one.

Okay, what’s this?

Based on my past experiences, it’s about time for something absurd to happen.

It always goes from feeling on top of the sky to crashing down!

But right now, that can’t happen.

My mood has soared past the clouds and broken through to space.

Is there anything that can drag me back down?!

[New Quest Triggered!]

[Claim the Prime Spot!]

[Be the top scorer in the Academy’s midterm exam!]

[Reward: Unlock inventory features!]

[If failed: ???]

Thinking a trap was coming, I read the message down and tilted my head at the lack of any hidden dangers.

What is this?

Isn’t this a bit too straightforward?

Shoddy God, you don’t want to get bashed now, do you?

Are you not enjoying hearing me cursing you while grinning?

So why are you holding back this time?

I mean, I appreciate it.

I really do.

But when someone who usually messes up suddenly starts being nice, it makes me anxious.

I can’t be sure what’s waiting for me next.

I never thought I’d say this, but I’d rather you give me some nonsense.

If you did, then I could comfortably curse Armand and wonder how to twist my body around!

But now, I have to worry about what nonsense will hit me next.

Damn it.

What is this?

What could it be?

Is it related to the main story?

That’s fine; I’ve already thought about that.

Even if it gets worse, I can handle it.

So, is it something about relationships?

There’s already a quest to make two people with a favorability of 70, so what more could come from that?

Even if a person gets added, if it’s Arthur or Phoebe, that’s not a problem at all.

Maybe it’s something impossible like reputation.

But that’s a no-go.

If you ask me to improve my reputation in the academy, I’ll just throw in the towel.

I could manage it somehow if it’s a different reputation, but…

As I worried, new worries kept piling up.

If I was leveling up my character through the monitor, I could’ve fixed all that, but that’s not the case right now.

Yeah, let’s not worry unnecessarily and focus on what I need to do right now.

Even if something absurd does hit me, I can think of a solution when that time comes.

It’s better to prepare for whatever might happen than to worry now.

Alright, for now, let’s focus on leveling up and gaining proficiency first.

*

Phoebe looked at the mace in front of her, having often heard it shone like the moon.

According to Johan’s report from the Allen Family’s territory, this mace belonged to Ruel, one of the holy knights who saved the world ages ago.

Ruel’s Mace.

The item that vanished along with Holy Knight Ruel from this world.

For the past two hundred years, many searched for it, but no one saw even its shadow.

Countless fraudsters bragged that this was Ruel’s mace, only to lose their heads over it.

According to Johan, Lady Allen received a revelation from God and found this item.

Until today, Phoebe hadn’t paid him much mind.

No matter how great the history behind it, an object is just an object.

If God led someone to this item, it means that person must have something to fulfill with it.

So, there was no reason for her to envy the one who had the holy artifact.

That’s how Phoebe used to think.

However, lately, little doubts started to creep into her heart.

Feelings she had never experienced throughout her life began to stir her chest.

Why does God only speak to Lady Allen?

Is he paying attention to her?

Is he caring for her?

Not long ago, Lady Allen denied God’s existence, so why is God trying to share His light with her after giving her such a gift?

Why?

Why?

In the midst of such thoughts, Phoebe opened her eyes wide and shook her head, clasping her hands in front of her chest.

To repent for her darkening thoughts.

Before Phoebe knew how to speak the word “worldly matters,” she became a member of Jushin Church according to prophecy.

There were no issues in that process.

She had no relatives or parents or anything.

The church paid only one silver coin to an orphanage to take her in.

After that, she was raised in the church as a saintess.

Others might find it difficult, but not Phoebe.

The education required of a saint.

The various things she had to endure.

All the many tasks she had to do.

None of it felt particularly burdensome to her.

So she thought God chose her to be a saint for this very reason.

However, Phoebe’s only worry was that she had never heard God’s voice.

Even if Lord Armadi doesn’t take any apostles, that doesn’t mean he never let anyone hear his voice.

You can tell just by looking at the fact that most high-ranking officials in the church received revelations from Armadi and choose this path.

Yet Phoebe had never once heard God’s voice.

Even while being called a saint.

Even while believing she was loved by God.

Even while being someone spreading God’s love in the world.

Not once.

However, until now, Phoebe hadn’t been impatient.

She thought God must have a purpose and would speak to her when the time was right.

But lately, doubts began to bubble up in her heart.

What if God no longer loves me?

What if he doesn’t have time to care for others because he’s too busy showering affection on someone else?

When such doubts rose, a particular face popped into Phoebe’s mind.

The one holding the mace.

The necklace blessed by God.

That smug and annoying smile.

The way she looks down at Phoebe while mocking her, saying,

“Phoebe, what’s wrong with you? This isn’t how you repent.”

Phoebe took a deep breath as if scolding herself.

Lord Armadi, please grant me a revelation.

Guide this wavering lamb.

Help me shake off this temptation.

While praying, and praying, and praying again, she suddenly heard the sound of the door opening.

The person who entered the church was…

“Hello, Shoddy Saintess.”

The very face Phoebe had just been fervently thinking about.

Phoebe forced a smile upon seeing her.

“Lady Allen.”

*

After meeting an intruder in the alley, Joy was determined to make a change.

She couldn’t just stand still like this. If she got stuck in the past and shivered, she’d surely live her life just relying on Lady Allen’s kindness.

That couldn’t happen.

Lady Allen would always throw herself into hardships.

To repay her kindness, Joy had to step out of the past and be someone who could stand beside Lady Allen when she faced challenges.

“Lady Allen.”

That’s why Joy came to find Lucy.

Excuse me for intruding, but it’s to gain another favor.

And through her, to repay that favor.

“What is it? Foolish Young Lady?”

“I need your help to become stronger!”

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