Ch.195195 – Slander and Defamation

<195 – Slander>

Practice matches show students their future.

Who is strong in which section.

Who will reach the goal first at the final line.

Where should I train to improve my grades.

Can I realistically reduce my time further.

If not, what should I do.

“Obviously, you should delay and extend other people’s records.”

“Yufi. That’s too cowardly.”

Hero Ishtar.

She had originally planned to use the saintly compassion of Yufi, her first and only companion in her hero party, to recruit Oknodie.

However, after facing Oknodie’s true nature directly and slashing her with the holy sword to understand her irreversible corrupted mana and temperament, she reversed her strategy.

NO MERCY.

That demon wearing a child’s disguise must be defeated without any mercy.

This process naturally included reducing the points that would go to that child by any amount, and also achieving better grades than her.

As long as Academy professors sheltered her, they needed to reduce any reason for professors to protect her.

“Ishtar. You’re thinking it too. To break that child, we need to suppress her grades first, gradually lower her position, and isolate her in the Academy. Then she’ll feel anxious and continue using that ominous dark mana, overexert herself, and self-destruct.”

“But should we sink to the same level? I’m too ashamed to face the previous hero.”

The previous hero Nyarlathotep reportedly never hesitated to step into any incident.

How pathetic would she look, resorting to schemes and tricks, compared to the fair and righteous previous hero?

“Who told you that?”

“The One True God Sophemia told me in a dream. Learn from Nyarlathotep’s righteousness and do not indulge in evil and cunning schemes.”

“If the deity said so, then we have no choice.”

“Right?”

“If we can’t act directly, we’ll have to use other people.”

“…Using others is even more scheming.”

“The Beheading Golgotha named me a saint and said this: There is no distinction between good and evil in the sword that beheads the wicked. Following what is right is itself good.”

“That’s why you’re not the hero.”

“You’re the one who chose such a saint as your companion. What will you do? Just sit around wondering what to do while wasting time?”

“…Please help.”

“You should have said that from the start. Trust me. I’m your close friend and reliable companion in your hero party.”

Yufi hugged the hero, patted her shoulder, and left the hero’s training room.

‘Ishtar. The situation is much worse than you think. That child’s wickedness doesn’t even register on my Holy Detected spell.’

Holy Detected.

A spell known as sacred detection.

This spell, which can detect those tainted by evil, is a powerful detection ability bestowed by the Beheading Golgotha to believers.

No ordinary evil can escape this spell.

Unless they are high-risk entities of mid-level demon rank or higher, equipped with deception means powerful enough to fool the spell.

‘Oknodie’s true danger might be beyond what you’ve seen and judged.’

Perhaps this <Advanced Class Physical Training> is the last chance to check that child.

* *

Professor Platton’s <Advanced Class Physical Training> final lecture before midterms.

“Everyone to the starting line. The competition will proceed continuously as planned. After running, you may change clothes with the instructor’s help at the river, or you can participate wearing swimwear from the start. After crossing the river, mount the waiting vehicle and navigate to the finish line.”

The final practice match testing the skills of students who have completed basic training with the stamina to compete in three consecutive events.

Oknodie shot to the front from the running section.

In swimming, she fearlessly removed her uniform to reveal the school swimsuit she wore underneath and dove into the water.

Was she a dolphin in her past life?

She quickly broke through the whirlpool section, mounted a golem, grabbed other mounts that approached and threw them away, then charged forward crushing dozens of trees with the golem’s body, making thunderous noises.

The golem was so obedient that one might want to break its leg stumps.

“First place, Oknodie!”

Oknodie achieved overwhelming results from the practice match.

The imperial faction students’ expressions were terribly crumpled, perhaps out of frustration.

“Skola. Let’s talk for a moment.”

“Saint?”

Skola, heir of the divine bow.

Though he achieved better grades than Oknodie in the ranged weapon mastery lecture, his unjust words and actions earned the hero’s disapproval, removing him from potential companion candidacy.

While Ishtar would never employ such talent, Yufi approached him without hesitation.

“I need your help.”

“Is this the hero’s order?”

“Not exactly, but it’s a request I’m making as the hero’s companion. If you fulfill this request well, I could put in a good word about you to the hero.”

Skola clearly showed his delight.

“Just tell me. How can I help?”

“Oknodie’s solo run is excessive. If that child who handles evil power takes first place, I’m concerned more students will admire dark mana and walk the wrong path.”

“Um… if you’re requesting a long-range sniper job, no matter what, that’s a bit…”

‘So that’s too far after all?’

Yufi feigned innocence.

“Who said anything about a sniper request against an 11-year-old? What do you take me for?”

“I apologize. My foolish mind had disrespectful thoughts toward the hero’s companion.”

“I want to talk about fairness.”

“Was there something unfair about the exam?”

“Oknodie’s golem. Don’t you think it’s overwhelmingly strong and annoying among the mounts?”

“It is quite overpowered. While my deer was busy avoiding trees, she was creating a straight path by ramming through the forest with her whole body, which is quite irritating.”

Skola was among the imperial faction students who felt despair in the mount section, inwardly regretting not choosing a golem like Oknodie’s impressive one.

While running and swimming could somehow be managed, many imperial faction students felt hopeless in the mount section.

“I think we can use the golem’s violent nature.”

“With my limited insight, I don’t understand your meaning. Could you enlighten me?”

“I’ve obtained information that there’s an <Advanced Class Mount Storage> in the first-year restricted area. Infiltrate there and capture evidence of the golem bullying other mounts.”

“…Isn’t the first-year restricted area too dangerous?”

“Advanced class students can enter easily enough. If you just remember a few precautions on the way, you won’t lose your life.”

Trying to reassure him, Skola asked seriously:

“Could I lose my life?”

“If you follow my guidance and avoid stepping into spaces not on the map I’ll provide, you won’t disappear forever.”

“I’ll definitely need that map.”

“If hooded students approach and ask if you’re interested in submitting to darkness, ignore them silently to stay safe.”

“Who are those people?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m just passing on what I’ve heard. Also, be careful not to step on even a single insect.”

“Will I be killed by an elf senior who cherishes nature’s creatures?”

“You shouldn’t experience the misfortune of insulting seniors who transformed into insects after choosing the wrong lecture, who might return to their true forms and dunk you for your rudeness.”

“…”

“Oh, and if you hear singing, immediately cover your ears and never follow it.”

“Will I face attacks from enraged seniors if I interrupt their performance?”

“No, there are rumors that a few screaming banshees summoned from the sound dimension have escaped and are luring students with songs to prey on their vitality.”

You want me to enter such a dangerous place?

In response to Skola’s expression asking how she could make such a severe request, Yufi presented a means to resolve all conflicts smoothly.

“I’ll pay you 500 points as an advance. Of course, this is my personal gesture separate from what I’ll tell the hero, so keep it secret from her.”

“If I just need to do as instructed, it’s not difficult. Just give me the map, and I’ll bring paint to cover the golem’s body with bright red paint. If the bored golem touches just a few animals, the red paint will look like blood and everyone will be horrified.”

Skola’s idea was to frame the golem for bullying his classmates’ mounts, inducing a mount change on exam day!

Yufi nodded with satisfaction at this despicable idea befitting an archer who just shoots arrows from a distance.