Ch.386386 – Expedition Results

<386 – Results of the Expedition>

After <The Organization That Plays with Oknodie> returned from the library, Giselle obtained several pieces of information.

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Information report containing Dorothy’s tips about the path to the library and passing through the gateway

Information report with knowledge assessment from Arcadia and Irene about how to borrow fairy tale books from the library

Information report about the types of functional skill books available at the library as told by Oknodie

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Among the three types of reports, the most necessary information was the first one.

The library was a place that many freshmen felt they needed but couldn’t find due to its unknown location.

“Isabelle. What do you think?”

“About what?”

“The information about the library. I have many questions myself, but after reading this report, the most significant thing I noticed is this: The outside world’s systems have been implemented here with unnecessary similarity.”

“My head isn’t as smart as yours. I’m good at chopping and stir-frying though.”

“…You’ve completely transitioned into being a chef, haven’t you?”

“Surprisingly, it suits my aptitude.”

Isabelle’s subtle smile looked quite nice even to Giselle.

People who are immersed in something are always impressive.

“This academy clearly seems to exist for the purpose of being an educational institution.”

“What kind of obvious statement is that? Like saying my birthday is the day I was born.”

“It’s important information. At least now we can somewhat predict what kind of difficulties exist in this academy going forward. Like our little miss.”

She could demonstrate a certain degree of the incomprehensible information power like Oknodie.

Giselle confidently made this arrogant declaration that Isabelle wouldn’t dare attempt.

“So what has our smart mature student deduced?”

“Haha. Since when did I get that nickname? The entrance exam ended a long time ago.”

“Just because. I still can’t believe it. That we’ve been enrolled for so long.”

“You’ve gotten much stronger too, haven’t you?”

“That’s true. Since the second semester started, I’ve been taking classes and improved my flame resistance, so I can cook with better fire flavor using higher heat.”

‘…That’s not the kind of strength I was praising. She’s really immersed in cooking.’

Anyway, anyone who poses a question has an obligation to present the answer.

“I have a hunch about the role of the ‘student council.’ Including what kind of ‘student council room’ they might enjoy.”

“Student council? That’s too distant for us. I heard that even Senior Mandela Castella, the top student in second year, was the youngest case to enter the student council.”

“Is that really true? Judging by the professors’ reactions, you should know too. Our class is quite special.”

A generation with the hero Ishtar and the Dark Princess Oknodie who surpasses her potential.

Entry into the student council might come much faster than Isabelle thought.

“Then what does the student council correspond to in the outside world? Libraries exist in reality too, but there’s no student council outside the academy.”

“But there certainly exists an administrative organization that represents numerous students… practitioners of various occupations and classes. We call that organization a nation.”

“What? Then the student council is…”

Giselle nodded.

“An entity corresponding to the system of an empire, a nation at the center of world hegemony. If we could enter the Gift Academy’s student council, we could learn how the Empire operates and what weaknesses it has.”

“!!”

Isabelle jumped up from her seat in alarm.

<Detection Scroll (25m radius)>

<Mana Detection Scroll (25m radius)>

One who discusses the rise and fall of the Empire must not be caught doing so in front of an imperial citizen.

Quickly tearing two scrolls to check for information around them, Isabelle confirmed the surroundings.

The response was clean, but Isabelle took out an adventurer’s baton and struck the ceiling, which was suspiciously devoid of any presence.

<Vibration Mode ON>

Drrrrr.

The vibration travels steeply, transmitting through fingertip sensations what might be in the space connected to the ceiling.

Isabelle pulled out a knife case from inside her clothes and gripped a meat knife, sensing something that couldn’t be blocked by presence concealment or magical barriers.

“Isabelle. What are you doing?”

“Someone was eavesdropping.”

The meat knife she thrust forcefully penetrated the ceiling and broke the lock.

Thud!

As the ceiling hatch collapsed, creating a gap, she followed up by cutting the connecting parts with a utility knife.

Crash.

Even as debris showered down, Isabelle narrowed her eyes and carefully watched the dust cloud, swiftly throwing a kitchen knife, potato peeler, and scissors.

Clang clang clang!

The blades bounced back with a loud noise.

Isabelle remained unfazed.

The throws were merely a means to prevent the enemy from escaping and force them to respond, closing the gap.

<Isabelle-style Culinary Swordsmanship>

<Magic Beast Bone Cutting Knife>

She swung the cooking knife capable of cutting through large, hard magic beast bones toward the opponent’s waist in one swift motion.

Clang!

For a decisive strike, the opponent read Isabelle’s trajectory too easily, adjusting their posture first and attempting to disarm her with a counterattack.

The fierce counterattack caught Isabelle off guard, but the force behind Isabelle’s blow also caught the opponent by surprise.

“Incredibly strong.”

“Zhang?”

Zhang’s parry resulted in mere <Stiffness> rather than <Disarm> or even <Recoil>.

It was quite a shock to Isabelle, who had thought Zhang was just someone who cooked meals.

“What were you doing in a place like this? Why were you eavesdropping on our conversation?”

“Your employer asked me to lounge in the ceiling when I had nothing to do. To keep any rats from approaching.”

“Zhang is correct. I never imagined Isabelle would detect Zhang’s presence, so I didn’t mention it. That was the problem.”

Not just Zhang, but Giselle had also underestimated Isabelle’s combat ability.

She couldn’t imagine Isabelle would be this strong, not just as a cook but as the deputy leader of the Esonia Adventure Guild.

Isabelle was rather dumbfounded by their reaction.

“What do you think someone from an adventure guild is? I’ve been through places too dangerous for even regular mercenary groups to attempt, so of course I have skills like this.”

Her skills seemed to be influenced by her cooking abilities, shifting from a secondary occupation to something closer to a primary one, but Giselle refrained from pointing this out.

It’s best not to upset someone holding a knife, even when they’re not cooking.

“Zhang should be fine. She’s Oknodie’s friend. Still, be careful. When someone as overtly suspicious and scheming as you speaks words threatening the Empire, anyone would take it seriously.”

“My, my evaluation is quite harsh.”

“Do something about those narrowed eyes before you speak. You look like someone hiding their power, which makes me feel uneasy sometimes.”

If imperial faction students, especially powerhouses like members of the Three Great Merit Families or Princess Massgakki, were to hear such talk, serious problems would certainly arise.

If they sent just one letter to their family or the imperial court, it wouldn’t be strange if pressure came from the Empire itself.

“Actually, I brought up that student council story because of me.”

“Zhang, you?”

“Oknodie and I received this.”

<Student Council Tour Permit> that must be used within 30 days of receipt.

The opportunity to indirectly encounter the reality of the student council, which corresponds to the Empire, was approaching faster than expected.

“We can’t thank Dobby enough for this great achievement.”

Isabelle, who was sweeping up the ceiling debris with a broom and dustpan, suddenly felt curious.

“So what happened to that Dobby in the end?”

* *

Thanks to the follow-up team Giselle sent to the library, Dobby obtained another fairy tale book.

Having fulfilled the good morning gift agreement with the spirits, Dobby successfully managed to survive.

[You have helped poor Dobby survive.]

[You acquire 1500 points.]

[Good Child Experience +3]

The rewards collected after concluding this series of events were substantial.

To receive such generous rewards just for briefly helping a student trapped in a professor’s lab!

I should regularly visit various professors’ labs and show kindness by helping their slaves!

[Good Child Experience is about to reach a certain threshold.]

[If you continue doing good deeds, the Good Child function can evolve.]

But this is an interesting feature that appeared.

Hmm.

The evolved state of Bad Child, Scary Child, had tremendous penalties.

How generous will the rewards be for the evolved state of Good Child?

“Dobby. How’s the fairy tale reading going?”

“I don’t have enough spirit language knowledge to read well, so I’m getting beaten up every day and it’s terrible…”

In the end, poor Dobby’s daily routine hasn’t changed at all!

“Then how about I help you with function training as an after-care service?”

“No, that’s… I’m scared to acquire skills now and scared to raise function levels. When I get hit by spirits, my spirit affinity increases, attribute affinity increases, toughness increases, and my point balance increases.”

“What advantages!”

“On the other hand, with function skill books, I can’t even get hit because I’m bedridden, and my balance decreases even more due to medical expenses.”

I see.

Then I should do this.

“Then I’ll hit you instead and give you points while raising your toughness!”

“Huh?? Wait, how did the conversation turn this way…?”

“If you don’t want to do function training because you like getting points while being hit, then wouldn’t it be better to get hit as painfully as possible without dying to increase pain resistance too?”

“…”

The newbie will surely appreciate me helping with training!

Or what else are you going to do?

Either take toughness training.

Or take spirit language function training.

What else can you do besides choosing one of these two training courses offered by a veteran player!