chapter_0057

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
57

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
57

Despite suddenly being asked
to fight, I wasn’t too surprised.

This is just who Frey is.

A crazy girl who only has
swords and fighting in her head.

She always acts the way she
wants, without caring for other people’s feelings.

If she thinks it’s worth
fighting, she’ll immediately suggest a duel.

And she was a character I
didn’t like very much.

To put it bluntly, I hated
Frey.

I hated how she acted on her
own whims and dragged people around her into trouble.

I hated how she spewed harsh
words with an innocent face and then tilted her head as if she did
nothing wrong.

But more than anything, I
hated the fact that, in the game, Frey’s performance was awful.

It wasn’t that Frey’s stats
were bad.

In fact, Frey, who would later
become the Sword Saint, was arguably the strongest melee character in
Soul Academy.

So, what was the problem?

Frey acted however she felt
like.

Whether the player controlled
her or gave her orders, she just did whatever she wanted.

How many times had my party
been wiped out because of her trolling, just because I took her along
for achievements related to her?

Have you ever heard the phrase
“smitten by overwhelming performance”?

I ended up hating Frey because
of her terrible gameplay.

I can say with confidence that
Frey was one of the worst characters in Soul Academy.

Now that the game has become
reality, I can’t imagine her personality or style would change.

So, I had no desire to get
close to her.

Let alone include her in my
party. Even with Agra’s Curse causing so many uncertain variables,
and now having to deal with her too?

That’s an act of suicide. I’d
rather roam around alone.

If raising favorability were
easy, I might have tried to clear the quest, but with her, even that
would be difficult.

“Didn’t you hear me?”

Frey tilted her head, puzzled
by my lack of response.

Even in the game, I thought
her illustration was stunning, but seeing her in reality was
overwhelming.

Her eyes looked like they were
inlaid with gems.

Her hair seemed like it would
cascade down in waves if touched.

Despite her love for wandering
outside, her skin remained flawlessly white without a speck of dust.

I never understood why people
used to praise Frey’s looks as part of her appeal, but now, I
somewhat get it.

She was beautiful.

So beautiful that anyone who
saw her face head-on would find it unforgettable.

Judging by the students’ gazes
glued to Frey despite my presence, it wasn’t just me who thought this
way.

Although, Frey herself seemed
completely indifferent to the attention others gave her.

‘I heard.’

“I heard you. Sloppy
swordsman.”

A sloppy swordsman, huh?

I really don’t understand
what criteria are used to assign names.

Why do some people get called
by their nicknames and some don’t?

Although this time, I’m
grateful it’s not by nickname.

Like Karl the Barbarian or
something.

Frey would’ve been
“Psychopath Lady” or “Party Crasher”.

Not a single good nickname.

Being called a sloppy
swordsman isn’t that bad.

“Huh? Sloppy? Me?”

‘Yes.’

“Is there anyone else
here besides you?”

“Mm. I’m the sloppy
swordsman? It’s the first time I’m hearing such a nickname.”

Despite being made fun of,
Frey didn’t seem to care much.

It seemed she truly didn’t
mind whatever anyone called or thought of her.

Just like in the game.

“Anyway, answer me. Fight
me.”

‘No.’

“Why should I fight a sloppy
swordsman?”

“It’ll be fun.”

‘I don’t think so.’

“Sorry, but I’m not
interested in a sloppy swordsman.”

“Really? Well. Hmm.”

I wondered if she was even
listening to me.

Talking to her felt like
talking to a wall, which made me feel stifled.

After embodying Lucy, I never
felt outmatched in a conversation with anyone, but today was
different.

For someone who blocked out
others and only said what she wanted, the [Mesugaki] Skill
translations didn’t matter at all.

“So, if I show you I’m not
sloppy, that’s enough, right?”

The moment Frey uttered those
words…

[Iron Wall] shouted.

To raise my shield.

My body moved on its own,
after months of training that made me cough up blood I could do this
instinctually.

Reciting a prayer internally,
I conjured a divine shield on my arm and moved it as the [Iron Wall]
directed.

Clang!

The sword Frey swung was
deflected by the shield.

Her eyes stared at me
intently. The emotion in them was clearly interest.

The kind of interest a child
shows in a newfound toy.

“Wow, you blocked it?”

‘Are you out of your mind?!’

“Sloppy swordsman! Are
you crazy?”

“Isn’t it fine since you
blocked it?”

Unbelievable.

This is why I didn’t want to
get involved with her.

As Frey continued to swing her
sword, [Iron Wall] kept warning of danger.

Each swing was
life-threatening.

If I missed even one block, my
skin would be cut.

Repeating my prayer
internally, I buffed myself while waiting for an opening.

Frey was indeed strong for her
age, but she was no match for the knights of the Allen Family.

If it were Karl in front of
me, and if he aimed to truly destroy me, my head would already be
off.

“Lady Allen! Get back!”

Joy’s voice echoed in my ears
as I struggled to hold on.

As soon as I heard her words,
I deflected Frey’s sword and quickly stepped back.

In that moment, an ice wall
sprang up between Frey and me, reinforced with divine power.

Was this a joint effort by Joy
and Phoebe?

“Are you okay?”

Phoebe, who had approached at
some point, examined me with worried eyes.

Did she come because she was
worried I might be hurt?

Oh, Phoebe. You are all I
have.

Despite calling you sloppy,
you still care for me.

How can I express my gratitude
for your kindness?

‘I’m fine.’

“Of course, Sloppy Saint.
Do you think I’d let myself get pushed around by a brute like that?”

I answered confidently in
Mesugaki, and Phoebe chuckled.

She must be getting used to
calling me a sloppy saint by now.

“Lady Kent. What do you
think you are doing?”

“What? Why?”

“Swinging a sword in the
classroom?”

“I had to prove I’m not
sloppy.”

“Does that even make
sense?”

As I chatted with Phoebe, I
could hear Joy and Frey arguing beyond the ice wall.

The more their conversation
continued, the sharper Joy’s voice became, while Frey’s remained
calm.

Joy becomes terrifying when
she’s genuinely angry, yet Frey responded nonchalantly. That’s just
like her.

Leaving them alone any longer
might cause Joy to truly explode, so I moved past the wall and
approached the two.

‘Joy.’

“Airhead Lady.”

“There you go again,
calling me an Airhead Lady.”

‘I won the bet.’

“The Airhead Lady who
lost the bet sure talks a lot.”

“Ugh…”

By now, she must have checked
the Academy entrance exam results. She should know she lost the bet
and just accept that she’s now the Airhead Lady!

Ignoring Joy, who was glaring
at me resentfully, I looked over at Frey.

“Are we going to continue?”

‘No.’

“We are not going to.
Sloppy Swordsman.”

“Huh.”

Frey looked genuinely
disappointed when I refused. It seems she really likes me. Although
she probably just thinks of me as a decent punching bag, since she’s
interested, she won’t let me go easily regardless.

This is going to be annoying.

If I let her go without saying
anything, she’ll probably come at me again saying she wants to fight.
I should put a leash on her first.

‘Frey.’

“Sloppy Swordsman.”

“Yes?”

‘Do you want to spar with me
again?’

“You want to fight me
again?”

“Of course!”

That’s the most enthusiastic
answer I’ve ever heard. If only she’d respond like that to other
questions too.

“Then don’t do this kind
of stupid thing again.”

“Why?”

I shouldn’t answer this “why”
with common sense. Frey is far from ordinary. There’s no point in
trying to reason with someone who doesn’t step out of their own
world, no matter who stands in front of them.

The answer I need to give here
is one that fits Frey’s world. Just like the protagonist in the game
adapted to Frey, I have to do the same.

‘Frey, you…’

“Sloppy Swordsman, you
want to fight me, don’t you?”

“Yes!”

‘Then…’

“Wouldn’t it be better to
prepare properly and fight in the best place possible? Or are you a
sloppy fighter who can’t win without resorting to surprise attacks?”

Hearing my words, Frey rolled
her eyes, then nodded as if she understood.

“You’re really smart.”

Now that she seems to
understand, she probably won’t attack me recklessly anymore.

But I’ll have to spar with her
regularly, though I can think of it as part of my training.

She’s a decent opponent for
sparring.

“So, when are we going to
spar?”

‘Tomorrow…’

“Tomorrow. Be satisfied
with this for today, Sloppy Swordsman. Unlike you, who fights like a
beast, I’m exhausted.”

“Alright. Got it.
Tomorrow then?”

Frey seemed satisfied with my
answer and nodded, and Joy let out a sigh of relief.

Despite being annoyed by me
using the Pitiful Prince nickname, she still cares about me!

You’re such a good person!

‘Thank you, Joy.’

“Good job, Airhead Lady.”

“Ha. Don’t mention it.
But Lady Kent, please be more careful next time.”

“Huh?”

Seeing Frey respond as if she
didn’t understand what she did wrong, Joy furrowed her brow slightly
before dispelling the ice wall and leaving.

Wow. She’s really fierce. Frey
tilted her head in confusion, seeing that expression. She’s really
one of a kind.

Not that I have any room to
talk.

Alright, the situation is more
or less resolved, so I should go find my seat.

Let’s pick a spot that’s as
inconspicuous as possible.

If the professor were to call
on me and ask a question, I’d probably blurt out something
inappropriate.

Just as I stepped away, Frey,
who had been watching me closely, followed me.

‘Frey…’

“Sloppy Swordsman, why
are you following me?”

“Can’t I?”

Seeing Frey’s innocent eyes, I
found it hard to say anything.

There’s no reason why you
can’t.

It’s just annoying that you’re
showing interest in me.

Damn it. I can’t just tell her
to go away because I don’t like her.

Sigh.

‘Do whatever you want.’

“Do whatever you want,
Sloppy Swordsman.”

“Okay, I will.”

It really annoys me how
quickly she responds when it’s something that benefits her.

As I found a suitable spot and
sat down, Frey naturally took the seat next to me.

Did you really take that much
of a liking to me?

After that sparring session,
did you decide I would make a good punching bag?

But whatever. To get her
favorability to 70, I’d have to help her further her understanding of
the sword.

Of course, it’s not entirely
impossible, but that method is only feasible when you become a
second-year student.

From my perspective, having to
get the favorability of two people to 70 by the final exam, Frey’s
goodwill doesn’t help at all!

As soon as I sat down,
watching Frey hum a tune while staring out the window gave me a
headache.

Ugh.

If her conditions weren’t so
bizarre, I would’ve gained one person with a favorability of 70.

It’s a shame, really.

Still, having someone sitting
next to me is better than nothing.

Let’s be satisfied that at
least one of the seats next to me, which should have been empty, is
filled.

Not long after that, the
professor entered the class and gave the usual introductory speech
teachers give on the first day. It was stuff about the schedule of
the lessons and advice on school life.

Having heard these stories
countless times while playing Soul Academy, I let them enter one ear
and leave through the other. Soon enough, the professor’s explanation
was over.

“With this, we have
completely finished today’s entrance ceremony. Thank you all for your
hard work since this morning.”

The entrance ceremony’s
schedule ended with that.

From now on, it’s free time
where I can do whatever you want.

Great. As a veteran of Soul
Academy, it’s time to gather the essentials!

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