chapter_0120

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
120

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
120

On the way to the entrance of
the Academy Dungeon.

Phoebe couldn’t hide her
anxiety.

Even though she had made a
promise and was moving her feet, her steps repeatedly stopped, turned
back, and then moved forward again.

Her footsteps kept retracing
the same spot over and over.

The reason for her behaviour
was very simple.

It was because she had
violated the doctrine and followed her own desires, driven by a
single curiosity in her heart.

“Fool.”

Phoebe often said in official
settings that anyone could waver.

As long as one repented and
refocused their heart, Armadi would surely forgive them.

The important thing was not
the sin committed but how one acted afterward, she would say.

However, at this very moment,
as she had committed a wrongdoing, Phoebe couldn’t think that way.

In her mind, the sin she had
committed could not be forgiven just by asking for forgiveness.

“Fool. Idiot.”

No matter how much turmoil
there was in her heart, what did she hope to achieve by behaving like
this?

She had made a deal with none
other than an Apostle of the Evil God.

That night.

The night she despised her own
petty heart and left the church.

At that moment when she moved
to treat an injured person.

Phoebe encountered someone
imbued with the Aura of the Evil God.

Normally, upon seeing him, she
should have called the members of the church and organised a
subjugation party, but Phoebe did not do so.

Because she was enticed by the
words that slipped from those lips.

The promise to solve all her
curiosities touched the deepest part of Phoebe’s heart, and so she
took a step forward.

“Is Lady Allen loved by
Armadi?”

Upon Phoebe’s first question,
the man squinted slightly and laughed.

“Why do you ask something
you already know? Do you wish for her not to be loved?”

“That’s not…”

It wasn’t that.

What she wanted was for
everyone to be loved equally.

It wasn’t about taking away
someone else’s love.

Phoebe just hoped…

Just hoped?

“I’ll answer you. Yes. Lucy
Allen is loved by Armadi. Why? She has been chosen as an Apostle of
Armadi. It is impossible for her not to be loved.”

Apostle of Armadi.

The impact of that word on
Phoebe was by no means light.

Historically, Armadi has not
had an Apostle.

This was even stated in the
scriptures.

Armadi loves the world
impartially, therefore, does not have an Apostle.

This was common knowledge for
anyone working within the Church. Hearing something that defied
common knowledge, how could she not be shocked?

“That’s a lie.”

“Think what you will. I
am merely stating the truth. However you choose to accept it is none
of my concern.”

The man couldn’t help but
laugh at Phoebe’s retreating, denying figure.

“Amusing. Since I’m in
a good mood, I’ll answer one more question. Ask.”

“You’ll just lie
again.”

“Perhaps. But wouldn’t
it be better to listen anyway?”

Phoebe hesitated.

Normally, it would have been
wise to turn around immediately.

Regardless of the deal or
whatever, ignoring it would have been the right choice.

But Phoebe couldn’t pull
herself away from the darkness.

“I… Can I be loved by
Armadi?”

“Hoo. Asking the Apostle
of the Evil God about that?”

“…”

“That question is too
costly. It’s not something I can answer right now. First, focus on
healing. And—”

“Sloppy Saint?”

“Eek?!”

Surprised by the voice coming
from behind, Phoebe let out a scream and lost her balance, falling
forward.

Though she closed her eyes
tightly in anticipation of the impending pain, no impact touched her.
Carefully opening her eyes, she saw a gauntleted hand holding her
waist.

“What are you doing? Do
you also want to become an airhead saint following your friend?”

Recognizing the sarcastic
voice beside her, Phoebe realised who had saved her.

Lucy Allen.

The person she wanted to see
but also didn’t want to see right now.

‘What should I do?’

Even after standing up with
Lucy’s help, Phoebe was still trembling and staring at the floor.

“What is it? Are you
nervous? Scared? Turns out, you’re even more airheaded than your
friend?”

“It’s not that.”

Phoebe shook her head at
Lucy’s words.

Entering a dungeon wasn’t
scary at all.

Even though she had lived as a
Saint in the Church of Armadi, she hadn’t grown up like a sheltered
flower in a greenhouse.

Phoebe, who had faced monsters
in dungeons several times, wouldn’t be afraid of entering the
Academy’s dungeon.

“Then why are you like
this?”

Phoebe couldn’t answer that
question.

She couldn’t say that she
was afraid of being found out for dealing with the Apostle of the
Evil God.

Especially not to someone who
might be an Apostle of Armadi.

Lucy wouldn’t understand.

It took a lot of courage for
Phoebe to speak to Lucy the night after that.

Every time she saw Lucy’s
smile, Phoebe felt afraid that her own shadow would be exposed under
the light of Armadi.

Despite wanting to hide in a
room of the Church and seek forgiveness in prayer forever, Phoebe
summoned the courage to approach Lucy for one reason only.

She was curious why Lucy
received Armadi’s love.

Phoebe wanted to know what it
was about Lucy that captivated Armadi.

And if she could imitate Lucy,
Phoebe felt she might also gain Armadi’s love.

That she might be able to hear
his voice.

Phoebe had come here,
suppressing her fear, for this reason.

As she stared at the ground,
fidgeting with her hands in uncertainty, Lucy stepped past Phoebe’s
long hair and moved underneath it.

Then, looking up at her face,
Lucy wore her usual annoying smile.

“Chicken?♡ Such a
pathetic coward♡”

Hearing those words, the
blackness that had enveloped Phoebe’s heart for days turned a shade
of red.

“No, I’m not scared!”

“Really?♡ You sure don’t
look it~♡”

“Really.”

When Phoebe insisted
resolutely, Lucy scrutinised her face before stepping out from under
her hair.

“Then let’s go, Sloppy
Saint. No time to waste on being lazy.”

As Lucy walked ahead, Phoebe
thought that her small back somehow appeared incredibly large.

“What are you doing? Not
coming? Are your legs still frozen, Cowardly Saint?”

“Ah. No. I’ll go.”

Phoebe, who had been staring
blankly, came to her senses and quickly followed Lucy with hurried
steps.

“Lady Allen.”

“Yes.”

“There’s something I’d
like to ask. How far are we planning to go today?”

Phoebe had only heard that
they were going to tackle the dungeon today, but she didn’t know how
far they were supposed to go.

All she recalled was Joy
mentioning that it would be an arduous task, so she should be
mentally prepared.

“To the end.”

“…Pardon?”

Hearing Lucy’s response,
Phoebe thought she might have misheard.

She assumed Lucy meant they
would keep going until their allotted dungeon exploration time ran
out.

However, Lucy shook her head
at Phoebe’s assumption.

“We’re going to reach the
100th floor. I’ve made all the preparations.”

“Oh. But we’re starting
from the first floor.”

Since Phoebe had never entered
the Academy’s dungeon before, they had to start from the first
floor.

No matter how fast Lucy was,
it seemed impossible to clear from the first to the 100th floor in
one go.

Phoebe wasn’t doubting Lucy
Allen’s capabilities—she was just stating what seemed physically
impossible.

Even walking up to the 100th
floor in one day would be daunting, and with battles in between, it
seemed absolutely impossible.

“Hey, Sloppy Saint.”

“Yes?”

“Just because you, an
incompetent Sloppy Saint, can’t do it doesn’t mean I can’t, right?”

Phoebe almost snapped back at
Lucy’s biting comment, but she quickly collected herself.

‘Stay calm.

Clearly, she’s trying to tease
me since it’s my first time entering the dungeon.

She has a playful nature.

It would be childish to
respond to such teasing.

You’re not a child, Phoebe.’

“Understood.”

When Phoebe answered with a
smile, Lucy also smiled but didn’t say anything further.

In the silence that followed,
Phoebe arrived at the dungeon entrance and met the people she would
be entering the dungeon with today.

“It is an honour to enter
the dungeon with you, Saint.”

It was Professor Karl, who
teaches Combat Studies.

Although he’s a new professor,
he’s received high praise from various students.

He’s dedicated to teaching his
students and has a good personality too.

Given his knight-like
appearance from a fairy tale, he’s particularly popular among the
female students.

Phoebe had often heard her
friends mentioning how much they liked Professor Karl.

“The honour is mine,
Professor.”

“Looking forward to
working with you.”

The person next to him was
Frey Kent.

A prominent candidate for the
Next Sword Saint, recognized for having the greatest martial prowess
among the current continent’s holy figures.

Although Lucy’s emergence has
slightly overshadowed Frey’s reputation, her strength is undeniable.

Even the Knight Commander of
the Church of Armadi has expressed a desire to recruit her as a
Knight for the Church if possible.

“Yes, I’m looking forward
to working with you too.”

“But Saint… Do you have
good stamina?”

“Me? I think I have about
the same stamina as other clerics.”

Phoebe’s stamina isn’t
particularly poor, but it’s not outstanding either.

As a cleric who needs to be
active, she has the minimum required stamina, and that’s about it.

When Phoebe explained this,
Frey looked at her quietly and then spoke in a soft voice.

“Hang in there.”

‘…What?

Hang in there?’

Phoebe blinked at Frey’s
unexpected words, but Frey offered no further explanation.

“…Excuse me.”

“We’ve finished our
introductions, right? Let’s go then.”

Phoebe, regaining her
composure a bit late, tried to reach out to Frey, but her voice
overlapped with Lucy’s and faded away.

Without getting an answer,
Phoebe walked into the dungeon. She marvelled silently at the scene
before her.

‘Did the Academy professors
really make this?

This is well-made.

It’s just like a real dungeon.

As expected, should I say it’s
Soul Academy?’

While looking around the
dungeon, Phoebe felt someone watching her and turned her head.

It was Lucy.

With her arms crossed, Lucy
looked Phoebe up and down before speaking.

“Lady Allen, what’s the
matter?”

“Sloppy Saint. Can I
carry you?”

“…Pardon?”

‘Carry me?

Why?

Why would you?’

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