chapter_0129

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
129

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
129

Seeing the face of the fox
that popped out through the bushes, I tilted my head in curiosity.

Why is it popping out here?

I knew that the Fox wandered
around seeking people it found attractive.

That’s actually the reason why
the Academy can conduct field trips in this forest.

The Fox would find
satisfaction in admiring the beautiful students of the Academy, and
in return, it allowed us to use its territory for our field trips.

It usually stayed hidden in
its abode just watching.

However, when it goes
sightseeing, it usually uses one of its avatars.

Being the Master of the
Forest, it knows the difference between what it should and shouldn’t
do.

But you know, no matter how I
look at it, this seems like the Fox’s true form.

Are my eyes deceiving me?

Am I under some illusion?

It seems the strange one isn’t
me but the Fox.

After all, there’s no way
Grandpa could be mistaken.

The white-furred fox, which
had been peeking out at us, finally came out of the bushes and stood
in the middle of where we were resting.

“What an adorable fox.”

“It exudes a divine
aura.”

It’s not like the Fox never
reveals its true form in the game.

The condition is quite simple.

If the total attractiveness of
the party members is high enough that the Fox just can’t resist
coming to admire them, it will appear here, ignoring its dignity and
authority in the forest.

Unable to control its desires,
it makes its presence known when the charm level exceeds a certain
threshold. But it’s strange.

Is the attractiveness score of
this party really that high?

Well, I guess it could be.

Joy and Phoebe have quite high
attractiveness scores.

Even though Frey isn’t as high
as those two, her score isn’t low either.

As for me?

Based on Arthur’s reaction
last time, no matter how high I might rate, it probably wouldn’t
surpass Joy’s level.

In other words, our party’s
average attractiveness might be high, but it shouldn’t be so high
that it would send this Fox’s mind into overdrive.

So why is it showing itself?

Is there another variable I
don’t know about?

While I was lost in thought,
the fox walked towards me on all fours and stopped right in front of
me.

“Mya mya mya mya.”

It then made a sound to catch
my attention and started rubbing its face against my feet, showing
affection.

“The fox seems to like
Lady Allen.”

The other party members
watched the scene fondly, but I couldn’t be happy like they were.

I was the only one who knew
this wasn’t just a cute fox but a creepy old lady with ulterior
motives.

Why is this old lady doing
this to me?!

There are plenty of pretty
people around, so why come to me to express affection, you crazy
fox?!

Could it be that like Armadi,
you have a pedophilic tendency?!

Was there some hidden
backstory that wasn’t revealed in the game?!

Well, if there’s a positive
side, I guess it’s good.

When I grabbed the fox by the
scruff and looked it in the eyes, the fox smiled.

Even though it’s hard to read
expressions because we’re different species, I could tell this Fox
was definitely happy.

Do you like me that much, you
perverted fox?

‘Hello, Master of the
Forest.’

“Pervert Fox. Do you
enjoy being treated like a pet by a girl who is hundreds of years
younger than you? Truly pitiful.”

When I made it obvious that I
knew its true identity, the fox’s smile froze.

It wagged its tail and made
crying sounds like it was clueless, and although it did resemble a
real fox in that way, it couldn’t fool me.

Though to be precise, it
couldn’t fool Grandpa rather than me.

‘You’ve already been
discovered.’

“Do you really think you
haven’t been caught? Are your judgement skills fading with age?
Sloppy~ Dementia~”

“…How did you know?”

When I spoke another word, a
human voice finally emerged from the fox’s mouth.

“Huh?”

“The fox spoke?!”

“Amazing.”

While the three others were
surprised by the unexpected situation, the fox slipped out of my
grasp and spun around in the air.

Smoke rose and, as it cleared,
a woman who hadn’t been there a moment ago appeared.

“As expected from someone
bathed in divine energy. To see through my identity so easily.”

The woman was dressed in silk
clothes that would never appear in Western fantasy, fitting for an
NPC from the game.

Narrow eyes and a relaxed
smile.

White fox ears on top of her
head and nine tails swaying behind her.

On top of that, a captivating
figure. The woman, radiating both alluring and dangerous charm,
tapped her chin and looked down at me.

“As much as I admire your
insight, I find your voice increasingly endearing. Would you say more
to me?”

‘Sorry, but your gaze is a
little creepy.’

“Pervert Fox. Your eyes
are gross and disgusting; could you look away?”

“Haa, this is also nice.
That rebelliousness is quite attractive.”

All that earlier explanation
was when this fox hadn’t started talking yet.

In terms of appearance alone,
she ranks among the top characters in Soul Academy, but
unfortunately, she has a regrettable personality.

As I mentioned earlier, this
fox is a dimwitted pervert.

Despite her appearance, she
has the nickname Pervert for a reason and not for other physical
features.

When someone has high appeal,
any action seems charming.

I did not speak without
concern for no reason.

Knowing that she would laugh
off anything once she showed interest, I let out words recklessly.

When I saw her in the game,
she was really an annoying type, but it’s worse now in reality.

Especially since I’m the one
she’s targeting.

As my gaze dropped, the Fox’s
smile widened slowly.

Just then, Joy, barely
recovering from the shock, spoke up.

“Excuse me, but what is
happening here exactly?”

Ah, right.

I was so distracted by the
craziness of this Fox that I forgot to explain the situation.

I thought I had grown immune
to such antics thanks to Karl, but I guess not.

“Sorry. I briefly lost my
sanity.”

Hearing Joy’s voice, the Fox
turned her head and bowed softly.

Look at her being all
courteous just because Joy and Phoebe are quite charming as well.

If it had been some unknown
extra, she would’ve just looked down on them coldly and told them to
shut up.

“I am Rina, the Master of
the Forest. I sensed a divine aura and came to take a look. I have no
intention of harming you, so there is no need to worry.”

Could she be referring to the
aura of Armadi when she mentions a divine aura?

Nacrad mentioned it last time,
and now the Fox senses something peculiar in me too.

Seeing the Fox reacting so
favourably, does this aura also have some enchanting effect?

Despite his perverted
tendencies, Armadi can be quite helpful.

Although it’s a problem that
I suffer because of those damn perversions.

“While we’re at it,
shall we move to a place where we can have a good conversation? I
wish to spend some pleasant time with you all.”

At first, the three of them
seemed fascinated as they looked at the Fox, but as she continued
speaking, their expressions gradually hardened.

Anyone would be disgusted by
that creepy smile and drooling.

I felt the same.

“I promise not to cause
you any harm. To be precise, I can’t harm you. There are too many
lurking in this forest. If I do anything foolish, they might take my
head off.”

As soon as the Fox finished
speaking, my party members’ gazes turned to me. Since I led them up
to this point, they must be looking to me for a decision.

Although the Fox’s sudden
appearance threw our plans off, this wasn’t necessarily a bad
twist.

Our original objective was to
meet the Fox anyway.

Since she’s willing to
invite us to her dwelling herself, there’s no reason to refuse.

Just as I was about to nod in
agreement, a thought crossed my mind.

The Fox admires me greatly,
probably because of Armadi’s aura.

She wants to invite me to her
place and have a conversation.

In this situation, I’m in the
superior position, and the Fox is in the subordinate position.

You know what they say: the
one who falls in love first loses.

Looking at it now, clearly,
the Fox is the loser.

‘Alright, but on one
condition…’

“Fine. perverted Fox, but
there’s a condition.”

“What is it? Speak. I’ll
try my best to accommodate your wishes.”

“You must acknowledge us
and reward us accordingly. If you do, I’ll put up with your creepy
and disgusting behaviour and follow you.”

As I boldly stuck out my neck
and said this, the Fox narrowed her eyes.

As if trying to gauge
something.

“I’m sorry, but that
might be difficult. I think very highly of you and your companions,
but receiving a Forest Master’s recognition isn’t something that can
be easily granted.”

Was I too shameless?

Even though she’s a dimwitted
pervert, she’s still the Master of the Forest. Thinking she’d just
fall for it and give away everything was too naïve of me.

But she already holds me in
high regard, so she shouldn’t think badly of me.

She’ll probably think
something like, “I like your confident attitude.”

That’s the kind of crazy
dimwit she is.

“In return, I will allow
you to take the exam immediately. Normally, you would have to endure
hardships to reach the hidden part of the forest to take the exam.
Considering this, I think this offer is quite reasonable.”

As expected.

This is more than enough
goodwill.

Usually, to take the exam to
earn the Master’s recognition, you have to overcome many difficulties
and face the Master of the Forest.

Allowing us to take the exam
right away is the greatest favour a Master of the Forest can offer.

If other Masters of the Forest
heard about this, they’d be shocked.

‘Alright.’

“Fine. perverted Fox,
that’s quite a lenient decision for an old lady.”

“How about the others? Do
they agree to take my exam as well?”

At the perverted Fox’s
question, the other three nodded.

Before today’s journey to
meet this Fox, I had already explained to them what kind of blessing
she gives and why it’s beneficial to obtain it. So, their response
was expected.

In a situation where everyone
was already prepared, there was no other possible reaction.

“Ah. The kid holding the
sword. You’re an exception. You don’t have the qualifications to
take my exam yet.”

“…Why?”

“You lack charm.”

At the comment about lacking
charm, Frey blinked.

Haha. Of course. That’s just
like the perverted Fox in the game.

Extremely kind to those she
likes but endlessly cold to those who don’t meet her standards.
Just like a beast.

‘Hey…’

“Pervert Fox. That sloppy
swordsman is also my companion, you know? Why are you being so petty
despite your age?”

Frey is practically a
permanent member of my party now.

Her growing stronger directly
benefits me, so it’s best to gain as many advantageous rewards as
possible.

If she refused, I had planned
to use various charm-related items from my inventory to persuade her.
But the Fox surprisingly nodded without much fuss.

“…Hmmm. Fine. Since you
insist so strongly, I’ll allow it. That child isn’t completely
devoid of charm, so I’ll recognize her.”

Wow. How great must Armadi’s
divine charm bonus be for the Fox to back down so easily?

“Alright then, let’s get
started right away. The trial to earn my approval.”

As the Fox smiled and snapped
her fingers, mist enveloped us.

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