chapter_0131

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
131

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
131

Phoebe looked around dazedly.

The yellow walls were
scribbled with the drawings of many children. The furniture was old,
and none of it was in good condition.

When the wind blew in, it
brought with it the musty smell of dust, and as meal time approached,
the kitchen was filled more with shouting and screams than with
laughter.

To young Phoebe, it was a
place filled with cherished and beautiful memories—the orphanage.

Normally, this place would be
teeming with children playing, never quiet for a moment, but today it
was unusually silent.

As if everyone who had stayed
here had left, leaving only Phoebe behind.

“How is it, Phoebe?”

Phoebe, tilting her head in
confusion at the strangeness, turned at the kind and warm voice that
came from behind her.

There stood a man.

He wore an impeccably clean
white outfit, and the warmth emanating from his outstretched hand
could be felt even from a distance. His face shone with a divine
light, so radiant that Phoebe couldn’t dare to look at him
directly.

“Lord Armadi.”

‘Lord Armadi?’

Phoebe questioned her own
words and then shook her head.

‘What am I thinking? This is
Lord Armadi. He’s the lord of many gods and spreads love fairly
around the world.

The great deity whom I have
served until now and will continue to serve.

Phoebe, how can you possibly
doubt that?’

“To have a conversation
with you, I’ve chosen the scenery of the orphanage where you spent
your childhood. Do you like it?”

“Did Armadi recreate this
place?”

“Yes. Isn’t this the most
precious place to you?”

Armadi’s words were true. This
orphanage was the most precious place for Phoebe.

It was the place she could
laugh purely before taking on the mission as a Saint. A place where
she could play with her friends without worrying about anything.

Even now, when she dreams
occasionally, she would think of running around the orphanage. If not
this place, what else would be precious to her?

“It’s been a while since
I’ve seen this scenery. Shall we walk around and have a
conversation?”

“…Is it okay for me to
talk with you, Lord Armadi? Even though you’ve heard all my prayers,
I’m not a righteous person.”

She hated and envied others
and wished for their downfall. She couldn’t restrain her wrongful
curiosity and made a deal with the Apostles of the Evil God.

Among many other wrongs Phoebe
had committed, they were stored in her memory. It couldn’t possibly
be right for her to converse with the great Armadi.

As Phoebe clasped her hands
and bowed her head, Armadi approached her and lifted her face gently
with his warm hand.

“What are you talking
about? If the Saint, who has worked harder than anyone, doesn’t have
the right to talk with me, who does?”

“But…”

“I’ve mentioned this
before. It’s okay to have made mistakes. The important thing is.”

“Whether you can repent
and correct your actions afterward.”

“That’s right. So don’t
say you’re not righteous. You still have a chance, don’t you?”

‘Oh, merciful one. Even this
unworthy and blasphemous person, you forgive and embrace in your
arms. I am so happy that I don’t know what to do.’

“Let’s talk slowly as we
walk around. You must have a lot to say.”

When Armadi extended his hand,
Phoebe hesitated for a moment before taking it.

‘Ah, Armadi. So this is how
you respond to my faith. My belief was never in vain.

If this is a dream, I hope to
never wake up. I wish to stay in this dream forever and remain by
Armadi’s side.’

While thinking this, Phoebe
suddenly felt a sense of discomfort but shook her head and ignored
it.

How could she think of
anything else when the one she longed to meet so dearly was right
next to her?

‘Phoebe…’

“The Sloppy Saint has
been consumed by the illusion?”

“Exactly. She has no
intention of waking up from it. She has settled in a fantasy that
could never happen in reality and now hopes that her illusion will
continue forever.”

Foolish, naive girl. The Fox
spoke in this way, laughing.

Of all people, Phoebe has been
consumed by an illusion.

My mind was a whirlwind of
scattered thoughts given the unexpected situation.

I knew that Phoebe had been
more shaken than she was in the game. But I didn’t think it was this
severe. She had managed to regain some self-esteem after success in
the Prayer of Purification, so why?

My head throbbed, and I
pressed my forehead with the palm of my hand. Incidents like this
were not uncommon at Soul Academy. If a character with low mental
resilience forcibly went through the trial in the game, they often
got consumed by the illusion.

However, there were a few
characters who were completely immune to this trial.

For instance, Frey could face
what she desired in an illusion without feeling any emotions, so she
never crumbled. Phoebe, on the other hand, overcame it regardless of
how low her mental resilience was, so there was never a problem.

Moreover, this time, we knew
the contents of the trial beforehand, so it should’ve been easier to
pass compared to the game.

But what good does it do to
dwell on this now? The fumble has already happened.

“Lady Allen. Lady Rina said
that if this continues, Phoebe will sleep forever. What should we do?
What can we do?”

‘Hold on.’

“Airhead Lady. Be quiet.”

I interrupted Joy, whose voice
sounded like she was about to cry, and sighed.

Is there no way? Of course,
there is. If there was no way, I wouldn’t have even thought about
participating in this trial in the first place.

It’s simple. The one who
created the illusion is right in front of us. Naturally, the solution
also lies with that individual.

I lifted my head and looked at
the Fox, who seemed completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere and
was smiling. As soon as our eyes met, her grin widened even more.

“If you’re thinking about
asking for help, I’ll refuse. A trial is a trial. Even if something
goes wrong, it’s something that child must handle herself.”

The higher one’s charm, the
more this Fox favours them.

If one’s charm reaches an
extreme level, she’ll offer everything she possesses to that
person. In some cases, she even willingly becomes a slave.

So, if thisFox says no, it
just means your charm is insufficient to sway her.

The solution is simple: raise
my charm to a higher level. Enough to enchant the enchanting Fox in
reverse.

Luckily, my inventory contains
several items that can boost charm.

‘Rina…

“Perverted Fox, I need to
talk with you alone.”

“Just the two of us? Is this
a confession? I appreciate the boldness, but my heart might not be
able to handle it…”

‘That’s not it.’

“Enough with the nonsense.
Just so you know, even though it’s repulsive to be in the same space
and breathe the same air as someone like you, I’m tolerating it.”

“Aah, even your sharp gaze
and harsh words are enjoyable. My whole body tingles.”

Even when I saw her through
the monitor, her lines always made me cringe. Now in reality, it’s
even worse. It’s so disgusting it gives me goosebumps. I genuinely
feel sick.

Still, she’s the only
solution, so what can I do?

“I’ll handle this myself,”
I said, sending Joy and Frey outside. I began taking out items from
my inventory one by one.

First, I used Lano’s Sweet
Perfume. The moment I sprayed it on my body, it immediately boosted
my charm.

“The scent is delightful.
Adding your fragrance to this flower will make the bees lose their
minds.”

‘Now…’

“Are you ready to listen to
my request now?”

“No. You’re beautiful, but
beauty alone isn’t enough.”

Even though the Fox’s words
dripped with sarcasm and she smirked, she still wasn’t fully
persuaded. Next, I pulled out several cosmetic items, carefully
selecting the best consumables available.

Fortunately, I had learned how
to use them from Erin before entering the Academy, so I applied them
without hesitation.

“Hoho. My, oh my. To think
beauty could be layered upon beauty. Alas, even this isn’t enough to
sway me.”

Was it still not enough? Next,
I brought out various accessories, items that would instantly
increase my charm just by wearing them.

‘How about now?’

“How about now, you
Perverted Fox? Does this tickle your perverse tendencies? Hm?”

Having equipped all the items
I’d prepared, the Fox was left speechless.

“Ah!”

Noticing the dazed look in her
eyes as she stared at my face, I smiled. Her face flushed, and she
took a step back.

Just a moment ago, she had
shamelessly spouted disgusting words like a perverted old man, but
now, her response was different. She truly seemed entranced by
something.

Is this enough for you? Are
you going to wake Phoebe up now?

After a moment of silence, she
wiped the drool from her mouth, avoided my gaze, and stammered as she
spoke.

“Well, you certainly exude a
more foxy charm than I do now, but still. Still…”

Is this still not enough?!
Why! You’ve almost fallen for it! Can’t you just go along with it?
Can’t you round it up and generously nod your head in agreement?

There was still one method
left. An item that rested in my inventory.

Something that would
significantly boost my charm more than any item I’ve used so far.

Ugh. I really didn’t want to
use it!

‘Hey, Rina. Just a moment…’

“Perverted Fox. Stop
ogling like a creep and get lost. Come back when I call for you.”

“Huh? Is there still
something left? Is there something that can capture my heart?”

‘Would you please just get out
of here?’

“Are you too much of a beast
to understand what I’m saying? I said get out. You perverted
animal.”

“Hmph. Fine. I’ll step
outside for a moment.”

After the Fox, who couldn’t
control her smirk, stepped outside, I took the Bunny Girl costume out
of my inventory and placed it on the bed.

I had planned to burn it when
I got back, but now I actually have to wear it. Damn it.

“Eek?!”

Startled by the sudden voice
and hunching my shoulders, I realised Grandpa was still here with me
and let out a sigh.

‘This is the quickest and
easiest method.’

There are other methods, to be
sure. If I had a few days, I could find more than dozens of ways to
wake Phoebe.

But since there’s a way to
solve this immediately, there’s no reason to drag it out. I was the
one who brought up the trial in the first place, so it’s only right
that I take responsibility.

‘Thank you for your comfort.
But aside from that, Grandpa, could you just go back into the
inventory for now?’

Sorry, but I really don’t
want to etch this embarrassing moment into the memory of someone who
stays by my side 24/7.

He’ll definitely tease me
about this later.

After putting Grandpa back
into the inventory, I stared at the Bunny Girl costume lying on the
bed and let out a deep sigh.

It’s okay. It’s just showing
it to that Fox. As long as I can endure that crazy pervert’s
nonsense, there won’t be any problem.

Having finished rationalising
it to myself, I reached for the clasps of my armour.

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