chapter_0217

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
217

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
217

Luca took me to a place I was
quite familiar with.

His office.

The room, which gave off a
cluttered impression with books and papers scattered everywhere, was
exactly as I remembered it.

Luca, wearing an awkward
smile, dragged a chair from somewhere, sat on it, and invited me to
sit in his office chair.

“We can’t make a lady sit
on such a chair, can we?”

If that’s the case, shouldn’t
he have called me after tidying up?

Instead of using the perfectly
good sofa as a storage space, he should have seated me there.

And also, since he dragged me
all the way here, isn’t it customary to at least offer me a cup of
tea?

I’ve heard your tea-making
skills are notoriously bad, and I’m quite curious. How awful could
it be for even Joy to fail to hide her expression?

Despite my many complaints,
Luca just stared at me blankly with a look that seemed to question
why I hadn’t sat down yet.

You’re just as sloppy as in
the game.

Confirming these things
strangely put me at ease.

Even if he’s a crazy lunatic,
it’s better he’s the same as in the game. That way, I can predict
his thoughts and actions and prepare for any dangers.

Take the first prince, for
example. I can never guess what he’s thinking or planning.

I’m certain he’s changed in
many ways, but I can’t tell in which direction! The most
frustrating part is that regardless of the direction, it seems he
won’t ever like me.

Seeing no point in continuing
to stand, I finally took a seat in the office chair, and only then
did Luca begin to speak.

“I don’t know if you are
aware, Lady, but I have a fondness for talented individuals. In my
early days as a teacher, I was frequently criticised for my
favouritism.”

I know this very well.

Luca believes himself to be a
craftsman who polishes the gems known as talent.

Long before the game even
begins, in the distant past,

The moment he saw a gem
shining brilliantly before him.

And the moment he realised he
could never shine like that gem.

Luca decided to become a
craftsman.

If he couldn’t be a jewel
himself, then he resolved to create the most brilliantly shining
jewels of all.

“Although many don’t
realise it, the value of a gem is determined before it’s even
crafted. If the raw stone is beautiful, the gem will be beautiful. If
the raw stone is flawed, the gem will be flawed too.”

You’ll hear this line if you
progress through quests related to Luca.

This is his belief.

That’s why Luca loved
talented individuals. He believed that to leave behind a gem
remembered by history, talent was essential.

“And Lady, you possess a
talent that shines brighter than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

Luca speaks.

He’s saying he will polish
you, the raw stone.

He will make you into a gem
that shines brighter than any other.

He promises to engrave your
name not only in your family and kingdom’s history but across the
entire continent.

“I will help you. So that
your talent can reach its fullest potential.”

Sitting in the leather chair,
I scrutinise Luca’s face.

I can’t read thoughts and
emotions just by observing the other person, like Karia can. However,
I can understand Luca’s thoughts.

How? Because I remember the
lines that drift into my ears.

I know in what situations this
man says these lines.

Right now, Luca is yearning
for me.

He trusts in my talent,
believes that I can shine brighter than anyone else, and thinks that
I can fulfil his desires.

The relationship between us is
like the position we’re sitting in.

Even though I appeared much
smaller in stature, I was looking down at him while he was looking up
at me.

The moment I was sure this was
like the game, I felt that this situation was flowing as I wanted.

Back when it was a game, it
ended with Luca persistently pleading.

Proposing something in return
to Luca was never an option.

But now it’s different.

This is reality.

Nothing is impossible.

‘You’re wrong, Professor
Luca.’

“Professor Pedo, I know
you’re happy that a cute girl like me entered this gloomy and
smelly room, but you should think things through.”

Leaning back in my chair, I
rest my chin on my hand.

‘You’re not the one
helping me.’

“You think a dumb lowlife
like you could help me? Puhaha! There’s a limit to not knowing your
place.”

“What?”

‘I’m the one allowing you
to help.’

“I’ll explain it so even a
dumb pervert can understand. It’s not you helping me. It’s me
allowing you to help. Bring me something that could be useful, and
then I’ll permit you to teach.”

Although my words were
arrogant and haughty, Luca didn’t get angry. He just stared at me
blankly.

He even forgot to make a
trustworthy expression. With bewildered eyes, leaning forward, he
stared at my face.

Though I was slightly
overwhelmed by his dazed look, my [Mesugaki] Skill didn’t allow for
any embarrassment.

The emotion that appeared on
my face was not fear but mockery.

Luca, seeing me, began to
smile too. It wasn’t his usual friendly smile but a thick, crazed
grin.

“Indeed. I understand.
Lady Allen.”

Saying this, Luca wiped his
face.

When his face reappeared from
behind his palm, he looked utterly calm, as if the madness from
moments ago was a mirage.

“Go back for now and come
again after school.”

This was my plan.

If Luca sees Lucy Allen as a
gem that will grant his wish, he will never let her go.

He will try to hold on to her
no matter what. Because he’s a man desperate to fulfil his wish.

So, I will use that emotion to
my advantage. I will stand in a position of power and choose the
trials I will face. I will find a way to become strong as safely and
efficiently as possible.

Through him, I will give a
hard time to that sloppy god who tries to bring me down.

So far, my plan seemed to be
working well enough.

The crazed look in Professor
Luca’s eyes, his laughter, served as proof. If things continue this
way, it should work out as I hope.

Thinking that, I picked up a
piece of sliced steak with my fork when someone slapped the desk with
their palm.

Who is it? This uncivilised
person?

Don’t ruin my quiet and
enjoyable mealtime.

“Lucy Allen.”

With irritation, I raised my
head and saw Arthur standing there with one eyebrow lowered.

If you were coming to find me,
you could have come sooner. Why make such a fuss when I’m eating? I
was looking forward to this academy meal I hadn’t had in a while.

‘What is it?’

“What is it, Pitiful Prince?
Are you trying to show off your small stature by standing so
straight? Should I praise you for being cute?”

Arthur, whose height was
rather short for a man, flushed red at the remark and just when he
was about to shout something, he sighed instead. Without asking for
permission, he sat down in front of me.

“I heard Professor Luca
spoke to you.”

‘Yes, that’s right.’

“How do you know that? Are
you trying to become a stalker, like the Hikkimori Prince?”

“…I just happened to hear
about it.”

Has it already turned into a
rumour?

Wow. As expected of Lucy’s
reputation. Stories spread so quickly because she’s so notorious in a
bad way.

“Anyway, congratulations.
I’ve heard that most people whom he reaches out to end up becoming
very successful.”

Well, of course. If they don’t
become successful, they fall behind.

Luca is like a player in an
RPG game who always seeks average returns. No matter the odds of
success, he would hit the enhancement button.

If the item is worthwhile, it
will be successfully enhanced.

And if it fails? That just
means the item was never meant to be anything in the first place.

Luca would get frustrated with
the bad luck and go looking for other equipment.

That’s why I thought about
refusing Luca’s proposal and why I didn’t want to relinquish control
to him.

The thought of myself becoming
equipment in a reinforcement machine was chilling.

“Let’s cut to the chase.
I’m here because I need to ask you something, even if it interrupts
your meal.”

Arthur shrugged his shoulders
and pulled out a piece of paper from his coat, handing it to me.

“You said to ask you what
classes I should take once the second semester starts, didn’t you?”

Ah, so that’s what it was. He
wanted me to help him pick his classes.

It’s definitely an urgent
matter. Pushing my plate to the side, I took the paper Arthur handed
me and started thinking.

Let’s see. Since Arthur is a
Magic Swordsman, he needs to take this class, and this one, and also
this one.

“…Huh?”

Why is there a limit on the
number of hours you can take per semester? This means some classes
will have to be dropped!

Ugh. Let’s prioritise
swordsmanship for now. Training your body along with swordsmanship
boosts your stamina. This is more efficient.

“…Lucy Allen?”

Leave out this one and that
one. This one…

Sigh.
Do I really have to leave this one out? Seriously?

But this one is a must!
However, if I don’t drop it, I can’t meet the credit limit.

What should I do? What’s the
best approach?

Ah. Right. Should I ask if he
can override the limit using his royal authority?

Even though he’s quite far
down the line of succession, he’s still a prince. Maybe he can
leverage his status somehow.

As I looked up to ask him, I
was met with Arthur’s exhausted face.

“Do you want me to die of
exhaustion during classes?”

Geez. Such exaggeration. A
person won’t die from this level of work.

From my training with the
Allen Family Knights, I’ve realised that people in this fantasy world
are incredibly resilient.

Alright, I’m. feeling
generous! I’ll take out one more.

How’s that? It’s okay now,
right?

“…Trying to kill me
under the pretext of helping. What have I done so wrong? Please, just
say it.”

I’m telling you, you won’t
die.

Nope.

Not changing it.

Go away.

“I’ll curse you from
hell, Lucy Allleeeennn!”

This is the help you chose.

Endure with grit and tenacity,
Arthur!

After finishing the first day
of the second semester and completing my course registration, I made
my way to Professor Luca’s office as promised.

‘Professor Luca?’

“Professor Pedo?”

However, Luca was nowhere to
be found.

The wide-open door and the
empty office seemed to be inviting me to steal something.

Seeing this, I was reminded of
past events with a strange sense of déjà vu.

One of the Quests associated
with Professor Luca. The one I had been waiting for.

I didn’t think he would decide
so quickly.

This is great. Professor Luca
definitely overestimates me.

‘I know, Grandpa.’

I know what is prepared in
there. What Professor Luca is planning to do using it. I know
everything.

Because I am an experienced
veteran of Soul Academy.

Ah, Professor Luca. Thank you
for being exactly like your character in the game!

If even you had some variable,
my head would have really hurt!

Ignoring Grandpa’s warning, I
stepped into the room. As soon as I entered, the door closed on its
own, and a Magic Circle lit up beneath my feet.

It was something familiar to
me. The Petty Evil God had used this so often to tease me.

A Teleportation Circle.

Alright then.

It’s time to show Professor
Luca the value of this rotten core.? (Might want to find out the
context for “rotten core” and rewrite it)

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