chapter_0266

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
266

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
266

“…What do you mean?”

Isabel blinked at me, confused. I realized I had skipped way too much
context.

Ah, damn it. Am I starting to pick up Sloppy Lord’s habits?

‘I might have summarized things a bit too much. Let me explain
again.’

“Oh, my apologies. I suppose it’s difficult for an ignorant
perverted zealot to understand. I’m kind, so I’ll explain again. I,
favored by the Sloppy Lord, am giving you the opportunity to help me
defeat that scheming weakling, Tariki.”

The moment I finished, Isabel lost all the composure she had been
trying to maintain. She stared at me blankly before glancing to her
side.

She had just heard an absurd story involving divine apostles and evil
gods. Naturally, she thought that if my words were nonsense, there’d
be a reaction from Phoebe, the saint of the Lord’s Church.

But Phoebe’s expression remained perfectly calm. She simply smiled
gently at Isabel, who was looking at her.

“It’s… true?”

“Yes. Lady Isabel, I have made it my rule never to do anything
that would bring shame before the Lord.”

Phoebe’s title might be false, but her faith was absolutely genuine.

She was a genuinely virtuous person, holding a level of sincere faith
that no one could question. There was no way Phoebe would lie about
something using the Lord’s name.

Phoebe had proven this fact over the years, time and time again.

And Isabel, who had numerous ties to the Church of the Lord, would
know this better than anyone.

This was precisely why I had gone to Phoebe first.

Lucy Allen, notorious for mocking the Lord’s Church for years,
claiming to be an apostle of the Lord? People would dismiss me as a
lunatic. But if Phoebe was beside me, things were different.

Even if the story was ridiculous, having Phoebe nod along lent it
credibility.

This is the difference in reputation between a saint who’s
performed countless acts of charity and a rogue young lady like me!

“Lady Allen is truly loved by the Lord,” Phoebe asserted.

At Phoebe’s firm statement, Isabel’s gaze turned back to me.

Her eyes, wide with shock, were filled with a mixture of emotions.

I knew she wouldn’t accept it immediately.

After all, what kind of person was Lucy Allen?

She was the crazy woman who had been insulting the Lord’s Church for
years.

Who would believe that this blasphemer was actually an apostle of the
Lord? Even I wouldn’t. I’d think, ‘This girl has finally lost her
mind.’

But it was fine. I had more than enough ways to prove that I was
indeed the Lord’s apostle.

I’d kept it hidden because I didn’t want anyone to know. But with the
knowledge from the game, I could explain it in a way that would make
anyone believe I was the apostle.

With that confidence, I stayed composed even as Isabel rose from her
seat and approached me.

Alright. Ask me anything. No matter what you ask, in the end, you’ll
have no choice but to say, ‘You really are the apostle of the
Lord!’

“I see.”

…Huh?

“I see! Now I understand why you possess the Lord’s divine
power!”

Thud!

Isabel, now beside me, fell to her knees.

Tears of emotion filled her eyes.

Her hands were clasped in a prayer.

It was an absolutely perfect kneeling posture.

Taking all of this in, my mind went blank, and I forgot everything I
was about to say.

…No, seriously. Is there some secret society where merchants learn
how to kneel and bow? Why are all the ones I’ve met so damn good at
it?

Even while I was trying to mentally escape the absurdity of the
situation, Isabel’s praise continued.

“I thought from the moment I first met you that you were no
ordinary person, but to think you were the great apostle of the
Lord!”

I appreciate that you believe me without an ounce of doubt, but could
you maybe say all this while sitting in a chair?

Your eyes are kind of freaking me out, you know?

If I weren’t here to ask you for something, I’d have already run
away, seriously.

“You thought she was special? In what way, exactly?”

Uh, Phoebe? Why are you talking to this insane person?

Shouldn’t we leave someone like this alone until they calm down?

“First of all, it’s the divine power that Lady Allen holds.
Warm and comforting like the spring sun, it truly feels like the
Lord’s own embrace!”

“Right? Every time I’m near Lady Allen’s divine power, I just
want to kneel and pray. She told me not to, so I haven’t, but still.”

“Really?! What a tragedy!”

…Wait. Hold on a second.

Excuse me, you two? What exactly are you bonding over?

“Another thing that stands out is Lady Allen’s appearance. She
was already beautiful enough to provoke jealousy from other noble
ladies, but now, with the light of the Lord upon her, she has
transcended human beauty. Even the apostle of the Goddess of Beauty
and Art praised her!”

“No need to say more. If I could, I’d love to have a portrait of
her to treasure.”

“Oh! As would I, truly!”

Um, excuse me? I’m right here, you know?

The person you’re talking about is standing right here?

I’m happy that you two are getting along, but could you tone it down
a bit?

“However, there is something that Lady Artea doesn’t
understand.”

“What might that be? Please, share your wisdom, Lady Saint.”

“The true essence of Lady Allen lies within. She cares nothing
for her own life, thinking only of saving others. Such steadfastness!
You seem to have a discerning eye, so let me share my experiences—”

“Could you two stop competing over who’s the bigger pervert?
Honestly, you’re making me nauseous.”

The two finally stopped their praise when I intervened.

I could tell Phoebe had more to say by the way she was biting her
lip, and Isabel looked visibly disappointed. But if I pointed that
out, I knew we’d never get anywhere, so I ignored it.

‘…Am I really the problem here?’

I mean, I’d have thought they were just eccentric if it was just
one or two people, but this is getting out of hand!

And, without exception, these weirdos all seem perfectly normal when
I’m not around!

‘Is that really something I shouldn’t worry about?’

That was too cruel and sad a statement for me to refute.

This is all Sloppy Lord’s fault. He’s a pervert, so naturally, the
people following him are all perverts, too!

‘And what’s that I don’t need to worry about?’

Well… That’s true. I had considered that before telling Isabel.

Ah, damn it! Whatever! As long as everything works out, who cares!

“Ahem.”

As I screamed internally, Isabel, who had by now composed herself,
cleared her throat.

“I apologize for the disturbance. I was simply overwhelmed.”

“I understand, Lady Artea. I was just as shocked at first.”

“Thank you. In any case, if Lady Allen is truly the Lord’s
apostle, then it must be true that we need to defeat Tariki.”

“Of course, it is. I have seen it with my own eyes.”

Perhaps due to their bonding over that bizarre exchange earlier,
Phoebe, who had been taking a step back until now, suddenly took the
lead in the conversation.

“Then, perhaps we should request the church’s cooperation—”

“That will not do, Lady Artea. Instead, we must……”

“Oh! Extending a hand even to those who have strayed! You are
truly the apostle of the Lord!”

Well, things seem to be going smoothly. Seeing Isabel’s eyes sparkle
like that, it looks like she’ll gladly help.

Alright. Let’s think positively. If selling my dignity earns me
treasures worth hundreds of platinum coins, it’s a good deal,
right?

“I understand the situation.”

Once everything was said and done, Isabel, apparently moved by
something—though I had no idea what—pulled out her handkerchief
to wipe away her tears and nodded.

“I, Isabel Artea, have always sought a way to repay the grace
the Lord bestowed upon me in the past. So, I will assist as much as I
can. However, before I do, I have two requests.”

‘What are they?’

“What is it, you perverted zealot?”

Requests? I wasn’t sure what she wanted, but given that she was
offering her help, I’d do my best to fulfill them.

As long as they weren’t requests that were too strange or
perverted, of course.

“One is that I would like you to leave behind a record of the
miracle you are about to perform in this crystal orb.”

Isabel brought out a crystal orb, explaining that it was enchanted
with Artea’s security magic, so there was no way it could be leaked
elsewhere, and that it would be kept only for personal use.

Well, that much I could do. It wasn’t a difficult request.

I’d have Alsatine verify her words later, but if it truly was for
personal use only, I’d do my best to record the miracle.

‘Alright. What’s the other request?’

“A voyeuristic zealot too, huh? Well, I’m nice, so I’ll indulge
your weird preferences. What’s the other one?”

“Thank you so much! The other request is… before you leave, could
you imbue your divine power into a crystal for me?”

Imbue my divine power? When I looked confused, Phoebe elaborated.

“It’s the practice of leaving a cleric’s divine power and
blessing in a crystal, often done when visiting noble households.”

Ah, that’s what she meant? I’d suspected something strange since
it was Isabel asking, but it turned out to be perfectly normal.

If that was it, I had no reason to refuse. Considering how much I’d
be getting, why wouldn’t I fulfill such a simple request?

As I nodded, Isabel quickly left the reception room and returned a
short while later, slightly disheveled, holding a small crystal orb.

“I would appreciate it if you could do it with this.”

Alright, so I just need to imbue this crystal with my divine power,
right?

Thinking it would be easy enough, I reached out to touch the orb, but
Phoebe stopped me.

“No, Lady Allen. You need to imbue it along with a heartfelt prayer
and blessing.”

A heartfelt prayer? To whom? To Sloppy Lord?

You want me to sincerely pray to that perverted bastard?

‘Can’t I just do it without the prayer?’

“Why are you so strict, Sloppy Saint?”

Honestly, it was physically impossible for me. Couldn’t I just
imbue the divine power without the prayer?

But Phoebe was uncharacteristically firm, shaking her head.

“He has given us much, so we must do this properly.”

She was right. It was the correct answer.

Ah, damn it. Alright, fine. I’ll do it!

After taking a deep breath, I clasped my hands together and closed my
eyes.

A heartfelt prayer.

I’d never done anything like that, so I wasn’t sure, but I
figured I just needed to thank Sloppy Lord and wish Isabel well?

…Well, I guess I do have some things to be thankful for.

Sloppy Lord—no, Lord Armadi had helped me a lot up until now.

Without his help, I wouldn’t be where I am.

Sure, he caused plenty of danger, but he always tried to take
responsibility afterward.

If not for his usual perverted antics, I’d gladly express my
gratitude.

Honestly, in moments of crisis, the first name that comes to my mind
is always Armadi’s.

As for Isabel, I genuinely wish her well.

She’s quite eccentric when I’m around, but she’s a good person.
She earns a lot, but she also donates generously and does a lot of
good.

If Isabel prospers, that means more people will be saved, so I could
certainly pray for her future.

…Though, this probably isn’t the most pious prayer.

Whatever. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.

Just as I thought that and opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was
a warm light filling the room.

Surprised, I looked around and realized after a moment that I was the
source.

Phoebe and Isabel, both kneeling and praying on either side of me,
made it obvious.

Uh. I wasn’t sure, but it seemed like the prayer worked?

Now all I had to do was imbue my divine power into the orb.

Thinking I was done, I transferred my divine power into the crystal
orb, and the light that had been surrounding me flowed into the orb,
filling the room with warmth.

Ding!

[Hidden Quest Activated!]

[Daily Quest: Apostle of the Lord]

[The Lord is moved by your sincere prayer! If you offer a heartfelt
prayer each morning after ‘grooming yourself,’ you will receive a
reward!]

Lord Armadi, I understand you’re happy that I, who have never
really prayed, finally did so, but…

Why exactly did you emphasize the grooming part?

Is it just my imagination, or do I sense something impure in this?

…

You damned Sloppy Perverted Lord! This is why I can never pray
sincerely!

Can’t you just, for once, stay still at times like this?!

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