Chapter: 217
You probably already know that the character Luca treats students like gacha tickets. I’ve explained it endlessly.
But there’s something I haven’t mentioned yet: how users treat Professor Luca.
Surprisingly, the users’ treatment was similar to how Luca treats students.
Gacha.
The risk skyrockets from the moment it’s involved, but the return is high for this NPC.
If you want to play at a high level, you inevitably encounter him.
If complaints pop up on forums, he occupies a quarter of that disdain.
That was Luca’s identity.
Luca continuously presents crises to the users.
He’ll toss them into dangerous dungeons, have them threatened by contractors, or create ambush encounters that lead to unfortunate accidents.
In a game where growth time is limited, more encounters mean higher growth limits, so users should welcome it.
The problem arises when crises that can’t be physically resolved appear.
For example.
Right, that dungeon where the alchemist showed up.
I memorized all the information about that dungeon, but I couldn’t strategize it. It wasn’t a dungeon I could tackle at that time.
All I could do was try to survive by pushing myself to the limit.
I almost failed at that, and barely survived by being leashed by the Sloppy God.
From the moment users are connected to Luca, they experience such things frequently.
Just saved before running into one of Luca’s bullshit scenarios, and then your last save file is far back?
Do you know how that feels?
I do.
When I had the ambitious goal of making the highest peak character for each job and was endlessly staring at Professor Luca’s face.
I had a blast to the point of posting strategies for events I could see when I met Professor Luca.
I precisely memorize his behavior.
It’s also why I’m thankful that Luca is just like the character in the game.
If he’s exactly like the character in the game, I can manipulate his actions.
After countless attempts, I managed to control my actions even within the limited choices of the game, so what if I can choose freely in reality?
Easy.
The surrounding blue light fades, revealing the landscape.
Trees are starkly bare and can’t even afford a leaf.
The cracked ground, dry as a desert.
The few scattered leaves on the ground seem like they’ll turn to dust the moment I step on them, and the energy felt in the dead forest is heavy and gloomy.
If a sword came here, it would probably let out a screech before turning red.
The dead forest.
A field fraught with dangers rather than a dungeon where a selfish Evil God can intervene.
I never thought I would pick a place where I could use my blessing regarding dungeons.
Lucky me.
“You’ve matched the appointment time well. I thought I’d have to wait longer.”
Turning at the voice from behind, Professor Luca appeared.
“Are you pretending to be calm? Or did you predict this situation and are acting calm?”
Should I pretend to be surprised?
“Why, you pervert. Do you want to hear my scream? Haha! Then just confess. I could give you a genuine scream.”
“… Either way works for me. Both sides look extraordinary.”
Luca pretended not to hear my voice and continued.
“I consider myself a gem craftsman. Finding shining raw stones and processing them beautifully is my lifelong purpose and wish. I’ve been doing this for a long time, so I take great pride in this craft.”
Words I’ve heard before.
I expected those lines ever since he said to just provide help.
Hearing that, I couldn’t help but smile, thinking how everything was falling into place.
Alright, Luca. Now you’re gonna say gems shouldn’t speak and must follow the craftsman’s hand.
“Gems must not speak. They should follow the craftsman’s hand obediently.”
Haha!
Yeah, this is how it should be.
I’m the embodiment of the rotten water in Soul Academy, possessed by a spirit.
Isn’t it normal for a plan to go perfectly well? Why does it always turn out in unexpected ways? Sigh.
“A gem that puts up a fuss in the craftsman’s hands is unwanted. However, Lady Allen, the light of your gem is too bright. Therefore, I decided to test if you have the ability to sculpt yourself.”
Luca finished his statement and slowly stepped back.
“I promise. If you show results here, I will allow you to sculpt yourself.”
As he stepped back, his form gradually blurred, and before long, he completely disappeared.
So here I was, left alone in the forest.
[So, this is what you’ve planned?]
‘Yeah.’
[Is it a prophetic statement?]
‘It’s similar, right?’
Usually, I make excuses for the Sloppy God, but not this time.
After all, it was the Sloppy God who ordered me to face a trial from Professor Luca. I’m just faithfully executing what the God said.
[You clearly don’t seem willing to explain properly.]
‘Not really…’
[Enough with the nonsense. Answer the questions I ask. Is it dangerous?]
‘No. Not at all.’
I can assure you.
No matter what variables arise in this situation, I won’t die.
How do I know? I wouldn’t throw away my valuable gear without preparation.
Luca exposing his true intentions means he wants me.
Whether I pass this trial or not, he won’t let me die in such a filthy place.
He’ll prepare an extravagant stage for enhancement one day and toss me there.
But the moment I fail this trial, Luca will do something to my mind to manipulate me and silence me.
He did that in the game.
Once he showed his true self, he’d cast some magic to silence me, you know?
Using that, I wouldn’t be able to refuse what Luca says.
To break out of that, I need a mental skill or an NPC who is good at it, but I’ve got the Sloppy Fox.
Even if Luca pulls some tricks, I can resolve it.
[Is there anything to gain from this? ]
‘Yes. A lot.’
Of course, I can comfortably clear the quests given by the Sloppy God, and it’ll accelerate my growth.
Dungeons that are hard to enter with my student status. Regions I shouldn’t be able to enter at this point. Combat experience I could gain through clashes with strong individuals.
If I manage to seize the initiative against Luca, I can choose everything to my liking.
Something I had to compromise on through infinite retries in the game, I can pick freely now.
Of course, Luca will intervene and do his mischief along the way, but since the Sloppy God has handed out the quest, that’s something unavoidable.
[Do you know what to do?]
‘I do know that.’
The answer to that is simple.
Survive.
Endure until morning in this field.
Luca’s demand when he threw users here in the game is likely the same this time.
[Lastly, are you confident? ]
‘Is that even a question?’
The situation is already playing out as I planned.
The intervention of the annoying Evil God is impossible.
This place is avoided by people, so there are no adventurer variables.
Plus, the field is one where I have the advantage.
The main monsters appearing in the dead forest are evil spirits. Monsters possessed by evil spirits. And the undead.
They’re all vulnerable to the Divine.
And I am the Apostle of God, housing strong divinity, as well as a Holy Knight.
‘I can do anything here.’
I’ve already confirmed where I’m located.
If I wanted, I could escape from here and return to Soul Academy myself.
But what is there to worry about?
[Then it’s settled.]
Grandpa replied, taking a long sigh, complaining that next time I plan something like this, I need to let him know in advance.
[Is it the first or second time you’ve suddenly encountered a crisis? My heart almost dropped.]
‘But grandpa, you don’t have a heart.’
[It’s a metaphor! Just understand!]
While I was chatting with grandpa, I felt an ominous energy approaching from afar.
Maybe it was because I practiced dealing with divine energy with grandpa throughout the vacation. My body finely sensed the death energy, which is contrary to divinity.
Sigh. Alright. Let’s treat it as an opportunity to practice in real combat. Young lady, prepare yourself.
‘Yes.’
Taking a deep breath, I spread the divine energy from my heart throughout my body.
The basics of Ruel’s divine technique. Strengthening my body by circulating divinity through my blood.
I can’t yet spread it to my fingertips and toes like grandpa, but I can mimic it to some extent.
I feel the vitality surging through my body, enhanced by divinity.
Just like I practiced in the Allen Family.
Seeing the ominous energy retreat in fear from the divine that’s released with my breath made me smile as I prepared to fight.
I took out my shield from my inventory and enlarged the mace I had shrunk to hang around my neck.
I’d love to wear armor, but it seems like I don’t have the luxury for that right now.
– Kieeeek.
Things longing for the vitality of the living reveal themselves.
In the past, they might have frolicked among the flowers when the forest was beautiful. But as the forest became filled with death, they grotesquely transformed to survive.
Banshees.
I smiled as I counted the number of their ugly, greedy gazes.
Three of them? This should be good enough for warming up.
“Eek♡ You look disgusting♡ Smells like a corpse♡ Is this a fairy?♡ I could probably exterminate the fairy queen without even realizing she’s one!♡”
With that surge of ecstasy, one of the banshees charged at me.
These creatures are closer to death than life. They are beings nearly devoid of a physical form.
Therefore, ordinary attacks can’t hurt them, but that’s not a problem for me at all.
My mace, infused with divinity, won’t let the dead pass by unscathed.
SMACK! With a thwack sound, the mace struck the banshee’s head, and it couldn’t withstand the shock, scattering into pieces.
This is a bit problematic.
They’re too weak. They need to put up a fight, don’t they?
Were they scared of their comrade’s tragic demise? The banshees tried to retreat, but I wouldn’t allow it.
“Where do you think you’re going, old hags?♡ Are you ashamed of your wrinkled skin?♡ Haha Are you sorry?♡ Am I too pretty compared to you?♡”
Experience points, yet trying to flee!
You better stay my warm-up partner before you drop dead!
