Faybi looked around blankly.
The yellowing walls covered with children’s scribbles. The old furniture, none of it in good condition.
When the wind blew in, it brought with it the scent of dust and a musty odor. In the kitchen, where mealtime was approaching, the sounds of laughter were drowned out by shouts and screams.
This was the place that held precious and beautiful memories for young Faybi—her orphanage.
Usually, this place was never quiet, bustling with countless children running around. But today, it was strangely silent.
It felt as if everyone who once stayed here had left Faybi behind.
“What do you think, Faybi?”
Startled by the gentle, warm voice behind her, Faybi turned around.
There stood a man.
His spotless white clothes gleamed. Even from a distance, she could feel the warmth radiating from his outstretched hand. His face shone with a divine light so bright that Faybi dared not gaze upon him.
“Armadie.”
Armadie? Faybi was confused by the name she had just spoken but quickly shook her head.
What am I thinking? That’s Lord Armadie. The supreme ruler of many gods, the one who spreads love equally across the world.
He is the great god I’ve served up until now and will continue to serve for all eternity.
Faybi, how could you even doubt him?
“I chose this scenery, your childhood orphanage, as the place for our conversation. Do you like it?”
“Lord Armadie, did you recreate this place?”
“Yes. Wasn’t it the most precious place to you?”
Armadie’s words were correct. This orphanage was the most precious place to Faybi.
Before she received her duties as a saint, it was the place where she could laugh purely, a place where she could play with her friends without a care in the world.
Even now, when she dreamed, she often recalled running around the orphanage. If this place wasn’t precious to her, then what was?
“It’s been a while since you’ve seen this scenery. Would you like to walk around and talk?”
“...Is it really okay for me to speak with Lord Armadie? You’ve heard all my prayers, but I am not a righteous person.”
I’ve hated others, felt jealousy, and wished for someone’s downfall. I couldn’t resist my sinful curiosity and even made a deal with the apostles of an evil god.
All the many sins I’ve committed were piled up in my memory. How could I dare to converse with the great god himself?
As Faybi clasped her hands together and bowed her head, Armadie approached her, lifting her face gently with his warm hand.
“What are you talking about? If a saint who has worked harder than anyone else doesn’t deserve to speak with me, then who does?”
“But...”
“Didn’t I say this before? It’s okay to make mistakes. What’s important is...”
“Whether you can repent for your mistakes and correct your actions.”
“That’s right. So don’t say you aren’t righteous. You still have a chance.”
Oh, merciful one. Even though I am unworthy and impure, you forgive me and embrace me. I am so happy that I don’t know what to do with myself.
“Come now, let’s walk and talk. Surely you have much to say.”
When Armadie extended his hand, Faybi hesitated for a moment before taking it.
Oh, Lord Armadie. This is how you reward my faith. My belief was not in vain after all.
If this is a dream, then I hope never to wake up. I want to stay in this dream forever, by Armadie’s side.
Faybi was lost in these thoughts when she suddenly felt a sense of unease, but she shook her head and dismissed it.
How could she think of anything else when the being she longed to meet was standing right beside her?
“The useless saint has been consumed by the illusion?”
“Exactly. She has no intention of waking up from the illusion. She’s so comfortable in a fantasy that could never happen in reality that she wishes it would last forever.”
That foolish fox chuckled as she spoke, her words laced with ridicule.
Of all people, Faybi being consumed by an illusion?
I hadn’t considered that possibility, and now my thoughts were in complete disarray.
I knew that Faybi had been struggling more than her in-game counterpart, but I didn’t think it had become this severe. After her success with the purification prayer last time, I thought she had regained some of her self-confidence. So why?
My head throbbed, and I pressed my palm to my forehead.
This sort of thing wasn’t unheard of at the Soul Academy. If a character’s mental strength stat was too low and they pushed through a trial, they could be consumed by the illusion.
But there were characters immune to this trial.
In Frey’s case, she didn’t break down because she couldn’t feel emotions, even when faced with what she desired in the illusion. And Faybi? Her mental strength was low, but she always overcame trials, so there shouldn’t have been a problem.
What good is all this thinking? The damage is already done.
“Lady Alrn, Lady Rina says that if Faybi doesn’t wake up soon, she’ll be trapped in sleep forever. What should we do? How can we...?”
"Wait a moment."
“Idiot noblewoman, be quiet.”
I cut off Joy’s trembling voice with a sigh.
Is there no solution? There is. If there wasn’t, I wouldn’t have even considered participating in this trial in the first place.
This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.
It’s simple. The one who created the illusion is right in front of me. Naturally, they also hold the key to the solution.
I raised my head and glared at the foolish fox, who was still grinning as if completely unaware of the situation. The moment I locked eyes with her, her smirk widened even more.
“If you’re going to ask for help, I refuse. A trial is a trial. Even if it’s unfair, it’s something she has to deal with herself.”
This foolish fox becomes more favorable to people with higher charm stats.
If someone’s charm reaches an extreme level, she’ll offer them everything she has, even willingly becoming their servant. In some cases, she even begs to be enslaved.
So, if she says no, it just means I don’t have enough charm to sway her.
The solution is simple. I just need to raise my charm even higher—to the point where I can turn the tables and charm her.
Luckily, I have several items in my inventory that can boost my charm.
“Lady Rina...”
“Foolish fox, we need to talk. Alone.”
“Oh? You want to be alone with me? Is this a confession? I do enjoy boldness, but I fear for my poor heart...”
“That’s not it.”
“Shut up. The thought of breathing the same air as a disgusting pervert like you makes me sick, but I’ll endure.”
“Hahh, such sharp glares and insults... I feel tingles all over.”
Even when watching her from behind a monitor, I always felt like her lines were cringe-worthy, but seeing it in reality makes it even worse. It’s so disgusting it gives me chills.
But since she’s my only option, I have no choice.
After telling Joy and Frey I’d handle it, I pulled out several items from my inventory.
First, I sprayed Lano’s Sweet Perfume on myself—a consumable item that instantly raises charm when applied.
“The scent is lovely. With you as the flower and this scent as its fragrance, the bees will surely lose their minds.”
“So...”
“Does this make you want to help me?”
“No, while you are beautiful, beauty alone won’t sway me.”
The foolish fox’s smile widened as she rambled on, but it wasn’t enough to persuade her yet. Next, I pulled out a selection of cosmetics—the best consumables I had gathered so far.
I didn’t hesitate as I applied them, thanks to what I had learned from Erin before joining the academy.
“Oh, this is quite something. Adding beauty on top of beauty, but still... it’s not enough to move me.”
Still not enough? Fine. I pulled out several accessories—items that raise charm immediately when equipped.
“How about now?”
“How about now, perverted foolish fox? Does this align with your disgusting preferences?”
When I had finished equipping all the items, the foolish fox fell silent, stunned.
“Hah!”
I smiled at her as she gazed at me in a daze, and she blushed, stepping back.
Up until now, she had been shamelessly spouting lewd lines like some creepy old man, but now it was different. She seemed genuinely entranced.
Is this enough to satisfy you? Are you ready to wake Faybi now?
After a brief silence, she wiped the drool from her lips and stammered, avoiding my gaze.
“W-well... you are even more charming than I am, but still, still...”
Still not enough?! Why? You’re practically won over already! Can’t you just round it up and give me a nod?
I still had one last item left in my inventory—a piece that could raise my charm higher than anything I had used so far.
Sigh. I really didn’t want to use this.
“Lady Rina, if you could wait just a moment...”
“Foolish fox, stop gawking and get out. And come back when I call.”
“Hm? Is there still something else? Is there something that will steal my heart away completely?”
“Just get out.”
“A beast like you doesn’t understand words? I said get out, you perverted animal.”
“Hmph. Very well. I’ll wait outside for now.”
After the foolish fox left, unable to control her creeping grin, I pulled out a bunny-girl costume from my inventory and tossed it onto the bed.
I had planned to burn this later, but now I actually have to wear it. Damn it.
<Are you really going to wear it?>
“Eek?!”
Startled by the sudden voice, I shrank back and realized that the old man was beside me. I sighed in frustration.
“It’s the fastest and easiest solution.”
I could find other ways, sure. Give me a few days, and I could come up with dozens of ways to wake Faybi.
But since there’s an immediate solution right here, why would I waste time? I’m the one who suggested taking on this trial, so it’s only right that I take responsibility.
<You’re working hard, aren’t you?>
“Thanks for the encouragement, but could you go back into the inventory now?”
<Wait! Hold on, young lady!>
Sorry, but I don’t want to burn this image into your memory. You’d never let me live it down later.
After shoving the old man into the inventory, I stared down at the bunny-girl outfit on the bed and let out a long sigh.
It’s fine. It’s just the foolish fox. I just have to endure her disgusting lines, and there won’t be any problems.
After finishing my internal rationalization, I reached for the clasps of my armor.