As I turned my back, receiving the sharp gazes of those around me, I felt cold sweat dripping down my back.
Ugh... The stares from everyone hurt. It feels like those crazy looks are piercing right through me.
<By now, you should be getting used to it, right?>
‘I think I should be, but it’s not that easy.’
<Then you shouldn’t have provoked the First Queen.>
‘...I couldn’t avoid it. The atmosphere from the First Queen just now felt like she was ready to eat someone alive.’
If the conversation had just been a casual greeting, I would have waited quietly until the First Queen left.
But the atmosphere she radiated was far from ordinary.
Her imposing presence, which sent chills down my spine, pushed me forward even though I knew this moment was coming.
This must have been why Freya stepped up in front of Arthur. Her brain and instincts are both beast-like, after all.
Ha... Why was the First Queen trying so hard to tear Arthur apart?
She had never threatened Arthur throughout the entire story, so why suddenly make a fuss over him now?
Arthur... has changed so much since his portrayal in the story...
Has he changed?
If I compare the Arthur from the original story with the current one...
Hmm. Yeah, he's changed. I must have pushed him really hard.
If Arthur in the game had had the stats he does now, wouldn't he have been more overpowered than Feibi?
No, wait. That doesn't make sense. If we’re doing that, then Feibi should be compared to his current stats too.
Freya and Joy are the same. Compared to the game, these friends have grown so much that comparing them to the game would be an insult. They’d all be overpowered characters by the game’s standards.
Wait a minute... So does that mean I’m the only one losing when compared to the game?
Am I really the weakest compared to everyone else?
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“Lucy Alrn, at this point, don’t you think it’s time to explain things?”
Faced with the shocking truth, I frowned and turned my gaze toward Arthur.
“Uh... Sorry. Should I have kept quiet?”
“A member of the royal family using such vulgar words. You really have no sense of dignity. You don’t need to reveal your incompetence like that; we already know the prince is pathetic.”
“...It’s a bit much for you, of all people, to talk about dignity.”
“Unlike the grumpy and useless prince, my cuteness is dignity in itself. Don’t you know that?”
Arthur, who was rubbing the back of his neck, stepped into the research building where screams of graduate students could be heard echoing.
“If this is the place... Are you planning to go back underground?”
“Yes. It’s because some incompetent fool couldn’t do his job properly and now we have this annoying situation.”
“I don’t know who it is, but they’re really causing trouble.”
“You’re not wrong, little knight.”
“Did I say something right?”
While Freya skipped around, the incompetent fool was shaking with both cheeks red.
It seemed like just a little more poking and they would burst, but I decided to be moderate.
Ventilating my frustrations on Arthur wouldn’t change the fact that I’m still the incompetent one.
As I stepped back underground, I sensed the faint odor of the Dark God’s energy in the air, furrowing my brow.
Agra, you disgusting bastard. If you were beaten, just hide your head and gather your strength. Why are you making your last struggle here?
What’s the point of this? You’ll just lose to me again.
The hypothesis that Agra is some masochistic pervert is gaining more credibility.
There’s no way a normal person would do something so dumb unless they enjoy it.
“What’s this? Old hag. Were you crying because you’re so lonely?”
“Pathetic bastard, crawling and struggling while you can’t even handle that? Did the old hag forget to take her meds?”
Ha... Another dungeon?
If you’re going to struggle with your limited power, at least make it something decent.
This weak attempt is just wasting time.
“Old hag. Why don’t you stay in that old mansion where you belong for a bit.”
“Stay if you want to be purified with the other spirits.”
Arthur understood my intent and quickly made a passage leading to the magic circle’s location.
Having a shortcut is really convenient in situations like this.
I arrived in the room where the magic circle was and crossed my arms, staring at the magic circle glowing with black light.
Hmm. At this point, I don’t think I need to use the miracle after all.
I don’t need to waste divine power on dealing with that pathetic pervert Agra.
A simple purification spell should do the trick.
“Hm. It seems worse inside.”
Arthur suddenly spoke to himself, so I turned my head, wondering what was going on, only to see Arthur quickly start to make excuses.
“I’m not having mental issues! The thing in the magic circle just spoke to me and explained the situation!”
“I didn’t say anything. Were you too scared to handle the backlash, Mr. Cowardly Prince?”
“...Cough. Ahem. Anyway.”
“You’re not a little kid who’s afraid of being scolded by your mother. Haha, how pitiful.”
“Anyway!”
I’m not sure what the entity inside the magic circle is, but according to Arthur’s explanation, it seems a large part of the magic circle below is being consumed by Agra’s influence.
Was it the work of the Dark God’s followers that just made a crack in the seal?
Ugh... I guess I have no choice. Let’s try this "Purification Miracle." It might be a waste, but it’s better than not solving the problem.
With that thought, I took a deep breath and prepared to perform the purification prayer.
“O great Divine God, who resides higher than the sun.”
Though I was surprised by the words flowing from my mouth against my will, my body automatically assumed the posture for the prayer.
“You who bring vitality to the world with your warm embrace, the most virtuous of beings.”
What’s this? What’s going on?! Why are my words coming out perfectly?!
If this is the incompetent Divine God forcing me to act, there’s no way my tone should be this clear!
That perverted bastard wouldn’t allow something like this!
“There is no place here where your light does not reach. There are those who reject your warmth and try to taint the world with darkness. Shine your light upon them. Embrace them with your warmth. Show them the brightness.”
Despite my confusion, my body continued to speak the prayer, and the divine power within me spread outward.
The gloomy underground scenery began to glow with the divine radiance.
Finishing his preparations, the blacksmith Inuki frowned as he arrived at the Soul Academy street, noticing the commotion around.
“According to the people, it seems the Dark God’s followers attacked the academy. And it looks like the Saint and the Sword Saint resolved the situation together.”
“Hm. If I had known something like this would happen, I would have waited a bit longer to arrive.”
With the streets in such an uproar, it would be difficult to meet with a member of the Arln family.
Before the situation was settled, no outsiders would be allowed into the academy, so this was troublesome.
Maybe I’ll find a place to stay nearby and wait it out.
Or perhaps I’ll visit the old sewing lady and talk about old times.
While thinking about this, Inuki suddenly turned his head toward the faint divine energy coming from the direction of the academy.
“Master? What’s wrong?”
“Disciple.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t take your eyes off Soul Academy from now on.”
“...Yes?”
“What you will see now will be a sight that will stay with you for the rest of your life.”
The disciple didn’t fully understand Inuki’s words but followed his command and focused on the Soul Academy.
After a short while, a massive light rose from the center of the academy.
It was warm like the sun in the middle of the sky, gentle like a mother’s embrace, and a divine light that even erased the worry carved in their hearts.
The disciple, who couldn’t believe that such a scene was real, stood frozen until they felt the tears brushing against their cheek, finally snapping out of their trance.
“Ma-Master. That is...”
“It’s a miracle. Someone at the academy has performed a miracle.”
“A miracle...?”
That warm light must belong to the Divine God. If that’s the case, the Saint must have done something miraculous.
“Indeed. She truly deserves to be called the Saint of the Divine Church.”
“No.”
“What do you mean?”
“The one who performed that miracle was not the Saint of the Divine Church.”
The disciple blinked, confused by Inuki’s firm words.
The one who produced that warm light wasn’t the Saint? Then who could have created such light?
Seeing the disciple’s confusion, Inuki smiled but didn’t explain further.
“Time’s precious. Let’s go, disciple. We’re going to meet the true wielder of that light.”
“Master? But they won’t let us into the academy...”
“Master?”