Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy

The next day, right after making my decision, I immediately contacted my friends. I told them that I needed their help and asked for their cooperation.

Of course, this was a significantly softened version of what I really said. In truth, I was more like arrogantly offering them an opportunity to be of use, but my friends, now used to my tone, didn’t ask any questions and just asked when they should come.

“A doll resembling the old Ruel, huh?”

“Are you going to fight with the hero?”

Not long after, when they arrived at the estate, I told them about the enemy we were going to face, and Arthur and Freya’s eyes lit up.

One was a hero-worshiping otaku, and the other was a fool who didn’t care much about strong opponents.

Hmm. They really do make a good pair. Even though Arthur denied it last time, I still wonder if there’s something between them. Maybe they have feelings they don’t even realize themselves.

“But... Lucy. Ruel, you’re in the weapon, right?”

I nodded at Joy’s question. Since Grandpa had mentioned that I was embedded inside, denying it would be pointless.

“Now, we’re going to meet the fake created by the desperate virgin. The old man recreated his reckless youth in that doll.”

Even though it was fake, it wasn’t something we could defeat easily.

Especially now, when I’m nothing more than a burden.

However, with the friends I have now, we should be able to handle it. With a team like this, there’s no way we’re losing.

"By the way, the old man is still begging, 'Don’t go'!"

"...Why?"

"Ugh. Fool. Do you remember that dumb thing you did back then when you slapped the blanket off?"

"Wh... Why are you asking about that?"

Seeing the restless look in his eyes, I knew something had happened. After all, "Fool" messes up at least once a day. It would be strange if nothing happened.

“Imagine that fool showing up right in front of you.”

“I’ll just turn him into a remake.”

“That’s it.”

Right now, things were calmer compared to last night. Since Garad had figured things out and started suppressing Grandpa, things had quieted down.

As a result, a battle between heroes was currently unfolding in my inner world. This wasn’t a sparring match to improve their skills; it was a real battle, with one aiming to kill the other.

Watching them fight had been quite helpful.

It was a pity there was no popcorn. It was like watching a movie, but better.

“Although you may think you're weak, I think others would find you quite remarkable. Ruel, you’re a legendary figure who’s treated like a saint at the church,” Feibi said, expressing her excitement, though the reality was likely to be different from her expectations. If it were really that impressive, Grandpa wouldn’t be resisting so desperately.

“Back to the topic. Lucy Alrn. Where are we going next? Another desert like last time?”

“Your brain is lacking. There’s no way the virgin fool would leave a toy in the same place.”

“Then where?”

“A place full of idiots who think they believe in gods.”

The holy land. A place I had been avoiding for a long time. Originally, I planned to sneak in and out without anyone noticing.

However, since I decided to ask my friends for help, I now had to change my plan.

If it were just me sneaking in, it could be brushed off as Lucy Alrn’s eccentric behavior, but if we all got caught, it would become a national issue.

I didn’t want to give the First Queen any excuses.

"Normally, I'd be getting a headache from dealing with these hypocrites trying to act virtuous, but luckily, they’re all so fond of us that we’ve got someone here who doesn’t know what to do with them," I said.

Feibi was truly worthy of being called a saint.

In the past, she might have only been liked by people who didn’t understand the situation, but now, she had the favor of quite a few high-ranking individuals as well.

Even the cardinal who had been with us last time seemed to respect Joy in a subtle way, so this wasn’t just a delusion.

“It’s possible. The mediocre saint?”

I thought Feibi would eagerly agree, but oddly, she didn’t respond.

What’s going on? Please don’t tell me this is going to end with me realizing I was mistaken? I haven’t asked Karia, so I don’t know exactly what’s happening!

“...Y-Your Ladyship?”

After a while, Feibi, who had been hesitating under our gaze, finally called out with a trembling voice.

“Are you going to the holy land, Your Ladyship!? The Apostle of the God is finally coming to the place she belongs!”

And then I realized. The reason Feibi had stayed silent for so long wasn’t hesitation—it was because she had been trying to suppress her excitement.

“If you had told me earlier, I would have prepared to serve you, Your Ladyship! No, now that I know, it’s fine! I’ll contact Cardinal Johann and make sure we do the necessary preparations! And as for your clothes... Hyaaa?!”

Her usual composure completely abandoned, Feibi tried to rush forward like a character from a western movie, but I grabbed her by the cheeks and pulled them as if they were made of rubber.

“I don’t want to be treated like an old man by those perverts. It’d be troublesome if you think it’s your taste.”

“D-Do you mean...?”

When I was about to scold her, I realized how visible my actions had been. It wasn’t the right time to add any more complications.

With the Pope’s disappearance still a mystery, I didn’t want to attract more attention by making a scene, especially with everything already complicated with the First Queen and Rene.

“I know you’re excited about me going to the holy land, but you need to calm down a little.”

After punishing Feibi until her cheeks puffed up, I sighed deeply and glared at her as she looked on with a pitiful face.

“Handle the old men yourself. I’m not planning on doing anything there.”

“I see. I misunderstood because the Pope is absent. I thought you might be going there to honor him, but now I understand. You’re cautious about the Pope’s presence."

"...What?"

Feibi’s words indicated that, after intervening in the fairy forest, the Pope had disappeared.

There were people who could take over his role, like his personal secretary and Feibi, so there hadn’t been much chaos, but the sudden disappearance of the Pope had caused whispers among the people.

“The situation isn’t good. While the thinning process was underway, the final decision-maker has disappeared. Karia says that many people believe this is their last chance.”

Feibi’s concerns made me frown as I realized that this was all happening just as I decided to visit.

What a coincidence. I decided to visit the holy land, and now the Pope has disappeared?

There was no way the Pope, a powerful figure, would have any trouble dealing with Lasha, so this disappearance had to be intentional.

But why?

As I frowned, I realized I was too unaware of the situation I was in, especially since it wasn’t part of the game. I clicked my tongue in frustration.

“The entry is not difficult. I’m a saint, after all. However, if we go through the formal route, there are some procedures we’ll have to follow.”

“Are you saying it will take time?”

“No. Prince Arthur. I can ignore such minor things with my authority. What I’m talking about is the rules of the holy land. The regulations that have been strictly followed since its creation cannot be taken lightly.”

Cardinal Johann, who had been working tirelessly, sighed deeply, facing the ever-growing mountain of tasks.

Everything he did was for the church, so he had no intention of rejecting it, but it was a bit burdensome for him.

And yet, he was glad. It was like being told by the Almighty that he had value.

However, continuing like this would surely lead to mistakes, so he took a brief moment to rest.

As he waited for the temperature of the tea to rise, the crystal ball on the desk, which he had kept carefully, began to glow.

“Saint?”