Episode 110. Did I go in too hard?
I don’t know much about what happened at the baptism in the main story.
Although it was not described properly, it was possible to infer that the event proceeded smoothly without any friction between the nobles.
Even Nevia, who harbored selfish desires, had no complaints about this matter.
Since it was just a passing event, I was going to go with a light heart. I thought I could at least receive a blessing if I just knelt down in front of the saint and had her pat my head.
“You are such an interesting person.”
But something felt strange. Beyond the degree of strangeness, it felt creepy.
Even if it is a fleeting event, you can feel a sense of disconnect based on the atmosphere of the work.
In short, it is absolutely impossible for Angela to be spreading her tail and glaring at the guests in a creepy manner like she is now.
“Saint…?”
At first, Atheist Layart spoke with arrogance. However, the saint’s ferocious gaze sent shivers down his spine.
First of all, as he said, it was an insult in itself to put something like a rice ball in a place like this.
Because during a big company festival, an immature student wasted ingredients by going into the kitchen and messing around with rice.
Of course, you won’t be kicked out for that, but you should at least be prepared to receive some harsh looks. Even though freedom is guaranteed, there are unspoken rules and etiquette among the nobility.
In short, Athes’s purpose is to greatly embarrass the Crowler family in this grand space without necessarily having to expel them.
Our family was already under harsh criticism. If you take up arms like that and make bold claims, the chances of people going along with you and agreeing with you are insurmountable.
If things were normal, there would be cheers from all over the place and our family would become a laughing stock.
Yeah… if it were normal.
“Could you please tell me again? What did you just call trash when you woke up, Layert?”
“yes…?”
The saintess’s gaze towards him was unusual. Ates thought so, but when he saw the saintess’ smiling expression, he corrected himself and said that it was nothing serious.
Asking him to say it again was a sign of misunderstanding, so he thought. However, Ates, who did not realize that this was a chance to correct his words… opened his mouth without permission.
“I’m talking about a certain rice ball made by a man from the Crowler family. For him to make something like that in a place like this means he doesn’t care about his family’s standing.”
The people present here have also heard about the reason why the Crowlers were destroyed and eaten by Layert.
Since there were no excuses from Crowler’s side, the scales were tilted towards Layert.
Not saying anything was an unpleasant thing because it was tantamount to admitting one’s own mistakes.
So I didn’t care what happened to them.
“Did you say rice ball?”
“Yes! You can tell just by looking at it that it’s trash.”
Athes Layer, who constantly calls people trash.
Angela’s expression, which had seemed to hint at a smile at first, hardened into a cold one… Clang! – The nine tails instantly grew longer and lifted Ates’ limbs like vines.
“Eek!”
Ates was greatly embarrassed by his own body being tied to a tail and floating. He asked why, but Angela, whose face had already changed to something that could not be called a saint, spoke to him.
“That bowl of rice, I was asked to make it.”
“yes…?”
Everyone present, including me and the main characters next to me, were surprised when Angela suddenly lifted Athes.
The Layert family were completely lost in thought.
Although it was impossible for that to actually happen, those tails looked as if they were going to tear the limbs they were holding onto.
The knights also watched the scene, but no one moved.
“I just ordered the Crawlers to do it… and you call that trash?”
When the Layerites heard those words, their mouths dropped open. Even if they weren’t the only ones, the crowd was shocked enough to flinch.
Because he had been giving a cold look to the Crowler family who had been eating it just a moment ago.
“Of course I agree that it is difficult to understand. It must be hard to believe that I, who was chosen as a saint and learned nobility firsthand, would make such a request.”
“Even though that rice ball might be trash to you… to me, it was the first and most irreplaceable light in my life. Even if you gossip about it, calling it trash in front of me is the same as treating me the same way.”
Everyone who knows will know that Saint Angela was not actually a noble being, but was simply born from an inhumane experiment.
All that happened was that a girl who couldn’t even eat properly received light and was reborn as a saint. Even though she may have possessed wisdom, we must consider that there are still remnants of her past.
“And I don’t understand what the problem is with that. This is a place of freedom where everything is permitted except for immoral acts. Even though it claims to be a strict baptism, it is in fact a festival to celebrate the birth of a saint after 30 years. Do you really want to feel better about arguing over something like that?”
Angela had noticed from the moment Ates first raised his hand and declared.
I had already been warned by the clergy that there would be a political battle to bring down the opposing nobles that I did not like. That is why I was intimidated when I first arrived at the venue.
I was taught that I didn’t need to worry about such things, but when I actually experienced it, I couldn’t just sit still.
If nothing else, he couldn’t help but feel angry because the first thing that woke him up was comparing himself to trash.
“A truly noble person would not be one to resort to petty nitpicking like you. If anyone was truly unfit for a baptism, it was you.”
As his tail gave out, Ates was thrown to the ground by gravity. He was able to receive support from his worried family, but the gazes looking back at him were not ordinary.
Everyone was looking this way. Not only the two saints, but also the other attendees. Even the knights could sense an ominous aura hidden behind their helmets.
Even those damned crawlers shook their heads with a look of regret. For a moment, my stomach lurched at the sight of those damned bastards’ reactions.
Why am I here when I am no longer a noble? I should be able to endure it if I don’t like it.
Originally, those guys were the ones who should have been embarrassed. But why did it turn out like this? Why are we the ones getting the cold stares in return?
Why does the saint take Crowler’s side? Then isn’t the answer already set? Layert’s unique brain rotation tells the result.
‘It’s all because of Crowler.’
Just a simple and convenient answer. Yes, it is clear that the fox saintess was already being tricked by Crowler in some way.
I wanted to protest right away, but I didn’t have the courage to do so in this heavy atmosphere.
The atmosphere was implicitly demanding, and Layert had to leave the venue with trembling legs.
However, the eerie gazes of the saint and the attendees remained. Thanks to this, even though I was walking along as if nothing had happened, I felt like I was being chased by something.
It seemed like a storm had swept through the venue.
I had expected that the Layerites would be a stumbling block, as I had heard from my father. I just wasn’t ready yet to figure out how to deal with them. I never imagined things would turn out like this.
It would have been insufficient to find fault with him simply because he was a fallen noble. After all, as long as he had clearly received an invitation, he was equal here regardless of whether he was a noble or not.
So, I dug into the ‘dignity’ that could be presented additionally. If Angela hadn’t been there, I might have been halfway successful.
They’ll have to endure the embarrassment, but we’ll also have to endure the ridicule.
`It was worth making 50 rice balls.`
A bunch of garbage rice… why did you touch that part of all places?
It was like seeing a fellow soldier who pretended to know something in order to receive an award in front of the battalion commander, only to get beaten up and dig his own grave.
`That guy went to Yeongchang twice. I wonder how he is doing?`
After the Layerite guys left, the baptism ceremony proceeded smoothly.
One by one, they come up the stairs under the stage, and for five minutes, the saint places her hands on their heads and casts a spell.
I don’t know if it will have any effect though.
Jenny and Mary receive it from Angela, and Crona and Ruska receive it from Nevia.
It was a shame that my sister was separated, but I had no complaints.
Next it was my turn. Unfortunately, I was Nevia, not Angela.
As I climb the stairs, I see a girl with natural green hair. On top of that, a girl wearing a pure white, transparent veil looks down at me from above.
“It’s been a long time.”
Nevia’s voice was heard softly from above. Before I lowered my head, I saw her expression, a compassionate smile.
Her delicate hands rest on my head as I sit down without answering. And a song spreads from her softly muttering lips.
The sweet song seemed to change my perspective. It felt like I was lying in a quiet sanctuary in the middle of the forest, where plants and animals were sleeping.
At the same time, several butterflies made of magical power fly up and dance in the air.
Come to think of it, most of Nebia’s magic and sorcery come from songs. She was a so-called bard who would puff her allies with songs or attack enemies with magic in the form of sound waves.
You can adjust the pitch of your voice so that it is inaudible to others and only audible to one person. That’s why you can hear the song but only you react.
“Damn, the more I listen to it, the more dizzy I get.”
‘Just bear with it for a little longer.’
It was a song full of divine power, so it was unpleasant for Muto to hear. After five minutes, the song ended and the butterfly sank back to the ground.
[The protection of the Holy Spirit is granted. Luck slightly increases.]
It was a pretty song, but apart from that, the effect was mediocre. Maybe if luck would only surge intermittently.
[The aura of the main force counteracts the protection of the Holy Spirit. The luck that was gained is halved.]
It’s already so small, and now you’re cutting it in half again?
Well then, that’s right. This damn curse’s remnants won’t leave me alone.
Anyway, it seemed like it was over, so I raised my head. It was the next person’s turn, so I stood up and tried to leave.
“Don’t worry too much. I won’t ask you to come under me with just a baptism.”
As soon as I raised my head, I heard a few words from Nevia that were unexpected. But there was a reason why I was paying attention to this woman.
“But please keep in mind that this does not mean that our relationship will end.”
Because of her sorcery, no one heard those words except me.
To others, it just seemed like the saint was smiling brightly at me.
* * * * *
After the ceremony, the party resumed and continued into the night.
From now on, it was real free time. Of course, I had to be mindful of the nobles’ opinions and not do anything immoral.
If there was an argument in the middle, don’t fight in the mud, but have a formal duel. This is an event that happens at noble events at least once.
“You came here without running away, Radon Crowler.”
A large building erected right next to the event venue. A huge gymnasium used for the training of Chainsilver knights. However, on this special day, there were many decorated parts, but it was not to the extent that it could not function as a gymnasium.
Meanwhile, I see Marclay Lairt waiting for me on one side.
“I don’t have the strength in my hands right now, so let’s finish it quickly.”
I stood across from him and did wrist exercises. He frowned at my uncomfortable appearance and asked,
“Is there anything else that is inconvenient?”
“….”
It seemed like he was trying to check if the poison was working well. To be honest, he would probably just run away.
At times like this, it’s my turn to use my specialty.
-Acting Lv6
“Huh… The uncomfortable part? What are you going to do with that? Ugh…”
I pretended to be sick, to make it obvious that I was listening to the paralyzing poison.
“Okay then.”
Markray raised the corners of his mouth and lifted his practice stick. I pretended to tremble and held the wooden sword, taking a stance.
Looking at that little brat, I was really being fooled. And not only the brat, but the spectators watching were being fooled as well.
They were included among them.
“Doesn’t the radon condition look bad?”
“Did you use up all your strength just to make rice balls?”
“Hey buddy! You can’t lose! If you just look at the amount of magic power, you have the advantage!”
Maybe it was because my acting was so realistic. Jenny and Ruska’s expressions hardened as soon as they saw my face.
Mary cheers me on and doesn’t give up hope.
“You embarrassed me a little while ago. Apologize right now.”
And Marclay, who was acting like a half-assed brat. When I responded with my middle finger, his face crumpled.
As the small talk ended, the knight standing in the middle shouted to start. And as soon as the knight stepped back, MacRay’s magic missile flew in.
Even though he wrapped his aura around his wooden sword and blocked it, he was still able to step back.
It was a power that made it understandable how this guy passed the entrance exam. If he was assigned to a class, he would probably be able to go to class B.
My acting tired got worse and worse until I collapsed. Everyone must have been suspicious, asking why I was acting like that when I only stopped one thing.
“Apologize to our family!”
Markray, with a smile of conversion, creates a blade of wind and flies it. It was a fairly large blade… but I could see it clearly.
-Maan Lv2
He easily dodges the blade that he perceives as if it were in slow motion. Then, he bursts out the magical power he has concentrated on his legs and approaches in an instant.
As I, who was suffering like a dying person, suddenly closed the distance between us… the guy’s face turned blue.
“Eek!”
A completely unexpected attack. I was so surprised that I almost fell over, but I managed to straighten my legs.
Even though it was an opportunity, I didn’t bother to attack. Instead…
“You know what?”
“uh?”
“I’m not addicted to poison.”
[Erosion rate reduction: -70%]
[+ 7000 Credits]
I didn’t have time to understand those words and be surprised, because I threw my shoulder back and my wooden sword pierced me like an arrow and it flew away.
For someone who hasn’t trained physically, this is a significant blow. If he just rolls around on the floor, it’s a sure thing.
bang!-
But instead of rolling on the floor, he ended up crashing into the wall. The guy was lying under the completely destroyed wall with his eyes rolled back.
“Ah… Did I do it too hard?”
The cause was that I put my mind to it and hit it hard because my hand was weak.
Surviving as an Academy Fraudster
