༺ The Second Quest ༻
“Kania, did you do well on the exam?”
“What do you an?”
On my way back to the dormitory after finishing the final exam, I asked Kania, who was quietly walking beside .
“As you know, I fully rember the previous tiline. So of course, there’s no way I won’t do well.”
“…I see.”
She replied to with a dumbfounded look, wondering what the hell I was on about. Then she quickly scanned the surroundings and began talking in a hushed tone.
“Also, I think it’s not very smart to ask such a question when we are outside. Even now, the Young Master is having a hard ti trying to walk…”
“…All right, sorry, sorry.”
Interrupting her words, I leaned against the wall for a mont and heaved a deep sigh.
“It’s just, it’s one of the things I always wanted to say when I finally made so friends… so I tried it this ti.”
Upon hearing those words, Kania let out a sigh, and murmured.
“I apologize. But in your current state, if even one more person finds out, there will be no turning back……”
“You think of my well-being that much? Thank you, Kania.”
As I hastened my steps after replying to her, I hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief from my pocket and started coughing.
“Cough!! Cough!!!”
Then, in an instant, the handkerchief began turning red.
“Kania, get a handkerchief with self-cleaning magic.”
I put the handkerchief in my pocket while forcefully trying to make a composed expression on my face, and ordered Kania, who was watching quietly, to bring the thing I needed the most right now.
“I’ll get you one of the finest quality ones.”
Having said that, Kania opened the door to my dormitory, which she had just arrived at, and spoke in a serious tone.
“Oh, and there are two important reports.”
“…Is that so?”
Kania’s expression was unusual, so my expression turned serious as I settled down on the bed and began listening to her report.
“First and foremost… I think I’ve found a clue about the ‘teleportation scroll’.”
“…Really!?”
Soon enough, good news ca out of her mouth, so I inquired with a bright glint in my eyes.
“So, what kind of person swapped the scrolls?”
Then Kania looked at Frey with a slightly troubled expression and shook her head in denial.
“No, I didn’t find out who swapped the scrolls.”
“Then?”
“I found the source of the scroll.”
Hearing that, I felt a little disappointed, but when I thought about it again, the source of the scroll was a pretty important clue.
“Do you rember the last ti the Young Master had asked to track down the ‘one behind the scrolls’?”
“Why all of a sudden? Wait, maybe…”
“Yes, I’ve heard a rumor that a person who matches the description that the Young Master gave is running a scroll business in the back alley.”
As I frowned deeply upon hearing those words, Kania continued speaking in a serious tone.
“And almost all of those magic scrolls were scams, and most of those sham scrolls were teleportation scrolls.”
“…What is the level of craftsmanship?”
“They said that it would only be possible to identify them by performing a detailed analysis in the Magic Tower. They said it was also understandable why Ms. Arianne was deceived.”
“I feel like I’m going to die…”
My head is beginning to ache more and more.
Obviously, the owner, who never ripped off, is running so kind of scroll scam.
In addition, the craftsmanship is enough to be recognized by the Magic Tower. I knew that the skill of the artisan was superior to that of any other artifact crafter, but… if even the Magic Tower acknowledges its quality, the story changes a lot.
‘Sohow… Although they were basically robbed, I started to think that sothing was strange from the ti they fought evenly with Isolet using the artifact they possessed…’
Although Isolet is now an academy professor, she is definitely a person who possesses the qualities to beco the next Sword Saint. Even though the owner was eventually defeated by her, he did compete with her to so extent … After all, the owner is not an ordinary back alley trader.
“…Secure the owner. You can buy him with money, or even use force if that doesn’t work.”
“All right.”
I needed to know for what purpose the owner was using those scam scrolls, why they didn’t scam , and where their unusual skills ca from. My head began to ache.
“The second report is about the punishnt of the Young Master as decided by the Imperial family and the Church.”
“…Punishnt?”
I tilted my head and asked her as Kania replied with a slight frown.
“Yes, even though you were forced to do things with ‘mind control’… It is true that you took the side of the Demon King, and public opinion throughout the Empire is also horrible, so this is an unavoidable punishnt.”
“…So what’s the punishnt?”
I asked Kania, feeling a little anxious, and she sighed in reply.
“Forced volunteer work at the orphanage that we established.”
“It’s crazy, really. This dogshit ga.”
After hearing her words and spitting out swear words, I hurriedly asked Kania a question.
“Is it true that the relationship between , my family, and the orphanage is perfectly hidden?”
“Yes, it’s perfectly hidden. Unless the Young Master reveals the truth himself, it won’t be discovered.”
Fortunately, I wouldn’t die by vomiting all the blood in my body. Then I suddenly frowned and asked a question.
“But why… why the Orphanage we built?”
“I think the specific punishnt was decided because the orphanage that Young Master established is currently the largest orphanage in the Empire. In addition, the fact that it’s located in the Imperial Capital, so the difficulty of the punishnt was judged to be suitable.”
“…Right.”
Fortunately, after listening to Kania, it seems that the truth about the orphanage’s origins hasn’t been leaked. Well, if the information had leaked out, I would have died even sooner.
“So, when does the volunteer work start?”
“From today.”
“…Ugh.”
I, who was sighing in relief initially, frowned, having heard Kania’s words that I would have to do volunteer work from today, and then grabbed my throbbing head.
“My body feels like it will crumble at any mont… and I have to do volunteer work…”
“…By the way, Young Master. Would you face any problems by doing volunteer work?”
I was already unhappy because it felt like my whole body was aching, but Kania inquired with a worried look on her face.
“In any case… if volunteer work is recognized as ‘good work’…”
“…Don’t worry about that.”
I made an expression that there would be no problem and opened the ‘Inherent Skills Window’ that I had never purposely opened since the freshman welcoming party.
[Inherent Skills Window]
-Permanent Debuff: The Fate of False Evil
Description: Every ti you are discovered to be a ‘False Evil’, your vitality and lifespan will decrease.
Stack: 2
Special Stack: 1
I quietly stared at the debuff window, where the description of the special stack had been added, and replied to Kania in a subdued voice.
“As long as I’m lazing around as much as possible and don’t cooperate, on top of showing no signs of remorse, there will be no penalty.”
“But…”
“It’s all right. The Imperial family and the church know the punishnt is just for show anyway. As long as you keep the good acts in moderation…”
“…The young master will receive volunteer guidance from ‘Saintess Ferloche’.”
I tried to reassure Kania, who had a worried expression on her face, but upon hearing her words that had cut off my own, my mouth gaped wide open.
“The church has added her as a partner to help rehabilitate the Young Master. So, from now on, you will spend a certain amount of ti with her every day..”
“Ugh…”
“Also, when the volunteer work is over, you must go to the cathedral of the Sun God’s Church and pray with Ferloche…”
“…Isn’t there a way to change the punishnt?”
At this point, if I was tied up with Ferloche, many problems would arise in the future, so I hurriedly asked Kania if the punishnt could be changed, but she replied by shaking her head in denial.
“…Your reputation is already at the rock bottom. Trying to complain may make the situation even worse.”
“Well, yes…”
Realizing that I had no choice in the end, I made a disappointed expression as my chest tightened again.
“Then I’ll sleep for now, so wake up when it’s ti to go and do volunteer work.”
“…I’ll wake you up in 30 minutes.”
“Fine… Wait, in 30 minutes!?”
My eyes shot wide open upon hearing that it was only 30 minutes later. However, Kania replied with a gloomy expression on her face.
“Even if it’s for show, a punishnt is still a punishnt…so the ti is set.”
“Sigh… What’s even happening these days… Cough! Cough!!”
Upon hearing those words, I shut my eyes tightly, muttered, and coughed up so blood. Kania, who began to speak, was carefully wiping my lips with the handkerchief and said.
“These days, it seems that the frequency of throwing up blood along with coughing has increased.”
“Looks like it… Damn!”
As I tried to utter an answer, I coughed once again, covering Kania’s clothes and face with blood. I looked at her guilt-ridden eyes and opened my mouth.
“I’m sorry Kania… I’ll be fine on my own, so you…”
“…This item is supposed to be used at tis like this, Young Master.”
Kania, who began to carefully wipe my lips again, looked down at the blood-stained handkerchief and said.
“Since you have to go out for volunteer work, although it will only last a day or so and the function will also decrease in efficiency… I will cast self-cleaning magic on your handkerchief.”
“Thank you, Kania.”
I smiled at her consideration, and slowly closed my eyes and muttered.
“You are the best………”
But as soon as I closed my eyes, I couldn’t overco the drowsiness and fell asleep quietly under Kania’s touch.
“…Whatever you were going to say after that, it’s probably too much of a complint for soone like .”
At the back of Frey’s fading consciousness, Kania’s sorrowful whisper lood in his ear, resonating in his mind.
.
.
.
“…Did you go through an ordeal again?”
“No, I slept well this ti around…”
Kania, who woke up 30 minutes later, asked worriedly, so I answered with a smile.
‘…Is this how worried Kania was?’
Of course, it was a bona fide lie.
The ordeal locked in a dark, enclosed space that I despised; where neither painful nor happy futures appeared.
“Then, please be careful, Young Master.”
“All right.”
My condition did not improve at all, but I smiled brightly and shook her hand. I then opened the front door and walked out.
“…Hello.”
“……..”
Then, Ferloche’s figure with a cold expression plastered on her face, entered my field of vision.
“You look pretty awful. So…”
Ferloche, who had been looking pitifully at for a mont, unknowingly emanated holy power and approached . However, a mont later, her footsteps ca to a halt.
“No. This is your karma. So don’t expect to get healed by .”
“…I never asked for healing.”
Upon hearing Frey’s mocking reply to her resolute statent, he noticed that Ferloche’s expression slightly distorted.
[Ferloche Astellade’s Current Emotions: Hatred/Guilt/Reluctance]
Seeing Ferloche like that, I wondered if she was worried about again because she was a kind-hearted woman, so I urgently tried to use the ❰Mind Reading❱ skill, but luckily, it was all my imagination.
However, seeing ‘guilt’ among her emotions… she seems to be overflowing with kindness and qualities of a Saintess in my eyes. Aside from her hatred towards , she can see just how badly my body is wounded with just a single glance. It is understandable since she is soone who is adept at the healing arts. But she’s in a situation where she’s trying to kill after regressing, so she can’t treat .
That said, she’s feeling guilty about the fact that she can’t heal , despite knowing that the wounded person in front of her is Frey Starlight, whom she despises.
“Well, then we’ll go slowly…”
Unsurprisingly, she tried to look away from and began walking down the hallway, speaking in a trembling voice.
“…Cough.”
“Ugh.”
I coughed as carefully as possible so Ferloche can’t hear it, but seeing her flinch as she walked away, she seed to have noticed everything,
“…This is driving crazy.”
I think I should definitely buy the ❰Life Force Recovery❱ skill.
.
.
.
.
.
.
“Ah, hello…”
When I and Ferloche entered, the female employee who was working inside greeted us with a cold sweat.
Judging from the look on her face, it seems that she is under a lot of pressure.
After all, from her point of view, suddenly two key figures of the Empire visited her place of work.
“Hello! My na is Ferloche! Are you the owner of this Orphanage?”
“Oh, I… that’s…”
“Wow… It’s a really spacious and comfortable place… It’s several tis bigger than the school operated by the Church…”
After shaking hands vigorously with the girl, Ferloche began walking around the orphanage as her eyes twinkled.
“O-Over there… Lord Frey? I-I an…”
“…What?”
I, who was blankly watching her, heard a female employee next to her talking to with a trembling voice, so I answered in an icy tone.
“Uh… you need to change their clothes…”
“No.”
Upon hearing my answer, the female employee made a troubled expression as she bowed her head and said.
“Please. We also got a ssage from the Church yesterday, so it’s embarrassing, but… If Young Master Frey doesn’t do volunteer work properly, the budget may be cut down…”
“…What do you an?”
I inquired with my brows furrowed when I heard that the budget might be cut down. Hearing my question, the female employee lowered her head again and answered.
“Yes, yes… So, there are people who donate anonymously to our orphanage… The amount of support is quite large…”
“So?”
“If you are a person who can offer that amount of support, they must be tied to the Imperial family or the Church… So it’s a big deal if you act like a horrible person…”
After listening to her for a while, I replied, thinking for an ordinary female employee she has quite the good head on her shoulders.
“It’s not my job.”
“Yes, but… Then the kids in the orphanage could end up on the streets again!”
Due to her restlessness and fear, she imdiately closed her eyes tightly and exclaid.
“You, what’s your na?”
I liked her quite a bit, so when I asked for her na, the female employee looked at nervously and answered.
“…It’s Ruby.”
“Ruby…”
As I was morizing her na, she suddenly knelt down and started crying.
“Please! Please… our orphanage…!”
“What are you doing!?”
Eventually, she grabbed my leg and started begging, and all the attention of the people in the orphanage turned to .
“You! What are you doing now!”
In such a situation, as I was staring blankly at Ruby, who was crying, Ferloche, who had been looking around the orphanage, approached with a furious expression on her face.
“…What?”
“To make such a kind-hearted employee cry…! She didn’t do anything wrong…”
Eventually, Ferloche, who ca right up to my face began preaching to in a furious tone, but…
“…Hmm?”
She suddenly turned around and started searching around.
“…What’s the matter?”
She looked quite unsettled, so I inquired with a bit of concern. Upon hearing my question, Ferloche, who had been scanning the surrounding until then, suddenly frowned, grabbed my arm, and started heading sowhere.
“…What, what? Why?”
Eventually, Ferloche entered the empty warehouse and opened her mouth, glaring at .
“You, you’re trying to use so kind of sinister power!”
“…What?”
“Lord Sun God in heaven, watch over us and save us from the endless pit of evil…”
Eventually, she chanted her spells and began to launch her powers, as she started pouring out all her holy power at once.
“I can’t stand it any longer! Be prepared! mber of the Demon King’s Army!”
Ferloche, who had been launching her power for a while, began to look at , exhaling a rough breath.
“…Why are you fine?”
As I frowned, she approached with a bewildered expression and began poking my body.
“It’s strange … I definitely felt a sinister aura …”
“What are you doing?”
I was so annoyed by her that I tried to leave the room, but Ferloche grabbed onto my arm and started speaking in a demanding voice.
“You, from now on, answer my questions.”
“…All right.”
My condition was so bad that I didn’t have the confidence to fight her at all, so I resolved to go along with what she would say.
“What is the most dangerous strategy among the Demon King’s recent plans?”
But when I heard the words coming out of her mouth, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Oi, don’t laugh! You think I don’t know that you belong to the Demon King’s Army!”
“…I see.”
“Yes! I don’t know why you’re still fine even after being hit by my powers… Anyway, you’re definitely a mber!”
Having said that, Ferloche began glaring daggers at , emanating more holy power and shooting it at my whole body.
“That’s enough, back to the volunteer work…”
“Then, answer . What the hell is going on in the cellar of the Sun God’s Church?”
“…Huh?”
Ferloche, who had been shooting every nook and cranny of my body with her powers, hurriedly asked a question when I picked up a broom from the warehouse.
“What do you an—”
[Main Quest occurs!]
As I was looking at Ferloche, who suddenly inquired about the Church’s cellar with a mysterious expression, a quest window suddenly appeared in front of .
Main Quest: Secret of the Sun God’s Church
Quest Content: Uncover the secrets of the Sun God’s Church and drive away the darkness.
Reward: Increases the Awakening Progress of the Hero’s Armant.
Failure Penalty: Death of Ferloche Astellade.
“…If you make a deal with , I’ll help you.”
After seeing the contents of the quest window, I quickly changed my approach and offered a suggestion.
It seems like I’ll never have ti to rest.
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