Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Without You, I'm Doomed
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Time flew by in Louisdel.
It had already been three weeks since I took down Malius, and academy life had settled into a decent rhythm.
Humans really are creatures of habit.
Academy life had felt so foreign at first, but after just a few days, my body adjusted like it was nothing.
“Make sure you at least master the first three forms. It’ll definitely help when you create an art that suits you.”
“Got it.”
In Scout Team class, Adelin taught the students Belhart Style swordsmanship.
It wasn’t part of the original curriculum, but the students loved it. Plenty of them were romantics at heart, dreaming of the Mercenary King’s sword techniques.
I was satisfied too, finally able to pick up the swordsmanship I hadn’t fully learned back in the unit.
She must’ve done it with me in mind.
Herbology class farming had been a huge success too.
I’d gathered enough herbs to forget about status ailments for a good while.
“Haa… Even for a top student like you, this much is a problem.”
“S-Sorry.”
“Take only a third of what you gathered.”
Mine threw herself into harvesting Zephyrweed.
For some reason, she’d picked up this weird habit of sneaking off during breaks to munch on it.
It wasn’t in the original story, so it worried me.
I’d run into her in the halls sometimes, bits of grass stuck to her lips. It’s not addictive, right?
Same thing today.
Her basket was stuffed with dozens of roots, and even in herbology, they wouldn’t let that much leave the class.
“Ah, Haribal… You go on ahead today…”
Still, our relationship had improved a lot.
We’d at least gotten to casual speech.
“Phew, think that’s enough for now?”
“Yeah. Let’s take a break.”
Signing up for Basic Weapon Techniques had been a huge mistake in hindsight.
I’d taken it in the original story to boost attack power, but of course that didn’t exist in reality.
Next time, I’d ignore the original and stick to classes with real results, like herbology.
“Is this how Corner Slash is supposed to work…?”
‘No idea.’
In the end, instead of boosting my attack power, I’d turned into a daily tutor for the other students’ Haribal Style practice.
But could they really use it just from practicing like that?
I wanted to tell them to quit now and switch to Belhart Style, but seeing their eager faces begging for guidance, the words wouldn’t come.
They’d probably lynch me if I did.
“So, how’s my spearwork?”
“Not bad. You’ve got real talent.”
“…Are you mocking me right now?”
I’d learned Richard’s shit-eating grin wasn’t his pissed-off face.
He just wore it passively all the time.
At the end of his Shatter Spear’s shaft dangled a dented [cheap keychain].
Last time he came to buy shards, he told me he’d thrown it at Malius for his first hit.
I offered to get him something else, but he insisted he liked the one that’d struck a Demon God cultist, and for some reason started hanging it from his spear.
Whatever, if he’s happy.
If my bond with Richard had improved, there was one that’d gone south.
“Aren. Wanna spar?”
“Ah, sorry. I’m in the middle of one right now… Maybe next time if I’ve got an opening.”
“…”
That line for the fifth time already.
No idiot could miss it now.
Aren was blatantly avoiding me.
He got along fine with everyone else, still his friendly self. But with me? Total wall.
‘This is a problem.’
Getting close to side characters while clashing with the protagonist? No—roommates should be tighter than that.
There had to be some point where I pissed him off, but since he wouldn’t say it, it was frustrating as hell.
Now I was the anxious one, just waiting for the right moment to hand him a gift.
Gotta do it before he cuts ties.
Basic Fitness was mostly drills, so it was the easiest class for me.
One problem, though…
“Let’s begin. Sit, Haribal Belder.”
“I was here first. Won’t you yield this time?”
‘Both of you, fuck off.’
Eugene and Ran competing over me was fine in theory, but being the target was exhausting.
Building friendships was great, but not when it felt like a sandbag tug-of-war.
Guess this was my karma.
Whenever they got like that, I tuned them out and ran dungeon sims in my head.
By the time I’d cleared one mentally, class was perfectly over.
Ah, just got hit by the boss.
Gotta be more careful next time.
As time passed, more students finished their dungeon practicals.
Walking the halls, I’d hear excited chatter everywhere.
“Haa… I nearly died to that human-faced spider yesterday.”
“Yeah, it was crazy fast. Way harder than the entrance exam.”
In reality, the entrance exam monsters were stronger.
Difference was numbers and death being off the table.
The mock dungeon meant no serious injuries or fatalities for examinees, so less pressure.
But starting with Spider Dungeon, it was the real deal.
Even with low difficulty, Abyss Cores, and shards, one mistake could mean instant death—a fear hard for students to shake.
“So… I’m thinking of calling it quits here. Raiding teams aren’t for me.”
“Don’t worry too much. Lots of students feel like you, Gini. We’ll win it with the report.”
“I suck at reports!”
About half the first-years had cleared their dungeons, mostly stopping at Spider Dungeon.
A few had tackled others, including some like me starting shard farming.
Alicia machine exchange rate shifting from 10:1 to 9:1 a few days ago confirmed it.
Just as I’d hoped, surprisingly many students were grinding machines hard.
I’d focused on upper dungeons the past few weeks too.
Jester’s Sword (III) made high-difficulty clears a breeze, and yesterday I’d instant-killed the Goblin Lord as planned.
Now I just needed Shatter Sword for Doll Dungeon.
But this damn thing wouldn’t drop, no matter what.
Staring at the growing pile of weapons in my dorm was infuriating.
I had so many other Shatter series items Aren kept side-eyeing, but Shatter Sword? Nada.
When’s it gonna show?
Am I supposed to settle for Light Sword?
“Waited long? So, where to today?”
“Goblin Dungeon.”
“What? You can solo that fine!”
That’s why I called Cecilia today.
Teaming with her had made one thing crystal clear: she was a luck totem.
Drop rates with her were night-and-day compared to solo.
Cecilia (Item Drop Rate: +20%) vibes.
Even during Malius, we’d gotten piles of needed items.
With practicals ending soon, her totem power was crucial.
“Items drop better with you around.”
“…Seriously, what do you think I am?”
“Luck totem.”
“You’re insane, right? Want me to smack some sense into you?”
Weeks of follower duties had gotten us close enough for banter like this.
Time with Cecilia wasn’t anything grand.
Just everyday student life together.
After class, we’d wander Neville’s streets, hunting good cafes or restaurants, sometimes hitting museums, galleries, or theaters for fun.
We’d spar occasionally, and one day she’d asked to join me in a dungeon.
Oh yeah, I’d swung by the Imperial Swordsmanship Institute too.
Turns out, since I hadn’t registered Haribal Style myself, I couldn’t withdraw without Adelin’s approval.
At least take my name off it then.
“Haa… That’s just how you are. Fine, let’s go. Goblin Dungeon.”
Perfect.
Today was originally her slot anyway.
I’d asked on a whim since I was desperate, but she agreed, so straight to Goblin Dungeon.
I knew the layout so well now I could navigate blind.
Boss room that once took hours? Now thirty minutes flat.
Downed the Goblin Lord, and right on cue, treasure chest.
Lid up: a longsword gleaming softly.
[Shatter Sword (II)]
[Attack 7 / Fluidity -7]
[Chance to reduce target’s defense.]
“Phew…”
Luck totem, hell yeah.
Cecilia picked it up, inspecting it closely.
As a swordswoman, dungeon weapons caught her eye.
She’d seen me give Senia a greatsword for free last time, so yeah, she wanted one.
“Good thing it’s what you wanted.”
She couldn’t hide her envy but handed it over without protest.
But this wasn’t for me.
“It’s yours.”
“…What? You grinded this dungeon for it, didn’t you?”
Yeah.
Just needed the defense-shred option, not the weapon.
Got Light Sword already—no need for Shatter Sword.
“You… planned to give it to me?”
Her eyes trembled a bit, then she bit her lip and looked away.
“…Don’t say stuff like that ahead of time.”
I hadn’t expected this either.
If I hadn’t gotten Jester’s Sword, I’d have equipped it myself. Talk about luck.
Watching her clutch Shatter Sword tight, I thought:
‘Preparations complete.’
Phase 2 shards were done ages ago.
Got Jester’s Sword and Shatter Sword—our weapons secured.
Status ailment prep finished, synced with her plenty.
No more prep possible.
I eyed the dungeon exit—beyond it, the Demon God’s second abyss: Doll Dungeon.
Then Cecilia’s hand rested on my shoulder.
Warmth seeped through my shirt.
“…We’re… almost done, right?”
Follower talk, probably?
I nodded, and she spoke again.
“…Thanks. For sticking with me this far.”
What’s with the farewell vibe?
Sorry, Cecilia. You’ve got more grinding ahead.
Without you, I’m doomed.
I gently lifted her hand off and said:
“Looking forward to more.”
No reply.
Just the click of her boots matching my steps toward the exit.
D-1 until Doll Dungeon raid begins.