Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Aftermath (9)
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Warm sunlight.
Cozy air.
The faint white noise of people's voices drifting in sporadically.
In the serene afternoon hours, Noah was dozing off in a quiet corner of the park.
"Honey, where do you want to go today?"
"Hmm, how about we go look at some clothes for you?"
"Everyone! We can't get complacent in peace! That gate incident was the student council president's conspiracy! All of you need to step up, expose the corruption, and reclaim the real Academy City...!"
"Shut your nonsense!"
"What kind of bullshit is that?"
"Get lost already...!"
"Eek! This is exactly the time to enlighten yourselves!"
"B-Branch Chief! Let's go together!"
"Hurry, Assistant! Today we'll show that wicked student council prez the pinnacle of magitech engineering!"
"You'll never pass sponsorship review charging in like that!"
"Hya hat! What are you saying, Assistant? Once they see my 'Smartykun Mk.2', they'll jump out of bed even in their sleep to approve it!"
"No! Today isn't even review day to begin with──!"
Despite the noisy surroundings, Noah slept on skillfully.
"Noah!"
"Eek...?!"
Her peaceful afternoon interlude came to an abrupt end with a shout in her ear.
Startled by the near-scream, Noah jolted upright.
"W-What's going on...!?"
"Finally found you, Noah!"
"...Camella?"
Upon opening her eyes and seeing the familiar face, Noah broke into a delighted smile.
But in stark contrast to Noah's reaction, Camella's face was flushed with anger as she snapped at her.
"You're way past our meeting time! Why are you sleeping in a place like this!?"
"Ah! S-Sorry, Camella. The weather was so nice, I just dozed off without realizing..."
"You really..."
Camella glared at her sharply, but when Noah hung her head in shame, she let out a deep sigh.
"Haa, at least you were just sleeping. That's a relief. I thought something had happened to you."
"...Sorry, Camella."
"Whatever. More importantly, did you get Slaine's letter?"
At Camella's question, Noah nodded lightly.
"Yeah, it arrived just yesterday. What about you?"
"I got mine yesterday too. Just to confirm... you passed, right?"
"Actually..."
Noah drooped her head and pouted at Camella's cautious question.
Startled by her demeanor, Camella quickly scooted closer to comfort her.
"D-Don't worry! There's always next time...!"
"Ta-da! Passed with flying colors!"
But when Noah looked up with a beaming smile and pulled out the letter, it boldly read 'Accepted' in large letters.
Camella stared blankly for a moment, not comprehending, then realized she'd been pranked and blushed furiously as she swatted Noah.
"Seriously! You scared me!"
"Ow! S-Sorry, Camella! Eek!"
"...Pull a stunt like that again, and I won't let it slide!"
"G-Got it. That really stings..."
Rubbing the sore spot to soothe it, Noah soon turned to Camella.
"So, how'd you do? I barely scraped by."
Camella shot up from her seat as if she'd been waiting for it.
"Listen to this, Noah! After everything we've done, this is totally unfair!"
"C-Camella...?"
"How many named monsters did we take down? We even caught the demon ringleader! And yet they say we barely passed? That's ridiculous!"
"Barely passed? You too?"
"Didn't you check your scores?"
"Huh? Oh... I was just grateful to pass at all..."
But Camella clearly thought differently.
She'd barely passed too, so it must not sit right with her.
"The examiners said, 'We highly commend your feat in defeating the named monster and your courage in slaying the demon. However, charging recklessly into a dangerous battlefield isn't courage—it's foolhardiness. You were lucky veteran instructors were on site; otherwise, you'd all be dead. So we heavily deducted points for interfering in the demon subjugation.' Grr──!"
Camella let out a silent scream right after.
Noah gave a wry smile at the completely opposite vibe from when they first met and scratched her cheek while defending Slaine.
"Ahaha... Can't be helped. We did recklessly butt into the demon hunt. It's lucky they only docked enough for a bare pass."
"And you're saying that!?"
"Mmph...! Sowwy...!"
Camella grabbed Noah's cheeks and stretched them, then coughed awkwardly as if addicted to the feel and let go.
"Ahem! Anyway, I can't accept this! Barely passing, not even average!"
"Uwuu... You're too much, Camella."
Rubbing her reddened cheeks and sighing, Noah caught Camella off guard with her oddly alluring expression.
"A. NY. WAY! Now we have to ace the next exam and shake off this troublemaker image!"
Camella huffed determinedly.
Behind her, Noah just kept rubbing her cheek endlessly.
───
That night.
Gazing proudly at the uniform delivered from Slaine, Noah soon turned to the insistent message in the corner of her vision.
"Figures it wouldn't end there."
The main quest that had ultimately led to the demon subjugation.
She thought slaying the demon would wrap it up, but sure enough, the next one popped up right away, as if that was just the beginning.
📜 MAIN SCENARIO 📜
>【Job Change Quest】 Sky Fragment
Having thwarted the demon's conspiracy, you are finally ready to move forward.
Now, you will undergo trials to be reborn as a true hero.
Hero who follows the Goddess of Light, claim the fragment from the shattered sky.
It will guide your future.
[Clear Conditions]
Acquire Sky Fragment: 0/1
[Success]
Proceed to linked quest 'Oracle of the Heavens'
Divinity +100
[Failure]
Slight experience loss
(※This is a job change quest! We recommend accepting for smooth progression!)
'Sky Fragment, huh...'
An unfamiliar name, but she had a rough idea of the location.
'Probably where the gate opened.'
The gate the demon had torn open above Academy City.
When it appeared, the sky looked like it was shattering, so if her guess was right, the fragment should be nearby.
'The question is whether it's still there. Never heard anyone mention it so far—maybe it's a system-exclusive item?'
A fragment from the shattered sky.
Who'd believe the sky could shatter, let alone drop pieces?
"Hard to picture."
Noah muttered briefly and slowly made her way to the bed, sitting on the edge.
'The real issue is how to get in there.'
If it was there, she couldn't just go fetch it now.
Experts investigating the demon incident had the area locked down.
'No entry except for authorized personnel. Can't just waltz in.'
Police lines everywhere, and the guidance committee patrolling with hawk-like eyes every hour—sneaking in would be tough.
Flopping onto the bed, she sank into the soft mattress, pondering deeply.
'No time limit from the quest description, but if others can see it too, someone else might snag it first.'
With Slaine's acceptance confirmed.
Entrance ceremony wasn't far off.
'Ideally, recover it before then...'
But contrary to her hopes, the restricted zone showed no signs of lifting anytime soon, leaving her in a bind.
As she slowly slipped off her jacket to get ready for bed, her thoughts drifted to Yeon Je-seong.
"Ugh...!"
'Should I consult the president? But I've already imposed on him so much...'
'Won't he think I'm a clingy nuisance if I keep showing up?'
Having tossed aside her pants and shirt too, she hugged her pillow tight and kicked her feet.
"B-But I really want to see the president after so long this time..."
It had been over a week since she last saw him.
She knew they lived in different worlds, but a girl's heart doesn't change so easily.
Unable to contain her growing feelings as time passed, Noah buried her face in the pillow.
"──!"
After a short, silent scream, she peeked out with flushed cheeks and muttered softly.
"I'll try a bit more on my own first."
Asking the president for help comes after exhausting all options.
Until then, she'd figure something out solo.
'Besides, he seems swamped with the demon issue lately.'
The protest groups on the streets recently.
The news from the council delegates.
Knowing how packed his schedule was, she decided with consideration to handle it alone for now.
"If I clear the quest by myself, the president will surely praise me, right?"
Imagining him patting her head and saying she did well, Noah covered her excited chest with the blanket.