Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Do Me a Favor (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
What was my most fatal weakness right now?
*
'Getting hit once would send me straight to the afterlife.'
It was the fact that I had a glass body.
[Stamina: D (18)]
My current Stamina stat was D-Rank.
It wasn't a huge gap compared to the average academy cadet.
The problem was that the opponents I'd face from now on were anything but average.
For example, imagine Karen swinging her sword at me in earnest.
My head would be lopped off in an instant.
Not even with some special skill—just a single normal strike.
I had the [Rune of Regeneration], but if it was a one-shot kill, that wouldn't mean a thing.
'To withstand attacks from powerhouses like Karen even a few times... I need to raise my Stamina to at least B-Rank.'
Did that mean I should invest all my future stat points into Stamina?
It was a solid, by-the-book strategy.
But.
I had a far more efficient—and lazier—method.
'If I don't get hit in the first place, that's that.'
No Hit.
That was my goal.
For one thing, it was because of my trait.
Taking enemy attacks head-on, gritting my teeth, and tanking them?
That wasn't lazy at all...!
If I fought that hard and sweaty, the system would surely dock my Sloth for being so diligent.
And there was an even more important reason.
...It hurts.
Sure, in a game, you just go 'oh, HP down' when you get hit, but this was reality.
I had no desire to feel bones breaking and flesh tearing.
So I decided to leave my body as the fragile thing it was and focus on 'evasion' or 'defense' instead.
I already had a reliable counter for magic attacks: [Low-Grade Reflex].
But for physical attacks, I had no real defense.
'That's why I'm buying this skill.'
[Skill]
[Shadow Barrier (Legendary)]
Using it in the dark doesn't make it any more effective.
Description: (Active) Creates a barrier of shadows to block enemy physical attacks. (Cooldown: 10 seconds)
Price: 3200 Sloth
'Shadow Barrier.'
It boasted the most overwhelming price of anything I'd bought from the Sloth Shop so far.
But it was more than worth it.
'It was an excellent mid-tier skill.'
In [Stella Academia], it was an advanced spell that the protagonist, majoring in black magic, could only develop in their second year.
It was similar to the [Curtain of Darkness] used by the hidden boss of the underground tomb dungeon recently, the Skeleton King.
However, while [Curtain of Darkness] was a perfect shield that blocked even magic attacks, [Shadow Barrier] could only stop physical ones.
Strictly speaking, it was a downgraded version...
But the fact that it was even a downgrade of such a noob-level black magic spell proved how ridiculously overpowered this one was!
In practice, it had enough defensive power to block attacks from Karen-level powerhouses most of the time.
'If I can buy [Shadow Barrier] before the Practical Combat Placement Exam starting Friday, it'll be a huge help.'
I had two days left.
I needed about 600 Sloth.
It was a bit tight, but if I pushed it, I could make it.
Slacking off would get me there easily, but the risk was too high, so I'd save that as a last resort and only use it if I absolutely had to.
Instead...
'It feels like it's about time. Shall I give it a shot?'
There were some outrageous stunts I hadn't dared try because they seemed too brainless.
This was my chance to challenge them.
I steeled my resolve.
For the next two days.
I would live with extreme laziness!
***
The day after club recruitment, Thursday.
The bell signaling break time rang after the first morning general subject class, [History of the Empire].
Artel headed to Jeron's seat in the far back corner of the classroom, magic book in hand, as was her habit.
Studying next to Jeron during breaks.
It had become her recent routine.
'A very rational and efficient decision.'
She liked this new habit.
She could study without missing a beat and chat with Jeron in the spare moments.
Above all, it warded off anyone else approaching Jeron unnecessarily.
Especially Ciel.
Artel shot a sharp glare at Ciel, who was staring blankly out the window.
But when she arrived at Jeron's seat, she encountered a slightly odd sight.
Jeron was still face-down on his desk, and Yuria was staring at him in fascination.
"...Yuria. What are you doing?"
At Artel's question, Yuria jumped and turned around.
"Ah, Artel! Well, Jeron seems a bit off today."
"Off how?"
"Yeah. Somehow today's Jeron is... incredibly... um, what’s the word."
Yuria pondered for a moment before choosing her words.
"Sleeping so solemnly."
"Sleeping... solemnly?"
What on earth did that mean?
Artel peered at his sleeping face in disbelief.
But she couldn't help being startled.
Jeron almost always wore a drowsy, sleepy expression.
So what was it like when he actually slept?
He slept more peacefully than the academy's stray cats, breathing softly.
But today was different.
His lips were firmly pressed together, his brow slightly furrowed.
Even in sleep, he looked like a knight facing a pivotal battle, radiating resolute determination.
"...It's true."
"I've never seen Jeron with such a serious face. It feels kinda fresh."
Yuria murmured.
Gulp.
Artel swallowed dryly without realizing it.
Jeron's serious face.
It struck her as a little handsome.
But the fact that this seriousness manifested in something as trivial as 'sleeping' was... so very him.
Come to think of it, she'd seen this solemn side before—when he'd first suggested skipping class to her.
Why did he only get serious in these absurd moments?
But today's Jeron was definitely different from usual.
Normally, he'd snap awake like a ghost at break time and chat with Yuria or her.
Today, though, even as break time came, he didn't stir an inch, just kept sleeping.
He didn't wake once, even as lunchtime approached.
"Artel. Do you think Jeron's sick or something?"
Yuria asked in genuine concern.
"...No idea. But something's different."
Artel agreed. Was something wrong?
'Could it be because of the Practical Combat Placement starting Friday?'
But someone of Jeron's caliber wouldn't tense up over a mere placement exam.
Artel's mind filled with questions.
Finally, the lunch bell rang, and Yuria cautiously shook Jeron's shoulder.
"Jeron. Wake up. It's lunchtime."
"......"
After a few shakes, Jeron slowly lifted his head.
The solemnity from earlier still lingered on his face.
"Jeron, you okay? Is something wrong? You've been sleeping since morning..."
"Hoo...."
At Yuria's worried question, Jeron let out a heavy sigh and answered.
His voice was more grave than ever.
"Yeah. Something really important came up."
"...!"
'As expected. That solemn look wasn't for nothing.'
Artel thought to herself.
What could be so 'important' that Jeron called it that?
What could make him serious when he'd been nonchalant even before a Giant Death Worm or a demonized boss?
Just how big a deal was it to wear that expression?
"So, I need a little help from you two. Can you help me out?"
Jeron looked at her and Yuria in turn with serious eyes.
"...!"
Artel and Yuria matched his gravity, nodding solemnly.
"Got it. I'll help with anything."
"Yes...! I'll do my best!"
"First up, a favor from Artel."
Jeron looked straight at her and said.
Artel tensed.
'Jeron's asking me for help...!'
Until now, she'd only ever received help from him, never given much back.
At best, things like giving her a teleport for 100 gold or buying her a premium beef steak—petty stuff.
Since going to the dungeon with him, her ice magic had improved a lot too...
She could handle even a pretty tough mission now.
'I absolutely won't let him down. I'll be useful for sure.'
Filled with determination, she awaited his next words.
And then.
"Give me a princess carry to the cafeteria."
Artel could only doubt her own ears.