Chapter 33: Status check

28 MAR 2022NOOBCHAN TRANSLATION BERSERKER MOB

Six months have passed since Al entered school. In other words, it has been almost a year since he arrived in the capital.

It was time to welcome new students to the school again.

In the original story of the game, important characters would have been placed among the new students, but Al had already given up.

Since he had a hazy memory of the detailed storyline and the unique settings in this world were coming out in tatters, he had to check the movements of the main characters, move with the black mana as a landmark, and respond to the quests he could pick up at the “guild” …… roughly with these three things. We had to break it down to move.

(The guild is still providing welfare support to Cyrus and his friends, but we have been able to pick up some quests from time to time. Daryl’s group is getting more and more involved with the upper echelons of the church and the great noble families in order to solve the mystery of the “white manna. …… Will they be involved in a conspiracy in the royal capital soon? No, for conspiracies, it will be everything surrounding “The Divine Child”. Well, for now, let’s just hear what’s going on related to His Highness Adam.)

Al’s experimental “guild”. It is now based in a two-story building in a town of outsiders, rented on goodwill, and face-to-face connection with Vargas, the owner of Angus’ Inn.

Although not much has been accomplished in terms of the original goal of learning the signs of the quest, it has been a great help to Cyrus and his friends. For Vera, too.

On the other hand, Daryl and Cecily, the protagonists of the game, continue to have close ties with the church under the guise of an investigation for the case in which they used basic magic to blow up Merrill the Mortal Spirits with an entire building.

After that, I can say that the events are going well …… up to the connection with the great noble families, the old noble families and the royal families, with the influence of the Church intact.

“Vera. I’ll be staying at the dormitory for a while. I need to check on a few things. ……Can I ask for the “Guild”?”

“Yes, Dear Al-sama…… How long is a while?”

Al and Vera. The Berserker and the Squire.

Because Vera has actively tried to understand Al, she is now generally able to practice what Al wants in a squire. The relationship is not yet to the point where they can communicate without words, but trust is being fostered.

“Huh? Hmmm… …… Well, maybe two weeks? I just want to check on a few things.”

“…..I see. I feel a little sad. …… Of course, you can leave the “Guild” to us. We will deal with you without delay……”

Suddenly, Vera’s face clouds over. Her emotions are becoming more expressive in her facial expressions and words than when she was enrolled in the Royal Shadow. Perhaps the young Vera in her heart is gradually growing up and becoming one.

“Thank you. I’ll leave the “Guild” to you. And if you miss me, just come see me and I’ll be here, okay?”

“…I mean …… No, no. ……Yes, no,……Yes, you’re right. I will try to visit the academy to see Al-sama’s face too. ……Yes.”

The two are still far from being in tune with each other.

****

(Well. I’ve been going to some classes, but it’s been a while since I’ve spent time in the dorm. The Guild is my base of operations now. First of all, I’d like to say hello to Yoel and the others and exchange information. If the events related to His Highness Adam have started, I would like to check on those with the black mana in the academy. I believe there was an event where His Highness Adam was attacked. Was it around the time after the dissolution of the engagement? He hasn’t had that kind of incident yet. I don’t remember much, but I think the story progressed a lot from the attack on His Highness ……)

Except for required classes, Al is rarely at the academy. At the beginning of the storyline, the academy is often the setting for the first part of the storyline, and Al is trying not to disturb the storyline as much as possible.

There was also the practical reason of the silent pressure from Victor’s team to not wander around too much.

Looking around the academy, those with black mana, as well as those who clearly had a sense of important characters, were more visible than before.

(After all, the Institute is a treasure trove of events. …… There is going to be some movement. I should think that this world is already disconnected from the regular route of the game, though: ……I don’t recognize any of them at all, but some of the characters are obviously from the game setting. …… There’s a macho teacher with a girly voice, a Bokukko girl, and a guy who wears a game-fictional maid outfit that’s not from this world. …… are pretty much out of the world ……I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near those people…)

Al walks in silence as usual.

And then a shadow approaches. There is no sense of uneasiness, but Al does not want to get involved if he can help it. However, he can’t ignore the shadow, so he stops as it approaches.

“…… Mister Albert, isn’t it? May I have a moment of your time?”

“I don’t mind, but I’m sorry, ……, who are you?”

“I beg your pardon. My name is Conrad.”

His appearance and demeanor are that of a man in the employ of the city’s aristocracy.

The one who introduced himself as Conrad moved with ceremonial sophistication, suggesting that he himself was of more than respectable family origin.

He is a face I have never seen in the frontier aristocracy group at the academy. Nor do I have any contact with him. [TL : Does he talk to anyone?]

“….. I’m Albert. You may call me Al. Of course, you are not here for me yourself, are you, Mr. Conrad?”

“Thank you for talking so quickly. I am a servant of a certain lord. The Lord’s family has expressed an interest in Lord Al ……, no, in the Falconer family, I am pleased to have been able to contact you. With all due respect, I had to look up the family name. My apologies.”

Conrad bows his head. Although it is a bow in the manner of a nobleman conquering the battlefield, from Al’s point of view, every gesture is theatrical and smelly. However, he is aware that this is a characteristic of the aristocratic families in the capital, so naturally he does not show it in his face.

And Al himself does not particularly care about it, but he knows a little bit about it.

In fact, Falconer is a well-known family name among the nobility of the capital, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is famous among families that are good at martial arts … especially close combat with weapons.

“Huh. Interested in Falconer’s …… arm-testing or instructional? I’m sorry to say, but the Falconer family’s techniques are for crazy people, you know? It is not something that I would show to a nobleman like Mr. Conrad, nor would I give him instructions.”

Al is sad to say. And it’s even more so because it’s not an exaggeration. It’s just plain true. Falconer’s technique is simple and clear. If you remember the basics, you just get thrown into the great forest. You got it. You have a few days to hone your skills or you will die! It’s madness..

“I am sorry. I myself do not know what the Lord wants from you. I sincerely ask you to meet with the Lord …….”

Conrad’s attitude was almost demeaning, and his ignorance of the Lord’s wishes was a blatant lie. Even so, his courtesy and presence showed respect and sincerity toward the other party, apart from his position. At least, that is how Al felt.

Be courteous to those who are courteous to you.

This is also in the category of Falconer’s “If you get hit, hit back.”

However, it is also one of Falconer’s selfish manners that if he can get through with his own violence, there is no need to thank the rude person …….

And if someone as big as Claire is forced to be unreasonable with violence,…… It is also Falconer, who turns tail, as it were.

“I will be happy to oblige you, Mr. Conrad. Now, sir?”

“…….(Dang)! Thank you very much. Today is like a foretaste. If you don’t mind, I will come back later to pick you up again.”

Al was thus drawn to what seemed to be an event on the first day he wanted to spend at the institute after a long time.

****

Conrad is coming to pick me up in three days, so I’m going to exchange information with the shadow of the royal family …… before then, but in reality, Al is just getting the information and I’m going to finish that first.

“So what about the two divine children?”

“…… Al, sir. I hope you don’t mention the names of your godchildren as lightly as you ask about the weather. ……”

He calls out to Joel and the others when they are away from the “Divine Child”.

Joel and the others are now in the position of being the priests’ attendants, and it is often difficult to find the right moment to call out to them.

“Well, don’t say that. I’m always checking for signs of things around me, you know?”

“I don’t know how Mister Al can be so fearless ……, especially when he is in front of Victor and Claire….”

Aside from Victor, Al is getting to know Yoel and the others a little better. He may be a little too casual, though. I also don’t know what Rauno, who doesn’t talk much, really thinks about it. He is nodding his head next to Yoel.

“I may be collared, but I am still an outsider. I’m not like the “freshmen” or those in the organization, Lord Yoel and the others. ……And? How’s it going?”

“Hah …… those two are smoothly making connections with the authorities of the church and the kingdom. They are also learning about the “white mana” and its properties. And, although they have made some connections with His Highness Adam, they are still not ready to deepen their friendship with Daryl. On the contrary, I’ve been thinking about Ariel-sama … no, it’s too much to talk about..”

Joel was reluctant to say anything, but Al persisted and asked him about it. ……

Daryl and his friends met His Highness Adam and Miss Ariel, but in the first place, it is common practice at this academy to call people by their first names, not their family names. In fact, knowing each other’s family name and calling each other by it is a sign of intimacy, so His Highness Adam reluctantly agreed to call Miss Ariel and Daryl by their first names. ……

He was offended by the intimacy between the two, which went beyond name-calling. But from Miss Ariel’s point of view, “dropping” Daryl was as natural a response as a royal command. But she also had to make sure that His Highness Adam, who was unaware of the situation, was in a good mood. Who was unaware of the situation, and it was apparently quite a heart-wrenching experience for her. This is a story that no one there knew.

In order not to be unnatural, Miss Ariel has deepened her friendship with Cecily, with whom she also had contact in her childhood, and now she says that her relationship with Cecily is rather a source of comfort for her.

(I see. Miss Ariel and His Highness Adam haven’t broken off their engagement yet? …… It’s just for reference, but that means it’s still early in the story. But, even though they are surrounded by a tight-knit group of people, the two main characters are still winners…)

Unlike games, there are no levels in this world. There are tests of skill and magical research at the academy, but there are no quests or dungeons for the protagonists to scramble through.

In such a situation, aside from the war, which is a group battle, the main character’s party, as depicted in the game, is fighting the last boss. Al had some concerns, but the “white mana” could be the trump card. ……

The last boss in the game is the king of impurity who appears in demon territory after many twists and turns. The undead of the highest level.

In other words, the “Divine Child” in this world had the ultimate weapon against the undead as their initial equipment, without having to level up by defeating demons. The rest is a matter of learning to master it. …… That is what Al sees as a substitute for game-like leveling up.

The connection with the aristocratic society and the church is also becoming stronger, and it can be said that the current situation is pushing towards the millennial prosperity of the kingdom as indicated in the oracle.

“I can only imagine the difficulty for Lord Yoel and Miss Ariel and others who know some of the circumstances and pretend to be unaware of them. ……I mean, to begin with, Lord Yoel and the others are candidates for His Highness Adam’s Kingsguard. ……Hasn’t the difficulty level increased considerably?”

“Mister Al. You tell me. We too wonder what is going on ……. His Highness Adam sees us all as “Daryl’s faction.” ……I think only one who Lady Cecily could have a standard meeting with him. ……Huh. I feel bad for Lady Cecily.”

Yoel is unusually bitchy. Rauno beside him, also looks unhappy.

According to Al’s persistent questioning, Cecily seems to have some distrust of those around her, including Yoel and the others. Knowing this, he said he was sorry for deceiving her and that …… Joel and the others also felt guilty.

Shadow of the Royal Family.

They are said to be willing to do even dirty work. but since they were selected as candidates for His Highness Adam’s Kingsguard, they also possess the integrity and honesty appropriate for serving a man who conquers the high road.

This is why Vera was so eager to assume her role on the project.

“Well, let’s not talk about this one. …… Is Vera doing well?”

“Yes. Now that she is in charge of the children, she has become a regular role model, you know? She’s been very helpful. I’ve been getting a lot of help from her and….. I don’t know if I should put it this way, but she looks to have a calmer expression on her face than before.”

Although it was unexpected for Al, Joel and Rauno were particularly worried about Vera’s future. They were aware of it, too. They had noticed her instability. That she was pushing herself too hard. They had a feeling that she would eventually make a mistake and fall out with her life.

“……The shadow of the royal family cannot serve. Although she tried her best to hide it, she has a gentle temperament. There should have been a more suitable magic for her than “Binding Chains”. …… Good thing it was before she fell out. I am not in a position to say this, Mister Al, but please take good care of her.”

Yoel and Rauno do the bow in the aristocratic style. It differs from Conrad’s, and I boarded it up. And Al also returns the bow quietly.

(I guess Vera didn’t know. Even in the prison of the royal shadow, there were people who cared about her. I wonder if she could understand that correctly now.)

Al is happy to have a souvenir story to tell Vera, but …… Joel and his friends don’t know.

She is more at ease than when she was in the shadow of the royal family. But as a follower of the crazed berserker, her competence, and relentlessness toward her enemies have have accelerated.