Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy-Chapter 694: Five (1)

Arthur, regaining his senses, furrowed his brow as he took in his surroundings.

A dungeon. We fell into the darkness and ended up inside a dungeon beneath us.

Having experienced similar situations with Lucy Arlen, it wasn’t all that surprising.

Dungeons were made to be conquered, so they wouldn’t intend to trap us forever. If we conquer this dungeon, we should be able to get out.

Since this was done by the evil god's power, Lucy Arlen would remain outside.

...So, is that guy facing the Pope alone?

Lucy Arlen isn’t the type to easily fall, but the opponent is formidable.

How long could she last, holding off an enemy that we could barely manage together?

Recalling Lucy crying sorrowfully once, Arthur clicked his tongue and urgently looked around.

It’s fine. What we’ve been doing endlessly is conquering dungeons.

I may not be able to match Lucy Arlen, but I can at least follow her footsteps.

No. That’s the wrong mindset to have.

"I’ll be the first to escape."

My goal is to surpass Lucy Arlen.

As soon as Joy realized she had fallen into the dungeon, she blinked and remembered Lucy.

She remembered the last moment, standing above the darkness.

Joy knows.

No matter how reliable Lucy appears, she is weak.

She cries before fear.

But at the end of it all, she rises.

Remembering Lucy crying pitifully as she saved her, Joy urgently looked around, scattering darkness.

No. I don’t want to see Lucy crying again. I worked so hard to prevent that.

I’ve given my best to help Lucy. I’ve been working all this time to support her! Now, it’s time to show my efforts.

There’s no need for the usual strategy.

What’s needed now is pure speed.

No matter what, I’ll return to Lucy’s side.

I will.

The dungeon walls were swallowed by the darkness as she looked around with a face more fitting for an Apostle of Darkness than a mage, cold and menacing.

No. I should have stayed by Lucy’s side.

Even as others fell, I, who had received the power of purification, should have stayed with her, helping her!

In her impatient state, Fabi frantically searched her surroundings, but then, feeling the warmth in the holy relic she held, she calmed herself.

There’s nothing to be done about the past.

The important thing is what needs to be done right now.

I have to get back to Lucy’s side and help her as quickly as possible!

Taking a deep breath, Fabi raised the spear made of divine energy with both hands.

"I will go. I will, no matter what."

Frey, slowly rising, gazed absentmindedly at the dungeon before drawing her sword.

Unlike the others, she wasn’t troubled by these thoughts.

There was no self-blame for Frey. All that existed was her will to do what needed to be done.

"Guess I can do whatever I want now, huh?"

Thinking this, she drew her sword and cleaved through the dungeon walls, casually heading forward.

Following her instinct.

Without hesitation.

The pain from her broken arm made her want to cry out.

But she bit her lip, holding it back, not wanting to give that satisfaction to the man in front of her.

"Didn’t expect this, did you?"

The moment she saw the Pope’s face regain composure, she realized how meaningless everything had become.

Whether she screamed or held it in, the Pope would be pleased either way, now that she’d taken a hit.

What a damn perverted bastard.

The curses rising within her eased her pain.

Creating a barrier between them through divine magic, she created distance.

The pain from healing her broken arm brought cold sweat, but she forced it down.

I can’t afford to focus on the pain. What’s in front of me is too big.

"You didn’t expect this, huh? Haha. This is fun. Seems like miracles come to those who give their best."

Following the voice beside her, she instinctively turned her head, but by then, a fist was already flying at her.

Her body, unable to endure the shock, was sent into the air and slammed into the darkness.

"Hmm. It looks like the fairies played a big part in this. Without them, the Apostle is this weak."

Grabbing onto her flickering consciousness, she forced herself up.

Ah, damn it. No wonder I couldn’t see anything around me. The fairies are gone.

In her regained first-person view, she saw the Pope, grinning slowly.

"They won’t be able to return easily. There’s nothing there to fuel the fairies’ power."

So the problem isn’t them coming back, but their survival, right?

For a moment, worry surged, creating hesitation, and the Pope, not missing the chance, rushed toward her.

Seeing his fist aimed at her abdomen, she raised her shield, but this time, the Pope’s fist slipped past her shield, landing on her stomach.

Her armor, already inadequate, couldn’t absorb the shock, and her consciousness completely faded.

Grabbing her stomach, she crawled across the ground, and the Pope, politely lifting her up, grabbed her by the collar and threw her upward.

After an endless rise, the ground suddenly appeared, delivering a jarring shock to her body.

She couldn’t even scream anymore.

Her speech organs seemed to have been shattered, and only foolish sounds escaped her lips.

"Oh. The divine power is shaking."

The ongoing pain filled her with rising fear.

The fear she had recently forgotten slowly crawled up her back.

Every single brain cell was filled with the words “scared,” “afraid,” “fear,” and “wanting to run away,” blocking out all other thoughts.

Trying to ignore it all, she staggered, attempting to rise, but her trembling hands were visible.

The hands that couldn’t even properly grip the mace meant one thing.

She had quietly accepted defeat.

"...It hurts. It hurts. It hurts."

Her mace and shield fell from her hands.

"I don’t want to die."

Her trembling hands clutched her head.

"I don’t want pain. I don’t want fear."

The strength left her legs, and she collapsed to the floor.

"I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please save me. I’ll do anything. Please."

A rough hand grabbed her hair, forcibly lifting her face.

"No."

The man’s eyes, veins bulging, grew more filled with fear.

At that moment, she instinctively looked away, and the man, tightening his grip on her neck, shouted.

"It’s not that."

The growing fear made tears spill.

The sobs slipped from her lips. The words asking for her life echoed with each sob.

"You must not do this."

"I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry."

"You, Apostle of the God! You must not be like this! You, who are my trial! You, who must kill me!"

The Pope slapped her face, but the rising fear didn’t diminish.

The wave of fear, like a tsunami, was unstoppable.

The seawall was broken, the sand swallowed, and the fear that had seeped into the city couldn’t be contained in an instant.

"You must not do this!"

The Pope, throwing her to the ground, started stomping on her in frustration.

Her flesh tore. Her bones cracked. Her insides were crushed.

It hurts. It hurts. It hurts!

"I’m sorry."

"I’m sorry."

"I was wrong."

"Please forgive me."

"I want to live."

"I don’t want to die."

"You are the Apostle of the God! You are not someone who should fall! What will you do if you throw yourself into evil, craving death?!"

Someone, please help!

It hurts.

It hurts so much.

I feel like I’m going to die.

Mom. Dad. Where are you?

It hurts so much. I’m tired.

I don’t think I can get up.

Please. Please. Someone. Anyone.

"Move your foot."

A low, sharp voice rang out from beside her, and she trembled, turning her head. There was the darkness swaying on the floor, a staff, blonde hair curled, and piercing blue eyes.

The eyes, once filled with hatred for her opponent, softened as the pain subsided and compassion filled them.

"Lucy. It’s okay now."

"Get lost! You, bitch! The Apostle of the God must face trials alone! Only then does it have meaning!"

"Stop spouting nonsense. Who says anyone must face trials alone?"

"Get lost again!"

Darkness spread beneath Joy, and fear surged in Lucy as she rushed toward her. But what she feared did not come to pass.

A divine power, not hers, emitted warm light, dispelling the darkness.

Turning her head toward the light, she saw a woman, her white robe stained and her hair slightly messy after many battles, yet still pure, still beautiful, gazing at her with eyes full of guilt.

"I’m sorry. I left you alone. But not anymore. I will stay by your side for the rest of my life. Even if I have to give my life."

But that guilt quickly transformed into compassion and resolve, strengthening Lucy’s heart.

"Saint! You should know! Trials must be overcome alone!"

"You taught me that. But now, I know it’s wrong. Fool. Isn’t it time to admit your mistake?"

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"Mistake? I made a mistake? How dare you say that to me, the one who made you?!"

In an instant, the evil god’s fist, having closed the distance, aimed at Fabi, but a shield appeared from somewhere, blocking the impact.

"Damn it. I didn’t think imitating Lucy Arlen would be this hard!"

Being pushed back by the pain, the man managed to stay rooted in place, staring at Lucy before suddenly pausing, forcing a smile.

"How rare! I should take a picture!"

"Third Prince... no. Arthur. Do you want to die?"

"Third Prince. Looks like you need a sermon."

"Just kidding! Just kidding! I was trying to lighten the mood. Why are you taking it so seriously?"

"Those idiots. They don’t even realize they’ve brought down the Apostle of the God, acting all smug."

"Shut up."

The sword silenced the Pope, and the knight, ignoring the others’ gazes, carefully helped Lucy to her feet.

"Lucy. Are you okay?"

It was so surprising to hear Frey say this, with so much concern in her eyes, that the tears that had been flowing stopped.

Fear, too, can be overcome by a different emotion.

"Of course, I’m fine. Silly Frey."

"Frey. Yep! I’m Frey! Total fool!"

As Lucy wobbled to her feet, Fabi healed her.

Unlike Lucy, Fabi’s healing magic didn’t cause any pain.

When the healing ended, Joy almost stumbled as she reached for Lucy’s weapons.

Eventually, after strengthening her physical magic, she awkwardly handed Lucy the mace and shield.

"How dare. How dare. How dare."

Wiping her face, Lucy put on the usual smile and stood before everyone.

"Looks like you’re all messed up, so you’re lonely, huh?♡ Pathetic!"