Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 99

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 99
“Rustle, rustle.”
The Book-made Carriage came to a stop with the sound of turning pages.
The book sitting in the driver’s seat bowed respectfully.
“A Book-made Carriage, how dreadful.”
Milo boarded with visible distaste. I followed him in, and the carriage immediately departed.
After traveling for some time—
we arrived at a familiar place.
It was a palace-like space, where once a crowned book had dwelt.
Evangeline was there.
She sat upon the Book-made Throne, adorned with an impressive crown, her expression insufferably haughty.
“What business brings you before us?”
Evangeline lifted her chin arrogantly.
I got straight to the point.
“Evangeline, it’s lesson time.”
“Huh?! It’s the weekend?! Surely one deserves rest on weekends!”
Evangeline sprang up and cried out.
“You rested on weekdays too.”
“How did you—?! Andy! You told them, didn’t you! Anyway! Weekends are for rest!”
Evangeline threw herself back onto the throne. Her stance was decidedly firm.
I immediately pulled out a bundle.
A sweet aroma wafted from between the folds of cloth.
Evangeline’s nose twitched as she rose.
I opened the bundle’s mouth and showed it to her.
Evangeline’s eyes widened at the sight of the Chocolate Bread inside.
“Choco… Chocolate Bread?”
Her eyes sparkled, and saliva had already begun pooling at the corners of her mouth.
Chocolate Bread was Evangeline’s most beloved thing.
Or rather, it surpassed mere liking—she truly loved it.
Especially fresh-baked Chocolate Bread with melting chocolate—it was fatal to Evangeline.
“I’ll d-do it!”
“Good. Now open the Quest window.”
“What’s a Quest?”
“…That thing you did when you woke me before.”
“Oh, that! I remember! Huurgh!”
Evangeline pressed her index and middle fingers against her temples, focusing intensely.
“Hyaaaap! Yap!”
After concentrating for a while, Evangeline pointed at me with her fingers.
She let out a forceful cry, but nothing happened.
“Did it work?!”
“No, it failed.”
Evangeline tried several more times, but nothing responded.
“The situation was different back then!!”
“The situation was different?”
“Back then, there was this… dangerous feeling, I suppose? Anyway! That’s why I could concentrate! But not now!”
Evangeline offered an excuse.
Though unexpectedly, it had merit.
In the game itself, Evangeline’s ability manifested primarily in dramatic situations.
In other words—
“You lack tension?”
“Yes! What with the situation being what it is! Plus I’m hungry! Maybe if I eat just one Chocolate Bread, I’ll focus better!”
Evangeline wiped the saliva from her mouth as she spoke.
“I’ll have to create some tension.”
I picked up one Chocolate Bread and took a large bite.
The sweet chocolate flavor melted across my tongue and filled my mouth.
‘Too sweet.’
I desperately fought back my furrowing brow.
“No, wait! My Chocolate Bread!”
Evangeline dropped to her knees and cried out.
I smirked at the sight.
“Now every time you fail, I’ll eat one myself. Come on, try again.”
I pulled another Chocolate Bread from the bundle.
“You fiend!”
Evangeline, who had been screaming, suddenly focused intently.
It was a frantic reaction, as though she were a hostage.
I forced down the queasiness and brought the Chocolate Bread to my mouth.
After eating several more—
just as I could barely eat another—
Ding!
A translucent window appeared with a cheerful sound.
[Sudden Quest] Stop eating Chocolate Bread!!
Objective: Stop eating Chocolate Bread!!!
‘So it actually works.’
Marveling, I set down the Chocolate Bread.
Moments later, a familiar chime sounded.
Sudden Quest, “Stop eating Chocolate Bread!!” cleared! Rewards granted!
Contamination Level decreased slightly.
‘Contamination Level?’
In the game, Contamination Level measured how much one had been corrupted by a Fragment of Outer God.
When Contamination Level reached 100, one would be completely consumed by the Fragment and become a Monster.
Managing Contamination Level was extremely important.
However, it wasn’t easy to manage.
There were only two ways to lower it.
One was to remove the Fragment of Outer God.
Since absorbing the Fragment was essential to clear the game, this method was essentially unusable.
So there was truly only one practical way to lower Contamination Level, and that was—
‘Evangeline’s Quests.’
By completing Evangeline’s Quests, Contamination Level could be lowered.
Late in the game, the Headmaster, Vice-Headmaster, and even the Emperor and Pope became obsessed with Evangeline for this reason.
To one who had consumed the Fragment to its limit, Evangeline was like an oxygen respirator.
“Did it work?!”
Evangeline’s voice broke my reverie.
I looked up to see Evangeline drenched in sweat, her eyes fixed on the Chocolate Bread.
‘Of all things, she awakened for Chocolate Bread.’
A sigh escaped me.
At least she had awakened something.
I tossed Evangeline one Chocolate Bread.
“Delicious. Hehe.”
Evangeline laughed brightly, chocolate smeared across her mouth.
That this was the divine maiden over whom the Emperor would hang himself and the Pope would anxiously fret—
I swallowed my sigh.
“Try again. I’ll give you one each time you succeed.”
“Uuuuuugh!! Hyaaaap!”
Evangeline took her exaggerated stance and let out a boisterous cry.
This time the Quest window appeared faster than before.
Ding!
[Sudden Quest] Give Chocolate Bread to Evangeline!
Objective: Give Chocolate Bread to Evangeline!
I gave the Chocolate Bread to Evangeline.
She grinned after eating it.
Sudden Quest, “Give Chocolate Bread to Evangeline!” cleared! Rewards granted!
Contamination Level decreased slightly.
My mind became even clearer.
I glanced away.
I could see Andy, engrossed in reading a crimson book. She’d clearly caught it from Evangeline.
That was more dangerous than Contamination Level.
“Andy!”
“Yes, Chief!”
I grabbed Andy’s shoulder and spoke.
“Let’s try it on Andy this time.”
“Got it! Hyaaaap!”
At Andy’s loud cry, Andy gave a reluctant expression.
I ignored it and waited.
“Hyah! Hoo! Whooo! Buang!”
Evangeline shouted strange battle cries repeatedly.
But nothing happened.
I had Andy hold the Chocolate Bread and even fed it to her, but nothing responded.
Evangeline couldn’t open a Quest window for Andy.
‘Is this a side effect of awakening early?’
Originally, Evangeline’s Quest Ability opened late in the game.
Right now, in game terms, we were barely at the beginning.
Side effects were bound to occur.
‘Actually, this is fortunate.’
The Headmaster, Vice-Headmaster, and Director were all desperately searching for a way to lower Contamination Level.
If word leaked that Evangeline’s Quests lowered Contamination Level, it would be dangerous.
It was better for security that it worked only with me.
“Let’s try again. Give simple requests.”
“Understood! Aaaaaaaap!”
“…You don’t have to shout every time.”
“But then it loses its flavor!”
Flavor?
I was at a loss for words, but I held it in.
Evangeline let out her usual raucous cry.
Ding!
[Sudden Quest] Praise Evangeline!
Objective: Praise Evangeline!
“…Praise? I said to keep it simple.”
“It i-is simple!”
“Not at all.”
“What?!”
Praise, huh.
I looked at Evangeline and slowly opened my mouth.
“Evangeline, you’re not completely stupid.”
“Huh? Is that supposed to be praise?”
Instead of answering, I stared straight ahead.
Ding!
Sudden Quest, “Praise Evangeline!” cleared! Rewards granted!
Contamination Level decreased slightly.
“Wait! How is that praise?!”
Evangeline erupted in indignation.
“This ability can only be used in two cases: either you’re in a Rift, or your target is in a Rift. If you fall into one, send me the Rift’s location via Quest.”
“Come on, like I’ll fall into a Rift again? Everyone says it’s already hard to fall into one even once.”
Evangeline waved her hand dismissively.
She would experience that difficult ordeal dozens of times more.
By the final act, the entire continent would transform into Rifts.
The Outer God would descend and destroy the world.
I swallowed my words and smirked.
“And it should also work in Forbidden Zones like this one.”
“Forbidden Zones?”
“Yes, like the Central Library or the Forest of Disappearance.”
“Ah! I understand!”
Evangeline lifted her chin smugly.
“Let’s do it again.”
“Again? I’m getting a little tired…”
I intended to continue collecting Fragments of Outer God.
It was best to lower Contamination Level whenever possible.
I pulled out another Chocolate Bread.
“Chocolate—Whoa!”
Evangeline’s eyes sparkled.
After repeating this several more times—
“Huh… Whew…”
Evangeline collapsed in exhaustion, her face drenched in sweat.
I glanced down at my hand.
My mind was clearer than ever.
It felt as though the resolution of my thoughts had increased.
Yet for this, I felt a sense of crisis.
‘I haven’t even been aware of my Contamination Level rising.’
I had calculated it mentally, but I hadn’t truly felt it.
This is why the Fragment of Outer God is so dangerous.
Like a frog in boiling water, one becomes a Monster without even noticing the corruption.
‘So the Headmaster, Vice-Headmaster, and Director didn’t become Monsters for nothing.’
I shook my tingling hand and muttered.
“Evangeline, keep this ability secret.”
“What ability?”
Evangeline asked, genuinely curious.
“Never mind. You’re doing well.”
“Hehe… Ugh, sweat.”
Evangeline removed her glasses, uncomfortable. Her face was revealed.
Despite being covered in sweat with chocolate smeared at her lips, the dim library suddenly felt bright.
‘Truly broken looks.’
Even I wavered for a moment, but Milo simply turned his head away without concern.
“You all right?”
“What do you mean?”
I gestured subtly toward Evangeline with my chin. Milo, turning to look, tilted his head.
“She’s not blonde.”
“Your preferences are fixed.”
“Apart from preferences, Evangeline is a bit—”
Milo shook his hand dismissively with distaste.
“You’re right.”
Andy nodded in understanding.
“What about me?!”
“You’re asking what’s wrong with you?”
“What do you mean! My height’s small!”
“No, you’re the tall one!”
I chuckled at Evangeline and Andy bickering.
Then, from a distance, I heard footsteps.
The books in the Central Library move like people, but they don’t make footsteps.
Hearing footsteps meant there was an outsider.
It wasn’t strange in itself.
Few received permission to enter the Central Library, but it wasn’t unheard of.
‘Who could it be?’
When I turned my head, I saw radiant gold.
There’s only one such brilliant golden hair that shines brightly even in darkness.
‘The Crown Prince?’
What was the Crown Prince doing in the Central Library on a weekend?
“Who is it?”
At Evangeline’s voice, I went silent.
In the game, the Crown Prince was the strongest of the male leads.
And the Crown Prince’s obsession with Evangeline began after seeing her bare face.
Right now, Evangeline had no glasses on.
I absolutely had to prevent them from entangling.
I stepped forward.
The Crown Prince’s gaze turned to me.
Upon seeing me, the Crown Prince—
“We meet again.”
smiled.
The same way he had when seeing Evangeline’s bare face.
Highly unpleasant.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————