Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy-Chapter 698: Miracle (1)

A voice from behind wraps around my body.

The sensation that I had felt endlessly since falling into this world.

The feeling that made me shiver every time I entered the dungeon.

The unpleasantness that became much more intense the moment the evil god of the end intervened, now presses heavily around me.

It’s hard to even imagine moving my body.

It's as if I've been suddenly thrown into the deep sea, my physical movements unnatural, it's hard to breathe, and my legs tremble under the weight I feel on my shoulders.

"Really, thank you. Apostle of the Lord. If my foolish apostle's plan succeeds, I would have been in quite a dilemma myself."

I barely manage to endure the pressure, but the sensation of being tapped on the shoulder causes me to collapse.

I couldn’t bear the very existence behind me.

This doesn’t make sense.

There’s no way the difference could be this great, right?

How is the evil god of the end, who lost most of his power when the age of myth began, still wielding this much power?

I continue to feel cold sweat flowing, turning my gaze to the surroundings.

There was no real difference with others.

My friends. The human army that stood at the frontlines. And the monsters that faced them.

All were bowing their heads before a single being.

"Your plan is not entirely wrong. It is true that the powers of the end weaken when the age of myth begins. However, what you didn’t consider is that there exists an even greater flow in this world."

"That can't be."

When the Pope, who had escaped the powers of the end, spoke with a voice full of confusion, Agras scoffed.

Read 𝓁atest chapters at fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm Only.

"You simply didn’t realize it. It’s something insignificant beings like you can never comprehend. Hahaha. How unfortunate. If you had become the evil god and time had passed, you might have learned this."

Hearing about the evil god made me think of the game Soul Academy.

Everything I had done so far was pushing the game’s ending closer.

If the end described by the evil god was indeed the game's ending, then the powers Agras currently possessed would be far greater than I had anticipated.

"Apostle of the Lord. Oh, damn Apostle of the Lord. You little creature, struggling to stop the end of this world. Do you understand? Even if Armadi comes here, nothing will change. He cannot prevent the world from ending along with this era."

Why didn’t I think of that? Was it because I considered the game just a game?

Since that pathetic Lord created it, the ending must have some meaning.

"I just had an interesting thought. Do you remember when I spoke about your curse before? Do you know why I said that? Your curse is not a simple curse."

I thought Agras was discussing the usefulness of the Mesugaki skill, but the moment his hand touched my head, I realized how unsafe I was.

With such a playful laugh, and a foul gaze directed at me, it wasn’t like Agras would be talking about things like provocation abilities.

It was something much more fundamental.

My mind.

I had never imagined such a thing, only complaining about the disadvantages of the Mesugaki skill.

"Have you ever thought it strange? That someone like you, who never received proper training, could suddenly gain such determination? That you possess the mental strength of steel, unshaken by any trial."

Since stepping into the world of Soul Academy, I had always had an extraordinary level of determination.

With just a sip, I could swallow the most terrible drink, purely because it was effective.

It wasn’t just about how difficult things were. Even when I couldn’t move a single finger, I still kept moving forward.

Even when faced with the first threat to my life, I could still chatter away just because I was fired up, and after countless hardships, I never broke.

I always did my best.

Is it reasonable to endure all that pain just because Soul Academy was a rotting mess?

Could someone like me, who lived a pitiful life in my past life, really endure all the pain simply because I could feel my growth, simply because I stepped into the world I loved?

Even if my life was in danger, isn't it more realistic to look only ahead, without compromising with reality?

"You will understand when your curse ends."

If the Mesugaki skill was the foundation of everything I had done, what would happen to me when it disappeared?

"Your curse has been sustaining you."

The first thing I felt was the pain that spread throughout my body.

Muscles tearing, bones breaking, organs twisting, the pain making my whole body contort.

I wanted to lose consciousness. The pain was so intense it made me want to bite my tongue and die. It didn’t even allow a scream.

As I trembled, clutching my shoulders, countless negative thoughts filled my mind.

I don’t want to die.

No, if it’s like this, I’d rather die.

How did I get through this all this time?

Why should I risk my life for those bastards?

What have those trash done for me?

A bunch of idiots who hope for the salvation of the world because of one little girl, shouldn’t they just die?

I was just a loser locked in a room playing games.

How could I ever properly fight?

I...

I...

I am...

My breath grows ragged.

The thoughts cut off, interrupted by panic.

Tears escape.

A voice soaked in defeat oozes through the cracks.

"Hahaha! How very human! Curse Armadi, who threw you into hell! Curse the Lord who cannot save humanity!"

Hearing the voice full of delight, I look at my trembling hands beyond my blurry vision.

Lucy's, my tiny hands.

Despite their small and cute appearance, they were rough, stiff, and not like a child’s hands at all.

Not the hands of a noble daughter, but the hands of a warrior.

Hands earned after struggling to protect something.

Hands that I earned to protect the ones I love, with no shame.

"And now, face the end of this world in resignation!"

Ah, that’s right.

What I wanted to protect wasn’t something grand like the world.

I just wanted the things I loved to stay.

My friends. My acquaintances. My family.

I wanted everyone who loves me to continue living happily, and that’s why I came this far.

I don’t care what happens to the others.

Let them get saved or praised however they like.

I just want to protect the life I have now.

I put more strength into my trembling hands.

I forced my hands to grip tightly, pressing hard against the ground.

I hit my legs, trying to force them to move.

Though I couldn’t stand properly, I grabbed my thighs and finally stood on my feet.

Then, I raised my middle finger at Agras, who was staring at me blankly.

"F-fuck off♡ H-hahaha, you worthless bastard!♡ I’m not scared of you at all!♡"

It was a predictable, obvious show of bravado.

Anyone who saw me like this would probably scoff.

It was a weak, pathetic form that even made me expect to cry.

But so what?

Isn’t it a cliché that the Mesugaki is actually a coward?

"How did you get up?"

"Well, maybe because you're just a useless idiot who can’t do anything!♡"

"It’s strange and surprising, but at the same time, I get it. Even without the curse, someone with such twisted morality must have been chosen by a disgusting hypocrite."

The fear didn’t go away.

The terror still coiled within me.

My hands were trembling, my head filled with a voice telling me to run, doubts rising in my mind about making the wrong choice, cold sweat running down my back.

Yet, I grip my shield, tighten my mace, and step forward.

"Do you think you can stop me with trembling hands? You can't even handle your powers properly in your fear, do you think you can stop me?"

If you ask why I’m doing this, various answers come to mind, but to sum it up in one word, yes, I'm the tank. If not me, who else will stand before the enemy?

"Why are you asking something so obvious?♡ Are you scared now?♡"

Maybe it’s because I made my decision.

The heart that was breaking moments ago slowly began to heal.

In response, the power I wielded spread warmth to those around me, and those who had been crushed under the powers of the end began to rise one by one.

"Heh, pathetic bastard♡ That’s why you’re always losing♡ Stupid idiot♡"

"Right? Every time we meet, you keep getting beaten, don’t you ever get tired of it?"

"I know what this is. A masochistic freak! Lucy did this all the time!"

"The evil god who spread fear across the continent was actually a pervert with a crazy libido. How surprising."

"...Right, I guess so! How fitting! Maybe every time he challenged the Lord, it was because he wanted to get beaten!"

Watching my friends desperately trying to act strong, I smiled, and once again, I readied myself for battle.

I could feel my resolve strengthening.

"Alright. Struggle. The more resistance you show, the bigger the despair at the end will be. Let me enjoy your despair."

The advantage is still faint.

The hope that we might win feels undeserved.

I cannot deny that it is impossible to defeat the enemy in front of me.

But still, I won’t back down.

Because miracles only come to those who struggle.

"Indeed. My apostle. No matter how faint the possibility, if you don’t challenge it, you’ll never reach it."

A soft voice and a delicate, warm hand rests on my shoulder.

"If you hadn’t risen, I would never have come here. Yes, you created the possibility, and that’s why the miracle happened."

Turning away from the enemy, though I knew I shouldn’t, I knew I couldn’t forget the voice coming from behind me.

"I’ve missed you."

Her warm smile matched the happiest moment in Lucy's memories.