Chapter 374: Chapter 374

“Hm? Ah, yes. She’s been focused on training recently. Something about… feeling like she’ll face the Snake Mask again?”

“Any reason for that?”

“She said it was a gut feeling. Honestly, it’s nonsense. He should’ve run far away by now.”

Rodelin spoke as if it was nothing to worry about, but I couldn’t brush it off.

Lowell sensed that she’d face me again?

In reality, that could be dismissed as a mere hunch, but since I knew this was a game, I couldn’t take it lightly.

‘Because in this game, every little detail is a hint.’

Even if it’s just a “gut feeling,” it’s not something to ignore.

I could think about the implications later. For now, I needed to extract more information.

“Keke, a showdown between Lady Lowell and the Snake Mask… how unfortunate. It sounds like it’d be fun.”

“Personally, I think it’s a relief. That guy was strong, sure, but he didn’t seem like a bad person. If his identity were revealed and he acted openly, he could become a major asset to the Empire…”

Rodelin, who had been talking excitedly, suddenly clapped her hands over her mouth.

“Ah, no. Forget I said that.”

“Keke, the vice president of the academy supporting a suspicious figure… that would make quite the story in tomorrow’s paper.”

“I-It’s not like that!”

Rodelin flailed her arms, flustered. She was in the perfect state to be questioned further.

“Still, I’m worried about Lady Lowell. It must be hard enough just doing her duties, and now she’s also training on the side. Where does she even find the time?”

“She’s the second strongest person here, isn’t she? To prepare for the worst-case scenario, she was ordered to rest at night. But she’s been using most of that time to train instead, which is a problem…”

“She trains until dawn?”

“That’s right. Staying up all night negatively affects her daily duties, but… she won’t listen no matter how much you tell her.”

Rodelin’s grumbling continued for quite some time. I already got the useful information, so I just nodded along appropriately.

You’re wondering if I need to find out where exactly she trains?

No, it’s fine. Because we have…

As if sensing something, the idiot hair sticking out from Rezé’s head bent sharply in my direction at a perfect right angle.

“Wh-Why are you looking at me?”

“Keke, what a beautiful angle. I almost want to have it for myself.”

“Ki-Kiiiiii! The demon is plotting something againnnnn!”

Rezé started flailing. Though all she did was hop side to side like a rabbit.

At last, Rodelin seemed to snap out of it and spoke up.

“The street’s all clean now. Thank you, everyone. Zero, you really should take the position of cleaning manager…”

“Refusal denied. Once this mission is over, I will appoint you as cleaning manager, so take note!”

After checking the street one more time, Rodelin gathered her belongings.

The cracked lunchbox and the stained cloth wrap.

Perhaps sensing our worried gazes, Rodelin quickly began to speak.

“As I said earlier, this is my fault. She’s been on edge lately. And to prepare something like a lunchbox for someone getting ready for battle… I wasn’t being considerate. It was a mistake on my part.”

Rodelin was desperately defending Lowell.

Seeing the always-proud Rodelin making such absurd excuses… it honestly made my heart ache.

It was hard to watch.

Luna spoke to Rodelin.

“We understand everything. But I hope you also know it’s not your fault either. You were just thinking of family, after all.”

“Family, huh… Yeah… you’re right…”

Rodelin left with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

Watching her go, I gathered my thoughts.

To summarize the information Rodelin gave:

Lowell has a gut feeling she’ll face the Snake Mask again.

Lowell has begun personal training.

Cleaning manager confirmed.

None of this ever appeared in the original game. But—

‘What am I supposed to do with this?’

Find Lowell during her training.

Clean the training area.

Talk behind Snake Mask’s back.

She gives me the Proof Token.

Happy ending, happy ending.

Hmm, what a wonderful development.

Very good. I’ll go find Lowell tonight, clean for her, and get the medallion…

There’s no way things will go that smoothly.

A student sneaking out at night is already a big problem, and the target is an on-edge wild lion.

If I don’t get torn apart, it’ll be a miracle.

‘Tch, this is why multiple playthroughs are necessary…’

But since that’s not an option now, the only path I can take is:

‘Give up on the main quest and focus on Baron Kelven’s case.’

That was the only choice. It was unfortunate I couldn’t prove my hypothesis about the Dark Beast Squad, but there was no helping it.

‘You only get one life.’

I can prove the hypothesis in the next episode.

It’s disappointing to abandon the main quest, but the penalty is manageable.

Abandoning it was the correct decision.

‘It was always that kind of game anyway.’

In fact, I’ve been lucky so far. I’ve cleared quests in a row that should’ve been failed two or three times by now.

Just as I made up my mind, I noticed Luna trembling.

Her fists were clenched in fury.

“To think someone would treat such a kind senior that way… I didn’t like her from the start, but now I really can’t stand that woman.” The source of this content ɪs novelFirｅ.net

“Keke, maybe there’s a hidden reason we don’t know about?”

“What kind of reason could justify acting like that?”

“Well… maybe she stole her only childhood snack?”

“You think this is the time for jokes?”

Luna whipped her head toward me.

I didn’t know why she was so mad, but her whole body radiated anger.

Her eyebrows twisted in a fierce arc—she looked positively venomous.

If that venom were directed at me… I didn’t even want to imagine the outcome.

I raised both hands and spoke.

“It’s just not worth getting involved. There’s nothing more foolish than meddling in someone else’s family affairs.”

“Even so, family shouldn’t treat each other that way. You know that too. You should treat your family well… while they’re still here.”

Luna, who had lost her entire family in an instant.

Only then did I understand why Luna was so angry.

She was furious at Lowell for not cherishing her family.

“I’ve been holding it in because of you… but I can’t anymore. I’ll fix it! That rotten attitude of treating family like trash!”

Luna’s eyes blazed with fire.

No—wait, what? You’ve been holding back all this time? Because of me?

I had no idea what she was talking about.

“Keke, weren’t you holding back because you were afraid of Lady Lowell?”

“I held back because of you! You said you needed the Proof Token!”

It felt like lightning struck my head.

That’s right. Luna wasn’t someone who bowed down just because someone was strong.

If something’s unjust, she bites back. If a friend or ally needs help, she runs to them.

That’s Luna’s ‘pride.’

‘I thought she was holding back out of respect for her teacher Lucia… but it was because of me?’

Sitting quietly like a scolded cat.

Doing splits with me to match Lowell’s attitude.

Keeping still while Lowell lashed out at me and Rodelin.

She did it all for me.

“I thought if I bought us some time like always, you’d come up with a way to handle it. Because you’re that kind of person. Someone who doesn’t submit to power. My proud friend!”

“But what is this? Is this really the only way? Even though senior is being treated like that, we’re supposed to just let it go!?”

Tears welled up in Luna’s eyes.

Looking at me like I wasn’t even worth biting, she turned her back with a huff.

“I’ve had it! I can’t hold it in anymore! I’m gonna smack her one!”

“N-No, you can’t! Seriously, you’ll die!”

“Let go! That’s no lion! I’ll fix that nasty attitude!”

Luna stomped forward as if she really meant to do it.

Rezé clung to Luna’s waist. But she couldn’t stop her.

With Rezé dangling from her side, Luna took one step, then another.

“E-Eeeeeek! S-Someone stop her pleaaase!”

So that’s what a rabbit being dragged to a lion’s jaws looks like.

But I couldn’t help her. There was something more urgent right now.

‘She’s going to punch Lowell?’

That’s insane. Like trying to punch a real lion—utter madness.

‘There’s something… something here.’

If even this is part of the design. From Lowell’s appearance to Luna’s outburst—if all of it connects—

My mind began spinning, faster than ever.

Hundreds of puzzle pieces started shifting in my head.

Lowell, Rodelin, their relationship, the Lucid family’s secret, the Proof Token, the Dark Beast Squad’s true nature, Lowell’s intuition, her personal training.

The Trash hero’s hidden story and its embedded lesson, and the overarching theme of this episode.

The ‘mysterious event’ that triggers upon landing the first hit on Lowell in the game.

A puzzle came together. Still missing a few pieces, but it showed Rodelin smiling brighter than ever.

It was a fairly good puzzle.

Of course, it came with the condition of risking my life.

‘…It might be worth trying.’

Well… listing what I have to do tonight would take forever. But if I had to sum it up in one sentence—

‘Hunting the mad lion.’

That’s right. Starting now—

I’ll become the hunter of the mad lion.

And the most critical puzzle piece needed to succeed in this hunt—

“Alright, Rezé! You’re mad too, right? Let’s go! Let’s stick a mana bullet right between that lion’s eyes!”

“K-Kyaaaa! L-Lions tear people aparttttt!”

Luna equipped Rezé to her side.

To control that runaway nuclear rabbit so easily… I’ll have to try it next time too.

“Keke, please go on ahead.”

“There’s something I forgot to bring.”

Luna, who had been ready to charge off, turned her gaze toward me.

The fierce curve of her eyebrows slowly softened.

“Hmph~ So you’ve finally figured it out? Well… not that you need help or anything?”

Luna let out a knowing snort. Her eyes clearly saying she wanted to help.

I could’ve moved in secret like always. Luna would’ve trusted me and let me go.

“Yes. Could you lend a hand? After all… I can’t do this alone.”

Luna’s eyes widened like full moons. I thought they might pop out.

“Yes. It’s something I absolutely can’t do without you, Luna.”

Whether it was surprise or emotion, Luna’s eyes reddened.

“H-Honestly… You really can’t do anything without me, huh? So? Where are we going? Hurry and lead the way!”

Luna wiped her eyes with her hand. I grabbed that hand without a word and started running.

“P-Please take me toooooo!”

With Rezé sprinting on all fours behind us.

“Hm? What is this place…?”

“It’s Granny Peggy’s house.”

Luna’s eyes curved like half-moons.

“Don’t tell me… you really did come back for something you forgot?”

“…You didn’t, right?”

“Ugh! Seriously! Give me back my heartfelt moment!”

Dodging Luna’s mid-air chomping attack, I entered the house.

Granny Peggy, who had been petting her cat, looked up at us.

“Hm? What brings you back? Did you leave something?”

“I came to answer the quiz.”

“The quiz? Ah, you mean the secret hidden in the story I told earlier.”

Granny Peggy continued stroking the cat as if it were nothing special.

She clearly didn’t think I’d get the right answer.

There wasn’t much time left, so I got straight to the point.

The Trash hero, the hidden secret in that story—it was this.

“They killed the woodcutter, didn’t they?”

Granny Peggy’s hand stopped.

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