TFWSDW 77

~Chapter 77~

It was a sign I never expected to see.

Of course, it wasn’t completely unfamiliar.

‘A sudden event? Why would that trigger here?’

In games where you roam around the field, random events or monsters could appear.

Black Salvator was no different.

The problem was… I’d never seen a sudden event happen in this chapter before.

‘Sure, it’s a probability thing… but still!’

Just like the Doghead Judge going berserk, why was my bad luck so strong?

‘And on top of that, a status effect? That’s one of the worst sudden events!’

[Status Effect ‘Control Decrease’ has occurred! (Duration: 7 days)]

[The strength of this status effect is proportional to the number of fanatics you have been in close contact with so far.]

[Fanatics you’ve encountered: ‘Three’]
(‘Usher Tatum’ (Named),
321st Underground District Branch Head ‘Decara’,
Connector ‘Andras’)

[Status effect strength tripled!]

‘You’ve got to be kidding me!’

A randomly triggered status effect — a bad one — and it activated at triple strength.

[Game Category: Forum][Small Talk]

[Full List of Status Effects]

No. 14 ‘Control Decrease’

◆ Low activation chance, but very annoying if it hits.

◆ In the lore, your holy power becomes unstable. Normally, skill activation chance -25% (can worsen depending on strength), skill power -32%.

◆ When fine control is needed, sometimes the skill amplifies instead and ruins things — a crap status effect. If you get this, it’s best to give up supernatural raids for a while.

◆ Easier to get the more named fanatics you meet. In other words, avoid guys like Usher as much as possible. If you get cursed by him… just endure it! (Like I care lol)

‘Yes… I regret ever writing “like I care” in the past…’

Because of the status effect, I felt an uncomfortable sensation like my strength was tied up.

But I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

“Candidate Nemesia?”

“…Yes.”

No choice. I raised the lamp high.

The black scarecrow used for practice reset after each candidate’s turn.

It followed my movements and lunged quickly.

‘Faster than I thought.’

As soon as I brought the lamp close to the scarecrow, my holy power gathered—

Bang!

Clang!

“Kyaa! Nemesia!”

When I came to, I was in a familiar embrace.

Glass shards were scattered messily across the floor.

“You alright?”

It was Dad, who had run in from the door. Around him were the startled professor and children with worried faces.

I just frowned.

‘Of all things, it had to amplify on the first try.’

This status effect was like constipation — when you want it to come out, it never does. But when it finally does, it’s like a constipated patient who just took laxatives — way too much all at once.

“…Ahem, I did say this tool requires delicate control of holy power.”

Professor An looked displeased and then delivered a stern verdict to me, still dangling in Dad’s arms.

“Candidate Nemesia. Major point deduction for breaking the tool and failing to follow class instructions.”

The room fell silent. Everyone stared at me in disbelief.

Flora’s eyes in particular looked like they would pop out. She seemed ready to become my lawyer on the spot.

Sure, I’d done well in the last test and at the Central Committee.

“Shouldn’t you first be asking if she’s hurt?”

Dad’s voice was tense. I secretly patted his hand.

“It’s my fault…”

I barely calmed him down and sent him back.

After a few warnings, I took turns with the other tools like the other kids.

‘…Just as I thought.’

The white Oathwood Staff stayed quiet in my hands.

Beep— Beep—

“Warning, Candidate Nemesia. Insert more holy power.”

“…I did.”

The pendant called the Knot of Revelation stayed silent at first, then glowed red — a sign of severely insufficient holy power.

Thud!

And to top it off, the Thread of Sanctity slipped from my hands in a tangled mess, hitting the floor.

The room fell silent again.

“…I told you to infuse holy power slowly.”

Professor An sighed. The stares on me had been cold for a while now.

“Today, Candidate, it will only be major deductions for you.”

His disappointed tone didn’t surprise me.

‘It’s not like I can do anything about it.’

If it’s a status effect, what can I do?

And… honestly, I kind of like it.

I barely held back a grin, pushing my lips out and pretending to cry.

“Okay…! Nemesia will just watch from the back…!”

I ran off to the back seats.

Since it came to this, I might as well use it to watch the others’ abilities.

As expected, Flora and Emmet showed great skill and were praised.

“Amazing! Impressive!”

And one more person got praise from Professor An.

It was the black-haired girl I had been watching.

I glanced at her, then returned to my seat.

Flora soon came back from her turn and awkwardly tried to comfort me.

“It’s… it’s okay, Nemesia! Failing this won’t… kill you!”

Yeah, Flora. It won’t kill me.

‘…But your voice might embarrass me to death.’

I could feel the stares from the kids again.

Flora wasn’t the only one trying to comfort me. Emmet came close and whispered so only I could hear.

“Hmm, Nemesia, if you’re okay with it… want me to teach you after class? Just the two of us.”

I didn’t even look at him.

‘Spy flirting? Out… so out…’

And so the practice ended.

Maybe because it was after the first test, most kids did fine.

No one completely failed like I did.

I chuckled inwardly.

‘Wow, after getting such a good score in the first test, I’m going to lose it all here.’

Normally, this is where people would swear and get frustrated, but like I said—

‘I actually like this!’

After going to the Central Committee, people who knew me would pay more attention.

If I can use this to naturally show that I’m just an ordinary kid, great.

‘Less attention on me. Heh, killing two birds with one stone.’

But there was still a problem.

The status effect would last for 7 days.

And in just 3 days, there was another test.

‘This next test… I’m going to have to use a lot of holy power.’

…Yeah, I’m screwed.

Meanwhile, in the back, Derrick had been watching everything and murmured in admiration.

‘What amazing acting skills.’

As expected, my kid was good at acting too.

He couldn’t hide his inner dad-pride.