[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-advent-of-the-three-calamities":3,"chapter-advent-of-the-three-calamities-advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-88":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Advent of the Three Calamities",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},758573,1005,"Chapter 88 Festival [1]","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-88",88,"\u003Cp>88 Festival [1]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aoife closed the door to her room. Her room was no different than usual. It was clean, with little to no decorations. It was just bland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking a deep breath, she headed for her desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was one place that wasn't clean and organized it'd be her desk. With all sorts of colored pens, pencils, and writing instruments, her desk was anything but clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tossing her script onto the desk, she sat down and opened the pages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the past week, it had been her routine to spend at least a few hours trying to analyze the script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was supposed to be no different, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....How do I do this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His image continued to appear in her mind, sapping away all motivation from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way he acted... From his facial expressions to demenour. It was overwhelming. To the point where she couldn't even find a single flaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the fact that she was supposed to act with 'that' only put more pressure on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her inability to keep up would become glaring to those watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, they would even think that she didn't put in any effort and that they had selected the wrong person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's not true.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aoife bit her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effort was there. But who was anyone to know? They only cared about what was in front of them and not what happened behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She understood this concept all too well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, she knew that despite her frustrations, she couldn't rely on excuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flip—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing she could do was put in more effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To show them that she could keep up and that she wasn't being lazy. For that reason, she needed to spend even more time trying to immerse herself in the role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her image was important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn't let herself tarnish it due to not being able to perform as well as he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flip—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll do it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of how much it hurt her, she planned on perfectly mastering the character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the remaining week until the start of the festival, Aoife only slept three hours a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip! Drip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....N-no, why are you doing this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as her nose bled, she continued to flip through the script while looking at a nearby mirror to check her expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face was pale and her hair was a mess, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I... Help!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She never once gave up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And by the time it was time for the festival, Aoife's acting underwent a tremendous transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The festival was a week-long event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all sorts of attractions, it was an important event that was designed to showcase the Academy's facilities, and their ability to train the elites of the empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main gate of the Academy was flooded with new faces, all of whom handed invitations that the security guards checked at the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hi! Please follow me, I am Josephine, and I will be your guide for today's orientation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the front of the gate was the cheery Josephine who led a group of several important figures around the Academy campus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I guess they had a reason to choose her over Aoife.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given how bright her cheerful personality was, she was well-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>received by the guests from the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Aoife been the one to guide them then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could already imagine just how stiff the atmosphere would've been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the time, 10 A.M. I decided to spend some time looking around at the Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The play wasn't going to start until the third day, and while there indeed were combat exams and mid-terms in the following week, I thought about spending today to destress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the rate I was currently pushing my body, it was starting to fail me. For that reason, I had no choice but to spend some time to relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were my initial thoughts. However, I knew that I was probably being followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What a pain.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was for this reason that I chose to remain outside in public. I didn't know the identity of the person following me. Were they from the organization, or was it the senior?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, I kept my guard up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was until I found my steps halting and I turned to my right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our eyes met and she blinked her big eyes. Holding onto a large pastry, she looked around before nearing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....You didn't see anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes squinted, and I moved my hands over my mouth in a zipping motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My mouth is sealed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From her gaze, I could tell that she didn't seem to believe me, but who would I even tell? It wasn't as if I had any friends to gossip with, and who would even believe me if I told them the chancellor was a pervert who enjoyed being a kid?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of a sudden, Delilah extended her hand in my direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want money? I don't have any to give.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If not money, then...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I patted my pockets and shook my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't have any. They're back in the dorm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet again, Delilah shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned and thought about what her actions could mean, but I was stumped. In the end, it was her that explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your hand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My hand...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked and looked at her hand. It finally clicked, and I leaned my head back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want me to hold your hand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hell...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It'll make things easier for me. My current appearance is too suspicious, and since I can't go in my normal form, I need someone to accompany me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense if she put it that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But why me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn't we have an agreement?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We indeed had one. It was the price that I had to pay for her to train me. Sighing inwardly, I finally relented and grabbed her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded happily and pointed towards the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go there. I want to try that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ye-uhk!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't even have the time to agree before she suddenly dragged me. For such a little body, she certainly had a lot of strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We sell cotton candy! The finest cotton candy~!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The destination was none other than the cotton candy stand. The line was short, and waiting behind the counter was a rather buff man with a beard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ho, ho! Are you here for some cotton candy? For your little sister?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked down at Delilah and felt my mouth twitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister? How was I going to respond to this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delilah shook her head and responded with a flat voice. The problem lay in the fact that despite her best attempts to sound mature, the polymorph effect distorted her voice, making it sound rather childlike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm older than him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper blinked his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, Delilah continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm his older sister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I exchanged glances with the man and pursed my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's as she said.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ohhh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper winked at me as if he had understood something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, she really was older...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would you like some cotton candy? How many would you like?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked down to see Delilah carefully counting with her little fingers. She seemed to be indecisive between two or three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Three.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She eventually settled for three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Coming right up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his appearance, the man was an expert at this. Within moments, he had three sticks done as he handed them to us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That will be ten Rend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked down at Delilah who looked back at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seriously?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I reached out for my wallet and took out a single bill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here you go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was a pleasure serving you. Next~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like that, I was once again dragged around by her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get me that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, my wallet started to drain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever had sugar in it, she bought it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to try that too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With my money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want-\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've run out of money. \"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at my empty wallet, I didn't know whether to feel happy or sad. Maybe it was a mixture of both.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sad that I was broke, but happy that I no longer had to be dragged around by her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delilah seemed a little disappointed by the development. In the end, throwing away a wrapper, she patted her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....I'm satisfied.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm glad you are.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was I finally going to be set free?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking out a tissue to clean her hands, Delilah casually glanced behind as her expression flickered back to her usually frosty one. It was as if her entire demenour had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've been followed the entire time, do you know that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprised by the sudden question, I lowered my head to meet her gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, I lost myself in her eyes as they stared back at me, threatening to suck me in at any second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly recovering myself, I realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you drag me around because you wanted to confirm this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. I just wanted to eat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, it felt like she was half-lying. Perhaps it was a bit of both.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, I nodded my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, I'm aware.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need for me to lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....Do you want me to help you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're willing to help?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a bit surprising to hear this. However, after thinking about it for a few seconds, I shook my head and rejected her offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....I'll have to decline.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether she was doing it to repay the favor for buying her the candy and stuff, I didn't need her help. Sure, things would indeed be a lot easier were she take matters into her own hands, but that wasn't what I needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a certain goal I had in mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her interference would ruin what I had in mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delilah stared at me without saying anything. I couldn't tell her thoughts at all, and the more time passed, the more uncomfortable her gaze became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to say something, her small lips parted open as she went on to ask,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard you're going to perform at a play.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is your role going to be big?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, it's not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delilah seemed to have fallen into contemplation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, raising her head, she said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll be watching. Don't disappoint.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her figure gradually blended with the background. Her actions were subtle, with hardly anyone around noticing her sudden disappearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was a little worried that the person observing me would notice something, but I didn't think Delilah would make things difficult for me like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Perhaps there's still an illusion next to me.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, I looked down at my watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were still a few hours before the first day of the festival ended. I had lost a few hours but still had some time to myself. For now, I planned on enjoying my day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Popping balloon! Pop the balloons and you win a prize!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come here and eat the delicious food that we have!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A one-in-a-million act! Come watch!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the pitches coming from the stalls, I decided to head to one that interested me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A customer!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stomach gurgled at the sight that was before me. It looked like a roasted pig, but at the same time didn't. Perhaps a monster from the mirror dimension...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, it looked and smelled delicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looks like you can't resist the smell. Haha, here, I'll prepare one for you. It'll be 15 Rend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay. \"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed before reaching out for my wallet. Since I was planning on enjoying a few hours to myself, it wouldn't hurt to try it, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making up my mind, I opened my wallet and prepared to take out a few bills to pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only that...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no more money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here you go, sir~\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1998,"2026-06-02T12:40:56.142Z",1,"novelbin.me","224756740e7b10eab086422d27bab73a662ce48f00387c7cf7213bfe30f4a99a","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-89","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-87",876,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fadvent-of-the-three-calamities-cover.jpg"]