The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 24 Still in the Fantasy
After a series of vomiting sounds, there was a burst of laughter.

The complaints from her friends inevitably reminded Goya of the article that had been harshly criticized last night—

'The nobles' money was returned in full, while the commoners' money was split three-seven.'

She studied the words and phrases for a long time before finally summarizing Mr. Versace's behavior that day on paper.

But the professor's angry rebuke meant that the academy could no longer tolerate any genuine voices.

She also wanted to stay and work at the college.

Her beauty was her greatest asset, but it also brought her a curse.

While she thrived in social situations, she was also objectified as a commodity coveted by too many people for her looks and body.

She longed to remain independent, which is why she hoped to stay in the academy and support herself by teaching, without having to please any nobleman at court.

Therefore, she was willing to set aside this insignificant desire for expression, heed her mentor's teachings, and uphold the college's status.

Even if you can't help but think—

"How wonderful it would be if I could be like the poet on that stone tablet, saying what I want to say and doing what I want to do?"

Goya, and even the sullen poets present, couldn't help but fantasize again.

Mentioning that poet, junior student Su Wen suddenly slapped his forehead:
"By the way, do you think new content will be engraved on the stone tablet today?"

"Since it's in the form of a log, perhaps new content will be produced every day?"

"I'm a little curious about what he'll write today. I'll let you in on a secret: I've been trying to compose music for his ballad since last night, but I just can't get the feeling of 'fuck the landlord, fuck life' out of the box."

The brown-haired poet who had vomited was somewhat excited.

"Pluto, are you crazy? If the dean finds out, you'll be expelled from the academy!"

"Hey, relax. There are only a few of us here. If we don't tell anyone, how will the Dean hear us? Or do you think Goya is a gossipy old bird?"

Pluto looked at Goya with a mocking expression.

As a temporary teaching assistant, Ulasang's most prized student's attitude is crucial:

"In fact, I also think that poets should have more freedom in the direction of their creations."

In fact, Goya herself did not hold any clear attitude.

She just knew these people liked to hear that.

If a different, more conservative group of poets were chosen, she would adopt a different set of arguments.

But her words reassured the poets present:

“Goya, I believe you can become a full professor and lead the academy to a complete reform.”

"I wish that day would come soon. I'm really tired of writing those flattering words. Every day in the academy just makes me feel bored... Look, even drinking is boring now."

"Our lives are so boring..."

"I have an idea!"

Su Wen slapped his forehead.
"Why don't we go back to the stone tablet and take another look?"

"..."

The dormitory was silent, but the cawing of crows outside the window was clearly audible.

Pluto gave a wry smile:
"What are you thinking? The central garden area has been sealed off by the Dean; no one can approach the stone tablet without his permission..."

Wait, we seem to have a song too—"

"Sorry, I think I'm a little drunk. Maybe I should go back and rest."

Seeing that the topic was about to turn to her again, Goya quickly pretended to be drunk and shook her head.

Please!

She was able to use her status as the dean's student to get through the sealed-off garden.

But that doesn't mean she's willing to be used as a pawn!
Pluto was clearly targeting her; if she stayed any longer, she would probably be forced to do things she didn't want to do.

Having figured this out, Goya bowed directly to her friends and said:
Have a wonderful evening, everyone.

"Senior Sister Geya—" Su Wen wanted to stop her, but found that she didn't even have the ability to stand up steadily.

When he fell to the ground and looked up, he could no longer find Goya's beautiful figure.

"Bichi."

Pluto grunted and let out a burp.
"Isn't it just because you have a pretty face that you got the temporary teaching assistant position? You're not even willing to help with this little bit of work..." "Senior Pluto, that's going too far," Su Wen couldn't help but retort.

"Hey, Su Wen. Why don't you think about this? She's so young, she hasn't even graduated yet, how did she become a temporary teaching assistant ahead of schedule? Don't you understand what her relationship is with our bald dean?"

"Pluto!"

Seeing that he was going too far, the other poets couldn't help but rebuke him.

"you're drunk."

"No, I'm more clear-headed than anyone else! What 'temporary teaching assistant'? That sounds nice, but she probably already reserved that position for me, all because of her—ugh!"

Pluto couldn't hold back his nausea and vomited on the bed again.

Before anyone could say anything more, they saw him close his eyes and collapse into the puddle of mush.

They exchanged a glance and couldn't help but shake their heads:
“Brother Su Wenxue, Pluto is actually a good person.”

Unfortunately, he and Goya were rivals.

Jealousy clouded his judgment.

Su Wen didn't care about Pluto; she was just glad that Senior Sister Goya left early and didn't hear the jealous person's insults.

What he didn't know was that Goya, who had already left, had actually anticipated that she would be criticized in secret.

But she knew that this was what she deserved.

"People are used to giving meaning to ugliness and dragging beauty into the mire. It's as if doing so can demonstrate their kindness and cover up their jealousy."

She is clear-headed and doesn't care too much about these things.

However, as she walked through the academy's connecting corridor and saw the two imposing guards, hired by the dean to watch over the stone tablet, standing motionless in the direction of the garden in the distance.

The warm summer night breeze brushed against her cheeks, stirring up that rebellious thought.

“My mentor ordered me to find this poet, and therefore granted me special permission to approach the stone tablet.”

So if I just observe it myself and don't tell anyone, there shouldn't be any problems..."

She is not a conventional person.

The moment this rebellious thought took root and sprouted in her heart, Goya had already taken her first step into the garden—

"I just wanted to sneak a peek and see if that poet was just a flash in the pan."

"That's right, maybe his new story doesn't meet my expectations?"

"That way I won't constantly think about him or fantasize about becoming him..."

She kept convincing herself until she reached the two construct guards.

As magical creations, their magnificent armor contains only a wisp of air, yet it retains the most basic consciousness.

Upon realizing that Goya was approaching, they wielded their greatswords to block her way.

Goya took out a medal bestowed upon her by Ulasang, bearing the emblem of the [Song of the Bard] academy:

“My mentor, Ulasang, allowed me to pass through here.”

The greatswords that were crossed in front of her moved aside, and the construct guards even turned sideways, allowing Goya to pass through easily.

When she stood at the foot of the stone tablet and looked up at the starlight at the top, sure enough, she discovered a second 'star'.

[June 8, 1000 of the Lost Calendar, Xingmei Town, Sunny.]

The day after I was kicked out of the tavern, I encountered a kobold...

At first, when Goya realized that the owner of this journal seemed to be recording the weakest subterranean creatures on this continent, she couldn't help but feel disappointed:
"Indeed, human creativity is finite. Even this poet can't help but use such mundane content to record a diary?"

In fact, if you only encounter a kobold, there's nothing worth recording. Writing it in your journal would be a waste of ink and paper.

I bet that if this inconspicuous creature, just like a goblin, appeared in any article, readers would judge it as filler or a pointless piece of writing.

But then again, it was an intelligent kobold that had learned Common Language and spells on its own in a short period of time.

There might be a giant dragon behind it all.

That's something worth discussing.

"Kobold? Dragon?"

Goya's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the content—

(End of this chapter)