The nobles dragged me through the city like I was some legendary criminal.
Except instead of fear, the people were confused.
"Who's that?"
"I dunno, but he looks like he hasn't slept since the dinosaur era."
"Maybe he's a demon?"
"No demon would dress like that."
I tried to defend myself.
"I JUST GOT HIT BY AN AIRBORNE TRUCK YESTERDAY! GIVE ME A BREAK!"
Everyone screamed.
"He's threatening the skies again!"
"He must have summoned the truck!"
"Is this…the Truck Apostle?!"
I. WAS. NOT. APOSTLE. OF. TRUCK-KUN.
But the system popped up anyway.
> [New Title Unlocked: The Truck Apostle]
Your connection to trucks is now considered a divine blessing.
I wanted to sue god.
---
The Dungeon of "We Couldn't Think of a Better Name"
They threw me into a fancy medieval jail cell.
I say "fancy" because the bars were made of shiny silver metal.
I say "jail" because they locked the door.
And I say "cell" because there was a bucket in the corner.
I sat down and sighed.
Hard.
The guard jumped.
"He's powering up!!"
"I AM NOT—"
> [Passive Skill Activated: Intimidating Sigh]
Everyone thinks your exhale is a forbidden technique.
The guard fell on his butt and scrambled away.
"LADY ELEANOR!!! HE'S ABOUT TO ESCAPE THROUGH SHEER WILLPOWER!"
Escape?
Me?
My willpower couldn't even get me a part-time job without burning down the building!
---
Enter Eleanor: Drama Queen Edition
Eleanor arrived, slamming the dungeon door open like it was an anime entrance.
Her silver hair swished.
Her cape fluttered.
Her tsundere aura radiated like a nuclear plant.
"LEON!" she shouted.
I flinched. "W-what?!"
She pointed her sword at me.
"You think you can fool me?"
"I LITERALLY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING SINCE WAKING UP!"
Another noble boy behind her gasped.
"Such confidence… even in chains… Truly a mastermind…"
STOP GENERATING LORE ABOUT ME.
The system pinged:
> [New Lore Added: You Are Apparently a Mastermind]
The world now believes you are 20 steps ahead at all times.
You are actually 20 episodes behind.
I stared at Eleanor.
"What do you people WANT from me?!"
Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"You don't remember what you did… do you?"
I opened my mouth to scream WHAT DID I DO?! again—
But then—
She gasped.
"You ARE trying to act innocent!"
"I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND—"
"Silence, villain!"
WHYYYYYY.
---
Misunderstanding Level: God-Tier
Eleanor stepped closer to the bars.
"You ruined my debut ceremony… don't tell me you forgot THAT."
My brain:
"…my what?"
My mouth:
"WHAT?!"
The nobles outside recoiled.
"H-he's roaring!"
"He's challenging Lady Eleanor!"
"He wants a duel to the death!"
I was literally inhaling.
That's it.
Just oxygen.
Eleanor pressed a hand to her chest dramatically.
"You dared to humiliate me back then…
And now you pretend ignorance?!"
My jaw dropped.
"HUMILIATED YOU HOW??"
Eleanor turned red.
The nobles turned red.
Even the guard turned red.
SYSTEM popped up:
> [Warning: You triggered an embarrassing flashback for everyone.]
Eleanor coughed.
"T-That… incident… when you… you know…"
"I REALLY DON'T KNOW!"
She stomped her foot.
"You picked up my skirt!"
My entire brain froze.
"…WHAT?!??!"
"DON'T ACT SURPRISED!" she shouted, face exploding red.
"You picked up my skirt in front of the entire academy!"
I blinked.
Then frowned.
Then mentally reviewed the last 24 hours.
"…Are you sure that was me?"
The nobles gasped again.
"He's denying it!"
"He's so evil!"
"He's trying to gaslight Lady Eleanor!"
The system cheerfully added:
> [New Passive: Gaslight Aura]
People will assume you're manipulating them even when you're confused.
I slammed my head against the bars.
"I WASN'T EVEN BORN IN THIS WORLD BACK THEN—"
Eleanor froze.
Then her face twisted.
"…Ah. So that's your new tactic."
"Tactic? I HAVE NO TAC—"
"I won't fall for your amnesia act."
She dramatically wiped a tear from her eye.
"It hurts more that you pretend not to remember…"
"I NEVER DID ANYTHING BECAUSE I WASN'T HERE!!"
She glared at me.
The nobles leaped between us like I was about to explode.
"LADY ELEANOR! HE'S CHANNELING HIS VOID ENERGY!"
"He must be summoning another truck!"
"THE TRUCK APOSTLE IS AWAKENING!"
I fell to my knees.
"I SWEAR ON EVERY TRUCK IN THE MULTIVERSE, I DIDN'T LIFT ANY SKIRT—"
The system dinged.
> [New Achievement: Truck Oath]
Your vows are now considered divine proclamations.
Eleanor gasped.
"S-so now you claim you're some kind of holy messenger?!"
I screamed.
"I AM NOT A HOLY ANYTHING—"
But too late.
A priest burst in.
Fell to his knees.
And began praying to me.
"OH DIVINE TRUCK APOSTLE, PLEASE GRANT US SAFE ROADS!"
I wanted to curl up and evaporate.
---
THE FINAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE CHAPTER
Eleanor stepped close to me again.
"So."
Her voice was soft.
Scary soft.
"Will you confess your sins…
or must I MAKE you confess?"
I gulped.
"How would you even do that—"
She slapped the bars.
Hard.
"WITH FORCE."
The nobles shrieked in admiration.
"So bold!"
"So noble!"
"So hot— I MEAN, JUSTICE!"
I backed away until my spine hit the wall.
"PLEASE—
I'M JUST AN UNLUCKY GUY WHO GOT HIT BY A FLYING TRUCK!!"
Eleanor squinted.
"You're not making this easier for yourself."
The system chimed one last, very evil ping.
> [End of Chapter 2]
Misunderstanding Level: ∞
Reputation Level: -999
Truck Blessing: +1
---