After the mist that had obscured my surroundings cleared, I opened my eyes again to find myself in front of the Alrn family estate.
Why is this place showing up now?
There’s absolutely nothing here that I want.
The trial of the Saitil Forest involves escaping the illusion created by that foolish fox.
When the trial begins, the fox uses its power to show the participants what they most desperately desire. Overcoming the trial means escaping from that illusion, while succumbing to it results in failure.
Describing this in game terms is difficult, but when actually playing, it felt less like testing a character’s mental fortitude and more like navigating a maze.
Now, though, this is the real world, not some reality behind a monitor. Instead of a maze, what I desire should appear. But since this estate is what has materialized, it must be Lucy’s desire being reflected.
Just like last time, when I faced the trial from that old man and Lucy’s nightmare played out before me.
Talk about disappointing. If something I truly wanted had appeared, I might’ve enjoyed it for a while before returning.
But now there’s nothing here for me to enjoy.
As I went to sling my shield across my back, I realized that both of my hands were empty.
Ah. Since this is Lucy’s illusion, of course, there wouldn’t be any weapons or armor.
So, the clothes I’m wearing now must be that cursed dress with too many frills and gemstones plastered all over, right?
Furrowing my brow, I looked down, only to be surprised by the fact that my outfit was more normal than I expected.
What the—? For something Lucy’s wearing, it’s actually pretty decent.
It’s still a dress, but it’s not flashy. It’s calm.
This is actually something I wouldn’t mind wearing.
I’ve been in a skirt so often lately because of the academy uniform that I’ve gotten used to it.
Feeling a bit better, I decided to end this trial quickly. I opened the door and stepped inside.
What is Lucy’s deepest desire, I wonder? Judging by what I saw during the old man’s trial, I can make a guess.
“Oh my, Lucy! Are you back from playing outside?”
As soon as I entered the mansion, I was greeted by a woman wearing a white dress.
I recognized her face. Not from the game, but because I had seen her during the old man’s trial.
Lucy’s mother. The same woman who, during the old man’s trial, lay in bed, hurling cruel words at Lucy. But now, she was smiling brightly, her face lively and full of warmth.
“Yes, mother... Huh?!”
What the—? Why did that just slip out of my mouth?!
I thought it was only Lucy’s wish being granted, but has mine also been fulfilled?
“Lucy?”
I was planning to escape the illusion as quickly as possible, but now things are different.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Maybe I can talk like a normal person for once!
Joy looked at the girl pulling her hand and sighed.
As soon as the field trip began, Lady Alrn explained the trial that the forest ruler would impose.
Once inside, you would see the landscape you most desperately desired. If you realized it was an illusion and escaped, you would pass the trial.
Joy had mentally prepared herself before the trial began, and it didn’t take long after entering to realize that this was an illusion.
“Wow! The smell alone makes my mouth water! What do you think? Do you think we can eat everything in there?!”
That’s because there’s no way a lively, kind-hearted, and innocent Lucy Alrn could exist.
Sigh. So my deepest desire is to visit a bakery with a sincere and honest Lady Alrn? Really?
Lady Rina, are you serious? Is this some kind of joke? There’s no way this is truly my greatest wish.
“Oh my! Isn’t this the great sorceress, Lady Joy Patran?!”
As Lucy dragged me, almost forcibly, into the bakery, the shop attendant inside gasped in admiration. And Lucy, of course, responded in kind.
“That’s right! She’s an incredible friend, far too amazing for me!”
...So, if this illusion is entirely accurate, it means I want Lady Alrn to acknowledge me, to become my friend, and to be praised by others as a great sorceress?
Joy thought this over and ran her hands down her face.
This is so embarrassing and humiliating.
I can’t even hold my head up because I can’t bring myself to scream that this illusion is mocking me.
Because, deep down, these are things I’ve wished for at least once in my life.
But what am I supposed to do?! Every time Lady Alrn looks at me with that pure smile, I keep thinking, ‘Maybe it’s okay to enjoy this for a little while longer.’
In the real world, she’ll call me ‘idiot noblewoman’ and mock me, but here it’s different!
Here, she’s holding my hand, calling my name, and considering me a friend!
And there’s delicious bread on top of it all!
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Lady Alrn said herself that all I have to do is escape at the end of the trial. So until then, I can enjoy it, right?
“Welcome, Lady Patran. We’ve prepared a seat for you.”
“Ahhh!”
Up until this point, Joy had gritted her teeth and endured the innocent version of Lucy and everything else. But when her childhood dream of a prince on a white horse appeared, she hit her limit.
Unable to bear the sight of her past embarrassments coming to life, Joy quickly escaped the illusion. Gasping for breath, she pressed her hands firmly against her eyes.
I can’t believe I still wanted that? Seriously? After all this time? It can’t be. I thought I’d left that dream behind as a child!
“Oh. You woke up quickly. I thought you would enjoy it for a little longer.”
Hearing a voice, Joy cautiously lifted her head. There, propping up her chin with her hand, was the ruler of the forest.
“Lady Rina?”
“That’s right.”
“Do you know what I saw in the illusion?”
“A little girl with charming twin tails showing off her pure and innocent side, just as befits her small stature. As much as rebellion is delightful, a cheerful childlike demeanor is just as good. Classic is classic for a reason. And then—”
“Please stop right there!”
“Hehehe.”
Joy felt utterly humiliated as Rina laughed at her. The laugh wasn’t one of dignity but more like the creepy cackle of a sleazy old man telling dirty jokes at a bar.
I know she’s an important figure, but... she really gives off that unsettling vibe.
She feels like one of those nasty aristocrats who stick their nose everywhere and try to charm women.
Joy did her best to ignore Rina’s laughter and looked around.
Just moments ago, she’d been in the middle of the forest for the field trip, but where am I now?
“This is my residence. I couldn’t leave you lying on the dirt, so I brought you here personally.”
Before Joy could turn her head fully, Rina answered.
“And before you ask, the others are in different rooms. We mustn’t interrupt their trials, after all.”
“Was I the first to wake up?”
“No, not quite. From my experience, the more charming a person is, the more they tend to be greedy.”
Joy hadn’t spoken much with Rina yet.
But even so, she already felt like she knew a fair amount about her. That’s because Rina didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding herself.
If Rina treated Lady Kent with such cold indifference, calling her ‘lacking in charm,’ then that means she must be awake already.
And since Lady Alrn received the most favor from Rina, she must still be in the middle of her trial.
How odd. I would’ve thought Lady Alrn would wake up first and mock me with something like, ‘You’re so slow, idiot noblewoman. Even when I give you a hint, you can’t do anything with it? Useless. Idiot.’
“Well now, it’s boring to sit here and talk idly. As your host, it’s my duty to offer you hospitality. Come, follow me.”
“Yes.”
“Is there anything you’d like to drink? I’ll do my best to match your tastes.”
Rina, who had been spouting her usual nonsense, suddenly fell silent.
“Is something wrong?”
“It seems like an exception to my theory might be arising.”
Joy tilted her head in confusion at the cryptic answer, but Rina offered no further explanation.
“Yes. Very much.”
Lucy’s mother was an incredibly bright and cheerful person. It was hard to believe she was the parent of Lucy, who was often called the disgrace of the Alrn family.
Even considering that this is Lucy’s ideal illusion, this version of her parents is way too perfect.
No matter how you look at it, these are the parents of that bratty mesugaki Lucy. Given that Benedict shows no signs of such behavior, there must be something off about this woman, right?
But from what I’ve seen so far, there’s nothing wrong with her. She’s just a kind mother, plain and simple.
I even tried provoking her on purpose, wondering if she was suppressing her true nature, but she just smiled and laughed it off.
How in the world did this sweet, kind mother and that boastful Benedict end up raising someone like Lucy, who’s such a bratty mesugaki? Did her personality change over time?
I’m a little curious now. I might look into it when we return to the Alrn estate during the break.
But whatever. It’s time to wake up.
I enjoyed the conversation, happy to speak without the mesugaki skill affecting me, but I can’t linger any longer.
If I stay asleep much longer, who knows what that foolish fox will do next.
“Oh, are you leaving already?”
As I stood up from the chair, Lucy’s mother looked visibly disappointed. If it were the real Lucy in my place, she might have hesitated, but I wouldn’t.
To me, the woman in front of me is nothing more than a pretty stranger.
“Yes, I should go now.”
“I’m sad to see you go, but take care.”
After breaking free from the illusion, I found myself staring at the wooden ceiling, slowly rising to my feet.
‘Hello.’
“Hey. Useless.”
Just in case, I tried talking to myself, but the mesugaki skill was as strict as ever.
Sigh. Of course. There’s no way the masochistic god, who loves verbal abuse, would let me off the hook. I was foolish for even hoping.
I let out a long sigh and was about to get up from the bed to inform everyone I had cleared the trial when the door suddenly swung open, and Joy, Frey, and that foolish fox all rushed into the room.
What’s going on? Did they come to congratulate me? But they all look so serious. I haven’t seen Joy this tense in a long time.
“Lady Alrn, something terrible has happened. It’s Faybi.”
Huh? What happened to Faybi?