<Have you finally lost your mind? >
The first thing the old man said after hearing my story was to question whether I was in my right mind.
And it was understandable. After all, I had just suggested calling the second prince the “idiot prince.”
For an ordinary person, it wouldn’t be strange to find themselves on the guillotine for insulting royalty.
But I wasn’t an ordinary person. Lucy Alrn had done countless such things in the past.
She had called the current king livestock.
She had insulted the first prince, the powerful heir to the throne, calling him a gloomy stalker.
And she had mocked the third prince by touching on his complexes, saying he was pathetic.
Despite all this, Lucy—and I—were still standing here. I was proudly showing my face in the midst of many nobles, instead of being executed.
What would change now if I called the second prince an idiot?
Of course, the gaze of the second prince looking at me would become sharper. Since he was that idiot prince, he might try to plot revenge against someone who insulted him.
But isn’t that pretty much the same as it is now? Even if I were to ignore the second prince, his subordinates would still try to mess with me.
<...Listen, girl. I understand what you’re saying, but receiving pressure from his subordinate is completely different from incurring the wrath of the second prince himself. >
‘Is that so?’
<Yes. The pressure directed at you now remains below the surface. They must not let their master find out. But if you earn the second prince's hatred, the situation changes. >
‘So, there’s no reason to hold back then.’
Hmm. I see. I thought that if I got rid of the second prince's goodwill, the pressure would disappear, but it might actually become more troublesome.
This is why rookie political thoughts are no good.
Since I had thrown out that remark without thinking, I had given up as soon as I heard the old man’s admonitions, but he was different.
<...No, that’s not right. The current you is too valuable to give up. >
‘Grandpa?’
<Wait a moment. Let me think this through. >
He began muttering to himself as if he had had a sudden inspiration and then started asking several questions through me to Karia.
<Ask if the first prince's claim to the throne is solid.>
<What about the second prince’s influence? >
<Has the second prince ever defeated the first prince? >
After several exchanges, the old man emerged from his daydream with a playful tone and said:
<Let me correct myself. Your idea might not be so bad after all. Good. Let’s call him the idiot prince. >
‘...But you said it wasn’t a good idea?’
<I've overlooked one fact and made a wrong judgment. >
‘What’s that?’
<That you have become someone who can no longer be taken lightly. >
The day after the old man made his plan, I called the people closest to me.
I was going to explain what I was about to do.
I had devised a plan to call the second prince the “idiot prince” in public.
If I did this, it would certainly cause a commotion, and they would demand an explanation from me, so I had called them in advance.
As I gathered them in a private room, I tried to explain my plan, but right from the start, things went awry.
As soon as I mentioned that I would call the second prince the idiot prince, strong reactions burst forth.
“...Wait a minute. Lucy Alrn. Is what I heard really true?”
Arthur furrowed his brow, as if he had a headache.
‘Yes. It’s true.’
“Is it because you’ve been hearing about how pathetic he is that you think your hearing is pathetic too? Don’t worry. This time, the ears of the pathetic prince have worked just fine.”
“Are you really going to call my brother the idiot prince?! Do you have any sense at all?!”
Arthur’s yell echoed in the room.
It was fortunate that I had a device set up to prevent the sound from leaking outside; otherwise, the noise would have certainly escaped.
Why is this prince so careless?
“...I think I feel the same way. Lady Alrn, could you please call those above you by their proper names?”
As Arthur shouted, it seemed like Zoe finally regained her senses and spoke in a hesitant voice.
Since it was the request of my favorite character, I wanted to grant it as much as possible, but that was an impossible request. As long as I possessed the mesugaki skill, I wouldn’t be able to call someone any way I wanted.
“Everyone calm down. The lady must have her reasons.”
The only person who maintained composure amidst all this was Faybi. She suggested that we should trust me for now.
It was easy to guess why she had made that remark.
She knew I was a vessel of the god. Seeing me babble nonsense made her think that the useless god had delivered some kind of revelation.
Unfortunately, this time there were no words from the useless god, but I did not explain that.
How could I confess that I came up with such a crazy idea on my own? It was easier and more convenient to throw all the blame onto the useless god.
To be honest, the useless god wasn’t completely without fault. If he had adjusted my mesugaki skill in advance, I wouldn’t have had to make such a decision!
If we were to divide the liability ratio, it would be 90% his fault and 10% mine!
...Is that too heartless? Maybe 70-30 would be better?
“Faybi. Lady Alrn does not act without careful thought.”
“Right! What thought could she possibly have! This idiot is... no. Wait. Does she really have thoughts?”
“Prince?”
In this chaotic situation, the fortunate thing was that since entering Soul Academy, I had not made a bad track record.
I had always proven myself with good results.
Whether by intention or coincidence.
“Zoe, think about it. Has there ever been a time when Lady Alrn's actions led to a bad outcome?”
“...That is true.”
“First, I think it’s not too late to hear her story before making a judgment.”
With Faybi’s persuasion added to my track record, even Arthur and Zoe took a position of listening for now.
Once I confirmed that, I took a deep breath and opened my mouth again.
‘There’s no reason to do this without cause...’
“Am I not going to call the idiot prince an idiot prince for no reason? That foolish pervert is getting on my nerves, and his subordinates are bothering me too.”
After hearing my words, Zoe and Arthur nodded, as if they had an idea of what I meant.
Since those two were where they were, they would have heard the news that the second prince was interested in me.
“Certainly, from the perspective of the little prince, Lucy is an attractive target. The symbolism of having defeated the big prince is massive.”
“It’s also widely rumored that I and Faybi care for the lady. They must think that if they draw the lady in, they could get closer to us.”
What those two said was similar to the explanations the old man had given me.
Now I was indeed a very attractive target for the second prince.
As I had mentioned several times before, the current line of succession to the throne was effectively secured for the first prince.
The justification of being the eldest. An overwhelmingly powerful ability that anyone who had seen the first prince would recognize. A solid faction that supported him.
None of these were lacking, so how could the second prince find an opportunity?
Nobles are not fools. They know there’s little chance of winning by siding with the second prince.
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Unless the second prince has defeated the first prince in some contest, the situation would change slightly, but it has been proven many times that the second prince’s abilities overall are inferior to the first prince’s.
Because of this reality, the second prince’s faction isn’t substantial. Who would bet their life on a gamble with such slim chances of winning?
It’s a group related to the second prince’s maternal family, one that has a very poor relationship with the current first prince’s supporting faction. A foolish group trying to take a big risk. They wouldn’t think of siding with the second prince unless they were that kind of group.
And then there’s me.
The symbolism of having defeated the first prince in a contest. The background of the Alrn family, known as the kingdom’s guardians. The connections with the Partlan family, the saint of the god church, and the notable upcoming sword master.
I was someone who possessed all of these advantages, and for the second prince, I was undoubtedly a talent he needed to secure.
If he could draw someone like me into his faction, he could create a turnaround in a fight that seemed hopeless.
After explaining all this the previous night, the old man had chuckled and said:
<He will do anything to draw you in! One of the second prince's subordinates might even lose their head if they get word that you were being controlled!>
This was different from when the second prince first reached out to me. On the surface, it appeared that the second prince was superior, but in reality, it had become the other way around. I was the one in a position of power, and the second prince was the one dependent on me.
In simple terms, I was the master, and the second prince was the servant. So no matter what I called him, or what I said to him, the second prince would have to be on edge.
<If you can exploit this, you could get everything down to the bones!>
‘I don’t need that.’
Most of the things I desired right now weren’t something I could acquire just because I had status or power.
So, even if I had the second prince under my thumb, it would only lead to unnecessary troubles.
<What you want is for the second prince to stop bothering you, right?>
‘That’s right.’
<That’s simple.>
The old man said to make him wary of me.
At any moment, he could find himself distanced from the second prince, and he might end up in the first prince’s grasp.
So, I should keep the situation as it is and gradually win him over.
<Make the situation even. Just as you insulted the first prince, you should insult the second prince. You don’t do this out of hatred for the first prince, but simply show him what kind of person you are.>
At the end of all the explanations, the old man suggested that we compete with the dungeon raid of the academy.
A battlefield most favorable to me.
A place where I, the spoiled child of Soul Academy, could be confident that I would never lose.
<The second prince will never be able to refuse this.>
The evening before, when I laid out the old man’s words in front of everyone, silence filled the room.
What? Why do all of you have such expressions on your faces?
Arthur and Zoe looked at me as if they couldn’t believe it, and Faybi was smiling while nodding her head.
Is this a good reaction? Right?
I’m not Karia, so I can’t read emotions just by looking at their faces! Just say it!
As I looked around, feeling burdened by the silence, Frey, who had been distracted until now, suddenly spoke up.
“Um, Lucy.”
‘Yes?’
“What is it? Foolish swordsman.”
“Why is the idiot prince an idiot prince?”
...Are you seriously asking that now?
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TL note:
Dear Readers,
Thank you for reading the latest chapters of Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy! As Lucy faces new challenges and rivalries, I aim to capture her bold spirit and the nuances of her interactions. Your feedback is always welcome, as it helps enhance the translation.
Enjoy the story!
Best,
[SataBog]