The last time Duke Patran teleported me, I remembered the comfort it brought, and I hoped I could have a similar experience this time.
Of course, I knew the reason I didn’t experience motion sickness back then was due to Duke Patran’s exceptional magical skills, but who knows?
Maybe now, being much stronger than before, I could withstand the nausea!
With a hopeful heart, I enhanced my body with divinity and stepped into the teleportation circle, only to realize once again how weak I truly was.
I wasn’t completely incapacitated, but that was about it.
Nothing more, nothing less.
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As I struggled to endure the churn in my stomach, the girl sitting above my head let out a chuckle.
“Just let me help you.”
The moment she unfolded something, my discomfort vanished. It was clear that this fox was useful in situations like this.
It’s just a shame she only excelled at times like these.
Last night, realizing that the fox could communicate with the old man sparked a brilliant idea in my mind.
That was to communicate normally with people through the fox!
I would convey my message to the old man, and he would pass it on to the people.
I was elated at the thought that I might finally escape the frustrations caused by the Mesugaki skill, but naturally, my ingenious plan met with failure.
<I'm sorry, child. It seems the voice isn’t getting through.>
The pathetic pervert god who wanted to torment me would never allow that!
Having expected this outcome from the moment I had the idea, I wasn’t too disappointed.
I should have experienced this a time or two before.
Ha. Why is the pathetic god so thorough only in these matters?!
If only that thoroughness could lend me a hand!
“Lady, are you really sure it’s fine not to come with Bishop Johan?”
As my resentment toward the pathetic god bubbled up, Cal asked me a question.
Just a moment ago, when I told Johan I was going to meet Isabel, he had offered to accompany me, saying it would make entry easier.
However, I had declined that offer.
There wasn’t going to be a long conversation, and after negotiating about the tablet, why would I bring a bishop to meet someone I wouldn’t be seeing again?
At that moment, I had thought it was just a courtesy, but seeing Cal’s expression, it seemed there was more to it.
...Did I cause some trouble in the Arteia family? No way. That couldn’t be it, right?
Not long after exiting the teleportation circle, the mansion of the Arteia family came into view. The moment I saw it, I couldn’t help but gasp in awe.
The mansion of the Arteia family was more beautiful than any building I had ever seen.
The words used by game characters to describe this place were akin to a depiction of a holy site. It felt as if the Divine had once resided there and bestowed blessings.
When I heard that description through the monitor, I thought it was an exaggeration. While the mansion's design was beautiful, it wasn’t particularly remarkable compared to other splendid mansions.
But that wasn’t the case now. Having stepped into this world and witnessing the mansion with my own eyes, I was overwhelmed by its beauty.
It wasn’t particularly large.
It wasn’t so ornate that I couldn’t look away.
It was simply divine.
I could believe that even if the Divine had stayed there before, they had recently departed.
This was what it felt like to be overwhelmed by a man-made structure.
<Heh. How much money must be spent to create such a building?—>
‘...Are you seriously talking about money right now?!’
No, old man! I’m trying to feel something here! Don’t ruin the moment!
Even I, who look down on the god, could feel a sense of reverence building up inside me, and for you, who serves that god, to act like this is unacceptable!
Look! Even the fox is quietly gazing at it!
You’re more emotionally dry than that perverted fox!
“It’s not that impressive. They dressed it up with money, but in the end, the foundation hasn’t changed. There’s no value in looking at it.”
...This is exactly why dry adults are no good!
You see everything through numbers!
You should appreciate it with your heart! Just like me!
“Please hold for a moment.”
As I approached the mansion, feeling pity for the old man and the fox who had become jaded with life, I noticed the guards of the mansion murmuring among themselves.
Seeing their disgusted expressions reinforced my hypothesis that Lucy had caused trouble in the past.
Eventually, the youngest of the guards stepped forward.
“Excuse me, Lady of the Alrn family. May I ask what business you have in this mansion?”
‘I came to meet the lord of the mansion.’
“You’ve come to meet a money-crazed fanatic.”
Is Isabel a fanatic? It’s not entirely inaccurate, but from the guard’s perspective, it probably wasn’t a good thing to say.
His face twisted in response to the insult directed at his master, and he asked me again.
“...Are you referring to Count Arteia?”
‘Yes.’
“Why ask if you already understood? Is there a problem?”
He clearly wasn’t managing his expression well. After all, it wasn’t just any insult; it was one tinged with the provocation of the Mesugaki skill. It wouldn’t be abnormal for him to get angry.
“Did you schedule an appointment in advance?”
‘No, I didn’t.’
“Why should I need to schedule an appointment when I’m the one offering to meet you? That doesn’t make sense.”
“...Please wait a moment.”
As the guard finished speaking, he rushed toward the mansion as if fleeing.
Hey. Wait a second! I had something for you!
Feeling troubled by his retreating figure, I couldn’t raise my voice.
The eyes of the guards near the mansion were not friendly. They must have heard me call the Count a money-crazed fanatic.
Hmm. I was here to negotiate, so causing a scene wouldn’t be beneficial, right?
Let’s wait for the guard to return for now.
If I can’t meet him, I’ll just show him the seal.
“I apologize, Lady.”
Not long after, the guard returned with an apologetic expression.
He said Count Arteia was too busy with work and probably wouldn’t have time to meet with me.
Even someone with political sense, like me, could feel the implications behind those words.
Translated, it meant something like: “I don’t have time for someone like you, so just leave.”
Considering Lucy's notorious reputation, it was a natural outcome. So, I took out the seal I had received from Johan and showed it to him.
‘I didn’t just come here...’
“I was sent by Bishop Johan to meet with this fanatic. He told me to talk to him while I was here. Surely, someone like you can figure this out, right?”
The guard’s expression clearly showed his discomfort upon seeing the seal.
Why not just go inside and check whether it was genuine or not?
As I was thinking that, another man walked out from among the guards at the door.
Even at a middle age, he showed no signs of aging. He grabbed the young guard by the shoulder, pushed him aside, and stood in front of me, saying this:
“It’s problematic to show such fakes.”
‘Huh?’
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“The fact that Bishop Johan suffered because of you is a trivial matter. However, it’s impossible for the Bishop to have given you the seal.”
Ah, so he’s saying Johan wouldn’t give something like that to someone like me?
That thought was indeed valid. I understood his suspicions, knowing that I had a reputation.
So, I asked him to verify it inside, but the guard just shook his head.
“There’s no need to verify. I don’t know what desire you have to meet with Count Arteia this time, but please stop causing a disturbance and leave.”
The word "again" popped out, suggesting that Lucy had indeed caused some mischief with Count Arteia in the past.
Wow, Lucy! You really haven’t left a place untouched, have you?! I mean, you even told the king he smelled like livestock, so what could scare you?!
...Ah. So that’s why Johan wanted to accompany me. If I had known, I would have just brought him along.
It can’t be helped. I’ll head back to the territory once more and come back.
“Please understand that such behavior could harm the reputation of Count Benedict.”
I was planning to leave, but the old guard added one more line, changing my thoughts.
While his tone sounded polite, the underlying meaning was clearly: “Aren’t you embarrassed if your father hears you acting this way?”
I can understand insults well, having heard them endlessly during the first semester of Soul Academy.
Hmm. That’s somewhat irritating.
What should I do?
It’s not my style to back down after being insulted directly.
Ah. A good idea came to mind. I would cause a ruckus on purpose.
The mistakes of a subordinate are the responsibility of the manager! I’ll provoke him to create a problem and leave Isabel with a debt!
I didn’t know how Isabel would perceive me, but if her subordinate attacked me first, she wouldn’t be able to cast a curse!
Besides, with Cal and the fox by my side, there was no chance I’d get hurt.
‘This is what I’m going to do. What do you think?’
I shared the sudden thought with the old man.
<Child, you shouldn’t do that.>
As expected, the old man was trying to dissuade me.
Sorry, old man. What I just said was not a question of your opinion but a notice of what I was about to do. I planned to cause some trouble anyway.
<It should be more grand. Is that really enough to stop there?>
...You weren’t trying to stop me, but rather egging me on?!
That was completely unexpected, causing laughter to escape me.
Ah. I understand, old man.
I’ll take your advice and make this a bigger mess.
As I finally stopped laughing and lifted my head, the old guard was looking at me with concern.
He probably thought I might do something reckless.
Ha. Why provoke first, then?
I gave him a sly smile and stomped on the guard’s foot.
“Hey♡ Hey♡ Don’t you think what you’re doing right now is insulting the crazy lady of this mansion?♡”
“...What? What are you talking about?”
“Oh. You’re so dumb that you can’t even think about it?♡ Why is such a moron guarding the mansion’s front door?♡ Did you leave the statue in the middle because you’re a fanatic of the pathetic god?♡”
The old guard’s face turned bright red.
The tremendous anger written on his face was more than he could bear. Based on past experiences, if I pushed just a little further, he would likely strike my face.
So, I had to poke a bit more.
“Are you angry?♡ Are you mad that this little brat is ignoring your magnificent master?♡ Haha♡ Hahaha♡”
“...”
“But a moron like you is the one hired as a guard! You threw trash at the entrance of the mansion, so how can you not be ignored?♡”
“...Lady.”
“Looking at your face makes it smell like trash, so why don’t you get lost somewhere?♡ Ah, are you so dumb you can’t understand these words?♡ This is troubling~♡ I don’t know the language of stones!♡ Could someone perhaps translate...?”
Finally, unable to withstand my provocation, the old guard swung his fist.
A child’s fist thrown in anger.
His physical abilities were certainly impressive, but there were limits to the punches that came from such a clumsy stance.
There was no need to pull out a shield to block that.
I simply moved my hand to intercept the punch based on its trajectory.
“A punch from a fool feels like cotton! How interesting!♡”
Now, could you create even more of a commotion?
So that your master would have to bow her head to me!