As befitting someone of the Patran family, Joy was born with an astonishingly high amount of magical power and an extraordinary affinity for magic. Her talents blossomed at an early age—if a family mage taught her a new spell, she would have grasped the concept within a day and mastered it within a week.
The Duke and Duchess of Patran, who already adored their children, became even more protective of Joy upon realizing her talent. Even on simpler dungeon expeditions, they would assign skilled knights to accompany her.
Because of this, Joy quickly learned the responsibilities of a party mage through various real-world experiences. However, she never learned how to handle things alone as a mage without support. This tendency did not change significantly when she entered the academy. Meeting Lucy helped her rapidly advance her magical skills, but Joy still did not practice the methods required for a frontline mage.
Typically, Lucy, Arthur, or Frey would hold the line in front of her, allowing Joy to focus on supporting her allies.
Thus, her experience in real battle was strictly limited to that of a party mage. She had never faced a situation alone, nor had she felt the need to. Why would she, when there was always someone else to shield her? Instead, she chose to hone skills that would help her support her allies better.
Now, though, Joy realized that her once “reasonable” decision had actually been born of complacency.
Yes. Lady Allen is right. It’s childish to assume there will always be someone to protect me.
As a noble, entering dungeons is an inevitable part of life.
In an unknown environment like a dungeon, who knows what might happen? How can I always expect someone to be by my side?
But need aside, Lady Allen’s training is seriously exhausting.
My mana has long since run dry, and I’m at my physical limit.
Though I want to collapse onto the dirt, the Lady’s intense stare forces me to get up.
As she struggled to rise, frowning from fatigue, a sudden wave of dizziness nearly toppled her forward.
“Shall we call it a day, hmm? Useless little dimwit♡”
Fortunately, Lucy caught her before she could faceplant into the dirt.
As Joy looked up at her with dazed eyes, Lucy chuckled softly and gently set her down.
“You’re an even more pathetic little dimwit when you’re at your limit. We already know the outcome♡ Don’t you agree, dimwit?♡”
Though Joy pouted at Lucy’s taunts, she couldn’t bring herself to argue. From midday until sunset, Joy hadn’t managed to block a single one of Lucy’s charges.
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t tried to fight back.
“Did you make me a playground?♡ Thanks, sweetheart!♡”
Joy tried tearing up the ground to stop Lucy’s approach, but Lucy simply advanced without touching the ground.
“Heheh♡ Isn’t it a bit too early for ice games?♡”
When Joy created an ice wall, Lucy simply smashed through it with brute force.
“Feels cozy♡ Perfect as a heater♡”
Even drawing a line of fire around her didn’t stop Lucy, who strode through as if she felt no heat at all.
Though Joy had tried everything she could think of, all her efforts proved futile against Lucy.
Come to think of it, this feels unfair.
Isn’t Lady Allen just ridiculously overpowered?
If she’d been facing any ordinary foe, they wouldn’t have dared to approach! Seriously, when I started firing actual blasts at her mid-training, she just blocked them effortlessly with her shield and kept charging. What am I supposed to do against that?
As she lay on her bed, utterly drained, Joy realized that changing her opponent in her imagination wouldn’t make any difference. As long as her opponent was Lucy Allen, there was no point in imagining anyone else.
What should I do? As she stared blankly at the darkening ceiling, Joy reflected on her past lessons.
It wasn’t as though she didn’t know what to do when a mage faces a knight alone.
She’d learned from family mages, and she’d heard similar advice repeatedly at the academy.
“The best strategy is to avoid situations where you’re alone against a knight or monster.”
“But if you can’t avoid it, your priority should be stopping their approach.”
“No matter how trained you are, a mage cannot beat a knight in close combat. Your goal should be to destroy them before they can close in.”
But those strategies were useless. She’d already tried all of them against Lady Allen, only to face utter defeat.
I couldn’t keep Lady Allen from closing in on me, no matter what.
And even if I try other strategies, they’re mostly the same.
Then there’s—
“You really think a dimwit like you can stop me with one little spell?♡ Pfft♡ Or is it because you can only cast one spell?♡ Is that it?♡”
“Ugh!”
Recalling Lucy’s mocking laughter, Joy vented her frustration on her pillow, smacking it furiously.
What am I supposed to do?!
Lady Allen, you don’t even give me enough time to finish one spell!
And if I cast a half-baked spell, you charge at me, calling it pathetic!
What am I supposed to—!
“Joy, listen closely. When facing a true opponent, the magic that will save you isn’t necessarily your strongest. Often, it’s the basics, the things you take for granted, that prove most vital.”
...Yes, her father had told her that once.
He’d said that dealing damage and stalling an opponent were two entirely different things.
And Lady Allen’s words had implied the same idea.
If that’s the case...
Clutching onto this lead, Joy sat up quickly and began to gather mana in front of her.
“Joy? Are you alright?”
“Dimwit, you alive? Want me to bury you in the ground so you can rest?”
“...Gasp?! Ah, I... I’m okay! Not entirely fine, but I can manage!”
Leaning on her staff, Joy startled awake from her dozing state and shook her head to prove she was still conscious.
You’d think she’d collapse onto her pillow the moment her head touched it, given yesterday’s grueling day. Maybe I was going too easy on her?
Hmm. Considering how Arthur and Frey groaned about the early morning, maybe I was. Good, then. From today on, we’ll add some extra stamina training after sparring.
With Joy’s protests ringing in her ears, Lucy chuckled and dashed forward without warning.
Several magic circles appeared around Joy.
Unlike yesterday’s single, massive spell, these circles contained basic spells that any mage could use.
Already figuring out that hindering movement is more effective than raw power against knights?
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I thought it would take her at least a few more days to realize that. She really is clever.
But still, she’s not there yet.
There’s no way that combination can stop me.
The first spell that activated was an ice spell.
Aiming to freeze her feet to the ground, the ice latched onto her foot, but she easily shattered it with a bit of force.
Next came an earth spell.
As the earth attempted to trap her feet during her brief pause, Lucy moved too quickly for it to ensnare her, rendering the earth magic ineffective.
Seeing Lucy charge straight at her, Joy frantically activated three more spells in rapid succession.
So, she plans to obscure my sight with fire and wind and then stop my charge with a rock to the gut?
Not a bad plan, but...
Does she really think that would work on me?
With a smirk, Lucy raised her shield and, instead of evading, charged straight into the spells.
After minor impacts glanced off her shield, Lucy lowered it to reveal Joy nearby, surrounded by nine magic circles.
Did she replenish her magic so quickly? Her talent as a mage is undeniable.
So, what’s she planning this time? Knock me back with an explosion? Stop my approach with electricity?
Deliberately slowing her pace to give Joy time to cast, Lucy grinned as a spell blossomed, unleashing flames.
The explosion created by several overlapping spells was powerful but still insufficient to halt her charge.
Enduring the blast’s impact, Lucy surged forward, smashing through Joy’s barrier with her shield and stopping just inches from her.
“Well done.”
“Not bad for a little dimwit. For a dimwit, that is.”
She made it seem like she was only aiming to keep me at bay, then unleashed all her power at close range.
And she came up with this in one night? Her growth is impressive.
I can’t wait to see what she’s capable of after a few more days.
As Lucy’s grin widened, the tremor in Joy’s eyes grew stronger.
“Let’s go again.”
“You weren’t serious just now, right? No way you’d be this pathetic with that much confidence, right? Let’s go again. Do it right this time, okay?”
“...Um, can I rest a bit? I think I’m really going to collapse.”
“Oh, I already healed you up! You’re fine, aren’t you?”
“Totally fine now, aren’t you? Not hurting anymore? I can push you even more, right?”
“I’d be fine if you didn’t heal me! Please, let me rest! Just for a moment?!”
“Here I come.”
“Do your best, dimwit!”
“Would you please just listen to meeee?!”
After that, I didn’t hold back on training Joy right up until we left Allen’s lands.
Every day, her progress was rapid, and seeing her improve made it impossible for me to stop.
Every passing day left her looking more haggard, but her skills advanced just as much. I’m sure Joy found it enjoyable too. Absolutely.
And so, a week after my friends arrived at the Allen Knight Order for training, just as the serious drills were about to begin—
Instead of heading to the training ground like usual, I made my way to Benedict’s office.
“Father...”
“Foolish Father, are you ready to leave?”
“Of course! How could this papa refuse when his beloved Lucy wants to go together? The Empire’s Colosseum, you say! I’m sure my Lucy will have no trouble claiming victory!”
In order to address what I currently lack the most.