Two weeks had passed since Joy began training with the Allen Knight Order. She sat staring blankly at the meal before her, hand trembling as she tried to lift her spoon, only to drop it.
In any other setting, such a mistake would lead to gossip, especially in the presence of high-ranking ladies, but Joy was too exhausted to care today. She was worn out, both physically and mentally, pushed to her absolute limits.
Joy, daughter of the Duke of Partland, had often watched her family’s knights train. She had even trained alongside them for real battle experience before entering the academy.
Thus, she knew well what typical knight training entailed: basic physical conditioning, strength training, individual skill improvement, group drills, and finally, large-scale maneuvers involving the whole unit. Training in such relentless, shouted intensity seemed like a process designed to mold individuals into tools for the knight order.
The Allen Knight Order's training was fundamentally similar. As knights of the Allen family, they trained to lay down their lives without hesitation in real battle.
However, there was one crucial difference—Allen’s concept of “real combat” was entirely different from that of other knight orders.
“Our Allen Knight Order protects the borders of the Soladin Kingdom, heralds the dawn of war, and charges at the front lines. That’s why we must always be prepared for any crisis, no matter how sudden.”
Forcell, the head of the Allen Knight Order, spoke of real combat as if the knight order alone could fend off an entire nation’s invasion.
“Even in the worst-case scenario, we must have the strength to hold the front line—that’s the Allen philosophy.”
If anyone from a typical noble family had made such a claim, Joy would’ve laughed it off as sheer pride.
But after training alongside the Allen knights, Joy knew they weren’t exaggerating in the slightest.
They had learned to forego rest to maintain a frontline alone, trained to take on hundreds as one, and practiced crushing any dungeon that appeared.
“Sir Forcell, if you weren’t so loyal to the Allen family, you’d be treated as a rebel.” “We understand that, Your Highness.” “...You know, yet you still do this?” “We know the loyalty of Allen is unquestionable.”
This extreme standard set the Allen Knight Order’s training apart from any other, making it clear to anyone watching that they were among the continent’s strongest.
If Joy were an onlooker, she would’ve felt reassured, though maybe a little overwhelmed by the intensity.
But Joy was not a spectator; she was a participant, and she had to endure this training regimen meant for taking on entire nations.
Ever since Lucy had left, marking the start of her intensive training, Joy would lie in bed, dreading the inevitable march back to hell after barely three hours of sleep.
However, that fear never lasted long. Her exhaustion reached a point where she could sleep soundly even on the hard ground.
“Pfft. Look at you drooling. A blockhead is still a blockhead, even after all this time.”
Startled by the teasing voice she hadn’t heard in days, Joy snapped her head up and stood at the sight of that familiar, mischievous smile.
“Lady Allen!”
“Oh, you seem thrilled! Did you miss me that much? Were you lonely without me?”
“Leaving us to rot in this hell while you went off on a trip? Unforgivable!”
Joy’s angry voice, charged with days of pent-up frustration, didn’t faze Lucy in the slightest.
As Lucy continued with her nonchalant attitude, Joy bit her lip, quickly scanning the area. She didn’t want to be the only one voicing her complaints; she needed backup.
Luckily, support was nearby. Arthur, who had endured even harsher training due to reasons he couldn’t say aloud, approached Lucy with sharp eyes the moment he saw her.
“Looking so refreshed—I take it you had a great time abandoning us? Did you enjoy yourself?!”
“It wasn’t that great. Just a bunch of weaklings. But still better than that pitiful prince.”
“Lucy Alleeeeen!”
Arthur’s shout of rage was abruptly silenced when he felt multiple eyes on him.
The Allen family knights were glaring at him, their gazes icy and detached, the kind that could draw swords at a moment’s notice. The heavy tension in the dining hall made Arthur sweat.
“Look at you pathetic knights, all alone? Are you so isolated that all you know is your sword?”
Blocking their line of sight was Lucy, who had just been teasing him. Frowning deeply, she met the eyes of each knight with a piercing tone.
“Look away. It’s seriously annoying.”
Obeying the future heir’s command, the knights averted their gaze. As soon as Arthur felt the oppressive atmosphere lift, Lucy chuckled, poking fun at him.
“Cowering at those weaklings? Are you really a prince? You’ve got a pretty flimsy backbone for royalty, huh?”
Arthur felt wronged. Having trained alongside them, he knew just how monstrous these knights were; who wouldn’t be scared?
But he couldn’t voice his grievances. Even though the knights had turned away at Lucy’s command, they were still simmering beneath the surface.
If he kept provoking Lucy, he’d surely pay the price during future training.
“Lucy. Lucy. I did my best.”
“Want a compliment? If you beg me on your knees, I might just give you one.”
“Like this?”
“...”
While Arthur fumbled with his words, Frey knelt before Lucy without a moment’s hesitation, practically basking in the pat she gave him.
Watching Frey’s beaming smile, looking like all his hardships had been worth it for this one reward, Joy couldn’t help but feel a hint of jealousy. Shaking her head, she raised her voice again.
“Lady Allen! I’m still mad at you!”
“Oh? And?”
“What do you mean, ‘and’? I...”
“Then, are you not coming with me? Do you like the sweaty smell of the knight order that much?”
“...What?”
“Too bad. But if that’s what you want, I’ll respect it.”
This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēwebnovel.com.
“Wait, hold on! Explain yourself!”
“Why? You’re mad, right? So you’re not coming with me. Why should I explain?”
Faced with Lucy’s exasperating attitude, there was little Joy could do. The chance to escape this hellish training and spend time with her friends was too tempting.
Shaking, fists clenched, Joy finally lowered her head.
“...I’m not mad.”
“Hmm? What was that? Can’t hear you with that tiny voice, blockhead.”
“I really want to come! Please let me go with you!”
“Pfft. Puhaha! Ahahaha!”
Lucy burst into laughter at Joy’s flushed cheeks and didn’t stop until Joy looked about to cry. Finally, wiping tears from her eyes, she relented.
“Alright, alright. I didn’t know you wanted to go to the dungeon that badly.”
“Yes! Exactly, I want to... wait, dungeon?”
“Yep. We’re all going on a dungeon raid together.”
It dawned on Joy that she’d just fallen into a trap. She thought she’d escaped hell, only to find herself headed for another one!
If it’s a dungeon raid with Lady Allen, the outcome is obvious. She’d been through enough in the academy dungeons to know. It could only be worse this time.
What should she do? How could she get out of this? Oh! That’s it!
“Um, while I’d love to join you, Lady Allen, I think I need permission from my family to go on a dungeon raid...”
“No need to worry. The Duke gave full approval, saying nothing would happen with Allen knights by your side.”
She’s already blocked my escape?! As Joy froze in shock, Jakal, who’d been listening, spoke up quietly.
“Lady Partland, wouldn’t a dungeon raid be better than grinding through training here?”
“Well... true. Even hell has its limits.”
“Ah, no, you stay here, useless prince.”
“...Pardon?”
The realization that he’d be left alone in hell left Jakal’s face pale, but there was nothing he could do. Unlike the others, he was at an absolute disadvantage here.
Watching Jakal trudge back to his seat and pick up his spoon, Lucy shrugged her shoulders and turned to Arthur.
“So, pitiful prince, you memorized everything I gave you, right?”
“Are you serious? How could I memorize all that while also keeping up with knight training?!”
“Oh, did you start crying because it was too hard? Guess my expectations for you were misplaced, huh?”
“Damn it! Fine! I’ll memorize it all before we reach the dungeon!”
Unable to stand the provocation any longer, Arthur shouted, while Lucy simply smirked, humming a tune as she took a seat nearby.
Frey, who had been standing by her, then asked, “So, Lucy, which dungeon are we going to?”
Arthur snapped to attention.
“What’s this? You’ve finally asked a smart question.”
“Guess that means I’m smarter than a prince who’s just a toy to Lucy.”
“...I have a lot to say, but I’ll leave it for now. Lucy Allen, answer me. Which dungeon are we headed to? The large one near the Courten estate? Or a small or medium one the Allen knights use for training?”
“Pitiful prince, are you stupid? Why would we go somewhere so trivial?”
“Then where? What’s the plan?”
“We’re headed to the archipelago—the backwater of backwaters. We’re going to crush every trash dungeon there.”
A stunned silence settled over the dining hall.
Arthur, Joy, Frey, and even the knights who’d overheard were all dumbstruck.
Finally, Carl, Lucy’s ever-faithful escort knight, broke the silence.
“My lady, you’re planning to clear all the dungeons in the archipelago?”
“And?”
“Well, as I understand it, there are fourteen islands, each with a medium-sized dungeon. Clearing them all during break would be... difficult, wouldn’t it?”
“Are you all brawn and no brain, mutt? What’s taking so long? Clearing two dungeons a day would wrap it up in a week.”
Her declaration, detached from all common sense, left even Carl speechless. And in the dining hall, only Lucy remained unfazed, ready to lead them straight into her next wild adventure.