The inn’s chef, despite being asked at an ungodly hour, prepared a magnificent meal for us.
Of course, he wasn’t enthusiastic from the start. It’s only natural to frown when someone wakes you up and demands you cook.
But sufficient compensation has a miraculous way of transforming displeasure into joy.
Shouting for us to wait, the chef rushed into the kitchen. After a cacophony of clanging pans and utensils, he presented us with a respectable dish.
Truly, the wisdom of the ancients is never wrong: when someone’s mood seems sour, you should first ask yourself if they’re being paid enough.
<By that logic, shouldn’t you also heed my words?>
“Why’s that?”
<I’m more than worthy of being called one of the ancients myself.>
Grandpa’s claim that some of my friends even worshipped his words as scripture went in one ear and out the other.
After all, there were far better things to do in this world than entertain Grandpa’s rambling complaints.
Ignoring his grumblings about “the youth these days,” I picked up my spoon and took a bite of pasta.
It was nothing fancy—just seasoned with oil and salt—but after everything I’d been through tonight, even this simple dish felt like a feast.
I was focused on filling my empty stomach when Joy suddenly slammed the table.
“This can’t go on!”
What the—? Did the duke’s daughter just cause a ruckus at the dinner table? Is that even allowed?
Instinctively, sharp words rose to my tongue, but with my mouth full of pasta, I could only glare at Joy in reproach.
“I mean it! Lady Allen is just too cute right now!”
What? Joy, if you’re going to say something, can you at least make it understandable? I have no idea what you’re talking about.
“Listen carefully, Lady Allen! Until yesterday, you always had a haughty, scornful expression. It made it hard for others to approach you!”
Well, that was because the Mesugaki Skill forced me to act that way. It wouldn’t let me do anything it didn’t deem appropriate.
“But not anymore! Your expressions are so much more vibrant now!”
She’s right. Though the Mesugaki Skill still compels me to insult people, it no longer dictates my actions. I can laugh, cry, get angry, pout, and even feel sadness as I wish.
“Joy, what’s the problem with that? Are you jealous because I’ve gotten even cuter? My, how ugly women’s jealousy can be.”
“I am not jealous! Do you think I’m that petty?!”
No, Joy. You’re someone who can genuinely celebrate others’ happiness. If anyone knows that, it’s me.
I offered her a silent smile, and she groaned, burying her face in her hands with an unladylike yell.
“To put it simply, your current appearance is too overwhelming!”
“Oh, poor Joy. The Allen family’s muscle-brains must’ve been too much for you to handle. Still, you weren’t this stupid before.”
Why am I having such a hard time controlling my emotions today? Did someone curse me while I wasn’t paying attention? Out of curiosity, I tried using divine magic on Joy, but she deflected it with her own mana.
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Impressive. When we first sparred during training with the Allen Knights, her casting speed wasn’t nearly this fast. She’s grown so much in my absence.
No, I take that back. Joy had been breaking out of the game’s conventional logic and embracing the ingenuity of a player’s mindset, allowing her to develop at an unnatural pace.
The Allen Knights’ training only taught her how to wield her newfound power.
Amused by her progress, I smiled, which made Joy flush and shake her head wildly before shouting.
“Just listen to me for once! This is important!”
“Who said you couldn’t talk? I didn’t stop you, so why are you yelling? Honestly, Joy, you’re so uncultured. How pathetic.”
“Aaaaagh!”
Unable to contain her frustration, Joy stomped her feet on the ground before wiping her face. Her anger faded, replaced by a calm demeanor. Finally, she looked more like a noble.
“It’s better to show you than explain it. Lady Allen, look over there.”
She pointed at Kal, who was lying on the floor with a blissful expression, as if he’d found nirvana.
“What about him?”
Kal acting like this wasn’t new. Sure, it was unsettling how he increasingly resonated with the Main God’s insanity, but he was a good guy, so I could tolerate it to some extent.
“...I suppose using him as an example was a mistake.”
Understanding Kal’s peculiarities, Joy gave him a cold glance before shaking her head.
“Dinner is served!”
At that moment, the chef reappeared, holding a platter of food. The grin on his face showed no trace of the fatigue he should’ve been feeling, clearly delighted by the gold coin he’d received.
“Perfect timing. Chef, please wait a moment.”
“Pardon?”
“Lady Allen, could you smile at him for a moment?”
Though I didn’t understand the request, I obliged, smiling warmly at the chef. It wasn’t difficult; after all, he’d treated us to a wonderful meal. Why not reward him with a smile?
“I, uh, I still have work to do!”
Meeting my gaze, the chef’s face turned beet red, and he bolted back into the kitchen. Did he leave something cooking?
“Do you still not understand?”
“Understand what?”
“...I give up. You have no self-awareness at all.”
Watching Joy clutch her head in frustration, I continued chewing my food until Grandpa’s voice echoed in my mind.
<Listen to your friend.>
“Why?”
<Even if I explained, you wouldn’t understand. Just do it. Have I ever given you bad advice?>
Well... no.
<Then follow the wisdom of the ancients.>
Grandpa’s smug tone was grating, but I decided to take his advice and asked Joy what she wanted to say. She responded with a serious expression.
“I’m going to teach you how to wear a mask. It’s something you absolutely need.”
Hearing the word “mask” brought back memories of Lucy’s past. The young Lucy I’d seen wasn’t bound by the Mesugaki Skill. Her expressions were pure and genuine, filled with childlike innocence.
But that innocence, twisted by the skill’s malicious nature, invited hostility. Those who suffered from her unintended cruelty returned it tenfold.
In the end, young Lucy chose to wear a mask. She built walls, shielding herself from a world that would never accept her sincerity.
Outside the safety of Benedict and Mira’s presence, she always acted in a way that matched her imposed tone. If she was destined to be hated, she wouldn’t allow herself to hope otherwise.
“Lady Allen?”
Joy’s voice pulled me back to reality. I looked at her faltering mask and let out a chuckle.
“You can’t even manage your own expressions, and you think you can teach me? How delusional.”
“Teaching and doing are different things!”
A mask, huh? I suppose it’s necessary. I may not like the Mesugaki Skill, but it’s undeniably useful.
“Fine, Joy. I’ll see what you’ve got. Teach me.”
“...Wait, really?”
“But I’m so kind-hearted, I don’t like taking without giving. So, I’ll teach you something fun in return.”
“Something fun? What do you mean?”
“How to crush dungeons like a pro. If even that sad excuse for a prince can manage it, you should be able to as well. It’ll be grueling, but that’s not my problem.”
Joy hesitated, glancing nervously at me.
“Um, do I have a choice?”
“Want to beg and cry for mercy? Maybe I’ll reconsider if you put on a good show.”
“...Just say no next time.”
Joy’s method of teaching me how to wear a mask was... crude. She instructed me to control every facial muscle individually.
“In my family, we use mana to control expressions. But since you’re a warrior, you’ll need to rely on your senses.”
She spoke as if it were no big deal, but it was an absurdly complex task. Do you know how many muscles are involved in making a single expression? Controlling them one by one is insane!
Frustrated, I asked for advice, and Joy tilted her head, replying nonchalantly:
“I just did it, and it worked.”
Fortunately, Karia, who had been smirking at our struggle, chimed in with a more practical suggestion:
“Don’t raise your lips. Don’t smile brightly. Don’t hum. Just keep a neutral face, like you normally would.”
Though I grumbled at Karia’s instructions, I couldn’t refuse Joy’s request. After all, she was my friend.
After a night of effort, I managed some results. When I met Arthur in the morning, he didn’t seem to notice any changes.
Well, to be fair, he didn’t have time to notice.
The sight of him stubbornly wearing the rabbit-ear headband was too hilarious. I ended up treating him the same as always, bursting into laughter the moment I saw him.
“Lucy, Lucy.”
“What, dumb prince?”
“Something’s different about you.”
Freya, however, was quick to notice. Despite thinking I’d mastered the mask, she immediately saw through it.
“Right?”
I answered with a smile. Not a bright smile, but the sly grin characteristic of the Mesugaki Skill.
“Hmph. Just wait.”
Turning my attention away from Freya’s grumbling, I spotted Arthur in his rabbit ears and a very tired Joy.
“Welcome to hell, Joy.”
“‘Hell’ isn’t the right word. Call it ‘being pushed off a cliff.’”
“So, how does it feel? Like your head’s going to explode?”
“I’d rather take three extra courses in magical theory...”
Arthur’s dumbfounded expression was so amusing that I couldn’t help but laugh, though Joy’s sharp glare quickly made me straighten up.
Ugh. It’ll take a while to get used to this.
“What’s with the serious face, Lucy Allen?”
“Would you stop staring at me, dumb prince? It’s gross.”
“What’s so gross about it?”
“And if you’ve got time to gawk, read a book or something. Two dumb people don’t make a winner in a bet.”
“Are you betting again today?”
“Of course. What kind of dumb question is that? Is your brain goldfish-sized? Or chicken?”
“...What’s the penalty?”
In response to Arthur’s cautious question, I simply smiled.
Not the cheerful smile I’d shown Freya earlier, but the infuriating grin only a Mesugaki could pull off.