The reason I asked Joy for help was a kind of competitive pride.
I just didn’t want to apologize to Grandpa, so I moved my feet without thinking.
Among the people around me, Joy was someone I felt wouldn’t be too burdensome to ask for help.
Faivi would probably try to help me so much that it would feel like too much, and Arthur would help, but he’d definitely grumble and make me feel like I owed him something for everything I had done.
What’s worse, Arthur would probably be shocked to find out that I didn’t know the basics and would ask me endless questions about it.
But not Joy. She might look scary, but deep down, I knew that someone as gentle as her would help me without any complaints!
She would probably even just let me slide through if I pretended to be a little clueless!
What I liked most about Joy was that her ears were easy to bend.
When I got tired in the middle of studying, if I suggested we go out for a break, Joy would probably just ask, “Should we?” with a smile.
Having thought through all that, I straightened up and walked into Joy’s room.
“Ugh. H-huh. So... ugh. This...”
After some time passed, I began to feel that something was wrong.
What? What’s going on? Why did Joy suddenly burst into tears?
Joy might be an emotional girl, but this was strange.
Where in the situation we were just in was there a reason for tears?
Did I forget something in the middle? Did something happen that I don’t know about?
But no... I checked the logs, and nothing unusual happened!
“Sorry... Lucy, please wait a bit.”
Joy wiped her tears with a handkerchief, composed herself with a deep breath, and tightly grabbed my hand.
“Lucy, no matter what happens, I’ll help you regain all the knowledge you’ve lost!”
Regain? What does that mean?
I’ve never had any knowledge in my head to begin with! What am I supposed to regain?
All I could regain is my stupidity!
As I met her bloodshot eyes, still swollen from crying, I felt her determination and instinctively pulled back.
Something. Something’s wrong.
I don’t know exactly what’s wrong, but something’s definitely wrong!
“This part is from the previous lesson. No, actually, I’ll explain everything from the beginning! Don’t worry! It won’t take long!”
Joy’s claim that it wouldn’t take long was definitely a lie, unless she was mistaking herself for an elf.
How could twelve hours not be long by human standards?
“Lady Partan, a servant of the Alrun family. Is the Young Lady here?”
“Yeah, Lucy’s here. What’s the matter?”
“It’s almost curfew time.”
“Already? I still have so much to do.”
Seeing the wistful look in Joy’s eyes, I hastily closed the book and got up from my seat.
I quickly escaped from the lingering Joy and, staggering, ended up asking Erin to hold me up.
I was mentally exhausted and couldn’t walk on my own.
I hate studying. I hate grammar. I hate math. I hate everything!
<You used to train all night and still be fine. Why are you acting so weak now?>
‘...Honestly, it was easier when I was fighting with my life on the line against the Evil Gods.’
<Ha ha! You really hate it that much?>
‘Yes, that much.’
This study session with Joy wasn’t what I had envisioned.
It was supposed to be something where we study casually, chat in between, and take breaks whenever it got a bit too tough!
But why did it turn into a hardcore study session? Why did Joy’s room become a boot camp?
‘Well, at least it’s finally over.’
<Over? That’s what you think.>
‘...Huh?’
<I can tell you this: Your friend isn’t going to let you go anytime soon.>
‘N-No way.’
<This is the hell you chose! Lucy!>
Grandpa’s words became reality the very next day. After class, just when I was about to go to the training grounds as usual, Joy came to find me.
“Lucy! We don’t have time! The exam is coming up soon!”
“No. Idiot. I need sleep.”
“Come on! I’ve already prepared everything!”
So, that day, and the next day, and the day after that, I found myself locked in Joy’s room until curfew.
“Lately, it’s hard to see your face.”
Arthur, whom I met in the magic class, casually started a conversation, and Joy gave an awkward smile.
“What are you and Lucy Alrun doing, exactly?”
“Studying.”
“Studying? Lucy Alrun? That guy is studying? Ha. That’s quite the story.”
Arthur thought of Lucy Alrun as a genius.
He was used to me avoiding classes, always hiding behind my desk while maintaining my position at the top.
Even though I spent most of my time training my body, I would dominate over most students who locked themselves away in the library.
Lucy Alrun, who had never once shown anyone how he studied during the first year, now studying all day with someone else? It was unbelievable.
If you’re going to lie, at least make it sound convincing.
Arthur, about to scold me for being so clumsy with my excuses as the daughter of a noble family, swallowed his words when he saw Joy’s expression.
“Are you really studying?”
This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m doing.”
“Ha. That’s surprising. He’s actually studying?”
I wasn’t sure if Arthur would believe I was actually reading a book.
“Well, if that’s the case, how about studying together?”
“...What?”
“You may know more about magic, but when it comes to other subjects, I’m better, right?”
“That’s true, but...”
“More than that, I’m curious to see how Lucy studies. Or, is it that you don’t want to spend any alone time with him?”
“Do I look that bothersome to you?”
“Maybe.”
Arthur shrugged and observed Joy’s expression.
He tried to maintain his composure, but it was pointless in front of me. I knew him well.
He was hiding something.
“Tell me the truth.”
“Huh? What about?”
“If not, I’ll tell Lucy Alrun all about your foolishness.”
“Your Highness? Please be careful what you say.”
“I’ll tell the Saintess, too. If she wants to share memories, I’m sure she’ll be happy to agree. Oh, Saintess.”
Just as I was about to say something, Faivi appeared from a distance, and Joy’s eyes began to tremble.
“Joy wants to monopolize Lucy Alrun, you see.”
“Oh? Really?”
Faivi’s tone was soft, but her eyes were different.
When it came to matters concerning Lucy, Faivi reacted with an unusual intensity—her expression was filled with a fear I hadn’t seen before.
“I’ve been a little jealous lately.”
“Sorry. Please, save me.”
While Arthur’s questioning was bearable, Faivi’s tone was something Joy couldn’t withstand, and she quickly lowered her head in defeat.
“So what’s going on?”
“Huh?”
“...Oh. Should I keep it a secret?”
Seeing that Arthur had put up a barrier to block any sound, Joy carefully told us what had happened a few days ago.
“...The Young Lady...”
Faivi’s eyes welled up slightly after hearing Joy’s words.
“Hmm?”
Arthur tilted his head as if something wasn’t adding up.
Joy’s thoughts weren’t entirely unrealistic. If Lucy, who had always maintained her top spot until last year, suddenly became an idiot, it would be strange.
But still...
Lucy Alrun was never the type to study hard, was she?
She had always solved things with her own talent, so asking for help with something she had forgotten didn’t seem to make sense.
Wait, is it even possible to take only the memory related to studying?
Even if it was, why would someone take that memory? Usually, in stories about memory collection, people take only the valuable memories.
Was there something odd about the things Lucy had written? If there was something strange, surely the great mage Erginas wouldn’t have been so confused.
Arthur, feeling his suspicions building, decided not to voice them out loud.
He knew that if he expressed doubts in front of the two who firmly believed in Lucy’s sacrifice, he’d be treated like trash.
Having been scolded by the women around him until now, Arthur didn’t want to willingly walk into another hardship.
“Joy, if there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know. I want to repay the Young Lady’s sacrifice.”
“Hm. Well, the same goes for me. If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ve received a lot from Lucy Alrun.”
“Yes, I’ll definitely let you know if anything happens.”
“The dungeon for this exam will be different from the academy’s dungeon! Alrun Young Lady, you’ll look forward to it!”
As I watched the dungeon studies professor leave after his declaration, I chuckled and shrugged.
It seemed like the professor was still bitter about how we cleared the academy dungeon with unconventional methods, so now he was preparing something even harder.
Well, if you leave openings, of course, people will take advantage of them. You should’ve made sure it was impossible to do it that way.
Anyway, because of that incident, the dungeon studies professors must have worked extra hard, preparing the midterm dungeon with all their might.
From my perspective, it was a welcome event. Exploring a new dungeon was always exciting.
But my excitement didn’t last long.
Sigh. Once again, I’d be trapped in Joy’s study room, forced to study until late at night.
I really hate it. Just looking at the books makes me sick.
But what was I supposed to do? Refuse?
If it were anyone trying to torment me, I’d have done whatever I wanted!
But Joy’s actions were full of goodwill!
If I show a little discomfort, she’ll make it obvious she’s hurt, so how could I refuse?
Once again, knowing I’d have to walk into hell, I slumped my shoulders and found someone blocking my way.
I didn’t recognize this person. They looked like a servant from the academy.
“Lady. What are you wasting time here for?”
The moment I asked what was going on, the Mesugaki skill automatically made me call her “Lady” without thinking.
“...Could you at least be more careful when you’re in disguise?”
It was Karía, surprised me with how much her voice had changed.
“Don’t answer a question with a question, you rude lady. So?”
“Ahhh. Forget it. Don’t say anything. I’ll figure it out myself.”
When I nodded as if to say I understood, Karía sighed and continued.
“Master. Don’t you sense something strange going on inside the academy?”