The day after the commotion caused by the perverted apostle. Many students left the academy to enjoy their sudden break, but we remained.
There was a place we needed to go before heading back. We had gathered early in the morning to discuss it, but unfortunately, I failed to get to the point.
“If something so fun happened, you should’ve woken me up! That’s just mean!”
The friends who had gathered before me were talking about yesterday’s events.
“The apostle of the Art Church actually demonstrated the process of creating the paintings inside the accessories!”
Ugh. Even now, thinking about yesterday, it was too much. How long did I have to be exposed to people’s gazes?
What irritated me more was the few idiots who were so bothered by the attention I was getting.
When they said it was worth watching me stay quiet, I almost snapped without realizing it.
I couldn’t say anything since others criticized me first, but among them, the pervert and the furious one were something else.
‘Hah! Lady doesn’t know anything! Her usual sharpness only makes her angelic side even more beautiful!’
‘The problem is not knowing the charm that arises from that island! How dare someone as ugly as dirt comment on Lucy!’
There were no more disgusting people than these when they were making noise under my feet, but watching them berate others gave me a sense of reassurance.
Though the disgust I felt didn’t change, it was nice that I wasn’t the only one feeling it.
Now, you feel how hard it is to deal with these disgusting perverts! How difficult it is to be shuddering at their revolting behavior!
I watched the other girls, who were disgusted and running away, nodding my head in satisfaction.
Later, when I heard the dumb fox's comment about how I did well and should be trampled, any gratitude I had completely evaporated.
“Even though he didn’t just draw one, but dozens of paintings!”
Ah. That’s it. I wondered why it was taking so long for the painting to be finished yesterday, and it turns out he wasn’t just making one picture, but multiple.
When the work was completed and I saw the finished pieces, I was impressed, thinking, So that’s why it took so long!
He finished so many paintings in such a short time! It was surprising that it only took this long!
‘Lady, let’s go to the next place.’
‘...Next?’
‘Yes. Didn’t you see the clothes I brought for you?’
Realizing that this was the perverted apostle's way of desperately trying to dress me in every outfit within a day, all my admiration disappeared.
It was really horrible. Changing clothes, standing in a new place, and then becoming the center of attention again.
How do models endure this? I was so stressed I thought I could never do it again!
“Friends! At least you could have helped me with this!”
Well. Anyway, it was in the past, so I tried to erase it from my memory. But I never expected Joy, of all people, would bring that nightmare back in front of me.
“Make excuses, Prince! Faibi! Lady Kent!”
Thinking back, when Joy gave me a punishment last time, she treated me like a doll to change clothes.
She must really like that kind of thing, so I guess she must have been super disappointed this time.
What kind of punishment should I give to this bad child?
“...Joy.”
“What is it!? Please, answer! You’re not going to say I look too tired or something, are you!? You know how hard we’ve trained in the Arln family!”
“No, just speak.”
“Joy. Look behind you.”
“...Behind?”
Hearing Faibi’s voice, Joy turned her head and locked eyes with me. Without saying a word, I smiled slyly.
Joy jumped back in shock, almost tripping, then hurriedly covered her face with a fan.
“Uh, when did you start listening, Lucy?”
“From the moment my foolish fox lamented that he hadn’t seen my cute side?”
“...That was almost from the start.”
I noticed her face turning red, even the parts that couldn’t be hidden by the fan, and with a sadistic grin, I approached her slowly.
“I had a feeling something was off with how my foolish fox looks at me.”
“Eh? Huh. No. What? My eyes?”
“You didn’t know? Heh, so even though you didn’t know, that look came out? Interesting.”
“W-wait. What do you mean, Lady Arln?”
Seeing Joy’s panic, I grinned even more, and when I mentioned the issue about the ‘count’s daughter,’ she started apologizing profusely.
“I’m sorry! I was just so tired yesterday! I wasn’t myself! Please stop!”
She promised to buy the most expensive and biggest parfait, begging me to spare her. For now, I let it slide.
Of course, I didn’t forgive her. The petty Mesugaki wasn’t going to be let off just for a parfait.
I’ll hit her in the back of the head when she thinks it’s all over. Using the same method, just as she deserves.
Heh heh. Joy, you don’t know, but I’ve spent over 20 hours working on your character model!
There’s no one in this world who knows better what suits you and what’s the funniest!
Don’t underestimate the collective wisdom of the perverts who gathered beyond the monitor!
As I kept thinking of fun ideas, I moved my hands non-stop towards the parfait and quickly finished off a massive serving, as big as my upper body.
Even with an empty stomach in the morning, I’m fine! No worries about gaining weight because of my usual activity level! Young bodies are the best!
...Wait. Saying it like that sounds weird. A young body? A healthy body?
Anyway, it’s better than the body of a dead office worker!
After the academy’s servants cleaned up the table, I activated the magic of the ring to block out the noise and brought up the main topic.
“Do you remember what I heard just before I was about to break up with that virgin mage?”
At that time, Erginos had asked me to meet with him again, saying he had a request to make.
After talking with Grandpa last night, I suspect his request is highly likely to be related to the Fairy Queen’s Forest.
Grandpa, his old friend, had mentioned that the last thing Erginos was reluctant to leave behind was something related to the forest.
In other words, our goals are probably aligned.
Based on the information I got from the professor who was staring at Benedict with shiny eyes last time, I’m planning to meet with Erginos, the creator of the barrier, to cross-check the information and finally get the details we need from the First Queen.
That’s my plan right now.
“We’re going to meet that creepy virgin skeleton again. Is there anyone who has an urgent schedule?”
To execute this plan perfectly, I can’t do it alone.
To understand the words of the old skeleton who only knows magic, I have to bring Joy.
I need Arthur, who can step in when Joy makes a terrible mistake.
Faibi’s knowledge is essential for purifying the evil energy that’s spread around.
As for Freya... well, not strictly necessary, but anyway...
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“Yeah. I have something to do.”
The person I thought would follow without needing to be asked, shook their head.
Something to do? You?
How could someone like you, who doesn’t think about anything other than swinging a sword, possibly have something to do?
No, even if it’s not about the sword, you never want to leave my side, so why now?
Is there an event related to Freya? There shouldn’t be.
“I decided to learn more from the Sword Saint.”
Hearing Freya randomly list words that came to her mind, I understood the situation.
So, Yuden had some doubts after seeing Kent family swordsmanship, right?
And now, after learning a bit yesterday, Freya plans to discuss it later with the head of the Kent family?
“Anyway, you don’t need me, right? I’ll get stronger and come to defeat Lucy.”
Freya’s words, full of determination, made it clear she had a strong resolve.
If her goal wasn’t to defeat me, I would have gladly praised her.
Well, it won’t hurt if Freya gets stronger. After all, she’s my precious friend and party member.
If she reaches the point where she can cut through dungeon gimmicks with her sword, it’ll make things a lot easier.
Ah. Of course, if you remove the part where she does whatever she wants. The Freya in the game, cutting through necessary gimmicks, was honestly a disaster.
“Aren’t I even a little bit of a concern?”
“Of course not. Prince, you’re still pathetic.”
Arthur, who hadn’t mentioned anything about himself, muttered angrily. Freya shot him down with her indifferent face, saying it was still boring.
“Just wait...”
After Freya walked off, leaving Arthur to sulk, we activated the academy’s magic circle and headed back to the desert.
“We said you could come at any time, but I didn’t expect you to come so soon.”
“Pfft. So what? Don’t you secretly love playing the role of a cute servant to someone like me? You’re hiding it, but we all know, don’t we?”
“Haha. Did I get caught?”
As we sat in the carriage, heading to Erginos’ dungeon again, one thing changed.
“...Huh?”
Unlike before, the ceiling of the dungeon didn’t collapse.