"Wh-Where did you get that?"
Joy’s voice trembled.
It was a surprising reaction from someone usually so composed that people found her unapproachable. But here she was, visibly shaken.
To someone like Joy, who was obsessed with sweets, this ticket must have looked like a diamond shaped into a piece of paper.
No, perhaps even more luxurious than that.
The Stophe Special Ticket wasn’t something you could just buy, even if you wanted to.
If it were something you could purchase with money, would the daughter of a duke’s family be drooling over it like this?
‘I got it by chance.’
“Why do you ask, airhead lady? I just happened to come across an opportunity to get it.”
“That’s impossible. I’ve scoured everywhere, and you just happened to get it by chance?!”
Joy was right.
To obtain this ticket, you typically had to clear several annoying side quests given by an NPC who was a close friend of Stophe.
It was so difficult that most players considered it standard practice not to bother with the quest, even though it rewarded an item that could significantly boost a character’s favorability.
‘You might not know, but...’
“Airhead lady, you probably know this, but the ticket lets you bring along one companion.”
“...What do you want?”
Joy leaned in, bracing herself on the table with both hands. Her eyes burned with intensity, as if they could scorch anything in their path, and I had to subtly lean back to avoid getting caught in the heat.
‘I don’t want anything.’
“Airhead lady, do I seem like such a shallow person?”
I had no intention of asking Joy for anything else.
If I demanded something in exchange for this, it would be akin to blackmail.
I don’t care what others might think, but I don’t want to do that to you, Joy.
You’re my favorite character!
All I want is to go to Stophe’s and see you smile while we enjoy some desserts together!
If, by chance, I can increase our favorability and become friends, I’d be so happy I could die!
Even though I was being sincere, Joy didn’t seem to believe me at all.
“Lady Allen, there’s no need for mind games.”
‘I’m serious!’
“Are you just suspicious by nature? Were you always like this, airhead lady?”
Joy sighed and lowered her head, then lifted it again.
“You know, I no longer think you’re as bad as the rumors say.”
Really?
I’ve been calling Arthur the Pathetic Prince, knocked out a senior, threatened Vissy, and talked down to you.
And yet, you still think positively of me?
I’m so happy that I feel like I should be thanking you, Joy.
But why are you bringing this up out of nowhere?
“But giving away something as precious as a Stophe Special Ticket out of goodwill? Not even Lady Favie would do that.”
Huh? Is this ticket really that valuable?
Even the Holy Maiden would hesitate?
I didn’t realize it was such a big deal since, in the game, it was only used as an item to raise favorability. I figured it was on par with the Tieramas ticket, but it seems it’s even more valuable.
“Do you think you owe me that much? If anything, I’m the one who owes you more. You saved my life, after all. So tell me, what do you really want?”
I told you, I don’t want anything!
Why won’t you believe me?!
I wouldn’t dangle this over your head like some blank contract just because I bought you something to eat!
If you think about it logically...
Hmm.
Considering all the misdeeds the pre-possessed Lucy Allen committed, I suppose it’s hard to say for sure.
She’s accumulated a mountain of karma, after all.
But still!
Saying I don’t owe you anything is strange too, Joy!
‘You took me to Tieramas!’
“Airhead lady, have you forgotten that you took me to Tieramas?”
“That was more than repaid when you saved my life.”
This conversation isn’t getting anywhere.
This is a different kind of frustration compared to talking with Freyr, who’s lost in her own world.
Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m freewebnøvel.com.
How can I convince her?
<Girl, just ask for something.>
‘I really don’t want anything!’
I truly had nothing to ask from Joy.
Everything she could offer, I could already do myself.
<I understand. But sometimes, making a small request is the best way to help someone.>
Grandpa explained that sometimes making a small demand can actually be a form of kindness, as it relieves the other person from the burden of feeling indebted.
He said she might be afraid of owing too much in return.
So I thought about what a reasonable request might be.
If I ask for something too big, it might become a burden, so something modest...
Ah, I’ve got it.
‘Joy...’
“Alright, since you’re insisting so much, I guess I have no choice. Airhead lady, come with me to the dungeon.”
I’d been feeling guilty about dragging Vissy along to fill the party’s numbers, seeing how she had to put up with my whims.
Joy would be perfect—not just as a party filler but also as someone who could help with the dungeon clearing itself.
“The dungeon...?”
Joy hesitated to nod after hearing my request.
What’s wrong?
‘Is there a problem?’
“What’s the matter, airhead lady? Can’t handle that?”
Maybe she had plans to clear a dungeon with some acquaintances or something like that?
Or perhaps there was a reason she couldn’t go into the dungeon.
If that’s the case, then there’s nothing I can do.
I’ll have to think of another request.
“No! I can do it. Clearing a dungeon is no problem.”
Just as I was about to start thinking of something else, Joy raised her voice.
I wanted to tell her it was okay if she couldn’t do it, but the determination in her eyes was so strong that I couldn’t.
Hmm. If I try to tell her it’s okay, it’ll probably just get translated into a taunt by the Mesugaki skill anyway.
‘Then it’s a promise?’
“Airhead lady, I trust you’re not the type to break promises.”
“Of course, Lady Allen.”
If she seems uncomfortable with dungeon crawling later, I can always ask for something else.
For now, I’ll leave it at that.
‘But Joy...’
“By the way, airhead lady, didn’t you say you had somewhere to be?”
“...Ah!”
She quickly checked a nearby clock, furrowed her brow, and spoke to me in a hurry.
“We’ll discuss the details later!”
It wasn’t just an excuse to leave me; she really did have urgent business?
She had been so tempted by that ticket that she’d agreed to go into a dungeon! That’s never going to work out!
Joy still had nightmares about the day Agra interfered.
Although the frequency of the dreams had decreased over time, the horrifying scenes never completely faded.
Maybe that’s why Joy was so afraid of entering a dungeon.
It felt like if she stepped foot inside, the same thing would happen all over again.
Joy knew this.
As much as Soul Academy boasted about safety, the likelihood of a major incident was low.
If she was really worried, she could just bring someone capable of handling any danger.
But what could she do?
The mere sight of a dungeon entrance made her feel like she couldn’t breathe.
That’s why Joy had rejected every invitation from her acquaintances to enter a dungeon.
She was still haunted by nightmares.
Honestly, it’s not my fault—it’s Lady Allen who’s strange.
We were thrown into a situation where we could have died in an instant.
And in that situation, she willingly took on the burden of protecting me and Young Master Rhys.
She stood at the front line to ensure our survival.
She ran headfirst into danger whenever it appeared.
How can she enter a dungeon as if nothing happened?
She must have been more terrified than anyone else, yet she remains unfazed.
It’s strange.
Young Master Rhys and I are so scared that we can’t even take a single step into a dungeon, but she can smile and talk about it as if it’s nothing.
And she was even involved in Agra’s interference when she entered the dungeon with the Third Prince!
She faced death again!
And yet she can talk about dungeons like they’re no big deal—I just can’t understand that.
Is there something non-human mixed into the Allen bloodline?
“Oh no, I messed up.”
Joy frowned as she noticed she had accidentally curled her hair in the opposite direction, messing up the hairstyle she had maintained since childhood.
How frustrating.
I can’t deny that it’s because I was tempted by the Stophe Special Ticket, making it even more frustrating.
But still, the ticket is worth it.
Stophe is the continent’s top dessert artisan, but now he focuses on training the next generation and no longer works in the field.
The Stophe Special Ticket is your chance to taste the desserts he personally makes.
The fact that you’ve eaten a dessert made by Stophe is something to brag about in the social circles of powerful noble families.
So how could I pass up that opportunity?
For someone like me, who doesn’t just like sweets but openly declares her love for them, it was impossible to resist.
Yeah, what’s done is done.
I’ve already thrown the dice.
Let’s think positively.
Going with Lady Allen means her knight will be there too, right?
With her abilities and the strength of an Allen family knight combined, they should be able to overcome any problem.
Even if we go into a dungeon, there shouldn’t be any danger.
So it’ll be fine.
Instead of worrying, I should look forward to enjoying Stophe’s desserts.
Come to think of it, it’s amazing.
How did Lady Allen get her hands on such a rare item?
I couldn’t even catch a glimpse of it no matter how hard I tried.
She didn’t seem to obtain it easily, judging by the smug look she had when she took it out.
Could Lady Allen have access to some special route?
As she recalled the moment when Lucy invited her, Joy couldn’t help but smile.
When she suddenly spoke informally, I was really taken aback.
I’ve never been addressed informally by anyone other than my family and the Third Prince, whom I’ve known since childhood.
So when someone who usually speaks rudely but still uses polite language suddenly started speaking informally, I was shocked.
But looking back now, I think Lady Allen was just excited about successfully getting her hands on such a rare item.
The always haughty and snappy Lady Allen might have been so thrilled that she wanted to brag.
Inviting me to Stophe’s probably wasn’t just about repaying a debt; she might have genuinely wanted to share the experience with me.
In the past, she wouldn’t have even thought of showing gratitude, let alone making such a gesture.
She’s changed a lot.
It’s hard to believe this is the same Lady Allen who used to throw barbs in the social circles.
If only she could change her habitual way of speaking, people’s perception of her would shift considerably.
Still, after being recognized by the Third Prince through actions rather than words, I’m sure people will gradually start seeing Lady Allen differently.
Maybe someday, there will be more people who look at her favorably.
I hope that day comes soon.
Though it won’t be easy, given how many misdeeds Lady Allen has to make up for.