"Will Joy be alright?"
<She will be fine.>
It was an unexpected event.
On our way to the Academy's dungeon, I met Joy and stood with her in front of the dungeon's entrance.
At that moment, Joy collapsed.
Her breathing was rapid.
Her pupils were trembling.
She mumbled that she didn’t want to die.
Even though her eyes were open, she couldn’t see in front of her.
She didn’t even hear the murmuring sounds around her.
She seemed completely trapped in her own world, as if isolated from reality.
Then, as she barely regained her composure, she tried to stand, saying that it was probably because she hadn’t slept well, but her arms and legs gave out, and she fell again.
I reached out to help her, but it wasn't the best choice.
The moment I extended my hand, I saw Joy flinch and shiver.
<Girl, it's not your fault.>
Grandpa sighed and told me it wasn't my fault, but I couldn’t bring myself to nod in agreement.
After all, wasn’t it me who, not knowing Joy’s situation, eagerly suggested that we go to the dungeon together?
<It’s a common occurrence. Experiencing an accident in a dungeon and then becoming fearful of it is something that dungeon challengers go through at least once. It just came a bit earlier for her.>
I didn’t know such things could happen.
They didn’t happen in the game.
No matter what crises arose.
Even if the party fell apart.
Even if the words “Game Over” appeared with a black screen.
The characters in the game were just characters.
They never complained about their mental anguish.
They simply moved as I commanded them.
“What should I do?”
I don’t know what to do in this situation.
I’ve never experienced anything like this, so I don’t know how to help Joy.
I don’t know if I can save her from her nightmares.
<Don’t try to do anything unnecessary.>
"Pardon?"
I asked Grandpa, thinking he’d be used to this kind of thing, but he gave an unexpected answer.
<Don’t offer sympathy. Don’t try to console her. Don’t do anything. Just treat her as you usually do.>
"But..."
<Girl, do you think the human mind is so simple that a few words from you could help her overcome this?>
Grandpa explained.
To overcome the trauma that haunts you, you must do it yourself.
No matter how much comforting and consideration you receive from others, it’s meaningless.
It only makes you more aware of your own trauma.
So, just treat her as you normally would.
<Until she asks for help herself, don’t do anything. That’s the best advice I can give you.>
"...Okay."
Normally, Grandpa likes to act serious while spouting nonsense, but today, his voice was unusually heavy.
That’s how I knew he was giving me sincere advice.
“Grandpa, have you seen many people suffering like this?”
<When you live on the battlefield, it’s something you encounter all too often.>
“Did they all recover?”
<I wouldn’t say that. But the Airhead Lady will be fine. She’s got a strong will and is loved by those around her.>
When Grandpa referred to her as the “Airhead Lady,” I couldn’t help but laugh.
Sigh. Seriously.
I was getting emotional, but he completely ruined the mood.
I knew he made that joke to lighten my spirits, so I didn’t scold him.
Instead, I took a deep breath.
Yeah, she’ll be fine.
"Miss."
While I was passing the time, Carl, who had taken Joy to the infirmary, returned.
"Carl, how is Joy?"
"Lousy Knight, how is the Airhead Lady?"
"She’s alright. Thanks to the calming spell, her anxiety symptoms have subsided. The infirmary healer said she’ll be fine after a bit of rest."
The person working in the Soul Academy’s infirmary is highly skilled.
If they say she’ll be fine, I can be at ease.
Thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness.
"And Miss, Lady Parten wishes to see you again."
"Me?"
"Me?"
"Yes."
Is it really okay to see her now?
Joy flinched when she saw me reaching out earlier.
Wouldn’t seeing me again only frighten her?
As I hesitated to get up, Grandpa sighed and spoke.
<What did I just say?>
Don’t try to be overly considerate.
Yes, I just heard that, but I had forgotten.
I answered Grandpa, acknowledging him, and stood up.
On my way to the infirmary, I noticed that today, more eyes were on me than usual.
It seemed news of Joy’s collapse had spread among the students.
Some were whispering as if they wanted me to hear, covering their mouths for show, but the content was clear—they were saying I bullied Joy.
Even if I’m crazy, would I really bully the noble lady of the Parten family?
I felt an automatic rebuttal rise, but on second thought, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
After all, wasn’t I the one who called the Third Prince a "Pathetic Prince"?
No matter how insane something might sound, if it’s preceded by the name “Lucy Allen,” it becomes believable.
Ah. I might as well give up on restoring my reputation.
No matter how hard I try, with a foundation of such a bad reputation, what can I do?
Well, there’s no need for everyone to love me, right?
As long as the people I like, like me, that’s enough.
Isn’t having the courage to be disliked all about this?
As I walked forward, pretending to be nonchalant, a group of female students blocked my way.
Their faces were familiar.
Not because they were key NPCs in the game, but because they always clung to Joy like followers, so I naturally got used to seeing them.
Being glared at by a group of angry noble girls is kind of scary.
It’s a different kind of pressure than facing a powerful monster.
This is like the typical bullying you’d see in a villainess story, isn’t it?
Wow, this is tough.
If I were a clueless heroine, I might have been overwhelmed.
"Lady Allen."
One of them, who seemed to be the leader, called out to me.
She only called my name, but I could tell how she felt about me.
Anyone would understand, hearing the voice laced with annoyance.
"Where are you going?"
"To the infirmary."
“Want to know? I don’t feel like telling you. I don’t want to answer a question from a wimp like you.”
As I answered with a smirk, thanks to my Mesugaki skill, the noble ladies around me started murmuring.
The content was predictable.
They were saying I was arrogant, rude, and so on.
But the murmuring stopped as soon as the girl who seemed to be their leader frowned.
She’s got good control. She seems more like a villainess than Joy does.
“Don’t be so disrespectful.”
"Oh... I’m sorry?"
“What’s wrong? Are you mad? Can’t control your emotions, pathetic noble lady? Telling me not to be rude when you’re the one being rude, you idiot.”
For some reason, my Mesugaki skill didn’t stop making me laugh.
And the more I laughed, the redder the noble girl in front of me became.
“You haven’t changed at all from your time in high society, have you?”
Her voice was dripping with resentment, as if she was chewing up her hatred and spitting it out.
Hearing that voice, I realized that this girl and Lucy had a deeper animosity than I had initially thought.
She was another target of Lucy’s misdeeds.
“Lady Allen, are you heading to the infirmary?”
“Yes. Why?”
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“What’s the matter? You knew that? Then why did you ask? Senility? Memory loss? Do you have a hole in your brain at such a young age?”
“Step aside. What right do you have to go see Lady Parten after what you did to her?”
What? She really believes those rumors?
So she’s trying to stop me from seeing Joy?
Given my reputation, it’s no wonder they think I’m the worst.
But considering how I’ve treated the Third Prince, calling him “Pathetic Prince,” it’s not surprising.
So, no matter how crazy something might be, as long as it involves Lucy Allen, it becomes believable.
"Well, Joy asked me to come see her."
“Sorry, wimp. But I’m going because the Airhead Lady called me. So, it’s not me who should step aside, it’s you. Got it? Loser?”
Since Joy asked me to see her, I’d appreciate it if you’d step aside.
I’ll listen to your complaints later, but for now, let me through.
“You’re nothing but a liar.”
But this noble lady didn’t believe a word I said.
Well, if she believes the rumors are true, she wouldn’t believe that Joy asked to see me.
But Joy really did ask for me.
How can I convince her?
“Excuse me, but Lady Parten did indeed ask to see Lady Allen.”
I guess Carl thought I couldn’t persuade them on my own, so he spoke up, but the sharpness in the noble lady’s eyes didn’t waver.
“Professor, would you mind not interfering in a conversation between students?”
Hearing that, I realized I was mistaken about something.
If this girl truly cared about Joy, would she have cut Carl off?
A professor, and the very person who just carried Joy to the infirmary?
She should at least pretend to listen.
But this girl didn’t even try to hear Carl out.
That’s right.
To her, whether the rumor is true or not doesn’t matter.
She doesn’t even care if what Joy said is true.
She’s just bothered by the fact that I’m going to see Joy.
Hmm. So, you’re not really Joy’s friend?
You don’t truly care about her, do you?
Well then, I have no reason to be considerate of you.
I pushed aside the troubled Carl and stepped forward.
The noble lady’s gaze fixed on me.
“What is it, Lady Allen? Do you have something to say?”
I didn’t answer.
There was no reason to.
What would I say to a girl who pretends to care about Joy but just wants to vent her anger?
Instead, I pushed her aside.
“Kyaaa?!”
Even though I didn’t push her hard, the noble lady fell to the floor in an unsightly manner.
Why are you acting like that?
I just gave you a little shove.
This Hollywood-level overacting is too much.
Even a soccer referee would give you a yellow card, not me.
I felt wronged, but the other noble ladies didn’t seem to see it that way.
The one standing next to the girl who fell raised her voice.
“What on earth are you doing?!”
“Pfft♡ Sorry♡ I didn’t realize you were such a wimpy, pathetic, hopeless, garbage idiot♡”
As I laughed and said that, the other noble ladies frowned.
What? Are you going to make a move?
Come on, trash.
Even if you all gang up on me, you won’t be able to take down Freyr, so what makes you think you can beat me? But if you want to try, I’ll oblige.
I stared them down without losing an ounce of confidence, and they hesitated, backing off.
“Well then, I’ll be off now♡ Losers?♡ I hope next time you know your place♡ Oh♡ But if you had the brains to do that, you wouldn’t have picked a fight with me, would you?♡”
I exaggeratedly laughed as I walked past them, watching their faces turn bright red.