In the mansion’s reception room, Rene looked at Lucy with sincere confusion.
“What on earth are you doing that for?”
“Because I don’t want to appease those damn fools.”
“If that’s the case, it would have been better to just invite the high-ups at the beginning and crush them. If Karia spreads the rumor, wouldn’t they just run away?”
It’s true that Lucy’s value is high, but it’s almost too high. One would wonder if anyone on the continent could handle such value. That’s why even opponents have to watch their step around Lucy.
What if she shows signs of being upset and threatens to kill them?
“Last time, a certain prince told me to get lost but still tried to hit on me.”
“What an idiot. Not worth remembering. He’ll be forgotten soon enough.”
If Lucy showed her dissatisfaction to that kingdom, that prince would naturally lose everything.
Turning Lucy into an enemy is practically declaring war on the entire continent.
It would be better to just erase one person and move on as if nothing happened.
“…But he’s family, right?”
“Are you still saying that after witnessing what your mother did the other day?”
“Uh. Well…”
Seeing Lucy struggle, Rene realized he had brought up the wrong subject.
It was a big deal to joke about. Perhaps he tried to put on a strong front but his expression revealed everything.
“Anyway, there was no need to issue such a notice. This way, you’ll just spark people’s curiosity and motivation to challenge you.”
“Is that so? I wouldn’t come here just to get stomped on if I were sane.”
“The very thought of being stomped on doesn’t cross their minds. Warriors usually have excessive pride in their abilities.”
Lucy involuntarily nodded at Rene’s words. She understood what he was saying.
She has similar tendencies. If someone praises the opponent as strong, a rebellious thought arises: ‘Is that really all they have?’ and she feels compelled to challenge them.
“And let me tell you, by issuing a notice first, it’s like declaring you’re giving them a chance to challenge you.”
“I set strict conditions for that.”
“That part was well done, but the problem is those included in the conditions will harbor unnecessary hopes.”
Usually, people who would’ve given up at her lofty status might come to at least try.
Rene’s argument that they might come just to clash weapons with her made sense.
If the roles were reversed, she would have thought ‘Oh?’ and probably challenged someone too.
“I guarantee that within a few days, a new line will form in front of your mansion.”
So, you’re saying I’m unnecessarily poking a hornet’s nest and attracting troublesome opponents?
Lucy, who had been frowning, tightly gripped her mace, which was made to the size of a necklace, and pushed for answers.
“Grandpa? What’s going on?”
[Exactly.]
“You can’t say that! I may be a fool, but you can’t be a fool, grandpa!”
[It’s a joke. I haven’t disregarded my opinion either. I just strongly believe that no matter how many gather, once a few victims appear, they will naturally flee.]
Nobles basically care about their reputation. It’s fine to lose after some decent sparring, but they don’t want to get stomped into the ground and crushed.
Even if the opponent is a strong person, suffering a brutal defeat in front of the public is a shameful affair.
[Besides, having you as the opponent is a good factor.]
“I do know how to torment my opponents.”
Additionally, Lucy is an expert at creating scandalous situations.
After stealing the opponent’s rationality and making them act like fools, she toyed with them until they broke—her combat style is truly a factory of black history.
Anyone who witnessed Lucy mercilessly tormenting her opponent would be terrified and flee.
[Your appearance is also an issue from the opponent's perspective. Everyone knows you’re one of the strongest on the continent, but no matter what, your appearance is that of a child.]
“Am I to be laughed at and then run away like a guy being beaten by a cute little kid?”
[Isn’t that a terrifying thought? If someone weak-hearted sees it, it could become a life-long trauma, making them flinch at the sight of any girl.]
As Ruel continued speaking, Lucy gradually felt persuaded.
“Don’t worry! I’ll take care of that line in just one day!”
With that, Lucy stood up straight and boldly declared to Rene.
Seeing her mischievous smile, Rene sensed Lucy’s intentions and silently mourned for the challengers.
Whoever the first victim might be, their character would be buried deep. What can you do?
It’s the fault of that guy who dared to challenge after learning about Lucy Allen.
“What if a stronger opponent appears that you can’t handle?”
Rene, feeling a bit annoyed while thinking of those who might be interested in Lucy, grumbled, and Lucy snorted.
“I’ve taken down evil gods, you know?”
“…Well, that’s fair enough.”
Rene also recognized that was an absurd complaint.
There are very few strong people on the continent who can guarantee victory against her.
Even Rene would struggle to guarantee victory against Lucy in her current state.
Just like back in the royal palace, if he could get help from the Fairy Queen, the chances would increase, but it doesn’t seem likely that she, who loves Lucy Allen second only to Lord Erginius, would help him.
“And if a formidable opponent appears, Papa and Mama are going to be wide awake.”
Even if such a strong person shows up, it would be difficult to stay true to her desires.
The force lurking behind Lucy is at a level that even ordinary gods would find hard to endure.
If a higher-level opponent causes a fuss, the continent’s strongest knight and the great Lord Jushin would punish that person.
“Also, if by any chance someone did manage to defeat me, it would just be a one-time amusement. They’d just compliment me and leave with all the spoils.”
“Hah. That’s truly wicked.”
“Ahaha. What’s the big deal? I’m never going to lose anyway. What can sick perverts with a fetish for little girls possibly do?”
Rene laughed awkwardly, feeling pierced by Lucy’s words that seemed to be directed at him.
It’s impossible to say he has no dark thoughts at all.
“Alright then, let’s get moving, Prince.”
“Huh? Why is that?”
“You said you wanted to roll around joyfully. I’ll let you experience Allen’s Knights.”
About three hours later.
“Rene Soladin! Is this all the greatest genius in the history of the royal palace is capable of!?”
Rene felt his consciousness fading.
If he considered that he endured training close to torture from the First Queen, he understood how extreme the intensity of the training was.
However, Rene, while staggering, had no intention of backing down. It was a place he had specifically requested.
“No, it’s still manageable.”
Just as Lucy said, it was good for clearing his mind.
*
While Rene was thoroughly crushed at the Allen Knights, Lucy’s friends held an urgent meeting at Karia’s place of business.
“What on earth is this…?”
With a trembling voice, Phoebe pointed at the notice issued by the Allen family. The content was quite long but could be summarized in one sentence.
[I have no interest in weak, sloppy people. If you want to talk, defeat me first.]
The obnoxious tone typical of Lucy didn’t seem serious to ordinary people, but her friends interpreted it differently.
They quickly realized that Lucy was genuinely serious.
“Why is Lucy issuing such a notice?”
“Maybe Lord Allen acted on his own? He tends to go on a rampage,”
“Sadly, that’s not it. The Employer personally asked me to do it.”
As Karia, who first showed them this notice, shook her head, a heavy silence fell upon the table.
Even Frey, who would normally chatter without a care, glanced fiercely at the notice as Arthur sighed and turned his head towards Karia.
“It seems many marriage proposals have come for Lucy Allen lately?”
“There’s been a flood. Even though I’ve filtered some, they’re piled up like a mountain.”
“The names on that list probably all wield considerable political power.”
“Of course. No one with lesser status would dare approach the Employer.”
“They probably needed a pretext to fend them off.”
After their questioning ended, Arthur got a sense of certainty, sighed openly, and then glared at Karia.
“Lucy Allen has no interest in marriage proposals, and no one is forcing her. This is just an excuse to crush those fools who approach her without knowing their place.”
And the information dealer before them showed this notice without saying a word, knowing that.
With Arthur’s discontented gaze upon her, Karia shrugged her shoulders and wore a mischievous smile.
“Well, regardless, the notice is genuine, right?”
“Is that so? Well, no one can force anything upon Lucy now.”
“Eh. Huh? Wh-What do you mean, Joy?”
“Karia is just messing with us.”
Joy turned to look at Karia after Arthur.
What’s the point? Others might not know, but Phoebe has been too busy to be fooling around.
If she had even a bit of time to indulge in such nonsense, she should be resting her eyes instead.
Karia surely knew that, but why?
“Why is everyone so relieved?”
As the atmosphere turned into one of scolding Karia, Frey looked bewildered and furrowed her brow.
“In the end, isn’t the content the same? If someone defeats Lucy, we lose her.”
“It’s excessive worry. Young Lady Kent. Lucy could never lose to another.”
“There’s no absolute in fights.”
Confidently asserting that, Frey sprang up from her seat and adjusted her grip on the sword hanging at her waist—the Hero’s Sword that Lucy had given her.
“If it comes down to losing to someone else, I’ll just go get it back myself.”
“…Huh?”
“Eh?”
“Frey, do you even know what you’re saying?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll lend it back to you.”
With that final line from Frey, the room inched toward an eerie chill.
