Chapter: 341
Three days had passed since learning about the true nature of Prete, the apostle of the Art Guild.
When Joy met him again, her expression was as fierce as a dragon’s fiery breath, impossible for anyone to miss.
She looked like she was about to blow up, and even when she forced a smile, it felt like she was plotting someone’s demise.
The sincere disgust painted on her face was enough to make even someone as seasoned as Prete break out in a cold sweat.
“Um, Lady Partran?”
“Why are you calling me?”
“Your expression doesn’t look too good.”
“…Do you not understand why I look like this?”
As Prete asked his question, Joy’s face soured even further, driven mad by the fact that he was oblivious to his own perversions.
And he was old enough to know better! How could he not realize that he shouldn’t be lusting after a little girl?
If he weren’t an apostle of the Art Guild, she’d have him tossed away in some dark prison using the power of the duke’s family.
“I can take a wild guess. You must have seen me swoon over Lady Alrn’s beauty last time.”
“Yeah. You got that right.”
“If you saw that, it’s understandable you’d be misled. But, may I request a chance to explain myself?”
After showing such a grotesque display, he wants to explain?
Let’s hear what foolishness comes out of his mouth; I’m curious how low an apostle of the Art Guild can get.
Nodding silently, Joy braced herself for whatever nonsense he was about to say.
“First of all, I hold no ill intentions towards Lady Alrn.”
…Does this guy really think he’s making sense?
He thinks he can prove his purity after that display?
How foolish of a person the apostle of the Art Guild is.
I’ll have a word with my father later.
“How could I harbor any hollow desires when I have the embodiment of beauty recognized by the goddess right in front of me!”
“…What?”
“In the presence of such noble, illustrious beauty, even the smallest desire would be purified and transformed into awe! I swear by my honor as an apostle that there’s no impurity in my heart!”
“No, wait.”
“Now that the opportunity has arisen, let me explain in detail! We must discuss those eyes first! More vibrant and twinkling than any gem!…”
Joy, witnessing the scene transforming from excitement to madness, was unconsciously making a face very similar to Lucy’s.
Is it okay to just leave someone like this? Shouldn’t I find some way to put handcuffs on him?
“Prete.”
Just as Joy was struck with the first taste of madness she had ever encountered, Phoebe stepped up. Instead of her usual soft demeanor with friends, she spoke with the sternness of someone reprimanding a criminal.
“What about that voice… uh?”
“Gods say that excess is merely a disguise for one’s anxiety. Prete, do you truly think one must express in a hundred words the nobility of Lady Alrn?”
“…Oh, I see. My apologies. I realize now my shortcomings.”
At times like this, Phoebe was annoyingly mature, and Joy couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.
I ought to be more like that as a noble lady.
“Prete, shall we return to the topic at hand?”
“Yes. Let’s start with the dress.”
“It’s already finished?”
“Not quite. It took a few days.”
…Is it right to say ‘a few days’ after making a dress when the design hasn’t even been finalized yet?
It’s not like they’re crafting scraps of leather for commoners; it’s a dress for nobles!
“Here’s the one for the saint, and here’s the one for Lady Partran.”
Joy covered her mouth with both hands as the dresses were placed on the table.
What Prete pulled out from his space pocket was nothing short of breathtaking, even for someone who had seen plenty of dresses before.
It’s not merely luxurious or beautiful; the black dress displayed was perfectly tailored to the taste of someone striving to be a duke’s daughter.
It felt as if someone had read Joy’s mind, pulling out her wishes into the open.
So this is the ability of the apostle of the Art Guild? Regardless of his personality, his skills were genuinely remarkable.
After a minute or so of her shock, Joy turned her eyes to observe Phoebe’s reaction.
And she was certain. Phoebe’s feelings were not too different from hers.
The smile on her face clearly signified her happiness.
“I can see you like it enough for me to provide an explanation. Firstly, the silk is from Barrett. I had to use what I had since I received the request rather suddenly.”
So Barrett’s silk, pulled from the cocoon located halfway through the Barrett Dungeon—it couldn’t possibly get any fancier, could it? Not even most nobles would dare use something like that.
“Instead, I called upon the blessings of the goddess, so please bear with it.”
“Blessing? What does that entail?”
“It’s nothing overly grand. The clothes will fit your body automatically and maintain perfect condition without maintenance.”
That’s already absurdly impressive!
Even garments blessed by an ordinary priest shoot up in value, so the ones blessed directly by an apostle?
…Am I really allowed to accept this? It feels far too overwhelming.
“The design is based on the one Lady Alrn provided to me.”
“Lady Alrn?”
“I don’t mean to mislead you; it’s not merely because she asked me to create it. After considering everything, I decided her request was valid because I could tell how observant she is about the two of you.”
“…I see. Lady Alrn.”
In a whisper, Joy murmured to herself while clutching the necklace Lucy had given her.
Lucy normally pretended not to be interested in such things, but in reality, it was quite the opposite.
She constantly observes those around her and fulfills their wishes.
After all, it was Lucy who had pulled Joy up from her nightmares, stopping her from stepping foot in a dungeon.
That immense effort must have seeped into this dress.
“Thank you so very much. I’ll cherish it.”
With that thought in mind, Joy bowed her head and spoke.
There’s no way she could turn down such a precious gift!
Ugh, my debt to Lady Alrn keeps increasing. What a nightmare.
At this rate, I might just have to accept being called a fool by her without any complaints.
“I feel the same way. Thank you for making such a splendid outfit, Prete.”
“Haha. You ought to express your gratitude to Lady Alrn. I merely followed her request.”
“However.”
“If you truly wish to express that gratitude, could you pass this outfit to the Third Prince Soladin and Lady Kent?”
As Prete pulled another outfit from his spatial pocket, Joy blinked in astonishment.
The brown suit for men and the pale blue dress were just as magnificent as the ones lying on the table moments earlier.
“What’s this?”
“I felt that I was insufficient in repaying Lady Alrn’s favor. So I crafted outfits for your other two friends as well.”
As for the note to let Lucy take the gift directly, it would surely burden her more, causing Joy to blink in acknowledgment.
“…What exactly did Lady Alrn do to warrant such a favor?”
“She offered terms that could make me stake my life without hesitation.”
The apostle of the Art Guild, who could obtain anything he desired, had never been so terrifyingly perverted in all his life.
“…She granted me the privilege to style her personally!”
In her teenage fantasies, Joy concentrated all her magic, and upon observing Prete’s melting expression, she froze in place.
“Ahhh, even now, it makes me so happy that I feel I could die. To enhance the beauty of Lady Alrn with my own hands!”
Had he forgotten Phoebe’s recent advice?
Seeing the boiling excitement in Prete’s words, Joy facepalmed.
“Phoebe, can I ask you something? Not all apostles of the gods are like this, right?”
“Joy! There’s no way! Those chosen by the gods are… Ahem. Anyway, this guy is just… rather peculiar.”
“Good to know. I almost started doubting all the apostles’ character.”
*
On the day of the Soul Academy’s graduation party, the streets of the Academy bustled like never before.
Alongside the entrance ceremony, the end-of-term party attracted the largest crowd, making it a prime time for merchants and a festive scene for tourists.
It wasn’t unusual for the streets to be lively during this period, but this year’s commotion was louder than ever.
“The real dungeon is even scarier than the records from the academies.”
“Is it true students are going to conquer such monsters? Soul Academy really lives up to its reputation.”
“The very ones who created me were students from the academy! What a remarkable educational institution it is, widely considered the best on the continent.”
With more than just the usual visitors, people flocked to experience the academy’s dungeons.
It was well-known that the dreadfulness of the dungeon created by the Soul Academy would be a sight to behold.
How could dungeon enthusiasts contain themselves when they got the chance to conquer this new threat?
Some came filled with respect, others with innocent curiosity. Some sought proof to brag about, and others merely came to relieve their boredom.
Thus, the streets of the Soul Academy overflowed with people.
But not every corner was bustling.
For instance, near the fountain in the center of the academy, there was a curious emptiness, almost as if a powerful mage had cast a spell.
Despite the circumstances, it wasn’t that people weren’t passing through the area.
Just a few meters away from the fountain stood swarms of people, too busy to notice the pause nearby.
However, with Lucy Alrn standing right there with a frown etched on her face, there was bound to be an empty space.
It was natural for a space to form around Lucy Alrn as her notoriety spread.
This time, though, there was one distinct change from the past.
Instead of fearing her and running away, many onlookers stood from a distance, discussing various topics around her.
“Is that the one? Lucy Alrn?”
“Indeed. A beauty worthy of praise from the bards of the Art Guild. Truly stunning.”
“Wow, for a moment I almost forgot her foul reputation.”
“Unless you’re insane, don’t approach her. It won’t end well.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? Haha. Our dear second prince speaks too freely.”
“I hear she was the one who created the academy’s final dungeon?”
“Astonishing. Doesn’t she look too young to have such a reputation?”
“Word is she holds the top spots in both strength and intellect at the academy.”
“That’s an undeniable fact. She’s never lost her position as first in the entire academy.”
“How disappointing. If only her attitude was better.”
“Perhaps divine beings are indeed just.”
Then, just as the chatter of admiration and awe was about to veer in a low-quality, stimulating direction…
A boisterous laugh rang out from afar.
“Hahaha! Thanks for all the lovely things you’re saying about my adorable daughter! As her proud father, I couldn’t be happier!”
Benedict Alrn.
He was respected by warriors all across the continent and remembered as a figure of dread by those who were acquainted with him from the battlefield.
He was a hero of the kingdom that even the royal family handled with caution, now making his appearance.
“Daddy. S-stop…”
“Lucyy! Luucyyy!!”
Covering quite a distance in a single leap, Benedict landed with a loud thud, immediately embracing his daughter.
“I’ve told you multiple times via Kerta’s Crystal how proud I am of you! Just hearing praises of our Lucy fills my heart with joy!”
“Uh, um…”
“Not to mention how beautiful you’ve become! When I saw you through the crystal, my eyes couldn’t believe it! I thought an angel was showing me an illusion!”
“Wait, can you be silent…?”
“But I can’t help but worry, dear. With such beauty and talent, what kind of loser might dare approach you! I’m so anxious!…”
“DAD! CAN YOU PLEASE LET GO OF ME?! Heart emoji I’m starting to dislike you even more! Heart emoji”
“My! I’m sorry, Lucy! Please don’t say that! Anything but that!”
Seeing her daughter’s words feel like they stabbed this monster in the heart, the onlookers gaped in amazement.
What a genuinely amusing sight this was.
But could anyone believe the tale if I shared this view with anyone who wasn’t there?
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