Chapter: 206
As I nodded, Jeff started to explain the agenda ahead.
More people would be coming in, and finally, the First Prince and the Third Prince would enter together, officially declaring the start of the party and calling me up front.
At that time, I was supposed to share my impressions of the festival and say my prepared speech.
“Feel free to make a mistake, but please keep it manageable.”
His tone, assuming I would make a mistake, rubbed me the wrong way.
If he knew that, he should have exempted me from this speech! Why was it necessary to put me in front of everyone?
He said it was the Ducal Lord Partlan’s order, and I had no choice but to comply?!
…Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do. Yeah.
After Jeff left, countless people began entering the party hall.
Among them were several familiar faces.
Villains, heroes, briefly passing NPCs, and even those who had touched my heart with their side stories. Some I had personally wanted to meet.
It wasn’t all that strange.
Being invited to the Partlan Duke’s family meant they had something remarkable about them.
Whether it was authority, honor, skill, lineage—whatever it was, it meant they had something worth recognizing by the Partlan family.
These people inevitably had a huge influence on the continent, and having great influence means being significant, making it hard for me not to recognize them.
As I looked at the faces of those entering, my heart, which had been filled with anxiety, felt a little more at ease as memories from the game flooded back.
“Isn’t this escapism?”
Sure is.
But what can I do about it?!
If I don’t escape, I feel like my heart will break!
Standing at the center of a party filled with people who despise me, I’d have to blurt out things like “Shoddy Lord Jushin ♡” and “Failed Adult ♡”—I need to escape reality a bit!
[Hey, Young Lady.]
‘What is it?!’
[Do you know that person?]
Hearing the old man’s words, I looked up and spotted a man glaring at me.
If it were someone I didn’t know, I’d probably have brushed it off thinking he was a creep, but that wasn’t the case this time.
I actually knew that guy.
Though his face had grown more sinister than I remembered, that was it. How could I mistake him for one of the story bosses from the kingdom side?
In the game, he was called the strongest knight of the kingdom.
He carried an endless pride in his strength, only to meet his demise in a pathetic struggle.
Tabol Demesil.
‘He must be the captain of the royal knights…’
That seemed likely.
With Benedict around, he wouldn’t have attained the title of the strongest in the kingdom, but he surely hadn’t lost the captaincy either.
[Just out of caution, did you do something to him?]
‘Why do you ask?’
[He wouldn’t be looking at you like that otherwise.]
Indeed, Tabol’s gaze was ferocious, like he was staring at something filled with hatred.
…Lucy, what have you done? Did you provoke that scary uncle?!
It’s obvious. You probably said something like, “What a joke, a knight commander being a shoddy weakling who gets beaten by our papa.”
He likely didn’t keep quiet after being called a pig by someone who also had his eye on the throne.
Now, familiar with these situations, I half-heartedly averted my gaze, resigned.
After all, he’s an uncle I’ll have to deal with later. A little hate now doesn’t matter.
A little while later, the grand finale guest for this enormous party made his entrance.
First up was the Third Prince, Arthur Soladin.
As he entered, everyone clapped, though the applause was mostly lukewarm.
Arthur, being more accustomed to this than I was, must have noticed the lackluster reaction, but he maintained an expression of indifference as he greeted the Ducal Lord.
Then came the highlight of this party.
The First Prince. Rene Soladin.
As he entered, the welcome he received was on a whole different level compared to Arthur’s.
Loud applause ringing through the party hall, eager eyes of the people, cheers.
Everyone was doing their utmost to impress someone who was half assured of inheriting the throne someday.
Among those clapping, some were doing so out of obligation, but they were those uninterested in power or those who hoped the Second Prince would become king.
“Thank you for the invitation, Ducal Lord Partlan. It has been a long time since I enjoyed such a delightful time.”
“I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it, Your Highness.”
After the customary greetings, the First Prince stepped aside, and the Ducal Lord Partlan took center stage, lightly waving his hand.
As his brief gesture ended, a magic circle was drawn before him.
Amplification magic.
The kind Joy had used during our last field trip.
That time, Joy struggled for several tens of minutes making just that one, but Ducal Lord Partlan conjured it up with a mere flick of his hand.
As expected, he’s one of the kingdom’s immense powers.
“Cough.”
As the Ducal Lord cleared his throat, everyone’s gaze turned toward him.
Not a single person took their eyes off him.
“Greetings, everyone! I am the Ducal Lord Partlan, host of this party.”
So am I, because the Ducal Lord’s opening remarks mean he’ll soon be calling me to the gallows.
As I swallowed nervously while listening to the Ducal Lord thank those attending, he suddenly looked my way.
“Before declaring the party open, I must introduce someone. A person who has obtained a glorious title during our Partlan Territory Festival. With so much having happened, I am sure everyone knows this protagonist, but please pretend otherwise. Otherwise, I might feel awkward.”
The moment I had never wished for even once had arrived before me.
Taking a deep breath, checking my attire, I stood up.
As a result, murmurs began to spread around, centering on me.
The disdainful voices couldn’t be considered friendly, even as a joke, but I hadn’t expected any goodwill from the start, so it didn’t bother me much.
Instead of wasting my attention on that, I focused on the old man’s voice in my ear.
[I told you beforehand, but I'll say it again. Keep it as concise as possible. Leave pauses between your words and take your time. And...]
Ugh.
I’m so nervous.
I feel like I’m suffocating from the tension.
I didn’t feel this way even when going to meet Karia.
Hey, Shoddy Lord Jushin! If you’re going to mess with me, can’t you at least give me something difficult and dangerous?!
I really feel like this isn’t my kind of thing!
If we’re going to mess around, could it not be something I could overcome with veteran gamer knowledge? Please!
“Ducal Lord Partlan, may I ask you to wait for a moment?”
As I thought about where to get some calming medicine, a voice emerged from the crowd.
It was deep, low, and powerful enough to naturally draw attention.
Turning to follow where the voices came from, I easily located the owner.
The huge figure standing out among the crowd was hard to miss.
“I would like to ask something first.”
Tabol.
The person who had just been glaring at me with apparent hatred.
“What is it, captain of the royal knights?”
“The purpose of the Partlan Festival is to defeat various challenges by one’s own strength to prove oneself. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that is correct. Judging by your past achievements as a killer, you certainly know this well.”
“In that case, if someone uses dishonest means to participate in the festival, their record would not be recognized.”
No matter how inept I was in politics, I understood what he was trying to say at this point. It was aimed directly at me.
“What are you trying to say?”
The Ducal Lord’s voice was low.
His voice could weigh down a person’s shoulders.
However, Tabol merely shrugged his shoulders even at that voice.
“The title of Festival Massacre is incredibly honorable, so it must be determined with fairness and integrity.”
“Captain.”
Even I, who struggled with politics, could comprehend this situation, and those who had navigated this social circle countless times would certainly gain clarity.
Despite the Ducal Lord’s voice, which came across as a warning, the party hall remained buzzing with tension.
Filling the void left by him was the sound of murmurs.
Murmurs filled with hostility and sarcasm poured out as if they had expected it.
“Putting it differently, if one dirties fairness and integrity, they shouldn’t only be denied the title but must also receive appropriate punishment.”
“Tabol.”
Bad rumors spread like a plague.
They quickly infected people’s minds.
Starting from Tabol, the public discontent rapidly spread throughout the party hall.
Soon, the rising tide of murmurs drowned out every other voice.
“I raise a suspicion here. The one selected as this festival’s Massacre, Lucy Allen, did not obtain that title through legitimate means.”
Tabol was pretending to speak out for fairness and purity, but it was clear to everyone that wasn’t his intention.
His eyes, speaking those words, were focused on a single spot.
The Ducal Lord Partlan.
Me.
None other than Benedict Allen.
Lucy’s father.
The one who was meant to hold the title of the kingdom’s strongest.
Tabol smiled as he looked at him.
Only then did I fully grasp his intentions.
At first, I was perplexed.
Why attack me?
No matter how much resentment he may harbor towards me, this was too blatant.
To insult me openly before everyone—wasn’t he challenging the family and Benedict?
Even the First Prince was concerned about Benedict, so didn’t Tabol fear him?
However, now it became clear.
He didn’t hate me.
He hated Benedict.
He despised the warrior who possessed greater talent than himself.
That’s why he didn’t care who stood behind me.
He had been looking ahead all along.
“Is this a legitimate suspicion?”
“Of course.”
“Are you prepared to take responsibility if the suspicion proves false?”
“My answer is the same as before.”
“Can you prove it?”
“That’s something the Young Lady must do.”
As Tabol fell silent and turned away, the Ducal Lord’s head turned, and the crowd’s gaze shifted.
All of those eyes.
Sharp as needles.
Heavy with reproach.
They aimed to crush me.
[This isn't good. Regardless of the facts, the crowd intends to bury you.]
The old man spoke.
The mere act of suspicion itself posed a problem.
Whether I truly used dishonest means or not, the crowd had already labeled me as an immoral person.
Why? Because of my, Lucy’s, tarnished reputation.
They considered me a person who could certainly do such things.
[Damn it. He aimed at you. Whether it's true or not, he's trying to tarnish your image. To respond to that… Hey, Young Lady?]
‘Yes, what is it, Grandpa?’
[Why are you smiling? ]
Gramps, you’re sharp!
You might think the smile is forced by my Mesugaki Skill, but you realize I’m genuinely smiling!
Well, nothing to hide—if you’re curious, I should answer.
‘If that’s the case, I don’t have to stand on the platform!’
<...Huh?>
Whether I’m given or stripped of the title of Festival Massacre, that’s none of my business!
Anyway, the Shoddy Lord Jushin’s quest is over.
Whether I claim it or not carries no penalty.
And of course, I’m innocent! I didn’t use any underhanded means!
But what can I do with so many cold gazes staring at me?!
I must bear the responsibility for my past transgressions and refuse the award!
Nice going, Tabol!
You’re not only providing me with good items in the game but also helping me in reality!
You truly are an amazing boss!
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