Chapter: 79
“Wh-where did you get that?”
Joy’s voice was trembling.
Seeing her, who usually seemed so cool that nobody could easily approach her, visibly shaken was quite a sight.
To her, this ticket probably looked like a diamond shaped piece of paper—no, perhaps something even more extravagant.
The Stopé Special Ticket isn’t something you can just casually acquire.
If it was something you could buy with money, would the noble Young Lady of the Duke’s Family be drooling over it?
“I got it by chance.”
“Why are you so curious, clueless lady? It just happened to become available.”
“No way! You think I can randomly find something I couldn’t obtain no matter how much legwork I did?!”
Joy had a point.
Originally, to get this ticket, one would need to clear various annoying side quests given by NPCs close to Stopé.
It was so tough that it was almost considered standard to skip clearing the quest even with an item that would raise a character’s favorability without a hitch!
“Just so you know…”
“Do you think that clueless lady would know? This ticket lets you bring one companion along.”
“…What do you want?”
Joy leaned over the desk, pressing her hands onto it.
Her eyes, filled with intense heat, looked as if they would scorch anything in front of her, and I had to subtly step back.
“I don’t want anything.”
“Clueless lady, do I look like that shallow of a person to you?”
I had no intention of asking for anything else from Joy.
Demanding something with this would feel like blackmail.
No way would I want to do that to you, Joy!
You’re my favorite character!
If I could just go eat the desserts from Stopé with you and see your smiling face, that would be more than enough!
If it also means we might become friends by increasing our favorability, I’d be over the moon!
So, I really don’t need anything else.
I sincerely poured my heart into that, but Joy didn’t seem convinced at all.
“Lucy Alrn. Let’s not play mind games, okay?”
“I’m serious!”
“So suspicious. Were you a delusional lady instead of a clueless one?”
As I shrugged in response, Joy sighed, looking down before raising her gaze again.
“You know, I don’t think of you as a bad person anymore like all the rumors say.”
Really?
You called Arthur the pathetic prince, knocked out a third-year senior, threatened Visi, and are on a first-name basis with me?
And yet, you still think positively of me.
I couldn’t be happier about Joy’s change of heart!
But why is she bringing this up out of the blue?
“However, it’s not like you’d just give away something as precious as the Stopé Special Ticket out of goodwill. Even Phoebe wouldn’t do that.”
Huh? Is it really that valuable?
Would even the Saint hesitate?
I had no idea since we could only use it for increasing favorability and didn’t know it was a big deal!
I thought it might just be on the same level as the tickets from Tierra Mars, but this seems even better!
“You don’t owe me that much. If anything, I owe you more since you saved my life. So please, tell me what you want?”
Nothing, I said?!
Why don’t you believe me!?
I wouldn’t throw you around for just buying me something to eat!
Thinking about it logically…
Hmm.
It’s hard for me to pin down what Lucy Alrn did before I possessed this body, so I can’t really be definitive.
Her karma definitely isn’t light.
Anyway!
It’s strange that I’d even say I don’t owe you anything, Joy!
“You brought me to Tierra Mars!”
“Did you forget that bringing you to Tierra Mars is more than enough payback?”
“We’re not making sense here.”
It’s frustrating.
Trying to converse with Joy was a totally different level of annoyance compared to talking to Frey, who’s just a fairy lost in her own world.
How can I persuade her?
[Hey girl, just ask for anything.]
“I really don’t want anything!”
I genuinely didn’t have anything to ask Joy for.
Everything she could do for me, I could already handle all by myself.
[I see. Still, figure out something.]
In these situations, asking for anything at all could actually help ease the situation, grandpa always said.
It was better than just fearing leaving a one-sided debt of the heart.
Grappling with what would be a reasonable request, I thought of something decent.
I shouldn’t ask for something too substantial, or I’d end up feeling burdened myself.
Oh, I’ve got it!
“Joy…”
“I get it! I have to comply with your request. Clueless lady, go with me into the dungeon.”
I didn’t want to drag her around like I did with Visi, who had a tough time complying with my whims.
With Joy, I wouldn’t just fill the numbers; she’d be a real asset to the dungeon conquest.
“Into the dungeon…?”
Joy hesitated to nod easily at my request.
What’s up with that?
“Is something wrong?”
“Seriously, clueless lady. You can’t even do this?!”
Could she already have plans to conquer the dungeon with her friends or something?
Or maybe there are reasons she can’t enter?
If that’s so, I understand.
I might need to rework my request.
“No! I can do it! I can totally handle dungeon conquests!”
Just as I was pondering what else to bring up, Joy shouted.
I wished she’d just say it’s fine if she couldn’t do it, but the determination blazing in her eyes said otherwise.
Hmm. If I back away now, it’ll just get translated through the Mesugaki skill and turn it into a provocation!
“Then it’s settled then?”
“Clueless lady, it’s not like you’re the sort to break a promise.”
“Of course, I won’t. Lucy Alrn.”
If I felt it might be awkward to ask her for something else in the future, I could switch requests then.
For now, let’s leave it at that.
“By the way, Joy…”
“But, clueless lady. Didn’t you say you had somewhere to be?”
“…Oh!”
After glancing at a clock nearby, she frowned slightly and said hurriedly, “Let’s talk about the details again later!”
So she genuinely did have urgent business, and it wasn’t just a flimsy excuse to leave!
*
Staring at herself in the mirror, Joy let out a heavy sigh without even realizing it.
How did she end up saying she’d enter the dungeon out of greed! That’s simply not possible!
Joy still dreamed of that day when Agra had interfered with her.
Although the frequency had decreased over time, those memories hadn’t vanished either.
Maybe that’s why she was afraid of stepping into the dungeon.
For some reason, she felt that the moment she set foot inside, the same events would unfold again.
Joy knew.
The chances of something big happening now that the Soul Academy was established were slim to none.
If she was that worried, she could just take someone reliable who could prepare for any danger with her.
Still, that didn’t change the fact that she felt suffocated looking at the door leading into the dungeon.
Because of that, she had rejected all her friends’ proposals to enter the dungeon.
She was still trapped in her nightmares.
To be honest, this wasn’t my fault—it’s just that Lucy Alrn was weird.
In a situation where a single mistake could mean death, she willingly took on the burden with me and Leez.
She was the first to charge forward every time a crisis arose.
How could she just act nonchalant about entering the dungeon now?
She was undoubtedly scared, just like me and Leez, yet here she was casually smiling.
And she mentioned getting caught up with Agra’s interference when going into the dungeon with the Third Prince!
She barely survived the threat of death once more!
But how could she treat the very idea of entering a dungeon as if it were nothing?
Was there something in the blood of the Alrn family that wasn’t human?
“Ah, I messed up.”
Joy noticed her usually maintained curls were now a mess from absent-mindedly curling them in the opposite direction and grimaced.
So annoying.
I can’t deny this is all because I got swayed by the temptation of the Stopé Special Ticket.
But that ticket is really that valuable.
It’s made by the continent’s top dessert artisan; Stopé himself doesn’t work in the field, focusing on nurturing others.
The Special Ticket lets you taste his desserts.
Getting to eat a dessert made by Stopé is something to brag about in high society, where many noble families gather.
And now this opportunity is right in front of me.
How could I possibly let it slip by?!
It’s completely impossible for someone who can’t resist the allure of sweet food like Joy!
Well, it’s too late to regret it now.
Since I’ve already thrown the dice…
Let’s think positively.
Going along with Lucy Alrn means I get to bring her knight as well, right?
As long as her abilities combine with the strength of Alrn’s knights, we can overcome any situation that arises.
Even if we enter the dungeon, it shouldn’t lead to any danger.
So everything will be okay.
Don’t worry about unnecessary stuff and just focus on enjoying Stopé’s desserts.
By the way, isn’t it interesting?
How did the Lady of Alrn manage to get her hands on that hard-to-get item?
I hadn’t seen it no matter how hard I tried.
She looked pretty self-satisfied as she pulled the ticket out, so it doesn’t seem like it was easy!
Does she have some secret route available only to her as an Alrn?
Thinking back to that moment when Lucy invited me, Joy couldn’t help but smile.
At that time, Lucy had casually dropped some informal language, leaving her stunned.
She had never heard anyone speak to her like that besides those who she grew up with, like family or the Third Prince.
Though it felt rude, hearing such words from someone who usually spoke so formally made her doubt her ears.
But looking back now, maybe Lucy was overjoyed after managing to obtain something that was hard to find.
Could it be that the normally composed and stiff Lucy was just happy and showing off?
Her invitation to visit Stopé’s shop was probably in thanks for bringing me to Tierra Mars.
Had she truly become the sort to feel thankful for things she wouldn’t have in the past?
She’d never bothered showing any gratitude before; everything was “What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is mine” with her.
Lucy had truly changed a lot.
It’s hard to believe that the Lady of Alrn who used to throw thorns in high society could actually act this way.
If only she could change her unique speaking habits a bit, people would see her differently.
But seeing as she now received recognition from the Third Prince through actions instead of words, it seemed her image was gradually shifting.
Perhaps there would come a day when more people would view her favorably.
I hope that day comes soon.
Though, with all that Lucy has done, it won’t be easy!
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