Chapter: 80
The day I promised to go to Stopé’s shop with Joy arrived.
As I stepped outside looking like any other day, I couldn’t help but feel flustered the moment I saw Joy.
“Did you put in too much effort?!”
What looked like a simple black dress, devoid of decoration, actually revealed its elegant nature upon closer inspection—it was an expensive outfit.
And those high heels she usually wouldn’t touch! Gloves on her hands and a butterfly pin in her hair.
If she stepped into high society like this, I could practically hear people saying, “Wow, Lady Joy! You look fabulous!”
But it’s just a dessert shop! Why go all out like this?!
What does that make me, who just showed up in my uniform now?!
“Hello, Lady Alrn.”
‘There, Joy. Isn’t this a bit excessive?’
“Clueless lady, are you going out on a date with someone else? Why so flashy?”
“It’s Stopé’s shop! I can’t go there without putting in some effort.”
I sensed she wouldn’t budge on her outfit and realized that humor wouldn’t get me anywhere.
“I actually find you more interesting, Lady Alrn. Didn’t you used to love flashy things?”
When Joy mentioned the “past,” she was probably referring to before I possessed this body.
Back then, Lucy loved all things extravagant.
She’d transformed her room into a frilly hell and wore clothes that looked like they belonged in a magical girl cartoon.
But not anymore.
I absolutely don’t want to wear anything like that again. If I had to choose between prancing around in a flowy dress or facing a Minotaur again, I’d pick the Minotaur without a second thought—even if it meant facing death.
“My tastes have changed.”
“Sorry, but I’m not a sloppy clueless lady.”
“Ah, I see?”
Joy’s tone turned sharp, showing her irritation, but she didn’t express it outwardly.
Maybe she’s tolerating it today since I’m the one taking her to Stopé’s?
“Let’s go.”
“Alright. Clueless lady.”
Stopé’s dessert shop is just one of many along Soul Academy Street.
Players in the Soul Academy community often referred to it as the store that sells “Weak Cakes.”
Because as soon as you’re able to accompany NPCs, visiting this shop to eat cake during free time was the quickest way to increase favorability!
What on earth is in that cake that makes favorability go up just by eating it?! This question sparked a meme that twisted and warped over time until Stopé’s dessert shop was considered a shady underground haven.
But, I mean, that might just have been a wild rumor; the last time I visited to take the entrance exam, it was just a perfectly normal dessert shop!
I tried their cakes and drinks, and they were pleasantly delicious without any strange effects.
Upon stepping into Stopé’s shop, an employee dashed over to welcome us.
On one side was the Duke’s Young Lady, and on the other was the Count’s Young Lady—it’s no surprise they received such a warm reaction.
“Welcome! Lady Partran and Lady Alrn. Please, allow me to show you to your seats.”
As I showed the employee Stopé’s special ticket, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
While the smile didn’t leave his face, his eyes told another story.
He examined the ticket as if appraising treasure, and after a moment, carefully tucked it away, saying, “This way, please.”
The employee guided us to a private room at Stopé’s and then left with a brief “Please wait a moment.”
“Wow. I can’t believe I’m using Stopé’s private room.”
‘Joy…’
“Clueless lady, why are you making such a fuss?”
“It’s worth getting excited about! Stopé’s private room can only be accessed by genuine VIPs!”
Joy was so thrilled, she had shed her villainess persona for a moment.
Watching her with a big smile, she just resembled a somewhat fierce high school girl.
If her smile faltered even a tad, one would expect her to look for something to nitpick like the stereotypical villainess.
As I chatted with Joy, the door opened, revealing an elderly man clad in a pristine baker’s uniform.
His white hair and wrinkled face showed he was no spring chicken, but his robust physique told a different story.
Despite his age, he was fit, showcasing how well he took care of himself.
“Good day, Lady Partran and Lady Alrn. I am Stopé, the owner of this establishment and, if I may say so, a dessert artisan. I’ll do my utmost to ensure you have an unforgettable experience while you’re here.”
As those words left his lips, the door swung open again and many staff members entered, placing dishes and utensils before us.
Honestly, I wasn’t a huge fan of desserts.
I didn’t dislike them, but most desserts I’d encountered were so sugary they’d make my tongue tingle, so I could only manage a bite or two before getting fed up.
So when I heard we’d be having a dessert course, I was worried.
Would I be able to eat everything they served?
But those worries were utterly pointless.
If Stopé’s desserts were that mediocre, how could he be hailed as the continent’s top artisan?
He started with an appetizer that gently stimulated the palate with a light sourness.
Then, he served cold items to enliven the taste buds, followed by warm delights that melted away any lingering tension.
The whole dinner course was meticulously crafted, culminating in an explosion of flavor that was nothing short of mesmerizing.
Everything I’d eaten until now had just been a cheap imitation of dessert.
Having only consumed that junk, it’s no wonder I harbored such prejudices against desserts.
If all desserts were like this, my teeth would have turned black by now!
As I, someone who usually thought of desserts as just okay, reveled in this experience, what about someone like Joy, who was already in love with them?
She seemed entranced, as if she’d been put under a spell by Stopé’s creations.
With a soft smile, she became a machine moving her spoon, lost in bliss and hardly registered my voice.
Seeing her that happy made me feel it was worth bringing her here.
After all, this was surely what raised her favorability instantly.
Speaking of which, I wondered where Joy’s favorability stood right now.
It was certainly starting below 40.
Adding on the fact that I saved her life last time, plus this outing, it might have gone over 60?
Nah, considering calling her a clueless lady or the pity prince incident, it’d probably be lower than that.
Still, I was certain Joy was the closest to hitting 70 among the people I knew.
Now that we’d decided to tackle a dungeon together, I could use that as an excuse to spend more time with her, and hopefully hit that favorability mark before finals.
Looks like I secured one person to clear that useless deity’s quest.
Another one would come after Alsetin retrieved the necklace and dealt with that lower-class noble, so I’m good to consider this quest cleared!
Ha! Take that, pathetic useless deity?!
No matter how much you try to sabotage me, I’ll clear this quest with ease!
If you wanted to give me a hard time, then you…
Ah, no, I didn’t say anything. Nothing at all, Armadi.
You don’t need to worry about a thing.
This whole escapade happened thanks to your divine influence, after all.
I’ll never forget to express my gratitude.
Something feels off.
Did Stopé’s desserts perhaps have alcohol in them?
Why am I saying things I’d never even considered before?
Anyway, since I no longer need to worry about the quest bestowed upon our noble Armadi, I should prepare for something else.
It’s about time for the main story arc of the Soul Academy to kick off.
I wonder who will become the evil god’s apostle this time?
*
Even two days after eating Stopé’s desserts, Joy hadn’t forgotten the moment.
The fact that she entered Stopé’s private room—reserved for only the most esteemed guests, not even royalty from other nations would gain entry.
And meeting Stopé himself, who rarely showed himself outside.
The wave of wonderful desserts he brought forth upon greeting them.
The happiness that filled her mouth with every spoonful.
That experience ranked among the happiest in her many years of living.
But as delightful as those memories were, the burden looming over her shoulders grew heavier.
The promise she’d made to enter the academy dungeon on reopening day haunted her with each passing day.
What if there’s another accident?
What if something goes wrong with the professors’ work?
Hoping for some sort of miracle to delay the day as it approached—yet sadly, the professors of the academy were quite capable.
And so, the academy dungeon was set to reopen today as planned.
With a staff her father had gifted her on her first day at the academy in both hands, she was headed towards the entrance of the dungeon.
Sigh… Why did I succumb to my greed and make such an unreasonable promise?
Should I just tell them I can’t go now?
That I’d help in another way?
But could I provide a reward worthy of Stopé’s special ticket?
“Clueless lady.”
As her mind raced, Joy slowed her pace, turning to the voice that called her name.
It was Lucy Alrn.
Dressed in iron armor, she looked just as she had back during the entrance exam.
The mace and shield in her hands, the hairstyle, and that smug expression were all the same.
“What’s up? Your eyes look like a raccoon’s. Did you spend the night fretting about going into the dungeon? Scaredy Lady?”
Joy almost nodded subconsciously before catching herself and forcing an awkward smile.
“I had a rough night’s sleep.”
“Is that so? Well, it’s okay. Even if you’re hopeless, I’ll be there.”
As Lucy proudly walked ahead, Joy followed behind her, still a bit dazed.
With a mix of intent and circumstance, they arrived at the dungeon entrance.
At that moment, she recalled it all.
The thousands of eyes that watched her.
The witch’s unsettling laughter blocking the path.
The ominous voice echoing from afar.
The endless void she had stared into when she faced that moment.
“Clueless lady.”
Hearing Lucy’s voice snapped Joy back to reality, reminding her that she was on the ground, having sat down.
Ah.
This is…
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