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Chapter 357

Chapter: 357

As Bardronel’s hostility spread, the expressions of those following him turned grim, but those guarding me merely looked weary, showing no signs of surprise.

[It’s not like it’s been just a day or two. You should be used to it by now.]

‘…It’s not like I want to do this.’

[Who said anything? I just stated the facts.]

While I was bickering with Grandpa, Benedict bowed his head to Bardronel.

“I’m sorry. My daughter is quite… exceptional.”

“…So the rumors were true.”

Though he sent me direct hostility, he couldn’t do so in front of the powerful knight Benedict. So, he cleared his throat and composed himself.

“Now, back to the main point. What brings you to this city? Are you planning to participate in the arena personally, Sir Benedict?”

“Haha. I’d love to, but I’m too old to burn with passion like that.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Instead, my daughter will participate in the arena.”

“The Young Lady?”

Bardronel, who briefly glanced my way, shrugged and spoke with a cheeky tone.

“That’s too bad. I had hoped to witness Lady Allen’s feats firsthand, but it seems the participants for this arena are already full.”

“Is there really no way?”

“Since it’s a request from Count Allen, I’d like to help as much as I can, but as you know, the arena holds significant meaning for the empire.”

Even though I was told participation seemed difficult, I remained calm. I had predicted this would happen.

With all sorts of powerful people vying to participate in the arena, it’s impossible for there to be any open spots.

Even in the game, participating in the arena through normal means was nearly impossible.

“Instead, I can secure a seat for you in the audience.”

As he spoke, Bardronel, who hadn’t turned once to me, finally looked at me when mentioning the audience seats.

What this implied was clear. A girl like me belongs in the audience, huh?

Haha. The blatant hostility makes it almost enjoyable.

Even someone as clueless as me could easily feel this thoughtless attitude. Benedict surely couldn’t have missed it.

Nonetheless, Benedict forced a smile and shook his head.

“Thank you for your consideration, but I will decline. I’ll visit again when there’s an opportunity.”

“My apologies for not being able to host a distinguished guest properly.”

Watching Benedict suppress his anger made me boil inside.

His ungracious heart was focused solely on someone touching his family rather than his own mistakes.

This feeling was similar to when I felt insulted about Lucy’s mother last time.

Did something change as I was overwhelmed by those emotions back then?

I set a single goal while questioning my own feelings.

Wasn’t Bardronel’s son participating in this arena?

What a fortuitous timing.

I may not be strong enough to smash your head yet, but I can certainly wreck your son.

I’ll make sure he humiliated himself in front of the audience.

Ding!

[King of the Arena]

[Defeat all participants in the arena and prove your strength.]

What’s this? Not acting like a sloppy Lord Jushin and actually giving me a decent quest?

Did he finally grow awareness?

Did all my pent-up frustrations finally get through?

Hmm, but the conditions are a bit strict.

It’s not hard to crush Bardronel’s kid, but winning in the arena is a whole different story.

Even if I say I’m strong, I’m still just a kid who hasn’t graduated from the academy yet.

Whether I can beat all those strong participants in the arena remains doubtful. I’ll give it my all, but success is…

[Reward: Status Window usage right (1 time)]

Oh?

Am I seeing things?

Something seems off, catching my attention.

Rubbing my eyes and reopening them, I was met with the same notation and widened my eyes.

A Status Window!

I can finally see my specs!?

I can check all the skills I’ve learned and their proficiency!?

Insane. This isn’t just a nice bonus; it’s a must-have!

I absolutely have to succeed by any means possible.

While my mind was racing with plans, I suddenly became curious about what the punishment for failing could be.

They wouldn’t offer such a good reward without a significant risk of failure.

What’s it this time? What grotesque thing will come out to embarrass me?

[Upon failure: Pray in full makeup.]

Huff. Ah, really. You’re so honest about your desires it’s rather refreshing.

Full makeup, huh?

Like when I did that speech?

If it’s that, then no big deal.

Oh, come on. Just a feeling. Even if I succeed in the quest, I’d still take the punishment.

Letting me see the Status Window, that’s worth at least that much.

As the sloppy Lord prepares to spring a nosebleed like a silly fox,

“Oh? This is rather troublesome.”

Hearing Benedict’s voice, I snapped back to reality and stole a glance at his awkward smile.

“I never thought the arena participants would be completely full. What shall we do?”

‘For me…’

“Don’t worry. Silly Daddy. Unlike you, who can’t do anything but fight, I’m capable and have my ways.”

“Is that really true?”

‘Yes…’

“It’s kinda sad that you’d doubt me, silly Daddy. Makes me wanna cry.”

“Uh, no. It’s not that I’m suspicious of our Lucy. It’s just… um… Anyway! What’s this method you have?”

As he kept talking, it seemed he realized he was only digging himself deeper, so Benedict quickly changed the subject.

I could tease him more, but I’ve got things to do.

‘I’ll obtain it.’

“I’m going to take a participation right from another sloppy one.”

The empire allows transfer of participation rights in the arena.

The reason is simple. It must be transferable for nobles to participate in the arena.

Since nobles are the ones setting the rules, it’s only natural those rules favor them.

“…I don’t know for sure, but that surely isn’t an easy task?”

Like Benedict said, it’s not easy to receive a transfer.

As mentioned before, participating in the arena is considered a great honor in the empire. Most participants won’t give away their rights.

However, that doesn’t mean there’s no way. If those who aren’t nobles hold onto their tickets, it could put various nobles in a tough spot.

Naturally, the empire’s nobles foresaw this situation and implemented another rule.

To easily snatch tickets from others.

I plan to use that rule like I did in the game.

‘Are you watching?’

“Silly Daddy, just sit back and observe. I’ll handle everything.”

Without a sigh of hesitation, I found myself at a tavern located in a corner of the Bardronel territory.

As soon as I opened the door, a rancid smell wafted from the place, certainly not somewhere an aristocrat’s lady would be visiting.

“Lucy, are you sure this is the right place?”

With Benedict’s hesitant question, I stepped forward, drawing stares from the thugs, and made my way to a big guy hogging two chairs.

‘Hello.’

“Hey, stinky garbage.”

“What the hell do you want?”

‘You have the participation right for the arena, don’t you?’

“Do you have the participation right, huh?”

‘…’

The big guy frowned, checking the people behind me instead of answering.

His expression made it clear.

He definitely has the participation right.

Thank goodness.

I was worried things would be different than in the game.

“Specially giving me a chance to transfer the participation right♡ Isn’t it better for a cute, pretty, strong girl like me to participate rather than you, who’ll just get stomped and crying in the first fight?♡”

With every word I said, the big guy’s expression soured, yet he didn’t get up from his seat.

“…Shut up. Crazy girl.”

Wow. To endure such arrogant remarks, that big guy has some serious composure.

For a guy like him, I never expected such politeness!

But I’m not about to stop here.

In order to get that participation right, I have to fight this guy.

“Scared?♡ You’re getting scared of a small girl like me?♡ Haha! You look like a total pervert, but seems your heart is delicate!♡ It’s so annoying how cute you are, I might just throw up!♡”

Pretending to gag, the furious big guy finally snapped and threw a bottle at me.

Of course, the bottle missed me. A divine barrier appeared in front of me first.

“Are you hurt?♡ Upset that your embarrassing side was exposed?♡ Sorry~♡ I guess I was clueless♡ But what can I do?♡ If I don’t let it out, I might puke!♡”

“…You little punk!”

The big guy suddenly leaped up, swinging his fist at my face.

Being a fantasy resident must be why his swings were rather fast and threatening.

But honestly, other than that, it had nothing to praise.

His movements were clumsy, his tightly-formed fist was careless, and when he missed, he didn’t even think about the consequences of such shoddy attacks.

Dodging his punch with a simple head movement, I popped my fist right into his chin and kicked his midsection, causing him to crash into the table face-first.

Seeing his eyes roll back, he must’ve surely fainted.

How boring. I wanted him to at least hold out enough to ease my earlier irritation.

Just as I was about to approach the big guy, Benedict grabbed my shoulder.

“Uh, Lucy?”

‘What is it?’

“What are you doing, Silly Daddy?”

“…Can I ask what you’re doing right now?”

‘I’m in the process of obtaining a participation right, you know?’

“Are you really getting a participation right from this sloppy guy?”

“Hah. Lucy.”

After hearing my words, Benedict let out a long sigh and grabbed my wrist with both hands.

Then, looking at me sternly, he raised his voice.

“While I understand your desire to participate in the arena, you shouldn’t threaten another person to take it. That’s dishonorable.”

Finally, I realized the misunderstanding Benedict was caught up in.

He thinks I’m trying to rob the participation right through brute force!? No way!

That’s the rule stated on the participation right for the arena!

If there’s an agreement or the rights holder strikes someone first, then the winner has the claim to the right!

I was just following those rules!

This happens regularly in the streets when the arena is about to open!

“Benedict, it’s different now. Don’t you have strength?”

Benedict didn’t believe my explanation even a bit.

So unfair! I didn’t do anything wrong this time!

Sure, it may have been a bit petty, but it wasn’t outright wrong!

What’s more frustrating is that I understood how Benedict felt for not trusting me.

I must have built up quite the reputation over time!

But that was the old Lucy! The current me isn’t causing trouble for no reason…

Uh, um.

But I’m still causing less trouble than before! I’m not randomly bullying innocent people!

If I were really that bad, would I have brought you here? I went solo!

“Uh, excuse me. Pardon the interruption. Count Allen.”

An unfamiliar man at the tavern interrupted Benedict’s scolding.

Clearly nervous, he glanced from Benedict to me, wiping the sweat off his forehead as he continued.

“Lady Allen is right. Your daughter hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“…Huh?”

“Anyone living in Bardronel territory would respond the same. The one swinging their fists out of provocation is the one at fault.”

Benedict, blinking confusedly, scanned the tavern’s occupants slowly.

Then, the tavern patrons nodded in agreement with the man’s statement.

“Right. What he says is true, Count Allen. If you couldn’t win, you should have held back until the end.”

“That item was too much for that guy anyway.”

“The Young Lady is spot on. What would that punk do in the arena but lose pitifully? He’d just make a scene!”

“If your daughter has a fault, it would only be that she was too well-aware of the sentiments in the empire.”

“That punk definitely should’ve—hey, wake up! How long are you going to lay there?”

“…Huh? What? What happened?”

“Don’t you remember? You were the one who attacked first and lost.”

“Crazy! Seriously!? Damn it. I thought I could finally participate in the arena this time!”

As the big guy woke up, more disappointed in himself than feeling indignant, my innocence was proved.

Benedict finally let go of his large hand from my wrist and forced a smile.

“Uh, Lucy? You know I’m not very knowledgeable about this side, right?”

“Hmm♡”

“And, uh, you didn’t explain things right either. Like Lucy often says, silly Daddy might not know unless you tell him.”

“Hmmm?♡”

“So, um, could you please forgive me this one time?”

Meeting Benedict’s earnest gaze, I broke into the brightest smile I could muster.

“I hate Daddy!♡”


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