Chapter: 474
The reason I asked Joy for help was kind of a competitive spirit.
I just didn’t want to say sorry to Grandpa, so I started moving my feet without thinking.
Among the people around me, it felt relatively easy to ask Joy for help.
Phoebe would probably burden me by dropping everything she was doing to help.
Arthur would help, but he would definitely complain while trying to repay me for everything I’ve done until now, which I didn’t like.
More than anything, I thought Arthur would find it strange that I didn’t know the basics and would start questioning me.
But Joy wasn’t like that. Even though she looked fierce, if she was the delicate Joy, she would definitely help me without saying much!
If my head was empty, she would probably just gloss over it!
What I liked the most was that Joy’s ears would flutter easily!
If I said let’s go take a break when she got tired of studying, I bet she would slyly ask, “Really?”
With such thoughts in mind, I entered Joy’s room with my shoulders straight.
“Ugh. Huh… So… Ugh. This is…”
And a while later, I felt something was wrong with my whole body.
What the…? Why did Joy suddenly burst into tears?
Joy is sensitive, but this is just too weird.
Where in that situation was there a reason to cry!?
Did I blank out somewhere? Did something happen that I didn’t know about?
No, wait! Even if I opened the log, nothing strange happened!?
“Uh… I’m sorry, Lucy. Just wait a moment.”
Wiping her tears with a handkerchief, Joy took a long breath and held my hand tightly.
“Lucy, no matter what happens, I will help you retrieve all your knowledge!”
Retrieve? What do you mean by that?
I’ve never had knowledge in my head, so what am I supposed to retrieve?
The only thing I would retrieve is my stupidity!
Staring into Joy’s bloodshot eyes from crying so long, I felt her determination and slowly pulled back.
Something feels wrong.
I don’t know exactly what’s wrong, but something is definitely off!
“I’ll explain everything from the beginning! Don’t worry! It won’t take long!”
Joy’s claim that it wouldn’t take long was definitely a lie unless she mistook herself for an elf.
How can 12 hours not be long by human standards!?
“Ducal Young Lady Partlan. I’m the maid of the Allen family. Is the Young Lady here?”
“Yes, Lucy is here. What’s the matter?”
“It’s almost curfew time.”
“Is it already that late? I still have so much left to do.”
Seeing the regret-filled look in Joy’s eyes, I hurriedly closed the book and got up.
Having escaped from the wistful Joy, I staggered and eventually asked Erin for a hug.
I was mentally too exhausted to walk on my own.
I don’t want to study. I don’t want grammar. I don’t want math. I just don’t want any of it!
[Why is the one who usually trains all night so weak now?]
‘…I’d rather be fighting for my life against the Evil God.’
[Haha! Is it that bad?!]
‘It is that bad.’
The study I envisioned with Joy wasn’t supposed to be like this.
I thought we would study moderately, chat in between, and if we got tired, we would take a break to eat something and move our bodies!
So why did the study genre shift from a coming-of-age tale to an intense training saga? Why did Joy’s room become a cram school!?
‘Well, at least it’s over now.’
[You think it’s over? That’s just your opinion.]
‘…What?’
[I declare. Your friend has no intention of letting you go! Lucy!]
Grandpa’s words came true the next day. Right after class, as I was about to move at the training grounds, Joy came looking for me.
“Lucy! We don’t have time! The exam is coming up soon!”
“No, dumbass. Sleep.”
“Hurry! I’ve already finished preparing everything!”
So that day, and the next, and the day after that, I found myself trapped in Joy’s room until curfew hit.
*
“It’s been hard to see your face lately.”
Arthur, who ran into Joy during a magic-related class, casually asked, and Joy gave an awkward smile.
“What are you and Lucy Allen doing together?”
“Studying.”
“Studying? Lucy Allen? Hah. That’s quite a story.”
Arthur thought Lucy Allen was a genius.
She never attended classes and always locked herself up in her desk but never missed the top spot.
Even though she spent most of her time training her body, she overshadowed most students who never came out of the library.
Lucy Allen, who hadn’t shown others what studying looked like in the past year, was now studying with someone else all day long?
If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable!
Why is that noble daughter of the Ducal family so bad at making excuses?
Seeing Arthur about to criticize, he swallowed his words as he noticed Joy’s expression.
“Are you really studying?”
“That’s what I hear.”
“Wow. That’s incredible. She’s actually studying.”
The guy who was doubtful whether she’d even open a book was now studying?
“Then how about studying together?”
“…Huh?”
“Even though you know magic better, I’m better at most other things, right?”
“Well, that’s true…”
“More than anything, I want to see how Lucy studies. Or is it that you don’t want to lose your intimate time with her?”
“Do I look that annoying to you?”
“Maybe.”
Arthur shrugged, observing Joy’s expression.
It seemed like she was trying to manage her expression, but in front of me, it didn’t mean much.
We’ve known each other for a while now.
She’s hiding something.
“Tell me the truth.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“If not, I’ll tell Lucy everything about your stupid behavior.”
“Your Highness? What are you really talking about?”
“I’ll have to inform the Saintess as well. If you say you want to share the memories you both have, she would gladly agree. Oh, Saintess.”
“What’s going on?”
As Phoebe appeared from a distance, Joy’s eyes trembled.
“Joy wants to monopolize Lucy Allen.”
“Oh my. Is that true?”
Though Phoebe’s tone was as gentle as usual, her eyes were not.
Her reaction to anything regarding Lucy was unusually intense, and it was terrifying.
“I was a bit jealous, to be honest.”
“I’m sorry. Please spare me.”
Though Arthur’s interrogation was bearable, Joy couldn’t stand Phoebe’s tone and bowed her head completely.
“So what is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“…Ah. You have to keep it a secret?”
Seeing Joy carefully confirming Arthur was casting a silence barrier, she cautiously explained what had happened a few days ago.
“That… The Young Lady…”
As soon as Phoebe heard Joy’s story, she showed signs of getting a bit teary, but…
“Hmm?”
Arthur tilted his head as if he found something difficult to comprehend.
Joy’s thoughts weren’t far-fetched. It would seem strange if someone who had always maintained a top position suddenly became an idiot.
But then again.
Was Lucy Allen really that studious?
The one who used her talent to solve everything suddenly asking for help because she forgot something doesn’t quite add up.
Wait, is it even possible to only take memories related to studying?
Even if it were possible, why would she take those memories? In most folktales regarding memory retrieval, valuable memories are what are usually taken.
Did she write something strange? If there was something unusual, the Great Wizard Erginius wouldn’t have shown such bewilderment.
Arthur felt the doubts piling up but chose not to voice them.
Saying anything in front of those two who firmly believed in Lucy’s sacrifice would clearly get him treated like trash.
After being bullied by the women around him until now, Arthur didn’t want to willingly step into hardship.
“Joy. If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know. I also want to repay the Young Lady’s sacrifice.”
“Hmm. Well, likewise. If you need help, just ask. I’ve received a lot from Lucy Allen until now.”
“Yeah. If something comes up, I’ll definitely let you know.”
*
“This time’s exam dungeon will be different from the Academy Dungeon! Young Lady Allen! Are you looking forward to it?”
Watching the dungeon studies professor leave after making his proclamation, I breathed a sigh and shrugged my shoulders.
It seemed that after the last time we raided the Academy Dungeon with an unconventional method, the professor was grinding his teeth in frustration.
Well, who left an opening? If you’re going to complain, you should have made it impossible to do so!
Anyway, it seemed the humiliation from that incident led the dungeon professors to prepare the midterm dungeon by mixing their physical bodies with those of graduate students.
For me, it was a welcome situation. Exploring a new dungeon is always a thrilling affair.
However, my excitement didn’t last long.
Sigh I guess I’ll be caught by Joy again and have to study late into the night.
I seriously hate it. Just looking at books makes me want to puke.
So couldn’t I just refuse?
If someone was torturing me, I could’ve done that!
If I wanted to, I would have done whatever I wanted regardless of their nagging!
But Joy’s actions were filled with goodwill!
If I show even the slightest discomfort, she’d act all hurt; how could I refuse her!?
As I felt my shoulders droop at the thought of walking back into hell, someone blocked my path.
I didn’t recognize the face. Judging by the appearance, it looked like an academy servant.
“Auntie. Why are you wasting time here?”
As soon as I asked what was wrong, the vocabulary of the Mesugaki Skill naturally let slip the word “Auntie.”
“…Could you not care when I’m in disguise?”
I realized who it was when Karia spoke. The voice change surprised me.
“Don’t answer a question with another question, you rude auntie. So…”
“Ahhhh. Never mind. Don’t talk. I’ll figure it out myself.”
Nodding to convey my understanding, Karia sighed and continued speaking.
“Employer. Are you not sensing anything strange happening inside the academy right now?”
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