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“Heh. I didn’t know Young Lady had such a cute side.”

“Since you were considering my feelings, you could have just accepted my thanks.”

“Lucy. Shy?”

“Yeah. This guy is shy.”

As soon as I finished my preparations, I was dragged to a private room at the Academy and surrounded by four people, forced to listen to their chatter.

Normally, I would have forcefully shut them up, but unfortunately, I was in a completely subordinate position right now. If they changed their minds and decided to impose a harsh penalty, I would be subjected to further humiliation. Not wanting the situation to worsen, I clenched my fists and remained silent.

And this situation wasn’t entirely bad for me. While their misunderstandings were embarrassing, it was also true that it earned me the goodwill of Arthur’s party. If I could endure this uncomfortable feeling for a little while longer, the severity of the penalty I would receive might decrease. It’s fine. This is nothing. I’ve faced life-threatening situations countless times; this is nothing compared to that. It doesn’t hurt. I’m not scared. There’s no danger of dying. My head is just getting a little hot, but I can’t endure this?

“See? She can’t speak anything but glances at us. She must be afraid of what we’ll ask her to do.”

“Such a shy and cowardly girl.”

“You look so cute when you’re like this. I’m looking forward to when we can dress you up later.”

“Joy. Is it okay if I accompany you too?”

“Of course. In my dreams…”

…I can’t take it anymore. The thread of my reason snapped, and I raised my head with a laugh.

“What’s with you, Lucy Alrun? So sudden.”

“Heartthrob virgin Prince getting all worked up is a bit annoying ♡ The one who couldn’t even meet my eyes this morning, calling me shy and stuff ♡ Hahaha ♡ How can I possibly endure this? ♡”

“W-What are you talking about! At that time, I was just—”

“Are you saying that’s not true? ♡ Really? ♡”

“…”

“Perver~t ♡ Disgusting ♡ I feel like throwing up ♡”

Arthur, his face flushed red, could only pucker his lips as if he didn’t know what to say, offering no rebuttal.

That’s one person dealt with. Next, I’ll deal with Frey, who swiftly changed his demeanor to tease Arthur.

“So, Prince, you were a pervert?”

“Hahaha ♡ You silly sword-swallower ♡ Anyone who hears that will think you’re not a pervert? ♡”

“…??”

“You pick fights with me because you want to be scolded by me ♡”

“No, I’m not like that.”

“Not like that? ♡ Then why did you run away like a shy girl last time? ♡ I’m so curious, can you answer me? ♡”

Frey, unable to find a place to rest his eyes, eventually lowered his head in defeat.

That’s two people down.

As I turned my head sharply, Joy and Phavi hastily avoided my gaze. What? Are you finally realizing you crossed the line? But it’s too late now, isn’t it? Even if you shut your mouths now, it doesn’t erase what you’ve done so far! You will calmly accept your karma!

“Idiot Young Lady ♡ I know you’re happy to have a friend, but you should know when to stop ♡ If you keep this up, I’ll just call you an idiot from now on, okay? ♡”

“Um, I’m not particularly excited, you know?”

“Hmm ♡ Is that so? ♡”

“Of course! For someone like me, the center of attention for countless young ladies, to get excited over something like this is impossible.”

“Then you don’t need me as a friend? ♡”

“…”

“You really don’t need me? ♡ You don’t have to hang out with an idiot, right? ♡”

“…Sniffle. No. I’m sorry. I got carried away and made a mistake.”

“Hahaha ♡ Good to know ♡ Idiots are cute for being idiots ♡”

Now, only one person remained. I slyly turned my head to the side and saw Phavi, her face flushed crimson.

“Useless Saintess? ♡”

“Yes!”

“Pfft ♡ A saintess like you ♡ Don’t you feel sorry for the followers who believe in you? ♡”

“I will repent right now! I’m sorry!”

Looking at the four people who couldn’t lift their heads for their own reasons, I felt a sense of relief. What about later? My future self will handle that. I have no regrets about my actions just now! …No. That’s a lie. I actually regret it quite a bit. I think I’m really getting consumed by the Mesugaki skill. Why is my boiling point getting lower and lower?! Compared to what I heard when I was working at my previous job, what these guys are doing now is truly trivial! While lamenting my actions in my heart, I feigned dignity on the outside. What’s done is done! The dice have been cast, so I have to see it through to the end! I’ll use my act of being in charge to weaken the penalty!

‘Prince?…’

“Poor Prince? You still have a lot to say, so when will you stop being silent? Have you degenerated so much that you’ve forgotten how to speak?”

“…Yes. There is much left to say.”

Arthur, slowly lifting his head, had eyes that burned like a man who had sworn revenge. Yeah. Forget being in charge; I’m screwed.

“Lucy Alrun. You will remember. What we agreed would happen if we succeeded in our conquest.”

‘…Yes! I remember!’

“Do I look like a foolish Prince to you? Of course, I remember.”

“Then, our discussion will be swift. We have discussed at length what we will demand from you. Among those discussions, there was even an opinion that we should just tell you to buy us meals.”

Eh?! Really?! There was such an opinion?! Then you should have told me that earlier! If you had, I would have thought, ‘Thank you,’ and endured whatever you said!

“However, it seems there is no reason to show such mercy now.”

As Arthur spoke with a heavy voice, Frey and Joy nodded in agreement. Phavi seemed to hesitate slightly, but under the sharp gazes of the other three, she couldn’t resist and merely closed her mouth.

“Lucy Alrun. We will state our demands. Each of us will borrow a day of yours. To put it simply, for one day, you must follow the demands of the person who borrowed that day.”

“I’ve already decided when to do mine. Young Lady.”

“Me too.”

“Um… Me too, Young Lady.”

“So have I. I will inform you of the schedule, so be mentally prepared in advance. Understand?”

As Arthur spoke, vowing to make me regret this, cold sweat trickled down my back. What is it! What is it this time!

[Penalty has been determined.]

[You must comply with their requests for one day.]

[Please do your best to perform the penalty.]

…Hey, you useless piece of trash. What? Do your best? Perform the penalty with all your might? This is all your fault! This happened because of you! How dare you spout nonsense as if it’s none of your business! Just you wait! Useless Main God! I will never forget this resentment! I will definitely teach you a proper lesson later!

*

The day after the penalty was determined. When I went to the training ground as usual, I was greeted by Frey. While she always stuck by my side, her footsteps today were lighter than usual. The reason is obvious. She was the one who took my day today. Looking at Frey, who was darting around me like an excited puppy but maintaining a poker face, I let out a hollow laugh. Haaah. What will she ask me to do? She mentioned last time that she was thinking of asking me to praise her, so will she ask me to pamble her all day? I can do that anytime. What’s so hard about telling a cute person that they’re cute?

“Lucy. Lucy.”

‘What is it?’

“It’s not that. You’re not ‘Silly Sword-swallower’.”

“Today is different.”

Different? Does she want me to call her by name instead of ‘Silly Sword-swallower’?

“Here, try to follow. Frey-unnie.”

‘…What did you say?’

“What?”

“Frey-unnie. Quickly.”

The request to call her ‘unnie’ filled my mind with complexity. It’s not that I have an aversion to calling Frey by a higher title. In social life, I frequently have to bow to people much younger than me. Using honorifics for someone around my age is not a big deal. The problem is the title ‘unnie’ itself. Unnie! I’ve never uttered such a word! I can use terms like ‘nuna’ or ‘nuneom’ without hesitation, but the title ‘unnie’ itself gives me a sense of rejection!

“You promised to listen to me today, Lucy. Hurry up and do it.”

–Ding.

[You must comply with the request.]

[If you refuse, the target of the penalty may be randomly increased among your acquaintances.]

What do they mean by increasing the penalty target? Am I supposed to fulfill requests from people other than these four? Randomly increased among acquaintances means… Could it be. Does it mean there’s a possibility I’ll have to fulfill the request of the Fangirl Fox?! Aaaah! I can’t allow that! Okay! I get it! I’ll try it! But if it fails due to the Mesugaki skill, I can’t help it, right? This is beyond my control! If they force this on me with a contrived scenario, I’ll really switch sides!

‘F-Frey-unnie!’

“Frey-unnie.”

See! There’s no way this will work properly! …Huh? Huh?

‘Frey-unnie.’

“Frey-unnie.”

…Did I just call Frey by her name properly? Right? I called Frey by her proper name without calling her useless or silly! I pinched my cheek, thinking it might be a dream, and felt a sharp pain, then smiled. It’s real. I actually called someone else by their name properly. I called them by their proper name, not some twisted version! I don’t know why this is possible. Is the compulsion of the Mesugaki skill weaker than the compulsion of the penalty? Or did the Useless Main God do something? I don’t even have any guesses. But what does it matter? What’s important now is that I can call someone else by their name properly.

“Frey-unnie.”

My heart was so filled with joy at being able to speak aloud what I thought that I called Frey’s name again, and only then could I see Frey’s blushing cheeks. What is it with her? I thought she’d be smug, but why is she just staring blankly without saying anything? *Thump.* Following the sound of something falling, I turned my head and saw Joy and Phavi, their eyes wide open and frozen. Aren’t they too early to be at the training ground? Why are they so diligent?

“Young Lady!”

Joy suddenly rushed forward and grabbed my shoulders with both hands. As I looked at her eyes, filled with excitement, in bewilderment, Joy spoke urgently.

“Me too! Call me Joy-unnie too! No! Unnie is fine! Just calling me Joy is okay!”

Huh? She wants me to call her Joy? …Uh. Will this work? Since I called Frey properly just now, maybe this is possible?

‘Joy?’

“What are you talking about, Idiot Young Lady.”

So it seems it only works if a penalty is involved.

“Hyaang! Why can’t I do it! Kent-young lady can, so why can’t I?!”

Looking at Joy, who was about to cry, having thrown away her noble lady’s dignity, I let out another hollow laugh. No, excuse me. I’m the one who wants to call someone by their name properly the most. When your turn comes later, I’ll call you kindly, so please be patient for now? And Phavi. Why are you looking so disappointed? You wanted me to call you by your name too? While I was dumbfounded by their expressions, Frey, who had belatedly regained her senses, stepped between me and Joy.

“Lucy is mine today. Go away.”

“…Ugh. Just you wait. Kent-young lady! When my turn comes, you won’t even be able to glimpse Young Lady Alrun!”

Joy? What on earth are you planning to make me do? I’m very uneasy right now. Please explain properly.

“Do as you please. As long as I can take Lucy home today, that’s enough for me.”

…Frey? Take me home?! What is that supposed to mean?!

 

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