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Arthur and the others gathered near the 1st Prince were so bewildered they couldn’t find any words.

The spectators, forgetting to observe propriety in front of the likely successor, stood with their mouths agape.

Joy, with cracks on her villainous noble mask, looked at me with shaking eyes.

As I watched the chilling silence, I screamed internally.

‘Grandpaaaaaaa!’

Grandpa-emon! Save me! How should I get past this situation?! I don’t know what to do!

<For now, just keep quiet for a moment. We need to see how the situation unfolds.>

As I kept my mouth firmly shut and observed my surroundings as Grandpa-emon instructed, the bewildered expressions on people’s faces began to change one by one.

“How presumptuous!”

One of them broke the thick silence with his voice.

It was Arthur.

“Do you think this is the Academy!”

He, standing beside the 1st Prince, stepped forward with feigned anger.

<You're quick to judge the situation.>

‘What? What do you mean?’

<By speaking up first, that guy has seized control of the situation.>

Arthur’s outburst was a very strategic move.

I had committed a discourtesy in front of everyone. Therefore, it was impossible to pretend this incident never happened.

Now, I could no longer evade responsibility for the crime I committed.

However, how I would take responsibility had not yet been decided.

“This is absurd! Do you think your arrogance will be forgiven just because you are Sir Benedict’s daughter!”

Arthur intended to seize the initiative in determining the severity of the punishment by being the first to speak.

He had the justification of being the Prince’s younger brother.

“It’s alright. Younger brother.”

However, that was only a justification that arose when the 1st Prince remained silent.

Since the insulted 1st Prince held a higher status and a firmer justification, if the 1st Prince stepped forward, Arthur would have to step back.

“But, brother!”

Arthur raised his voice despite knowing this.

To protect me.

“I said it’s alright.”

However, there was a limit to that.

As the 1st Prince lowered his eyebrows, Arthur apologized and stepped back.

In the silence that followed as everyone watched one person, the 1st Prince approached me with the sound of his footsteps.

His dark, dark eyes were fixed solely on me.

The 1st Prince stopped in front of me, looked down at me without a word, then lowered his face.

Then, he whispered into my ear.

“You don’t think I’m a pathetic weakling now, do you?”

You still remember that?!

Did you hold that in your heart?!

Well, you wouldn’t forget!

What kind of crazy bitch would call someone a gloomy weakling loner and expect them to forget!

After conveying that one sentence, the 1st Prince raised his face, a smile playing on his lips.

It was not a smile born of happiness.

Although she didn’t have anything special like Karia, I could still tell.

That’s the smile of someone who has decided they will definitely take care of this bastard with their own hands.

<This should be fine.>

‘Is it really fine?!’

<He's not storming off in a rage to punish you.>

That’s true.

But no matter how I look at it, I’ve been targeted by that person!

I can see him calculating how to take care of me!

<You're making a fuss over a prince when you've already been targeted by an Evil God.>

Grandpa reassured me, saying that making a fuss was the problem, not being targeted, and that as long as reason remained, it would be fine.

I understood that.

But the problem isn’t this situation!

I’ve been targeted by one of the final bosses!

Not only are the Main God and the Evil God ganging up on me, but one more has been added!

Another opponent has joined the ranks of those who want to teach the Mesugaki a lesson!

“I heard you’ve become a reasonably useful human, but your personality hasn’t changed at all.”

As I was screaming internally like a shriek, the 1st Prince continued speaking.

His clear voice, as if meant to be heard, drew everyone’s attention.

“I heard you’re participating in the Patran festival?”

‘Yes. That’s right.’

“How do you know that? Gloomy loner prince. Are you a stalker?”

Please stop, Mesugaki Skill!

Come out at the right time and place!

Don’t you hear the gasps from around you?! Huh!?

“Hmph. Well, it’s more fun when things stay the same as before.”

I expected his voice to rise, but it didn’t.

The 1st Prince uttered those words with a snort and turned his back.

Consequently, those closest to the 1st Prince, his guards, were the ones who became flustered.

“Your Highness. Are you going to let such rudeness slide?”

“Such is her nature. Raising our voices will only tire us out.”

“However.”

“Since you seem to have forgotten, let me remind you. That person is Lucy Alrun’s daughter. Considering his achievements, shouldn’t we overlook this much?”

The 1st Prince said he was overlooking it for Benedict’s sake, but his true intentions were different.

The reason he clearly mentioned Benedict’s name was undoubtedly to remind us that Benedict was lurking behind me.

Not only the guards but also those standing behind the 1st Prince were silenced by the mention of Benedict’s name.

After confirming that everyone had fallen silent, the 1st Prince led his entourage and left the way they came.

Haaah.

I really thought I was going to suffocate.

What kind of person was Lucy in the past?!

To have insulted royalty and nobles while enduring this kind of atmosphere!

Even with Benedict behind her, wouldn’t she have been more mindful of appearances?!

Does a true Mesugaki really not care about what others think?!

Well, if she cared about what others thought, she wouldn’t be wearing dresses more flamboyant than the princess’s!

As I was marveling at Lucy of the past for a different reason, someone tugged at my collar.

It was Joy.

“Truly. Young Lady Alrun, you are a person of unwavering consistency.”

Hearing her sigh mixed with worry filled me with guilt.

I’m sorry, Joy. You have a hard time because you picked the wrong friend.

I’ve prepared a gift for you, so please accept it and forgive me.

Unable to voice my apologies aloud, I was begging for forgiveness internally when she let out a hollow laugh.

“Follow me. Arthur has something to say.”

Huh? Arthur?

*

Joy took me to a luxurious restaurant catering to wealthy individuals.

As soon as the waiter saw Joy’s face, they guided us to a private room.

“You’re finally here.”

Arthur was waiting for us in the room.

“Sit down for now. We’ve already had a grand greeting.”

As I sat at the table according to his words, Arthur called my name with a sigh.

“Lucy Alrun.”

‘Yes!’

“What is it?”

“I apologize.”

The sudden apology made my head spin.

Why is he apologizing? Shouldn’t I be the one apologizing?

“I am deeply sorry that I could not stop my brother from meeting you, knowing what kind of person you are.”

According to Arthur, the 1st Prince, who was a hikikomori holed up in the capital, visiting the Patran Territory seemed to be greatly influenced by him.

Normally, Arthur wouldn’t participate in events like this festival, but when he expressed his intention to visit, the 1st Prince became curious, and through their conversations, the 1st Prince ended up participating.

No.

I mean.

If I put the stories together, he’s the culprit!

Arthur!

You damn brat!

All my gratitude for trying to protect me is canceled!

If you knew what kind of person Lucy was, you should have stopped the 1st Prince at the risk of your own life!

Why is someone who isn’t a tank drawing aggro to the boss and making a mess of things!

“Can’t you even say ‘don’t come’? You’re truly pathetic and pitiful, Prince ♡ What can you even do well? ♡ Oh. There’s one thing. Yelling ‘just you wait after I lose’ ♡”

“I tried! But my brother was insistent, so there was nothing I could do! And besides! If you hadn’t said such bizarre things in the first place, there wouldn’t have been a problem! What kind of action is it to insult the most likely successor to the throne in front of everyone?!”

Right. If we’re talking about the weight of fault, my share would be quite large. If we put it in numbers, maybe around 9?

However, you also bear about 1 point of fault for summoning the culprit here, right?

So, please accept this verbal abuse for my stress relief.

With this, I will forgive your sin.

Arthur, who had raised his voice in protest, soon cleared his throat and regained his composure.

“The fortunate thing is that my brother doesn’t seem to have any intention of imposing any sanctions on you.”

The 1st Prince did not mention my name even after leaving.

Even when his guards or retainers brought it up, he dismissed it as something that had passed, indicating he had no intention of pursuing the matter.

Perhaps Benedict’s name had a significant influence there.

Who would want to antagonize a human who can withstand an attack from an Evil God, even if imperfectly?

“However, we don’t know how long this will continue to be overlooked. If my brother makes up his mind, even Sir Benedict will be in a difficult position. So please, be careful.”

‘Yes.’

“Why should I do that?”

“I’m saying this because I’m worried about you! At least pretend to listen!”

Arthur’s veins bulged in his neck again, but there was nothing I could do.

As long as the Mesugaki Skill corrected my tone and actions, I would have to call the 1st Prince a gloomy loner prince.

“Um. 3rd Prince.”

As we bickered, Joy, who had been watching from the side, quietly interjected, and Arthur turned his gaze towards her.

“What is it?”

“Will the 1st Prince also be participating in the festival?”

“Yes. Since he’s here anyway, he said he’d become the slaughterer of the festival.”

It’s surprising that person is out of his territory, and he’s even participating in the festival?!

Why?!

What kind of change of heart made him do something like that?

As I was shocked by this unexpected turn of events, the prince’s words as he was leaving came to mind.

Is this also because of me?!

Is it because of me?!

Since he can’t directly sanction me because of Benedict, he’s going to try and win this way?!

Isn’t that too petty for a final boss to do?!

No. No, wait. That’s not the problem.

The fact that the 1st Prince is participating in the festival means I might run into him on the streets.

“If my brother gives his all, that title will be his. It’s unfortunate. I was quite seriously aiming for it myself.”

“3rd Prince too?”

“Yes. You have to do your best when you do anything.”

Oh. God. Why do you give me such trials?

I should ask Grandpa if he can sense the 1st Prince’s aura.

If I meet him face-to-face, something else will happen.

– Tring.

What is it? Lord of Uselessness. I didn’t call you.

I’m incredibly stressed right now, you know?

If you’ve brought something to relieve the suffering of an Apostle, I welcome it, but if not, my words might become harsh.

[Quest Updated!]

[Slaughterer of the Festival]

[Win duels at 14 or more stalls!]

Huh?

Huh?

Why has the number changed?

Why did the part that said 10 become 14?

Lord of Uselessness! You piece of trash bastard!

 

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