episode_0755

Joey, who held Lucy’s hand, felt the rough texture that didn’t match her small hand and let out a subtle smile.

When I was standing behind her, I always thought Lucy’s back was too big, but when I look at it like this, I realize how tiny she is.

If I hadn’t seen this person standing in front of everyone and saving the world, I wouldn’t have believed it. That kind of story is something out of a fairy tale.

So I wish other people would think the same way.

As she was thinking about that and moving her feet, she noticed the people gathered in the social hall and her expression changed.

The magic she learned from the time she became accustomed to high society gave her the nobility befitting a noble young lady.

“Let’s go.”

As Joy spoke, unfolding her black fan, Lucy suddenly burst into laughter.

She laughed for a long time without paying attention to her surroundings, wondering what was so funny, and only when Joy’s expression began to loosen did she manage to raise her voice.

“It would be great if it was like this all the time.”

“How am I usually?”

“It’s a joke.”

“Sometimes it happens like that.”

“I’ve seen too much to call it occasional.”

“Lucy.”

Lucy tilted her head as Joy spoke, looking around.

I asked you to save some face in front of other people, so don’t you think you noticed?

Lucy is a bit insensitive, but I don’t think it’s right to bring up the topic of face here.

What should I do? There must be a way to say it in a roundabout way.

“I know, you idiot.”

As soon as he showed his concern, Lucy smiled faintly and put on a refreshing expression.

Her expression, playful yet secretly intimidating, was the face of Lucy that Joey had been hoping for.

“…Wait a minute. So you knew Lucy and were just teasing me?”

“If I say so, it will damage the dignity of the Duke’s daughter, so I will hold back my words.”

“Lucy.”

“What are you doing? Let’s go.”

Joy, who suppressed her desire to scream while looking around, followed Lucy to the social gathering hall.

When the two of us first appeared, people were watching us closely, but now the atmosphere has relaxed a bit. I think it’s because we showed a lighter side.

Lucy couldn’t have done this on purpose… she just got lucky. As the daughter of the Lord, Lucy is much luckier than most people.

“There are so many great people? I guess you have nothing to do.”

As Lucy said, there were many people in the social gathering hall that you wouldn’t see anywhere else.

Even Joy, who had been consistently participating in social circles, had quite a few people she didn’t see often.

If it were any other time, Joy would have had a hard time with them, but today she strangely felt friendly towards them.

Unlike those who had been frequenting the social scene, the newcomers looked upon Lucy with awe.

That was the expression Joy had been hoping for. That was the expression appropriate for a hero who had saved the continent.

People who had been around social circles for a long time, or the cat and giant who had been beaten up by Lucy not long ago, had fear etched on their faces instead of that expression.

Lucy hesitated and looked up at her as Joy frowned, not wanting to see it.

“Joy?”

“Huh? Why are you like that?”

“You’re thinking stupid thoughts again.”

“No, it’s not.”

“What the heck? Just ignore it. Do you care what other people think?”

Lucy, who smiled lightly, led Joy half-forcibly to where the Duke and Duchess of Partran were.

Lucy, who had been sitting alone with several high-ranking officials nearby, let go of Joy’s hand for a moment and grabbed the ends of her skirt.

“It’s been a while, my esteemed master of Partran.”

“I never thought I would receive such a polite greeting from you.”

“That was because of the curse.”

“Huh? Is that so? Even after the fight ended, there were quite a few ominous rumors going around.”

“No matter how kind I become, there is no reason for me to treat a barbarian who doesn’t know manners the same way.”

“Hahaha. That’s true.”

The Duke of Partran smiled heartily and nodded, looking around before turning his gaze back to Lucy.

“I don’t know what other people think, but it’s okay for me to treat you like you used to. I needed someone who treated me lightly like you.”

“If there was a curse, I wouldn’t mind. But I feel it’s too much of a burden to be rude to the Duke right now.”

“Why is that? If we only consider rank, you should be in a much higher position than me.”

“To be honest, your appearance is so scary.”

“Kekeke. Kehahaha! Is that what you mean when you say it’s a burden? My daughter made a good friend!”

The duke, who had been laughing happily for a long time, stopped laughing only after his wife stopped him.

“That’s enough for Saddam. Joy. Now, can I ask you to introduce this social circle? Erginus said it was your role.”

“I would be happy to do so.”

As Joy, who had been bowing politely, turned her head, the giant moved its paw as if it had been waiting, and the elder cat slowly approached her side.

Those who naturally turned their heads at the vibrations that shook the ground naturally lowered their voices when they discovered Erginus and Runevia sitting behind Joy.

“Hello, everyone. My name is Joy Patran, and I am the host of this social.”

Her voice is transmitted to everyone through the magic placed in front of her mouth.

“As you know, the concept of this social circle is a fairy tale. From this moment on, you have become one of the characters in the fairy tale.”

“That’s weird.”

Lucy, who had naturally joined in on Joy’s conversation, tilted her head while pretending to be innocent.

“He’s a character, but he just stands there and talks?”

“That’s right. Where is a fairy tale where the characters don’t move?”

“Then?”

“Now you have to walk around this garden and tell the story.”

Yesterday, Joey, who was mediating between the cat and the giant, made this proposal to both sides.

It wouldn’t be fair if only a few people talked here, so let’s leave the evaluation to a large number of people. Let’s see which garden really catches people’s attention.

The process was not entirely smooth.

‘We don’t care about what the viewers think. All we want is harmony.’

‘I don’t know why I should care about the judgment of those who have lost their innocence.’

However, Joy was able to persuade them with patience.

‘What is truly harmonious is bound to be pleasing to the eyes of the ignorant. If harmony makes one frown, can it be called harmony?’

‘They may have lost their innocence now, but they were once people who looked at the world with innocence. There must be a part of their hearts that wants to follow innocence.’

‘I’m asking just in case, but you’re not saying this because you’re not confident, are you?’

The place thus created was a source of interest to people in high society and a longing for cats and giants.

Because a lot was going to change depending on which side people took.

“Please choose the one that you like the most.”

So, Joy didn’t explain the details to the people.

What happened after this wasn’t Joy’s part.

It was an issue that people in high society had to decide after going through the motions and finding out for themselves.

As Joy lowered her head, the fairies that had escaped from Runevia’s embrace began to scatter in all directions with bright laughter.

“If you don’t know what to do, just follow the fairies located here and there in the garden. You will naturally hear many stories.”

As Joy stepped back after finishing her explanation, Lucy giggled and reached out her hand to Joy.

“Then shall we go out and play too?”

“I already wandered around so much yesterday that I’m bored, so I wonder if there’s anything more to see.”

“That’s a garden story. Wouldn’t it be fun to just watch people doing stupid things here and there?”

“That’s right.”

Where else can you see such a rare sight of high-ranking officials taking off their shoes and stepping forward?

“But it still seems a bit difficult.”

However, if you ask me whether things will go as easily as I thought, it doesn’t seem like that would be the case.

Because the facial expressions of the high-ranking officials who were the subjects of the story were subtle.

Most of the people standing here now are people who give orders rather than take action themselves.

How can you make the first move when you can see what other people are thinking?

“You really care about useless things.”

“That’s a little different. The face of a superior is a problem that affects the treatment of subordinates. If you are considered a frivolous person, you will face many difficulties.”

“…Hmm. I’m not sure, but do you need someone to start first?”

“It’s a little different, but it makes things easier.”

If the atmosphere spreads that if that person is doing it, how can we not do it, then the conversation will definitely become easier.

The problem is that there aren’t many people here who can instill that kind of awareness in the people.

In a situation where even the king of a country is aware of the first move, who would dare to step forward?

“Lucy!”

A woman who suddenly appeared out of thin air hugged Lucy and lifted her up as if she didn’t care about the people around her.

“Why didn’t you tell me it was today! You said you’d invite me!”

“…Didn’t I tell you?”

“You didn’t do it!”

“Anyway, since you came, isn’t it okay?”

“I’m really sad. But I’m Lucy’s mom.”

“Okay, okay. I get it. I’m sorry. Mom.”

Armadi, who only let Lucy go after she apologized, smiled and greeted those who blinked at him.

“Hello everyone. My name is Jushin Armadi.”

The easygoing attitude of the central figure of all gods made even the high-ranking officials who were proud of having experienced all sorts of situations stiffen. No one could have predicted this kind of situation.

“Mom, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it? If it’s Lucy’s request, I’ll gladly do it.”

“Become a person from a fairy tale.”