Chapter 85

Ｒ​e​ａd ́ｏn​ K̈​aｔ&R;e‌adiɴg&C;af​ｅ

Lucy joined the smashing contest with a light heart.

She didn’t particularly intend to win.

Even if she won, the prize was a shield, which wasn’t something Lucy really needed.

After all, she already had the Shadow Shield.

Still, Lucy was confident deep down that she would win.

It was just smashing, after all.

Whether it was Death Aura, Dark Smash, or Bone Reinforcement, Lucy was sure she could destroy any target with her skills.

[Alright, let’s begin the bare-handed smashing contest! Give it up for our participants!]

“Woo!!”

Clap clap clap!

[Hmm, this year, we have a human girl participating, which is quite unusual.]

The dwarf announcer approached Lucy.

[She’s a very cute girl! She looks delicate, but we shouldn’t judge by appearances, right? Now, our little lady, could you share a word of determination for this contest?]

The dwarf announcer suddenly shoved a microphone in Lucy’s face.

Lucy looked at the microphone with slight curiosity.

It seemed to be a mana-powered microphone.

She spoke softly into the microphone.

[I’ll definitely win.]

“Ohh!”

The dwarves erupted in excitement at Lucy’s words.

“Such confidence!”

“So cool~!!”

“Go, human girl!”

The dwarf announcer also burst into laughter.

[Haha, it seems like we have an extraordinary participant this year. I’m really looking forward to it. Now, let’s give our little lady a round of applause!]

Clap clap clap!

[The first target is a rock! Surely~ no dwarf would fail at this, right? A true dwarf should be able to smash a rock with their bare hands easily! That’s what makes us dwarves!]

The dwarves made dismissive expressions.

Lucy felt the same.

She planned to turn the rock into dust in an instant.

[Oh, by the way, everyone knows that magic use is prohibited, right? If even a hint of mana is detected, an alarm will sound loudly, so please be careful!]

“!”

Lucy’s eyes widened.

Magic use was prohibited?

[Alright, let’s begin the smashing!]

Peep!

The dwarf announcer blew the whistle loudly.

[Begin!!]

Lucy quickly lost her confidence.

She had joined the contest planning to use her skills, but magic use was prohibited.

Wait, skills aren’t magic, so it should be fine, right?

That thought crossed her mind briefly, but she doubted it would be okay.

Using skills consumes mana, and according to the announcer, if mana is detected, an alarm would sound loudly.

That would mean disqualification and public humiliation.

“…”

Regret washed over her for joining.

She should’ve just watched.

On top of that, she had even said, “I’ll definitely win.”

Now, everyone was looking at her with expectant eyes.

Lucy slowly raised her hand.

‘I should forfeit.’

Even if it’s embarrassing, there’s no other choice.

Without using mana, Lucy’s physical strength was no better than a child’s.

There’s no way she could smash a rock.

She’d just hurt herself.

So, of course, she should forfeit…

“Ohh!”

“She’s going to do something!”

“Go, human girl!”

But seeing Lucy raise her hand, the dwarves grew even more excited.

From one side, cheers of “Lucy! Lucy! Lucy!” even started to ring out.

Finn, Sophie, Thor, and his siblings were chanting Lucy’s name.

Soon, the other dwarves joined in, chanting her name in unison.

“Lucy! Lucy! Lucy!”

Lucy’s face turned pale.

Forfeiting wouldn’t be easy now.

If she forfeited, it would kill the mood, and she might even ruin the entire contest.

[Ohh, indeed! Our human lady!]

The dwarf announcer also seemed highly expectant.

Lucy closed her eyes and quietly exhaled.

There was no other choice now.

She had to smash the rock without using her skills.

Maybe it was a matter of determination.

Even with the strength of a child, if she focused her mind and struck with all her might, she might be able to break the rock.

Humans can exhibit strength beyond their physical limits when their willpower and determination reach their peak.

This was that moment.

A moment to transcend her physical limits through sheer willpower.

Lucy opened her eyes and struck the rock with all her might.

Thud.

Silence fell.

Everyone held their breath as they watched Lucy and the rock.

“…”

Lucy’s face gradually turned red.

Her hand trembled slightly.

The rock in front of Lucy didn’t even have a scratch.

The dwarves who had been enthusiastically cheering for Lucy quietly closed their mouths.

“Ouch, that must’ve hurt.”

Someone muttered.

Lucy felt tears welling up.

But she had to hold them back.

Failing to smash the rock was bad enough, but crying would make it an even bigger humiliation.

[Umm…]

The dwarf announcer scratched his head awkwardly.

The atmosphere had turned icy.

He didn’t know how to proceed.

Lucy slowly began to walk away in the silence.

Since she couldn’t smash the rock, she was disqualified.

Leaving quickly would at least save her some embarrassment.

More importantly, she felt like she was about to cry.

She had to get out of there before that happened.

Her hand was throbbing and numb.

She needed Finn to heal it quickly…

“!”

Suddenly, Lucy felt her body tipping forward.

She had stepped on a rock fragment and lost her balance.

Thud, she fell forward with a sound.

Her chin hit the ground, and a pained cry escaped her.

The dwarves all let out a collective “Ohh.”

“She… fell….”

“That must’ve hurt….”

“The embarrassment must be worse….”

Lucy trembled as she got up.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

[Uh, uh….]

The dwarf announcer approached cautiously.

[Here, take this….]

He handed her a candy.

Lucy shoved the candy into her mouth and hurriedly walked away.

Honestly, Lucy wasn’t in the mood to enjoy the festival anymore.

She just wanted to go back to Thor’s house and rest.

Or maybe leave the dwarf village and head straight to the Black Forest.

But doing so might ruin the mood.

Thor and his siblings wouldn’t be able to enjoy the festival properly.

So, Lucy forced herself to keep watching the festival.

Her injured hand was healed by Finn’s healing powder.

It didn’t hurt anymore.

But her heart still ached.

It was painful to hear the dwarfs whispering, “That’s the girl from earlier…” as they passed by.

Up ahead, dwarfs were dancing to the music.

Their stocky bodies swaying to the simple dance.

Soon, Sophie and Finn were pulled in by Thor’s siblings.

At first, Finn and Sophie were awkward, but they gradually got into the rhythm.

The dwarfs cheered as they watched.

Applause and laughter echoed.

Lucy just watched from afar with a blank expression.

“Is your hand… okay?”

Thor approached and asked.

Lucy nodded.

“It’s fine.”

“That’s good. I was really shocked earlier. You fell and started crying.”

“I wasn’t crying.”

“But there were tears….”

“Something got in my eye.”

“Ah.”

Thor nodded awkwardly.

He didn’t seem convinced.

Thor hesitated before speaking.

“Uh, I want to explain about that conversation I had with Priscilla….”

Lucy tilted her head.

“What conversation?”

“…The one where Priscilla said she liked me, and I said I liked her too… That was definitely true. I did like Priscilla. But now, things have changed. The person I like now is… you.”

“…”

Lucy’s face stiffened.

So, that’s what the ring had been about.

It would’ve been a disaster if she had accepted it.

“But I feel like I’m not good enough for you. You’re cute, young, and strong. Even though earlier in the smashing contest…”

“I was going easy.”

“Anyway… I’m not worthy of having you as my wife. So, here’s the thing. If I win the blacksmith competition, will you accept my feelings? I mean, uh, will you… become my wife?”

Thor asked, his face red.

Lucy let out a small sigh.

Whether Thor won or not, she wouldn’t accept his feelings.

Becoming his wife was out of the question.

So, she had to reject him clearly.

Lucy placed a hand on Thor’s shoulder.

“Well….”

“Lu, Lucy!!”

Finn shouted from afar.

Turning her gaze, she saw a dwarf holding Finn in his hand.

Nearby, Thor’s siblings were fighting with other dwarfs.

Here’s what happened.

Sophie and Finn were dancing with Thor’s siblings when a heavily drunk dwarf stumbled over.

“What’s a filthy rabbit doing here…? Hey, let me touch that fluffy tail…!”

“W-why are you doing this?”

Sophie backed away with a scared expression.

The dwarf, swaying drunkenly, slurred, “Heh~ if you’re in a dwarf village, you gotta listen to dwarfs…! I just wanna touch your tail…!”

That’s when Thor’s siblings stepped in.

“Don’t touch her!”

“Get lost, Brugos!”

“If you lay a hand on Sophie, we won’t let it slide!”

The drunk dwarf’s name was Brugos.

He was the leader of a troublesome gang in the village.

“What’s with you guys? Dwarfs siding with beastfolk? You need to be taught a lesson…!”

Brugos immediately started fighting with Thor’s siblings, and his gang joined in, turning the area into chaos.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Thank you for reading.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Her age… her age?

Anyway, the universe is doing its best at preventing these two from ever having it any closer than a mere thought, so I suppose it’s a good thing?