Field Trip (3)
Once the mist that had clouded my surroundings cleared away, what greeted me when I opened my eyes again was the Aln Estate.
No clue why *this* showed up.
There isn't a single thing I actually want waiting for me here.
The Saithil Forest trial was about escaping the clutches of that face-obsessed fox.
Once the trial began, the fox would use her power to show each participant the thing they desperately longed for, and escaping that illusion meant overcoming the trial, while drowning in it meant failing.
It was hard to depict something like that in a game, so as I remember it, actually playing through it felt less like a test of the character's willpower and more like a straight-up maze escape.
But since this world is a reality beyond the monitor, what should have appeared wasn't a maze but the things I truly wanted — and the fact that the Estate appeared meant this illusion was tailored to what *Lucy* wanted.
Just like when Grandpa's trial unfolded before me and Lucy's nightmare played out.
How deflating. If things I genuinely wanted had popped up, I'd planned to enjoy myself before heading back.
No way I'm enjoying this.
I was reaching back to sling my shield over my shoulder when I realized both my hands were empty.
Ah, right. This is Lucy's illusion — of course there's no weapon or armor here.
Which means the dress I'm currently wearing is probably that cursed thing, the one drowning in frills with gems studded all over the place.
I furrowed my brow and glanced down — and was surprised to find something far more normal than expected.
Huh? For clothes that Lucy wears, this is remarkably sane.
It's a dress, sure, but not flashy — calm and restrained.
I could live with wearing this.
I've gotten used to skirts lately, what with the new academy uniform and all.
In considerably better spirits, I opened the door and stepped inside, thinking about wrapping this trial up as quickly as possible.
What does Lucy desperately long for, I wonder? Judging by what I saw during Grandpa's trial, I have a pretty good idea.
"Oh my. Lucy. Are you heading out to play?"
The moment I entered the Estate, the person welcoming me was a woman dressed in a white dress.
I knew her face. Not because she'd appeared in the game — simply because I'd seen her before, when I overcame Grandpa's trial.
Lucy's mother. The woman who, in Grandpa's trial, had lain in bed hurling cruel words at Lucy. Unlike her previous appearance, she was smiling now, her face full of life.
"Yes, Mother... Huh?!"
What? Why are my thoughts spilling out of my mouth exactly as I thought them?!
I thought this illusion only granted Lucy's wishes — does that mean it's granting mine too?!
"Lucy?"
Lucy's wishes aside, I'd been planning to escape this illusion as fast as possible, but this changes things a little.
"No, it's nothing."
Might as well enjoy speaking normally for once in a while!
"Joy! Let's try that bakery next! I heard it's su~per delicious!"
Joy looked at the girl tugging her along by the hand and let out a sigh.
The moment the field trip began, Lady Aln had explained the trial that the Master of the Forest would impose on them.
Once you stepped inside, you would behold the sight you most desperately longed for — and so long as you realized it was an illusion and escaped it, you would pass the trial.
Having heard that explanation beforehand and braced herself mentally, Joy realized the truth fairly quickly after the trial began.
Because there was simply no such thing as a Lucy Aln this lively, this kind, this pure.
Ha. What I desperately long for is to visit a delicious bakery with a sweet, honest Lady Aln? Really?
Lady Rina, Master of the Forest. Is this right?
You're mocking me, aren't you? There's no way one person's deepest wish could amount to something like this.
"Oho! If it isn't the great archmage herself, Lady Joy Partran!"
The moment Lucy dragged her half-forcibly into the bakery, an employee inside let out a cry of admiration, and Lucy raised her voice right on cue.
"That's right! She's an amazing friend — honestly more than I deserve!"
...So if every bit of this illusion is true, then what I want is for Lady Aln to acknowledge me, to become my close friend without any formality between us, and to be praised by others as a great archmage?
Joy swept both hands down her face, thinking this to herself.
So embarrassing. So humiliating.
The reason I can't possibly lift my head is that I can't even shout that this illusion is slandering me.
Because these are all things every person dreams of at least once.
But what can I do?! Every time Lady Aln beams up at me with that innocent smile, the thought just keeps creeping in — wouldn't it be fine to enjoy this a little longer?
Once I escape this illusion, Lady Aln will call me Airhead Lady and pile on the teasing, but in here it's different!
Lady Aln holds my hand, calls my name, and treats me as her friend!
And there's delicious bread on top of that!
Besides, according to Lady Aln herself, I only need to escape the illusion at the very end. Until then, why not enjoy it?
"You've arrived, Lady Partran. Your seat, as requested."
"KYAAAAAAH!"
Joy had gritted her teeth and endured everything — the innocent Lucy, all the rest of it — but the moment the white prince on horseback from her childhood dreams appeared, her limit finally arrived.
Unable to bear watching her greatest cringe-memory play out in real time, Joy frantically escaped the illusion, and back in reality, she opened her eyes, gasping for breath before pressing her hands hard against her face.
I still wanted all of that? Really? Genuinely? That's insane. I thought I'd left it behind as a childhood dream!
"Hoh. You woke up quickly. I'd expected you to savor it a while longer."
At the voice reaching her ears, Joy carefully lifted her head. There sat the Master of the Forest, chin resting on her hand, watching her.
"Lady Rina?"
"That's me."
"Do you happen to know what I saw?"
"Here, the most charming, most adorable little girl with twintails was showing a purity befitting her petite frame. Rebellious types are lovely, but a cheerful child suits you rather well too. The classics earn their name for a reason. And then—"
"That's quite enough! Please..."
"Heh heh heh."
At Joy's mortification over having her deepest cringe-moments broadcast in real time, a laugh escaped Rina's lips.
It wasn't the laugh of a dignified being so much as the creepy cackle of some tavern uncle spinning lewd stories.
I know you're a remarkable being, my lady, but this is a little — no, a lot uncomfortable.
It's like watching one of those foul-tempered noble men who shove themselves into every corner of high society trying to seduce women.
Doing her best to ignore Rina's laughter, Joy looked around.
Only moments ago she'd been in the middle of the forest for the field trip — so where was this?
"This is my own abode. I couldn't very well leave you all lying in the dirt, so I brought you here myself."
Rina answered the instant Joy turned her head.
"And since you're about to ask where everyone else is, I'll answer ahead of time: they're in the other rooms. One mustn't interfere with the trials, after all."
"Am I the first to wake?"
"Not quite. As I've observed so far, the more charming a person is, the greedier they tend to be."
Joy had barely exchanged a handful of words with Rina.
Even so, she knew a fair amount about her — because Rina made no effort whatsoever to hide herself.
The person who most coldly snubbed everyone for lacking charm was Lady Kent, so she must still be awake.
And Lady Aln showed her the strongest preference, so she must still be in the middle of her trial.
How strange. With Lady Aln, I'd have expected her to be the first up, saying something like, 'So slooow. Airhead Lady. Even if I'd told you ahead of time you couldn't spoon-feed yourself. Loser. So airheaded.'
"Now then. If we keep chatting here, won't your mouth grow lonely? As your host, it's my duty to see to your comfort. Follow me."
"Yes, my lady."
"Do you have a preferred drink? I shall match your tastes as closely as I can."
Rina, who had been gushing exactly as she had on first meeting, suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
"Is something the matter?"
"It seems an exception is about to arise to the theory I stated just now."
Joy tilted her head at the cryptic reply, but Rina offered no further explanation.
"How is life at the Academy? Are you happy?"
"Yes. Very much so."
Lucy's mother was an exceptionally bright, cheerful person — so much so that it was hard to believe she and her husband were the parents of Lucy, the girl once dubbed the Disgrace of House Aln.
Even accounting for the fact that this is the illusion Lucy longs for, this parent is far too ideal.
No matter how you slice it, these are the parents of the foul-tempered mesugaki Lucy. Considering Benedict shows no trace of mesugaki in him, there has to be something wrong with this woman.
But from everything I've observed, there's nothing wrong at all. She's simply, genuinely a kind mother — nothing more, nothing less.
I even went out of my way to provoke her, wondering if she was suppressing her true nature, and she just laughed it off?
So how, exactly, does the child born to a shamelessly doting Benedict and this kind, gentle woman come out a foul-tempered mesugaki? Did her personality change as she grew up?
That part does have me curious. When I go back to the Aln Estate over break, I should look into it.
Well, whatever — it's about time I got up, isn't it?
I may have poured out every word under the sun out of sheer delight at conversing without the mesugaki skill interfering, but I can't milk this forever.
Who knows what that face-obsessed fox might do if I stay asleep much longer.
"Oh my. Is it time for you to go already?"
As I rose from my chair, Lucy's mother made no effort to hide her disappointment. If I were the real Lucy, I'm sure I would have hesitated — but I'm not.
From where I stand, the woman in front of me is nothing more than a pretty lady with no connection to me whatsoever.
"Yes. I should be going."
"A shame, but it can't be helped. Take care, dear."
Having slipped out of the illusion, I stared up at the wooden ceiling for a moment before slowly pushing myself up.
Hello?
"Hey there, loser."
I tried talking to myself on the off chance, but the mesugaki skill was as strict with me as ever.
Ha. Figures. A masochist of a Chief God who loves getting screamed at was never going to remove this. I was an idiot to hope, even a little.
I heaved a long sigh and was just getting up from the bed to signal I'd cleared the trial when the door burst open, and Joy, Frey, and the face-obsessed fox all piled into the room.
What? What is it? Here to congratulate me? Because your faces look awfully grave for that. I haven't seen cracks that deep in Joy's face in a while.
"Lady Aln. Something terrible has happened. It's Phoebe."
Huh? What happened to Phoebe?