Penalty Time (2)

"Hehe. Who knew our young lady had such a cute side to her."

"You clearly went out of your way for her sake, so you might as well just accept the thanks."

"Lucy. Shy?"

"That's right. This one's a shy little thing."

The moment ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'd finished freshening up, I was hauled into my private room at the Academy, where I found myself surrounded by these four and subjected to an endless stream of teasing.

Under normal circumstances I'd have forcibly shut at least half their mouths, but sadly, I was currently in a position of complete and utter submission. If they changed their minds and ordered me to carry out some bizarre penalty, I'd end up suffering a humiliation even worse than this one.

Unwilling to let the situation deteriorate any further, I clenched my fists and kept my mouth shut.

And it wasn't as if this situation was entirely bad for me, either.

Their misunderstanding certainly made my skin crawl, but thanks to that very misunderstanding, Arthur and his group now felt indebted to me—so was it really so terrible?

If I could just endure this prickling, squirmy feeling for a little while, the severity of my penalty might actually go down.

It's fine. Something like this is nothing. I've stared death in the face how many times by now? This much is nothing.

It doesn't hurt. It isn't scary. There's no risk of dying. My face just gets a little hot—how could I possibly fail to endure that?

"Look at her. She won't say a word because she's reading the room. She must be terrified, wondering what we'll make her do next."

"So she's a coward on top of being shy."

"She really is adorable like this. I can't wait for the day we get to dress her up."

"Joy? Would it be all right if I joined you then as well?"

"Of course. In my dream scenario..."

Yeah. I can't take this.

The thread of my reason snapped clean through, and I lifted my head with a smile.

"What? Lucy Aln. What's with the sudden change?"

"It's just that the fresh-faced virgin prince is getting a bit too full of himself♡. The man who couldn't even meet my eyes this morning is calling me shy and whatnot♡. Pfft♡. How am I supposed to hold this in?♡"

"Wh... What nonsense are you spouting?! Back then, I was merely—!"

"You weren't?♡ You swear?♡"

"..."

"Per~vert♡. Gross♡. I'm gonna throw up♡"

Arthur's face flushed crimson, and his lips merely flapped uselessly, unable to muster a single word of rebuttal.

One down.

Next, quick as a flash, a change of stance—time to sink Frey, who was busy snickering at Arthur.

"So the prince was a pervert, huh?"

"Puhahaha♡ Silly swordswoman♡. Anyone listening would think you're the only one who isn't a pervert?♡"

"...Huh?"

"You're the one picking fights because you want to be berated by me♡"

"No. That's not what I—"

"You weren't?♡ Then why did you run off like a blushing maiden last time?♡ I'm so~o curious. Care to explain?♡"

Frey's eyes darted around in search of somewhere, anywhere to look, before she finally buried her face entirely.

Two down.

As I whipped my head around, Joy and Phoebe hastily averted their gazes.

What? Only NOW do you realize you've crossed the line? Too late, though! Even if you shut your mouths now, it won't erase what you've already said!

Time to collect on your karma, nice and obediently!

"Airhead Lady♡. I get that you're happy about making a friend, but you should know your limits♡. Keep it up and I'll just start calling you Airhead, plain and simple?♡"

"I... I wasn't particularly excited, you know?"

"Hmm~♡. Is that so?♡"

"Of course! Someone like me, who stands at the center of countless noble young ladies, wouldn't get worked up over something this trivial."

"Then I don't need to be your friend?♡"

"..."

"You really don't need me?♡ Guess I won't hang out with an airhead anymore then?♡"

"...Sob. No. I'm sorry. I got carried away and misspoke."

"Puhahaha♡ Glad we understand each other♡. Airheads are cute precisely because they're airheads♡"

Only one left.

I slid my gaze sideways to find Phoebe, her face glowing scarlet.

"Pathetic Saintess?♡"

"Yes, ma'am! Ehehe!"

"Pfft♡. THIS is a saintess?♡ Don't you feel even a little sorry for the faithful who believe in you?♡"

"I shall repent this very instant! I'm so sorry!"

Looking around at the four of them, each unable to lift her face for her own reasons, was utterly cathartic.

The future? Future me can deal with that. I don't regret a single thing I did just now!

...No, actually, that's a lie.

I regret it quite a lot.

I think the Mesugaki skill is really starting to devour me. Why does my boiling point keep getting lower and lower?! Compared to what I heard back in my office-worker days, these girls are honestly still playing at the cute level!

Even as I lamented inwardly over what I'd just done, I kept my chin held high on the outside.

What's done is done! The dice have been thrown, so I have to see it through to the end!

I'll act like I'm the one in charge, and use that to soften ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my penalty!

'Your Highness?...'

"Pitiful Prince? We still have so much left to discuss. Just how long do you intend to keep your mouth shut? Have you degenerated to the point of forgetting how to speak?"

"...Yes. There is indeed much left unsaid."

When Arthur slowly raised his head, his eyes burned like those of a man ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠swearing vengeance.

Yep. Forget acting like the one in charge—I'm completely screwed.

"Lucy Aln. Remember this well. Remember what we agreed you would do when we succeeded in conquering you."

'...Yes, sir! I remember!'

"Do I look like a fool like the Pitiful Prince to you? Naturally, I remember."

"Then let us get to the point. We went through considerable deliberation over what to demand of you. Among our options was a proposal to simply make you buy us dinner."

Huh?! Seriously?! There was a proposal like THAT?!

Then you should've told me that first! If you had, I would've been like "thank you very much" and quietly put up with whatever else you were saying!

"However, it seems we no longer have any reason to grant you such mercy."

As Arthur's voice grew heavy, Frey and Joy nodded along.

Phoebe seemed to hesitate for a moment, but facing the sharp gazes of the other three, she could do nothing more than press her lips shut—resistance clearly wasn't an option.

"Lucy Aln. We shall tell you our demands. Each of us will claim one of your days. Put simply—for that entire day, you must obey the whims of whoever claimed it."

"I've already decided which day will be mine, my lady."

"Me too."

"M... me as well, my lady."

"As do I. I shall inform you of my chosen date, so prepare yourself in advance. Understood?"

I was sweating bullets at Arthur's declaration that he would make me regret this without fail when a notification chime brushed past my ear.

What now! What is it this time!

...

You rotten garbage god.

What did you just say?

Do my best?

Do my BEST to carry out the penalty?

THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! This whole situation exists because of you!

How dare you spout nonsense like some disinterested bystander!

Just you wait, you pathetic Chief God! I will never, ever forget this grudge! One day I will give you the True Education you deserve, aaaaargh!

The day after the penalty terms were set.

When I arrived at the training grounds as usual, it was Frey who greeted me. She was the one who always hovered at my side anyway, but today her steps were lighter than any other day.

The reason was obvious—she was the one who'd claimed today. Watching her circle around me like a puppy too excited to contain itself, all while her blank expression never wavered, drew a hollow laugh out of me.

Haah. So what is she going to ask me for?

Last time I overheard her, she said she wanted to ask for praise. Is she planning to have me pamper her all day long?

If that's the case, I can oblige as much as she wants. What's so hard about telling a cute girl she's cute?

"Lucy. Lucy."

'What is it?'

"Not 'what is it.' Call me Silly Swordswoman."

"No, that's not it. Today is different."

Different? Does she mean she wants me to call her by her name instead of Silly Swordswoman?

"Come on. Repeat after me. Big Sis Frey."

'...I'm sorry, what?'

"You heard me."

"Big Sis Frey. Hurry up."

Being asked to address her as "Big Sis" tangled my thoughts into knots.

It wasn't that I had any objection to showing Frey respect, per se. Anyone who's spent time in the working world knows that bowing your head to someone years younger than you is just par for the course. Using honorifics with someone around your own age? Barely worth mentioning.

The problem was the word "Big Sis" itself.

Big Sis?! I have NEVER once said that word in my life!

"Big sister" or "miss," sure, I could manage those all day. But the specific term "Big Sis" hit me with a visceral, gut-level resistance!

"Lucy promised to listen to me today. So do it."

- DING.

Additional targets for the penalty? What is that supposed to mean?

I have to grant requests from people other than these four?

"Added at random from among the people around me" means...

Don't tell me.

There's a chance I might have to grant the Face-Connoisseur Fox's requests?! EEEEK! Absolutely not!

Fine! Fine, I get it! I'll at least give it a try!

But if it fails because of the Mesugaki skill, that's out of my hands, right? That's a matter entirely beyond my willpower! If you use THIS against me to twist the knife, I really am going to defect for good!

'Fr... Big Sis Frey!'

"Big Sis Frey."

See? There's no way this actually worked!...

Huh?

Huhhh?

'Big Sis Frey.'

"Big Sis Frey."

...I just called Frey's name properly, didn't I? Right?

No "pathetic," no "silly"—I addressed Frey the way she asked, properly!

Wondering if I was dreaming, I pinched my cheek, felt the vivid sting, and laughed.

It's real.

I really, genuinely said ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠someone's name the right way.

Not some twisted, garbled mockery of a name—an actual, proper name!

I had no idea why this was possible. Whether the penalty's compulsion simply outranked the Mesugaki skill's compulsion, or whether that worthless Chief God had pulled some trick behind the scenes, I couldn't even begin to guess.

But what did any of that matter?

The only thing that mattered right now was that I could say someone's name properly.

"Big Sis Frey."

So overjoyed at being able to speak my thoughts exactly as they formed, I called her name again—and only then noticed that both of Frey's cheeks had turned bright red.

What's with her? She was supposed to gloat and strut around, so why is she just standing there in a daze without saying a word?

Thump.

Following the sound of something hitting the ground, I turned my head to find Joy and Phoebe frozen in place, eyes wide open.

Isn't it too early for those two to be at the training grounds? Why so diligent all of a sudden?

"My lady!"

Joy suddenly sprang forward and grabbed my shoulders with both hands. While I was puzzling over the unmistakable excitement blazing in her eyes, she rushed on breathlessly.

"Me too! Call me Big Sis Joy too! No! Forget Big Sis! Just calling me Joy would be enough!"

Huh? You want me to call you Joy?

...Oh.

Could this work? It just worked for Frey, so maybe...

'Joy?'

"What was that, Airhead Lady?"

So it really is impossible unless the penalty's involved, huh.

"Huuuuaaah! Why won't it work for me?! It works for Lady Kent, so why not me?!"

Watching Joy blubber on, all her noble elegance sold off to who-knows-where, pulled another hollow laugh from me.

Um, excuse me.

The person who wants to say your name properly more than anyone here is ME, you know?

When your day comes around, Joy, I'll call you as kindly as you like, so just be patient for now.

And Phoebe? Why are you so transparently disappointed over there? Were you hoping I'd say your name too?

While I was staring at their expressions in disbelief, Frey finally snapped back to her senses and wedged herself between me and Joy.

"Today, Lucy is mine. Go away."

"...Grrrr. Just you wait, Lady Kent! When my day comes, you won't even be allowed to lay eyes on Lady Aln!"

Joy?

What exactly are you planning to make me do?

Because I'm feeling VERY uneasy right now?

Kindly explain yourself in detail.

"Do whatever you want. If I can just take Lucy home with me today, that's enough."

...Frey?

TAKE ME HOME?! What on earth is THAT supposed to mean?! What are you planning?!