Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy-Chapter 716: Ordinary conversation (13)

Frete continued thinking about the song he would share with the bards as he headed toward the Allen estate.

How should he convey the heroic tale of this being, the Apostle of the God and the Daughter of the God?

Lady Allen would hate for her story to be made grand, but as an Apostle of the Goddess and a wandering figure of the continent, he could not avoid sharing her story.

For everyone living on this continent is waiting to hear it.

Anyway, even if I do nothing, people will make up stories on their own and spread them.

False tales filled with personal opinions that would make Lady Allen terribly uncomfortable.

To prevent that, it’s necessary to quickly create and spread a proper story.

Considering the authority I hold among the bards, I should be able to prevent most distortions.

“The story should begin with her childhood, I suppose.”

A child born with a curse, unloved by anyone, who lost all her support before becoming an adult.

Yet, she did not crumble even in the face of great despair.

Even as she recalled her pain, she awaited the day of her beginning.

Then one day, when everyone had nearly forgotten the misfortunate girl, she stepped back into the world, called by the Goddess. To become a ray of light in a world descending into darkness.

“...Even if I just tell the story I’ve heard from the Goddess of History, there’s so much to create.”

The girl who could barely climb the stairs began her training.

In the end, she earned the recognition of the knights who once despised her.

The trial she met in the dungeon for the first time and the distant past hero she gained after overcoming it.

The life-risking act she performed for others at the academy’s entrance ceremony.

The danger she faced to protect someone who tried to humiliate her.

The smile she gave while fighting an unbeatable enemy to protect her friend.

Her talents displayed at the academy.

The act of rescuing a woman captured by the evil god of fire and resealing the evil god moments before awakening.

The saving of the estate from being consumed by darkness.

Each of these deeds, listed here one by one, could form the entire saga of one hero.

Yet, Lady Allen has countless such stories.

And what’s more, the ones I listed above are just from a single year.

The time when she truly became the savior of the world has yet to even begin.

How on earth am I supposed to create a song from all of this?

Even if the bard settled down and sang all day, I don’t think they could tell her whole story.

As he thought, Frete arrived at the Allen estate, greeted the guards, and stepped inside.

“Waaah! Mama! Papa!”

And he saw it.

Lucy, tearfully held by Benedict and Armandi.

Seeing the girl crying in her parents' arms, Frete realized that no matter how great of a hero someone is, in the end, they are still human.

No matter how extraordinary their accomplishments.

Even if they have endured hardship and produced results after walking a thorny path.

Even if they are noble beings who inherit the blood of gods.

When all facades are stripped away, they are just human.

A regular person who laughs when happy and cries when sad.

Having realized this, Frete was inspired for his upcoming creation.

The story of a human who became a hero and then returned to being human.

Yes, this is it. With this, I could easily create a song. And there’s more, right?

The thoughts on how to write this poem just kept rising to a point where I could hardly stand it.

...Ah! That’s it! First, I must capture the scene before me in a painting!

So I won’t forget this inspiration for the rest of my life!

Frete took out a canvas, erasing the surroundings, and as he picked up his brush, Lucy, her eyes reddened, charged at him. Once again, the walls of the estate were engraved with a human figure.

“Frete, you crazy pervert! What are you doing opening a canvas the moment someone starts crying!?”

I seriously got angry and stretched out my hand before I even realized it.

“Erin, listen carefully. This is what I learned from the Goddess...”

The perverted apostle, who had a nosebleed from the beating I gave him, still grinned as he tried to teach Erin, as if he didn’t care about his injury.

And that attitude made me even more irritated. Despite the heat of my anger, I couldn’t help but feel like I had overreacted.

If he showed even a little sign of apology, I’d at least feel better, but instead, he acted as if getting hit by me was some kind of medal. It really annoyed me!

As I grumbled inwardly, the perverted apostle finished my makeup and slowly stepped back.

Then, with a soft smile, he spoke to me.

“My lady.”

“...What is it?”

“Please smile. I’ve always thought that you look most beautiful when you smile.”

“Hah. Is that how you’re hitting on me? That’s so outdated.”

“No, I would never dare show interest in you. Even if I had dark thoughts, I would do it in a more plausible way. I’m just speaking the truth. I hope that you smile in my portrait.”

After finishing, Frete left, asking me to come when ready. I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

The face of a child that always made me marvel at its beauty.

A doll-like appearance that had no resemblance to the "me" from the other world.

Ever since Mama told me I was Lucy, I kept thinking about it.

Does that mean the "me" in my memory is just an illusion?

Even now, the memories that feel familiar are from the other world, while those of Lucy feel distant.

Though I understood it logically, it’s hard to accept with my heart.

But since this wasn’t something I could solve immediately, I postponed the worry and just did what I had to.

Looking back, I realized that the choice was right.

After meeting my friends and those close to me, and then returning to Allen’s estate, I was finally able to come to a conclusion about myself.

No matter what, I am who I am.

The girl, Lucy Allen, who lived with a curse and pain.

The man who dedicated his life to the world beyond the monitor is also me. I still love Mama and Papa.

I enjoy teasing and angering others. I also love sweet and pretty things.

I love talking with my friends so much that I can’t help it.

...Even yesterday, when I wore a dress, I thought I looked pretty good.

Just like any girl my age would feel.

On the other hand, I really like the dungeons in this world.

I’m planning to step into every place I haven’t been yet, and I even think about creating dungeons that will make others struggle.

And I’m very interested in getting stronger.

Even though everything is over, I have no intention of slacking off in my training, and I’ll continue swinging my weapon to reach the opponents I couldn’t beat.

And because of my busy schedule, I plan to visit places in this world that I haven’t seen yet.

If only the previous Lucy were here, I wouldn't have had these thoughts.

But the current me is excited to explore the world of Soul Academy, just like the "me" outside the monitor.

Can I deny any of these feelings? Can I truly claim that any of them are lies?

I kept thinking about it, but the conclusion I came to is that it’s impossible.

In the end, no matter what, they are all my desires.

Even if I deny one of them, my heart won’t feel lighter. It will only make me feel weighed down, like a shadow.

So, I will accept both.

Rather than give one up and regret it, I’ll choose both.

What’s wrong with that? After all, a Mesugaki is just a greedy little brat.

If I think # Nоvеlight # about it, neither of their desires truly conflict.

I can go on a trip with my friends, eat delicious food, and then enter a dungeon.

I can find satisfaction on the battlefield with pretty armor and accessories.

I can also stomp on those who don’t know their place, fulfilling my sense of achievement and sadistic pleasure.

I don’t need to give up, I can live as myself.

As Lucy. As the me from a distant world.

“Erin. How does my smile look now?”

“It’s more beautiful than ever, my lady.”

“Right?”

With a playful smile, I stood up, had Erin help me adjust my clothes, and headed to the parlor.

Mama and Papa rushed to me as soon as they saw me and examined my face.

It seemed like they were really worried about the tears I had just shed.

“Lucy, are you okay? You can rest longer if you need to.”

“Right, Lucy. I’ll make time for you, so don’t push yourself.”

“How many times do I have to say it? I’m fine!”

“But...”

“However...”

“It’s more annoying that Mama and Papa are making such a fuss.”

Even though I explained it was tears of joy, they were still acting this way. What would happen if I cried because of some bad person? What would happen to them?

Papa might keep his distance, but wouldn’t Mama erase them from the world?

“Well then, may I ask you three to stand in the center? I’d like to finish this piece as my own, and I want to prepare as much as I can before the Goddess arrives.”

Without needing to exchange words, Mama and Papa naturally took seats on either side of the chair.

Then, with gentle smiles, they looked at me.

‘Heh. You’re right.’

As I sat down, a light-hearted laugh escaped me, and Mama and Papa’s hands gently rested on my shoulders.

The warmth that filled my heart made me murmur softly, and I slyly looked at us through the Fairy Queen’s eyes.

A moment of ordinary and peaceful family time was there.

It was an ordinary scene that had been lost long ago but was now reclaimed.