Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy-Chapter 708: Ordinary conversation (5)

Using Joy's magic, Frey returned home to a warm welcome from her family and servants.

Though Frey was filled with thoughts of annoyance, she didn’t escape. Based on her past experiences, she knew that running away would only lead to even more trouble later.

“Wait just a bit! I’ll bring you some wonderful food!” Lady Kent moved busily with a few servants while Parna stuck close to Frey and stared at her quietly.

Her sparkling eyes revealed her curiosity, but strangely, she didn’t speak.

Frey, while killing time with a yawn, felt a sense of unease at Parna's unusual behavior.

Normally, Parna would cling to her and ask about the day’s events, but today was different.

“Why are you like this?”

“Me? Why? I’m doing well, aren’t I?”

“Then why are you being nice?”

“Why, why nice?! I’ve always been nice!”

“No, you weren’t nice before.”

“I was nice!”

“Liar.”

“...Maybe I was a bit mischievous, but I was still nice!”

“A bit?”

Lucy would get annoyed by this kind of behavior, so could it be right to say it was just ‘a bit’?

Frey, openly expressing doubt, saw Parna puff her cheeks.

“I was acting mature! Can’t you just compliment me?!”

“You’re really saying that yourself? You really are silly, Parna.”

“Then you’re even sillier! Silly-silly-king of fools!”

Frey reflected on herself in Parna’s pout. She remembered when she used to say all kinds of things just to be with Lucy a bit longer, knowing she would get annoyed. Was Parna the same?

“Ugh, sorry for bothering you, sis. But I...”

“What’s so curious?”

“...Sis? What did you just say?”

“If you have a question, just ask.”

“...Really!? I can ask you?! You’re giving me permission! Well, first, I heard from Chester today...”

As soon as Parna asked her questions, Frey frowned, recalling the day.

All she had done was cut and strike the things in front of her, but Frey did her best to describe the situation. Her vocabulary was lacking, so most of the description was filled with onomatopoeic words like “whoosh,” “thud,” “clang,” “sparkle,” “crash,” but Parna seemed thrilled, not able to contain her excitement.

“So? So what? What happened next?”

“You look really tired. Go to father.”

“Even I was out there fighting at the front lines with Frey.”

“But you’re used to that kind of thing.”

“That’s true, but...”

“I know. You must be really exhausted. But our Frey faced the Evil God at the front. You look fine now, but I’m sure you feel like you’ll collapse inside!”

That wasn’t exactly true, though. She could easily swing her sword right now. Maybe later, she would sneak outside and practice.

“Father. Do you really find me that bothersome?”

“Alright, alright! Ask me anything! I’ll answer to the best of my ability!”

“Wow! Father is the best!”

As Frey’s playful behavior won over Count Kent, making him grin despite the awkwardness, Lady Kent lowered herself to meet Frey’s eyes.

“Thank you for growing up so well. Our daughter.”

“Suddenly?”

“I’m just telling you how I feel. There’s nothing sudden about it.”

“Did I grow up well?”

“Of course. The Frey now is a kind daughter.”

“Is that so? I’m not sure.”

“Hahaha. It’s fine if you’re not sure. But, later, could you invite Lady Allen over? I really want to thank her.”

“I’ll try my best.”

The party that took place at night ended just as the moon was beginning to set.

After everyone fell asleep, Frey went outside, recalling the enemies she had faced today while swinging her sword until she collapsed onto the ground.

Looking at the slanting moon, Frey remembered Lady Kent’s words.

“Have I really changed that much from before?” Pouting, Frey reflected on her past.

Frey didn’t really understand emotions.

She couldn’t feel joy, sadness, enjoyment, anger, fear, or any other emotion.

Though she had looked up emotions in a dictionary, that didn’t mean she could truly understand them.

She wasn’t smart enough to understand something she had never felt.

The only emotion Frey knew was one thing.

The color she could feel when facing a strong enemy, when confronting danger.

That was the only thing she knew, so Frey immersed herself in it.

She fought, and fought, and fought more, trying to find that deeper color.

The only thing that changed was meeting Lucy Allen, that girl.

“Lucy showed me so many colors.”

Frey’s world, which had once been gray, changed because of Lucy.

She learned that she could get angry by hearing Lucy’s laugh. She learned joy while sparring with her.

When Lucy was absent due to unavoidable reasons, she felt sadness.

When Lucy praised her, she felt happiness.

With all these emotions building up, Frey realized that the world shone in various colors.

Thanks to Lucy coloring her world, Frey could live in a world that always sparkled.

“Lucy.”

Now, Frey could feel various colors even while being with other people, but she still liked having Lucy around the most.

Even though Lucy pretended to hate it, she never pushed Frey away and always accepted her. That was the warmest place for her.

“Aren’t you just like a puppy, getting lonely so quickly?”

At the sound of the voice from behind, Frey quickly turned around and, upon seeing Lucy’s figure illuminated by the moonlight, ran toward her.

Lucy seemed uncomfortable with Frey’s sudden advance but didn’t avoid it.

“Lucy!”

“You really are just like a dog. I can almost see your tail wagging.”

“I don’t have a tail!”

“You get what I mean. Don’t understand that too, Frey?”

“...Not silly Frey?”

“If you don’t like it, we can go back to normal.”

“No! I like Frey!”

Frey desperately shook her head, causing Lucy to chuckle before lifting Frey’s shoulders and sitting down in the field.

Though Frey was disappointed, she didn’t run after Lucy and instead sat next to her.

“So, what are you here for? To spar with me?”

“You want to fight again after just finishing one?”

“Yeah. It’s fun fighting with Lucy.”

“That’s just because you want to be with me. Silly.”

“...Is that so?”

Frey thought deeply after hearing Lucy’s words.

The reason she begged Lucy to spar was that only when Lucy was the opponent could she fight with her full strength.

It was hard to give her all when fighting others.

At least the prince had been an interesting opponent, but it was getting a bit awkward now.

But it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Though Lucy cared for others most of the time, when it came to sparring, she only focused on Frey.

Frey liked that, so she probably clung to Lucy more.

...Honestly, she wasn’t sure. What did she really want when asking Lucy for a spar?

“What do you think, Lucy?”

“What do I think? Well, both, I guess. I like you and I want to spar with you.”

“Just like you! I knew it! I loved both! Because it’s Lucy!”

Anything with Lucy was fun.

That’s why she wanted to spar with Lucy! Yeah! Of course! Lucy is a genius!

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When Frey looked at the stars in her eyes, Lucy subtly averted her gaze.

“Anyway, the reason I came here is just to say thank you.”

“Huh? You’re thanking me?”

“You went through so much danger because of me. Yet, you stayed by my side without a single complaint.”

“That’s because Lucy wanted to be with me.”

Lucy’s words, coming out without much thought, left Frey staring blankly at her before she let out a light laugh and turned her head away.

“Really? You liked me that much?”

“Yeah. I really do.”

“...I see.”

“Why does your voice tremble? Are you feeling unwell?”

“It’s nothing! Don’t worry about it!”

After a while, Lucy cleared her throat and stood up, dusting off the dirt from her bottom.

“Let’s go eat something delicious later. I’ll buy you as much as you want.”

“Really?”

“You can eat until you’re full. I have plenty of money. Though I’m worried about getting paid properly.”

Frey noticed Lucy was about to leave and reached to grab her arm but stopped herself.

Even without grabbing her, she could meet Lucy again.

Because they promised. Lucy would never break her promises.

“I’ll see you again later, Frey.”

“I’ll be waiting!”

After Lucy vanished with the fairy’s light, Frey leaned back against the green and, despite the short conversation, a smile crept onto her face.

She was glad she became friends with Lucy.

Lucy, guided by the fairy, arrived at the next destination: a room in the royal palace.

It was once the place where the First Queen resided, and now it was where the First Prince, who handled palace affairs in place of the Second Prince, stayed.

After finishing his banquet with the knights, Prince Rene, instead of resting, came to handle his duties and found the girl who had appeared suddenly in the dark.

“You promised me food, didn’t you?”

“...I did make that promise, but it’s troublesome when you appear so suddenly. Lucy Allen.”