episode_0049

After changing into the new breastplate that Emilia handed over, I stood in front of a full-length mirror to check my current attire. Inside it, there was a woman who looked like a knight, standing confidently, no matter who looked at her.

Especially after covering the unnecessarily large and heavy chest with armor, the dull impression significantly diminished.

Although the full-body armor still felt awkward, moving around was somewhat manageable, probably due to the increase in strength accompanying the growth in attack and defense stats up to level 5.

Initially, I was worried about wearing such a full plate armor set because in the game, it was impossible for Lillis to wear such equipment. At least, it seems like I won’t have trouble moving properly due to the weight of the armor.

I had imagined changing into just maid clothes or training attire, not this full-body armor, but Emilia’s imposing aura made this change in attire unavoidable.

Still, having the chest securely fixed without shaking is an advantage… Although I struggled putting it on, I’ll probably have to wrestle with it for ages when taking it off.

At times like these, I truly envied Emilia’s figure next to me.

Small chest, no excess fat, a healthy and balanced figure with grace.

Since in my past life, my favorite body type was a healthy-looking woman, her body was undeniably an envy-inducing one.

On the other hand, Lillis had a charmless appearance with excessively large chest making her look dull.

…Of course, considering the benefits I gained from that charm, I shouldn’t be complaining.

Guided by Emilia, I managed to somehow fit into the slightly larger-sized armor and then spent considerable time selecting the “weapon” for the sparring session.

“…Still haven’t decided?”

“Well, just a moment. Let me swing a few more.”

“…”.

Despite Emilia sending me a strange look urging me to decide quickly, I couldn’t help it.

Since I was finally engaging in the sparring, I needed to maximize my chances of winning.

As for estimating the experience points gained in the training facility… Honestly, I don’t really know.

I mean, who would know that stuff properly? It was a facility where you left unnecessary characters behind and retrieved them when moving maps.

Still, I had some understanding of how to gain more experience points and how much they increased.

The duration, level, and the character’s progress during training.

The duration naturally refers to the time left in the training facility. The longer you leave them, the more experience points they gain; that principle should be understandable.

The level indicates the character’s level when left in the training facility. Naturally, the higher the character’s level, the slower their growth. How can a strong character gain experience in a training facility?

And the progress represents the character’s learning while left in the training facility. Frankly, this part was entirely beyond the player’s control.

In the “Luminor Academy,” the training facility was simply a place to leave your character and retrieve them later. There were no elements like mini-games where you directly controlled the character left in the facility to gain experience points.

Once you threw them in, you could only pray for high progress rates as the character handled things on their own.

…But now, as the character in question, the situation had completely reversed for me.

Opportunities for training were abundant, with as many as three chances, but perhaps it could all end after just one opportunity. A fleeting moment so brief that one couldn’t even call it a period.

Moreover, leveling up was never an area I could control at will.

So, the only domain I could manipulate was the stats in training that corresponded to ‘skill acquisition rate.’

To gain as much experience points as possible in a short time, it was necessary to maximize this ‘skill acquisition rate.’

It was about winning no matter what. Even if facing defeat, one had to persist in the duel until the very last moment.

Until I could reach at least Level 6, I had to devote all my strength to training.

Hence, in selecting a good weapon, which was one of the conditions for victory, I inevitably had to spend quite some time.

I picked up and put down one sword after another, each looking quite similar, contemplating similar thoughts in my mind.

“This one… feels a bit too heavy.”

Of course, even though I was only at Level 5, wielding an iron longsword on top of already wearing full-body steel armor was quite burdensome.

Using a weapon unsuitable for my physique would lead to ineffective attacks and a futile defeat in training.

If I could only use magic, even as a mere rookie soldier, I could easily win in training. However, revealing my ability to use magic would likely cause more than just a commotion.

Ultimately, resigning myself to the idea of entering training with the lightest weapon possible, I suddenly noticed a certain sword lying in the corner of the prep room.

“I’ll go with this one.”

“…What?”

“This should do.”

“…No, Lilliss. Please don’t joke around and hand me a proper weapon. The opponent will likely enter training with a longsword, how do you plan to face them with such a weapon?”

“Using a weapon that suits my body better is preferable to wielding an unfamiliar longsword.”

“No, Lilliss…”

Despite Emilia’s attempts to change the weapon in my hand several times from behind, my determination had completely shifted towards this direction.

With just this weapon, even with Lilliss’ body, I could display enough skill to face a rookie soldier.

As long as I had this ‘dagger’ in my right hand.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Emilia hoped dearly that this situation was nothing but a bad dream.

Just the fact that this naive maid had requested to participate in training against a rookie soldier filled her with despair.

Watching Lilliss pick up and then set down various swords as if playing a prank, Emilia’s stress gradually mounted.

Seeing Lilliss finally set aside all proper weapons and enter training with just a single dagger, Emilia felt her head spinning.

‘She’s bound to get hurt… She might even sustain serious injuries…’

Of course, using a specially blunted sword for mock duels meant that sustaining serious injuries was a rare occurrence.

However, that was a story applicable when similar individuals with similar weapons fought each other.

An adult man versus an adult woman.

A rookie soldier versus a maid.

A longsword versus a dagger.

The overwhelming power difference was undeniable, and faced with such a mismatch, Emilia felt her mind going blank.

Moments ago, the threat Edan Gongja whispered into her ear resurfaced in her mind.

‘When a maid receives even the slightest injury during training, I shall ensure that the same spot on your body bears an unhealing scar.’

-Thud.

…What would happen if that young lady sustains an injury in training that goes beyond a ‘minor wound’?

Blocking the flying sword with her arm, what if it were to pierce her bones?

Or carelessly waving her hand, what if she accidentally severed a finger?

If she made a mistake, got hit by a helmet, showed signs of a concussion, and collapsed just like that?

Various ominous thoughts entwined Emilia’s mind, making her uneasy.

With the possibility of Edan Gongja’s concubine, Lillis, sustaining more than just minor injuries, it seemed there would be no way for her to save herself.

Emilia deeply regretted her actions from a week ago when she protested against the official record to the point of wanting to crush herself.

In this situation, she had to make a decision to survive.

“It can’t happen. I must stop it at all costs.”

Subsequently, hearing Edan say, “You disobeyed my orders,” rather than allowing the current crisis to unfold was an even more nonsensical act.

To increase her chances of survival even slightly, this crisis must never come to fruition.

Initially, Edan Gongja himself didn’t seem too keen on this training, so if she could prevent Emilia’s participation, there was a good chance she wouldn’t face any punishment.

Fully determined, Emilia had already opposed Lillis’ participation in the training, but her words were soon cut off naturally by the head maid.

“Lillis, it would be best if you stopped now. There’s no need for you to gauge the abilities of new recruits using your own body…”

– Pang!

“…?!”

Moving towards the mock training ground in the preparation room, Lillis suddenly clapped once in place.

Surprised by Lillis, who stood still with her hands together, gazing into the air, Emilia momentarily lost her train of thought.

“Is she suddenly praying…?”

Lillis, standing still with her hands together before the duel, appeared to anyone as nothing but a girl in prayer.

Watching Lillis gaze solemnly into the air, Emilia stared blankly for a moment.

After a short prayer of about ten seconds, Lillis lowered her hands and turned to Emilia, opening her mouth with a faint smile.

“Sorry for interrupting. I needed a moment to prepare.”

“…Oh, no problem.”

“If it’s a response to what you just said, I have no intention of backing down. So no matter how much you try to persuade me, I will engage in the duel.”

“…”

“Besides, I’m going to win anyway.”

With a confident tone and expression, Lillis walked towards the training ground, followed by Emilia as if entranced.

Given the circumstances, there was only one thing she could do.

“If it has come to this, I wish she wins, please….”

That maid, Lillis, truly possessed the skill to take down Galgormni herself.

And she also had the ability to effortlessly win against new recruits in a duel with just a dagger, without a scratch.

Placing her fate on that slim chance was the only way for Emilia to survive.

At that moment, when she desperately hoped her statement denying the possibility of the woman defeating Galgormni was nothing but baseless chatter from someone who knew nothing, it was a pivotal moment for Emilia.