Level Up Chance (2)

“Miss! I admire your courage, but it’s too dangerous for a civilian to…!”

“I’m finishing this bastard off myself! Take one more step and I’ll…!!”

“No…”

This damn… Do you realize what kind of opportunity this is?

This isn’t some level 1 or 2 slime – I’m about to take down a level 10 monster, and you’re telling me to back down now?

Bullshit. Even if I die fighting here, I can’t let this chance slip away.

Lilith had been deprived of any opportunity to grow due to all sorts of restrictions.

Sure, if I just kept enduring, another chance might come someday.

If I gained the head maid’s trust and got permission for outings, I could probably hunt a few slimes or beetles in the back mountains.

But what’s the point of that?

At best, I’d be killing monsters worth 10 or 20 experience points each, struggling with Lilith’s pathetic stats – what meaning would that even have?

Meanwhile, the level 10 monster before me gives over 200 experience – more than ten times that amount. Just one kill would give me over 200 points.

I’m just one step away now!

Even if I die to some stray arrow from the guards, I absolutely cannot let them take the final blow in this situation.

No matter what happens, absolutely not.

‘Kkkkkeeeehhh…!’

The Hookfang glared at me again, its eyes bulging – probably because of the commotion I made arguing with the guards.

Yeah, you’d rather settle this with me than die to those guards too, wouldn’t you?

When you’re facing a 2v1 gank in lane and know you’re going down, you’d at least want to take one with you, right?

As if confirming our mutual understanding, we exchanged glances.

Soon after, the Hookfang approached for its final attack against me.

‘Kkkkkkkyeeeeeehhh!!’

“Miss, look out!”

“Lilith…!!”

“Li-Lilith, miss…!”

The surroundings seemed to fade away as tension filled the air.

Even in this moment, I remained calm, gripping my last remaining skewer with both hands.

Just before the Hookfang’s fangs could reach me, I mustered my last ounce of strength and leaped high into the air.

‘Kkkkyeeeehhh…!’

Squeezing between the two fangs protruding from either side of the monster, I drove my final skewer straight between its eyes.

The sensation of piercing through something solid confirmed the skewer had penetrated the giant boar’s skull.

…And then, immediately after.

-Thud!

“Aaaah…!!”

“Lilith!!”

Simultaneously, unable to dodge its final body slam attack, my body went flying through the air.

It was an unavoidable decision to land that decisive final blow.

Even if a level 2 body would find the Hookfang’s body slam painful, the game Luminor Academy was designed so you could survive at least one hit.

Thinking I’d somehow manage, my body tumbled across the dirt after taking the level 10 monster’s attack.

“Lilith…! Stay with us…!”

“Li-Lilith, miss…!”

…Ah, seriously. Stop calling me “miss” already.

Though I could hear voices of other citizens and guards after Isabelle and Katarina’s, I didn’t have the luxury to listen.

As my consciousness faded, I kept watching the Hookfang until the very end.

‘Kkkkyiiiiik…’

“……”

‘Grrrugh.’

With a final thud, it lost balance, collapsed sideways, and breathed its last.

A measly level 2 Lilith taking down a level 10 Hookfang with no proper attack skills to speak of.

Even in hardcore gaming circles, this would be considered extreme.

“……!!”

“……, …!”

As even Isabelle and Katarina’s voices grew distant, my vision began darkening.

Feeling a faint warmth, I fell into a deep sleep.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

『Lilith has reached Level 3!』

『Lilith has reached Level 4!』

『Lilith has reached Level 5!』

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

And then, the next morning.

“……”

Though I’d clearly fallen asleep on the market floor in Blackwood’s downtown, I awoke in an unfamiliar bed.

It definitely wasn’t the second-floor bed I shared with Isabelle at Blackwood Manor.

The clean scent and atmosphere of this room gave me a rough idea of where I was.

‘A church.’

…Well, at least I didn’t die.

I’m not entirely sure how death works in this world, but it’s definitely not like games where churches can casually resurrect the dead.

If that were possible, Harold’s wife Thanathia wouldn’t have stayed dead.

Even in Luminor Academy, when characters fell, they’d say “incapacitated” rather than “died.”

The game system prevents further damage in that state, but in reality, there’s no guarantee that wouldn’t happen…

‘If that really happened, it would be as good as death.’

Though this world resembles the game in many ways, assuming they’re identical would be dangerous.

The fact that I woke up in a church bed proves how close I came to death.

If this world worked exactly like the game, I’d have resurrected at full HP with a cheerful sound effect after some prayers.

Not lying in a church bed recovering until I could get up.

‘…Wait, who paid the church donation?’

A debt maid like Lilith wouldn’t have nearly enough money. Did Isabelle or Katarina pay for me?

Checking the items on the bedside table immediately proved my assumption wrong.

A leather pouch containing some coins and a letter left for me to read gave me the general picture.

“To the brave maid, Miss Lilith Rosewood.

We sincerely thank you for defeating the Hookfang that appeared in Blackwood’s commercial district. As captain of the Blackwood Territory Guard, I deeply apologize that a civilian like Miss Lilith Rosewood nearly lost her life.

The enclosed amount is from selling materials from the Hookfang you defeated. As circumstances didn’t permit obtaining your consent beforehand, we ask for your understanding regarding this matter.

Additionally, the Blackwood Territory Guard has covered the donation for your medical treatment. We sincerely hope for your speedy recovery and once again express our heartfelt gratitude for protecting the commercial district’s safety on our behalf.

Ser Blacksong, Captain of the Blackwood Territory Guard”

“……”

The captain – that dark brown-haired knight who told me to back off then?

I’d suspected as much when he tried persuading me rather than forcibly pulling me away from the monster. Clearly a capable man with proper manners.

This well-written letter shows his education too.

Though of course, someone who rose to captain of the territory guard would have at least basic education from graduating the academy.

…Come to think of it, I definitely shouted something at this man before collapsing.

‘Just fuck off already!’

‘I’m finishing this bastard off myself! Take one more step and I’ll…!!’

“Ah.”

A wave of shame washed over me, and I clutched my head on the bed.

Even if I was excited, I really spewed some shameless curses.

It’s only because he’s a gentleman that this didn’t cause trouble – he could’ve easily come to pick a fight over this.

‘…I should go apologize when I get the chance.’

Though I’m not sure if I’ll get another chance to meet him since he wasn’t a major character in the game.

A gentleman like him would probably forget some bratty maid’s curses soon enough.

Right. He definitely would. He has to.

Right after deciding to keep a low profile, I hunt a monster in the middle of the commercial district and curse at approaching guards.

‘In every possible way, staying unnoticed is already impossible.’

Well, since the deed’s already done, worrying about it would be stupid.

What’s important now isn’t trivial matters like whether I caused a scene.

Right now, I need to check what I gained from killing the Hookfang rather than worrying about Lilith’s ruined reputation.

I need to confirm the “experience points” – far more valuable than the few coins in this leather pouch.

“…Huu.”

With slight tension, I quietly clasped my hands together on the bed.

Simultaneously, Lilith’s status window appeared before me like a large screen.

『Name: Lilith Rosewood

Title: Brave Junior Maid

Gender: Female

Age: 18

Occupation: Maid

Affiliation: Blackwood Family Servant

Attack: 3 → 12

Defense: 5 → 17

Intelligence: 4 → 13

Charm: 12 → 40

Luck: 0 → 1

Current Level: 2 → 5

Remaining EXP: 83

Current Skills >>

Current HP: 15 / 15 → 47 / 47

Current MP: 282 / 282 → 855 / 855』

Hah.

Now this is leveling up.