episode_0020

Title: Complete Strategy Guide for the Release Capture Battle (2)

Author: LilGirlChang

Continuing from the previous guide.

(Photo of the corridor in front of the first-floor main bath at Blackwood Manor through an underground passage)

If you entered Blackwood Manor through the underground passage and came out into the first-floor main bath of the manor, head right immediately after exiting. The left side is guarded.

(Photo of the auxiliary staircase in front of the first floor of Blackwood Manor)

Turn right twice to find the auxiliary staircase leading upstairs. Proceed directly to the third floor from here. The second floor is a farming map with nothing special, so you can skip it if you find it bothersome.

(Photo of the maid room area on the third floor)

Search for items in the maid rooms on the third floor. If searching everything seems tedious, just search Isabelle’s and Aeria’s rooms.

In Isabelle’s room, you’ll find “Isabelle’s Diary,” which yields exclusive accessories for Release. In Aeria’s room, you’ll find “Tanashia’s Necklace.” You can either equip it on any female character after the episode ends or save it for crafting materials later.

(Photo of Melissa, the head maid’s room on the third floor)

In the innermost room of the maid area is the head maid Melissa’s room. Push aside the wardrobe to reveal stairs leading to the upper floor, then proceed to the fourth floor.

(Photo of the secret room on the fourth floor)

Once inside, unlock the door using Tanashia’s Necklace obtained earlier. Upon exiting, you’ll find a long corridor where only the second room on the left opens. Enter there…

…

…

…

ㅇㅇ: Wasn’t this guy an aggro player? Why is he so meticulous with the strategy guide?

39.7: Posting a detailed Release strategy guide with such a nickname is hilarious lol.

223.38: I curse Release daily as a useless character, but truth be told, nobody is more dedicated to Release than…

└ ㅇㅇ: Seriously lol

└ LilGirlChang: Shut it.

GuwonSunae: Can’t find Tanashia’s Necklace in Aeria’s room. Where is it exactly?

└ LilGirlChang: It’s in the first drawer of the cabinet. You need to click three times starting from the third drawer to access it.

└└ GuwonSunae: Ah, two more clicks needed. Found it, thanks!

ReallyGreatGame: But why is Tanashia’s Necklace in Aeria’s room? Isn’t Tanashia’s room on the fourth floor?

└ oo: Seems like Aeria secretly took it. Given her personality, she could easily do that and blame someone else.

└└ ReallyGreatGame: Why is Harold silent? It’s Tanashia’s belonging; shouldn’t he manage it properly? Isn’t it just a setting error?

└└└ oo: Who knows, maybe she stole it and framed someone else.

└└└└ LilGirlChang: No official confirmation, so I don’t know.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

“How would you know that…?”

Harold squinted suspiciously at me, his gaze tinged with doubt.

This was the most crucial moment.

To uncover suspicions that seemed to tie back to Katarina and completely rid myself of Aeria, I had to convincingly portray the innocent ‘Release Rosewood.’

“I, um, it feels like I’ve seen it before.”

“……”

“I think I saw something flashy and expensive-looking, like a necklace, in Aeria-senpai’s room a while back…”

Tanashia’s Necklace.

For those who had delved into the Release Capture Battle in Luminoir Academy, it was an item name that they might have come across at least once.

It was an essential item to acquire midway through the episode to enter the Release Capture Battle, and the accessory itself wasn’t too shabby in terms of performance.

Of course, due to the polarizing factor of being a non-virgin heroine, the item might be unfamiliar to those who didn’t pursue the Release route.

For someone like me, who had spent over 500 hours solely on Release strategies, it was one of those pieces of information that couldn’t be overlooked.

In fact, one of the elements that had puzzled me while playing Luminoir Academy was precisely this item, Tanashia’s Necklace.

Why was it possible to acquire Tanashia’s belongings in Aeria’s room rather than in Harold’s or Edan’s room?

If Aeria stole these belongings to avoid suspicion from Harold and Edan, how on earth could she have escaped Harold’s suspicions?

Up until now, it had been vague speculation that I casually overlooked, but with Aeria’s recent statement, I could be certain.

For one, it is definite that Aeria stole Tanashia’s necklace.

And although I’m not entirely sure, she must have somehow framed Katarina as the culprit and shifted the blame onto her.

She was adept at shamelessly manipulating public opinion in her favor.

“That’s why the character Katarina might not even appear in the main story.”

Perhaps Katarina, having already been falsely accused by Aeria, faced additional penalties, leading to her early exit from the main plotline.

Maybe she was betrayed while trying to help Aeria during this time of public condemnation.

Alternatively, Aeria might have faced consequences for other misdeeds she committed.

Even though she is a character who has never appeared in the game “Luminor Academy,” she might have led a life as intricate as Release, if not more so.

…Of course, things might be a bit different from now on.

“Lies! How do you know that… Wait, no! When did you enter your room?!”

“I entered during last year’s apprentice maid training, Aeria. It was part of the training for senior maids to clean the personal rooms of household members.”

Even if it was for training purposes, allowing unverified apprentice maids into noble individuals’ private rooms is unacceptable.

Deploying apprentice maids prematurely for practical experience could lead to inadequate handling of tasks and upset the employees.

There was also the risk of theft of valuable items or confidential information belonging to nobles.

Just like how Aeria sneakily stole Tanashia’s belongings.

“I found it inside Aeria’s drawer. Whether it was the first or third drawer, I can’t quite remember…”

“…Go check and come back.”

“Yes, sir!”

The estate guards hurriedly left the etiquette training room at Harold’s almost muttering command.

It’s probably only a matter of time before they discover Tanashia’s necklace.

“Lies…! She’s lying…!”

“I’m just stating facts that I personally witnessed.”

“Don’t joke…! Of course, I knew about the apprentice maid training period…! Do you think I would carelessly hide something in my drawer until that day?!”

“So, are you saying that you kept it hidden elsewhere on the days I cleaned?”

“Of course… No, I mean, if I had stolen it, I would have done that, naturally!! Anyway, it’s a lie! There’s no way she saw it!!”

Yes, it’s a lie.

Even in Release’s memories, there was no instance of Aeria finding anything valuable while cleaning her room.

Would that cunning woman really leave such a dangerous item in her room for an apprentice maid to stumble upon?

She probably kept it on her person for a few days or hid it in Alicia’s or Katarina’s room secretly.

But what does it matter? Isn’t it likely that she still has it hidden in her own room now?

In the same place where she found it during the “Release Takeover” episode in her previous life.

Furthermore, the mansion security guards had already begun searching the third floor. How could a mere lowly maid like you stop them?

What can you possibly do?

Instead of unjustly cursing and pretending to be wronged in front of me, what else can you do, you bastard?

Thud thud thud thud thud.

As Eiria’s final act of defiance to betray me echoed outside the door, the noise grew louder.

The mansion guards who went to search together promptly returned to the etiquette training room.

In the hand of the soldier at the forefront, a golden necklace with a sparkling blue gem dangled.

“We found it! Harold, sir! It’s Lady Tanashia’s heirloom necklace, just as Miss Eiria said!”

“It was found in Miss Eiria’s room, in the first drawer!”

“Oh, it’s Mother’s necklace!”

Upon hearing the soldiers’ words as they entered the etiquette training room, Eiria’s expression turned completely pale.

Handing Lady Tanashia’s necklace directly to Harold, the soldiers examined it closely, and Harold, clutching Tanashia’s heirloom tightly in his hand, murmured quietly.

“…So this is the item I gifted.”

Then, after securing the necklace in his suit pocket, he slowly approached Eiria, who was trembling in her place, with an almost deadly gaze that seemed capable of taking down at least ten people.

“….”

“Master… This, this is a misunderstanding…”

“Stand straight.”

“Y-yes?”

-Wham!

A tremendous impact suddenly rang out, piercing my ears for a moment.

Right after the sound, my eyes fell upon Eiria, who was pinned to one side of the classroom wall.

“Gah… cough…!”

Struck near her neck, Eiria was sent flying nearly four meters in one go.

Others, fearing any involvement, reflexively dodged her as she flew towards them.

Thanks to their quick reactions, Eiria remained alone, pinned to one side of the classroom, groaning in agony.

-Scream.

“Scream, Master?!”

Immediately after, Harold grabbed Alicia by the hair and dragged her towards Eiria.

Unable to comprehend the situation, other servants instinctively distanced themselves from him, creating space as if witnessing a miracle.

Before long, Harold, visibly restraining his anger, issued a command that sounded like a growl.

“Except for these two, return to your duties immediately.”

“Yes!”

If you linger, you might get caught up in this mess. It’s best to leave quickly in situations like this.

Who would have thought we’d witness Harold’s tantrum pattern here, not in the battle for Release.

Before his single attack pattern could shift to an area attack pattern, all of us, including myself, hurriedly fled the etiquette training room and headed upstairs.

As we ascended the stairs one by one, screams of two women began to echo from behind.

“Oh no!! Master!! Please, help, help us!! Aaahhh!!!”

“I-I only did as ordered by that wench Eiria! I didn’t know about Lady Tanashia’s heirloom… Aaah! Aaah!!!”

…Harsh, indeed.

That’s what happens when you don’t stand in line properly.