episode_0029

Harold’s probing questions had a significant impact in various ways, enough to thoroughly unsettle me.

Indeed, when I think about it, charging headfirst at a colossal monster like Gargoyleny with Release’s body was an utterly absurd act.

The fact that a girl who seemed to have never experienced monster hunting in her life engaged in a battle for her life against a monster over ten times her size was so unbelievable at first glance.

To me, this action was a necessary gamble to grow, but to others unaware of the details, it would naturally seem reckless and foolish.

However, openly stating “because of experience points” would undoubtedly lead to various complications.

“After all, there’s no way to make these people in this world understand the concept of experience points.”

Coming from the outside world, I was well aware that in this world, to grow stronger, one must defeat monsters to earn experience points. However, for the people of this world, the concept of experience points was something incomprehensible.

For example, let’s assume that while studying math in reality, a friend studying alongside you suddenly says:

“Hey, based on how fast you’re calculating, you seem to be at Level 7 in math already! If you finish the remaining math, take a few special books, you might even hit Level 8 in math this year, right?”

“…Did you lose your mind while studying for exams? What nonsense is this all of a sudden, utter nonsense.”

This concept applied similarly in this world.

Defeat monsters to become stronger.

Becoming stronger allows you to use new skills.

While everyone naturally grasped these basic concepts, understanding how much experience points were needed to grow stronger or how to acquire new skills was completely absent.

Explaining Harold by simply saying “because of experience points” was nearly impossible.

“Moreover, even if Harold understood the concept of experience points, it would still be problematic.”

How would someone perceive a mere first-year junior maid becoming stronger by killing monsters?

Would they understand it as building stamina to perform maid duties? Or perhaps training for some indecent purpose?

Especially when a debt maid like Release was seen strengthening herself, it would appear as if she were building strength to escape from Blackwood Estate.

Statements like “because of experience points” or “for training” were responses that should never be uttered.

…Yet finding another excuse was equally futile given the current absurd situation.

Because of money?

The loot obtained after defeating Gargoyleny was only mine due to Ser’s favor; otherwise, it would have been money discarded the moment I fell in battle.

Even if a commoner girl tried to sell monster materials, would anyone properly value them?

Was it inevitable due to being unable to escape?

Considering that my escape was evidently possible, as indicated by the report reaching the Chief of Security, it would have been reported as such.

Furthermore, with warnings from the Chief of Security Ser and soldiers not to approach, this excuse would understandably raise suspicions.

Was it the boiling fighting spirit upon facing the monster that made me firm in my resolve?

The moment I gave this response, Harold would undoubtedly regard me as a lunatic or someone to watch out for.

Leaving aside everything else, I had to avoid receiving unwanted attention from Harold at all costs. Ideally, not attracting any attention in the first place would be the best choice.

“Was it such a difficult answer that required deep contemplation?”

“Oh, no… It took me a bit of time to recall the memory of that day.”

“In that case, speak up quickly. What was the reason you persisted in battling Galgorium until the end, despite Ser’s advice to retreat?”

…Since there were no other viable answers, there was only one type of response I could give.

With a resolve of my own, I blurted out nonsense as it came out of my mouth.

“Someone had to do what needed to be done… s-so, I thought about it that way.”

“Hmm?”

“Galgorium is a dangerous monster that ordinary people find hard to face… If I hadn’t drawn the monster’s attention, others might have been injured or killed, so I believed someone had to divert its focus.”

“….”

Yes, I understand too. This excuse probably seemed utterly implausible to Harold.

Just judging by physical abilities alone, a lower-class maid like me uttering such words would likely be seen as nonsensical by him.

Still, being considered a bit crazy was the best-case scenario. Better than being seen as a dangerous woman or a lunatic.

“…Was there a specific reason why you took on that role?”

“I-it wouldn’t have mattered if it wasn’t me. However, at that moment, while others were fleeing from the monster, I felt like maybe I was the only one who could do something about it…”

“Hmm.”

…Is he buying this?

Harold, with an inscrutable expression, let out a sigh as if contemplating something quietly.

Not entirely convinced by my answer, he posed another question to me.

“So, assuming that’s why you initially engaged the monster…”

“Yes, yes…”

“Then why did you continue to face Galgorium until the end, ignoring Ser’s advice to retreat? According to your logic, Ser would have been much better suited to divert the monster’s attention, wouldn’t he?”

“T-that’s… ”

From the moment I gave the previous answer, I could anticipate this question coming back around.

Without much hesitation this time, I returned the prepared response to Harold.

“I-I didn’t know.”

“You didn’t know?”

“Because I was so focused on dodging the monster’s attacks, I couldn’t even notice that he was the commander of the Blackwood Territory’s security forces.”

“Surely he would have been wearing armor with the Blackwood Guard emblem?”

“I-I was too tense to even spare a moment to check what he was wearing. A-and once I had already attracted his attention, I didn’t want anyone else to intervene. So, I fought until the end. I-I was really scared though…”

“Ugh…”

…Somehow, he seems completely unconvinced.

Well, even if I were Harold, it would probably sound like nonsense. A mere lower-class maid claiming she had to divert attention from someone facing a monster.

For a middle-aged lord with rich life experiences, it would naturally be a difficult argument to believe in.

Perhaps simply saying it was for the money would have been a much more plausible claim.

As various thoughts swirled through my mind, Harold, who had been observing me, slowly opened his mouth again.

“Alright then.”

“Y-You still find it hard to believe… right?”

“I understand your words well. Surely, if you hadn’t made a courageous decision at the scene, considerable damage would have occurred.”

“Do you trust me…?”

“There’s nothing particularly strange about it. It was already confirmed in the previous disciplinary committee that you are someone willing to sacrifice yourself for others.”

…I don’t really know, but somehow it seems to have been accepted.

Certainly, Harold’s evaluation of me as ‘someone willing to sacrifice themselves for others’ did prick my conscience a bit, but that was all it did.

Whether he thought of me as some kind of maid in his mind or not, what does it matter? In any case, in seven years, I’ll be lying down without even losing my head towards the Blackwood Territory.

Ideally, being indifferent and not receiving either good or bad evaluations was the most desirable situation, but still, receiving a good evaluation would be more advantageous than a bad one.

Anyway, my current status is as a debt maid of the Blackwood family, and even without that, there was a huge class difference between commoners and nobles.

It didn’t hurt to appear favorable to someone holding my life in their hands.

…Still, I wasn’t keen on being as disposable as Harold’s personal maid.

“Then, let me ask one last thing.”

“Yes.”

“It has been reported that two out of the three iron spikes you drove into Galgorini’s body were precisely hitting the monster’s weak points.”

“Yes, yes…”

“Did you happen to know about this? That the area between Galgorini’s neck and forehead was a weak point.”

Of course, I knew.

“Oh, no…. It was just a coincidence. However, since it was a monster resembling a wild boar, I speculated that a vulnerable spot might be similar to that of ordinary livestock.”

“In that case, have you had any prior experience in hunting that monster?”

Too many to count.

“T-This was the first time. Not only encountering it, but also personally dealing with it.”

“Hmm, is that so.”

Somehow, with each question that came back from him, an uneasy sensation began to creep over me as if a chill ran down my entire body.

For some reason, it didn’t feel like Harold’s questions would end as mere curiosity.

Hoping fervently in my heart that this tiresome time would end soon and I could escape from this stifling office.

Fortunately, Harold ordered me to withdraw without further suspicion.

“Alright, understood. You may go in now.”

“…I will go in, Master.”

“Until next time then. Lily Rosewood.”

“…Yes.”

Why the sudden use of my name and all this fuss?

Internally cursing Harold with all sorts of profanities, I maintained my composure and left his office.

The incident with Galgorini’s extermination in the Blackwood Commercial District three days ago seemed to have been resolved somehow.

…Up until that point, I was certain that was the case, but as expected, things in this world rarely go as smoothly as a one-point luck Lily would hope for.

As for what kind of messed up truth lay behind Harold memorizing the name of a mere lowly maid, at that time, I had yet to realize.