episode_0052

From the day I reached level 6, another year slipped away unnoticed.

It had been about two and a half years since I became aware of my possession in the “Luminor Academy.”

Due to my debt as a maid, I couldn’t achieve anything explosively, but it wasn’t like I just idled away my time for 30 months as a release.

Even roughly summarizing what I’ve achieved so far, it was quite a decent growth.

Starting as a noob at level 2 and climbing up four levels to level 6.

Solid basic stats that could withstand any challenge.

An overflowing amount of mana just before hitting four digits.

Three lower-level spells available, including Clean.

And even Release’s ultimate move, Mana Blast.

I had done everything possible to grow from the position of a “debt-made release.”

I had even learned how to drive a carriage from Dietmayer, securing some survival skills of my own.

“It feels like I’ve grown more immersed in this than when I played games for real.”

Well, no matter how much “Luminor Academy” was my life game, I never imagined it would truly become my life back then.

Moreover, spending two and a half years in the position of a release gave me a strange feeling as if I were playing a restricted playthrough.

Like playing with just a mouse or without using healing magic.

Living with this mindset shift, these days seemed quite bearable.

To the point where I inadvertently thought it might even be somewhat enjoyable.

“They say humans are creatures of adaptation, but it’s a bit scary how quickly one adapts to the environment.”

Well, whatever. Adapting is good as long as it works.

Except for the unfortunate fact of being bound to Release, entering the world of this game was still a kind of reward for me.

Even if my physical appearance had taken a hit, this world was that of my life game, “Luminor Academy.”

In a way, it was like a dream come true that could never happen, so it would be a loss not to enjoy it to the fullest.

Once the contract period ends and I leave Blackwood Manor, I can hunt monsters to my heart’s content, fulfill my dream of owning a house from my past life, become a renowned adventurer in the guild, make a name for myself, and even get married…

“Oh.”

Right, now that I think about it, there’s no way I could get married in this body.

I almost forgot that I’m a woman and started imagining strange things together.

Marrying as a woman naturally implies the other party is a man.

Marrying a man. Even after over two years of realizing my possession, that idea was still dreadful.

Why did I possess in the first place? Wasn’t it to escape a future where everything gets screwed over by men?

After all the trouble, fighting monsters like a lunatic in the kitchen at midnight, why end up with a man in the end?

Because of all the effort I’ve put in so far, that was something that should never happen.

I didn’t have any grand goal of leaving Release’s genes behind in this world.

My goal was simply to live single and well in the world of “Luminor Academy” until I die.

That was my sole lifelong objective.

To achieve that, I diligently raised independent capital through knitting for a year and prepared for the future by organizing the story of the “Luminor Academy” whenever the opportunity arose.

…So, although I have been preparing in various ways over the past year.

In fact, it seems that the most changed in the past year was not me but the nobles I had to gather.

Dweji Gongja Edan. …No, this title will be hard to use from now on.

Edan, who has grown insanely through Harold’s sword training over the past year, had become so refined that he could no longer be called a piglet.

Whether Harold’s swordsmanship training was intense or not, Edan’s appearance now had nothing to do with pigs.

Instead, his body was filled with muscles everywhere, to the point where you might think there was still some fat left, but muscles were attached all over his body.

As the weight melted away, the unpleasant belly disappeared, and the arms and legs, once coated with fat, were now filled with quite firm muscles.

His face, which was once fuller than a steamed bun, had slimmed down considerably.

“If I were to put Edan’s current appearance in the Luminor Academy gallery, what kind of reaction would it elicit?”

I could be sure that at least half of them wouldn’t be able to distinguish between the disdain in the game and the current Edan.

Still, there were subtle hints of Edan in his hair, eyes, or other parts, so maybe about half would recognize him.

Of course, even those who recognized him would mostly think of him in terms of secondary creations or fan fiction.

Moreover, perhaps due to overlapping growth spurts, there were other physical changes happening in Edan’s body, such as increasing height and lengthening fingers.

Comparing past and present, it wasn’t just a matter of growth; it could be considered a transformation.

“Still, it’s much better than being a stupid piglet.”

At least he no longer had to work while smelling like a pig.

Drawing lines on a pumpkin won’t turn it into a watermelon, but Edan had proven that he could become something like a squash by losing weight.

Unfortunately, it seemed like he had stopped growing around 165 centimeters, slightly taller than the officially stated height of 163 centimeters for Release Rosewood in the game.

Considering my age, Release’s growth spurt would have ended long ago, so my current height shouldn’t differ much from 163 centimeters.

And Edan, who was slightly taller than me now, was probably around 165 centimeters.

Perhaps due to side effects of childhood growth spurts that only expanded sideways, he couldn’t grow as tall as other male characters.

Of course, 165 centimeters was above average for an ordinary person, but since this world was fundamentally a romantic RPG game, he was indeed a bit on the shorter side compared to the protagonist and other major rival male characters.

Even considering that, he was much taller than he should have been if he had grown normally.

The original ‘Dweji Gongja Edan’ was barely 140 centimeters even after entering the academy.

While I kept focusing on Edan’s dramatic changes, there were also a few changes in other people.

Isabel and Katarina, who were junior maids, became intermediate maids, and below them, there were now maids who hadn’t even been there for a year.

Jack, who was originally the head butler, retired, and Ditemeyer took over as the head butler as per the original story.

Of course, compared to Edan’s dramatic transformation, these were truly minor issues.

“Miss Release Rosewood.”

…It seems even tigers come when I call.

Today, I turned my head quietly in the direction where Dieter’s voice was calling me from the square.

“Why does the one who has reached the position of Head Butler keep coming to find me directly? At this point, can’t you just ask someone else to do it?”

I tucked away those words deep in my mind and replied, meeting Dieter’s gaze as he called me.

“Yes, Head Butler Dieter.”

“I am Dieter Colin Evercroft.”

“…You just said ‘Head Butler Dieter’ properly this time.”

“…Ahem.”

After a brief moment of awkwardness that seemed to pass over Dieter’s face, he cleared his throat once.

As if trying to brush off the conversation that just happened, he quietly continued with the next statement.

“It’s a call from the young master. He asked if Miss Lillis could come to his room now.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Also, he mentioned that if Miss Lillis has urgent matters, there is no need to call her.”

“…Ah, I see.”

No matter how urgent the matter may be for the personal maid, would it be more urgent than being called by the young master himself?

Lately, whenever Ethan called me, it was always like this.

Despite giving off a subtle vibe of consideration, upon closer inspection, it seemed more like things that weren’t really considerate.

He probably knows best what would happen if I were to ignore Ethan’s call due to an urgent matter.

Whether I would be scolded by the Maid Chief for being disrespectful or trembling before Harold, he must know best.

“Could he possibly be hoping for that?”

Considering we were once at odds with each other to the point of potentially killing or being killed, there might not be particularly positive feelings from Ethan towards me.

Perhaps he still harbors vivid memories of those days in his mind…

“No, that’s too much of an assumption.”

Lately, whenever I tried to make judgments about Ethan, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation.

It might be because the Ethan I saw in the game as Pig Confucius doesn’t quite match the current Ethan.

The Ethan from “Luminor Academy” isn’t the same person as the Ethan I see now, with his messy and unpleasant appearance and personality.

He wasn’t even close to being a guy with such an unpleasant physique that he would be dubbed Pig Confucius.

If we were to give him a fitting title, something like Noble Ethan or Blackwood Heir Ethan would suit him better.

Given his initial unfavorable impression, it seems appropriate. In reality, Noble or Blackwood Heir fits him well.

“Lillis.”

“Oh, yes!”

“It’s a call from the young master. Also, if you have urgent matters…”

“I already heard earlier.”

“I thought you didn’t hear since you remained silent after hearing the story.”

…This guy is still twisting things even after two years have passed.

It was a moment when I realized that some things remain unchanged even as time goes by.

“You are in your private room, right?”

“Yes, Lillis.”

“Understood. I will respond to the call myself, so you don’t have to go back and forth to convey messages to the young master.”

“Understood, Lillis.”

With his response, Head Butler Dieter disappeared towards the corridor where he had appeared.

Observing his departing figure for a moment, I quietly made my way to the 4th floor where Ethan’s private room was located.

…It’s been quite a while since I received a direct call from Ethan.

Hopefully, it won’t be for anything strange.