episode_0075

“Miss Maid, do you happen to come from a noble lineage somewhere?”

A question that could be considered quite natural during the conversation with Edan, albeit sudden.

Well, it was the first conversation after using such powerful magic, so it was only natural that such a question would come up.

In this world, there were no commoners who could use magic, and if such a case existed, it almost always led to one conclusion.

Not a commoner who could use magic, but rather someone who inherited noble bloodlines from somewhere.

In this world, family bloodline magic was a significant factor representing the status and power of that family.

As a result, each family had a marriage culture where nobles only married among themselves to ensure that their bloodline magic did not leak out. And in the rare case where a child was born between a commoner and a noble, they would do whatever it took to prevent the bloodline magic from leaking out, even if it meant taking in a concubine to prevent it.

Or worse, they would engrave a slave mark to ensure the child could never escape with the seed, confining them forever in some corner of the mansion, or even killing them to prevent the birth of such a child.

In this way, a being who would have otherwise been in danger of losing their life before being born became a “commoner who uses magic.”

For various reasons, it was clear why it shouldn’t be revealed that I could use magic.

The moment rumors spread that I was a child born somewhere with noble blood, I could become a target for the ‘noble with a hidden agenda’ in this world.

“Of course, Lillis is a special case and has no relation to being a noble’s child, but…”

Regardless of the lack of connection or any personal feelings, just the fact itself being known would not bode well.

If it were to be revealed, I would have no choice but to live my life as a maid of the Blackwood Estate, a truth so dangerous that it could determine my fate.

The moment I became a free individual from the Blackwood family, some unknown noble would surely come after me solely based on the fact that I could use magic.

In that sense, revealing the truth to Edan and seeking his cooperation might actually be the better choice.

The problem, however, was that revealing that truth to Edan would be even more difficult.

That was because the reason Lillis Rosewood could use magic was that she was the ‘Saint’ of this generation.

“Even believing that you’re a noble’s child is hard enough, claiming to be a Saint is just crossing the line.”

Despite not being from a noble or royal family in this world, there were only two humans in the entire world who could use magic: the Hero and the Saint, born with mysterious powers in preparation for the resurrection of the Demon King.

The Hero naturally referred to the protagonist character in the game ‘Luminore Academy.’

And the remaining one, the ‘Saint,’ was none other than Lillis Rosewood.

Of course, claiming to be the Saint was even more unbelievable than being a child of nobility, making it nearly impossible for Edan to believe.

After all, Lillis was unable to comprehend the fact that she was a Saint, regardless of whether she actually was one.

The Saint in ‘Luminore Academy’ was not a character who could prophesy their own status as a Saint.

The process of Lillis being formally recognized as a Saint at Aurelia Academy probably had to go through such procedures.

Tracking down the Saint Lillis according to the prophecy received from Aurelia Academy, confirming that she possessed the qualities of a Saint, and then moving her to the main church of Aurelia Academy after realizing her status as a Saint.

That’s how it should have been guessed. The reason being, not only in the current me, but also in the original plot, the fact that Lillis was a saint was not revealed until the very end of the story.

It was all thanks to the epic troll move that Lillis’s father committed right before dying from alcoholism.

Just before the priests of the Aurelia Church discovered Lillis, it was revealed that Lillis’s father had sold her due to gambling debts.

“It was practically the number one reason that shaped Lillis’s life.”

Because of that stupid act, Lillis, who would have lived a life receiving blessings from the other priests at the Aurelia Church, almost ended up as a slave to the Blackwood Duke Ethan, the pig master.

To top it off, the father who sold his daughter didn’t even live a few days longer, dying from alcoholism, so you could say it was truly fateful.

It was truly the worst event befitting a character with single-digit luck.

In fact, the breadcrumbs hinting that Lillis was a saint could be found quite easily in the game elements as well.

Despite being a magician, why were her attack spells almost always missing, while her support spells were excessively efficient?

Why was her charm stat, among various other attributes, needlessly high, attracting people?

And as the game progressed, there were several hints that slowly revealed Lillis being a saint.

Moreover, one of the decisive hints was the fact that Lillis was the only ‘non-virgin’ character among all the heroines… Not a setting that I particularly liked.

The power of the saint was a unique ability that only the saint could use. Just like the Moonshadow Princess Seraphine who used lunar magic.

And to use that power, there was one more condition besides being a saint, which was that the saint had to be a ‘pure virgin’ to use it.

By the time the Academy Story began in Part 2, Lillis, who had already become Ethan’s slave, naturally couldn’t use that power.

The fact that none of the main characters could use the saint’s power was practically a shocking hint in itself.

Still, in the final chapter of the work, Lillis awakens and somehow manages to use the power, but…

“In fact, by that time, it’s not just Lillis, but any character could awaken and it wouldn’t be particularly special.”

So, I said that it wouldn’t be impossible to defeat the Demon King without Lillis.

I know I’ve been talking a lot about explaining my identity, but in the end, the conclusion was this.

As I am now, I cannot reveal to Ethan the reason why I can use magic.

Revealing the reason why I can use magic would mean revealing that I am a saint.

Revealing that I am a saint would mean revealing that I know what is happening in this world.

And revealing that would mean revealing that I am a being from another world.

So, rather than revealing all of that, it was best to just keep my mouth shut and pretend not to know.

In exchange, even if Ethan misunderstands me as some unknown noble’s illegitimate child.

For a moment, I briefly thought that maybe I could reveal to him that I am a saint, but…

Still, the conclusion I came to in my heart was that I couldn’t reveal it to Ethan yet.

So from now on, it was time to just act as the “naive maid Lillis.”

“Actually, I’m not sure, sir.”

“…You’re not sure?”

“At first, I saw a noble using magic in my hometown where I used to live, and out of curiosity, I started to imitate it without much thought. At that time, I was young and had no knowledge of magic, and I didn’t even know that magic was a privilege of the nobility.”

“….”

“Perhaps if it were an ordinary child, nothing would have happened except pretending to use magic. However, what was originally a forbidden magic that I should never have touched, with a strange sensation, sprang from my hands, and I found it fascinating, so I told my mother about it.”

“…I’m sure your maid mother must have naturally prevented you from using magic.”

“…That’s right.”

It’s a lie.

In fact, even in my memories of the time of release, my mother had hardly left an impression.

Because she passed away from tuberculosis before I even turned three.

The first time I used magic was not in my childhood, but after becoming a maid, and it was the beginning of using clean magic.

I felt a little sorry for selling my deceased mother, but anyway, surviving was the most important thing for me now.

I shamelessly pretended to be ‘innocent maid Lilith’ and just glossed over my magic.

“But I, foolishly, didn’t understand my mother’s prohibition on using magic, and secretly practiced magic where no one could see.”

It’s a lie.

“Of course, it was all before being sold to the Blackwood Estate, and since starting to work as a maid at the Blackwood Mansion, I have never used it once.”

Of course, it’s a lie.

“The magic I used against King Serpent is also the same. Princess Seraphine suddenly took me to the palace gate and witnessed me using magic to defeat monsters… for some reason, I just happened to use it while trying to concentrate to meet the princess’s expectations.”

This is also, of course, a lie.

Now I don’t even know. Why is it that the more plausible words I say, the more I can only tell lies?

If I were a wooden lying doll, by now, even if I cut off my nose, I would have made enough firewood to warm the entire Blackwood Mansion.

I didn’t want to tell so many lies just because the truth I had to hide was such a big lump that I had no choice but to create a completely different story.

I also didn’t want to go to the Aurelia Church and reveal that I wanted to be protected by the church as a saint, but considering the original story of the work, that was also an impossible situation.

In the end, the only way to survive as Lilith was to hide the fact that I could use magic as much as possible and, even if I were caught, pretend to be an unknown nobleman’s illegitimate child.

That was the best way, after all.

“Hmm….”

Edan, bowing his head as if pondering something after hearing my words.

Perhaps he unknowingly found something suspicious in the excuse I just made to Edan, all to pretend to be an ‘illegitimate child of a noble’ to act.

If Edan deliberately investigates me, it won’t be difficult to reveal that the story I just told him was a lie.

Facts such as my mother in this world passing away in my childhood, or my father being nothing more than a common peasant farmer, can be easily discovered with a little research.

Perhaps Edan already knows these facts.

Still, there was nothing I could do. Right now, hastily making excuses seemed to be the best way.

…Of course. That’s assuming that ‘Edan will keep the secret’ in the end.

“Got it, Maid.”

“Yes?”

“The Maid knew how to use magic since she was young, but because of her commoner status, she has been hiding that fact until now, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“I see. Now that I know the Maid is struggling with that, I’ll find a way to help.”

“…Excuse me?”

What does he mean by finding a way to help?

From the way he’s speaking, it sounds like he’s trying to come across as cooperative, but I wonder if he means he’ll continue to keep my ability to use magic a secret?

“Young Master. Are you saying that you will continue to keep the fact that I, a commoner, can use magic, a secret?”

“…Huh? Oh, for now, that’s probably for the best. Of course, we’ll probably have to talk to Princess Seraphine about it later.”

“…You don’t have to worry about Princess Seraphine. She knows about my secret and will keep it safe.”

“Well, that’s a relief. If the Princess is willing to help, we can probably resolve this a bit more easily.”

“…Thank you so much, Young Master.”

I never thought I would receive help from Edan like this.

Of course, Edan has shown himself to be a decent person, unlike the nobles, so his kindness isn’t entirely surprising.

But I never expected him to uphold loyalty towards me, a mere Maid.

“Well, I guess this just proves that I’ve gotten along well with Edan all this time.”

I’ll think of it as the bond I’ve built with Edan moving his heart and prompting him to help me at the right moment.

After all, the only direct witnesses to that incident were Edan and Princess Seraphine.

As long as those two keep my secret, there’s no reason for me to be in danger.

I’m relieved that everything seems to be working out well.

Thanks to Edan’s assurance that he will protect my secret, I was able to finally ease my worried heart.

With all my worries gone, I immediately returned to my duties as Edan’s exclusive Maid.

“We’ve already spent so much time talking. It’s getting late, Young Master. It’s best to go for breakfast before it’s too late.”

“Alright, Maid. If we’re too late, Father will surely have something to say.”

Edan Richard Blackwood listened to my words and descended the stairs with me towards the dining room.

Following behind him, I also made my way to the first floor to fulfill my duties as his exclusive Maid.

However, at that moment, I still did not anticipate what was to come.

I did not yet realize that his words of “finding a way to help” meant something more than just keeping the secret safe.