The Sword Bears Will (6)

The most basic growth system in typical RPG games was gaining experience points and leveling up to become stronger.

It was also the most fundamental and traditional RPG game system, having been around for what could be considered 30-40 years.

However, in recent RPG games, the methods to gain experience points are naturally not limited to just hunting monsters.

There are cases where you gain experience points as quest rewards, or you can fill your experience bar with items like “Leaps of Growth” found while exploring maps.

Additionally, there are usually various convenient methods to accumulate experience points in “typical” RPG games.

This is because, in RPG games, differences in character growth balance naturally arise depending on the player’s tendencies.

Some people must hunt down every monster while exploring each map before moving to the next area,

while others progress by engaging in the bare minimum of battles to complete only the main storyline.

The game’s balance is all about adjusting the difficulty level appropriately so that players with both tendencies don’t get bored.

The problem is that when these two extreme tendencies play the same game, it inevitably creates a structure where at some point, one side will inevitably feel dissatisfied.

Even if you think the monsters’ strength is set at an appropriate level, it might feel too easy for some and too difficult for others-one of the chronic issues RPG games can’t escape.

That’s why most game companies usually create items or facilities within the game that allow players to obtain experience points outside of monster hunting.

Naturally, 『Luminor Academy』, which I enjoyed in my past life, was no exception.

One of the experience-gaining methods implemented in 『Luminor Academy』 was the “training facility.”

It was a system where you could leave companion characters (excluding the protagonist) at the training facility, and they would gain experience points even without accompanying you on monster hunts.

Usually, such training facilities were places that met obvious conditions that made them feel like training facilities.

Places like the “Novice Adventurer Training Center,” “Apprentice Mage Education Hall,” or “Junior Soldier Sparring Grounds”-most facilities that regularly took in a few trainees for training also served as training facilities.

‘I used it a lot to train late-game characters who were dead weight early on.’

It was a very helpful system for progressing the story since you could just leave them there, go on adventures, and come back to find them leveled up.

Of course, since carelessly leaving heroines in training facilities would lower their affection, it was mostly used for male party members.

Anyway, the reason I mentioned training facilities now was for another purpose.

A place that recruits new soldier candidates at least once or twice a year, provides basic training to make them functional, and allows them to gauge each other’s skills through sparring.

This very place, the “Blackwood Territory Guard Mock Sparring Grounds,” perfectly matched the criteria of a “training facility” in my memory.

In other words, it meant that I could accumulate enough experience points just by training here without needing to hunt monsters.

‘I don’t need much… Just enough to level up once.’

If I could just level up one more time and somehow learn Mana Blast…

If I could just learn that one skill, I’d feel secure moving forward.

It felt too wasteful to let this level-up opportunity slip away when it was right in front of me.

With the mindset that I had nothing to lose, my mouth had already started spouting this proposal to Emilia.

“Now that we’ve toured the mock sparring grounds, next we should head to the outdoor physical training area…”

“…Emilia-ssi.”

“…What is it, Lillith-ssi?”

“By any chance, could I actually try experiencing this mock sparring grounds?”

“Huh?”

“…A maid?”

Emilia and Ethan, who reflexively froze and stared at me in disbelief at my sudden statement.

It wasn’t like I didn’t expect this kind of reaction.

Of course, Ethan would be shocked to see his personal maid suddenly insist on fighting among men with swords.

From Emilia’s perspective, a crazy maid suddenly wanting to swing swords with her soldiers must also be baffling.

But this was a rare opportunity to gain precious experience points-who knew when it would come again?-so I couldn’t just leave like this.

“…Lillith-ssi. I fully understand your desire to gauge the skills of the new recruits at the mock sparring grounds, but I’m worried you might get hurt in the process.”

“It’s fine. I’ve been seriously injured before, and since I’m volunteering, I’ll bear any injuries myself.”

“No, it’s dangerous. There’s no need for a maid to go that far. If you really think it’s necessary, then I’ll…”

“As I mentioned earlier, we won’t be able to accurately assess the new recruits’ true skills if they’re facing you, Young Master. Above all, you must preserve your precious body, mustn’t you?”

“I said no, maid.”

…As expected, his stance is firm.

Well, from Ethan’s perspective, me participating in this mock sparring would just be stirring up trouble.

If I were to lose in this mock sparring, it would just mean more hassle for him.

At first glance, my attitude so far just made me seem like a reckless maid who wanted to swing a sword in the mock sparring grounds.

But right now, I had a perfectly reasonable excuse prepared to justify this crazy behavior.

As Emilia and Ethan tried to stop me, I reinforced my argument with the excuse I had prepared in advance.

“No. I will participate in the sparring, Young Master.”

“Maid…!”

“By participating in the sparring and proving my skills, I can completely dispel any doubts Emilia-ssi has about me.”

“……!”

Emilia’s eyes widened slightly as she met my gaze after my next words.

For a brief moment, her eyes flickered between me and the mock sparring grounds.

Good, that’s the reaction I wanted.

As I thought, deep down, she must have wanted to confirm whether I really had the skills to take down Hookfang.

Whether her superior, Ser, had truly been charmed by me and handed over the credit.

Or, just maybe, if this maid was actually a hidden powerhouse beyond her expectations.

Even though Ethan’s firm stance prevented her from voicing it, she must still have lingering doubts about me.

Now that I had made this proposal first, she must have wanted to confirm it properly.

While reading the subtle emotions in her eyes, Ethan stepped forward and approached Emilia.

“…So, because of that woman’s unnecessary suspicions, the maid wants to swing a sword among those men…?”

“N-No! I don’t doubt her, Young Master. I absolutely don’t doubt her!”

“Because of your pointless words, the maid is…!”

Of course, to get permission for this situation, Emilia’s opinion wasn’t the key-I needed approval from the highest authority, Ethan.

So I continued persuading him, making sure to include points even Ethan couldn’t easily dismiss.

“Are you worried that I might get hurt in a mock sparring with the new recruits, Young Master?”

“…Isn’t that obvious? Even if they’re new recruits, they’re grown men. Of course, a maid would get hurt fighting them.”

“Does that mean you think I’m weaker than the new recruits?”

“……Maid?”

“As I thought, you didn’t believe me either. About my achievement of single-handedly defeating Hookfang.”

“……!”

This time, Ethan’s expression mirrored Emilia’s earlier shock.

Seeing him flustered after being directly contradicted by his own words was quite entertaining.

Ethan had already called me his “most trusted servant” in the office, so if he stopped me out of concern here, it would imply he didn’t truly believe in my ability to defeat Hookfang.

In other words, his earlier act of shielding me in the security office wasn’t out of genuine trust but just a political maneuver to gain leverage.

If that became public, his original goal of “creating an intimidating presence in preparation for seizing power” would fail.

Here, the only solution Ethan had was to nod and show trust in me.

‘You started this, Ethan.’

Since Ethan used me first to intimidate the territory guards, now it was my turn to use him to earn experience points.

If he stopped me from training out of concern for my safety, it would be a contradictory and hypocritical stance.

Ultimately, to avoid appearing as a ruler who “speaks with a forked tongue,” Ethan couldn’t stop me from participating-at least not with such a flimsy excuse.

And honestly, letting me participate in the training was a no-lose situation for Ethan.

If I performed well, he could showcase his virtues as a lord who trusts his subordinates.

If I got crushed, he could just say I “betrayed his trust” and cut me loose.

Of course, the latter would also hurt me somewhat, so I planned to win if possible.

…While waiting for Ethan’s decision-which realistically only had one outcome-

For some reason, Ethan hesitated to give permission.

“Ugh…”

‘Why is he like this?’

Logically, letting me participate is the easiest solution.

Stopping me here would just make him look inconsistent.

…Surely that fatass isn’t genuinely worried about me and refusing to let me train?

Seeing Ethan agonizing over something that shouldn’t require hesitation, I quietly approached him and provoked him one more time to force a decision.

In a whisper soft enough that Emilia wouldn’t hear.

“I see. If that’s how you feel, Young Master, I suppose there’s nothing I can do.”

“…Maid?”

“Just a moment ago, you called me your most trusted servant, but it seems I misunderstood.”

“N-No! You really are the person I trust the most!”

“Yes, of course. Until now, you didn’t doubt that I single-handedly defeated Hookfang, but now you’re worried I’ll get hurt fighting new recruits. Truly, your words are so convincing.”

“T-That’s not what I meant…”

Now Ethan should fully understand-whether I win or lose, letting me participate is the least damaging option for his reputation.

Finally, after much deliberation, Ethan took a step forward and calmly declared to Emilia.

“…Emilia.”

“…Yes.”

“Prepare proper equipment and protective gear for my maid to participate in the mock sparring with the new recruits.”