Chapter 114

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 114

Chapter Title: Captain-Level Exam (7)

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"Sparring?"

"With you?"

Her words were so casual that I widened my eyes and stared at Ray. As expected, her face was unreadable, betraying no emotions.

Even so, this was too much.

Was she telling me to go die?

Ray's request was basically a death sentence for me. If we fought, I'd lose 100 times out of 100, no question.

This held true even if I reverted to my true tentacle monster form. Even if she entered my dungeon, suffered debuffs while I got buffs—it wouldn't matter.

There was an enormous gap between her and me.

"No. I refuse."

"Huh?"

"Why do you look so surprised?"

"Well...... I didn't expect such a flat-out rejection."

Ray scratched her head, and I let out a sigh before speaking.

"From the start, sparring between you and me just isn't possible. Sparring is for evenly matched opponents, and I'm not as strong as you."

"Yu-jin. You are strong."

"I don't know how highly you rate me, but I'm not strong enough to have an intense spar with you."

"I know. But that's fine. I've never really had anyone to spar with anyway...... Especially not since my father passed away five years ago."

Ray's expression turned faintly wistful as she continued.

"Then you showed up. You must have figured it out by now. Even Genitz is far weaker than you."

Well, yeah.

I could see exact stats thanks to Master of All Life.

Genitz's physical stats averaged in the low to mid-90s, while his magic stats varied more but hovered in the 70s.

That put him at top-tier A-Class adventurer level or the absolute bottom of S-Class.

Clearly several steps below me.

"Yes."

"The Black Dragon Knights are the heart of the count's household. Even their vice-captain is captain-level. In other words, Genitz is on par with the captains of the White Dragon Knights or Blue Dragon Knights. Do you get what I'm saying?"

"Basically, no one in the count's castle is a match for you. Right?"

Ray nodded.

"Exactly. But you're stronger than all of them. And I can hold back to a level that won't overwhelm you."

"You'll adjust your power to match mine for the spar?"

"Yes. You probably haven't had much experience fighting strong opponents either. It'll definitely help you. At your level, finding worthy sparring partners must be tough, just like me. If you come at me with everything you've got, you'll gain something from it. Hell, I could even teach you Christia-style combat techniques."

"Really? Is that okay?"

"Of course. I can't share the secret techniques, but the Christia-style combat arts taught to the Black, White, and Blue Dragon Knights are divided into three stages. The secret third stage is reserved for direct bloodline or a tiny elite few, but the first stage is open to knight trainees, and the second to full knights. I can talk to the count and get permission to teach you."

She must be itching for a real fight.

But thinking about it, it wasn't a bad offer.

A tentacle monster's body had genius-level talent for combat. So far, I'd only built up combat data from a handful of real fights, but sparring with Ray would surely boost my battle prowess immensely.

In a world where stats ruled everything, skill and technique couldn't be ignored either.

It'd help me get closer to Ray too.

'But can I seduce her in human form?'

I glanced at Ray walking beside me.

Her face was still expressionless.

Sera and Seri had been pushovers. A handsome face built rapport fast, and they fell quickly. But Ray was too stoic. She showed a flicker of emotion now—nostalgia for her father, and joy at finding a sparring partner.

No angle yet for bedding her.

I chatted with Ray about the sparring as we walked. I'd tentatively decided to accept.

About five minutes later, we reached the residential district in the count's castle. Ray spoke up.

"This is the residential area of the count's castle. Administrative staff, trainees, soldiers, knights, researchers, maids, butlers—anyone who chose to live here stays in this section."

The residential area looked like a cluster of luxury hotels.

Or a massive apartment complex. But with a ton of buildings. Each varied in height and design, though similar styles clustered in specific zones.

"Am I staying here too?"

"Yes. Starting from the left: Aurora, Daylight, Morning Ray, Sunbreak, Solar Peak, and Zenith zones. The Aurora zone you're looking at now is for trainees."

"They even provide dorms for trainees. The buildings look pretty upscale."

"They are well-equipped. But Aurora is mostly eight-person rooms. Only top trainees get four-person ones. All the buildings there are eight- or four-person rooms."

Good lord. Trainees get no love here either, just like back home.

Still, nice facilities might make it livable.

"Daylight and up have better setups—two-person rooms for new regular soldiers and low-rank staff like maids, butlers, and researchers. From Morning Ray, it's all singles. Your Zenith assignment is top-tier: full-floor luxury. The entire floor is yours."

"Oh, nice."

"I'm in Zenith too. Let's go."

"Sure."

We walked side by side into the Zenith zone.

Some magical treatment made it feel like a stunning garden paradise. Following Ray into one massive building felt like stepping onto a luxury hotel floor.

We crossed the central floor to a hallway. Here, a modern elevator-like device could take us up.

That's when it happened.

A woman standing midway down the hall glanced at me and approached.

"You're the captain-level applicant?"

She had silver ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hair and pale blue-gray eyes fixed on me.

Her voice was low, refined, with a slight chill. Thick lashes added an air of haughtiness, and she exuded elegance just standing there.

Ray gave a slight bow.

"Miss."

She nodded curtly in response, then strode right up to me, staring intently and tilting her head.

"Hmm, you don't look that strong. Dad said you're twenty-three? That's a year younger than me."

"Yes. It's an honor to meet you, Miss Charlotte."

I bowed politely to her.

The woman speaking to me was Charlotte von Christia, the only daughter of Count Godmond von Christia, whom we'd just discussed.

Charlotte smiled brightly at my greeting.

"You recognized me right away?"

"How could I not? You'll rule this city someday."

"Well, obviously."

Charlotte flipped her hair smugly, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠releasing a pleasant fragrance.

Twenty-two years old, the count's only daughter. Having devoured the game and its setting materials multiple times, recognizing her was a breeze.

When Christia City was introduced in the settings, exactly three key figures were highlighted: Ray, Godmond von Christia, and Charlotte von Christia. Genitz got a tiny mention under Ray, so four, technically.

Anyway, she looked exactly like her illustration. Impossible to miss.

Her personality per the settings: outwardly bright, lively, and tomboyish, but inwardly burdened by heavy responsibility—and yearning to escape it.

'Ah, Charlotte von Christia......'

Come to think of it, why hadn't I considered her before?

I gazed at her and activated Master of All Life.

Impressive stats.

Ray next to her was the real monster, but Charlotte's were shockingly high for her age.

Clearly stronger than Piona, Amy, and Rosa combined, but below Yuri.

Veteran C-Class adventurer or low-end B-Class level. Fitting for a famed noble's daughter—real talent.

'But more important than stats is her connection to Ray.'

Charlotte, the count's only daughter, grew up with Ray since childhood.

Ray adored her deeply. Ray had raised her like a little sister, and after her own father's death serving the Christia family, she continued out of duty.

Loyalty to the family's future—Charlotte—that defined Ray's life. Ray would give her life for Charlotte.

In that instant, a plan formed to bed Ray.

Ray was too stoic; seducing her in this handsome human form seemed tough.

No ambushing Ray.

So, make her spread her legs willingly. Or create a situation where she had no choice.

"Huh? Something on my face?"

She noticed me staring blankly. I shook my head.

"No, sorry. You were just so beautiful I zoned out."

"Hmph. You've got taste. Lame and obvious line, though."

Charlotte smirked cutely.

"Just came to check out your face. Curiosity. No plans to sabotage or anything—if Ray and Dad approve, you must be the real deal."

"Yes."

"I live here too, so we're neighbors? Nice to meet you~ Do your best on the wave shield."

"Of course."

Charlotte waved and sauntered off down the hall. I watched her go, then said to Ray,

"The miss is really cheerful."

"Yeah, she's adorable and a good person."

"Do you call her 'miss' even when it's just you two?"

"Huh?"

"She called you 'big sis,' so you seem close."

"Oh. When it's just us, I use casual speech. Call her Sharlo...... or whatever."

Ray scratched her cheek.

Seeing that confirmed Ray's deep affection for Charlotte, per the settings. Charlotte surely felt the same.

I asked Ray to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠show me to my room, and soon got assigned.

My room—my entire floor—was on the seventh story.

The lift made it easy to go up and down.

Stepping out led straight to a hall and door. I got a mana card key for the lock.

"I'll head out then."

Ray said as she boarded the lift after the tour. I returned the courtesy.

"Yes, have a good day."

"You too, Yu-jin. Sparring starts tomorrow, so rest up today."

Ray headed up, and I tested the card key, peeked inside the spacious suite, stored the key and the bag with 50 million jeni from the count in a storage tentacle, then headed out.

Time to see Sera and Seri again.