Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Will Dwells in the Sword (6)
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In typical RPG games, the most fundamental way to grow stronger was by earning experience points and leveling up.
It was the most basic and traditional method in RPGs, one that had been around for nearly 30 or 40 years.
However, modern RPGs didn't limit experience gain solely to killing monsters.
You could complete quests for experience rewards, or fill your EXP bar with growth elixirs found while exploring the map.
There were all sorts of convenient ways to earn experience beyond combat, which were standard in most "typical" RPGs.
That was because RPGs naturally led to imbalances in character growth depending on the player's style.
Some players hunted every monster on every map before moving to the next area.
Others minimized combat as much as possible, focusing solely on clearing the main storyline.
Balancing the game meant setting difficulty levels that wouldn't bore either type of player.
The problem was that these extreme playstyles inevitably led to dissatisfaction for one group or the other.
You might think monster difficulty was perfectly tuned, but it could feel trivially easy to some and overwhelmingly hard to others—a chronic issue in RPG design.
That was why game companies usually added items or facilities for gaining experience outside of monster hunting.
The Luminor Academy I'd played in my past life was no exception.
One such experience-gaining method in Luminor Academy was the "training facility."
You could leave companion characters (excluding the protagonist) at these facilities for training, and they'd gain experience without you needing to hunt monsters together.
These facilities were always designed to scream "training spot" at first glance.
Places like "Beginner Adventurer Training Hall," "Apprentice Mage School," or "Low-Rank Soldier Sparring Grounds." Most spots that periodically took in new recruits for drills doubled as training facilities.
I used them a ton for early-game burdens who became useful late-game.
Just drop them off, go on some adventures, pick them up later—they'd grown on their own. It was a huge help for story progression.
Of course, tossing heroines into them carelessly tanked affection points, so most players used it for male party members.
Anyway, the reason I was thinking about training facilities now wasn't random.
A place that recruited new soldier candidates once or twice a year at minimum, trained them to basic human standards, and let them spar to gauge and improve their skills.
This very spot—the Blackwood Territory Guard's Mock Sparring Grounds—perfectly matched the criteria for a "training facility" in my memory.
In other words, you could rack up plenty of experience just by training here, no monsters required.
I don't need much... Just enough for one more level.
One more level, and I could unlock Mana Blast somehow.
Learning that one skill would make things so much more reliable from here on out.
It felt like such a waste to let this level-up opportunity slip away right in front of me.
With a "nothing to lose" mindset, my mouth was already pitching the idea to Emilia.
"If you've seen the whole mock sparring grounds, next up is the outdoor endurance training area..."
"...Emilia."
"...What is it, Lilith?"
"Is it possible to actually try out this mock sparring ground?"
"Pardon?"
"...Maid?"
Emilia reflexively questioned my sudden remark, while Ethan tilted his head at me a beat later.
I could sense similar vibes from both their stares, but I wasn't about to pass up this rare chance.
I fleshed out my proposal a bit more.
"I mean the mock sparring ground the new recruits use. Wouldn't it help the young master's patrol if we experienced it firsthand?"
"...The young master?"
"Having the young master cross swords directly could be risky, and those men wouldn't fight seriously against Ethan. That's obviously out."
"...Maid, what are you trying to say...?"
"So, I'll experience the Blackwood Territory Guard's mock sparring ground myself. It'll let me gauge how it's run and the recruits' skill levels—useful for the young master's patrol."
"......"
"......"
Emilia and Ethan froze, staring at me with incredulous expressions the moment I finished.
I'd half-expected the looks.
Ethan seeing his personal maid insist on fighting with swords among a bunch of men went without saying.
Even from Emilia's position, a maid suddenly wanting to swing swords with her soldiers would be baffling.
But this was a precious experience-gaining shot I might not get again, and leaving now felt too regrettable.
"...Lilith. I understand wanting to gauge the recruits' skills here, but I'm worried you might get hurt."
"It's fine. I've been badly injured before, and since I'm volunteering, I'll handle any injuries myself."
"No, it's dangerous. There's no need for a maid to check that far. If you really think it's necessary, I can..."
"As I said earlier, the recruits won't show their true skills against you. More importantly, young master, you need to preserve your precious health."
"Maid, I said no."
...As expected, their stance was firm.
Naturally, Ethan wouldn't want his maid stirring up trouble by joining a mock spar.
If I joined and lost, it'd just mean more hassle for him.
From my behavior so far, I just looked like a reckless maid dying to swing a sword here.
But luckily, I had a perfect excuse ready to justify this "crazy" idea.
I layered in my prepared alibi while reinforcing my case to Emilia and Ethan, who were trying to dissuade me.
"No. I'll participate in the spar, young master."
"Maid...!"
"By proving my skills in the spar, I can fully dispel Emilia's doubts about me."
"...!"
Emilia reacted with a flicker of surprise as I met her eyes and continued.
I even caught her gaze darting between me and the sparring ground for a split second.
Yes, that's the reaction I wanted.
I'd figured she secretly wanted confirmation on whether I really had what it took to take down Galkorioni.
Whether her superior Serk had been charmed into yielding credit to me.
Or if, just maybe, this maid was a hidden powerhouse.
Though Ethan's firm attitude kept her from voicing it, doubts about me lingered in her heart.
Seeing me bring it up first would make her want to nail it down for sure.
As I read that subtle glimpse of emotion in her eyes, Ethan stepped forward and approached Emilia.
"...So, you're making my maid swing a sword among those men just because you still doubt her...?"
"...N-No, I don't doubt her, young master. Not at all!"
"If you hadn't spouted nonsense, my maid wouldn't..."
Of course, to make this happen, Ethan's approval as the highest authority mattered more than Emilia's opinion.
I called out to him as he sharply confronted her, continuing my persuasion.
I didn't forget to add words even he couldn't easily dismiss.
"Young master, are you worried I'll get hurt sparring with the recruits?"
"...Obviously. Even recruits are grown men. You'd get hurt facing them."
"So, that means you see me as weaker than the recruits?"
"...Maid?"
"See? You don't believe it either. About my feat slaying Galkorioni."
"...!"
Ethan mirrored Emilia's earlier surprise at my words.
His flustered face as his own words were turned against him was quite the sight.
He'd called me his "most trusted servant" back at the office. Worrying about me now would imply he didn't truly believe in my Galkorioni feat.
It'd expose his defense of me there as mere political maneuvering, not genuine trust.
That would torpedo his goal of building intimidating authority for his future power grab.
Here, Ethan had no choice but to trust me and nod along.
You started this, Ethan.
He'd used me first to intimidate the guards. Now it was my turn to use him for some experience.
Blocking the training out of worry would make him look two-faced and contradictory.
To avoid the image of a flip-flopping lord, he couldn't obstruct me here—not for shallow reasons like "getting hurt," anyway.
Honestly, letting me join was a win-win for him regardless of the outcome.
If I shone, it showed his trust in subordinates as a good lord.
If I flopped miserably, he could cut me loose as a "betrayer of his trust."
The latter would sting for me too, so I planned to win if possible.
...So I waited for Ethan's decision, with really only one viable option left.
But for some reason, permission wasn't coming from his mouth.
"Urgh..."
What's his deal?
Logically, letting me join was the smoothest path.
Blocking me would make things awkward all around.
...No way the fatty was actually worried about me.
He was agonizing over something with no real dilemma, so I quietly approached and prodded him one last time to decide.
Whispering softly enough that Emilia wouldn't hear.
"Understood. If that's how you feel, young master, no helping it."
"...Maid?"
"You just called me your most trusted servant, but I must have misheard."
"N-No! You really are the one I trust most!"
"Of course. You didn't doubt I soloed Galkorioni earlier, but now you're worried I'll get hurt against recruits. Truly trustworthy words."
"N-No... That's not what I meant..."
Now Ethan knew for sure. Whether I won or lost, sending me out preserved his honor best.
Finally, after agonizing, Ethan took a step forward.
He met Emilia's eyes calmly and declared,
"...Emilia."
"...Yes."
"...Equip my maid properly with gear and protective armor for her mock spar with the recruits."