Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Men Are What Women Make Them (2)
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A year had flown by in a blur of aimless days since the day I hit level 6.
It had been about two and a half years since I'd clearly realized I was possessing Lilith in Luminor Academy.
I couldn't achieve anything explosive due to my status as a debt maid, but I hadn't just been slacking off as Lilith for those thirty months either.
Even a rough tally of my accomplishments so far showed some pretty solid growth.
Starting at noob level 2, I'd climbed a whopping four levels to 6.
Solid base stats that could hold their own anywhere without getting me killed outright.
Mana capacity so abundant it was on the verge of hitting four digits.
Three low-tier spells I could cast, including Clean.
And Lilith's ultimate trump card, Mana Blast.
From my position as 'Debt Maid Lilith,' I'd maxed out every bit of growth possible.
I'd even picked up how to drive a carriage from Ditmeyer in my spare time, securing some survival skills along the way.
'Feels like I've grown way more immersed than when I was actually leveling her up in the game.'
Sure, Luminor Academy had been my life's game, but back then, I never imagined it would become my actual life.
Spending two and a half years in Lilith's shoes felt oddly like a self-imposed challenge run.
You know, like mouse-only controls or no-healing playthroughs.
Reframing it that way had made my days pretty livable lately.
To the point where I caught myself thinking it was even a little fun.
'Humans are adaptive creatures, huh? Kinda scary how my brain just adjusts to the environment.'
Whatever. If you're adapting, that's a win.
Minus the one tragic fact of possessing Lilith, getting isekai'd into this game world was still basically a reward for me.
Even if my body was this mess, it was the world of my life's game, Luminor Academy.
It was a dream come true in a way that could've never happened otherwise, so not enjoying it to the fullest would be a waste.
Once my contract ends and I leave Blackwood Manor, I can hunt monsters freely, buy my own place like I never could in my past life.
Become a famous adventurer in a guild, make a name for myself, and finally... get married...
'...Ah.'
Right. Who am I kidding? There's no way I could get married in this body.
I almost forgot for a second that my current body is female and started daydreaming about weird stuff.
Marriage for a woman means marrying a man, obviously.
Marrying a man? Even after over two years since realizing I was possessed, that was still horrifying.
Why else had I scarfed down garlic in the kitchen at midnight and fought hook-jawed monsters to the death right after realizing it?
All to escape a future where every path led to getting stuck with a guy.
And after all that effort, end up with a man anyway?
No way. For the sake of everything I'd done so far, that could never happen.
I didn't have some grand goal of passing on Lilith's genes to this world anyway.
My goal was simple: live out my days as a single, well-fed singleton in the world of Luminor Academy, my life's game.
That was my one lifelong objective.
To that end, I'd steadily saved up independent capital through knitting for a year, and whenever possible, organized Luminor Academy's story to prep for the future.
...That said, while I'd been preparing in various ways over the past year,
Truth be told, the biggest changes weren't me—they were the nobles I served.
Pig Prince Ethan. ...Well, that title doesn't fit anymore.
Ethan, who'd undergone Harold's brutal training over the past year, had transformed so much he was beyond piggy territory.
Harold's sword training must've been insane, because Ethan's looks no longer had anything to do with pigs.
If anything, he had muscles popping up everywhere, to the point where you wondered if he even had any fat left.
His gut had vanished as the weight dropped, his pudgy limbs now packed with solid muscle.
Even his once-steamed-bun face had slimmed down into something sharp and refined.
'What would the Luminor Academy gallery say if I posted pics of Ethan now?'
At least half wouldn't recognize him as the game's hated Ethan.
The hair, eyes, and little details would tip off the other half, though.
Most would probably chalk it up to fanart or fanfic.
Plus, hitting puberty had stretched him taller, lengthened his fingers—Ethan's body had all sorts of changes.
Comparing past and present, it wasn't just growth; it was a full transformation.
'Still way better than that pathetic piglet phase.'
At least I didn't have to work smelling pig sweat anymore.
You can't turn a pumpkin into a watermelon with stripes, but a slimmer pumpkin becomes a zucchini—and Ethan proved it personally.
Too bad his height topped out around 165 cm.
Lilith Rosewood's official game profile listed her at 163 cm.
By my age in Lilith's body, growth was done, so mine was probably the same.
Ethan was just a tad taller now, so 165 cm sounded right.
Apparently, all that sideways growth in childhood stunted his vertical one—not the beanpole build of other male characters.
165 cm was above average for normals, but this world was an SRPG-style dating sim eroge at heart.
Compared to the protagonist or rival guys, he was definitely on the shorter side.
Even so, it was way taller than his canon height.
The original 'Pig Prince Ethan' hadn't even hit 140 cm after entering the academy.
I'd been rambling about Ethan's dramatic change, but others had shifts too, albeit minor.
Junior maids Isabel and Katarina got promoted to mid-tier, with new rookies under them after less than a year.
Head butler Jack retired, and Ditmeyer took over as total butler, per the original story.
Compared to Ethan's glow-up, though, they were blips.
"Miss Lilith Rosewood."
...Speak of the devil.
I quietly turned toward Ditmeyer's voice calling me from the hallway.
'Why does the new head butler keep seeking me out personally? Can't he delegate by now?'
I kept that thought tucked away and met his eyes.
"Yes, Head Butler Ditmeyer."
"Ditmeyer Collin Evercroft."
"...I just called you Head Butler Ditmeyer properly."
"...Ahem."
Ditmeyer flashed an awkward, sheepish look for a moment, cleared his throat,
then pretended the exchange never happened and continued quietly.
"A summons from the young master. He asked if Miss Lilith could come to his room now."
"Ah, yes."
"He also said if you have urgent business, no need to come."
"...Ah, yes."
No matter how urgent something is for an exclusive maid, is it ever more urgent than a personal summons?
Lately, Ethan's calls always came with this routine.
It felt considerately thoughtful at first glance, but scratching the surface revealed it wasn't.
He knew better than anyone what ignoring his summons for 'urgent business' would mean.
A trip to the head maid for attitude retraining, or trembling before Harold.
'Is that what he wants?'
We'd once been at each other's throats, so maybe he still harbored ill will.
Maybe those old grudges still burned hot in his mind...
'Nah, that's jumping to conclusions.'
Lately, judging Ethan always felt off somehow.
Probably because the current Ethan didn't match the game's Pig Prince at all.
Game Ethan was a filthy, repulsive creep.
This one wasn't some disgustingly pudgy 'Pig Prince' either.
If anything, titles like 'Young Noble Ethan' or 'Blackwood Heir Ethan' fit better.
His first impression sucked, but he was genuinely a noble heir.
"Miss Lilith."
"Ah, yes!"
"A summons from the young master. If you have urgent business..."
"...I heard you the first time."
"You seemed lost in thought, so I thought you missed it."
...This guy's passive-aggressive streak hasn't changed in two years.
A reminder that some things never do.
"He's in his private room, right?"
"Yes, Miss Lilith."
"Got it. I'll respond to the summons myself, so no need for you to relay back and forth, Head Butler."
"Understood, Miss Lilith."
With that, Head Butler Ditmeyer vanished back down the hall.
I watched his retreating back for a moment, then quietly headed to Ethan's room on the fourth floor.
...It's been a while since he summoned me directly.
Here's hoping it's not something weird.