The Maid's Wish (3)
“Nngh...”
At first, even lifting the sword was overwhelming. For a frail girl to swing around a lump of iron as big as herself—it was probably reckless. But I didn’t want to give up before I even started. I wanted to become a woman who could help Master, even if I couldn’t match him.
“One... two...”
So I decided to train my body first. I figured I needed stamina above all. I studied swordsmanship books alongside it. That’s when I first learned I could strengthen my body using the mana flowing through me.
“My basic stamina has definitely improved. Household chores are so much easier now.”
Day after day... The more I trained, the more results I saw. Thanks to that, I was ready to wield a sword sooner than expected.
“Ha, one! Whoa?!”
Of course, a total beginner like me couldn’t handle it perfectly from the start. I’d swing clumsily, lose my balance, and tumble all the time. That’s when the real training began.
“One, two, three!”
I never skipped nightly practice. “Leave it to me, Master!”
During the day, I strove to perfectly fulfill my duties as Master’s maid. Honestly, I could barely remember the last time I’d properly rested.
“Hup! Is this stance right...?”
In the dead of night, I’d toss and turn in bed, swinging my sword. Learning alone without a teacher was slow going, and I constantly doubted if I was doing it right.
“I see. In this stance, I need to relax my shoulders a bit more.”
Still, I didn’t give up. Whenever I had a spare moment, I’d read books and correct my own form.
“Ugh... so sleepy...”
Thanks to that, every morning I woke up exhausted, my muscles aching with every move. Pushing too hard felt like my body was screaming.
*Clang—*
“S-Sorry! Master!”
“It was my carelessness with the plate...”
Sometimes I’d make needless mistakes and be a nuisance. I’d apologize to Master with bated breath each time.
“It’s fine.”
But Master never once scolded me. Instead, he encouraged me with a kind smile and gentle words.
“...”
Every time, I felt it deep down. No matter how tough or grueling it got, I had to endure. To become a woman worthy of Master, I had to bear even the harshest life—
Even if my body crumbled to dust from exhaustion, better that than remain a clumsy, tearful burden. I resolved to one day become someone Master truly needed.
“Cast aside weak thoughts, Eily. No more ‘just for today’ excuses.”
“Don’t give up. This is the path you chose...”
No compromises. No one to blame. It was my choice. Better to grit my teeth and endure, even if it wore my soul to rags, than be useless to Master.
“One, two, three!”
That first year, I taught myself the basics.
“Ugh... Killing is more gruesome than I thought...”
In the second year, I hunted weak monsters to gain real combat experience.
“Ogres really are strong. I need to move faster and more balanced—”
By the third year, I could fell even giant beasts.
“Huh?”
On the fourth year’s mark, it hit me.
“My body feels light...”
I had definitely changed. I was no longer the crybaby from before—a completely different person.
“Hoo—”
Every swing felt natural now. I’d grown beyond mere mimicry, developing my own techniques and moves.
*Ting—!*
The proof came at the academy entrance exam.
“I lost. Impressive skill. I’ve never seen such original swordplay.”
I was the first student to defeat Instructor Rilton, whom no one else could beat.
In this world, the rules of a duel were simple. Force a surrender, render the opponent combat-ineffective, or make their weapon drop to the ground so they couldn’t continue—the match ended there. Without special rules, these three conditions were the unspoken standard.
*Ting—!*
Heavy. That’s all I could think.
*Ting—!*
“Guh!”
Every time I blocked Eily’s strikes, my hands went numb. It felt like being caned by a strict teacher as a kid.
“Let’s stop this! Why are we even fighting?!”
I barely parried her sword while trying to persuade her. But the more I showed no hostility, the sharper her eyes gleamed.
“Because I love you, Master!”
“How could I just watch another woman steal you? I absolutely can’t allow it!”
Relentless, furious assaults without pause. Like she predicted the duel would end the moment her turn faltered. She was clearly pouring everything into this short burst.
*Ting!*
A wide horizontal slash. A finishing blow, but I barely blocked with my blade upright.
Not stopping there, she adjusted and aimed a vertical strike at my head.
*Ting!*
Clean and powerful. I gripped the hilt with my right and braced the flat with my left to hold it off.
*Ting-ting-ting—!!*
Her barrage left no room for counterattacks or even breaths. It was like being trapped in a merciless storm.
*Ting—!!*
The clash of steel echoed across the field, sparks flying as recoil pushed us both back.
“Guh...”
How long did I last? Honestly, I couldn’t remember. Every moment was a grueling, suffocating melee.
One thing was clear: each attack was heavy and swift.
“Haa...”
Eily steadied her breath and stance. For the first time, her eyes gleamed like a beast’s.
But guilt laced her voice.
“Why...?”
I nodded at her question. But before I could answer, tears welled in her eyes.
“What?”
“You’ve just been defending! No sign of attacking—you’re only focused on taking my tantrum... Did you think I wouldn’t notice?!”
Busted. I hadn’t attacked Eily once. Opportunities arose, but to beat her now, I’d have to fight seriously.
Meaning she was no pushover. That’s why...
I couldn’t swing my sword. What if I misjudged my strength and hurt her badly?
“...”
That horrific thought paralyzed me beyond defense.
“Because you could get hurt.”
I answered curtly. She gritted her teeth, glaring with a mix of love and hate.
“As expected...”
A sigh escaped her.
*Ting!*
In a blink, she danced forward with her blade.
*Ting! Ting!*
“You’re too kind, Master! Even when this worthless maid commits crimes deserving death a hundred times... you worry about me!”
*Ting! Ting! Ting—!*
“But that’s why I’m scared! You’re too kind, too naive, too soft-hearted!”
“That’s why I fear you’ll fall for other women!”
Her strikes grew fiercer. Blocking them pushed me to my limit.
*Ting—!!*
“Urk?!”
The reason I struggled was her swordsmanship. For some reason, I couldn’t Parry her attacks.
It wasn’t just slow reactions. Her strikes felt on another level entirely.
“...!”
Her sword transcended technique—movements I’d never seen, even in the original story.
“You can’t win by just defending, Master!”
Her onslaught was suffocating. Still, I couldn’t yield.
“Haa... haa...”
Eily was tiring. Sweat poured like a waterfall; her shoulders heaved. Her stamina was at its end.
“Give up already. You’re exhausted, right?”
“No... not yet... This fatigue... I can still fight!”
After nonstop attacks, her depletion was obvious. Each swing visibly weakened.
This was a stamina war—and I had the edge.
But despite my urging, pride kept her sword raised.
*Ting...!*
Her labored downward strike clashed weakly. Even her sharp moves had dulled.
“Ah... not yet... I can’t give up...!”
Gasping, she tried again. But her heaving breaths screamed past her limit.
*Ting...*
She struck once more, exploiting a gap—but it sliced air as she staggered.
“Eily!”
I moved without hesitation. Dropping my sword, I embraced her exposed form.
“L-Let go...!”
She struggled with her last strength, but it faded quickly.
“It’s okay. I’m not mad—just calm down.”
I held her gently, patting her back. She resisted at first, then slumped into me.
“Ahh... So it ends like this...”
Her sorrowful words weighed on my heart. Exhausted, her arms still clung tightly to my waist.
“I... could never beat you, Master...!”
Tears she’d held back burst forth. Facing the collapse of her all-out resolve, she sobbed.
“Let’s head back.”
I soothed her quietly.
“No... I don’t want to give up on you, Master... I can’t let you go to another woman!”
Eily bared her heart to the end. But she resisted no more—just wished for my embrace, my understanding.
“Let’s talk back at the dorm.”
I patted her kindly, turning toward the dorms. Then she murmured softly.
“So... you’ll keep your engagement with Lady Elisha?”
I paused, pondering. No easy answer came. The plot had twisted beyond repair—what now?
Originally, I aimed for Varis’s harem ending. But now, maybe that wasn’t the only right path.
Perhaps I could forge my own happy ending?
“...”
My silence drew a small sigh from Eily.
“As I thought... you’re canceling the breakup...”
Before she finished, she kicked free and leaped back.
“Guh?!”
“Then... it’s not over! I can still fight!”
Gripping her sword, she demanded one last round.
“Two more. I’ll swing this sword exactly twice more. That decides it.”
I sighed at her resolve, nodding.
“Fine. I’ll take those last two.”
“Here I go...!”
Eily raised her sword, eyes unwavering.
And...
“One...!!”
She moved. But something was off. Her blade’s path didn’t aim at me.
It pointed at... her own throat.
“Eily?!”
I lunged instinctively. She’d slit her throat at this rate.
“Eily!!!!”
I sprinted full-tilt. But...
Her expression was profoundly knowing.
“As expected... I knew you’d do this, Master.”
She whispered with a smile. It clicked.
My desperate save had broken my stance.
*Ting!*
Metal rang once. When I came to, my hand felt empty.
Chills rising, I looked up—my sword arced through the air.
“Two...”
She declared calmly.
“I win, Master.”
Victory assured, Eily smiled with a seductive, alluring glow.