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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Ahh……”
I dropped the wooden sword on the floor and lay down with a thud. My right arm, which hadn’t fully healed yet, was killing me.
The doctor had clearly told me to leave it alone for a week…… But I couldn’t do that. Since I stopped just as the joints were making cracking sounds, it shouldn’t dislocate my shoulder again, right?
“Phew……”
Today, I used ‘Selection and Concentration’ on the agility stat. As the name suggests, the higher it is, the faster the body becomes.
Of course, even if strength is high, you become faster, but agility is fundamentally different from strength. While strength is simply an increase in muscular power, agility slows down ‘perceived time’.
If agility is extremely high, it’s even possible to see a flying bullet in slow motion. Although the body moves faster as well, no matter how much you collide at that increased speed, it’s no match for using ‘Selection and Concentration’ on strength.
So I think it would be appropriate to use strength for offense and agility for evading attacks.
“Three stats remaining……”
Stamina. Mana. Vitality. Now, if I raise these three stats above 10, the store will open.
That is, if my hypothesis is correct…… Unless an unexpected situation occurs, the store will open in 3 days.
If possible, I wanted to open the store before the semester began and check if there were any necessary items.
Since that’s not possible due to time constraints, I have no choice but to handle the events right after the semester starts with the abilities I currently have.
“Next is magic.”
I dragged my exhausted body to a corner where books were stacked and sat down.
Yesterday, I had succeeded in casting gravity magic.
Considering that most students master gravity magic at a young age, it’s definitely not something to be proud of. I’m far behind, so I should at least pretend to keep up……
Since I won’t be able to get perfect scores on all exams with just tricks, I’ll need to steadily improve my basic skills as well. The magic I’ll challenge this time is barrier magic.
Along with gravity, it’s one of the most basic types of magic.
However, unlike gravity magic, which gets replaced by its superior version, telekinesis magic, later on, barrier magic is used by everyone from beginners to great magicians.
Well, I’m not expecting any other functions anyway, so let’s start by trying to confine a space with a mana curtain first. *
“Aaah……! Just a little more and I think I can do it!”
I thought I would be able to do this one quickly. That’s because there’s not much to it.
A barrier is nothing more than enveloping a space with mana, right? I didn’t even think of adding functions like shock absorption or sound and light blocking.
But it’s still taking this long? I ended up throwing the book and closed my eyes again. It wasn’t like my vision would be blocked anyway, so I deliberately turned off my sight.
“Phew…… Let’s try again slowly. Relying on my senses.”
Until now, I had been focusing too much on the formula. More important than creating the formula is stably operating and maintaining it.
I assembled a simple formula once more and infused a small amount of mana into it. I held the formula that kept trying to unravel and shaped its form.
The image of a hexahedron with not a single gap appeared in my mind. At the same time, I restored my vision and-
“Wow……”
An opaque hexahedron was floating in the air. I had finally succeeded.
Although it’s a useless barrier with mana so weak that anything can pass through it.
“No. It’s not useless.”
Come to think of it, I thought of something I could do with my barrier. I immediately wove another formula and deployed a barrier.
This time, right in front of the training room’s entrance. Anyone who took a single step would destroy the barrier without any resistance, but I put a simple function in it.
A function to send me a signal the moment it’s destroyed. It won’t be of any help in preventing intruders, but if I know that an intruder has entered, I can respond to it, so it’s not entirely meaningless.
After putting effort into breaking through the strong external barrier, they probably won’t even realize this flimsy barrier exists and will trip it. In that sense, it might be the most difficult barrier to detect.
“Should I stop here for today?”
On top of staying up all night yesterday, overworking my body for two days in a row made me feel drowsy as hell. I should go to bed a bit early today.
I turned off the lights in the training room and opened the door. “Hah…… Early my ass.”
It was already late at night. Seeing the full moon setting in the west, it seemed to be around 3 in the morning.
Whenever I enter the training room, I lose track of time. Should I bring a clock in there? Emilia was probably already asleep.
I carefully opened and closed the door, trying not to make a loud sound as I entered the dark mansion. Just as I was about to tiptoe up to the second floor-
“You’re back late.”
“Oh, what the fuck! You startled me!”
I was surprised by the sudden voice. Turning around, I saw Emilia turning on the living room light and rubbing her eyes.
“What are you doing? Not sleeping yet?”
“I was going to sleep after seeing you come in. As your attendant, confirming my master’s safe return is a basic duty.”
Ah…… I didn’t think of that. If I came in late, Emilia wouldn’t be able to sleep.
And while I could sleep in tomorrow, Emilia had to wake up early in the morning and work.
For Emilia’s sake, it would be better for me to start getting into the habit of going to bed early and waking up early.
But I don’t think I can do that every day……
“From now on, don’t wait past 12 and just go to sleep.”
“No. I’ll sleep after seeing you come in-”
“Don’t go past 12. If I see you yawning the next morning, I’ll cut your salary.”
“…… Yes.”
I forced an answer out of her. Sleep deprivation is the root of all illnesses, after all.
When I was serving in the military, I saw plenty of soldiers who got cancer after frequently skipping sleep for guard duty.
If Emilia got sick because of me, I would never be able to gain the protagonist’s cooperation……
It’s best to be as careful as possible, even with small things. Well, it’s not like Emilia has a sickly girl setting or anything, so I don’t have to worry too much.
“Good night.”
“You too, Emilia.”
“Yes. Ah, but……”
“Yes?”
Just as I was about to go straight to the bedroom, Emilia’s voice called out to me. Turning around, I saw Emilia holding an oil lamp in one hand and fidgeting with the hem of her clothes with the other.
It’s a rare sight considering Emilia’s character. Does she have something to say?
…… Or is she just acting that way?
“Ah, it’s nothing……”
“Okay. Good night.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Leaving behind Emilia, who had regained her cold voice, I closed the door. What was she trying to say just now?
Feeling a bit puzzled, I roughly took off my clothes and lay down on the bed. And I immediately lost consciousness.
***
“Haah……”
Returning to her bedroom, Emilia sighed deeply and stood in front of the desk.
Only after confirming that the door was properly closed and a recognition-blocking barrier was deployed did she take out a letter from the drawer.
It was a letter she had received from an Intelligence Agency agent earlier when she went out to buy groceries. Its contents were detailed information about Schlus Hainkel.
After reading it, Emilia couldn’t help but sigh. To summarize Schlus’ past, it was ‘suffering, suffering, and more suffering’.
He was born without a mother. She had been ill from the beginning and died immediately after giving birth.
He lived a somewhat peaceful life with his father, a noble’s guard soldier, although not very happy……
Until the war broke out. In the early stages of the war, there was no problem.
Schlus’ father was a privately hired guard, so he wasn’t subject to conscription. Although the territory of Iceburg bordered the empire, there was no need to worry.
At that time, the empire was completely dominating the kingdom and had pushed the front lines dozens of kilometers ahead.
After annihilating over 90 percent of the kingdom’s military power within 2 years of the war’s start, everyone was relieved during the winter when they were carelessly preparing for hibernation.
The kingdom’s major offensive, mobilizing all its forces, began in that harsh winter.
The imperial army, which had been preparing for winter in peace, was busy retreating, and the kingdom’s army advanced relentlessly. Some units even crossed the border.
And that area happened to be where Schlus was staying, Iceburg. A fierce battle began.
The private soldiers of Iceburg had to face the kingdom’s army alone without the support of the imperial army, and in the end, they managed to defend the territory.
Many people died, and this was true for Schlus’ father as well.
Thus, the young Schlus was left alone without family, relatives, friends, or anything, wandering from town to town, living day by day.
Then, a truce was reached, and this year, the second year after that, Schlus suddenly came to the capital and passed the Imperial Academy’s entrance exam as the top student……
‘It’s unbelievable, really.’ Emilia’s prediction that he would be the son of a wealthy bourgeois was completely off the mark.
He had never been rich for even a moment in his life and had never received a proper education.
And yet, one day, he suddenly spent all his assets to come to the capital and got accepted into the Imperial Academy……?
It didn’t seem like a simply touching success story. There was definitely something suspicious in between.
If not…… If that wasn’t the case……
What about her brother, who was in a similar situation to Schlus but became a child soldier and was reduced to a killing machine?
While someone climbed up from the bottom and was doing so well, what about her brother who lived only in the shadows, never becoming famous?
He must have had the hardest life, even taking in and raising a half-sister.
Why was it that someone was rewarded while her brother received no reward at all?
‘It’s really…… unfair……’ Emilia crumpled the letter and lowered her head deeply.
Tears fell from her cheeks. Schlus had accomplished everything from beginning to end with his own strength.
There was no help from parents or anything.
Nevertheless, Emilia’s inexplicable hatred did not subside at all.
No, it only continued to burn more fiercely.
***
“Hmm……?”
“Is there a problem?”
“No.”
Did I see it wrong? Let me check again.
‘View.’
[Black Tea]
[Status: Poisoned]
[Description: Black tea contaminated with paralytic poison. Even a trace amount can lead to death if there is no immunity.]
“……”
I wasn’t mistaken after all. Poisoned black tea.
Emilia brought tea in the morning without being asked, so I looked at it just in case, and this was the result. I glanced at Emilia’s expression.
She was still expressionless, standing in a neat posture and looking at me. I couldn’t read any emotion or intention from her appearance.
As expected of a professional spy.
‘Did I do something wrong?’
I haven’t done anything that would harm the Intelligence Agency yet. Then this wasn’t ordered by the Intelligence Agency, but Emilia’s own decision.
But why? For what reason? There’s no benefit in killing me now.
Rather, it’s only a loss. If I die from poisoning, Emilia will have to flee before being identified as a suspect.
Then the Intelligence Agency won’t be able to monitor the Imperial Academy.
‘I don’t get it, damn it.’
In the end, I gave up trying to understand and- Clang!
“Oops.”
“Stay still. I’ll clean it up and bring a new one.”
“No, it’s fine. I just won’t drink black tea today.”
“Yes. I understand.”
I pretended to accidentally push the teacup and drop it. Rationally thinking, there was no reason for her to do something like this.
I had set her as a character who at least knew basic common sense…… Did something happen?
“Then at least have some water.”
“Hmm. Than-”
[Groundwater]
[Status: Poisoned]
[Description: Groundwater contaminated with paralytic poison. Even a trace amount can lead to death if there is no immunity.]
“No. I just won’t drink anything.”
“Really? Then how about some milk……”
“That’s enough.”
What’s wrong with her today? She might as well stab me with a knife.
This is driving me crazy.
“…… I understand.”
Emilia slightly shrank back and withdrew with the cup. Is that dejected look also an act?
She’s really good at acting. Just as I was thinking that, Emilia was about to bring the cup of water to her mouth.
“Miss Emilia. Wait a moment!”
“Yes? Ah……”
I sprang up from the chair and grabbed Emilia’s wrist. Just before it reached Emilia’s mouth, the cup fell far away, spilling the water inside.
Emilia looked at me as if I was being absurd, but I tried my best to ignore it.
‘It’s not Emilia. Then who is it?’
It wasn’t Emilia who had poisoned it. Then who on earth……?
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Ah is this the scene where that one guy from novel update complained others dropping it halfway and not realising the maid wasn’t the one who poisoned
Thanks for the chapter 😁
Her brother….
Who? The Nobels?