The following days was like a fever dream. Xian would wake up anew, refreshed but still in pain. He would twist and turn, struggling to get on his feet. But in his eyes burned a zeal that kept him moving.
The more he was defeated, the more he learned how to use this body.
And somewhere at the back of his mind, something was holding him together.
'Is that a trait of this character?'
From what he understood, things that are labeled as sealed in the game was never truly inaccessible. Like weapons.
If the same worked for the traits then…
[Shackled One (Sealed Trait's: ???, ??? 29/100, ???)]
Xian sprung up from the bed.
'Conditions! It must have hidden conditions!'
If only he knew what skill it was, then he could surmise the condition to unlock it.
'No, if I think about what I've been doing these past few days…'
Xian, once again, had that sinister grin. An olive branch was handed to at an opportune moment. Surely, this must be the way to get past his predicament.
If he didn't get anything, then Xian could almost imagine needing hundreds of regressions before he was able to equally fight against Serika.
'No, I only need to somewhat keep up with her.'
It wasn't easy to bridge the gap between their stats. This body had outstanding strength, agility and endurance so he was able to stay standing in Serika's onslaught. Though, if she used a sword, his limbs will be lopped off in an instant.
"Sir Xian? Are you awake?"
Today was the fifth day. And tomorrow will be the last day of their spar, then they will head to the academy.
At this rate, the young miss will not take him.
'Do I have to resort to assassination?'
It was a cold but very real solution to his problems. It's not like Carmillia will disappear.
Maybe, in some timeline she does die, but Xian only cared about what's in front of him. And the situations in the academy needed a certain degree of strength if he wants ease when scheming.
'I could trigger an event in the academy to regress. Alright, it's decided.'
In the academy, there's plenty of death flags that will kill Carmillia.
What kind of academy is Rozenfall even, if they let students like Carmillia die so easily left and right?
Well, it's not the fault of the academy, but rather by the household itself.
The Dukedom of Montagne's, subject to the new king's gaze and his investigators.
The Duke, who had lead the massacre of several noble families and even an allied dukedom, on the pretext of treason. He was well trusted by the former king, and had that king lived to this day, they say that many more will meet their annihilation under his hands.
His army, with their pitch black armor were infamous for signaling annihilation.
As for why his household still exists? Those who came under his banner during the reign of the previous king was numerous in the kingdom. After the old kings death, this made the rift in the kingdom even more apparent.
A ton, and literally tons of conspirators gathered in order to exact revenge against the Duke. Some were driven by purpose, but many more we're driven by illogical revenge.
One in particular was a formerly powerful family allied with the Montagne's.
'The family of Carmillia's mother. The Benevolent Mistress as the players called her.'
She existed in the in game lore's and in some quest's, allies who guided the protagonist even mentioned her as a role model. They were a group of people who fought against the duke and knew of his tyranny but ultimately lost.
Now, it lies to the protagonist to stop the tyrannical Duke.
It was said that the Duke's backing stretched into the empire neighboring the Kingdom.
Needless to say, he is a villain in the game. One of the end game bosses and neither was he an easy opponent. No one ever was. Maybe Carmillia, because her death flags are all over the place.
"Um, Sir Xian, hello?"
'Right, that maid is here again.' He didn't notice her that much since he was either fighting or unconscious everyday.
"I'm awake."
Upon answering the maid entered his room with a shy smile, her face slightly red. It was late into the night, and for the first time he lasted for half a day against Serika. He was even making some progress in his combat prowess.
Now he knew why. Because the sealed traits were helping him, and conditions were doing wonders unsealing it.
Xian was in a good mood when he activated his conqueror's eyes.
"I will take care of you today as well, Sir Xian."
His eyes almost bulged out from its sockets, staring at the maids affection level.
Pink: 3
'It's already on that level? What did I do? What?'
He was filled with confusion. There are no events, signs, or even interaction between them these past few days. He only remembered reveling in battle and pain against Serika.
Then something clicked in his mind.
"Hey… Did you… take care of me everynight?"
Now that he looked at her, the maid seemed to be setting down a towel and a tub of water. She did so with practiced movements and haste, clearly she had done this before.
He never noticed. She was hard to notice in the first place due to her uniform. There was never an npc this audacious so Xian didn't expect them to exist.
"Of course! The other maids didn't want to get on the young miss's bad side, but I'm different." She said proudly with a bright and innocent smile.
"Unlike them, I won't let sir Xian be on his own hehe!"
"But I never asked you to do this. You're overstepping my boundaries, maid." Xian didn't even remember or asked her name.
The maid stopped and dropped the towel on the tub, making the sound of wet splash.
"But… Sir Xian… It was all for you. Because, I want to be a diligent maid… I want to prove what you saw in me." Her tone was flat and emotionless. For a moment, her face and Carmillia's overlapped in Xian's view.
"You know… ever since that night. Blood was all over your body." Her hands touched his shin as it smoothly traveled up to his legs.
"The other maids found it a pain. But I didn't. I volunteered alone and made sure to clean every nook and cranny of your body." She spoke so, as if enthralled upon recalling something. Her chest heaved with slightly heavy breath.
"It was… amazing to be able to useful for you sir Xian. I even washed and replaced your clothes. Look, I brought you a newly cleaned set of those butler uniform." She pointed towards a neatly folded stack of clothes on the bed table.
He was wondering why he magically had something to change to every morning. Turns out, it was this random made he talked to.
'I guess it's not Moris. He must've taken this opportunity for his cleanup duties.'
"… You don't need to do this from now on. I can take care of myself." In truth Xian would just rather avoid her, since she isn't an objective. Although she did look very cute, that was it.
Xian had no intentions to be distracted from his goal. He may be able to regress, but he wouldn't wait for his desired outcome's to develop on it's own.
He had better things to do.
That was the end of things. The maid will leave, maybe heartbroken, but he didn't care.
"Don't worry sir Xian… Starting tomorrow, you don't need to do all of this."
But she didn't. Instead her hand reached out to touch his face.
With a cold gaze, he grabbed her hands and snarled. "Leave. My. Room."
"O-oh! I'm sorry! I… will give you some time alone." She hurried and left, leaving the tub and towels she brought with her just in case Xian might need it.
He sighed in relief.
'That was crazy.'
Xian wasn't particularly afraid of people like the maid. He just found her annoying, especially now that he's in a difficult situation.
He relaxed and let the bed do the work until he fell asleep.
The next day he woke up.
Today will be the deciding day, whether he's coming to the academy or not.
Xian began the day with a new plan in mind. Since Carmillia is chasing him away, then he will leave.
Temporarily of course. Without him, she will eventually trigger a death flag and die, making him regress at the start of the game.
He was willing to endure the difficulties of the first week again, and to better orchestrate the scheme of killing the coachman.
Anyways, the plan is to train after leaving. A few places where he can grind skills came to mind and even places where he can just learn skills.
He wondered if those will complete the requirements to open the last and remaining function for the protagonist, the skill window.
Once he gets that far, he will be able to enter the academy as a student with his power and keep tabs with Carmillia there as a fellow classmate.
'There's the problem of getting into their class though.'
Carmillia was at the top, nobles only section. Their study room being dubbed as the Golden bough's, where each seat screams of their statuses. Although the academy promoted equality, there's nothing money and investments can't do.
The Chancellor and headmaster eventually gave in to at least give better facilities to the 'best' students of the class.
Those best students being, the heirs of noble households.
In terms of potential, they definitely have the worthiness to be called the best. But in terms of training… A majority was just like Xian who didn't know how to use his power.
'They're also a troublesome bunch.'
In the academy, they will fight in intrigue's and the top class particularly clashes with the protagonist's class, the Silver boughs. The place where talented individuals without noble status and backing gathered.
There's even the Bronze bough class, filled with students whose fate is only being used as pawns. Many of them were torn between the two factions, those who belong in nobility or those who solely stood for themselves through their own ability.
'Anyways, they are equally worse.'
The door opened and Moris was surprised to see him done and prepared already.
"Sir Moris? Have you returned?"
These past few days, he went on his own towards the training grounds. He missed Moris a little bit and his mustache.
"Hm? I never left." Moris raised his right brow in response to that as he smoothened his mustache with faint smile of approval. "Anyways, if you're awake, don't make me drag you out of the room. Training grounds, starting tomorrow. Don't wait for me." With that he left, leaving the door open.
Hearing those familiar words, he stood stunned for quite some time.
Then Xian burst laughing. "Ha… hahahahha!"