~Chapter 05~
3. Second, Become the Talk-of-the-Town New Recruit
“Noona! Everything is ready!”
“Ah, good! Nice work!”
A servant with the face of a thug gave a bright, friendly smile and bowed politely.
If you only saw this heartwarming scene, you might think he wasn’t a thug—
Surprisingly, he was.
More precisely, a professional thug.
“Hey, you lot! Line up!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
They were members of the organization that Mephisto had assigned to me.
He said they were trustworthy, so I supposed they were.
The reason I gathered them?
I needed practice.
Even though I’d become a combat genius thanks to the system cheat—“Ah yes, this is what you call a game cheat”—there were limits.
I had no real combat experience.
“Come at me one by one.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Also, being at an intermediate level was… awkward.
If it were advanced level, I could probably brute-force everything.
But intermediate? It felt like I couldn’t just wing it.
Another way to get stronger?
Yeah right.
This was a raising simulation game—there was no information about elixirs or cheat items you could casually pick up.
The only thing I could do was grind.
“I’m coming! Haaah!”
And right now, grinding was the most efficient method.
Without hesitation, I raised my sword against the large man charging at me with a staff.
Clang!
The instinct engraved into my body told me how to move.
“Aagh!”
With my strength enhanced by mana, I swung my sword.
The first opponent, who held out for a bit, was soon sent flying while still gripping his staff.
I gestured to have him dragged away and shouted:
“Next!”
And just like that, a month passed.
* * *
And now—
The young duke had come in his role as knight commander to observe the entrance exam.
“That red-haired woman? She stands out.”
“Yes. It will be her turn soon.”
At his adjutant’s words, the young duke glanced in her direction with mild interest.
But only mild—so his attention soon returned to the duels taking place.
“Ben is acting as an examiner again this year.”
“I… I did pass along your message to the vice-captain, but…”
“It’s fine. He probably ran off saying it’s best to choose with his own eyes.”
That stubborn man.
The duke sighed and watched the ongoing exams with boredom.
Most applicants were defeated before the examiners even used aura.
Some managed to force them to use aura, but no one had passed yet.
A bad year?
Just as he was about to leave—
It became the woman’s turn.
Her red hair swayed as she strode forward.
On impulse, the duke decided to watch just this one match before leaving.
“What do you think? Does she stand a chance?”
“She’s facing the vice-captain. I’d bet on her losing.”
“Well then, that’s not much of a bet.”
Smirking, he turned his gaze to the arena.
Clang!
Her sword lightly clashed with Ben’s.
Unexpectedly, she didn’t get knocked out in one blow and continued exchanging strikes.
“…Oh?”
“She seems to have some basics. Maybe trainee knight level?”
“No.”
The duke cut him off.
Even if Ben was holding back, she had still blocked his attack.
The adjutant looked puzzled—
Then the duke spoke.
“She’s at least mid-level knight.”
“…What?”
Before the adjutant could ask further—
Aura flared from her sword.
“A-Aura…!”
“As expected.”
If this weren’t the prestigious Edenrosa household, many would have declared her passed on the spot just for that.
The duke’s eyes sharpened with interest.
Ben began using aura as well.
And yet—
She endured.
Gradually being pushed back, but still holding on.
And then—
She managed to leave a small cut on Ben.
“…!”
The adjutant gasped.
Meanwhile, the duke analyzed her technique.
A textbook style.
Built solidly on fundamentals—it looked like she’d quickly absorb the ducal family’s swordsmanship.
“Is she the first one to pass this year?”
“Yes.”
“…Hmm.”
As she received her acceptance token from Ben, her eyes met the duke’s.
She smiled brightly at him—
as if that alone made her happy.
Seeing that smile, the duke once again became convinced—
that she had taken the exam because of him.
Smirking, he turned to his adjutant.
“Have you checked if she’s a spy from another faction?”
“Not yet. But based on current information, the Eduke family is neutral. It’s likely personal feelings.”
“Good. She’ll be useful. A skilled woman in love…”
Then couldn’t he use her—by offering something modest to him, yet overwhelmingly valuable to her—like a meeting?
“Still, investigate further. When she gained those skills. And if she always had them, why she hid them.”
“Yes, understood.”
Thinking about how to use this piece that had fallen into his hands—
He smiled.
* * *
“I passed!”
I couldn’t hide my smile.
“We’ll contact you tomorrow with details. You start next week.”
“Understood.”
“That also serves as a temporary pass, so don’t lose it!”
The crude metal acceptance token looked beautiful.
As I held it up to the sunlight—
I suddenly made eye contact with the young duke, who had been watching.
Since he was also the knight commander, it wouldn’t hurt to make a good impression—
So I smiled brightly.
He smirked and looked away.
Well… not a bad reaction.
“Next!”
Time to go home.
I left the noisy training grounds behind.
When I returned to the mansion, I proudly showed the token.
“Butler! Mabel! Look! I joined the knights!”
“Ghk…”
The butler made a strange choking sound before muttering in resignation:
“…As long as you’re happy, my lady…”
“Congrats, sis! I knew you’d make it!”
Mabel—my cute puppy—no, Mabel—asked when I’d start work.
Why does she keep getting cuter?
Must be because she’s an angel.
“Next week. I can either commute or stay in the dorms, but I’ll probably commute.”
“I see!”
“How about you? Anything happen today? How were classes?”
“Today? I got praised! Oh—and someone invited me to a tea party!”
“A tea party? What kind?”
Right.
I’d been expecting this event.
As Mabel lay with her head on my lap, I stroked her hair and recalled the early “noble etiquette” event.
Not just softness—no, focus—
An event to prove her refinement.
“The Countess of Blueua hosts it! Apparently it’s held every month!”
“The Countess of Blueua?”
Once your etiquette stats reach a certain level, your tutor recommends a social club.
The level of the club depends on your evaluation.
At the highest evaluation, you can join one tied to the Blueua family.
A smile crept onto my face.
“Can I go?”
“Of course.”
I gently squished her soft cheeks.
“So soft…”
“Go and learn a lot. Make lots of friends too.”
“Okay!”
The “Blueua Tea Party”—
A place to build connections with important characters and quickly raise etiquette stats.
Performance there matters too, but judging from her progress—
She’ll do fine.
Besides, it’s meant to nurture promising young ladies, not scheming politics.
“Can I brag that my sister is a knight?”
“…After I officially start work.”
“Okay!”
After playing around with Mabel and finishing dinner, the sun had already set.
I wanted to keep lounging with her—
But I had to get up.
Someone needed to be seen off.
The people Mephisto sent, who had helped me until now, were leaving today.
“Thanks. I passed because of you.”
They looked proud.
“No way, it’s all because you’re a genius, noona!”
“That’s right! You beat all of us!”
“Call us anytime if you need help!”
“Sure. Take care!”
The thugs left with warm smiles.
Though… considering how they got beaten to the point their limbs were practically broken, the scene was a bit questionable.
Still, I believe our friendship was real.
“Hey, now that it’s over, she won’t actually call us again, right? I thought I was gonna die getting beaten.”
“Probably not… isn’t she the boss’s girlfriend?”
“…Even if not, if we ignore her, she’ll come beat us up, won’t she? Her temper…”
Huh. My ears feel itchy these days.
Ignoring the faint voices I thought I heard, I returned to my room.
* * *
That night, I contacted Mephisto through the communication device.
“I sent your men back.”
—Yes, confirmed. I told them to treat you with the utmost respect… were you satisfied?
“This place has great service. Five stars.”
—…I have no idea what you mean, but I’ll take that as satisfaction.
Hmm.
Unfortunately, it seemed this world didn’t have a rating system yet.
Maybe I should introduce one someday.
