Arthas April 08, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
As Diana and I returned to the mansion, the sunset was already setting.
My whole body was aching from walking around the streets all day, starting with the inauguration ceremony.
"Hahh..."
Gazing upon the gates of Winfred, I couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Although I had somehow managed to hand over the ring to the auction and bring Diana back to the duchy, the feeling of unease still did not go away.
【Scenario Progress: 10%]】
Erika, who was running away as if being chased by something.
And the progress rate that always drew a rising curve.
The conclusion drawn from this was clear.
'They must have heard about the ring.'
I watched the progress rate indifferently. From 5% to 10%, it is no exaggeration to say that it is the steepest increase I have ever seen.
What could this possibly signify?
How will the progress rate hold me back in the future?
No, was the progress rate even a problem worth worrying about in the first place?
The answer didn't take long.
'Let's not worry about it.'
After all, if I broke off my engagement with Isabel, that would be the end of it.
The fact that my relationship with her was broken and the progress rate was going up was not an important issue right now.
I mentally erased Isabelle from my thoughts, turning to Diana waiting behind me and said, "Follow me."
"Understood."
Diana followed me, maintaining a consistent distance.
Diana's face, which I glanced back at, was expressionless.
The shoddy armor she had worn earlier had vanished, replaced by a sharp, well-fitted set that gleamed in the light.
Before I knew it, we arrived at the entrance of the mansion.
In front of the entrance, the butler and servants who were waiting for me were guarding the place.
The butler glanced at Diana and asked, "And who might this be?"
"She is my personal knight who will be guarding me from now on."
"Then, by any chance, the knight who was knighted this time...?"
"Yes, that's right."
A lady knight… what is this..."
Hearing the full story, the butler's face soured at the realization. I clicked my tongue lightly in annoyance, "How long are you going to keep me standing here? My legs are starting to get numb."
Cowed by my icy remark, the butler quickly bowed his head.
"I'll have a suitable room prepared, along with warm bath water and a meal. Right away, young master.”
“I expect it to be done promptly.”
He hesitated for a long time before reluctantly opening the front door.
I looked back at Diana indifferently, "Diana, follow the butler."
"Understood."
I left Diana in the butler's care and went straight up to my room.
After washing my body lightly and eating a meal, I threw myself on the bed.
"Phew."
After a light wash and a meal, I threw myself onto the bed.
My eyes were drooping and I felt languid due to the accumulated fatigue; staring blankly at the ceiling, I found myself lost in thought.
Now, the only thing left was to annul the engagement.
I will receive the proceeds from the sale of the ring, officially annul the engagement with Isabel, and leave the mansion without any regrets.
After all, my goal is not to progress the scenario, but to acquire Sacred Artifact.
"I suppose I should start considering my growth path as well."
This world was a game world, where swords and magic existed, gods were real, and unknown dangers lurked.
Ordinarily, I would have continued pursuing the scenario while ensuring my own growth. However, now that I've completely abandoned the system, it's all about survival of the fittest. I can't leave everything to Diana; I shouldn't neglect my own growth either.
The quickest way to bolster my strength was to find hidden pieces and monopolize the artifacts, such as those stored in the underground vault of the duchy.
"Should I just empty the underground vault?"
It wouldn't be too difficult. The artifacts stored there were currently not properly utilized, meaning their true value was significantly underestimated.
The plan was simple - propose a deal to the duke, offer a reasonable price, and then acquire the artifacts at a bargain.
Knock! knock!
"Young Master, are you there?"
Right on cue, the butler came knocking on the door.
"What is it now?"
Lying on the bed, I slightly lifted my head to observe the butler entering the room cautiously.
"Young Miss and the young lord are on their way back to the mansion."
"Already? Why?"
"I heard that Miss insisted on returning to the mansion."
"What? Just for that reason?"
The Duke of Winfred, Belzer Winfred, has three children - two sons and one daughter.
The younger son, Ian Winfred, was the sole heir and was referred to as the young lord in this mansion.
And then there was ...
"That crazy woman..."
Luna Winfred, the elder and only daughter, and the sister of Kyle.
She was the one who led the ostracization of Kyle within the mansion.
And she was also a potential heroine candidate in the story.
"So, when will they arrive at the mansion?"
They're not expected to arrive until the next day, before sunset."
The sudden news left me dizzy. The butler glanced at me, perhaps fearing that Kyle, who disliked Luna, might cause trouble.
“………”
The future had become twisted.
Has my reckless actions somehow altered the course of events?
But what connection could there be between my annulled engagement and their early return?
An eerie silence fell.
The butler, standing anxiously by the door, was about to reach the limit of his patience—
"Alright, you can leave now."
—when I finally dismissed him. The butler quickly bowed and stepped out.
Left alone in the empty room, I muttered under my breath.
"Damn it."
Nothing seems to be going smoothly.
* * * * *
Winfred's direct descendants were returning to the mansion, and the news kept the mansion bustling from early morning. Countless servants gathered to prepare the mansion, while the kitchen worked tirelessly to prepare meals for them.
Regardless, I quickly finished my meal and headed straight for the training grounds.
Passing through the cobblestone path leading to the training grounds, I spotted Diana alone, swinging a practice sword.
I carefully approached her. She was so engrossed in her training that she didn't even notice me coming.
Swish!
The sound of the sword cutting through the air echoed in my ears. Finding a spot to sit, I observed her training quietly.
"Hmm."
The techniques were painfully obvious - a predictable trajectory, centered on a single target, with an unstable center of gravity.
It was mediocre.
While her strength in wielding the sword was passable, there were many areas where she lacked.
The main problem was her awkward stance: stiff shoulders, unbalanced weight distribution, and a gap between her open toes.
Diana's swordsmanship, not yet developed, was quite lacking. But that was okay. Once she had the talent, improving her skills wouldn't be too difficult.
I casually pointed out to her, "How about straightening your shoulders?"
DDiana's stiff shoulders twitched slightly. She stopped swinging her sword and turned her head, "When did you arrive?"
"Just now."
"Just now, and you're already..."
I nodded slowly. It might hurt her pride for me, someone who doesn't know much about swordsmanship, to critique her stance.
Yet, Diana carefully asked, "Have you learned swordsmanship?"
"A bit, yes."
Before the regression, my swordsmanship was among the best in the Empire. Even though everything had been reset now, the insights and experiences I had accumulated didn't just disappear.
"Do you want to continue?"
"Continue what?"
"Training."
"Sure."
Diana nodded and raised her sword again. Her torso snapped forward in a lightning-fast strike, cutting the air vertically. Blinking once, she evened out her breathing.
"Move your right heel backward."
The tip of the sword lowered.
"Shift your weight forward."
Her stiff shoulders straightened, and her rapid sword strikes cut through the air cheerfully.
"Straighten your wrist."
The monotonous trajectory became irregular.
Swish —she swung.
Swish—and swung again, and again.
I pointed out Diana's flaws as I saw them. Indeed, talent wasn't just about form; correcting her posture one by one, I could see her skills improving rapidly.
"Ah...!"
flush spread across Diana's face. She must have felt her skills improving drastically as well.
As we continued with the training, a voice suddenly interrupted us.
"My, my."
A captivating voice caressed my ears. Somewhere, a familiar voice furrowed my brows involuntarily.
Slowly turning my head, I saw a woman standing there, the sun at her back, slowly approaching.
Her jet-black hair swayed in the wind, and ominous glints sparkled in her azure eyes.
"Kyle."
Her chilling gaze sent a chill down my spine.
Gradually, a deep smile curved her lips, "What are you doing, not greeting your sister?"
Ah, damn it.
"Not even saying hello."
The sole stepsister of Kyle Winfred.
It was Luna Winfred.
Arthas April 08, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
As Diana and I returned to the mansion, the sunset was already setting.
My whole body was aching from walking around the streets all day, starting with the inauguration ceremony.
"Hahh..."
Gazing upon the gates of Winfred, I couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Although I had somehow managed to hand over the ring to the auction and bring Diana back to the duchy, the feeling of unease still did not go away.
【Scenario Progress: 10%]】
Erika, who was running away as if being chased by something.
And the progress rate that always drew a rising curve.
The conclusion drawn from this was clear.
'They must have heard about the ring.'
I watched the progress rate indifferently. From 5% to 10%, it is no exaggeration to say that it is the steepest increase I have ever seen.
What could this possibly signify?
How will the progress rate hold me back in the future?
No, was the progress rate even a problem worth worrying about in the first place?
The answer didn't take long.
'Let's not worry about it.'
After all, if I broke off my engagement with Isabel, that would be the end of it.
The fact that my relationship with her was broken and the progress rate was going up was not an important issue right now.
I mentally erased Isabelle from my thoughts, turning to Diana waiting behind me and said, "Follow me."
"Understood."
Diana followed me, maintaining a consistent distance.
Diana's face, which I glanced back at, was expressionless.
The shoddy armor she had worn earlier had vanished, replaced by a sharp, well-fitted set that gleamed in the light.
Before I knew it, we arrived at the entrance of the mansion.
In front of the entrance, the butler and servants who were waiting for me were guarding the place.
The butler glanced at Diana and asked, "And who might this be?"
"She is my personal knight who will be guarding me from now on."
"Then, by any chance, the knight who was knighted this time...?"
"Yes, that's right."
A lady knight… what is this..."
Hearing the full story, the butler's face soured at the realization. I clicked my tongue lightly in annoyance, "How long are you going to keep me standing here? My legs are starting to get numb."
Cowed by my icy remark, the butler quickly bowed his head.
"I'll have a suitable room prepared, along with warm bath water and a meal. Right away, young master.”
“I expect it to be done promptly.”
He hesitated for a long time before reluctantly opening the front door.
I looked back at Diana indifferently, "Diana, follow the butler."
"Understood."
I left Diana in the butler's care and went straight up to my room.
After washing my body lightly and eating a meal, I threw myself on the bed.
"Phew."
After a light wash and a meal, I threw myself onto the bed.
My eyes were drooping and I felt languid due to the accumulated fatigue; staring blankly at the ceiling, I found myself lost in thought.
Now, the only thing left was to annul the engagement.
I will receive the proceeds from the sale of the ring, officially annul the engagement with Isabel, and leave the mansion without any regrets.
After all, my goal is not to progress the scenario, but to acquire Sacred Artifact.
"I suppose I should start considering my growth path as well."
This world was a game world, where swords and magic existed, gods were real, and unknown dangers lurked.
Ordinarily, I would have continued pursuing the scenario while ensuring my own growth. However, now that I've completely abandoned the system, it's all about survival of the fittest. I can't leave everything to Diana; I shouldn't neglect my own growth either.
The quickest way to bolster my strength was to find hidden pieces and monopolize the artifacts, such as those stored in the underground vault of the duchy.
"Should I just empty the underground vault?"
It wouldn't be too difficult. The artifacts stored there were currently not properly utilized, meaning their true value was significantly underestimated.
The plan was simple - propose a deal to the duke, offer a reasonable price, and then acquire the artifacts at a bargain.
Knock! knock!
"Young Master, are you there?"
Right on cue, the butler came knocking on the door.
"What is it now?"
Lying on the bed, I slightly lifted my head to observe the butler entering the room cautiously.
"Young Miss and the young lord are on their way back to the mansion."
"Already? Why?"
"I heard that Miss insisted on returning to the mansion."
"What? Just for that reason?"
The Duke of Winfred, Belzer Winfred, has three children - two sons and one daughter.
The younger son, Ian Winfred, was the sole heir and was referred to as the young lord in this mansion.
And then there was ...
"That crazy woman..."
Luna Winfred, the elder and only daughter, and the sister of Kyle.
She was the one who led the ostracization of Kyle within the mansion.
And she was also a potential heroine candidate in the story.
"So, when will they arrive at the mansion?"
They're not expected to arrive until the next day, before sunset."
The sudden news left me dizzy. The butler glanced at me, perhaps fearing that Kyle, who disliked Luna, might cause trouble.
“………”
The future had become twisted.
Has my reckless actions somehow altered the course of events?
But what connection could there be between my annulled engagement and their early return?
An eerie silence fell.
The butler, standing anxiously by the door, was about to reach the limit of his patience—
"Alright, you can leave now."
—when I finally dismissed him. The butler quickly bowed and stepped out.
Left alone in the empty room, I muttered under my breath.
"Damn it."
Nothing seems to be going smoothly.
* * * * *
Winfred's direct descendants were returning to the mansion, and the news kept the mansion bustling from early morning. Countless servants gathered to prepare the mansion, while the kitchen worked tirelessly to prepare meals for them.
Regardless, I quickly finished my meal and headed straight for the training grounds.
Passing through the cobblestone path leading to the training grounds, I spotted Diana alone, swinging a practice sword.
I carefully approached her. She was so engrossed in her training that she didn't even notice me coming.
Swish!
The sound of the sword cutting through the air echoed in my ears. Finding a spot to sit, I observed her training quietly.
"Hmm."
The techniques were painfully obvious - a predictable trajectory, centered on a single target, with an unstable center of gravity.
It was mediocre.
While her strength in wielding the sword was passable, there were many areas where she lacked.
The main problem was her awkward stance: stiff shoulders, unbalanced weight distribution, and a gap between her open toes.
Diana's swordsmanship, not yet developed, was quite lacking. But that was okay. Once she had the talent, improving her skills wouldn't be too difficult.
I casually pointed out to her, "How about straightening your shoulders?"
DDiana's stiff shoulders twitched slightly. She stopped swinging her sword and turned her head, "When did you arrive?"
"Just now."
"Just now, and you're already..."
I nodded slowly. It might hurt her pride for me, someone who doesn't know much about swordsmanship, to critique her stance.
Yet, Diana carefully asked, "Have you learned swordsmanship?"
"A bit, yes."
Before the regression, my swordsmanship was among the best in the Empire. Even though everything had been reset now, the insights and experiences I had accumulated didn't just disappear.
"Do you want to continue?"
"Continue what?"
"Training."
"Sure."
Diana nodded and raised her sword again. Her torso snapped forward in a lightning-fast strike, cutting the air vertically. Blinking once, she evened out her breathing.
"Move your right heel backward."
The tip of the sword lowered.
"Shift your weight forward."
Her stiff shoulders straightened, and her rapid sword strikes cut through the air cheerfully.
"Straighten your wrist."
The monotonous trajectory became irregular.
Swish —she swung.
Swish—and swung again, and again.
I pointed out Diana's flaws as I saw them. Indeed, talent wasn't just about form; correcting her posture one by one, I could see her skills improving rapidly.
"Ah...!"
flush spread across Diana's face. She must have felt her skills improving drastically as well.
As we continued with the training, a voice suddenly interrupted us.
"My, my."
A captivating voice caressed my ears. Somewhere, a familiar voice furrowed my brows involuntarily.
Slowly turning my head, I saw a woman standing there, the sun at her back, slowly approaching.
Her jet-black hair swayed in the wind, and ominous glints sparkled in her azure eyes.
"Kyle."
Her chilling gaze sent a chill down my spine.
Gradually, a deep smile curved her lips, "What are you doing, not greeting your sister?"
Ah, damn it.
"Not even saying hello."
The sole stepsister of Kyle Winfred.
It was Luna Winfred.
