Chapter 16

Chapter 16[CW: Suicide]

[You have 140 days left to live according to the trait ‘Limited Time’].

“Someone’s gonna get screwed, time sure does fly.”

With a small sigh, I stare blankly at the status window.

After another couple days of hard work, I’ve somehow managed to get my physique stat up to 4.5. [1]

One.

As expected, my growth is stalling.

Even with all of the cheating penalties removed, Inner Lunatic is notoriously difficult to progress in.

In fact, I’d say I’m progressing pretty quickly considering the penalties.

If I’m not satisfied with that, it’s probably because my gamer instincts and thirst are kicking in.

...or maybe I’m just terrified that my life is dwindling.

Whatever it is, it doesn’t feel good.

If I could find a silver lining.

“At least my pure physique stat is at least on par with Rona’s.”

......That’s a good thing, right?

It’s almost time for me to enroll in Eldain Academy.

In about two months (I’m now 15 years old, which makes me an adult in this world).

If I don’t improve on my current level in that time, I’m going to struggle.

Anyway, Eldain is a place where monstrous cadets gather in droves.

You’ll need to survive it, get to the main story, and even kill the villain, Nox von Reinhaber.

Sadly, that’s the situation I’m in.

...Damn. This is not going to be easy, to say the least.

However, I suppose I have no choice but to do it.

For now, it’s either kill or be killed.

“At least I got what I had to get: two Hidden Pieces, because I had to get them.”

I had already gotten the two Hidden Pieces from the Reinhafer family. Tempo is the best way to play the game.

Then comes the skill talent, and then the class talent.

I’m the worst at talents, but I already have the rest of the above.

It shouldn’t be hard to find a way to survive.

After gathering myself, I finished my training for the day. Rona, waiting near the practice area, reflexively offers me a towel and water.

I casually accept them, then wipe my sweat off with the towel.

“Young master, it seems like your stamina has gradually increased, you’re the best, awesome...!”

“Even if you don’t say so, I won’t cut your salary, so be moderate.”

“Okay! Hehe.”

Rona is happy that she doesn’t have to fake it.

She’s very sincere.

Why not curse at me like before?

As I shake my head, I hear the click-clack of hooves behind me.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

Hee hee hee!

Before I know it, Carl, who had been watching my training, rushes over and grabs me in his arms.

Though undead, he looks no different than a normal foal. Unless, of course, he’s unleashing the power of death........

It’s peaceful these days, so there’s not much of a need for that.

To show any power as an undead would be to reveal my true strength to Theo and the other vassals.

For now, it’s a miraculous resurrection... a situation I’ve made them understand. It would be better to open up about it later, when I am strong enough.

I stroked Carl’s head and said.

“You’re growing quite a bit these days, Carl. At this rate, you’ll be big in no time.”

“Yeah, I’ve never seen a horse grow so fast!”

Rona exclaimed, trying to pull him into her arms, but he was adamant.

He has fidelity, just like his owner.

He watches her warily, ready to pounce on Rona at a moment’s notice.

Of course, Rona has a strange habit of secretly hugging him from behind.

There’s a reason he’s keeping her in check right now.

” Carl... can’t you please like me as much as I you do...?”

Rona seems to feel sorry for him.

She feeds him every day, but I’m the one who gets the love.

But it can’t be helped. It’s his nature.

[Single-mindedness]

Blind loyalty to one’s master.

That’s because it’s bestowed upon Carl.

As a result, no one else can touch him without my permission.

Such as the twins, who are currently spying on me from behind.

“Brother...... is there any way we can take that horse away from him?”

“I see an opportunity. Wait... the opportunity will always come...!”

Or maybe there’s no chance at all.

And, unfortunately, there’s no one to correct their thinking.

Their incompetence is already spread throughout the mansion.

It’s self-inflicted.

“By the way, in two months, you’ll be entering Eldain as well...! You’ll have to find a new maid and squire, and how... nervous are you?”

Rona said, changing the subject.

These were definitely things she would have to think about now.

Eldain Academy.

It was a rule that each noble who entered the academy would take a maid and a squire with them.

The reason being, the academy can’t manage them all.

But I, a rumored scoundrel of a family, am not expected to be assigned such high quality personnel.

I’m sure there will be some soon, but... nothing is set in stone yet.

I’m a little worried.

I don’t mind the delay, Squire, but I need a maid.

Rona, I can’t take her with me; she belongs to the family, not to me personally.

Perhaps Theo will give me a new maid.

I don’t know if she’ll be of any use, but she’ll probably not be a household name.

A nobleman’s honor is considered very important in the first place.

There’s a good chance I’ll be given a maid from a more prestigious family.

“Young master.”

The voice of Rodwell, who had been watching my training, snapped me out of my reverie. He stood tall as a giant tree with a girl at his side.

He looked like he belonged in a horror movie.

He’s bloody murderous, really.

“What’s happening?”

“She’s an apprentice maid who will be assisting Young Master Nox when you enter Elidane Academy. I’m here to introduce her to Master Nox, since she’ll be serving him from today.”

“Hello, Mr. Nox. I’m Zitri de Robilia, your new maid from today, and I’ve heard a lot about you, so I’m looking forward to serving you!”

As they say, the tigers come when I tell them to.

A green-haired, golden-eyed girl with a wistful smile greeted me.

I studied her for a moment. Basically a smiley face on a puppy dog.

It was a cute little face, but it was also a little false.

I felt an unmistakable sense of discomfort from her small face and the deep dark circles under her eyes.

Zitri... Zitri...

I may not be a demon, but I’m stuck in Nox’s body. Or perhaps I’m parasitizing on his body as a host.

In a lot of ways, it’s going to be X if I get caught...

Well, as long as it doesn’t catch me.

‘By the way, Zitri...... is certainly too good to throw away.

Zitri de Robilia.

As it turned out, I was actually quite familiar with the character.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an oxymoron.

Unlike Talia, who I’ve recently been involved with, Zitri is not a heroine in Inner Lunatic. She wasn’t even a major character that intervened in the main plot.

She was a character brought in to darken the mood of the piece, to blend in with the darkness of the world. That was Zitri.

But as I progressed through her side story, I realized that her value as a character went far beyond that.

House Robilia.

And that there was quite a bit more to Zitri’s narrative and backstory.

I took a moment to reflect.

“Jitri was supposed to be the next head of her family, House Robilia.

But... she lost her father and mother to her uncle and was abandoned by her family. She was stripped of her place as head of household... and eventually became a Reinhafer Maid, exiled from her home.

Though it was disguised as an accident, her entire family was killed by her uncle.

The truth was later revealed, and it destroyed her... and led to her taking on the persona of Zitri.

Ambivalent.

That’s the word that best describes Zitri.

Bright, cheerful, and smiling on the outside, but rotten and tattered on the inside. Zitri is a character on the verge of being worn down, worn out, and broken.

Ultimately, she was sold to the Rinehafers because she couldn’t protect her family.

I remember the end of Zitri.

Before the end of the first act, she dies.

She takes her own life.

I can’t be sure because the details aren’t fully resolved, even in the side story, but it’s probably guilt for not being able to protect her family, and the feeling of losing her family name.

Add to that the loss of her name, and you can only assume she was completely destroyed.

‘Anyway, the butterfly effect kicked in... and things started to spiral.

I thought as I flopped down on my bed.

In truth, Jitri was never meant to be Nox’s maid.

She was meant to be assigned to one of my two brothers.

But the future had changed.

For when I was admitted to Eldain, she was assigned to me.

So...... what am I supposed to do here?

I thought long and hard, but there was no easy answer.

Zitri’s death was unfortunate.

But if you ask me if it’s right to create variables with my own hands, I can only shake my head. It’s a waste of your own strengths.

My goal is to get into the main story. To be the villain.

To play Nox, to regain my memories, to survive.

Can I accomplish my goals while saving someone in such a situation?

In this hellishly difficult game called Inner Lunatic?

‘No. No.’

I was so sure of that, I could only close my eyes.

* * *

The next day.

Zitri was officially assigned to assist me along with Rona.

I thought she was going to be assigned to a different role, but she insisted that she wanted to take over her job first.

Well. More work for no gain.

For me, it was a good thing that Rona was more comfortable for now.

Except.

“Master, your doubles are a little off. There’s dust and stains on your shirt... and it doesn’t look like it’s been washed properly. Do you mind if I take a look?”

“How could you, I didn’t even see the stain!”

Rona is stunned.

Could it be that [Throne Genius] is a genius trait after all?

Zitri did a better job than I thought.

Hmm... about 200 times as good as Rona?

At this rate, I don’t think I’ll feel a big vacuum without Rona....

“She’s almost 200 times better at her job than Rona.”

“Master!”

“Ugh.”

My true feelings jumped out of me. But I didn’t apologize.

Because it was true.

Rona was puffing up her cheeks, but I didn’t care.

Zitri. A pretty good piece of kit, huh?

I nodded in agreement.

And then I say nonchalantly.

“From today on, we’ll be hunting monsters in the forests of the estate. Naturally, I’ll need you to assist me.”

“What? Demon hunting in the forest...? I’m sick and need to take today off.......”

“I see.”

Zitri replied immediately.

Behind her, Rona lets out a small gasp of surprise.

The idea of asking a maid to join a demon hunt must be terrifying. It’s an outrageous request.

But there’s a good reason I’m doing this.

There’s something I need to find out.

‘Still... that’s a surprising response.

Zitri de Robilia, what a character.

She’s not without her fears. My hands are trembling at the prospect of hunting a demon.

It must be done.

Or so she thinks.

Because if she doesn’t, she’ll die.

I could tell that the mask she wore was thicker than she realized.

“‘Rona, I know you’ve used all your vacation days, all your annual leave. No sick days today.”

“What...? There’s no such thing as.......”

“Have you forgotten, I’m a screw-up, and if you don’t comply, I’m going to cut your salary, lightly at first... half?”

“......Should I grab my bow or my sword first?”

Rona shifted her stance hastily and gave me a look.

Anyway, let’s put thoughts of Zitri aside for now.

Right now, my priority is to increase my health.

[Ring of Black Brimstone].

I’m going to use my new item’s life stealing ability for the first time today.

Now I’m free!

Next Chapter

TN Notes:

[1] : Going to use Physique over health from now on

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