“Aria. Your new assignment has been decided.”
“…………”
Elena had returned to the Royal Capital, and the “job” I was brought along with Viro should have been over, but for some reason, when I was summoned by the Head Butler, a new job had been decided for me.
【Head Butler】【Race: Human Male】
【Mana Capacity: 185/190】【HP: 332/350】
【Overall Combat Strength: 1216 (Body Enhancement in progress: 1550)】
Just as I had initially thought, he was terrifyingly strong. Perhaps he had high scouting skills, because he narrowed his eyes slightly when he noticed I had used 【Appraisal】 on him.
“We have received word from Princess (Your Highness) to allow you to be free. However, we cannot simply let you go after you have learned about us. Therefore, like Viro, you will become a ‘collaborator’ as an adventurer.”
“……Understood.”
I was slightly dissatisfied with the decision being made without my consent. But if I refused, this man would not let me go, even if it meant being punished by the Princess (Your Highness).
However, if I thought of it as gaining connections and customers while remaining a free adventurer, it wasn’t so bad. The problem was… it would probably involve more nobles.
Even so, I chose to confront the nobles rather than run away from them.
That’s why I couldn’t afford to be picky in order to gain the strength to stand alone.
“What is the ‘request’ for me?”
“Your ‘mission’ is to infiltrate a certain noble family as a maid and resolve the current problem. The period is about one month. It is not a high-priority mission. This is a mission for me to determine whether you are as trustworthy as Sera says, and even if you fail, it’s just the death of one noble daughter, so it’s not a big problem for the country.”
“…………”
So it’s okay if one noble lady dies…
“Understood… Boss?”
“I am not the boss of the organization. If you are trustworthy, you may have the opportunity to meet them. You can call me Grave.”
“Understood, Grave-san. So, where is it?”
I wasn’t particularly interested in joining the organization, but talking to Grave was better than talking to Sera because he wasn’t fussy about my language. However, the pressure was too strong, and it was exhausting.
I didn’t intend to delve deeply into the noble’s problem, but I wouldn’t slack off if it was a job. And when I heard the location, I became a little more motivated for this request.
The Seyles Barony, near the border north of here. It was where that woman’s magic teacher was located.
The problem occurring in the Seyles Barony was the “Weirdo” that had begun appearing in the town where the Baron (he) lived about half a year ago.
Even though they called him a Weirdo, it didn’t seem to be a monster. It was probably a “person,” but the Weirdo seemed to be infatuated with the Baron’s daughter, and he would come to her room every night to see her.
I thought they could just deploy soldiers or something to catch him, but for some reason, the soldiers couldn’t catch sight of him, and in the morning, bloody handprints would be left in the young lady’s room.
The handprints gradually got closer to the young lady, and even changing rooms or placing several maids in the same room had no effect. The young lady was very frightened.
…Was he really human?
The Baron (he) was afraid of strange rumors spreading about his daughter before her marriage, so he couldn’t ask ordinary knights or adventurers for help. The Baron (he), at his wit’s end, secretly asked his patron, the Margrave of Dandole (he), for help, and it was passed around until it was pushed onto me.
The content of the request was to “resolve the problem,” but it seemed they thought it couldn’t be helped if it wasn’t resolved. In the first place, the work of Sera’s and Grave’s organization was different from their jurisdiction, but I hadn’t even been told what their organization was yet.
With Elena returning to the Royal Capital, the servants and collaborators gathered here were beginning preparations for withdrawal.
However, I was to leave immediately without helping with the withdrawal.
It didn’t take much time for me to prepare. Originally, I only had enough luggage to fit in one backpack, and I didn’t leave any luggage in the room other than the change of clothes I was provided with.
I went to the temporary base in the forest and packed the money and dried poisonous and medicinal herbs that were hidden there into a bag, while grasping my abilities before departure.
【Aria (Alicia)】【Race: Human Female】【Rank 2】
【Mana Capacity: 130/135】20Up【HP: 67/80】16Up
【Strength: 5 (6)】1Up【Endurance: 6 (7.2)】1Up【Agility: 7 (8.4)】【Dexterity: 7】1Up
【Dagger Arts Lv.1】【Martial Arts Lv.2】1Up【Throwing Lv.1】【Thread Manipulation Lv.1】New
【Light Magic Lv.1】【Dark Magic Lv.2】1Up【Non-Attribute Magic Lv.2】1Up
【Utility Magic x6】【Mana Control Lv.2】【Intimidation Lv.2】
【Stealth Lv.1】【Night Vision Lv.1】【Detection Lv.1】【Poison Resistance Lv.1】New
【Simple Appraisal】
【Overall Combat Strength: 98 (Body Enhancement in progress: 111)】37Up
My overall combat strength had increased considerably.
My Mana Capacity had increased, and I had gained several new skills, but my combat strength had increased because of the increase in my Status. In particular, 【Dexterity】 directly affected combat skills, so even a 1 point increase in this would make a considerable difference in combat strength.
Was it because 【Martial Arts】 had reached level 2 that my Status had increased? Even though I was growing with magic, I never thought that my close combat skills would reach level 2 before I turned 10 years old.
The fact that even 【Dark Magic】 had reached level 2 was probably because the 【Phantom Pain】 I used at that time was equivalent to level 2, rather than the result of continuing to construct magic.
The new skills I learned were 【Thread Manipulation】 and 【Poison Resistance】.
I had been training 【Poison Resistance】 for a while, but the direct cause of it bearing fruit was probably because I had directly received the Female Thief’s poison.
【Thread Manipulation】 was probably due to the Pendulum. It felt like I had learned it easily with just that, but when I thought about it, I had been manipulating the string weight with magic for several months, so it felt more like “finally” than “easily.”
There was nothing in particular to do before departure. If I continued to do this job, I would probably meet Viro again anyway. I also wanted to steal his movements as an adventurer, but I had been taught the bare minimum, so I would manage on my own.
I should have the opportunity to meet Sera as well. But Theo seemed to have something he wanted to say when he heard that I was leaving first.
“Aria, I’m going to the Royal Capital when I turn 13. Then I’ll come to pick you up. There’s something I want to tell you!”
“Is it something you can’t say now?”
“Yeah, I’ll say it when I’m taller than Aria as a man!”
With that, Theo ran away with a bright red face.
I wonder what it is? Is there something at 13 years old? Now that I think about it, when I was in that Orphanage, the orphans who were being sold cried because they didn’t want to be separated from their close friends, so maybe that’s something that happens with children.
I quickly packed my luggage and left the mansion where I had spent a month.
The problem was probably the clothes. The old clothes I was wearing had been ruined in the Hobgoblin battle, so I didn’t have any casual clothes.
When I reluctantly tried to borrow Theo’s clothes, Sera allowed me to take one maid outfit with me.
There was no guarantee that there would be work clothes that fit me over there, and if I took off the apron dress and replaced the blouse inside with a cheap one, it wouldn’t look like everyday clothes.
It would be easier to travel in men’s clothes, but my body had grown again and I looked like a “ten-year-old girl” rather than a “small ten-year-old,” and in the process, my hair had grown unpleasantly long, now reaching my shoulders, so I wouldn’t look like a boy unless I cut my hair.
I wanted to cut my hair, but Sera persuaded me that it would be more convenient to grow it out to disguise myself as a maid, and for some reason, Theo forbade me from cutting it, so I decided to leave it as it was.
I put on a black ankle-length dress over a natural-colored blouse and wore laced-up short boots on my feet.
All of my equipment was hidden inside my skirt and sleeves, so I shouldn’t look armed.
From here at the edge of Dandole to the Seyles Barony, it would take three weeks on foot or two weeks by carriage.
I was told to get there as soon as possible, but I was told that my arrival would be contacted three days before a month later, so there was no reason not to go on foot.
Well, for ordinary travelers, the only option would be a shared carriage with escorts, as this time they would be passing through forest roads that were not in any territory, so they would have to be wary of monsters, but it would cost five silver coins to ride to the Seyles Barony, and there would be a separate charge for compulsory accommodation at the affiliated inn, so I couldn’t afford to spend that much money.
I received 15 silver coins as a reward for this mission and 5 gold coins as a danger allowance, but the next mission would be unpaid until the job was completed, so I didn’t want to spend too much money.
My weapons are a Black Knife and a spare Knife. I have two thin Knives that were provided, a total of ten Throwing Knives, and two Pendulums with Blades attached to the ends of their strings. I’d like a few more Throwing Knives as spares, and one of the Pendulum’s Blades got bent out of shape in that fight, so I need to get it made at a blacksmith’s shop somewhere.
I also want some light armor to wear under my clothes and a special Knife holder to attach to my leg, but I don’t have time to get those made.
If I walk for half a day away from the lakeside castle, I’ll reach the capital of Dandole.
Normally, I’d stay there for a night, but I don’t plan on staying at an inn. I’ll just replenish a small amount of portable food and salt at a street stall in the city, and then leave.
“…”
I was finally able to see the fortress-like castle of Dandole up close.
It’s really big. If I were to invade it, where would be the best place to attack from…?
Come to think of it, what happened to the Dandole young lady who disappeared around the third day? Unlike Elena and me, who only have knowledge, she was an unnatural girl who acted like an adult.
In her eyes, there was a clear sense of caution towards Elena and me. Yet, she didn’t seem frightened, which irritated Elena, and the maids who had been troubled by the strange atmosphere since she disappeared seemed relieved.
I should be wary of her. She might become Elena’s “enemy.”
As a Rank 1 Adventurer, I have to pay one Silver Coin when entering the city, and I’ll be checked when leaving.
But for now, I have a letter of introduction to Baron Seyres from the senior butler, so I’ll be treated like a quasi-noble and the toll will be free.
However, I shouldn’t rely on things like this too much in the future. If it becomes known that I’m close to the nobility, it could attract unnecessary trouble, and besides, I can’t completely trust that organization, not to mention Sera and Theo.
Someday… I might have to fight that senior butler. Until then, I’ll become stronger, even if just a little.
Even though it was evening after I finished shopping, the soldier at the north gate tried to stop a “child” from leaving the city, but when I showed him my Adventurer’s Guild tag, he gave up and let me through.
I don’t like crowded places very much.
Even though I tried to make it look like casual clothes, this maid outfit is made of good fabric and doesn’t look very common, so it caught the attention of the people in the city.
Some of them were probably genuinely worried about a child, but there are also adults who would exploit children, so I shouldn’t let my guard down in any situation.
Near the gate, I passed some travelers and carriages, but after walking for about an hour, it became completely dark and I didn’t see anyone anymore. Instead, I heard faint animal cries.
After walking for another hour, it was completely night, and I finally erased my presence and started running as if blending into the night.
Perhaps because my body has grown, I feel like I’m running faster than before.
My stamina has also increased, so I can probably run at a light jog for several hours, but I remembered that this isn’t a hurried journey, so I decided to just run lightly enough not to sweat.
It’s easier to move only at night as usual, but moving only at night on an unfamiliar road could lead to getting lost.
“…Haa.”
Even though I intended to run lightly, I still sweated a little.
I wet a cloth with 【Water】 and wiped the sweat off my body. I don’t want to sweat too much since I don’t have many changes of clothes. Thinking about it, I want 【Purify (Clean)】 soon. Elena could use Level 2 Light Magic, so I should be able to learn it too.
I climbed a tree in the Forest and made a bed for tonight on a thick branch.
Perhaps because I’ve been eating good food lately, I felt a slight heaviness around my waist. It’s not enough to worry about, but I feel like I’ve developed a slightly softer area, so I decided to have only black bread and water tonight and went to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up just before sunrise.
I smelled my body just in case, but decided that I didn’t need to change yet, and just wiped my body with a wet cloth again.
Beyond this point, it’s not the Dandole March, just a Forest. Knights and soldiers patrol up to this point, but until I enter the next noble’s territory, it’s basically lawless.
I started moving before dawn and traveled along the main road.
I could run through the Forest, but it would be troublesome if my skirt came undone. Besides, it’s a place where Monsters might appear. Goblins are no problem, but it’s safer to deal with unknown Monsters in a wide open space.
“…Something’s there.”
Some time after the sun rose, I saw something fighting ahead. But that’s not what I noticed.
As I stopped in the middle of the main road, three dirty men with swords drawn appeared from the Forest, as if they were impatient.
“Hey, you there, woman–”
Hyuun!
The Throwing Knife I had hidden in my sleeves pierced the man’s throat, and he scattered his life easily and collapsed before he could finish his sentence.
…Two more left.
He died easily without even speaking…
Aria thinks she is still weak, but the people around her were just monsters, and she already has the ability of an adventurer that cannot be called a beginner.
So next time, I would like to show Aria’s ability from the perspective of an ordinary young adventurer, and how she deals with malicious people, which I have skipped so far.
Next time, human desires.
Next update is scheduled for Thursday.