[Hey! Hoooow does it feel to have all your strength back?] Eri asked smugly, a teasing grin on her face.
"La..." Reich groaned, flexing his arms. "I couldn't even overpower a knight with this kind of strength, and you expect to defeat the supre protag of this ga? That's a joke."
[Now, now, don't whine about it. Of course, it'll take ti to improve—that's a skill issue on your part.] Eri's tone was both condescending and playful. [It's not like you've ever used a sword properly before.]
Reich raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "You're surprisingly making sense for once."
His astonishnt only fueled Eri's indignation. [Hey! What's with that expression? Do you really think I'm dumb or sothing? I'm way smarter than you—and everyone else for that matter!]
"Oh, really? Is intelligence in the room with us right now?" Reich shot back with mock seriousness.
[Shut up!] Eri pouted, crossing her arms in frustration.
Reich chuckled at her reaction, then glanced at his wrist as if checking for a notification. "Anyway, shouldn't I be receiving a new quest by now?"
[Of course, but I don't control that. You'll get a new quest when the system decides to give you one. It could happen instantly, tomorrow, or even a month from now. Nobody knows. You just have to wait.]
"I see," Reich nodded lightly. "Well, thanks for explaining."
[Hmph, you're suddenly being polite? It's about ti you recognized my value,] Eri said, smug once more.
Reich ignored her comnt and glanced out the window. The sun hung low in the sky. "Let's head back. It's already afternoon."
He placed the training sword back on the rack, wiped the sweat off his brow, and began walking toward the castle.
As he strolled through the courtyard, his thoughts wandered. Damn, I make them so uneasy. Their hands tremble whenever I walk past. Let's just head straight to my room. I don't want to ss up their day any more than I already have.
He avoided making eye contact with the castle staff, their discomfort almost palpable. He quickened his pace, eager to escape the tension.
---
Thud!
A sudden collision jolted him from his thoughts.
An elderly maid, carrying a steaming pot of chicken broth, had accidentally run into him. Her poor eyesight and frantic pace had caused her to misstep, sending the pot tumbling.
Splash!
The hot broth splattered onto Reich's expensive clothes. Though most of it missed his skin, a few scalding drops landed on his arm, causing him to hiss in pain.
"Ah!" Reich flinched, rubbing his arm to ease the burning sensation.
"Ma-Master!" the old maid stamred, her eyes wide with terror as she realized whom she had collided with. She dropped to her knees, trembling.
"Master, I'm so sorry! Please forgive ! I'm a fool—an absolute fool! I shouldn't have done that. Please, punish , but spare my family! I beg you, Master!"
Her voice cracked as she clung to his feet, her desperation evident. Despite the severe burns on her arms from the spilled broth, she paid no attention to her injuries, too focused on pleading for her family's safety.
"Please, Master! Spare them! I have little ones at ho—they don't deserve to suffer for my mistake!" She sobbed uncontrollably, her tears mixing with the broth staining the floor.
Reich froze, startled by her reaction. He instinctively took a step back, unsure how to respond.
Around them, the castle workers pretended not to notice the scene unfolding. They averted their gazes, their hands trembling as they continued their tasks, unwilling to risk punishnt themselves.
"She's as good as dead," one of the workers murmured under their breath, their voice filled with resigned pity.
The maid's cries echoed through the hall, unanswered by anyone. The guards stood rigid, their faces impassive, while the rest of the staff carried on as if nothing had happened.
"Hey..." Reich finally spoke, his tone softer than usual. "Why are you begging like this? It was just an accident, and I'm not even hurt."
The old maid blinked up at him, her tear-streaked face etched with disbelief. For a mont, it was as though she hadn't comprehended his words, her trembling hands still clutching the hem of his trousers.
Reich glanced around uneasily. The hallway stretched long and cold, its polished marble floors gleaming under the faint sunlight filtering through tall, narrow windows. The air felt heavy with unspoken tension, an oppressive silence hanging in the space as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.
His gaze flitted to the other workers. None of them dared to et his eyes. The maids scrubbed the floors with unnatural focus, and a butler near the end of the hall adjusted a vase repeatedly, as though his life depended on it. Even the guards stationed by the doors remained eerily still, their eyes fixed straight ahead.
'This is how they see ,' Reich thought, his chest tightening, 'Not as a person, but as a monster. Soone who could ruin their lives with a single word.'
The old maid's pleas broke through his thoughts, her voice hoarse and choked with emotion. "Please, Master! I know I deserve punishnt, but my children—they're innocent! I'll take any punishnt, just don't hurt them! Please..."
Her grip on his legs weakened as her hands began to shake uncontrollably, the adrenaline fading and the pain from her burns catching up to her. Yet, she didn't let go, her desperation stronger than her physical agony.
Reich clenched his fists, frustration bubbling within him.
'These guys seriously. This isn't who I am... not anymore.'
But he knew it wasn't that simple. The Reich they feared was the one he used to be—a tyrant who ruled with cruelty, punishing entire families for even the smallest mistakes. His past lood over him like a shadow, suffocating and unrelenting.
"Hey..." His voice was firr this ti, cutting through her cries. "Look at ."
The maid hesitated before lifting her tearful eyes to et his. Her fear was evident, and it twisted sothing deep inside him.
"You're hurt," he said, crouching down to her level. His tone softened, almost gentle. "We need to get those burns treated."
Her mouth opened, but no words ca out. The sight of him lowering himself to her level left her frozen in shock.
Reich glanced over his shoulder at the other workers, his sharp gaze causing them to flinch. "What are you all standing around for? Soone bring the healer!"
The urgency in his voice snapped them into action. One of the maids scurried off down the hall, her footsteps echoing loudly. The others exchanged wary glances but dared not question his command.
As he turned back to the old maid, he saw the disbelief in her eyes had only deepened.
"I'm not going to punish you," he said firmly. "It was an accident. These things happen. And as for your family..."
"They're safe. I swear it."
Her lips trembled, a fresh wave of tears spilling down her cheeks. This ti, they weren't tears of fear, but of overwhelming relief. "Thank you... Thank you, Master..." she whispered, her voice breaking.
******
Holy shit.... 9 months.... That's long ass break.
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