Chapter 3: First Journey

I ran, sword in hand.

Duoto’s sword sliced through the air in dozens of paths.
A sword dance—sharp, oppressive—designed to erase escape routes and dominate the space.

It had been several months since I sought refuge in this castle manor, and now, I could finally see it.
I swung my sword swiftly, deflecting Duoto’s blows one by one.

Of course, that alone wasn’t enough.
I barely dodged the relentless thrusts by throwing myself to the ground and rolling.
There was no time to rest.

I scrambled back up to face the whirlwind of steel once more.

“I told you, it’s not good to only focus on the blade.”

At the end of the sword dance—
A kick.

His foot landed squarely in my stomach, and I was sent flying.
I hit the ground, rolled over and over. Must’ve been over twenty times.

Mid-roll, I stabbed my sword into the ground to stop myself and sprang up.

“Huh, what?”

There was no follow-up attack.
Duoto was already sheathing his sword from afar.

Normally, he’d leap—no, fly at me, blade already descending.

“I’ve told you many times—sight is only one of the five senses. Use all your senses to grasp the movement of things. You should have realized long ago I wasn’t moving.”

“Ugh…”

I grit my teeth.

He wasn’t wrong. I accepted his words quietly.
Violent as he might be, Duoto was still far better than the instructors at the facility.
No… far better than just “several times.”
That guy wasn’t even a proper teacher to begin with—

“Amazing. I couldn’t even see it properly with my own eyes.”

“It’s still far from enough, my lady. This damn brat doesn’t even know her master is standing right behind her.”

“Ah—my lady?!”

I turned my head.
Therese stood behind me, radiant and refined.

The young noble lady, fully adorned, looked like a blooming flower.

“Hello, Cornelia. You’re working hard early in the morning.”

“Ah, good morning, my lady. It’s a fine morning.”

Her golden hair shone like marigolds that would never yield to frost.
Her glass-like eyes mirrored the pupils of whoever looked into them, always brimming with confidence.
The delicate bridge of her nose, her elegant jawline—even though she hadn’t yet shed all her baby fat, her beauty was unmistakable.

A flower bud destined to topple nations.

Even I, a mere servant, felt proud.

She introduced herself as a coward when we first met… And yet she resembles the sun.

If it means serving her, I can keep going.

“Yes, good morning. Stop your morning training, wash up, and get ready to go out.”

“Pardon?”

Duoto gave a nod with his chin.

I obeyed without resistance.
I stood, bowed, and left the training ground.

It might sound odd, but there was one thing I didn’t mind about living as a test subject at the facility.

At least I could wash once a day.

Not a bath—just a shower.
But it was something.
I liked that.

I don’t remember well, but before the facility—after dying in my previous life, in between that time—I was lucky to wash once a month.

Was it a river? Rain? Both? I don’t know anymore.

“I have been waiting.”

“Eek!”

“It’s rude to make such a sound when you see a person.”

Before I could even see inside the room, I heard the voice.
Golden hair.
Braided bun.
Neat maid uniform.

Gloria.

The current housekeeper of the Jurdenkilaina family—head maid.

She looked young for the role.
That was because she wasn’t human.

She was an elf.

But why is she here?
I have a bad feeling about this.

“Ah, hello.”

I greeted her quickly and shuffled sideways like a crab.
Scanning the room, I lunged for the work clothes I had prepared.

“W-well, the young lady has called for me, so I’ll go wash up—!”

Jingle.

Her keyring chimed, and my wrist was caught mere millimeters from the fabric.

Even though I had gotten better at following Duoto’s sword, I still couldn’t track Gloria’s movements.

With a soft smile, she said,
“You don’t have to be in such a hurry. I’ll go with you.”

“Eek.”

“I told you not to make strange noises.”

She picked up my clothes first, examining each item one by one.

Panties.
Camisole.
Drawers.
A black one-piece dress.
Apron.
Headdress.

No bra, of course—nothing had grown yet.

……I’ve gotten used to women’s clothing.

I always tried to take the bracelet off when I slept or washed, but it wasn’t easy.

Damn it.

“What is Cornelia?”

“Pardon?”

Gloria never repeated herself.
Just smiled.
That smile carried pressure.

I thought carefully before replying.

“The young lady’s guard, perhaps? A lady’s maid?”

It seemed she was asking about my role.
But I couldn’t confidently say I was a maid.

“Wrong. The emphasis would be on ‘guard,’ right? So you should only perform maid duties inside the mansion. No need to wear these clothes outside. Of course, if you insist that familiar clothes are more comfortable, I’ll raise you as a knight in a maid’s uniform. Good chance to change your training policy early on.”

“Ah, no. I’ll pass.”

“Still, I wonder if it’s necessary to teach you how to fight in a maid’s uniform… Anyway.”

She handed me a new set of clothes.
A stylish black outfit—fancy, even.

Black suit with wide sleeves, flared coat, corset, skirt, leggings.
Cute shoes.

“Wouldn’t pants be easier to move around in than a skirt?”

“It’s fine today. It’s just for show.”

“Ugh…”

“You should be a fitting background for the young lady—washed clean and dressed up nicely.”

“A background, you say…”

“Of course. You probably haven’t noticed because you’re compared to the young lady who is like the sun, but our Cornelia is quite cute if you look at her features one by one. You’re perfect as a background.”

“Ugh…”

Pitch-black hair. Brown eyes.

That’s what they used to be.

My hair had turned white from the drugs and injections at the facility.
My skin pale. My features sickly.

A vampire. I probably look like a vampire.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Even if the compliment felt empty, it was worth expressing thanks.
Gloria then shoved me into the bathroom.

As promised, she joined me in the bath to “teach me how to wash.”

…Gloria was amazing.

Her chest was flat, as expected of an elf, but her silhouette was breathtaking.
So beautiful it felt unfair.

Of course, I got scolded for staring.

She even asked if I’d look at the young lady with those eyes too.
Troublesome.

We left the castle manor in a carriage.

My first outing in months.

Duoto came with us.
That alone was reassuring.

“You look like a crow,” Therese suddenly said.

Is that a compliment?
It must be a compliment.

I smiled meekly.
Even if the corset strangled me, I had to smile.

“Thank you, my lady.”

“As expected, it’s well prepared.”

Therese opened a space in the air.
Spatial magic.

Looks like an RPG’s inventory window from my past life.

She pulled out a pure white bird-beak mask.

“Wear this for the rest of the day until we return.”

“Yes, my lady.”

I obediently wore it.
It gave off an ominous aura.

The carriage slowed to a halt.
We had left the citadel, but were still within the castle walls.

The lower town.

Duoto got off the carriage first.
I was a beat too late.

“Learn well by watching Duoto today.”

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

“It’s alright. Everyone is clumsy at first.”

Truly… she’s an angel.

Even if I was leashed by magic, compared to the people at the facility—
Compared to demons like Duoto and Gloria—
She was an angel descended from heaven.

Leash or not… maybe I can just live like this.
I hope this isn’t brainwashing…

“I will report everything that happens today to Gloria.”

“…Ugh.”

“What are you doing. Get out.”

“I can’t get out if you don’t move.”

“I am a knight. And according to my chivalry, I respect and protect women and the weak. So, get out. As long as we’re outside the castle, I will escort you as much as you like.”

“Seriously?”

I had to learn eventually.
I got out of the carriage.

Duoto really did escort me.

This is crazy.

We arrived in front of a building.

A station.

I knew from reading that stations in this world were different from my old one.

A teleportation circle.
Not trains.

Trains and railways were just starting to spread from the capital, but for now, teleportation was still more common.

“We must be going far.”

“Ah. I haven’t told you the destination yet, have I?”

“Where are we going?”

“Outside the empire. I need to meet the beastmen.”

Beastmen…?

I visualized a map in my mind.
Centaurs. Half-human beasts. Animal ears.

Dozens of tribes in the west.
Constant warfare.
No unity.

In short—
A danger zone.

Far, yes. But not a problem.
The teleportation circle could take us instantly.

Expensive, but that didn’t matter to a noble family.

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

“It is dangerous. But it should be fine today.”

“But… why…?”

“I’ll tell you when we get there.”

There was nothing more to say.

I just had to follow.