The second stage of training began. For the protagonist, this point in the game would've been the two-minute mark of the tutorial, time to choose a base class and unlock beginner skills. For Xian, it was time to eat dirt.
"The theme of this week's training is combat," Moris said, stern as ever, to Xian who was already lying on the floor.
"… Should've told me before you started." Xian groaned from where he was already sprawled on the stone floor. At least he didn't get whipped for not waking up in time.
"Preparedness is also a virtue a butler must possess. Especially one befitting Lady Carmillia," Moris chided while waiting for Xian to get up.
Xian thought back to the night after his conversation with Carmillia.
There had been tense moments, but he managed to pull through. Somehow, he'd passed. But even with regression, he wasn't ready to test how long his mind could remain sane if he ever failed.
He might break down and give up his goal of pursuing Carmillia's route if that happened. He had played the game and reached bad ends, sometimes even on purpose, but from now on, the consequences would be experienced directly by his body.
The pain in his body still stung, and he flinched like a child before Moris. It turned out that endurance didn't make pain disappear, it only made the body tougher.
He could feel it. That he could still move. That he could still fight back. That his lungs, though heaving, hadn't given out. But Xian himself wasn't used to it. But Xian himself wasn't used to it. Pain dragged him back to his younger days, and fists to his face made him tremble.
It was embarrassing, but he also felt indignant.
It was all because of his realization.
What if he gets tortured for a long time before regressing? What if he lost his mind in the process? What if he became crippled and the villainess didn't die immediately?
He was afraid of the consequences. He couldn't afford to ignore his weakness.
Xian shuddered at the plethora of possibilities he could think of. This was truly a punishment masqueraded as something he loved to do.
Rozenfall, was an unkind game for everyone and its own characters. That's why the protagonist is there to save all of their asses being handed down to villains, including Carmillia.
"Strange. You possess a certain degree of strength but is like a child with a knife." Moris mused as he straightened his mustache.
'Even Moris find it strange.' The fact that the level up boosted his stats but not his actual skills was something he didn't account for.
For now, Xian forced himself to get up. His hands trembled and his legs shook, unfit to his fierce and robust appearance.
Once again, he raised the pair of daggers Moris had given him. The head butler had recommended them as suitable weapons for a butler's duties, easy to carry and conceal, yet as deadly as a sword.
"Hm. It doesn't matter." Moris said coldly. "Your body will learn in a week. Even if it breaks."
He held a small knife used to spread butter. It shimmered faintly, coated in dark blue aura to prevent it from snapping. That was all he needed to overwhelm Xian.
Xian dashed forward with force, a move he was surprisingly getting used to. He slashed at Moris with both daggers, unrestrained.
It would be blocked anyway. So he attacked like a cornered animal, venting his frustration through reckless swings.
Until afternoon, that was all he did, aside from a brief lunch break. He even missed the attendant lessons from the previous weeks lessons. They only required reading, pouring tea, and demonstrating etiquette.
When Moris finally left, Xian collapsed onto the ground, covered in shallow cuts and bruises. A maid approached and began healing him without a word.
It was his first time witnessing healing magic in reality. The glow was far dimmer than the exaggerated effects from the game, and the restorative power was noticeably weaker.
Afterward, the maid helped him to his feet and supported him as they made their way toward his room.
His vision blurred slightly. Then he activated [Conqueror's Eyes].
A gray heart flickered over the maids head. 79.
'Quite high.'
Something clicked in his mind. If the system didn't limit affection meters to romanceable characters, didn't that mean everyone was technically conquerable?
Even this maid, who hadn't existed in any of the original routes.
"Sorry for the trouble." he said with the gentlest smile possible, something he'd practiced in front of a mirror everynight.
"Ah—! N-No, it's nothing." she stammered. "I mean—I'm just doing what I'm told…" followed by her dissipating voice.
"Still, you're very diligent. I must be quite heavy. Are you alright?"
"T-Thank you, but I'm fine… S-Sir Xian is diligent too," she replied with a fleeting smile.
'Oh? She knows my name? Already better than Carmillia in my book.'
Xian waited for a moment. And then it happened. Her affection rose, indicating that her attitude towards him improved. The number inside the gray heart now numbered 89.
His small experiment ended as they reached his room.
"Then, I'll see you tomorrow," he said before parting from the random maid.
"Um… it depends on who's assignment, but—I'll try!" She left flustered, head lowered.
'Let's see if this grow's into a something worthwhile.'
These particular experiment brought a strange kind of joy to his new life at the Montagne's estate.
Later, he lay in bed, examining the rewards from the [Conversation Event].
A [Replay Ticket] [Prying Lens] and [Threadwatch Ticket]
A Replay Ticket allowed him to view a specific scenario from the original game. A Prying Lens let him experience the perspective of a chosen character within this world.
And the Threadwatch Ticket would reveal events that would unfold because of his interventions, like watching a glimpse of the future.
'They are all top tier items for information gathering. I'm glad the system still retained its reward function.'
Before sleeping, Xian sat to meditate, a habit he'd formed after his third regression. He couldn't see or feel it yet, but this body had to be capable of using aura.
If his deductions were correct, he had likely fought alongside the two swordmaidens.
It had possessed enough strength to help subdue the coachman and arrive at the estate unhindered by high-level guards.
And the original had played a role significant enough to save all of their lives. That would require a level in at least the 30s to even the odds.
'… Might be even stronger than the two swordmaidens.'
And if that wasn't the case. If his level is lower than that, then the only answer left would lead to…
'Traits.'
Absurd traits that can counter and overturn the battlefield. The swordmaidens were prime example of those. Their post-death explosion ability was nothing short of terrifying.
Right now, he bore a debuff title: [Shackled One], followed by three sets of question marks. Those three traits were sealed, according to the description, because he hadn't yet reached the necessary threshold of strength.
Logically, if the dispatched butler managed to tip the balance in their favor against the coachman, those traits had to be overwhelming.
And since he had never existed in any storyline, they were likely glass-cannon in nature. Maybe he had died sacrificing himself?
A disposable guard sent to counter a grave threat like the martial artist coachman. The Duke foreseeing the attack and sending an appropriate measure wasn't far-fetched.
Maybe this body had always been meant to die.
It made sense to give him a body that won't cause much fuss if possessed. Although he will certainly put it to good use when it comes to causing consequences.
'Maybe that's why Carmillia was displeased. She thought she'd been sent a dud?' Resetting his level to 1 must've made him seem weak enough to be a dead wait.
They surely didn't know where the threat is coming from. So they attached a one use disposable servant to her.
Xian felt like he was forcibly connecting the dots. He was tempted to use the tickets he got, but his hoarding mentality told him otherwise.
Soon, fatigue overtook him.
The next day, by dawn, Xian was already up, fully dressed, when the door opened. Moris was pleasantly surprised to see Xian and paused.
"Good morning, Sir Moris."
"Hmph. If you're awake, don't make me fetch you in your room." Moris, hiding his faint smile with his mustache said. "Training grounds. Starting tomorrow, don't wait for me."
"As you wish."
'Was Moris glad that I survived the night and didn't flee in fear?' The butler seemed a bit glad just now.
Xian felt it, his mind and body syncing. He was adapting. Maybe fast enough to be comparable to actual butlers of noble households.
"Hm. Today's training will be a bit special," Moris added as they walked. "You'll be training with one of the young lady's guards."
"…Pardon?"
"You heard me. And the young miss will watch, along with the other lass."
"???"
"They might help you improve better. Fighting with me is simply asking for a beating. I haven't fought at such low level in a long time, control gets harder these days with age…"
Xian ignored Morisson's rambling.
At this early hour? That villainess?
It was simply unexpected that Carmillia would rise at the same hour as her servants.
The training grounds came into view. The weapon racks were refilled, the dummies were newly replaced and the ground were obviously prepared and dusted for the occasion.
'What do the cleaners eat in this household? Are they on duty 24/7?' Xian dreaded becoming the same as them.
A signature seat that didn't exist before were centered on one side of the training ground like a judge's seat. One swordmaiden clad in dark armor stood by its side, protecting Carmillia who sat there with eyes closed.
"I've brought him, young miss." Moris announced.
"Hm? Ah, you've arrived, Moris… with the little butler." She looked at him with half-lidded eyes.
'Still the 'little butler,' huh?'
But soon, Xian's eyes widened. Carmillia wore a simpler gown than usual, one that had never appeared in any of the game routes. Though still black, it felt less oppressive, the overall impression softer, almost at ease.
Her makeup was faint and Xian… drew in a quiet breath, burning this moment into his memory.
This was a scene only known to him, the one who discovered her route and died while doing so.
'Those cursed devs… why a waste the potential of such a character?'
He clicked his tongue at the thought of how they had reduced her to a mere poorly written villainess with vague intentions and goals.
Despite her limited variety of sprites, Carmillia had ranked third in Rozenfall's Top Ten Most Beautiful. It was an unprecedented for a character that has never been part of the capture targets. She had always been beautiful. As evil as she is and as tragic her fate is.
Xian… Had an obsession with that beautiful face. He could literally stare at her forever.
If only all she can do was to be stared at and admired.
Unfortunately she was a villainess. A troublesome one who caused death in her wake, and fell into it herself.
"She will be watching you today. You're opponent will be..." Xian followed Morisson's gaze.
A woman with short, light brown hair stepped onto the training grounds. She had an impatient frown and sharp brows. Her lips curled as if she found everything in her sight annoying.
There were glimpses of the swordmaidens face in several boss fights and scenario of the game. But there was never a scene that revealed this much.
She wore a white sleeveless training tops. A towel is draped around her neck. Xian thought that she looked like a modern athlete.
"…" With a hardened gaze, she faced Xian.
"Heh." A sneer. That was the first reaction she gave to him.
"???"
'What is that supposed to mean?'