Chapter 11: Optimal Condition (1)

"What is it?"

Early in the morning, the moment I got out of bed, I couldn't hide my surprise. There was one reason for it.

My body felt light, and my head was clear.

In other words, it was a day when my condition was exceptionally good.

And I realized that I hadn't had a restless night the previous evening.

The effect was even better than I had dared to imagine.

My senses were sharp, my mind was clear, and an unprecedented strength surged through my body. Even my steps felt lighter.

'Is this... the optimal condition?'

It was said that my basic abilities would triple.

Since I could only use half my strength normally, this felt like a sixfold increase to me.

'Could it be because of the alchemy lab?'

The herbology class I started a week ago has continued every day. Although we make poisons, we also learn about herbs.

After all, herbs are used in making poisons.

I thought it might be due to the alchemy lab for similar reasons.

The extremely toxic substances were stored separately, so the alchemy lab was full of herbs.

I wondered if my body had improved after smelling the herbs for a few days.

Well, it's not certain. It could just be a coincidence.

Perhaps Mohen's departure also played a role. I had given him a good thrashing at the end.

Didn't I achieve unexpected results?

It was a happy outcome because I hadn't thought about it due to the eccentric behavior of the eccentric.

It's just a level 1, but I thought it was significant.

'After all, the level for scheming doesn't usually go up.'

Moreover, the characteristic of being a clumsy conspirator was an unexpected gain.

Originally, a characteristic is given every five levels based on the player's actions.

However, additional rewards are given based on the difficulty and success of the scheme, and this time was one of those cases.

I think it was because of the skill gap between Mohen and me and the presence of a master spy.

- You receive a slight additional experience when gaining scheming experience.

- The probability of being suspected by others during scheming actions is slightly reduced.

Even a slight additional experience can add up to a significant amount over time.

Usually, you don't get a characteristic at level 1, so getting it early on was quite a benefit.

Additionally, the reduced probability of being suspected.

It probably means that even if I do something, they won't suspect it's me.

'A positive cycle will form.'

On the other hand, I felt a bit disappointed.

If Mohen hadn't left, I could have used him to gain more scheming experience.

Hmm, no. If the tail had been too long, I would have been caught.

Fortunately, I didn't receive any suspicion this time. After all, stomachaches can happen even without a problem.

Anyway, my condition was good, so my mood was quite pleasant. I found myself whistling.

"What's up? You look happy today. You always look like you're about to die from exhaustion."

While having a simple breakfast, I could tell from Denif's reaction, who arrived a little later than me.

"Indeed. I feel good today."

"...Hello."

Orhen, who was behind Denif, greeted me with a small voice.

Although we had become a bit closer after I thrashed Mohen, we weren't as close as Denif.

'Since my condition is good today, maybe I can get closer to him.'

When else would I have such a chance? I smiled and greeted him, asking if he had slept well.

Orhen nodded slightly.

Apart from my physical state, the breakfast table was quiet. Children tend to sleep a lot in the morning, so it was natural.

So, I felt a bit excited.

Denif looked at me with a "What's up with you?" expression, yawned, and picked up his spoon.

When someone is tired, it's best to leave them alone. I'll talk to him after lunch.

Since I woke up earlier than usual, I finished my meal and turned my gaze to the window.

Even considering the time to brush my teeth, I had plenty of time.

Then I felt a gaze.

To be precise, it wasn't a gaze directed at me but at the bread I left behind.

Orhen was looking at my bread.

Hmm, does he like it?

It didn't look like a simple piece of bread. The golden surface glistened as if syrup had been drizzled on it.

It was a special treat and dessert for this morning.

While other things can be eaten anytime, the special treat is only served once per meal.

Hmm. If I give this to him, will we get closer?

I don't particularly like bread or desserts, so it doesn't matter to me.

That's why I didn't eat it.

"Want to eat it?"

"..."

Orhen looked up at me.

His enlarged pupils contained both the desire to eat and the question of whether I was serious.

"Really."

"...Really?"

"I don't really like bread."

Denif, who was sitting next to me, was surprised.

"Wait, you don't eat Elif?"

"Elif?"

Denif nodded as if he finally understood.

"Ah, I see. It's a very rare specialty made from ingredients found only in certain regions of the northern continent."

Orhen looked at me with a worried expression. A rare specialty. I want to try it once...

But it felt a bit strange seeing a 13-year-old girl look at me like that. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything?

"Still, it's fine."

I said this, cut off the end of the bread, and handed the rest to Orhen.

Orhen's eyes widened.

"...Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I said I don't like bread. Just try a bite."

"...Thank you."

He's quite shy. Still, his eyes looked more friendly, which was a relief.

Denif pestered Orhen for half of it, but Orhen turned his body slightly to clearly refuse.

"Ugh. Cheapskate."

Denif grumbled, clearly dissatisfied.

His words were sharp, but they didn't really bother me. It was due to his unique personality.

He tends to speak directly.

Denif looked at me.

"By the way, you don't like bread?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"An orphan?"

I always feel that Denif is closer to being an eccentric.

She speaks without hesitation.

She's an orphan too, but the way she openly calls herself an orphan and calls others cheapskates...

Sometimes she even teases Marhan. She has her limits, though.

"Hey, even orphans have preferences. Didn't you feel the taste when you picked up and ate something from the ground?"

"Hmm. That's true, but..."

"And I don't even know what this tastes like."

I put a piece of the bread, whether it's Elif or Elip, in my mouth. The bread melted softly in my mouth.

Hmm, this is... really delicious?

I could feel Orhen, who was sitting in front of me, looking at me with a worried expression. He seemed to be worried that I might ask for it back.

If I show too much enthusiasm, the situation might get strange. I managed my expression.

"Delicious, right? Do you regret it?"

Denif pestered me from the side. I shrugged my shoulders on purpose.

"Just so-so?"

"Just so-so? Don't you have a problem with your taste? Did you lose your sense of taste by eating something wrong from a trash can?"

"Damn. What are you saying."

I barely suppressed the urge to slap Denif's forehead and got up from my seat.

"I'm going first."

"Going to brush your teeth?"

I nodded in response.

But because my condition was good, I felt like being meddlesome.

"Finish eating and brush your teeth quickly. You don't want to have all your teeth rot later."

It's not really being meddlesome. It's more like constructive advice. They'll probably thank me later.

Anyway, I arrived at the training ground first, even after brushing my teeth leisurely.

It wasn't surprising.

It was a familiar scene. I always wake up first, eat, and prepare.

It wasn't a difficult task for me. Tossing and turning ten times a day was my routine.

No matter how hard I trained, it didn't change.

All I had to do was get up when my body felt the boundary between sleep and reality in the early morning.

It wasn't always the same time, but I woke up around the same time. Having extra time wasn't a problem.

I could do some light exercise without overexerting myself.

Diligence is a virtue wherever you go. The secondary benefit was that my evaluation improved.

Anyway, while I was warming up at the training ground, Denif and Orhen came running.

They seemed to have followed my advice and brushed their teeth.

Orhen had started brushing his teeth recently, following my example, and Denif, who used to grumble, was changing.

Not always, but it was a good thing.

Sometimes Denif's breath smelled when she talked to me.

Soon, Marhan appeared.

Exactly on time, as he always was.

However, there were two people behind him whom I hadn't seen before.

'What is this?'

One man, one woman. The woman, holding a staff, seemed to be a mage.

Both had a slightly sharp aura. They might be the duke's direct spies.

"Hey? Bout and Selya."

Denif muttered. They seemed to know each other. I could tell how the situation was unfolding.

There were several instructors for the evening classes, so they might be combat instructors.

Marhan would take charge of us when there was a mission, and they would take turns otherwise.

And my guess was confirmed.

Bout took Denif, and Selya took Orhen to the side.

Marhan stood in front of me. His gaze was a bit strange.

* * *

"From today, we'll start learning weapons. We'll train one-on-one for a while."

Marhan said this and focused on examining my movements. He had felt something different about me since I entered the training ground.

It was definitely different from usual.

"Yes."

My eyes were sharp, and I exuded energy.

He always looked like an old man who had seen it all, but today, he really looked like a 13-year-old. Marhan thought.

"How about your body?"

"I've already warmed up."

Marhan nodded.

Apart from the unsatisfactory growth, my diligence was a positive aspect.

Thanks to me, the other children had become a bit more serious.

He moved towards the weapon rack he had prepared early in the morning.

"Start from the left and pick them up in order. Then swing them."

"Is that it?"

Marhan nodded casually.

"Yeah, stab if you want."

I felt his words were a bit vague. Pick up and swing. Stab if you want.

It was a simple instruction, but it left me confused. Is that really all?

Marhan's gaze urged me to continue. I picked up the spear on the far left.

Marhan's gaze became even sharper.

He was observing every aspect of my movements.

He watched in detail as I held the spear, brought it in front of me, and took a stance.

Not bad, different from usual. Marhan thought.

I felt the spear was quite heavy.

It wasn't that heavy, but its length required me to adjust my hand position to balance the center of gravity.

I stabbed the air under Marhan's watchful eye.

The movement was light, and the spear tip was sharp. That was it.

The task was to swing or stab.

When I looked up, Marhan was watching me with a complex expression.

'What is it?'

Marhan was thinking this.

He had already felt that something was different today, but it was too different.

And he was certain after seeing my movements.

Yesterday's me and today's me were the same person, but the difference was so significant that they couldn't be the same.

"...Next."

Is this really it? I wondered but didn't ask, put the spear back, and picked up the axe.

I swung it lightly.

"Next."

Marhan's expression was still complex, but his response was faster than before. This process repeated.

Mace, dagger, mace...

Marhan's attitude changed when I picked up the longsword.

I also felt something was different. The moment I held the longsword, it felt familiar.

I thought it might be because I had learned kendo before.

I raised the sword diagonally and swung it. A sharp sound followed. I habitually turned towards the weapon rack.

"Once more."

But I stopped at Marhan's words and adjusted my stance again.

I recognized his insight. He had noticed the subtle difference I felt.

'So, the duke isn't using it for nothing.'

I thought this and swung the sword diagonally again. It was a simple thought.

Although I had only swung it once a few seconds ago, I felt my movements were smoother.

'Might it be because of my good condition?'

I thought it wasn't just about physical ability.

It definitely affected my learning and acquisition.

I wondered if this optimal condition was like the "Guti's Day" I had seen on the internet.

For some reason, I felt I knew how to move my body.

I was moving instinctively. It wasn't something I could define with my mind.

Just as I was turning to put the sword back on the rack,

"...Have you been hiding your skills until now?"

In the silence, Marhan, who had been silent, asked. His voice was cold.