"Enough." One word from my father, and the room fell into a heavy silence.
"Seraphine," he said, his voice sharp and cold, "planting assassins in a child's place is the least of my worries. What truly concerns me is that such promising talent from our house is being stifled because of your orders. I will move one-fourth of your allowance to Arzel."
Ezriach turned toward me, his face unreadable like stone. "Does this satisfy you?"
I swallowed, my throat tight. "...Yes, Father."
As I was internally celebrating my victory over Seraphine, Ezriach's voice echoed in my ears.
"Back to our previous discussion. I ought to tell you all that the one who gets the best results will obtain one favor from me. Of course, it has limits."
[ Quest unlocked! ]
• Become the ultimate winner in the household trials. Complete the series of tests set before you with the highest score. ( E+ )
Reward: +1 favor from Ezriach Cornelio Von Herczhide and 1 stat point.
Penalty: Loss of resources, disadvantages +5, excruciating pain.
My eyes instantly bulged at words, "excruciating pain".
As I ate, I noticed my siblings staring at me with difficult expressions. Seraphine's jaw was still clenched and her eyes carried a hint of darkness. Still, forcing myself to eat and relish the food that the servants prepared kept me from breaking down at that moment.
I was done dining with my family before I knew it.
The clink of silverware and the low murmur of servants faded into the background as I stood from my seat. No one stopped me.
I left the dining hall with my back straight and expression neutral but my composure cracked the moment I got to my room and closed the door.
I exhaled as my chest was pounding to the point I could hear every heartbeat. It didn't help that my fingers were trembling.
Two weeks.
That's all the time I had before that stupid test.
"Interface," I mumbled.
===
[ Villain System ]
• Arzel Ravien Von Herczhide
Gender: Male
Class: Magic Swordsman
Rank: F+
Talent: SSS+
Strength: G+
Dexterity: F+
Stamina: F
Constitution: F-
Intelligence: Can not be measured.
Mana Capacity: E-
Luck: B-
Charm: B+
===
Since strength and constitution are my worst stats—probably because I'm in the body of a child, I need to focus on working out as a literal 7-year-old.
"Messed up, I say. Messed up." I dashed to my bed and immediately hid myself with the covers.
My complaints didn't last long as I was in the training grounds 5 days later, looking at the interface that had barely changed, also after 5 arduous days of 13-hour workouts.
The Herczhide estate's practice hall was incredibly vast. Rough, flat cement infused with years of protection magic with a purpose solely to endure powerful and harmful forces covered the floor. Walls were equipped with various weapons, even the ones I did not know of. The dummy that I was directing my attacks on was still perfectly maintained with no scratches.
It just shows how filthy rich this family run by devils were.
===
[ Villain System ]
• Arzel Ravien Von Herczhide
Gender: Male
Class: Magic Swordsman
Rank: F+
Talent: SSS+
Strength: G+
Dexterity: F+
Stamina: F
Constitution: F
Intelligence: Can not be measured.
Mana Capacity: E-
Luck: B-
Charm: B+
===
[ Host, you are just wasting time at this rate. Look for other ways of getting stronger. ]
"I don't need your help." The words came out sharper than I expected, echoing faintly across the training grounds.
My siblings, who were also training, looked at me with confusion. I didn't have the time to worry about what they were thinking because my body was met with with a piercing, shocking pain that almost made me wince and scream.
[ Warning. You are out of character, host. Screaming in a public area will result to the system punishment again. ]
Okay, okay! Just stop torturing me!
I collapsed into a pool of sweat as the pain vanished. Before I could have a chance to rest, the system warned me again.
[ OOC! ]
I sucked in a sharp breath and forced my expression resembling indifference when I heard the monotonous voice warn me. Out of the corner of my eye, I could feel them watching.
The Herczhide children were raised to notice weakness. Even Saireh knew that fact, despite being a measly servant. With that in mind, I forced myself to stand up and hit the dummy once more—even while my bones cracked and my muscles contracted. But stopping wasn't an option.
I woke up at dawn for 5 days straight and worked endlessly for 13 hours during those days just for that 1 point in in constitution.
My lips pursed into a straight line.
The system was not wrong. No matter how hard I trained, how hard I pushed this body, there was just so much it could accomplish. Even with perfect discipline and repetition, there was just not that kind of improvement. Pitiful was the only word for it.
I struck again.
Thud.
Again.
Thud.
Again—
"Young master." Just as I was trying to strike a third time, a cold and unfamiliar voice cut cleanly through the hall.
One of the estate's instructors stood several meters away, arms folded behind his back. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and wrapped in the muted white uniform with purple designs reserved for direct retainers of the Herczhide family.
Hiding my smile that was secretly forming, I looked at him and asked for his name. "Your name?"
"My name is Kael Zoerlin, your grace. I am of humble origins." His voice was clear—audible. Perfect for instructors.
You finally budged, Kael.
Arzel Ravien Von Herczhide wasn't one that rose just because of monstrous talent. Hell, if things were as simple as that, then my mad act of training constantly for 5 days would've worked already.
'Potential untended becomes liability.'
As said by some famous person back in my world. Well, it just means that without some outside help, Arzel wouldn't have become the feared genius of the Herczhide duchy.
The past servant of my late mother, Vivianne, just happened to catch my eye during my "tour" on the estate. The novel described him as someone who came to the estate as a loyal subordinate of Vivienne, but his loyalty gradually shifted to Ezriach due to power.
I don't know how the novel's Arzel got the S-ranked magic swordsman, Kael Zoerlin, to help him, but I sure as hell needed him now. Anyway, I figured that he wouldn't just stand by as his previous master's young child was beating himself up by training endlessly for days.
"Why did you approach me?" I said in a monotonous tone, staring as I tried to put on an act with the most lifeless eyes I could show.
"May I talk to you in priva-" His words didn't come to light as I quickly cut him off with sharp words.
"I'm asking you a question."
Kael quickly bowed his head and stuttered as he immediately answered my prior inquiry. "I believe telling you my reason for approach in this place may harm you, young master. Please, let us go to a more secluded area."
"Very well." My footsteps echoed as I went for the door that led to the exit. "What are you doing? Follow me."
The journey to my room was quiet. My siblings didn't seem to be bothered and think that I just suddenly quit my mindless act of swinging swords. They were all focused on training.
When we reached the 'secluded place' Kael was talking about, I locked the door, sat down on the sofa, and looked at him fixedly. "So?"
"I am your mother's former aide. Duche—no, Lady Vivianne tasked me with the burden of helping you in the family. However, this is the only chance that has occurred for me to do so because of the watch of the mistresses."
I stared at Kael with no expression and waited for his next words.
"I've noticed your...effort in training your body. Day after day, I see you with that sword in hand, swinging until your body trembles." I continued to stay silent. "You do not refine your skills, you are merely punishing your flesh. Your strikes grow no sharper and your stance doesn't get steadier."
"Simply put, you are doing more harm than good, and that you are like a rat getting lured to a trap because of a..." Kael paused.
"...certain goal, I assume?" He added while my lips curved into a menacing smile.
"My dear aide, you know what that specific goal is, right?" I place heavy emphasis on the word 'aide' as he wrinkled his brows.
"Are you going to teach me?" Kael didn't look away from my gaze. "...or did you just get a poor child's hopes up, all while mentioning his dead mother?"
"What are you..." A look of slight shock appeared in his face as he realized what my original motive was for training like an irrecoverable fool.
Contrary to my expectations, Kael let out a soft chuckle because of my sudden change of attitude. "You planned this?"
"I didn't. I just knew that my sickly mother wouldn't have left this world without thinking of the child she would leave behind." I turned my eyes to the side to avoid his stare and continued. "She knew that her time was nearing, right?"
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Until Kael broke the silence. "Pleased to be at your service, my lord."
"The pleasure is mine."
===
[ Hidden Quest Completed ]
• Secure the allegiance of Kael Zoerlin. ( E )
Reward: S-Rank Instructor, +1 stat point
Penalty: Restart.
===
"Well then," I said flatly. "Your first task is to fix this mess." I muttered casually while pointing at myself.
A faint flicker of amusement passed through Kael's eyes. "It's my first day and you're already bullying me."
'Is this really how our interaction should go?'
[ Kael Zoerlin's personality has always been slightly audacious. ]
"How impertinent."