Miri(3)

Xian opened his eyes and felt like new.

He had regressed.

'I knew you could do it, Miri.' He cheered in his heart.

He got up and dressed the same as before. This time he didn't even wait for Moris to come, but instead waited for him in the corridors.

Upon seeing him, he gestured a greeting right away and asked. "What are we going to do today, Sir Moris?"

"Hm. Follow me." He showed brief acknowledgment and approval before showing the way to Xian. He followed briskly with confidence, knowing that he grew stronger from the past two regressions.

[Shackled One (Sealed Trait's: ??? Lvl 18, ??? Lvl 28, 78/100, ??? Lvl 38)]

It seems that the scuffle against the chief maid gave slight progress. Xian reckoned that by the third day, he can show results deserving of what Carmillia required of him.

With much anticipation, they entered the training grounds. His eyes immediately scanned the room looking for an unassuming maid, black hair in a bob style haircut.

'There she is.' Xian deliberated whether stalk her or just ask about the chief maid later.

"Today you will be sparring with her." Moris had finished introduction while he isn't paying attention.

The frown on Serika's face told him she's annoyed. That familiarity he felt stayed with him even after he regressed and it grows every time they meet. But these were solely for him to know.

'Is this why some regressor's become insane in the end?' Xian didn't know about himself. Perhaps the moment he regressed and transmigrated in the game he's already insane.

He already did unthinkable things, such as murder, stabbing someone in the neck and taking advantage of someone's feelings. But he felt neither pity or remorse.

It was just like when he's playing behind the screen. Except, the physical aspect is and visuals is no different than reality.

"This guy… Hey! Pay attention to your opponent!" Serika snarled, still hot tempered as ever.

Xian looked at her without a word and came at her. Surprised, Serika put up her guard unable to counter. Their training swords met and Xian pushed her back who didn't expect his level of strength.

'On the third day.' Xian estimated that the seal will be removed.

***

After the spar, Serika shared her assessment with Carmillia.

"Just passable. He lacks the stamina, but everything else… is alright." Xian would last up to a whole fifteen minutes before growing tired, then start showing sluggishness and more openings. 

"Do you think, he'll manage to hit you in a week?"

"If I gave my all, he won't. But that mean's unfairly using aura." Serika felt that Xian is physically on par with her in terms of speed and strength. Even though she's at an advantage right now, all Xian needs is proper training to be equal, or even surpass her.

'Maybe it's because he's quite tall and well built.' Serika's thought wandered for a moment imagining Xian's toned muscle.

"Young miss. I think, he can be of use." Lucinelle chimed in. Seeing Xian use a longsword haphazardly irked her to no end. He swung it like a brute more than a proper swordsman using a longsword.

"Of use you say… He's a lapdog from my father. Still, you'd trust him?"

"… Yes. He looks villainous, but he didn't give off the same vibe as those guys."

Serika perked her ears, hearing Lucinelle. 'Really? I thought he looked kinda cool… and has funny expressions.'

"Huh. You two seem interested in that guy." The villainess teased with a faint smile. If Xian were here to witness this, his eyes would be bulging out of his sockets. A seemingly normal and friendly conversation with Carmillia and her swordmaidens?

Now, that's something unseen before.

"W-what! No way!" Serika vehemently denied slightly flushed. 

She was just thinking about Xian's sharp eyes, toned jawline and aloof expression with matching red hair. His height and body made him quite a unit too. But all of it turned into shredded thoughts when she heard Carmillia.

"He needs to be taught properly in the way of the sword." Meanwhile Lucinelle had a different reason. She wanted her turn in teaching Xian.

Most of the time, she's dedicated to polishing technique's in the most efficient way possible and how to deliver painless execution. Or cause the opposite, making the opponent writhe in pain.

Xian, whom she already found worthy to be a colleague needed to polish his skills if he wanted to survive.

Lucinelle and Serika, each a precious child of their families had been together since childhood. Lucinelle debuted as a swordmaiden at a young age, due to the nature of her family. Loyal knights who once pledged their service to a single master.

While Serika was a rather special case. She was found to be a talent in terms of Martial prowess and were taught how to best utilize her massive amount of aura.

"Let's wait bit more. The entrance exam of the academy is just around the corner. We need to make sure that he's not going to hold me back." Today's matter was to investigate the students enrolling in the academy.

The two swordmaidens nodded seriously at that, aware of why she's so careful on bringing Xian.

'Who can be an ally and who are the enemies.' Carmillia is aware to all the threats coming for her life. It all started because of an incident that claimed multiple lives in the kingdom.

The massacre of the kingdoms 'Exemplars' under the order of the old king. Executed by her very own father and his pro imperial faction, that to this day still stood tall, causing a rift in the kingdom.

'Or so they say.' Carmillia didn't believe that those people were truly role models in their own right. One of those exemplars were her own mother. The benevolent mistress of Montagne's dukedom.

The very woman who reined in all the evil that she could've become.

***

Xian was waiting for Serika to come back. But she didn't. Miri waited with him awkwardly while fiddling with her finger.

'Surely it's because I've grown stronger.' He can think of this as a good thing. This means that Carmillia wasn't just trying to make up schemes to get rid of him. Now that he's at an acceptable level of strength, he's going to be used.

That's the way Carmillia has always been. Many players found this aspect of her twisted as no one ever entered her eyes besides her two guards.

It's also Xian's greatest curiosity and goal to know. In the academy he will be in a new perspective never seen before. But he didn't need to worry, with his regression, investigations and trials can be done beforehand.

Besides, even if he couldn't witness the events around the protagonist, there will be signs. And he could just stalk him if he really must.

'As always, just like in the game.' He had always done things this way and it proved effective. If he wasn't like this, then who knows if he would even be transmigrated here or just die and become nothingness.

Affairs of the academy were drawing close and Xian felt much anticipation. Meeting the characters he liked was something he really enjoyed. The first time he laid eyes on Carmillia felt like being blessed, though she dampened it with her villainous tendency.

There's no doubt that Carmillia and the swordmaiden duo will be admitted. However in the game, Serika and Lucinelle didn't attend as students, making them mostly unknown to players. They worked as guards instead, always by Carmillia's side.

The illustrious academy of Rozenfall had three known methods in order to admitted.

First is passing the entrance exam. The difficulty given is changed every year. Some even said that it's one of the most anticipated event of the academy, because the devilish professors took time and care plotting ordeal to make the the entrants suffer as much as possible.

Even in the game, the devilish devs put in random types of entrance exam and events, thoroughly making the players plans invalid when restarting a run. Only if the player got lucky would their build match the exam and breeze it. 

Second, is a background of special talents and lineage. This required one to be a confirmed inheritor of such characteristics and are often nurtured itself by the corresponding power they come from. Whether it be the empire, the kingdom or an independent existing power like the academy.

The academy as a center for nurturing these specialized individual will take all measures in order to make sure the bud of talent grows into a full grown flower. Often, it is the most problematic matters that the headmaster and chancellor needs to handle.

And finally, the lifeblood of the academy. Money. Immense amount of money can 'fix' the admission, but whether they can stay is entirely up to the student.

'There's one more. However, it is the most discreet method they use.' Xian thought as he headed to his room, Miri following behind him.

Having a connection of a high standing official can admit and even transfer a student in the middle of a semester. Such as, when the headmaster themselves and duke of the academy city introduces them.

It happened once in the game, a certain heroine that could be argued to have potential comparable to the top powers of the game. The heir, raised and taught by the headmaster.

'That heir will appear sometime in the academy.' This particular person was someone he had to be wary of. Well, she is one of the heroines he somewhat knew, but previous events proved that the game events won't always be reflected properly in reality.

Reality brings too many variables to the table. The only thing he can rely on is his information about their character, nature and background. That's something he can take advantage of.

"S-sir Xian? W-what are we going to do in y-your room?…" They had arrived at his room and Miri whom he just met yesterday was dragged away by his request.

"There's something I need your help with. Come in."

Miri who was supposed to report due to Xian's spar finishing early, carefully followed him. Xian insisted that they had to talk inside his room. But strange things didn't stop from making their way inside her small head.

"Has the chief made given you anything these days?"

"Eh?" Miri, surprised by the strange question recovered and seemed to think, "No, she didn't." The chief maid was an aloof and scary woman, but Miri thought she's a kind person. When she's being bullied by other maids, she would make them stop once she saw them.

"Is that so?"

'Then when did she give her the potion? I should've paid attention which day her affection shot up.' He touched his chin, deep in thought.

What he wanted in this time's regression is to reveal the mole and obtain those potions without exposing their existence.

He couldn't let Carmillia nor Moris know, because they will surely need some evidence as proof. Those potions will be useful in the long run.

Meanwhile, Miri is just too weak. He could tell that she's been trained somewhat but her potential must be on the common side.

'No wait… There's someone!' Xian smirked. Someone that just maybe, he can manipulate enough. 

She's quite impulsive, gets herself in trouble and dies first due to recklessly attacking.

'Serika!' Most of all, she's strong and has free time for the next few days.

They can also avoid Carmillia's eyes, because after a few rounds, she would leave them to spar by themselves.

'Then it's decided.'

Xian could just assault the chief maid himself. The problem is, he isn't trusted enough in this household. But if it's Serika?

'Even if she kills her, no one would bat an eye.' And she's the type not to care too.

"Alright. When she gives you something, whether it's food or drinks, discreetly discard it."

"W-what? But… why?" The maid tilted her head. Sure, she can do that but it seemed rude.

"Because I'm a special butler from the dukedom Miri. Didn't you know?" He took steps towards Miri who in turn found his figure intimidating and stepped back. To them and the chief maid, that title held significance as he remembered.

"I'm dispatched to protect the young miss. I need an excellent and trustworthy maids cooperation." Once she's cornered to the walls of the room, she tried escaping but Xian's hand slammed beside her head.

"Kya! W-what!" Her voice came slightly high pitched but low enough that only them in the room can hear it.

Now their faces were only inches away from each other. She can feel his breath touching her forehead and heat covering her face. The special butler was attractive enough in her eyes and he had that wild but regal looks in that butler suit.

'What's going on! What is he going to do to me?' She heard Xian's request but there was more pressing matter she needed to pay attention to.

Xian's face inched closer as Miri closed her eyes with slightly parted lips. Only for Xian to veer off and whisper in her ears. "If you do that, I will be very pleased Miri. I will give you a reward you can't resist."

'Did I do it right?' Xian saw her affection meter shot up.

[BLUE HEART: 20]

'Still absurdly fast. She must really like me.' He never had anyone like Miri fall this hard for him in his past life. Seeing her flushed appearance, sweat trickling down her neck and heaving chest, gave his body all sorts of signals to his inexperienced self but he suppressed it.

Just because he could regress, he didn't want to be impulsive. A surprising semblance of what's left in his morals after living like nothing else mattered but his pleasure and wallowing in shallow self pity.

For now, he didn't plan to touch anyone during the tutorial.

'At least, until I'm sure she won't accidentally bear a child.' Xian had to wait until coming into the academy to buy some measure for safe 'practice'. 

To think it's now possible for him to experience it in this life, but in the form a game turned into reality. Feeling foolish, he found it funny as his mouth crept up to a smile, while his eyes had that gentle gaze for a moment.

"Ah." Seeing that, Miri's legs gave down and Xian caught her in his arms.