Wuhuโโ
After successfully finishing brushing her hair without any major mistakes,
Lilian let out a sigh of relief and opened the bedroom door to step outside.
Thank goodness, thank goodness.
Playing dead was definitely the right choice, Iโm telling you.
Didnโt you see? Elenora only said a couple of meaningless things.
At least she didnโt kick me out.
I can still come back tomorrow to keep farming experience points.
Lilianโs heart felt delightfully satisfied.
Time to go train.
She greeted the little maid Eileen waiting outside the door and then climbed into the carriage, heading toward the Inner City Knights Orderโs barracks.
Today, Captain Martin was surprisingly there tooโseemed like he had come specifically to check on Lilian.
โI heard from Saya. Well done, Miss Lilian. Keep up the good work.โ
With those words, he left.
Lilian was a bit puzzled.
Saya laughed heartily and patted Lilianโs shoulder.
โThe captain means he has high hopes for you, Lilian.โ
โCome on, today you can try holding a sword.โ
Saying that, Saya handed Lilian a longsword with one hand.
Lilian caught it with both hands, and her entire arm suddenly dropped down.
So heavy!
Thankfully, the past five days of training hadnโt been in vain.
Lilian struggled but managed to lift the longsword in front of her.
Saya looked a little surprised.
โLilian, youโve really improved fast. Just five days, and you can already hold a knightโs longsword?โ
Rapid progress was normal.
By the second day, Lilian had already used up all the healing potions she brought from home.
For the remaining days, she had to make the potions herself.
Unexpectedly, her level 2 Physician class kicked in.
First of all, when making potions with common materials, their effects increased by 50%, with an additional 25% boost per level.
As for magical potions, that seemed to come later.
It looked like this was the enhancement the System mentionedโthe class strengthening upon reaching certain levels.
These days had been so busy, Lilian had almost forgotten she even had a Physician class.
Then, she discovered that making healing potions improved her proficiency with that specific type of potion, allowing her to unlock enhanced formulas as she leveled up.
For the next few days, Lilian used potions made with the Enhanced Formula.
The original healing potion had a broad effect, but the enhanced ones primarily targeted musclesโthat explained why Lilianโs strength improved so quickly.
After five days of training, Lilian had made great progress.
ใConstitution: Lv.1 (82/100)ใ
ใStrength: Lv.1+ (45/100)ใ
She was already above average for a normal person.
Hard work really pays off.
โAt first, I thought it would take you a month to become a trainee knight, Lilian. But at this pace, after about half a monthโs training, youโll be nearly there.โ
โCome on, try this sword.โ
Taking away the knightโs longsword from Lilianโs hands, Saya pulled out another longsword made of plain iron.
Compared to the knightโs longsword crafted from special materials, this iron longsword was nothing special.
Lilian picked it up with ease.
Saya stuck a wooden stick into the sand on the small training field.
โTry chopping it a few times.โ
Lilian confidently swung the longsword at the wooden stick.
โClackโโ
The stick fell to the ground but remained intact, not a single cut.
Saya laughed beside her, and Lilian couldnโt help but blush a little.
Saya picked up the stick and stood it up again.
โCome on, watch carefully and learn. When holding a sword like this, pay attention to your shoulder position, keep your arm stable, and then, chop!โ
With a flash of cold steel, the wooden stick split in two, the bottom half standing firmly on the ground.
ใReceived Instruction, Basic Swordsmanship Unlockedใ
Whoa, so cool.
Does this mean you could also wield a cold weapon and slaughter across the battlefield, big brother?
โLearned it?โ
Lilian nodded vigorously.
โGood! Hold the sword properly!โ
Lilian struggled to raise the knightโs longsword and followed Sayaโs guidance, spreading her legs front and back, sword slightly above her shoulder, the hilt raised just above her collarbone, a bit higher than her chest.
โHold this position for two hours.โ
Huh?
Two hours?
Weโve just started, and Iโm already about to collapse!
Lilian felt her shoulders and arms crying out in pain.
ใTraining Effort, Basic Swordsmanship Experience +1ใ
ใ1/100ใ
Alright.
Iโll endure it.
โUwaaโโ
Lilian weakly lay face-down on the dining hall table.
โGood job.โ Saya brought over two large servings of steak, set them down, and sat across from Lilian.
โIโve been meaning to ask, do all the knightsโ orders in the Imperial Capital have meals this good? Steak all you can eat?โ Lilian forked a small piece of steak into her mouth.
โNot really. It seems some Noble sponsors this, so we get these conditions.โ
โAh? Which Noble is so rich?โ
After Lilian asked, her expression changed.
Judging from Saya and Captain Martinโs reactions, could it be Count Coen?
โIโm not sure. I heard he might come to inspect in a few days. Youโll have to train on your own that day. Donโt worry, Iโll make a good plan for you.โ
Not sure? Lilian ate another piece of steak.
If it really is Count Coen, Lilian felt she wouldnโt be wrong to get wiped out.
If today you sponsor the knights guarding the Inner City Knights Order, tomorrow wonโt you try to get your hands on the Palace Knights Order too?
Would Elenoraโs Father really be foolish enough to hand over such leverage? Impossible.
Saya didnโt know what Lilian was thinking and continued explaining her training plan.
โBy then, you should be at the Rune stage.โ
Rune? The term felt both unfamiliar and familiar.
In her previous life playing games, it was something used by Mages to cast magic in battle.
What did it have to do with knights?
โArenโt those used only by Mages? What do they have to do with knights?โ
Sayaโs expression turned a little odd, like she was looking at an alien.
โLilian, do you really not understand, or are you pretending?โ
โI really donโt know. I never had any talent for magic growing up, so I inherited the family business and became a Physician.โ
Lilian replied matter-of-factly.
โOh, that makes sense then.โ Saya felt she understood everything now.
If youโre a commoner without magical talent, you probably wouldnโt have access to such information.
But then Saya remembered Captain Martinโs reminder.
Lilian was picked up and dropped off by carriage every day.
Plus, the expensive training clothes she wore.
Could it be that Lilian is Count Coenโs illegitimate daughter?
Hmm, the more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Frowning deeply, Saya began explaining the basics.
Lilian was half right: in this world, Runes are used to wield power.
Runes arenโt exclusive to Mages; anyone who wants to use Supernatural Power must use Runes.
The knightโs entry training Lilian was receiving was to prepare her to feel the โFleshโ Rune.
Abundant vitality and the sensation of breaking limitsโthese are the prerequisites for sensing and acquiring the โFleshโ Rune.
Next, by becoming familiar with oneโs weapon and equipment and resonating with them, one acquires the โToolsโ Rune.
This is how professions like Knight, Warrior, Assassin, and Ranger are divided.
Isnโt this just like putting Strength and Agility into the โFleshโ Rune, and Equipment into the โToolsโ Rune in a game?
Why go through so much trouble? Lilian couldnโt help but complain.
Simply put, itโs just putting points into Flesh, then categorizing professions through Tools.
Lilian knew this well.
It seemed she was not far from gaining Supernatural Power. Lilian felt a little happy.
The days of leaving the Countโs manor were just around the corner!
As for Elenora, well, she wished herโฆ
The silver-haired girlโs figure suddenly floated up in her mind.
Ahemโฆ
Since she helped improve my strength, itโs fine to offer a little help within my abilities.
Consider it returning the favor.