In the end, Camilla was ushered back to her ward by two “enthusiastic readers,” and the room temporarily became an impromptu “novel discussion seminar.”
Elina took charge of the situation, dragging a chair to the bedside. She pulled out an exquisite gold-stamped notebook and a quill, looking as if she were prepared to take detailed notes.
Victoria leaned against the window with her arms crossed. Although she remained silent, her gray-blue eyes were fixed on Camilla, exerting a silent pressure.
Rimuru crouched on the nightstand curiously, watching the strange scene unfold.
“Alright, now tell me your requirements in detail, Elina,” Camilla sighed, resigning herself to her fate as she leaned back against her pillow. She knew that if she didn’t give them an answer today, these two probably wouldn’t leave easily.
Thinking on the bright side, however, they hadn’t specified a deadline. If worse came to worst, she could just stall for several months before writing.
Elina flipped open her notebook, her purple eyes shining.
“First, the protagonist must be female, and she shouldn’t be too old. Her background can be mysterious, but she must possess a unique and powerful strength or talent. Her personality should be calm and mature; she needs to be wise and have a sense of justice, but she can’t be a naive saint. She should be decisive and willing to kill when necessary, yet have a soft spot and persistence deep in her heart. Ideally… she should have a bit of that anti-heroic charm.”
‘Are you making a wish?’
Camilla nodded as she listened. As for how much she could actually implement, that was a different story.
“Then there is the plot,” Elina continued. “There must be adventure, conspiracy, and exciting battles and wits. The world setting can be grand, involving different factions, races, and even gods. As for the romance… there can be a little, but don’t let it overshadow the main plot. She definitely shouldn’t be some brainless girl in love. The key is to have a rival-like opponent or a ‘frenemy’ companion. The tension must be high!”
“Uh… alright…” Camilla was practically breaking into a cold sweat.
“Finally, the ending!” Elina emphasized, the tip of her pen tapping against the notebook as her gaze locked onto Camilla’s face. “The ending must be a happy one. The protagonist can experience hardships and loss, but she must ultimately achieve her goal, grow as a person, and… stay alive. The people important to her must survive, too!”
It seemed the ending of the previous book had clearly left her with significant psychological trauma.
Victoria nodded slightly from the side, adding in a low voice, “The logic must be rigorous, all foreshadowing should be tied up, and the world-building should be able to withstand scrutiny.”
After listening to them, Camilla rubbed her aching temples. She felt like a soulless machine being fed a massive pile of messy commands by a user.
“These requirements aren’t exactly low… a story like this is exhausting to conceive and even slower to write. Besides, my current physical condition…” She timely put on a weak expression.
“Payment is not an issue!” Elina said immediately, firmly grabbing Camilla’s hand. “I said it before—three times the amount! No, as long as you agree to write and guarantee the quality, you can name your price! House Baldea does not lack money! Not at all!”
The daughter of a duke spoke with absolute confidence.
‘That’s a coincidence, actually. I’m not exactly short on money either…’ Camilla thought.
As a hidden wealthy girl, Camilla did not lack resources, whether for her own cultivation or for dealing with potential future troubles. However, this incident had taught her that one could never have too many trump cards.
Camilla pondered for a moment before looking at Elina. “I certainly need money, but besides that, I want something else.”
“Name it,” Elina replied bluntly.
“I need a set of custom, high-quality magitech armor. Ideally light or medium armor that focuses on defense and magic resistance. It should have as little impact on movement speed as possible and be tailored for a female frame. For the design… it should have high concealment and not be too flashy or eye-catching.”
Camilla stated her requirements clearly. Baldea Territory was famous throughout the Empire for its exquisite magitech armor forging techniques.
Elina paused, clearly not expecting Camilla to ask for this. She looked Camilla up and down. “Is it for yourself?”
“No,” Camilla shook her head, her tone serious. “It’s for my sister, Ophelia.”
After all, Camilla already possessed the Empyrean Armor. Although it was an item with “easter egg” properties, unless it was a Rank 9 defensive item, nothing could replace the utility of her current armor.
“I see…” A playful look appeared on Elina’s face. She gently closed her notebook and leaned back. “For your sister, huh… well, that’s not surprising at all.”
She whispered those words before nodding readily. “Very well. I will have the finest craftsmen of House Baldea tailor it. We will use top-tier materials and the highest specifications for the enchantments. As long as you submit your drafts on time and the story satisfies me, I guarantee the armor will satisfy your sister. We can even make it a growth-type piece that can be strengthened as her power increases.”
The terms were incredibly generous. Camilla was delighted and about to agree when Elina suddenly changed the subject.
“Camilla, do you know what your sister has been busy with lately?”
“Hmm?” Camilla was startled. “Isn’t it Student Council business? Principal Korova said she was recommended for Student Council President.”
“Student Council President?” Elina sneered and shook her head. “That’s just a title. Lately, aside from watching over you, she has spent most of her time investigating every detail of this attack. From the infiltration paths of the Dark Demonic Beast Legion to possible loopholes within the academy… she even tracked suspicious personnel movements and resource flows before the attack happened.”
As Elina spoke, she glanced at Victoria by the window. Victoria’s expression remained calm, as if she wasn’t surprised.
“You might not know this, but she absolutely loathes that Dark Demonic Beast Legion right now,” Elina said meaningfully.
Camilla was stunned. She knew her sister was powerful and protective, but she hadn’t realized Ophelia had done so much while she was unconscious.
“She didn’t tell you any of this, did she?”
Elina already knew the answer by looking at Camilla’s expression. Camilla shook her head.
“She wouldn’t tell you.” Elina stood up and smoothed out her warlock robes. “She will only keep the danger and trouble at bay, leaving the best things for you—like a set of top-tier magitech armor from House Baldea.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Without answering Camilla, Elina walked to the door and paused. She looked back at Camilla, her expression no longer mocking or arrogant, but rather complicated. Finally, it softened into a faint smile.
“You have a good sister, Camilla Virlit. Cherish her.”
With that, she opened the door and left.
Only Camilla and Victoria remained in the ward. Victoria walked to the bedside and looked at the still-dazed Camilla.
“Ophelia… is indeed extraordinary. Her initiative, insight, and decisiveness far exceed those of her peers. Having a sister like her is your luck, but perhaps… it is also a kind of pressure.”
She patted Camilla on the shoulder.
“Anyway, focus on recovering. Don’t overthink things. You can handle the novel and the armor yourself. As for the guidance on the Bond Transformation, I can start whenever you are ready.”
Victoria also departed to attend to her own affairs.
Camilla sat alone on the hospital bed, digesting the information. Her sister had done so much in the shadows… was it to root out hidden threats, prevent similar incidents, and protect her better?
Her heart felt warm yet heavy.
She looked down at her hands and then at Rimuru, who was peering at her curiously.
‘I need to get well soon.’
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