After returning to her room, Milora felt like there was a thorn in her heart, making her uncomfortable.
She tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
She got up, quickly put on her clothes, and made up her mind, saying, “I think I should thank her properly.
She fought with those two people… at least 70% of it was because of me.”
[Kicking them out was Deville’s doing, not yours.
Why should you care?]
“But in the end, she did help me.
Fair is fair.
If I want to become strong, I should handle things like a strong person, with boldness and passion!”
[Alright, then go thank her.]
“…Why aren’t you stopping me this time?”
[It’s better for you to experience it yourself.
Some things aren’t as good as they seem.]
“?”
Milora didn’t quite understand what the system was saying, but she didn’t dwell on it.
Her heart was racing, and her face felt hot.
She took a deep breath, left her room, and headed to the top floor of the inn, where Torina’s luxury suite was located.
Why was she nervous? Why was her heart racing? Had she really fallen for it? Had she subconsciously considered Torina a friend? She didn’t know.
This feeling was new to her.
She was very confused.
But she had to do what needed to be done.
When it was time to thank someone, she had to do it properly.
Just as she was about to knock on the door, the system stopped her.
[Wait a moment, that Anna-veil Alpharis might still be inside.
She harbors deep hostility towards you.
It’s best to avoid her.
You can listen first to see if you hear her voice inside.]
“Good idea.”
Milora bent down, leaned against the door, and pressed her ear to the door panel, carefully listening to the sounds inside.
It would be awkward if the vice-captain was still in there.
And the system—
([Audio editing program, activate!])
————————
“I heard the lord’s room has been locked in the swamp area.
What do you think? If we don’t act quickly, other teams might find it first,” Anna-veil said with dissatisfaction.
She was impatient and didn’t like falling behind.
“It’s just a lord, no need to rush…”
“Are you in a hurry to be killed by the Protagonist?” Torina muttered under her breath.
“But it’s the first kill of the lord, isn’t it? Aren’t you tempted? The quicker you act, the better! And our group’s strength isn’t weak, right? You and I are a given, and everyone else except Milora can be useful—though they’re all a bit odd!”
“Even if you say that…”
Torina started to get a headache.
The lord of the Amana Forest was tricky, with high attack and health, and a rabid desire to attack.
The most troublesome part was its passive skill “Battlefield Frenzy,” which greatly increased its stats based on the number of opponents.
Fighting it in a group would be a huge disadvantage.
In the original story, an adventurer group unaware of this struggled, and the Protagonist, with the system’s help, analyzed the battle situation and found the lord’s weakness (a scar on its back), launching a surprise attack to kill it.
(…Wait, since I know where the lord is and its weakness, doesn’t that mean?)
Torina suddenly realized.
“Recruiting Milora” could fundamentally solve the problem, indeed.
On this basis, if she could secretly deal with the lord that would lead to the third team departure event, wouldn’t that be double insurance?
If she could team up with a reliable person, the two of them could secretly set out, with one attracting the lord’s attention and the other attacking its weak spot from behind, they could deal with the lord with minimal manpower.
The lord would be defeated, and the plot rewrite would have double insurance.
Why not?
“…Hey, Anna-veil.”
“Hmm? Finally planning to act?”
“I’ll only tell you this.
I actually already know the lord’s location.
We can take it down anytime.”
“What????”
————————
“I actually already know the lord’s location.
We can take it down anytime.”
Huh?
Milora was stunned outside the door.
She had just pressed her ear to the door when she heard Torina’s explosive statement inside.
[It seems she already knew the lord’s information,] the system whispered to her.
“Mm…”
Not only was she surprised, but she also felt uncomfortable.
So, Torina actually knew where the lord was all along but didn’t say anything? Didn’t tell Milora? But told Anna-veil first?
Meanwhile, the conversation inside continued.
————————
“There’s a triangular mud pit near the center of the swamp area.
The mud on the surface is actually an illusion.
Jumping in reveals a hidden passage to the lord’s room.”
“How do you know that!?”
“I spent a lot of money on information… Just listen! The lord’s trait is ‘the more opponents, the stronger it gets,’ and its biggest weakness is the scar on its back.
Theoretically, as long as someone is in front attracting its attention—”
“—the other can launch a sneak attack! The fewer people fighting it, the better.
A two-person team is the most suitable for the operation!” Anna-veil immediately got excited, and Torina quickly reminded her:
“I’m only telling you this.
Don’t tell anyone else, especially Milora.”
“…Oh?” Anna-veil’s eyes lit up at this.
Hearing the boss’s information was already a good thing, and the latter part of the sentence was even more delightful.
She couldn’t suppress her smile.
“Aha~ Looks like you’ve finally figured out the key point? A lowly Milora Sistema isn’t worth your attention at all!”
“Don’t say that, it’s a bit too much…”
“It’s just the truth! Whether it’s background or strength, I’m always above her! You made the right choice coming to me!”
————————
“Sistema? Just a lowly thing, not worth my attention.”
—That was Torina’s voice.
Milora heard it loud and clear.
She suddenly felt the world spinning.
And the conversation continued.
Anna-veil: “If that’s the case, why did you hang around her all the time before?”
Torina: “I sensed her potential.
I can’t let her threaten me.
Killing her would be a waste, so I decided to tame her.”
Anna-veil: “Give her a little treat, turn her into your pet? Was it you who orchestrated Marian and Lilia’s return for revenge?”
Torina: “Haha, she should thank me~ Once I’m done playing, I can kick her out or kill her.
She’s just a worthless thing.
Even selling her as a slave, no one would want her.”
At this point, the conversation hadn’t ended, but Milora couldn’t listen anymore.
Her mind buzzed, and she couldn’t walk steadily.
The intense nausea made her want to vomit, but she couldn’t.
She staggered away from the door as if it were the entrance to hell, leaning against the wall as she stumbled downstairs, back to her room.
She sat on her bed, hugging herself, cold sweat pouring down, as the whole world seemed to drift away from her.
[Hey, Milora,] the system spoke up.
“……”
[Milora.]
“………”
[Milora, I know you’re hurting, but you have to face reality.]
“……………”
[This is her true thoughts.
Human nature is so sinister.
I warned you before.]
Milora was silent.
Silent.
A long silence.
Then—
“…………..So, tell me, what should I do?”
Her voice was like that of a helpless child.
[Of course, you should finish everything before she does.
You heard the lord’s information.
Now is the time for you to act! Remember, to become the proud phoenix, you must be ruthless.
Only the most ruthless can stand at the top of the strong!]
Hearing this, Milora lowered her little head, then nodded gently.
“………..Mm, I understand.”
[That’s the spirit!]
The system expressed satisfaction.
Meanwhile—
([Audio editing program, shut down… I should have done this earlier.
It’s all for your own good, Milora.
Forget that woman.
You only need me.])
