I spent the last few hours completing my usual routine, ticking other simple quests tied to Libert Mulling.
"Libert-sama?"
A woman's voice pulled me from my thoughts. Oh right, I was still in the middle of a quest with Anna.
"It's nothing, Anna. Don't worry about it."
The quests kept nudging me to either go out with Anna or engage in various activities with her, making things a tad awkward between us. I'd initially planned to ask her out just once, but here I was, repeatedly roping her into these situations.
She must think I'm a fool—some kind of pervert that enjoys going to dates with people that despise him.
"...Is everything alright? Libert-sama's face is a little...pale."
Well, in about a few hours, I will be likely be dead. My rational mind does understand that's all for my future, and that I will not completely die, but as a human, there is an instinct to be afraid of death I cannot get rid of.
If I truly didn't feel anything even at that, could I consider myself a human?
It's not like I could tell her that, though
"Yeah, I feel a little unwell, Anna. Just a little headache. I'll retire to my bedchamber for some rest. You should get some sleep too."
...because if I don't, I'll sabotage my plan to gather information and end up getting killed without understanding how it happened...
As I mentally bid her farewell, I turned around, ready to go. But before I could, warm lips kissed my cheek.
I stood there, shocked, for a moment before turning back to face her. The brown-haired girl I'd been using for leveling up filled my vision again. This time, however, a foreign emotion welled up within me as I noticed embarrassment on her face.
It's like I was seeing her in a different light, all of a sudden.
"I-I am sorry, Libert-sama!! I...I just felt like... you would disappear for some reason. I know it's a silly thing to say, but... before I realized it, I had already..."
As she explained herself, a realization hit me like a ton of bricks. You sneaky System, that was your intention all along.
I gritted my teeth. It had always been a little too convenient. Could the System genuinely allow users to exploit it the way I had been doing? Sure, I may have thought outside the box, but I'm no genius.
If I figured this out, someone else must have stumbled upon this method in the past.
Then, why has no one passed the 100 Trials of Fate already?
Obviously, because there's a catch—a human doing this is the catch.
Quests tied to my identity in this world are a danger just by existing. They're meant to make me bond with everyone, only to crush me emotionally when I'm forced to leave or worse, chain me in a different way.
The initial quest seemed more like a test, a measure to figure out how to gradually break my spirit and push me towards giving up.
Fortunately, it appears the System can't force me into actions completely against my nature, like killing everyone in this villa or something of that sort.
Still, I should never let my guard down.
For example, what if the one coming to kill me was a ruthless murderer intending to slaughter everyone here instead of a respectable killer like Yor Forger?
If I opted to coldly wait for 360 days, implementing efficiency into my plan for the future, I'd have to witness someone like Anna die 12 times before my eyes. That kind of shock is no easy thing to endure, even with some of my emotions suppressed regarding death.
What a fool I'd been.
Without hesitation, I embraced Anna.
"It's not silly, but your hunch was wrong, Anna. I'm not going anywhere. How could I leave such a cute maid here all alone? Don't worry about it and get some sleep. I'll be upset if you show up tomorrow with dark bags under your eyes because you didn't sleep, okay?"
She hugged me back, replying with a small "Mhm."
I thought this girl hated me, but not only was I wrong, I didn't realize just how attached I'd become to her.
I'd just been passively completing quests, ignoring everything else. I need to guard against letting these feelings get to me too easily in the Trials to come. I mustn't forget that Libert Mulling is just an identity...
But, for a moment, I found comfort in her warmth, feeling less anxious. No one else but me would die today.
After a while, we parted ways, and I returned to my room to rest a little.
---
I had made some preparations for the inevitable moment when she would come to end my life.
Unsure of the exact circumstances or how she would infiltrate my villa for the assassination, my options were limited. My trusty sword had been in my room since my arrival in the [Spy x Family] world, so I also didn't need to look for a weapon.
Unsheathed, it rested in my grip as I watched the seconds count down on the timer.
Suddenly, the window in my room mysteriously opened, a subtle but effective entrance that could catch an unsuspecting person off guard.
"Wow, that's like a magic trick. If I wasn't completely focused and aware of my surroundings, there's no way I could have been woken up by something like that."
I muttered.
Was her strategy to carry out a silent execution and slip away unnoticed?
However, what if the target was already aware?
"...How did you know?"
I felt a cold gaze behind me and swallowed hard.
How did she slip behind me? I didn't even see her enter through the window.
Questions flooded my mind, but it was an emergency. No time for them.
Ignoring her question, I lunged at her with my sword, aiming for some distance between us to correctly shift my center of gravity. However, before my blade could touch her, she effortlessly seized it, treating it like a child's toy.
"Interesting. The reports didn't mention you were this strong. I apologize for the intrusion, Libert Mulling-sama. May I have the honor of taking your life?"
Our strengths were worlds apart.
I abandoned any attempt to reclaim the sword for now and swiftly assumed a basic combat stance. A kick aimed at her chest was my next move, a desperate attempt to create some space by condensing all my knowledge in Karate.
Albeit I did quite good in a fast-paced fight like this, the opponent I was against was not human.
She deflected my kick effortlessly with the blunt side of her stiletto, nearly crushing my leg.
Her mercy seemed the only reason my leg wasn't obliterated. A small consolation in the face of my impending demise.
"You even know Martial Arts...that is incredible. Just who are you, really?"
There was no fooling a master like her.
Even as a merciless assassin, I couldn't deny the captivating beauty she exuded in that attire, mirroring the anime scenes etched in my memory.
I managed a defiant chuckle, acknowledging her observation.
"Heh...I'm glad I managed to surprise you just a little, Thorn Princess. As for who am I, I will leave that to your imagination."
If you knew the one fighting you was a nobody just 30 days ago, could you keep looking at me with that indifferent gaze, I wonder?
But this was no time for banter. I recorded the precise timing of her attempted assassination, also noting the intricacies of her movements within my mind to come up with a proper plan in the future.
My sword was insufficient against her, and my combat techniques couldn't even scratch her. However, I realized that I needed to use her expectations against her.
"Why are you not screaming for help?"
She held back momentarily, curious about the anomaly in her mission as she was seeking some information.
"Because that'd be pointless. I know I am a dead man anyway. No need for me to embarrass myself in front of my family even during my last breaths. All I ask is to at least let me die a warrior's death, if that is fine with you."
Why? To buy time. To gather information. To strike when the opportunity presented itself.
"...Very well. I shall respect your wish in regards of the fact I am the one asking for your life. Please speak. How is a warrior's death defined for you?"
"I wish to go through a proper move against you. Please, show me the level the person who will kill me has reached without holding back."
My thoughts and my words did not match.
"...I see. I shall agree to this. Your death will be almost painless, you can trust me."
I smiled.
The coldness within her eyes changed to resemble what I could consider just a tad bit of respect
I don't need it, though.
She kicked my sword back to me, and I caught it. Time for the last move of my life.
She, too, got into position, and the air shifted.
Her killing intent was so high my body began sweating. No, it was better to say I was slightly terrified as I never even killed anyone in my life. The difference was way too great.
Still, that was good.
In this moment, I could see everything clearly. Her experience, her movements, her intent — every detail etched into my memory. It was not a battle I could win, but perhaps, I could learn something vital. My sword became an extension of my understanding as I sought that something I was missing.
Our anticipated clash abruptly concluded in a swift and brutal manner.
It was catastrophic, the sheer force behind her stilettos propelling me across the room until I collided violently with the unforgiving wall. The impact shattered at least two or three bones within my body instantly as I grimaced in pain.
It seems I still was not worthy of her using her full force.
Yor's inherent kindness, even in her full combat ferocity, seemed to want to spare me from further torment. Just moments before her blade could sever my throat to end my pain...
In that intense moment, within the pool of my own blood and the wreckage of our duel, a realization struck me. The piece I was missing was suddenly clear.
[Some Sword Training II - Quest Complete]
[You have leveled up] x5
[You have acquired the [Movement] Talent]
[You have acquired the [Turtle Shell] Skill]
.
.
.
[Your sword has grown]
[The Sword has acknowledged your honor as a Swordsman. Your Talent [Sword] will level up]
[The Sword has accepted you as its true Master. Your Talent [Sword] will level up]
[The Sword cannot bear to let things end like this. For 2 seconds, you can completely ignore your body's current limits]
[The Sword is enraged. For 1 second, your sword will be able to cut through your opponent regardless of their defense]
[Your Combat Prowess has been temporarily changed]
[Weakest ➔ Low]
Rising from the ground, a metallic tang filled my mouth as I spat out the blood, knowing time was a fleeting ally.
No words exchanged, no precious microseconds wasted—I thrust my sword toward her with the determination of a warrior.
She seemed to sense the danger of meeting my sword head on, so she evaded my slash with superhuman reflexes. Still, I forcibly altered the sword's path, using everything I learned and catching her off guard. The blade didn't come close to severing her head, but...
A cut adorned her face, blood staining her porcelain skin as I laughed.
Less than a second passed, but her stilettos did not care about it as they found their target open and defenseless.
Even after my head was cut off, I managed to barely look at her expression as she now had a somber expression.
She had never been scared to die, but she was beyond surprised as she touched her own wound.
The cut I left had spoken louder than any words we exchanged.