Just as Rein was feeling frustrated over that one point of experience, a beautiful maid dressed in a gray uniform stepped forward and said to him,
"Rein, Chief Maid Shadia asked for you to come to the back garden."
"Hm?"
Rein was taken aback, but after hesitating briefly, he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll be there right away."
"George, you head back first. Make sure to let my parents know I might be late and that they shouldn't wait for me for dinner."
George, who had been waiting idly for quite some time, nodded, though his heart was filled with confusion. Since when did Rein become acquainted with Chief Maid Shadia?
It was well-known that the Chief Maid was among the estate's senior staff, ranking just below the steward and the treasurer in the Habsburg estate's hierarchy.
In no time, Rein followed the maid beyond the towering back gates of the castle, stepping into the back garden for the first time.
"Rein, please proceed. Chief Maid Shadia is inside," the beautiful maid said with a faint smile before retreating.
Rein offered her a slight bow, a gesture of gratitude for guiding him.
At this point, he had already begun to form some guesses in his mind.
*But certain matters can only be verified when the truth is revealed.*
As Rein stepped into the back garden, he saw a woman standing by the flowers. She appeared to be around forty years old and was none other than the estate's Chief Maid, Shadia.
Her black maid uniform paired with a reserved expression lent her an air of sternness.
But the main attraction in the garden wasn't the Chief Maid.
It was the aristocratic young lady not far from her—a noble girl standing in the center of the garden, clad in a tightly fitted hunting suit!
At this moment, she was wholeheartedly absorbed in swinging the dual-handed greatsword in her hands, seemingly meditating on some form of swordsmanship.
Rein's heart surged with excitement!
He hadn't expected to draw the attention of such an esteemed individual.
*He had always believed that earning the notice of Swordsmanship Instructor Humbert was a significant achievement.*
*If he dared to dream bigger, gaining the attention of the steward and knight Sir Lloyd of the Habsburg estate would be even better.*
*But he never anticipated receiving the focus of a noble lady!*
Rein had heard of her identity. She was the Earl's youngest daughter, her status far surpassing even that of the estate's steward and knight, Sir Lloyd.
"Rein, there's a selection of swords over there. Choose one, then attack me!" commanded the noble lady Cleya as she halted her movements and turned toward Rein.
If Rein hadn't mentally prepared himself beforehand, his heart might have been gripped by panic at that moment.
"Understood, Lady Cleya."
Walking over to the weapon rack, Rein realized that all the swords present were sharp steel blades. They included short swords, knight's longswords, bastard swords, and dual-handed greatswords—every type imaginable, and all appeared to be of excellent quality.
He took a moment to think before picking out a knight's longsword, similar in length to the ironwood training swords he was used to. He stepped into the center of the garden and stood firm.
*This was the first time in both his past life and this one that he had wielded such a sharp weapon for actual combat against another person. To say he wasn't nervous would be impossible.*
"If you're ready, we'll begin now," Cleya said with a faint smile. She had replaced her dual-handed greatsword with a bastard sword.
Rein nodded earnestly.
"Swish!"
Cleya brought her sword down in a slicing motion, and Rein instinctively raised his sword horizontally, using the strong blade to block the strike.
"Clang!" The sound of steel clashing against steel echoed.
But that was just the beginning. Cleya followed up with three quick strikes, "Swish, swish, swish!"
Rein's pupils contracted, and he abruptly retreated!
However, despite his continuous backpedaling, he found himself barely able to fend off the attacks, leaving him no opportunity to counter!
Three seconds later, Cleya's sword came to rest against Rein's neck!
Three seconds!
He had lasted only three seconds!
In this sparring session with Cleya, Rein resisted for just three seconds before swiftly being defeated.
This was even with Cleya intentionally holding back—adjusting her physical abilities to match Rein's—to deliberately give him a chance!
Rein could tell as much. He had seen her wield a seventy or eighty-pound dual-handed greatsword like it was a mere wooden stick.
But despite her restraint, the brief three-second sparring match rewarded Rein with:
[Your skill "Basic Swordsmanship" has improved. Experience points +15]
[You have experienced a battle. Professional Experience Points (Militia) +4]
[Congratulations, your Militia Profession Level has increased!]
[Remaining attribute points: 1]
[Remaining skill points: 1]
"Your grasp of basic swordsmanship is decent. Among the servant boys, it's quite rare—about as good as it gets for someone with average talent in swordsmanship," the young lady commented as she looked at Rein.
"Unfortunately, your physical conditioning is seriously lacking. Your chances of advancing to an Official Knight are slim."
"I suppose I was expecting too much. Producing someone with knight potential from ordinary folk is truly a long shot," Cleya remarked, a trace of disappointment in her voice.
*Wait, who is she looking down on?* Rein thought.
The aristocratic young lady's gaze made Rein understand just why they say women are a man's motivation to strive harder!
"Hold on, Lady Cleya! I'd like to try again. Could you please give me another chance?" Rein said, lifting his head and looking at her intently.
"Oh? Are you sure you're up to it?"
A faintly amused smile crossed Cleya's face as she cast a glance at Rein.
*At that moment, Rein desperately wanted to shout—when a beautiful woman asks a man if he can handle something, is there really any answer other than 'yes'?* Of course he could!
Without hesitation, Rein immediately allocated his newly gained attribute point, earned from leveling up his Militia profession, to agility!
"Speed is the essence of all martial arts!"
The primary reason he'd been so overwhelmed earlier was Cleya's sheer speed—so fast that he couldn't react.
When his agility increased from 6 to 7, Rein felt a surge of heat pumping from his heart, spreading rapidly through his entire body. In an instant, he was brimming with energy once again.
*That's the beauty of leveling up attributes—it also replenishes all your physical strength!*
Cleya was initially inclined to refuse, but upon seeing the determination in Rein's eyes as he stood up again, she nodded, "Alright. However, this will be your final chance."
Rein bowed slightly, and the next moment,
"Swish!"
Rein took a step forward. His speed had increased noticeably—by at least twenty percent—startling Cleya slightly.
"Clang!"
With his stamina fully restored, his improved agility, and his growing familiarity with the steel sword from their earlier bout, Rein's combat capabilities were now at an entirely different level.
*Hm? This level of skill is interesting,* Cleya thought as they sparred.
The two engaged in a rapid exchange of blows: "Clang, clang, clang!"
Off to the side, Chief Maid Shadia's gaze shifted as she watched Rein. Her previously calm demeanor now showed a spark of astonishment.
"Stop!"
Cleya shook her sword, forcing Rein to retreat, before speaking.
"Not bad, Rein. You may leave for now."
*Rein was slightly perplexed by this reaction. Was it an acknowledgment of his skill, or was she unimpressed?* He had even saved a skill point for an emergency upgrade just in case Cleya remained dissatisfied…
But with her having made her decision, Rein could only bow slightly and say, "Farewell, Lady Cleya!"
Turning on his heel, Rein walked away.
Cleya's gaze lingered on Rein's departing figure.
She had initially been ready to dismiss him, but Rein had managed to surprise her at the very last moment.
*Judging by his expression, the skill he displayed just now might not even be his full potential—there was an air of restraint, as if he had more to give.*
*Interesting.*
*If that's the case, he might truly be a promising candidate for knighthood. But there's no rush—I'll need a bit more investigation into his background first.*
At that moment, Shadia, still uncertain but curious, asked,
"Miss, why do you hold this Rein in such high regard?"
"Though Rein's talent appears decent, both Master Dennis and Master Marcos are already Level-3 Knight Servants, far stronger than Rein, who is roughly their age."
To the Chief Maid, Rein's talent might seem passable, but starting knight training at this stage was simply too late!
She didn't believe Rein had any chance of catching up with Dennis and Marcos.
Perhaps if Rein's future were limited to becoming a mere guard, it might not be worth her mistress's effort.
"Shadia, Rein is fundamentally different from them. Dennis is Baron Norman's son and has been practicing the family's inherited Knight Breathing Method since childhood. His current strength can only be considered mediocre in talent."
"As for Marcos, being the son of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce president, he's consumed all kinds of supplements to enhance his physique since a young age. While his progress may seem fast, his potential has already been exhausted—his chances of becoming an Official Knight are very slim." Cleya replied thoughtfully.
Hearing her mistress speak about this for the first time, Shadia widened her eyes in surprise and asked,
"So you mean to say that Rein has a lot of potential?"