It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 137

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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500 Years as Just an Extra,

 

The Original Story Still Won’t Begin

 

Episode 137

 

“My hands are full.”

 

“Good grief.”

 

Someone who could easily move huge boulders with magic saying that. He took the tray Ailesia was holding and headed inside.

 

“This is a newly blended tea from the Porthen Family. I got it from Hilda.”

 

“I’m looking forward to it.”

 

Termion filled his teacup and first barely wet his lips to taste it. Between the slightly richer aroma than ordinary tea, he could taste something both tart and sweet.

 

“It’s good. It seems to have fruit flavors mixed in too.”

 

“They did something with oranges and lemons, I think?”

 

Only after they had emptied about half their teacups in comfortable silence did Termion continue speaking.

 

“Are the children asleep?”

 

“Finally, after I read them an entire fairy tale book.”

 

“You’re suddenly working twice as hard.”

 

“Hard work, what hard work. All my fatigue melts away when I see their sleeping faces.”

 

“I should sneak a peek at them sometime too.”

 

Exchanging words without much thought made her feel a bit strange.

 

‘The atmosphere is somehow…’

 

Nearly 10 PM. A leisurely tea time sitting across from each other.

 

Most importantly, a man and woman smiling while talking about children.

 

Doesn’t this feel like a married couple from some romance novel side story? Is it just me?

 

‘…What married couple feeling. This is finally starting to feel like a childcare story.’

 

These delusions are becoming a disease at this point. The truth is, everything up until now has been too much of a spectacular fantasy.

 

Ailesia chuckled at her silly thoughts and put down her teacup.

 

They had talked enough about the children, and it was time to bring up the main reason for visiting his office.

 

“What did you decide to do about Sophia?”

 

“I actually just received a report from the Head Maid earlier. She instructed the Head Maid to maintain the demotion and pay reduction but return her to her original workplace.”

 

“Her original workplace?”

 

“She was in charge of the break room. It’s a place that anyone who’s a member of Retis can use.”

 

So that’s how she had such wide connections. Even for a 2nd-grade maid, I wondered how she’d have so many opportunities to encounter retainers, but hearing about her work, I could understand.

 

With just a little attention to providing conveniences, she could quickly win people’s favor. Naturally, it would have been easy to gather various information too.

 

“Is the Head Maid trustworthy?”

 

“She’s a remarkable person who started from menial work and rose to become a 1st-grade maid. I heard she’s worked at Retis for about 30 years.”

 

“She must be an incredible person?”

 

“She’s one of the servants the Grand Duchess Dowager treasures most. Even now, she personally manages the Grand Duchess Dowager’s bedroom and office.”

 

At that level, she might be called a servant but she’s practically like a retainer. If Lady Herman gave direct instructions, she would have already ensured strict confidentiality, so there seemed to be no need to worry.

 

“Actually, I played a little prank on Sophia.”

 

“A prank?”

 

“I thought since I’m supposedly a witch, I should act like one.”

 

Termion’s expression stiffened slightly upon hearing those words. It reminded him of the conversation he had with Ailesia the day before yesterday.

 

“…Didn’t we agree not to use mental manipulation magic?”

 

“It’s not that kind of thing.”

 

Strictly speaking, it was magic that touched the mind. It just wasn’t at the level that could be called ‘manipulation.’

 

“I gave her an interesting dream as a gift.”

 

“Please explain it more simply.”

 

“It’s a method of implanting images into the subconscious. Originally, it’s magic used for educating young dragons, but it can be applied in various ways.”

 

It was also the method Master had used when educating her.

 

At that time, Rubia complained about lack of time, treasuring every minute and second, and thanks to that, Ailesia had to devote herself to studying even in her dreams.

 

When the caster conceives and injects an image in advance, the person under the spell materializes that image in their dreams.

 

Depending on what kind of image is set, one could have pleasant and happy dreams, or suffer from nightmares like Sophia.

 

“You can also implant abstract concepts or emotions. Joy, happiness, sadness, fear, things like that.”

 

“So Sophia will have specific dreams every time she sleeps?”

 

“Yes. She’ll experience situations she considers most frightening as dreams. Being tormented by evil spirits, being chased by magic beasts, things like that.”

 

“…What about side effects?”

 

Termion still looked uncomfortable, but Ailesia had nothing to worry about at all.

 

“Not really? I know because I experienced it myself.”

 

“You experienced it? What do you mean?”

 

“Master taught me magic using this method. When awake, I did training and gained practical experience, and in dreams, I studied theory.”

 

Suddenly recalling old memories, she unconsciously shuddered.

 

She had lived like that for over 20 years, not just a day or two. Back then, she desperately clung to it without knowing any better, but thinking about it now, she wondered how she had endured it.

 

“Since she’ll literally have nightmares, she’ll lose some sleep.”

 

“That’s hardly worth calling a side effect.”

 

It was a much gentler and more humane method than truth serum, which could turn someone into an idiot if something went wrong. After hearing the explanation, Termion finally seemed relieved and relaxed his expression.

 

“But will that be effective? Dreams are literally just dreams.”

 

“After suffering from dreams for several days, I’ll actually wake her up and create a similar situation. As if the nightmare has continued into reality.”

 

Of course, it would be useless against someone with exceptionally strong mental fortitude.

 

Ailesia had studied while accurately recognizing that it was a dream, and naturally continued her daytime training based on that content.

 

But for an ordinary person like Sophia, the story would be different. She would never be able to recognize that it was a dream.

 

Moreover, since she would lose sleep every time, she would suffer from fatigue during the day and become afraid to go to bed at night.

 

If such situations repeated, temporary obsessive-compulsive disorder or depression could set in.

 

“Probably the moment she realizes it’s not a dream but reality, she’ll open her mouth on her own? Begging desperately to be spared.”

 

“Certainly… It’s a much better method than physical torture.”

 

“And even if side effects occur, I can quickly restore her using the same method.”

 

“How so?”

 

“I can make her have pleasant and happy dreams. Though I’m not really inclined to do so.”

 

She hadn’t even apologized directly to Hilda, and she was a woman who had also looked down on Elenora. Naturally, she had no intention of forgiving her easily.

 

“Let’s decide that after seeing how cooperative she becomes.”

 

“Do as you please.”

 

“Would you like another cup of tea?”

 

“If you drink more, that’ll be your fourth cup.”

 

Even as she said this, Ailesia quietly held out her empty teacup.

 

* * *

 

Due to the continuous nightmares, Sophia was becoming increasingly haggard.

 

The man who had first appeared was relatively better. As days passed, more horrific and grotesque dreams were tormenting her.

 

Today marked the fifth day of sleepless nights.

 

Her skin, which had originally been pale, had become completely bloodless and ashen, with dark shadows cast under her eyes.

 

Moreover, her nerves had become indescribably sensitive. Even the slightest loud noise would make her flinch or break out in cold sweat, and she would either get irritated or burst into tears over trivial words.

 

Today was no different. While barely enduring her throbbing headache as she cleaned the break room, another maid accidentally dropped a few books, causing her to collapse on the spot and scream while crying.

 

“Sophia.”

 

“Y-yes?”

 

“Your complexion looks terrible. You’re not overworking yourself, are you?”

 

“I-I’m fine.”

 

“Fine? You look like you’re about to collapse just by looking at you.”

 

The Head Maid touched Sophia’s forehead with a worried expression. Sophia squeezed her eyes shut and trembled violently.

 

“Good heavens, you have such a fever and didn’t even say anything! Look at this cold sweat.”

 

“N-no. There’s no problem with my work, Head Maid.”

 

“What are you talking about! At this rate, something terrible will really happen. Go to the medical room right now, get examined, and rest well today.”

 

“H-Head Maid.”

 

“Hans, come here for a moment!”

 

Hans, who was called by the Head Maid, was a tall, well-built middle-aged man. He had a gentle personality and long experience, making him well-respected among the servants.

 

“You called for me, Head Maid?”

 

“Take Sophia to the medical room. I’ll follow right behind.”

 

“Oh my… How did you endure until your body got to this state?”

 

Hans clicked his tongue upon seeing Sophia’s haggard, pale face. He carefully carried Sophia on his back and headed straight to the medical room.

 

“How is she?”

 

The doctor who examined Sophia explained the symptoms in detail to the Head Maid.

 

“It’s body aches from overwork. She needs to rest for at least two days while we monitor her condition.”

 

“Is it very serious?”

 

“Overall, the sleep deprivation is the most serious issue. Her immunity has dropped significantly.”

 

Upon hearing the doctor’s words, Sophia’s body stiffened.

 

‘As expected…’

 

The words “sleep deprivation” rang in her ears like thunder.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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