The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 95

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

Chapter 95

“…During the Mage War. Did the village where you lived also have a vigilante group, Senior?”

“Yes.”

“Did they protect the village?”

“Yes. Protecting the village is what vigilante groups are supposed to do.”

“My hometown was different.”

That was a denial so resolute it even carried resentment.

“It was the 6th year of the Mage War, I think. News came that demons were advancing north toward the village where I lived. Fortunately, they had been subjugated once before so their momentum had weakened considerably, so we decided to form a defensive line centered around the vigilante group. We even gathered mercenaries from outside and prepared quite solidly.”

It was a common occurrence during the Mage War period.

“But when dawn came on the actual day the demons advanced north, there was no vigilante group protecting the village. They had all fled. Taking even the weapons, our only means of resistance.”

“…”

“The village naturally became a sea of flames. In the midst of frantically fleeing, I lost hold of my sibling’s hand… When I found them again, they were buried under a collapsed roof.”

In my mind, I simultaneously pictured a roof burned black and collapsed in ruin, and a warship sinking beneath the sea along with black smoke.

“At first, I resented the vigilante group that betrayed the village. But later, I thought that resentment might not be justified. After all, the cause of all the trouble wasn’t the villagers who trusted the vigilante group, nor the vigilante group that betrayed those villagers, but Mephistopheles.”

“Then what you want is revenge.”

“Yes. I want to kill Mephistopheles and avenge my dead sibling and the burned village. Although the one who killed Mephistopheles was Andert Pager. If there’s a next time after that…”

I will kill him.

I swallowed a sigh at the words that were swallowed down my throat.

‘How chillingly identical to me.’

Surely the dead sibling isn’t a younger brother.

Jin has a story.

And stories make swordsmen stronger and become stepping stones to overcome walls.

‘But they also make it easier to lose control.’

Indeed, Jin needs someone to protect.

“Senior. It seems the examination has started.”

At those words, I decided to shake off my idle thoughts for now. There would be plenty of time to worry about it later.

As expected, the first examination for Rogue admission was a duel.

According to the rules, examination candidates had to face the examiners while wielding tin can weapons provided by Rogue (they looked so shabby that “tin can” was the perfect description).

The examiners were strong.

Three believers took turns facing the candidates, and one of them seemed to be a swordsman who had overcome the second wall.

‘Yete, I suppose. Then my opponent will be that man.’

Thanks to the considerable number of candidates, there was plenty of time to observe the examiners.

First characteristic: ambidextrous with a preference for the right hand.

Second characteristic: prefers to push through with force.

Third characteristic: has circular baldness.

And just before I could pick out the fourth characteristic.

The admission examination ended.

‘What? Are you kidding? I haven’t gone yet?’

I was about to stand up to raise an objection.

The examiner who had been giving final instructions crossed the empty clearing and approached me.

“Miss Daisy Pager. We will now proceed with your examination. Please follow me.”

“Not here?”

“It will be conducted at the Royal Palace. Please follow me.”

Then why did they bother bringing me to the examination site?

We followed the examiner back to the Royal Palace.

When we arrived at the rear garden, Count Sereniye and King Astrosia were waiting for us.

And Weatherwax Baroness was…

“Go easy.”

He came to me with an expression full of interest and suddenly left that advice.

How absurd.

“What are you talking about. I’m in the position of taking the examination, not giving it.”

“I’m saying this out of concern. You always act spiteful whenever you make that expression.”

“What’s wrong with my expression?”

“It’s sour.”

…Hmm.

I managed my expression and stood before the examiner. After rolling my neck lightly, I asked the examiner.

“Question. Why am I being conducted separately?”

“Internal circumstances. I cannot tell you.”

Cannot tell me, my foot. It’s definitely Lu’s scheme.

Well, there’s nothing bad about having a private examination.

“We will now begin Miss Daisy Pager’s Yete qualification examination.”

I picked up a tin can sword from among the scattered weapons.

A sword that was pointlessly heavy and pointlessly dull.

While I swung it lightly a few times to get used to it, the examiner spoke.

“I assume you observed how I wield my sword at the test site. Though I doubt you have that level of discernment.”

He arrogantly tilted his chin while letting his sword droop.

“Please attack first. I’ll give you up to three moves.”

First attack. And three moves on top of that.

Wasn’t this a courtesy that previous examination candidates didn’t receive?

Judging by his rude tone, it seemed like he was forced into it. I could feel that Lu had made full preparations to send me to Rogue.

‘Well, it also means my energy is perfectly concealed enough to be completely ignored.’

Mm, good.

Let’s kill him within three moves.

I slowly walked toward the examiner while holding the sword in my right hand.

I stood facing the bald examiner who had an expression asking ‘what kind of trick is this now’ and raised my sword. Then I swung it from top to bottom.

Since it wasn’t a particularly fast sword strike, the examiner avoided the sword by simply moving one step to the right. The moment his derisive gaze reached me.

Sword energy extending from both edges exploded like a grenade.

BOOM!

There’s no easier opponent than one who’s off guard.

The bald examiner, who had leaned halfway to the side, did a somersault in the air and retreated far back.

“Kuk.”

Drip drop. Red blood scattered on the ground in a long arc where he had stepped back.

It was blood dripping from his left ear.

“Don’t draw your sword. You have two moves left.”

The hand that had reflexively been fumbling for the sword handle froze stiff.

You’re the first swordsman since Swordmaster to give me three moves, Bald Examiner.

Since it’s a favor not easily obtained, I’ll face you with sincerity.

I walked toward the examiner again.

His reddened face no longer showed the arrogant expression from before.

This time I attempted a somewhat ordinary thrust. Thinking sword energy would explode again, the examiner immediately leaped to the side.

Just as his body was about to move away. I used the center of weight gathered in my right foot to swing my left leg.

“Kek!”

The rigidity of the abdomen felt through my knee was impressive. But since it wasn’t my concern, I threw my left fist at the staggering opponent’s jaw.

The bald examiner who had fallen to the ground shook his head and gritted his teeth.

“Who… uses fists in a duel…!”

“Sorry. I originally have no class.”

I gripped the tin can sword with my left hand again.

“And actually, I’m left-handed.”

After confirming that faint fear had settled in the bald examiner’s eyes.

“Please take care of me well for the last move too.”

I thrust my sword with the fastest speed I could muster. The sword tip was aimed precisely at the man’s head.

The higher a swordsman’s skill level, the more clearly they can judge their own limits.

The bald examiner was no different.

Thinking it was too late to dodge, rather than counterattacking me, he bent his upper body back as much as possible to minimize the damage.

Just as my sword thrust forward was about to pierce the man’s pupil in that split second.

“Stop!”

With King Astrosia’s command, the test ended.

I looked at the eyelashes touching the tip of my tin sword. The dense eyelashes characteristic of Northern Continent people were trembling with fear.

“That was truly frightening! Miss Daisy Pager, surely you weren’t planning to kill the examiner?”

The bald examiner, breathing heavily, hung his head low and wiped his face with dry hands.

I withdrew my sword and answered.

“Killing civilians is a crime.”

“Don’t talk like a soldier. The examiner nearly died!”

“I merely frightened him.”

“For the strong to intimidate the weak. Is that the Empire’s way of dueling?”

“It was the examiner who held back. Rather, I was the weak one. Are you saying it’s wrong for the weak to do their best?”

Hah. King Astrosia let out a long sigh and glanced once at Count Sereniye, then once at Kalerpa.

“I wondered what they were thinking, making such a young-looking woman take the Yete examination… She was a monster, a monster.”

“So did I pass?”

While the other examiners were busy helping the bald examiner, my question scattered into the air.

I lifted the tin sword over my shoulder and asked again.

“Did I pass or not?”

The examiner’s shoulders stiffened and he nodded.

“You… passed.”

Yahoo!

As soon as I threw down the tin sword and celebrated, Deshero approached me.

“Well done. You restrained yourself well at the end. Of course, considering your personality, you likely mocked your opponent intentionally. But this is not the Empire, it’s Astrosia Kingdom. There’s no need to draw attention with your actions…”

Even while nagging, you have eyes that show you’re quite pleased that my skills haven’t dulled, Deshero.

“Your underhanded use of feet and fists was excellent, Senior. Thanks to that, I learned that hands and feet can be fully utilized for victory…”

After Deshero, I let Jin’s chattering voice go in one ear and out the other.

Good, I’m finally joining Rogue!

Looking at Count Sereniye with a proud feeling, he too showed me a lovely smile.

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