Day 6 of training, and I'd finally stopped waking up feeling like I'd been hit by a truck.
[STATUS UPDATE: LEVEL 12]
[SKILLS: BASIC SWORDSMANSHIP (LV 4), INTERMEDIATE DODGE (LV 3), CHATBOX ANALYSIS (PASSIVE), DOUBLE STRIKE (LV 1)]
"Again!" Sera shouted as I parried her strike and countered.
Our swords clashed, and for the first time, I actually managed to push her back a step.
Her eyes widened.
**[SERA]: He's actually getting GOOD. Like, genuinely skilled. That counter was textbook perfect. I'm so proud! WAIT. I mean— good. For mission purposes. Mission purposes that definitely don't include personal pride in his accomplishments.
"Excellent!" Aria called from the sidelines, where she was "observing for safety purposes."
**[SISTER ARIA]: The way he moves now... focused, determined. It's captivating. NO. It's educationally interesting. I'm observing for technique analysis. Not because watching him train makes my heart race.
I pressed my advantage, using the Analyze Weakness skill.
[SERA'S WEAKNESS: OVERPROTECTIVE OF KYLE - HESITATES ON LETHAL STRIKES]
Called it.
I feinted left, she moved to defend, and I tapped her shoulder with the practice sword.
"Point!" I declared.
Sera stared at the sword touching her shoulder like it had personally betrayed her.
**[SERA]: HE BEAT ME. HE ACTUALLY SCORED A HIT. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE EMBARRASSED BUT I'M ACTUALLY REALLY HAPPY?! HE'S LEARNING SO FAST! MY STUDENT IS AMAZING! ...MY student. When did I start thinking of him as MINE?
"That was... really good," she said, a genuine smile breaking through her competitive facade.
"I had a good teacher."
**[SERA]: Don't blush don't blush don't blush— I'M BLUSHING. ABORT MISSION. FEELINGS COMPROMISED.
"Ahem!" Aria interrupted. "Kyle, you're overdue for your healing session!"
"I'm not even injured—"
"Preventative care is important!"
**[SISTER ARIA]: I need an excuse to be alone with him. The spy has been monopolizing him all morning. This is strategic. Not jealous. STRATEGIC.
Before they could start arguing again, Eliza appeared in the training yard.
But something was wrong.
Her usual composed expression was tight, and her hand rested on her sword hilt.
**[ELIZA]: ████ MESSENGER ██████ FROM DUKE ████ ASSASSIN CONFIRMED ██████ ARRIVING TODAY ████ NEED TO ██████ WARN KYLE ████ WITHOUT CAUSING ██████ PANIC ████
"Kyle, we need to talk. Privately."
The seriousness in her voice made both Sera and Aria tense immediately.
**[SERA]: Threat detected. Moving to defensive position. If anyone tries to hurt Kyle, they're going through me first.
**[SISTER ARIA]: Her tone... something's wrong. Very wrong. Battle ready. If necessary, I'll use forbidden techniques. I don't care about Church punishment anymore.
We moved to Eliza's office. She locked the door and activated a privacy ward.
"The Duke knows you're alive," she said without preamble. "My informant just confirmed it. He's sent someone."
My blood ran cold. "Already? You said three days—"
"The Duke moved faster than expected. The assassin is already in the city. Professional, high-level. Goes by 'The Silence.'"
**[ELIZA]: ████ LEVEL 65 ██████ SPECIALIST IN ████ MAKING DEATHS ██████ LOOK ACCIDENTAL ████ KILLED SEVENTEEN ██████ NOBLES ████ NEVER BEEN ██████ CAUGHT ████ SHIT ██████
"Can you stop them?"
"Not legally. I have no proof they're here for you. If I arrest them without cause, the Duke will use it to file official complaints, and I'll lose my position. Which would leave you unprotected."
"So what do we do?"
Eliza's eyes hardened.
"We set a trap. The assassin doesn't know you can read chatboxes. That's our advantage. We let them get close, confirm their intent through their chatbox, and then I have legal grounds to intervene."
"You want to use me as BAIT?!"
**[ELIZA]: ████ I HATE ██████ THIS PLAN ████ BUT IT'S ██████ THE ONLY ████ WAY ██████ TO PROTECT ████ HIM LONG-TERM ██████ IF I ████ SHOW WEAKNESS ██████ THE DUKE ████ WILL SEND ██████ MORE ████
"I'll be there the entire time," she said firmly. "Hidden, but close. The moment their chatbox confirms assassination intent, I move in. You'll never be in real danger."
"What about Sera and Aria?"
"They'll be your visible protection. Which actually makes you look MORE vulnerable—a prisoner with only two handlers. The assassin will think it's an easy job."
**[ELIZA]: ████ AND THOSE ██████ TWO WILL ████ FIGHT LIKE ██████ DEMONS TO ████ PROTECT HIM ██████ EVEN IF ████ THEY DON'T ██████ REALIZE WHY ████ YET ██████
There was a knock at the door.
"Captain! There's a visitor for Prisoner Henderson!" a guard called.
Eliza and I exchanged looks.
"That was fast," I muttered.
"Remember," she whispered in English, "read their chatbox. The moment you see assassination intent, signal me. Touch your left ear—I'll be watching."
She deactivated the privacy ward and opened the door.
Standing in the hallway was an elderly woman in servant's clothes, holding a basket of fruit.
"Begging your pardon, Captain," she said with a sweet smile. "I'm Martha, from the Henderson estate. Young Master Kyle's grandmother asked me to bring him some treats now that he's... recovering."
**[MARTHA - THE SILENCE]: Target confirmed. Kyle Henderson. Thinner than the portrait, but those eyes match. Guards: two women, mid-level threats. Captain Frostborne: major threat, but she won't intervene without cause. Poison in the apple. Death in approximately twelve minutes. Make it look like natural causes. Duke Blackwood pays well.
Holy shit.
She was literally planning my murder while smiling like someone's kind grandmother.
"How thoughtful," Eliza said smoothly. "Though I wasn't aware Kyle had any family visiting rights approved."
"Oh, it's just a basket of fruit, dearie. Surely that's harmless?"
**[THE SILENCE]: If she refuses, move to Plan B: knife concealed in sleeve, strike when the Captain looks away. Fifty-two successful assassinations. Fifty-three after today.
I touched my left ear.
Eliza's expression didn't change, but I saw her hand shift slightly toward her sword.
"Of course," Eliza said. "But protocol requires I inspect all items first. For the prisoner's safety."
"Naturally, naturally!"
**[THE SILENCE]: She suspects nothing. The poison is undetectable by normal means. Even if she tests it, the apple will seem clean. The toxin only activates when mixed with stomach acid.
Eliza took the basket, examining each piece of fruit carefully.
**[ELIZA]: ████ CLEVER ██████ DELAYED POISON ████ BUT I ██████ KNOW THIS ████ TECHNIQUE ██████ SAW IT ████ IN MY ██████ PREVIOUS LIFE ████ CRIME SHOW ██████ EPISODE 47 ████
"Everything seems fine," Eliza said. Then, looking directly at 'Martha': "Though I'm curious—the Henderson estate is three days' ride from here. When did you leave?"
The old woman's smile didn't waver.
"Oh, I've been in the city for weeks, dearie. Just visiting family."
**[THE SILENCE]: Mistake. Should've said I rushed here. She's testing me. Doesn't matter. I have the Captain's approval. Once the boy eats the apple, I'll be gone before anyone realizes. The Duke's gold will spend nicely.
"And Kyle's grandmother," Eliza continued, "what's her name?"
"Why, Lady Margaret Henderson, of course!"
**[THE SILENCE]: That's what the briefing said. Why is she asking these questions?
"Interesting," Eliza said. "Since Kyle's grandmother died three years ago."
The temperature in the hallway dropped.
'Martha's' sweet expression melted away, replaced by cold calculation.
**[THE SILENCE]: Compromised. Eliminate witness. Captain first—she's the real threat. Then the boy. Then the two handlers. Four deaths. Make it quick.
Her hand went to her sleeve.
Eliza's sword was at the woman's throat before she could even grasp the hidden blade.
"By the authority of the Royal Guard, you're under arrest for attempted murder of a prisoner under protective custody."
**[THE SILENCE]: Damn. Plan C: create distraction, escape through window, report failure to Duke. He won't be pleased. Might kill me. Still better odds than fighting the Ice Princess.
The old woman suddenly threw the basket at Eliza's face.
Fruit exploded everywhere, and she bolted toward the window—
—only to run straight into Sera, who appeared out of nowhere and delivered a kick that sent 'Martha' crashing into the wall.
"Nobody," Sera hissed, "tries to poison Kyle."
**[SERA]: HOW DARE SHE. I will END her. Nobody hurts him. NOBODY.
Before the assassin could recover, Aria was there, placing a glowing hand on the woman's forehead.
"Sleep," she commanded, and divine magic flooded the hallway.
**[SISTER ARIA]: Merciful Goddess forgive me, but if this sleep spell were slightly stronger, it would stop her heart. And I'm VERY tempted. She tried to KILL him.
The Silence collapsed, unconscious.
Eliza calmly sheathed her sword.
"Well. That was educational."
**[ELIZA]: ████ KNEW THOSE ██████ TWO WOULD ████ REACT FAST ██████ DIDN'T EXPECT ████ THE MURDER ██████ RAGE THOUGH ████ THEY'VE GOT ██████ IT BAD ████
Guards rushed in, and Eliza gave crisp orders to take the assassin to the high-security cells.
As they dragged 'Martha' away, I finally let out the breath I'd been holding.
"That was too close," I said.
Sera immediately grabbed my shoulders, checking me over.
"Are you hurt? Did she touch you? Did ANY of the poison get on you?!"
**[SERA]: If she hurt him I'll— I'll— I don't even know what I'll do but it will be VIOLENT and THOROUGH.
"I'm fine, Sera—"
"Let me check!" Aria pushed Sera aside, channeling diagnostic magic over me. "No poison detected, no injuries, but his heart rate is elevated—"
"Because you're both crowding him!" Eliza said, amused. "Give the man some space."
**[ELIZA]: ████ THEY'RE SO ██████ OBVIOUS ████ IT'S ALMOST ██████ CUTE ████ IF IT ██████ WASN'T SO ████ POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC ██████
Both girls reluctantly stepped back, though they kept close.
"Kyle," Eliza said seriously, "that was just the first attempt. The Duke will send more."
"I know."
"Which means we need to accelerate the plan. You need to get strong enough, fast enough, to survive without me constantly protecting you."
"What do you suggest?"
Her smile turned slightly wicked.
**[ELIZA]: ████ TIME FOR ██████ THE VETERAN ████ GAMER STRATEGY ██████ DUNGEON GRINDING ████
"How do you feel about dungeon diving?"
[TWO HOURS LATER - ENTRANCE TO THE CRIMSON CATACOMBS]
"This is insane," I said, staring at the ominous stone entrance that radiated "certain death" energy.
"This is EFFICIENT," Eliza corrected. "The Crimson Catacombs are perfect for power-leveling. Monsters scale from Level 10 to Level 30, which is exactly your range."
"I'm Level 12!"
"Which is why you have three bodyguards."
Sera was checking her daggers with lethal efficiency.
**[SERA]: He's going into a dungeon. A DUNGEON. Monsters. Traps. Deadly encounters. I should've trained him harder. We should've waited. But the Captain's right—he needs real combat experience. I'll just have to make sure nothing gets close enough to hurt him.
Aria was clutching her holy staff nervously.
**[SISTER ARIA]: Dungeons. I hate dungeons. Dark, full of undead, terrible for my complexion. But if Kyle's going, I'm going. Someone needs to keep him alive. That someone is ME. Not that spy with her "I'll protect him" attitude.
"Alright," Eliza said, pulling out a glowing map crystal. "Standard dungeon formation. Sera, you're on point—scouting and traps. Aria, you're on support—healing and buffs. Kyle, you're DPS. I'll be rear guard and tank."
"What's DPS?" Aria asked.
"Damage dealer," I explained, and Eliza shot me a grateful look.
**[ELIZA]: ████ HE KNOWS ██████ RPG TERMS ████ THIS IS ██████ SO MUCH ████ EASIER ██████ THAN EXPLAINING ████ TO NPCS ██████
We entered the dungeon.
Immediately, the temperature dropped. The walls were lined with ancient bones, and the air smelled of decay and old magic.
**[SERA]: Standard dungeon. Similar to the Nekral Ruins mission. Undead likely. Stick close to Kyle. If anything moves wrong, eliminate it.
A skeleton warrior shambled out of the darkness, rusty sword raised.
[SKELETON WARRIOR - LV 14]
"Kyle," Eliza said calmly, "this one's yours."
"What?!"
"You need the experience. Sera and Aria will assist if needed. Now go."
**[ELIZA]: ████ SINK OR ██████ SWIM ████ TIME ██████ HE NEEDS ████ TO LEARN ██████
I gripped my sword (a real one now, not a practice weapon) and activated Analyze Weakness.
[WEAKNESS: BRITTLE BONES - STRIKE AT JOINTS]
The skeleton charged.
I dodged left—thank you, Sera's brutal agility training—and struck at its knee joint.
The bone shattered, and it collapsed.
One more strike to the skull, and it crumbled to dust.
[LEVEL UP! LV 12 → LV 13]
[+15 EXP]
"Yes!" I pumped my fist.
Sera was clapping.
**[SERA]: HE DID IT! Perfect form, clean execution, textbook joint strike! That's MY student! I'm so proud I could— wait. Professional. Stay professional.
"Excellent work!" Aria beamed. "Though you took a small scratch—let me heal it—"
"It's literally a tiny scrape—"
"Infection can set in!"
**[SISTER ARIA]: Any excuse to use healing magic on him. I'm shameless. I don't care.
We delved deeper.
More skeletons. Then zombie rats. Then a mini-boss: a Skeletal Knight.
[SKELETAL KNIGHT - LV 18]
"This one's tougher," Eliza warned. "Sera, assist. Aria, buff Kyle."
Aria's staff glowed as she chanted.
[BLESSING OF VALOR: +20% ATTACK, +15% SPEED]
Sera moved in sync with me, her daggers flashing as she harried the knight from behind while I attacked from the front.
It was like a deadly dance.
**[SERA]: He's keeping pace with me. Actual coordinated combat. We're... we're working well together. This feels RIGHT. Focus on the fight, but also... this is nice.
The Skeletal Knight fell after a two-minute battle.
[LEVEL UP! LV 13 → LV 15]
[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: PARTY COORDINATION (PASSIVE)]
We fought through three more rooms, each battle flowing smoother than the last.
Sera would scout ahead, identify threats. Aria would buff and heal. I would engage with Eliza as backup. We were becoming an actual team.
**[ELIZA]: ████ GOOD CHEMISTRY ██████ NATURAL PARTY ████ FORMATION ██████ THEY FIGHT ████ WELL TOGETHER ██████ LIKE THEY'VE ████ BEEN DOING ██████ THIS FOR ████ YEARS ██████
Then we reached the boss room.
A massive iron door with skull motifs.
"Okay," Eliza said, "final floor boss. This one will be around Level 25-30. Standard strategy: I'll tank, you three focus damage. Aria keeps everyone alive. Understood?"
We nodded.
The door opened.
Inside was a cathedral-like chamber, and standing in the center was a Lich—a powerful undead mage with glowing green eyes and robes that radiated dark magic.
[ANCIENT LICH - LV 28]
[WARNING: BOSS MONSTER]
But what caught my attention was its chatbox:
**[ANCIENT LICH]: More adventurers? How tedious. I shall drain their life force and add them to my collection. The girl with daggers first—she's the most dangerous. Then the priestess. The boy seems weak. The woman in white... wait. That magical signature. THAT'S—
The Lich's eyes suddenly focused on Eliza with recognition.
**[ANCIENT LICH]: THE ICE PRINCESS. The one who cleared the Northern Crypts. The human who slew my brother, the Death Lord. RETREAT. IMMEDIATE RETREAT. THIS IS NOT A WINNABLE FIGHT.
The Lich literally turned and started running toward a back exit.
"Oh no you don't," Eliza said, and suddenly she was across the room, blocking the escape route. "You attacked my party. That's a declaration of combat."
**[ELIZA]: ████ ALSO YOU'RE ██████ WORTH 5000 ████ EXP ██████ AND KYLE ████ NEEDS THE ██████ LEVELS ████
"M-Mercy!" the Lich stammered. "I didn't know you were—I wouldn't have—"
"Too late. Kyle! This is your boss fight!"
"WHAT?!"
"You can do it! We'll support! Think of it as a skill check!"
**[ELIZA]: ████ PROBABLY MEAN ██████ BUT HE ████ NEEDS THIS ██████ CONFIDENCE BOOST ████ AND THE ██████ LICH IS ████ TERRIFIED ██████ SO IT'S ████ SAFE-ISH ██████
The Lich looked between Eliza blocking its exit and me approaching with my sword.
**[ANCIENT LICH]: The boy? THEY'RE MAKING THE LEVEL 15 BOY FIGHT ME?! This is humiliating. But if I kill him, the Ice Princess will obliterate me. If I don't fight, I look weak. Curse this situation!
"I'm sorry about this," I said to the Lich.
"What?"
"My party leader is kind of intense about power-leveling."
**[ANCIENT LICH]: ...Did he just APOLOGIZE? While attacking me?! What kind of adventurer—
I struck during its confusion, landing a solid hit.
Sera's daggers flashed from behind.
Aria's holy magic burned its necrotic flesh.
The Lich tried to cast a spell—
—and Eliza casually dispelled it with a gesture.
**[ANCIENT LICH]: THIS IS BULLYING. THIS IS BLATANT BULLYING. I'M A RAID BOSS! I HAVE RIGHTS!
Five minutes later, the Lich fell.
[LEVEL UP! LV 15 → LV 18]
[MASSIVE EXP GAIN: +2,847 EXP]
[NEW SKILLS UNLOCKED: POWER STRIKE (LV 1), TACTICAL READING (PASSIVE)]
[ITEM ACQUIRED: LICH'S CURSED RING (+5 MAGIC RESISTANCE)]
I stood there, panting, covered in bone dust and magical residue.
"I just... killed a boss monster."
"You did!" Aria rushed over to heal my scrapes. "You were amazing!"
**[SISTER ARIA]: The way he fought... brave, strategic, ALIVE. My heart is pounding and not from the battle.
"Solid teamwork," Sera added, trying to sound casual while clearly pleased.
**[SERA]: We fought side-by-side like equals. Like partners. Like... no. Don't finish that thought.
Eliza walked over, grinning.
"Not bad for your first dungeon run. You went from Level 12 to Level 18 in one afternoon. That's what I call efficient grinding."
**[ELIZA]: ████ HE'S REALLY ██████ DOING IT ████ ACTUALLY SURVIVING ██████ ACTUALLY GETTING ████ STRONGER ██████ MAYBE HE'LL ████ MAKE IT ██████ MAYBE WE ████ CAN WIN ██████ THIS ████
As we exited the dungeon, the sun was setting.
My arms were sore, my clothes were ruined, and I'd nearly died approximately seventeen times.
But I was Level 18.
And more importantly, I had a team.
A completely dysfunctional, emotionally compromised, overly-protective team... but a team nonetheless.
"Same time tomorrow?" Eliza asked.
"There's MORE dungeons?!"
"Oh honey," she said in English, "we're just getting started. By the time the Duke makes his next move, you're going to be strong enough to look him in the eye and make HIM nervous."
**[ELIZA]: ████ AND MAYBE ██████ BY THEN ████ I'LL FIGURE ██████ OUT WHY ████ SEEING HIM ██████ SUCCEED ████ MAKES ME ██████ SO HAPPY ████
That night, as Sera and Aria argued over who got to stand guard outside my door first, I checked my status screen.
[KYLE HENDERSON]
[LEVEL: 18]
[CLASS: SWORDSMAN]
[SPECIAL ABILITY: CHATBOX READER (EX)]
[DAYS UNTIL ORIGINAL EXECUTION: 177]
[CURRENT STATUS: WANTED BY DUKE BLACKWOOD]
[SURVIVAL ODDS: IMPROVING]
[PARTY MEMBERS:]
ELIZA FROSTBORNE (LV 87) - Affection: 24/100
SERA NIGHTSHADE (LV 58) - Affection: 41/100
SISTER ARIA (LV 52) - Affection: 38/100
From outside my door:
"I'm taking first watch because I'm the assigned handler!"
"I'm taking first watch because I have healing magic if he has nightmares!"
"NIGHTMARES AREN'T A MEDICAL CONDITION!"
I smiled despite everything.
Six days ago, I was a dead man walking.
Now I was a rapidly-leveling swordsman with three terrifying women competing to protect me, a conspiracy to expose, and actual hope for survival.
The chatbox above my own head—the one only I could see—flickered with a message:
[KYLE HENDERSON]: This is completely insane. But... I think I'm actually going to make it. Maybe. Probably. ...Hopefully?
Yeah.
Hopefully.