-It’s a little...small...Then again, I’ve just been working for a day without checking it and this is already a noticeable gain! Still, though, Jacob’s stats have to be much higher than this, or perhaps he used some sort of skill, but regardless of what kind of skill it is, it’s dangerous to me.

 

Fate had less than 20 【Strength】when he had made a crack in the wall during his...episode, however, Jacob was able to pulverize part of the wall faster than Fate could see, meaning that his【Strength】stat, if and whenever revealed, would inevitably be much higher than Fate’s.

 

This prospect further amplified his fears, but Fate simply took a deep breath and focused on using his 『Meditation』skill.

 

『 Level of the skill『Meditation』has increased to 3!』

 

At that system alert, Fate heaved a large sigh…

 

-I know that I’ve been using 『Meditation』to calm down and think without letting my inhibitions get in the way, but it’s already up to level 3? I really might need some therapy, I mean if there is even any sort of therapist profession in Ilthea...you know what, I might just need to be somewhere else...preferably somewhere not in this mansion.

 

He had used the skill consistently to allow him to focus on planning and training for the coming days, however, he feared what might result if he allowed it to hit max level.

 

-If I try raising it to...whatever the max level is, will I be able to go into a state of zen any time...or will I just cease to do anything other than feeling calm? I really don’t like the latter prospect, but the being totally chill while someone hacks you apart isn’t tantalizing either…

 

Fate: “...I guess I’ll just have to burn that bridge when I come to it...and I’m pretty sure I said that wrong...ha ha.”

 

Fate began to chuckle a little but quickly stopped himself so that anyone who might be nearby wouldn’t be able to hear him.

 

He spat on his hands and rubbed them together, then proceeded to push his arms and legs against the wall, carefully adjusting himself till he had safely suspended himself above his cot. Holding himself in this position had been his primary method of training for the past day, both as  【Strength】,【Endurance】, and  【Agility】training and as a means to look for a weak point in the wall above.

 

Though the room was wide enough to fit two or three people, there was a space where his cot had been placed that was just the right size for such work.

 

-There’s fighting and running, but those are just solutions for those who can’t think under pressure...which I wouldn’t be able to without my skills, but still. Another option off the top of my head would be, find an escape route!

 

As long as he could find a way out of the mansion, even if it meant leaving without saying goodbye to Liza, which he felt loathe to do for some reason, it wouldn’t matter if he couldn’t win or outrun Jacob. It was a sensible plan given the severity of the situation, however, finding any sort of feasible ways to escape from a mansion he knew next to nothing about, would be quite difficult. 

 

Despite the adversity, he pressed on. For he knew that if he didn’t try, then he would have wasted an opportunity, something that he had done quite often in his past life…

 

Fate: “...G-gotta keep...my balance!”

 

Suddenly, the door burst open, alarming Fate and causing his body to loosen up, nearly making him fall onto his cot! However, he was able to bounce himself off the wall and landed, albeit slightly in pain from the impact, ‘safely’ on the floor of the room.

 

Liza: “...My lord, why do you appear so exhausted?! Must I remind you every time I see you that you should keep yourself healthy?!”

 

Fate paused for a moment to catch his breath while clutching his knees and slumping onto the cot before answering the seemingly furious Liza.

 

Fate: “I don’t recall you...ever specifically telling me...to keep myself healthy though? Besides, it...isn’t as if I’m bleeding again, right?”

 

Liza seemed to be caught off-guard by his questions but turned from furious to sulking almost instantaneously. This made Fate mad for some reason, but he couldn’t quite think of a particular reason for it…

 

-Am I seriously feeling bitter about being ignored?...I’m an adult for f*ck’s sake, why should I be mad about something as trivial as this!?

 

Though he himself didn’t seem to completely realize it yet, his new life and current age seemed to be morphing his personality, changing it in certain ways such as childlike jealousy, fits of rage, and being more susceptible to crying as much as he could whenever he did so.

 

He continued internally denying his rage until Liza walked to his side and put her hand over his shoulder, which seemed to bring him back to normality.

 

Liza: “I’m sorry for being so rude, but you need to realize that unless you take care of yourself...trying to escape from here will be naught but a fantasy…”

Fate was prepared for the first part of her sentence, but couldn’t help but be slightly shocked at the second...She knew about his plan to escape, yet was still supporting him even when she would be left behind and her attempts at friendship would be for nothing?

 

Fate: “...You knew?”

 

Another exhibited effect of Fate’s personality changes was that he couldn’t keep his expression neutral for long, often showing his true emotions at random intervals when presented with little amounts of stress.

 

Currently, his voice had remained normal even with the obvious pause, but his face had contorted into a depressed smile. Liza gave a short sigh and started to pout.

 

Liza: “My lord, I think it’s more than a little obvious that you have some problems...and more than a few of them were caused by your direct family and servants. It’s not common for the son of a noble to wish to abandon their family and their possible right to inherit power, however, in circumstances like yours... it’s no wonder you wish to escape.”

 

She was a servant of the manor, which meant that she had some access to rumors and whatever information had been provided to her upon being assigned to him. However, Liza knowing his thoughts disturbed him greatly.

 

-If she knew that I’d want to get the hell out, then why has she not ratted me out for my activities...when I attacked her...or the fact that I’m getting ready to escape or fight Jacob?! Why would she do it if me escaping or dying means I can’t be her friend?!?

 

Fate: “If you know all of this...why do you still try…?”

 

Suddenly, out of nowhere, she wrapped both of her arms around him, which he attempted to get away from but was denied by some unknown strength!

 

Fate: “...Let go...Liza...!!”

 

He could feel her creating a breeze from behind him, presumably meaning that she was shaking her head. He continued to struggle, but the exercise from earlier inhibited him from bringing out his full strength.

 

Liza: “...I care, isn’t that enough, my lord…?”

 

He could hear her begin to sob and felt what were probably tears begin to stain his back. However, she did not seem to do anything else, even releasing her tight grip to the point where Fate could easily have escaped, however…

 

-I...don’t want to...Plus, if I keep trying she’ll probably just…!

 

Liza returned her arms to her side and brought her face in front of Fate’s, revealing her brown eyes and the lower part of her face to be stained in tears…

 

Liza: “You... said that you would that you would do...anything within your power...as long as I kept falsely informing Lord Jacob and Lady Agatha...right…!?”

 

She spoke in a wailing tone and continued to cry all the while, causing Fate’s heart to feel as if someone had thrust a dagger into it and twisted it continuously…

 

Liza: “Then, let me...let me be like this with you … whenever...I want... that’s my...wish!”

 

Fate couldn’t bring himself to rebuke her now and he couldn’t seem to bring himself to speak either, but could only allow himself to be pulled back into her tearful embrace as his depressed smile became a face of anguish.

...