Early the next morning, Clare gently woke me up. My body was still sore from yesterday, so I told Clare to let me stay in bed for five more minutes.

“Mistress, please, you must maintain a proper sleep schedule.”

“But I don’t want to.”

Clare looked at me with exasperation as I was hugging a pillow, acting like a kid, as if this was the first time she had seen this side of me, which it was.

“Lady Rita, please.”

I slightly opened my eyes and looked at Clare. I thought to myself, I did worry Clare a lot yesterday; I should listen to her because I still feel really guilty about making her worry.

“Fine.”

Reluctantly, I got out of bed.

“Thank you, my lady. Please come downstairs after you’ve changed; I made breakfast.”

Once Clare closed the door to my room, I did just that since I was still uncomfortable letting someone change my clothes for me.

Going downstairs, I saw Clare prepare me breakfast, which was a plate of bacon, eggs, pancakes, and a fruit bowl.

Clare poured me a cup of tea and started combing my hair as I began eating. Once I was done, I put on my gear to go dungeon diving again since I had nothing better to do, and I wanted to train with the owlbear again.

I said goodbye to Clare and told her I would return before sunset since I really made her worried yesterday. I don’t plan to overdo it this time, so I’m fighting the Owlbear five times instead of sixteen times like yesterday.

Going to the guild to enter into a quest, I saw Iris was not there; I guess she must really be sick or something because I didn’t see her last time I came by, two days ago. I didn’t put too much thought into it and went to the dungeon to start diving.

Going straight to the 20th-floor boss room, with a slight smile starting to form on my face, I entered the boss room.

Iris Perspective

Early in the morning at the Adventurer Guild, Iris was busy entering the names of adventurers and quests into the quest logs.

Clare looked at the line of experienced, strong-looking adventurers, who would make a normal person quiver in their boots, by her counter to call the next person with a customer service-like smile.

Iris thought it was like every other busy day: hectic but nothing out of the ordinary.

However, as she was entering a quest and the name of the next adventurer into the quest log, one of her co-workers pulled her away and told her.

“The guild master is calling for you, Iris. He said it was urgent.”

Iris wondered why Skis was calling for her, and then she turned to look at the adventurers waiting in line.

“Could you cover for me?”

“Mr. Skis already told me to cover for you; don’t worry.”

Iris nodded and went to the third floor, to the guild master's office.

Opening the door to the office, she saw that Skis, who is the adventure guild master of this city that always looks unreliable, looked visibly distressed like something really bad had happened.

Seeing Iris, he asks her to close the door.

With a serious and hardened expression, she asks.

“How bad is it?”

“Very, it’s about Lady Alice.”

Iris grimaced upon hearing Skis bring Alice’s name up because she thought that problem was done and finished, but it apparently was not.

“I received news that the city guard headquarters, which is holding that Yulis person, was attacked, and they found him missing.”

Iris grimaced even more and asked how many casualties there were.

“10 guards and all of Yulis’s underlings were found dead during one of the guard shifts.”

“Did anyone see who the intruders were?”

“Unfortunately, nobody saw anyone because the place Yulis and his underlings were being held was a corner-off part of the building.”

A name pops up in Iris’s mind for the main culprit, Alice’s older brother Claudius. However, upon giving it some thought, she has her doubts because Iris doesn’t see a real motive for Alice’s older brother to save Yulis even with information about how Alice describes her brother.

Deciding to take a shot in the dark, Iris asks about it, wondering if Skis knows anything.

“Could it be that Lady Alice’s older brother, Claudius, sent people to get Yulis out?”

“He could, but there is no way of knowing. Either way, everyone will point their fingers at the Palning family as the biggest suspects.”

“So we don’t have any way of knowing till more information is available and when the 3rd knight order has a grasp on things when they arrive.”

“I see, this is very much a problem. I’ll inform Lady Alice immediately.”

“Yes, do that. When you come back, please help me prepare for their arrival because things are going to be hectic.”

Iris nodded and left the office, while Skis leaned back in his chair and sighed exhaustedly, wondering why he took this job from the previous guild master.

Nyx perspective

The fighting was fierce, and there were some close calls. I wasn’t using a strengthening potion, limiting where I could hurt it with the strength I have right now; I managed to kill them each time without being hit.

After the fifth Owlbear fell to the ground and disappeared into vines, I controlled my urge not to fight it again and ascended up the dungeon to trade in my drops from today and yesterday for money except for the pair of Owlbear claws from yesterday.

When I got back home, Clare greeted me as she came out of the kitchen, telling me she had already prepared a bath anticipating my arrival, and was now cooking dinner.

I sat on the sofa to rest my tired body for a bit before I took a bath.

As I sat down, I thought about my fight with the Owlbear. Compared to yesterday, it felt like a workout more than anything else, which was kind of nice instead of being completely exhausted every time I came back after fighting a boss.

I then thought about what I needed to improve and how to kill the Owlbear faster. It is tough to pierce through its hide, so I’m limited on where I could hurt it. I was intentionally not using my engraved knives to make it more of a challenge and to get at least a magical shard out of it since one knife will drain a portion of its magical shard, making it smaller and less valuable.

Taking out the pair of Owlbear claws I was carrying, I looked at the long, slightly curvy claws that had a really sharp tip.

I wonder if I should make a weapon out of them, which sounds like a good idea. My primary sword and throwing knives are the only weapons that can realistically hurt it, making my spikes and short sword useless.

Since the claws came from the Owlbear, it should be enough to pierce through its hide, and I remember the book saying something like that too.

I looked outside, and the sun was still out, close to setting. I should make it to Kinwall’s shop and come back when Clare finishes cooking.

Getting up from the couch, I stretched a bit and told Clare, who was preparing dinner.

“Hey Clare, I’ll be leaving for a bit, not for long. I have something to do.”

“Please be quick about it, my lady, and be safe.”

“Okay. I will.”

Leaving out the door, I headed to Kinwall’s shop in a brisk stroll.

At Kinwall’s shop, I enter and call for him.

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Coming out of the back, I saw Kinwall look like he was in a foul mood.

“Did something happen?”

Grunting and crossing his arms.

“Some of my clients stop by, and I have to reforge most of their gear and weapons.”

He said it very displeased, which I get and feel because I too know what it’s like to deal with people with screws loose.

Just thinking about it reminded me of the named pilots I had to deal with in my past life, which unbeknownst to me, a frown appeared on my face, making Kinwall raise his eyebrow in a mix of shock and surprise for some reason.

“What?”

I asked if Kinwall was okay, with my frown unknowingly going away.

“No, nothing. So, what can I do for you?

“Could you make a pair of daggers out of these?”

I took out the pair of Owlbear Claws and showed them to him on the counter.

“I see. What kind of blade do you want me to make?”

I thought about it for a moment and said.

“Double-edged, but I want it mainly for piercing and stabbing.”

The tips of the claws are really pointy, so I want to keep it that way because it would do the most damage against the Owlbear.

“Got it. I’ll have it ready by tomorrow.”

Hearing that it would be finished by tomorrow, I wondered why it was surprisingly fast, which I asked.

“Oh, I’m making this a priority order because, let's be honest, I’m getting really sick of remaking the same gears and tools for those idiots over and over and over again. It just drives someone insane.

Kinwall sighed and then said.

“Is that all? Do you want me to do something else?”

“No, that is all. How much do I have to pay?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Yeah, I really want to work on something else than what I’m doing right now.”

“So how about your clients?”

Kinwall shrugged his shoulder and said.

“Eh, what about them? They can just wait an extra day; what do I care?”

“...I see, thanks.”

After handing over the Owlbear claws, I left his shop and went home.

When I returned home, Clare greeted me by the door. I greeted her back, and she told me dinner was ready.

Clare led me to the dinner table and served me my dinner, which was steak with mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, and freshly baked soft bread.

Then she took a step back as I began eating. I cut a piece of the steak and put it in my mouth, and it was just like how I remembered it when I was still a noble. I’m honestly surprised that she could make food taste this good with what she has around her.

“How is it, my lady?”

“Amazing.”

Clare slightly smiled at my compliment.

When I was done eating, Clare suggested I relax in the bath while she cleaned up since it was still hot and ready for me to use.

As I was about to go upstairs, I heard a knock on the door, which sounded like someone was desperate.

Clare and I look at each other, wondering who would be knocking this late.

I grabbed my short sword by the couch in the living room and went to the door.

I open the door, holding my short sword in my right hand behind the door to hide it.

To my surprise, the person I saw was Alice, who looked rather irritated by something, and not just her, but Chelsie too.

Why did Alice bring Chelsie here?

“Hi, what brings you here? It’s rather late, don’t you think? And why is Chelsie here?”

I turned to look at Chelsie, who was surprised to see me opening the door of my house.

“Sorry, Nyx, but this is urgent.”

“Urgent how?”

I was perplexed when I heard the word urgent, wondering what it could be.

Letting them in, they saw Clare, which caused them to be momentarily surprised, so I told them to have a seat.

I already expected Alice to encounter Clare but not Chelsie, which was going to be a pain to explain.

Shutting the door and putting my short sword away in its sheath, I sat on the couch, with Clare standing behind me, opposite where Alice and Chelsie were sitting.

I look at Clare behind me, letting her read my thoughts.

You can tell them I’m a noble but not a girl since Alice already knows; one more can’t hurt.

Clare slightly nodded and spoke.

“Shall I prepare tea for our guest, master?”

I turned to look at Alice to get her answer, which was.

“No, I won’t be taking too long; I don’t want everyone to worry if I come back late.”

Alice turned to look at me after answering Clare to say.

“This is something secretive; I prefer it were just us speaking.”

Alice wanted to talk about something in secret, but I told her.

“No need; Clare already knows about my circumstances and a bit about yours as well. She is a trusted servant back home; you can trust her.”

Alice looked at me confusedly but said.

“Very well.”

There was a pause as if Alice couldn't find the words she wanted to say due to a strong emotion welling up inside her, which I could tell was deep-seated anger.

Gritting her teeth, she said.

“Yulis escaped.”

“What?”

Hearing what she said, I wondered if I had misheard it because that can’t be right.

“Yulis has escaped.”

Hearing what Alice said again, I just wondered how.

“What do you mean he escaped? And how do you know?”

Hearing my question, Chelsie gave a rundown on the situation, which was Iris telling them as they came back from their dive today that infiltrators somehow sneaked into the headquarters of the City Guard and into the corner-off section of the building where Yulis and his subordinates were being held. They’d kill everyone in that part of the building without anyone noticing, including his subordinates, and manage to get Yulis out.”

Clare's expression hardens when I glance back at her because it is not good news.

“I see. Thank you for informing me, but what are you planning to do next?”

“We’re planning to leave in a few days because it’s too dangerous to stay here.”

A few days? I wonder why they didn’t just leave now.

Thinking about that, Alice answered my thoughts.

“Alex, Wendy, Maria, and Lucia are taking turns guarding my knights until the third knight order arrives.”

Knowing that Yulis had escaped and his underlings killed by the people who helped him escape, it only makes sense that her knights are going to be the next targets to cut off loose ends, which also means Alice is a target.

I’m guessing that is why Chelsie was accompanying her, but thinking about all this, it doesn’t make any sense because why would Alice's older brother Claudius or Yulis’s own family free him like this, since the best thing they could do is deny everything he says, making it so he did this on his own volition.

Alice and everyone definitely figured this much, and they’re planning to leave to not deal with that unknown factor for the time being.

“That is all. I think we should be taking our leave.”

Seeing them get up, I said.

“Sorry, Chelsie, but could I talk to Alice alone for a minute? You already know I’m a noble; it is something we cannot talk about in front of commoners.”

Chelsie looked at me surprised that I admitted that I’m a noble but said sure.

Once she closed the door, I said to Alice

“Sorry about that again, but do you mind me coming with you to the hospital? I haven’t gotten to know your knights yet, and I think it’s best that Clare stay with Alex and everyone in the hospital for a few days since I can’t really protect her at all times.”

“Yeah, I think that is best, but I have a question. Is Clare really one of your servants?”

Alice looks at Clare suspiciously, and I understand why she is asking that.

“Yes.”

With a sigh, looking back at Clare and back to Alice.

“She was one of my personal servants before I ran away, and no, she was not sent by my family to find me. She can be trusted and is very loyal, almost to a fault.”

Clare looked slightly proud of herself when I said the last part about her like it was a compliment.

“You really trust her then?”

“Yes, completely. I’m just worried about her safety, and it’s better that Clare was acquainted with everyone than not.”

Looking back at Clare again, she did not say a word because Clare knows her own limitations, but it didn’t stop her from feeling like a hindrance to me, which I was the only one who could tell by her slightest change of expression.

“Okay, I understand.”

Alice went to the door and opened it, asking if I was ready to go.

“Just give us a minute to get ready.”

“Okay.”

Alice nodded, and I put back on all my equipment while Clare, on the other hand, went to the kitchen to put out the fire and other miscellaneous things around the house.

After Clare and I were done, we went out, with Alice and Chelsie waiting outside.

Clare was wearing her everyday outfit to not attract attention to herself and me since the maid outfit she wore was extremely high quality, making people notice.

“Alright, let’s go then.”

Locking the door, we started walking to the hospital.

As we walked, Chelsie whispered to me quickly.

“So, you're really a noble, like Alice?”

I whisper back with a yes, making her surprised that I openly admitted it again.

I mean there was no point in hiding it from her.

“Huh? But why?”

Chelsie didn’t seem to change her tone when I told her, but I welcomed it because she was the logical one in the group, and angering a noble would be bad.

I guess it is because she knows me and isn’t too concerned about it, which I hope for.

I already made up a lie since I knew she would ask, which was.

“My family has a secret tradition of letting their child live amongst the commoners for a bit.”

“Really, they would do something like that?”

“Yeah, my family, like Alice’s, are kind of similar in some ways. One that values strength and, more importantly, self-reliance.”

“I see then what about your house or your maid?”

Chelsie turned to look at Clare, finding it all fascinating even though it was a lie I had made up, based on a story in another game I used to play for a bit.

“Well, it’s a reward for being on your own for a while. We get things back when I was still living in my family manor.”

“That is quite interesting.”

Chelsie turned to Alice, who was hearing the lies I spouted out, and said.

“Does your family do that?”

Alice, playing along, said.

“Not really; the closest thing I could think of was my siblings working with the soldiers, either on patrols or monster extermination missions, but not on the same level as Nyx over there.”

“I see.”

We proceed to talk about this as we walk to the hospital, where Chelsie asks about life before we met, life as a noble, which includes Clare.

I’m honestly starting to regret answering her question because I did not expect her to ask this much.