Fayette almost completely lost her balance when she saw her class options. Out of her 5 options, she sensed only one common one, leaving the rest as uncommon. Alright, she had been fairly certain that she would receive an uncommon option, but 4? That was more than she had dared hope.

She decided to look over the common one first, just so she could gloat her superiority over it.

[Maid Adept: After gaining proficiency in the basics of your craft, you are ready to tackle greater responsibilities. A natural next step for all Maids; one can always count on a Maid Adept to handle the housekeeping and attend to their master. Expand Attendant and Housekeeping domains.]

Hmm, this is indeed the common one—I think most of the [Maids] back at the manor took this one. Had I continued there as one among them, that might have been me. Hah! Take that, Clara! Bet you didn’t get four uncommon options! Oh, right, she died. Shouldn’t gloat over the dead. Bad luck, I think.

“Hey. What are you blanking out for? We need to move.”

Fayette raised her head to meet an annoyed Olivia. Right, there was a bit of a situation going on. Mireille might be in trouble. Need to hurry.

“Sorry,” She answered, then continued moving along the corridor. “Class upgrade. Nice options.”

“Look over them as you move, you might need one soon. I think I can hear alarm bells, it’s too fast.”

Fayette nodded, quickened her pace to a brisk jog, then moved to the next class option.

[Perfectionist Maid: After taking extra care to handle all tasks thoroughly with a perfectionist’s eye, you will be ready to take perfection to greater heights. A class for Maids not satisfied with handling tasks just well enough, a Perfectionist Maid will ensure her work is thorough. Unlock Pursuit of Perfection domain.]

She knew she wouldn’t pick it, but seeing the option did fill her with happiness regardless. Her method of work at the manor had not been for naught—she had been on the correct track for something better. An option she would have been happy to choose in a more peaceful future.

Sadly, I don’t think It’ll help me out much in these circumstances. Maybe it could have combat applications? I could notice errors enemies are making or something like that? Feels like a longshot. I guess if the other options don’t work, I can return to this.

She shelved the option right as she burst out of the corridor, back into the main boiler room. The noise of the alarm bells was louder now. She shut and locked the door behind her and continued on. The next class made her raise an eyebrow.

[Treacherous Maid: You’ve used the innocent guise of a Maid to take your unaware master down. Tired of working for some lousy boss who could really use a dagger between the ribs? Thrilled at the thought of slipping into a retinue unaware of your true nature, then taking them apart? If so, this is the class for you! Unlock Treachery domain.]

Hey! Who are you calling treacherous? I’m a very trustworthy person! Alright, my one and only boss may have ended up with a case of melted-face, but you can’t draw conclusions from such a small selection! Besides, it doesn’t count as treachery or betrayal if they deserved it, right?

Although she felt an instinctual dislike for the class, she forced herself to consider it further. It hinted at subterfuge, deception and assassination, which might prove useful fields. For example, having the class might have made her current mission a lot easier. Sneaking into places and sabotaging them seemed to fit the option’s purview very well indeed.

Still, that wasn’t really the type of person Fayette wanted to be. She liked more direct approaches, ones which had her facing enemies directly. She didn’t really want stealth to be her main thing.

Besides, the class just reeked of trouble. It was just the sort that the church preached against: whisperings of the devil. It did seem suspect, not a class for a virtuous person. Getting inspected with that class would be sure to lead to trouble. Fayette quickly traced a box over her heart, just so the saints above would know she wasn’t really considering this one.

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Hey, I’m not falling to temptation, alright? I’m pious and proper! No sins here!

She got to the main factory halls, and onto the next class option.

[Maid of Cleansing Flames: You’ve realized that some things can only be truly cleaned through the power of fire. Does the world seem too dirty and debased, in need of a proper cleansing? Do you feel the urge to just torch it all down? Expand your embers to a roaring inferno with this class! Unlock Cleansing Flames domain.]

Fayette had to pause for a good moment to consider this one. It felt just as sinful as the last one, maybe even more so. More worryingly, Fayette felt this one actually calling to her. Burning down that mansion had been a lot of fun, to be honest. So had rigging up the bomb here.

Wait wait wait, am I actually considering this? I mean, it might actually have some decent combat options—burning foes down into ashes should be effective, right? Could I even unlock the power to burn brick? That would have made this whole factory sabotage thing a lot easier!

Besides, was this really another offering of the devil, a temptation she would have to resist? Fayette began searching through her mind. She had not actually paid that close attention to her lessons, the [Priests] had always tended to drone on in that boring way, so she wasn’t too certain whether pyromania even was a sin. Weren’t [Fire Mages] virtuous heroes in the stories?

Like, what if I only burned down bad people, and bad buildings? Surely that would be fine? The church wouldn’t oppose, right? Hmm, I might need to consult someone on this one.

It was the most tempting one so far, so the choice would go to a comparison with the final.

Olivia had stopped to return their key to the unconscious [Guard’s] pouch, and rejoined Fayette right as they ran out of the main factory hall, back outside. She had grabbed some papers and other materials to her pouch—things to make their deception more convincing.

The hazy smog had cleared a bit, and the outside was now lit clear by moonlight.

Fayette felt her heart calm when she saw a plume of smoke coming from the administrative building, just as planned. Mireille had succeeded. However, she tensed again when she noticed another plume, this one from further away. Not something they had agreed on.

There’s no reason she would start another unplanned fire, not unless she’s in trouble. Maybe it’s a signal for us?

She didn’t tarry and began running in that direction. Olivia took only a moment to follow. It wasn’t a long distance, so Fayette looked over her last option.

[Combat Maid: You’ve found that some trash fights back against attempts to be cleaned—an issue you have found a solution for. Who says a frilly apron and sturdy broom can’t efficiently dish out violence? A class for those who know better and want to take their fighting prowess to the next level. Perfect the arts of Maid Combat using this class! Unlock Maid Combat domain.]

It felt like a good choice, a class that really described her aspirations, and seemed safe. Reliable. It didn’t seem dubious like the two before, and seemed to pack enough punch to help her in this career path. No reason anyone should oppose her having this one either. If anything, it might make things easier.

I bet they would even let me become a proper hunter at the guild if I picked this one. If that stupid book of theirs doesn’t have a [Combat Maid] as a fighter class, I will tear it in two. Damned book.

Still, it was a bit of a more boring option, more conventional. Would she be willing to give up on her dreams of fire for the sake of powering up her physical fighting?

Fayette rounded a corner around the building and finally saw the source of the smoke plume. Mireille did indeed seem to be in a spot of trouble. She was standing with her back to a storage shed, a squad of [Guards] surrounding her. The [Seamstress] was holding a smoking bottle in her hand and waving it at her pursuers.

“I’m warning you! If you try something, I’ll drop this and we’ll all be blown to smithereens! You all heard the explosion before, that took only one of these. No rash movements!”

It seemed a clever bluff, but not a decisive one. Fayette knew this situation would need a direct hand. Her friend was in trouble, and force was needed.

In the end, it was no choice at all.

[Class Upgrade Chosen: Combat Maid!]

Fayette felt her class expanding, strengthening as its potency moved up a tier. It was like an old, ill-fitting garment finally expanding to fit her grown form.

[You have unlocked the Maid Combat domain!]

[You have gained a new skill: Maid Armour!]

[Conditions met: Cleaning Tool Proficiency and Maid’s Poise can be merged into Maid Martial Arts!]

Fayette

Class: [Combat Maid (Tier 2)]

Level: 15

Skills:

Housekeeping (3/4)

* [Sweep Dust] - Rank III

* [Cleaning Tool Proficiency] - Rank III

* [Spicy Cooking] – Rank II

Attendant (4/4)

* [Maid's Poise] - Rank III

* [Cutlery Control] - Rank I

* [Disarming Smile] - Rank I

* [Unseen Attendant] - Rank I

Maid Combat (1/4)

· [Maid Armour] - Rank I

Capstone skills (0/1)

* N/A

Free skills (3/3)

* [Eavesdrop] - Rank II

* [Basic alchemy (Cleaning agents)] - Rank II

* [Dangersense] – Rank II

Unspent Skill Points: 4