And just like that, he's now outside the game. In the real world that is. After washing his face, he went straight to the dining hall while pondering what would he do the next time he fights a pack or group with a high intelligence. He remembered that he was crushed and utterly defeated by a group of kobolds despite his high stats. It was said over and over that stats are everything to a players avatar but if that player cannot properly use that stats he gained then he is just a player who plays the game. A new insight about the game has now been unlocked for him.

'Clearly, I must train myself properly in order for that embarrassing defeat not happen again to me. It's a good thing that I'm alone on that location, or else I would have taken a debt to a person I don't know'. He said as he pondered while walking down the stairs.

'Should I use the bow and arrow I bought before leaving the kingdom? No no no, that would be too counter productive in my part. The warriors would charge straight at me. If that will be the case, I will be unable to fire properly.'

As he walks, he didn't realize that he was almost at his destination which was the dining hall obviously to take breakfast.

'Then should I use the training reference I had with the instructor? Clearly the reference was different but it is the same.'

---o---o---o---o---o---

Shige didn't realize that he missed the way towards the dining hall. The parents of the household, Nobunaga Oda and his wife Jennifer Oda, saw their son Shige just passed the way to the dining hall.

"Son...Son..." cried Nobunaga Oda.

Shige didn't seem to hear his father calling him. Jennifer also tried calling for him but to no avail. The maids Chalice and Mathilda also tried but not much was help. It was as if he is on his own world.

"Dear, it appears our son is back on that kind of situation." Jennifer said with a look of worry.

"Now now my sweet and dear wife. I'm sure whatever he's in a ponder, it's not in sense tad of worry like before." replied Nobunaga to his wife.

"Dear husband..."

"Dear wife..."

Then out of nowhere in the dining table. One of the maids, Mathilda, abruptly intervened in their lovey-dovey situation.

"Master and madam, I have a suggestion regarding the young masters situation."

"What's your suggestion Mathilda dear. Please speak openly. We are all family here so do not hesitate." Jennifer said.

"My suggestion would be to help the young master."

"Help the young master?" Chalice tilted her head in puzzlement.

"By helping Shige...do you mean play Royal Road?" Nobunaga answered Mathilda in regards to her suggestion.

"Yes master. I have already procured various knowledge in regards to the game. It is a flexible game. In regards to time management, 4 days is equal to 1 day here."

"But if we all play Mathilda my dear, what would happen to the house."

"Do not worry madam. I have also thought of that as well."

*Jajan!!!*

As if there was a special effects has been heard, Mathilda with a pose like Elvis Presley, procured 10 sticks somewhere in the house.

"Sticks?" Chalice tilted in puzzlement.

As if an idea appeared in Nobunaga's head, he understood what would happen next.

"Yes master, as you have guessed with your brilliant mind, we will be picking up straws." Mathilda said with enthusiasm. Then she continued her explanation.

"In the sticks I have, there are 6 long straws while there are 4 short straws."

"So let me guess. Those who drew the long sticks will be playing the game while those who drew the short sticks will be looking after the house. Did I guess it right Mathilda?"

"Brilliant as always master. You have guessed it correctly."

"Oh dear husband, this will be fun. But Mathilda dear, do we also have to draw sticks as well?" Jennifer asked her.

"Madam, you do not need to draw sticks because you and the master are the masters of the household."

"But..."

"No buts madam. We the maid groups will be the ones to draw sticks."

"Ohhhh..." Jennifer said with a pout.

"I like the idea you thought Mathilda-chan. I approve." Nobunaga said with a big thumbs up.

"Then let the drawing of the sticks begin. Maid corps appear!!" Mathilda said with a firm voice.

"Ohhh, does these mean that..." Jennifer said as if she was given with a prophecy.

Then out of nowhere, 8 girls appeared 1 by 1 with a very unique introduction of their entrances with the addition of their poses.

"Prepare the house for trouble." said maid 1.

"And make it worthwhile." said maid 6.

"To protect the house from devastation." maid 8 said.

"To unite the household within our area." maid 3 said.

"To denounce the problems of the house with loyalty and respect." maid 2 said.

"To extend our helping hands to the weak peoples of the land." maid 4 said.

"Maid 1, Riko Hayasaki, has appeared." said maid 1 who introduced herself as Riko Hayasaki.

"Maid 2, Hino Rikawa, comes like the star." maid 2 said with a big smile.

"Maid 3, Aya Nomue, is here like the speed of light." maid 3 said with a big grin.

"Maid 4, Hana Miko, answers the call." maid 4 said with a blank face.

"Maid 5, Ninoue Amasuki, comes with a fierce entrance!" maid 5 said with a very fierce voice.

"Maid 6, Mio Manobu, takes her entrance." maid 6 said with a big entrance.

"M-maid 7, B-benikawa Kagotsu, heeds the call." maid 7 said with a very shaky voice.

"Maid 8, Kagome Kanata, comes out with style." maid 8 said with a very tomboyish voice.

Then after their introductions one by one, they grouped together and made a group pose like some kind of special forces.

"W-we are the M-maid Corps, blasting off o-offenders at the speed of light." maid 7 said who introduced herself as Benikawa Kagotsu.

"Yeah that's right so think twice before you mess with us!!" maid 5 said with a fierce voice who also introduced herself as Ninoue Amasuki.

Their scripted introduction was very familiar to a certain anime. After their introductions, a clapping sound could be heard in the dining table. It was Jennifer. She was clapping very happily as if she liked a show in a circus. On the other hand, Mathilda is doing a face palm while her friend and colleague, Chalice, is just giving a wry smile and saying 'Now now' to ease her ever rising stress from them.

"Japanese people are really amazing. I'm glad I decided to live here in Japan." Jennifer said with enthusiasm as she continues her clapping.

Her husband, Nobunaga, could only look at her wife with a wry smile.

"Maid corps, we are gonna draw sticks in order to help the young master. In my hand and Alice's hands, we have 5 sticks each. In our hand as well, we have 4 short sticks. I will say the things to those who drew the long sticks and the short sticks." Mathilda said with poise. Then she continued her explanation.

"I would also like to take note that we are helping the young master secretly."

All of the maids nodded in understanding. Then as if they thought Mathilda was finished with her explanation, they were wrong.

"Another I would like to add is that the young master is also very sensitive to his surroundings so be very very careful."

All of the maids again nodded in understanding. Then the drawing started with Riko Hayasaki.

"Choose your hands Riko-chan." Chalice said with a smile to her.

Riko ponders for a moment then decides to pick the straw from Chalice's hands. The first of the 10 straws, what she picked was a...

"Wha!? No way!? A short stick!?" Rika said with a surprised tone of voice.

That's right. What she picked was the short straw. As if she was about to cry, she was told to stand on the right side for now. Then next was Hino Rikawa's turn to pick the straw. As if she didn't need to think of. She went in-between them.

She went, she picked, the conclusion...a longer stick than Rika. With a big yes in her heart, she was told to stand in the left side.

And then the drawings of sticks continued. Tears of agony and cries of joy were felt in the dining hall.

On the left side who drew the long sticks were the maids Hino, Aya, Hana, Ninoue, and Benikawa.

On the right side which of course the ones who drew the short sticks were Rika, Mio and Kagome.

The winning side were grinning and big smiles could be seen on their faces. On the other hand, those who lost the draw sticks pouts their faces cutely. But the draw is still not yet over. 1 long stick and 1 short stick remains. Obviously, they, Mathilda and Chalice, knows which stick are left on their cute and soft hands since they took each half so they ask Jennifer and Nobunaga, the masters of the house, to hold the remaining to sticks. As soon as they were given the sticks, they turned around together and closed each other. Then turning around once again and parted ways. Both were each holding a stick on their hands.

"So Mathilda which of..." said Nobunaga part ways.

"Us holds the long stick." Jennifer said continuing her dear husbands words.

Both maids were pondering, reading the facial expressions of their masters. While both maids were pondering, husband and wife thought of the same things.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

'Hahaha, as expected, both of them are reading our facial expressions.'

As if both of them finally decided what to do, Mathilda went to Jennifer's side while Chalice went to Nobunaga's side. The both picked at the same time and the conclusion was...

"I see. I guess fate is not on my side today..." Mathilda said in a gloom.

"Now now, I'm sure you'll get it next time Mathilda." Chalice said as she pats Mathilda's shoulder.

Mathilda drew the short stick while Chalice drew the long stick which means Mathilda will be on the looking after the house side. Chalice drawing the long stick will be on the helping the young master side.

After drawing of the sticks, Mathilda gave the last explanation as to why they drew the sticks.

"Maid Corps. Here me. As you already know, the drawing of sticks was implemented to know who will be those helping the young master in his endeavors in his first game. Of course, those who drew the short sticks will be looking after the house. After breakfast I will be handling you the copies of the manual which I borrowed from the young master."

"You mean quietly stolen Mathilda-chan." Rika said out loud.

Mathilda just coughed as if saying 'I don't know what you are talking about' then continued her explanation.

"Now the master will be procuring the required things in order for us to play so I expect that we will be playing tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Are there any questions before I continue?"

Mathilda asked as she scoured the group. One of the girl's, Benikawa, timidly raised her hand.

"M-Ma-Mathilda-san, even if w-we drew the stick to play. C-can we s-still help do the house chores?"

"Yes Benikawa-san. Even if you draw the stick to play, you can still help and do the house chores but that will be in your own discretion. Now are there anymore questions."

After answering Benikawa's question, she looked at the group again to see if there are anymore questions but it seems there are no more. She continued again on her explanation which she cut off earlier.

"Now for the time management. Those who got the sticks to play are given a time of 1 week only. After the week's done, we will be drawing a new set of sticks so that we can know who will be the new people that will play. Now any questions in regards to the time I said?"

Mathilda asked again but it seems this time it's crystal clear to them.

"Then let this group meeting be adjourned. You may go back to your respective duties." Mathilda said adjourning the group.

"Ai ma'am." They all said together as they quickly disappeared as if their flashy and scripted entrances were just an illusion.

Like an enthusiastic child, Jennifer once again claps heartily and energetically.

"Hmm it's been 30 minutes and our pondering son is still nowhere to be seen." Nobunaga said.

But the person that was supposed to be the reason of the meeting is still missing. 30 minutes has passed and Shige is still now where to be seen. Left with little choice, Jennifer asked Mathilda to bring Shige in the dining table. Mathilda nods and immediately disappears from the dining hall. After a couple of minutes, Mathilda returns dragging Shige well actually princess carrying him which was still in his own world of pondering.

---o---o---o---o---o---

"To think that he would leave without saying anything..."

In the vicinity of the Forest of Carnage, Rox is out with a hunting party. They are trying to procure some outdoor food because Gale surmissed that Vessalius would take his time inside the forest, hunting Behemoth.

"But to think that he didn't take me along with his adventure *sigh*."

"Well it cannot be helped Rox. The quest was intended for him to do alone. We can just hope that he would prevail."

The one who answered her was the other female in the platoon, Lalaine. She was comforting Rox in her gloomy atmosphere which was rubbing of her.

"But would it be possible to help him in some way? After all, he's a cowardly boy."

"I know what you mean Rox but didn't you felt that intense aura surrounded him back then. It was very dangerous yet guarding at the same time."

"Huh? What do you mean Senior Lalaine?" Rox said as she tilted her head.

Apparently, Rox didn't understand her usage of terms.

"You have much to learn Rox. Though you have a bright future in the army, you still have clearly much to learn." Lalaine said as she gave a wry smile.

"Hmm...think of it like this. It's like a chilly atmosphere where all of your hairs are standing."

"Ah that I can understand."

Rox nods her head.

'But that doesn't mean I wouldn't help him secretly.' Rox says in her head.

"I'm sure he will be fine. After all, he's much stronger than you are who just started two weeks ago."

"Now you are just teasing me Senior Lalaine. I'm also strong you know. Just wait and see." Rox said with determination

"Hooo. Very well then. I shall wait and see." Lalaine said with a smile.

"Ah right I almost forgot. Senior Lalaine, what's the deal with Vessalius anyway?" Rox asked.

"Hmm? About Vessalius - dono? What do you mean?" Lalaine tilts her head in puzzlement.

"I mean why are we guarding him if he's so strong?"

"Ah I see, so that's what you mean. Did you hear a rumor about him?"

"A rumor about him? I didn't hear any rumors about him but I did hear a rumor about a person smashing the training hall's walls though. Then the building next to the training hall almost got destroyed to bits."

"Bits you say huh." Lalaine just made a wry smile when she heard those words.

"Yeah. Bits like exploding to smithereens."

"You are clearly exaggerating on that part but what you heard is true. The one who destroyed the training hall's walls is none other than Vessalius - dono himself."

Rox was surprised. It shed some light regarding the things about him. To put it bluntly, the training hall's walls being destroyed was an accident. He was very angry at himself not being able to make a active skill. Due to that accident, his first active skill, Getsuga Tenshou, was born from the rubble or should I say accident. The escort thing was to watch him carefully in case he suddenly misused his skill. The last 2 weeks that left didn't make him master the skill enough. The training hall's instructor Lance proposed that he be escorted for the quest since he haven't walk out of the kingdom's walls yet and of course to watch and observe him in case like I said, misuse of his skill.

"Do you know Instructor Lance from the training hall?"

"I heard of him and I saw him once when we left the kingdom.

"Instructor Lance personally trained Vessalius - dono. Vessalius was not only able to persevere his demonic training, he also completed the instructor's demonic battlefield training known as the 'Obstacle Course of Doom'."

"Wow. Then he's clearly strong then. But you saying the words demonic this and demonic that...What's so special about the instructor senior?"

"The instructor is special in his own right Rox. I'm sure that after this quest, all the recruits would go to him immediately to train. After all, he was called the 'Demon lord of the Battlefield' for his prowess of training his troops hard."

"Eh!? That bald head guy with the bushy beard was that amazing?"

"Hahaha, if the instructor heard those words coming from a cute girl like you, he would most certainly cry you know."

"That's not the issue here!!"

"Hahaha, you are right. That's not the issue I apologized. I hope that you will persevere his training Rox."

"Hahaha, of course senior. I'll persevere and become strong. I'll use him as my stepping stone to achieve my goal." Rox said with a firm determination.

---o---o---o---o---o---

After taking breakfast, he returned to his room and went directly to his desk work. He opened a clean notebook that hasn't been written before. He wrote the things why he died in the kobold attack when apparently, he is much stronger than them.

"The only thing I won is because it was training. If it was a real fight back then, the soldiers would have clobbered me."

As he wrote and wrote the things which was occupying him, he pondered yet again and stopped.

"I remember reading a line from a book somewhere. If the mountain is unmovable, then let nature soften it up."

As he pondered some more pushing the pen's button, there was another line from a book that entered his mind.

"According to the late Zhuge Liang, troops have their pros and cons..."

An idea came to his mind. It was thanks to that line from Zhuge Liang that he finally got an idea on how to deal a pack or groups alone.

"Then in order to win, I must first take out the support troops then. I must write all the necessary stuff so that I could use this reference again and also to the quest. Great Kong Ming, you have my thanks."

He continued writing all the necessary stuff. He didn't leave any small bits of info that he could use. After all, in a war, knowledge and information are powers. Those who know more than the enemy will win the battle.