Chapter 26: leveling up
...
I walked through the palace corridors, my footsteps echoing softly against the polished marble floors. The castle was strangely quiet this time of day, save for the distant clang of metal from the training grounds outside.
Both Oliver and Chris were currently attending their morning swordplay lessons. From sunrise until midday, they trained like proper princes before returning to suffer through my lessons afterward.
Honestly, I almost felt bad for them.
Almost.
Still, after speaking with King James a few days ago, I'd managed to gain permission to join their swordsmanship classes as well. To my surprise, he hadn't refused at all. In fact, he'd insisted on assigning me a private instructor once I met the required physical standards.
Apparently "being talented" didn't automatically stop a sword from weighing a ton.
Although my body was nimble and flexible, I still lacked proper strength and stamina. If I truly wished to wield a blade someday, I couldn't keep relying solely on magic and agility.
"I'll do strength exercises every evening before bed…" I muttered to myself thoughtfully while walking. "That way I can focus on lessons during the day without exhausting myself beforehand."
I hummed lightly.
"As for the free time I have now… I guess I'll study magic."
My mood immediately brightened.
I pushed open the grand library doors and froze in awe for what had to be the hundredth time since arriving here.
The library was massive.
Towering shelves stretched endlessly upward like walls of knowledge, illuminated by warm sunlight spilling through giant arched windows. The scent of parchment, leather, and ink lingered in the air so heavily it almost felt intoxicating. This place was paradise.
I wandered through aisle after aisle
searching eagerly.
Magic theory.
Elemental studies.
Ancient grimoires.
Mana circulation.
Anything.
But after nearly twenty minutes of searching…
"Not a single magic book?!" I whined dramatically, clutching my head.
How could a royal library not have proper grimoires?!
I squinted suspiciously at the shelves.
"Maybe this place is just too huge…" I sighed. "There's no way a kingdom library doesn't have magic books. I'm probably just getting lost."
I wandered aimlessly before stopping near a random shelf.
"…Plants?"i tilted my head thoughtfully.
"Well… I should probably learn more about this world's vegetation too." I grinned while pulling out a thick hardcover book.
"Knowledge is knowledge. Plus, medicinal plants could come in handy later."
With the book tucked under my arm, I walked toward a cushioned chair near the windows and sat down comfortably.
Then I started reading.
And reading.
And reading.
My eyes scanned through page after page with frightening speed as information settled neatly into my mind. Different herbs, poisonous flowers, mana-rich plants, healing roots, magical fungi—
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Without realizing it, more books slowly began piling beside me.
Then beside those books.
Then beside those ones too.
At some point, a servant nervously placed tea near my table before fleeing like he'd witnessed something terrifying.
By the time I finally looked up again, golden evening light had replaced the bright afternoon sun.
"Oh my… evening already?" I blinked.
I stared at the towering stack of finished books surrounding me and laughed awkwardly.
"…I may have overdone it a little."
A little.
Just a tiny bit.
"I'm honestly surprised I managed to read this much," I murmured while closing the final book gently. "Though I guess some habits never change."
Back on Earth, drowning myself in books had practically been my coping mechanism.
Here?
It was becoming an obsession. I stretched my arms before heading back toward my room.
The moment I entered, I immediately changed into lighter clothing and got started on my evening exercises.
Push-ups.
Squats.
Pull-ups.
Core training.
Running in place.
Honestly, it was miserable.
"Forty-nine… fifty…" I wheezed before collapsing face-first onto the floor.
My arms trembled violently.
"This body is weak…" I groaned dramatically into the carpet.
Mochi hopped onto my back immediately.
"Kyuu!"
"Yes yes, thank you for your emotional support," I muttered.
Even while panting heavily, my expression slowly sharpened.
"I might possess ridiculous skills… but I'm not invincible."
That was something I understood painfully well.
Power meant nothing if your body failed you at a crucial moment.
"I need to improve now while I still have the resources to do so."
With a determined sigh, I forced myself back onto my feet and grabbed the pull-up bar again.
"…I hate exercise."
Days slowly turned into weeks as life settled into a strangely peaceful routine.
Every morning, I'd wake up before sunrise and run laps around the palace grounds until my lungs burned.
Afterward came private swordsmanship lessons.
My instructor was terrifying. A former knight captain with the personality of stale bread and the mercy of a demon.
Still, under his relentless training, my movements gradually became smoother and sharper.
Then came tutoring the twins for hours.
Chris remained energetic and impulsive, while Oliver absorbed information frighteningly fast. Teaching them had somehow become… enjoyable.
After lessons, I'd disappear into the library and bury myself in books until evening.
Magic.
Politics.
History.
Medicine.
Economics.
Combat theory.
Languages.
Anything I could get my hands on. And finally, before bed, I'd complete my nightly exercises before collapsing unconscious like a soldier returning from war.
A month passed quickly. My stamina had increased significantly, though my body still lacked visible muscle. Apparently this world hated giving me cool warrior abs.
Still, I'd undeniably grown stronger.
More importantly… My hunger for knowledge had only intensified.
The elf prince and I had also continued exchanging letters regularly. Sometimes Nathaniel even visited the palace personally every couple of weeks, usually bringing gifts along with him.
"Wow… it's beautiful," I gasped softly while admiring the delicate silk hair ties he'd bought for me.
The ribbons shimmered elegantly beneath the sunlight.
"I'm glad you like them," Nate smiled gently.
We sat together on the terrace overlooking the royal gardens while servants served tea and desserts nearby.
Honestly, the atmosphere felt suspiciously romantic.
.
"So," Nate asked while sipping tea gracefully, "how's your job going?"
"It's going well," I replied casually while munching on a cupcake. "The twins are learning surprisingly fast."
"That's good to hear." He paused briefly before tilting his head curiously. "By the way… what family are you associated with?"
"Family?" I blinked.
"Yes. You're clearly neither a peasant nor royalty." He folded his hands neatly. "So what noble house do you belong to?"
Ah. That question.
"Hate to disappoint you, but I'm not part of any noble family." I shrugged lightly. "I've never met my real parents, and as for siblings… I only know I had a younger brother who disappeared."
Nate's expression softened slightly.
"As for my current lifestyle…" I sipped my tea calmly. "I built it myself."
Silence.
Nate stared at me Completely stunned.
She built everything herself…? In mere months? Not only that, she conquered an entire human kingdom alone.
What exactly is this woman…?
"What's with that look?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "Don't tell me you suddenly stopped believing me because I'm a woman."
"No! Not at all!" Nate nearly choked on his tea. "That's not what I meant!"
"A-Anyway…" he coughed awkwardly. "I heard you've started practicing swordsmanship recently. Why?"
"Just felt like it." I shrugged.Nate smiled nervously.
Yep.She's definitely planning something dangerous.
"I was also thinking about your debut ceremony," he continued carefully.
"Debut ceremony?"
"Yes. Most nobles are formally introduced into high society around thirteen."
"Oh…" I hummed thoughtfully.
"Since you'll eventually become my queen," he smiled softly, "I believe it's necessary."
Queen, huh.Still sounded surreal.
"Well, if it's just some fancy party, I can handle it after my work here is finished." I nodded absentmindedly while watching Mochi pretend to eat a decorative carrot centerpiece.
Honestly, he deserved an award for commitment.
Eventually Nate returned to his kingdom while Mochi and I headed back toward my room.
That was when I heard voices nearby.
"What do you mean the barrier is weakening?" King James's voice rang sharply.
I paused instantly.
Curiosity activated.
Quietly sneaking closer, I rested my ear against the study door. Inside, King James appeared to be speaking through a crystal communication sphere.
The other voice belonged to King Steven.
"According to recent inspections," Steven said gravely, "the barrier surrounding the Village of Soel is weakening significantly."
"But that's impossible," King James sighed tiredly. "Their conditions are already horrible enough. I doubt those people can even afford proper bread."
Village of Soel…?
I backed away before getting caught and returned silently to my room. The name sounded familiar.
After thinking for several moments, I suddenly sat upright.
"I read about that place before…"
Without hesitation, I rushed back to the library. After digging through several shelves, I finally located an old regional history book.
"Found it."I flipped through the pages quickly
"The Village of Soel…" I murmured quietly. "Originally used centuries ago to isolate criminals, exiles, and so-called 'dangerous bloodlines.'"
My expression darkened.
"But over time… those people had families."
Meaning the current villagers were likely innocent descendants paying for sins they never committed.
Disgusting.
"According to this…" I scanned further, "the village is hidden deep within the forest and sealed behind a mana-blocking barrier preventing non-nobles from entering or leaving."
I slowly closed the book.
"…Well."
My grin appeared instantly.
"There's only one way to verify things myself."
That night, I snuck out of the palace.
Again. Honestly, security here was embarrassingly easy to bypass.
Using sprint enhancement magic, I raced through the forest until I sensed a dense concentration of mana ahead.
"There it is…"
Perched atop a tree branch, I stared at the blurry shimmering barrier hidden between the woods.
Then I leapt down and approached carefully.
To my surprise… I passed through effortlessly.
"Huh."
Maybe my mana levels bypassed the restriction.
The moment I stepped inside, a horrible stench slammed into me.
Rot.
Filth.
Starvation.
The houses looked like they were collapsing, built from rotting wood and patched scraps. Some villagers were literally sleeping on dirt floors.
"…This is worse than I imagined." Footsteps approached suddenly. I spun around instantly, prepared to attack—
Only to freeze at the sight of an elderly man with cat ears staring at me calmly.
"Don't be afraid," he said gently. "I won't hurt you."
He looked painfully thin from malnutrition. His worn brown hair swayed lightly while tired hazel eyes studied me carefully.
"Come with me," he said quietly. "If others see you standing here too long, it may cause problems."
I followed cautiously. His home looked no better than the others.
"My name is Jack," he introduced himself while sitting down slowly.
"I'm Shiori."
"Such a lovely name." He smiled faintly.
"From your appearance and scent… you seem noble."
"I'm not really," I laughed awkwardly.
"Though people keep assuming that."
"Interesting." Jack folded his hands together. "So why come here?"
"I heard about the village situation," I answered honestly. "I wanted to see it for myself."
Jack nodded quietly.
"As you can see… we aren't doing very well."
His gaze drifted toward the window.
"For generations, nobles dumped criminals, outcasts, and 'potential threats' into this place. But eventually those people formed families… and now innocent descendants continue suffering for crimes they never committed."
Silence filled the room.
"Do you hate nobles, Jack?" I asked softly.
He smiled sadly.
"I would be lying if I said no." His voice remained calm.
"When people fail to understand history, they repeat its mistakes. That is why history should be taught properly… so humanity may create a better present."
For some reason…
Those words lingered heavily inside me.
"I'll come back again," I said quietly while checking the time on my phone.
Jack immediately frowned.
"Please don't. This place is dangerous.
"No point trying to stop me," I replied while standing. "Once I decide something, I rarely change my mind."
He sighed in defeat.
"…Then visit only at night. It's safer."
I nodded before leaving through the barrier and returning to the palace using a mist portal.But the village never left my thoughts.
A few days later, I returned. This time, I arrived earlier. As I stepped inside the barrier again, my stomach twisted painfully.
The villagers were awake now. Some fought viciously over scraps of food like starving animals.
Others simply sat motionless with hollow eyes, as though life itself had abandoned them.
I slipped into the shadows quietly.
"Where's Jack…?"
Then I saw it. A boy around my age lay on the ground while several men kicked him mercilessly.
Bruised.
Bleeding.
Unmoving.
I didn't dash in like some saint, I could even make it worse by showing myself. That's When a hand grabbed my shoulder. It was Jack.
He waited until the men finally left before carefully carrying the unconscious boy back to his home.
The small wooden house was silent except for the crackling of a weak fire.i stood beside the unconscious boy while Jack carefully cleaned the dried blood from his face using an old rag dipped in murky water.
Up close, the boy looked even worse.
Bruises covered nearly every visible inch of skin. His lips were pale and cracked from dehydration while his breathing came out uneven and shallow.
My chest tightened uncomfortably.
"…How old is he?" I asked quietly.
"Fourteen," Jack answered after a pause. "Though most mistake him for younger due to malnutrition."
Fourteen.He looked barely twelve.
The room fell silent again.Outside, faint shouting and arguing echoed throughout the village. Somewhere nearby, glass shattered followed by angry yelling.
Nobody even reacted.Like it was normal.
Like suffering had become background noise.
Jack wrung the dirty cloth tightly before speaking again.
"His name is Eli." I stared at the sleeping boy.
"…Does he have family?" I asked
"He did."
Something about the way Jack answered made my stomach sink.
"His mother died from illness during winter. His father…" Jack's expression darkened slightly. "Was executed after attempting to steal food from a merchant convoy."
Silence.
I clenched my fists slightly.
For stealing food.Not murder.Not treason.
Food.
My gaze slowly lowered."…This kingdom is rotten."
Jack glanced toward me but said nothing.
I stepped closer to the bed quietly. Even unconscious, Eli trembled slightly as though expecting pain even in sleep.
How long had he lived like this?How many children here suffered the same way?
A strange bitterness settled heavily in my chest. Before I could think too deeply about it, my hand moved on instinct. Soft blue light gathered around my fingertips.
Jack's eyes widened.
"Lady Shiori—"
"It's fine," I interrupted gently.
I carefully placed my hand over Eli's injuries.
Healing magic flowed through his body in warm waves of mana. The bruises slowly faded while the swelling around his face lessened visibly. Small cuts closed one after another until only faint marks remained behind.
Eli's strained breathing gradually steadied.
The trembling stopped. For the first time since entering this village…
He looked peaceful. Jack stared speechlessly.
"He should wake up feeling better," I murmured softly while lowering my hand."Though he still needs proper food and rest."
Jack looked between me and the sleeping boy with disbelief written all over his face.
"…Why?"
"Why help us?" he asked quietly. "Most nobles avoid even looking at this village."
"Nobles this, nobles that…" I muttered under my breath before sighing dramatically. "Do I seriously look that noble?"
"…A little."
A faint laugh escaped Jack before his expression softened. I sat down beside the bed and stared at the ceiling quietly.
"I don't like pointless waste," I finally said.
Jack remained silent, listening.
"There are people here with potential. Intelligence. Skills. Lives." My eyes narrowed slightly. "Yet society threw them away before they even had a chance." The thought irritated me more than I wanted to admit.
"So many people starving while nobles waste banquets worth entire villages…" I scoffed bitterly. "It's stupid."
Jack watched me carefully.
"You speak differently from other nobles."
"That's because I'm not one."
"…Then what are you?"
I paused.
That was a difficult question.
A transmigrator?
A ruler?
A monster?
A genius?
A fraud pretending to understand this world?
"…Just Shiori," I answered eventually.
Jack smiled faintly.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The fire crackled softly while the cold night wind slipped through the cracks in the wooden walls.
A small weak voice murmured behind us.
"…Warm…"
I turned immediately. Eli's eyes fluttered open slowly. Confusion crossed his bruised face as he stared upward weakly.
"…Huh…?"
"You're awake," Jack said gently, helping him sit up slightly.
Eli blinked several times before noticing me.
His body instantly tensed.
Fear.
Suspicion.
Caution.
Those eyes were far too guarded for someone his age.
"…Who are you?" he asked hoarsely.
"Just a traveler," I replied casually.
Technically not a lie.
Eli looked down at his body in confusion.
"My injuries…"
"I treated them," I answered simply. His eyes widened slightly.
"…Why?" There was that question again.
Why?
As though kindness itself was unnatural here. How messed up was that? I reached into my coat before pulling out a small wrapped pastry I'd absentmindedly stuffed into my pocket earlier from the palace kitchens.
Honestly, I forgot it was there.
"Here."
Eli stared cautiously at the food in my hand.
"You should eat before talking."
For several seconds he didn't move.
Then slowly—
Very slowly—
He took it.
The way his hands trembled while holding such a tiny piece of food made something twist painfully inside me.
He ate carefully at first.Then desperately.
Like he was afraid it would disappear if he slowed down.
I quietly looked away.
"…You really should've brought more snacks," I muttered to myself bitterly.
"What?" Jack asked.
"Nothing."
Eli finished eating embarrassingly fast before freezing like he'd realized what he'd done.
"…Sorry."
Why was he apologizing for eating?
I exhaled slowly through my nose.
"You don't need to apologize for surviving."
The room became silent again.
Then Eli looked at me carefully.
"…Will you come back?"
Jack immediately frowned. "Eli—"
"It's dangerous," the boy whispered quietly.
"People here don't trust outsiders." I stared at him for a moment before smiling lightly.
"Probably."
Jack looked like he regretted ever meeting me.
"Lady Shiori…"
"I know, I know." I stood up stretching slightly. "Dangerous village. Terrible idea. Horribly reckless. Very tragic."
"You say that while planning to ignore my warning."
"Correct."
Jack sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead.
Honestly, I liked him already.
I walked toward the door before pausing briefly.
Then without turning around, I spoke quietly.
"Next time… I'll bring food."
Behind me, silence fell completely.
Not dramatic silence. The genuinely shocked kind.
I waved lazily over my shoulder.
"Don't look so surprised. Feeding people isn't exactly impossible."
Before either of them could respond, I stepped outside into the cold night air.
But the moment the door closed behind me…
My expression slowly faded.
The village looked even worse at night.
Starving children.
Broken homes.
Hopeless eyes.
A place abandoned by the world.
..............
I sat in my room trying to check my breath as mochi comforted me.
"I wish I could do something to help them. Not because I want to be some hero, but... seeing such talented lives go to rot and waste due to status is sickening...." I hugged my knees deep in thought. Just then there was a knock on my door.
"Who is it?" I asked
"Lady Shiori, father wishes to speak to you.." Oliver's voice spoke. I stood up confused but went.
The king was on his throne with his court, like a meeting had taken place.
"Lady Shiori, we've come on to a situation that requires an outsiders opinion..." King James said cutting to the chase.
"Go on then..."
"What do you think about the systematic way the kingdom of Buarheld is ran under...?" He asked
I blink. Why asked me? I'm not even a noble. But he did say they needed an outsiders opinion..
"To be honest, I despise noble society!" I said, everyone was stunned. King James just stared at me to continue.
"The kingdom needs strong and dependable people in order to run smoothly of not improve. However, the current generation of nobles consist of spoiled sheltered brats who couldn't care less for the comments below them because they haven't tasted suffering in there entirely lives. Whereas the commoners, talented or not are tested like trash for simply existing without status. It sickens me to the point that I catch a migraine everytime I think about it....." The room went silent.
"Watch your tongue!" One of the ministers spat angrily
"Calm down Baxter..." King James said as he stared at me curiously.
"That's any interesting observation, we'll look into it..." He dismissed me after.
I headed to my room in a dazed. That was nerve-racking, I stumbled to my room feeling dizzy as suddenly everything went black
No one's pov
Christopher was ending to grab a pre bedtime snack when he noticed shiori collapsed on the floor.
"Shiori?!" He ran quickly and carried her bridal style.
"I heard a commotion what's wrong?" Oliver asked walking in the corridor, Stoping dead in his tracts as he saw Shiori's condition
"What happened?!" He asked
"I met her like this, call the physician. I'll carry her to her room..." Christopher said staring down at Shiori's frail form