Damn it... what kind of relationship did this body have with that girl?
No matter. I survived by a miracle, and that’s what matters now.
I have to make good use of this tournant. It’s my chance to get into the library—that’s my true goal here.
But before that, there’s a far more pressing problem...
My stats are abysmally low.
Since my blessing hasn’t activated yet, I’m at a complete disadvantage.
I need to raise my abilities by any ans necessary.
Ti to put those books I copied from Frosita’s chamber to good use.
Brutal Training
After eating with Callia and her mother, I went straight to the courtyard to begin a month of hell... I an, training.
I had to adjust to the darkness and study Frossetta’s books, but the worst part wasn’t either of those.
No. The worst part... was training with that damn gorilla.
She made run five thousand laps in an hour and a half.
Then ca push-ups—while she sat on top of . As if her monstrous weight wasn’t enough to crush my bones to dust!
After that, it was endless sword swings—four hours straight.
And finally, direct combat against her.
"Damn it! Ten swords shattered over my head every single day!"
"How can soone treat a thirteen-year-old like this?!"
Just wait, you damn gorilla... I’ll get stronger, and one day I’ll kick your ass!
Luckily, Frosita and her mother left the capital for a month, sparing from extra tornt. And my training schedule was different from Luna’s, so I didn’t cross paths with her much during this period.
But in the end... I managed to master forming a mana shield, after an excruciating struggle.
Once I succeeded, I could finally dodge the gorilla’s attacks with ease, which only forced her to up her ga even more...
Still, after a full month of tornt, I finally knocked her down—just two days before the tournant!
She looked up at then, wearing a strange smile, and said:
"Well done, Lin... You’re the most skilled swordsman I’ve ever seen. It feels like you’ve fought for thousands of years."
And then she added, her tone suddenly sad:
"I’m sorry if I was too harsh on you. I just don’t want anyone to die in battle. You don’t know what it feels like to lose soone you love..."
Inwardly, I thought: What the hell are you talking about? You nearly killed !
Don’t think I’m going to forgive you that easily!
But I decided to let it go—for now. There was sothing far more important to focus on.
"Show my stats, damn system."
[ Stats ]
Na: Lin Darkel Noctarien
Clan: Noctarien (Partially Sealed)
Age: 13
Level: 25 → 50
Strength: 200 → 500
Agility: 180 → 400
Endurance: 120 → 250
Mana: 350 → 700
Blessing: Not activated
[ Acquired Skills ]
Mana Gluttony (C): Absorbs mana at an accelerated rate.
Darkness Adaptation (C): Increases all stats by 50% in darkness.
Silver Tongue (F): Low-tier ability to deceive people through words.
Combat Sovereignty (C): Complete control over the battle for 60 seconds.
"...Wait. Combat Sovereignty increased from 10 seconds to 60?!"
"Well, at least there’s sothing positive."
Now, only one thing remains... I have to win this tournant and get into that library.
Frost Royal Arena – The Day Has Co
A cold mist blanketed the area, and the wind howled across the stone arena, scattering flecks of snow like shattered glass beneath a pale, warmthless sun.
Crowds gathered on the icy stands. Faces hidden beneath thick cloaks. Eyes glimring with hunger—for glory, for blood.
From the common folk to the nobility of the Frost bloodline... everyone was here. Everyone waiting for the slaughter to begin.
Above them, the white banners of the Frost clan fluttered, bearing the crest of the ice tiger—its claws dug into frozen earth, its eyes glowing with ancient nace.
But the banners didn’t move because of the wind... they pulsed, as if they breathed the very spirit of war.
In the heart of it all stood the battlefield.
Its floor wasn’t dirt or stone but a fusion of compressed ice and black rock, polished like cold steel, reflecting the faint sunlight like a sword raised for execution.
At its edges, pillars of clear ice stood tall, engraved with the nas and titles of Frost warriors—those who fell, those who triumphed, those who died smiling.
All of them are now part of this frozen legend.
Between the pillars, statues of ancient heroes. Their crystal eyes glead, watching those who awaited their turn in this sacred execution ground.
But amidst the frozen beauty... sothing was colder than the ice itself.
The eyes.
The eyes of the spectators. The judges. And Frosita.
They stared at as if I were prey, ablaze on a frozen altar.
A chill ran down my spine. My limbs went numb. Then a soft voice broke through my thoughts:
"If you win first place..."
Luna turned toward , stepping close until I could feel her cold breath on my ear.
"...I’ll accept your love."
"...What?!"
My mind went blank.
Like I’d plunged into a bottomless abyss.
That bastard—the previous host—he was flirting with Luna?! What does that have to do with ?!
Damn it... If Frosita sees this...!
Why now? Why is this happening now?!
An acute sense of danger surged within . Sharp. Imdiate. Suffocating.
I slowly turned my head...
Frossetta was staring at . Her glacial gaze was a storm about to explode. Like a wife catching her husband... in the act.
"...Shit."
Suddenly, a notification flashed before —glowing as if the system itself was mocking .
[ Shoujo Mission Detected! ]
Mission: Knight of Love!
Objective: Win the tournant for Luna and flirt with her like a gallant knight!
Reward: 300 points
Penalty: Lose all your points and beco an emotionally sensitive fool!
"...What?!"
The ground beneath my feet seed to collapse.
If I lose? I lose all my points.
If I win? I have to flirt with Luna... in front of Frosita
Where the hell is the reward in this nightmare?!
I glanced at Frosita from the corner of my eye...
She stood frozen, her eyes wide, lips trembling faintly.
"Tch."
Did her mind just snap?
But then she blinked...
And that killer glint returned to her eyes.
Her voice was quiet, cold as the ice... yet it carried an unmistakable intent to kill.
"Lin... aren’t you forgetting to tell sothing?"
Before I could answer, the Matriarch suddenly turned toward her. Her tone was sharp, slicing through the air like a blade.
"My daughter... How does the Frost family deal with unfaithful n?"
A deadly silence followed.
The air itself seed to freeze.
The Matriarch spoke again, calm before the storm:
"We have always treated n as tools... used them, replaced them when needed."
She paused, then looked at all of us, her eyes void of any warmth.
"But there is one exception... betrayal."
My blood turned to ice as she whispered:
"Just like... Lowen."
Luna’s eyes widened instantly, as if struck by lightning.
Her hand, which had been hanging loosely by her side, trembled violently. Then she clenched it into a fist—her nails digging into her skin until blood began to drip slowly.
"...Father?"
She whispered. Her voice was broken, barely audible.
As for Ian...
He said nothing.
But he stared at the ground, his head bowed, his hair casting shadows that concealed his face.
Until his hand tightened behind his back, his wrist trembling ever so slightly.
I heard the sound of bones hardening, and the air around him grew colder. A cold that didn’t co from this place... but from within him.
When he finally lifted his head, his eyes were empty.
"Lowen... betrayed my sister."
The Matriarch’s words shattered sothing sacred.
"And from the womb of that betrayal... you two were born."
Luna gasped, barely breathing in what felt like a sea of ice.
Ian closed his eyes for a mont. When he opened them, there was no trace of the warmth he once showed when he looked at Luna.
Silence.
A silence so deep it was as if the universe had stopped moving.
Then, in a voice colder than death itself, the Matriarch continued:
"The Frost family never forgets... and never forgives."
She turned to Frosita, her stare slicing through the air:
"So, if this man betrays you, he is not just a servant... he is a traitor."
Her next words drilled into my bones:
"And traitors... you know their fate."
She paused briefly, then smiled—cold and rciless:
"Because the Frost family... allows no one to touch its possessions."
Her gaze turned to Luna, freezing the very air:
"And any woman who dares... is erased from existence."
A final verdict. But it wasn’t over.
The Matriarch’s voice grew even colder:
"Isn’t this boy... your servant?"
Frosita stiffened for a mont, then muttered:
"That’s right."
The Matriarch’s smile turned inhuman:
"Then he belongs to you."
Whispers spread through the crowd—so saw as a tool, others plotted to break .
Frosita turned her gaze to . Her smile... was a death sentence.
"Lin, what do you think? Are you my servant?"
"...Trap."
Refuse? Rebellion.
Accept? A life sentence.
Another notification appeared.
[ Dangerous Shoujo Scenario Detected! ]
Survival Mode Activated!
Choose:
Official servant of Frosita (Reward: Stay alive.)
Deny the relationship (Penalty: You already know.)
"Damn you, system."
I raised my head slowly, eting her eyes.
"I am... your servant."
A suffocating silence fell.
Then the Matriarch spoke, her voice leaving no room for argunt:
"A servant? Then the responsibility is yours, Frosita."
Her eyes sharpened like a blade.
"If he betrays you... it’s your weakness."
But Frosita smiled coldly:
"Don’t worry, dear mother... I’ll handle him myself."
The judge’s voice rang out, announcing the start of the first round.
"Contestants! To the arena!"
The cheers rose. The battle had begun.
But I knew...
This was only the beginning.
I looked ahead and whispered to myself:
"This family is utterly insane... I need to get out of here."
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