Chapter 17: I woke up and the system was gone.

Lillian could tell that Eileen was a bit unsettled.

She was skilled at observing the subtle expressions of others.

It would not be an exaggeration to say she possessed Mind Reading.

This was precisely where her brilliance lay.

From the first time she met the maid, Eileen, Lillian had noticed that the way she looked at Lord Atiste was filled with love.

As for Lord Atiste, he was completely and purely interested in art in the truest sense of the word.

Therefore, when Lord Atiste said that Lillian was no longer human, she already knew he did not have any superfluous thoughts about her.

In his eyes, there was only the desire to create art.

This made Lillian admire him even more.

Returning to Eileen, the last time she had suddenly run away, she kept grumbling that “Lord Atiste is a fool,” which was enough to show she was in a state of impotent rage.

Combined with the fact that during their recent interactions, the maid would occasionally cast looks of contempt or even disgust at Lillian, she became more certain.

Eileen viewed her as a “love rival.”

How could Lillian let such a trivial matter ruin the “big picture”?

If she did not handle this troublesome maid here, how could she win Lord Atiste’s heart?

The corners of Lillian’s mouth curled up slightly.

She deliberately did not hide her confidence.

Eileen perceived this smile as a “provocation.”

It made Eileen feel even more uncomfortable.

Eileen immediately exposed her.

“I still can’t agree to your request. You look like you’re plotting something, and it’s directed at Master.”

Unperturbed, Lillian continued to speak elegantly.

“I am not making a request; I am offering you a condition. It is a condition you likely won’t encounter again in this lifetime. You will receive my help, and I will receive your guidance.”

Lillian continued, “Whether you accept or not is up to you. I believe that Miss Eileen is not a dull person, right?”

Eileen remained stubborn.

“I just hate your attitude. I always feel like we don’t get along. No, it’s impossible for us to get along! The only reason you’re standing in front of me is because Master gave the order!”

Hearing this, Lillian’s smile became even more confident.

“Exactly. You’re very self-aware. That’s all the more reason for you to agree to my terms. Once I become stronger, Lord Atiste will be even happier. When the time comes, I’ll say it was all thanks to you. Guess what? Will he praise you?”

Eileen thought about it.

The idea of getting Master’s praise actually made her feel a bit happy.

Lillian pressed her advantage.

“He might not just praise you; he might even grant your wish.”

Eileen looked at the inscrutable girl before her, her heart full of disgust and resistance.

Although Lillian was beautiful, her smile was dangerous.

Even after living for 500 years and meeting many people, Eileen had never seen a character whose “aura” alone felt so dangerous…

She was like a poisonous golden rose—gorgeous and dazzling, but with a murderous intent hidden in her stems.

But Master might just want such an Art Piece.

If Eileen could help Master complete his art, he would definitely be very happy!

‘If Master agrees to grant my wish, then I can confess my feelings to him directly!’

Although she had tried to confess before, Master never seemed to take it seriously.

This time, she had to capture his heart!

Eileen judged that the benefits Lillian could bring outweighed her dislike for the girl.

Therefore, she hesitated before nodding.

Lillian generously extended her hand to grasp Eileen’s and said warmly, “Then I’ll be in your care, Teacher Eileen. Let’s work hard together so that I can become an even more dazzling Art Piece and make Lord Atiste happy!”

Eileen was forced to shake her hand, but her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Having lived so long, she had never seen anyone who could smile so sincerely after being turned from a living human into an Art Piece.

It was too strange.

She was even more certain that Lillian was no longer human.

At the same time, she began to wonder: did Lillian become like this because of the Crystal of Myriad Splendor?

Or was she always like this?

‘If it’s the latter… then she’s a bit of a pervert…’

Eileen did not dare think about it any further, nor did she want to understand this “non-human” creature.

Eileen said to Lillian, “No more small talk. Let’s strike while the iron is hot and begin the training immediately.”

Lillian released Eileen’s hand, took an elegant step back, and faced her.

Turning sideways, she pointed her hands toward the interior of the Training Space and said politely, “After you, Teacher.”

Eileen walked into the pure white Training Space.

As she passed by Lillian, she said, “No need for these pleasantries. My training will be very strict. Prepare to die 100 times.”

Lillian followed Eileen into the Training Space with full confidence.

The pure white doors closed.

A Trial of Death was about to begin.

***

Atiste slept beautifully through the night.

Having blocked all information, he slept very deeply.

There were no dreams and no distracting noises.

He had not even heard the system prompts.

So, when he unblocked them, all the warning messages the System had sent him last night popped up at once.

His ears took the brunt of it as the warning sounds flooded in all at once, nearly bursting his eardrums!

[System Warning! A high-energy target is destroying the Host’s hiding place!]

[System Warning! Multiple high-energy targets are wandering around the Host!]

[System Warning! A strong impact has been detected! Host, please dodge immediately!]

[System Warning! High-energy magic is being cast. Host, please save your own life! This System is leaving first!]

[System Warning! Two high-energy targets are passionately colliding! Host, run away!]

[System Warning! System Warning! System Warning!]

[System… &… %￥￥ unable to %%&… Warning… running away is the best! … !]

Atiste looked at the red warnings filling the system screen and rubbed his forehead helplessly.

He then activated his Mana perception to investigate up to 5 kilometers outside The Fortress.

Nothing was happening at all.

He did not even sense small animals fighting.

Then where did these system warnings come from?

‘It couldn’t be from inside The Fortress, could it?’

To be safe, he checked the interior of the fortress.

As a result, he immediately felt a violent force running rampant everywhere inside the Training Space.

Meanwhile, another unidentified force whose true form could not be investigated was constantly evading it.

The violent one was undoubtedly Eileen; she had clearly gone on a rampage.

Then who was the other one?

Atiste looked at the wound on his hand that had not yet faded.

The Mana attached to this wound was similarly impossible to trace to a real source.

Atiste muttered to himself, ‘No way… they wouldn’t really be fighting, would they?’

Feeling uncertain, Atiste straightened his clothes and walked toward the training room.