Early in the morning, the sound of knocking echoed at the door. Upon granting permission to enter, my personal maid, Misha, stepped inside.

  "Good morning, young master."

  "Good morning."

  This was the same exchange we repeated every morning since I arrived in this world.

  But today, there was one small difference.

  Misha, carrying a pile of undry, retrieved two books hidden between the towels. Providing me with books—despite my studies being forbidden—was an act that could be considered treason against the Endenberg barony. Yet, it was the clearest proof that she had become my ally.

  ———Misha had joined my side just yesterday.

  Feeling the limits of what I could accomplish alone, I had asked her for help when she came to my room as usual.

  "Will you help me?"

  "Y-Yes! Of course!"

  Seeing Misha nod enthusiastically, I wondered how she could be so motivated over something that didn’t directly concern her. But there was a reason.

  Apparently, parts of her upbringing overpped with my current situation, which had moved her.

  It felt like a somewhat weak motive, but then again, Norwin was only seven years old. If a child treated coldly even by his own family desperately begged for help, an emotional girl might easily be swayed.

  ———Well, I didn’t fully understand it, but as long as I gained an ally, it didn’t matter.

  Misha was cute, and even if her actions were discovered, she was of noble birth—she wouldn’t be executed. At worst, she’d be fired and sent back to her family.

  As long as she wouldn’t die because of me, that was more than enough.

  By the way, the reason I thought recruiting Misha was safe was that she had shown signs of sympathy for my situation.

  Looking back now, that judgment was careless.

  That sympathy could have been an act—she might have been an agent of the Endenberg family.

  Had I forgotten that in my haste? Perhaps the unchanging stagnation of my circumstances had made me impatient.

  Ever since I began magic training, I had become acutely aware of this body’s ck of talent.

  Because I knew the protagonists’ strength through the game, Norwin’s powerlessness was more than enough to make me anxious.

  In the end, Misha became an ally, so it worked out. But if the maid before me had been an enemy, I’d likely be living under even tighter restrictions by now.

  From now on, I needed to act more carefully.

  "Is something the matter?"

  "No, it’s nothing."

  As I reflected on yesterday’s events, Misha peered at my face with concern.

  Whoa, up close, she’s seriously cute.

  Honestly, she might even be cuter than Arcueid’s heroines—except for Cressencia, of course.

  My personal maid, now locking the door behind her, smiled like an older sister doting on her younger brother.

  Perhaps because we had gone from master and servant to comrades sharing a secret, Misha’s attitude had softened noticeably since yesterday.

  It made me happy—she was adorable—but honestly, she was so cute that it was starting to shake my feelings for Cressencia. Seriously, this was dangerous.

  "Now then, today’s schedule!"

  She spoke with an eager huff.

  Was she really that happy to be of help to me? Well, I guess I get it. There’s something thrilling about secretly rebelling against unjust authority.

  Mix that with a protective instinct toward me, and this is the result.

  "In the morning, magic training. After a break at noon, nguage studies and general education in the afternoon. Ah, general education means—"

  "It’s fine. I understand. Also, magic training is exhausting, so I’d prefer to get the studying done first if possible."

  "That would be difficult."

  "Why?"

  "I’ve looked into the schedules of all the servants assigned to the annex. Their duties are concentrated in the morning, while the afternoon is retively free."

  "Ah, so they’re less likely to pay attention to us when they’re busy?"

  "Exactly! You’re so smart!"

  Misha beamed as she showered me with praise, her expression warm and affectionate—like I was being treasured.

  Wait, did she just casually drop something insane?

  She investigated all the servants’ schedules? In just one day?

  "Is something the matter?"

  When I stared at her in shock, Misha tilted her head cutely, seemingly unaware of what she’d just implied.

  Damn it, she’s too adorable.

  "N-No, it’s nothing. If that’s the case, let’s start the magic training right away."

  "Yes!"

  Misha cheerfully spread the magic textbook on the floor.

  We didn’t use the desk because, in an emergency, earth magic could carve out the floor, allowing us to toss evidence of my studies inside and seal it back up.

  Then, by covering it with a carpet, even the distinctive traces of earth magic would be hidden.

  "Now then—"

  The magic featured in Arcueid Quest was, understandably, focused on combat.

  I mean, if a battle-centric game included something like bug-repelling magic (if that even exists), where would you even use it?

  It couldn’t be helped that the magic system was skewed.

  But this world should have a much broader and deeper well of magical knowledge.

  Since I already had combat magic down from the game, I needed to master the rest.

  Combining the knowledge from the game with what I would learn here—I would become the ultimate mage.

  Filled with determination, I lowered my gaze to the magic textbook—

  "......"

  "Young master?"

  "............"

  "Young master?"

  "Uh, wait."

  "I can’t read this."

  "Eh?"

  "Miss Misha... I can’t read this."

  "Wha—?"

  Hey, why that surprised look?

  I mean, sure, I might’ve assumed it by default, but if we can speak the same nguage, you’d think the writing would be Japanese too, right?!

  Why is the text in the Arcadian Kingdom’s script?!

  "Miss Misha, um... could you teach me how to read first?"

  "Fufu, of course."

  With a mature smile unbefitting her youthful appearance, Misha opened a nguage textbook.

  From then on, it became a study session.

  Language, general education, and as much aristocratic knowledge as Misha could provide.

  It was the process of absorbing this world’s culture—things I couldn’t learn from Arcueid.

  I had been worried if my former self, who hated studying, could manage it, but a child’s brain absorbed new knowledge like a dry sponge soaking up water.

  And so, my days became fulfilling—until a problem arose three months ter.

  Though I had thought it was still far off, I was forcibly thrust onto the stage of Arcadia Quest much sooner than expected.