Chapter 7

The "Dragon’s Rest" was one of the finest inns in the capital, an establishment Myne had insisted upon. After a hearty dinner in the tavern downstairs, Maya suggested they retire to her room to "celebrate their new partnership" with a bottle of the inn's most expensive red wine.

Myne, ever eager to indulge in luxury on someone else's coin, happily agreed.

Inside the spacious, fire-lit room, Maya poured two generous goblets. She handed one to Myne, making sure to let her fingers brush the other woman's hand just enough to seem admiring.

"To the most beautiful and talented swordswoman in Melromarc," Maya toasted, her voice smooth as silk. "I still can't believe how lucky I am that you chose me, Myne. Those other heroes have no idea what they're missing."

Myne’s cheeks instantly flushed with pleasure. She took a deep drink of the heavy wine, a smug smile spreading across her lips. "Oh, Maya-sama, you are too kind. But it is true. The Spear Hero is handsome, but so easily distracted. And the Shield…" She practically spat the word, her sweet facade slipping for a fraction of a second. "Well. Let's just say he isn't going to be a problem for much longer."

Maya kept her expression perfectly innocent, taking a tiny sip of her own wine. "A problem? What do you mean? He seemed so… pathetic."

"Pathetic is exactly the word," Myne laughed, taking another large gulp. The alcohol was already loosening her tongue. She leaned in close, the smell of sweet grapes on her breath. "Between us girls… the King has no intention of letting that demon leech off our kingdom's treasury. Right now, there is someone getting very close to him. By tomorrow morning, the Shield will be stripped of his silver, his reputation, and his dignity. He'll be lucky if he isn't exiled."

Maya’s blood ran cold. They're framing him tonight, she realized. Just like I warned him. "My, my," Maya murmured, pouring more wine into Myne's nearly empty glass. "That sounds like a brilliant strategy by His Majesty. He truly is a wise ruler."

"The wisest," Myne giggled, her eyelids drooping slightly. "And once the Shield is out of the picture, the Church will be so pleased. And I will be rewarded handsomely for keeping an eye on the… the mysterious fifth…"

Myne trailed off, blinking slowly. The combination of the heavy meal, a full day of showing off her magic, and the potent wine had hit her like a brick. She swayed slightly in her chair.

"You look tired, Myne," Maya said softly, standing up. "You should get some rest. You're in the room right next to mine, yes?"

"Mmm… yes. So tired…" Myne mumbled. Maya carefully helped the drunken spy to her feet, guided her out the door, and deposited her into the adjacent room. The moment Myne flopped onto the bed, she was out cold.

Maya walked back into her own room and locked the heavy wooden door, sliding the iron bolt into place. Her friendly, naive smile vanished.

"Right," Maya whispered to the empty room. "Time to get to work."

She walked over to the desk and emptied her leather pouch. Out tumbled a pile of Orange Balloon skins, the overpriced mint leaves Myne had bought, a few scraps of iron she had purchased from Erhard, and a piece of bread she had smuggled up from dinner.

She raised her right arm. The sapphire embedded in the knuckle guard of the silver Gauntlet pulsed with a faint, rhythmic glow.

Maya picked up a scrap of iron and pressed it against the gem. A small prompt appeared in her vision.

[Material Detected: Iron Ore (Low Grade). Absorb?]

"Yes," Maya commanded mentally.

The gem glowed brighter, and the iron melted into a stream of light that was sucked into the gauntlet. A massive, complex skill tree suddenly unfolded in her HUD. Most of the branches were dark, locked behind level requirements, but one node lit up brightly.

[Requirement Met: Iron Gauntlet Unlocked.]

* [Equip Bonus: Attack +2, Defense +1]

* [Special Effect: Slightly increases blunt force trauma.]

Maya smiled. She immediately equipped it. The sleek silver of her weapon shifted, thickening into a heavier, darker iron that covered her forearm. She threw a few practice jabs at the air. It was heavier, but it carried serious momentum.

She didn't stop there. She grabbed an Orange Balloon skin and fed it to the gem.

[Requirement Met: Orange Balloon Gauntlet Unlocked.]

* [Equip Bonus: Agility +1]

* [Special Effect: Minor impact absorption (bouncy).]

Next went the mint leaves.

[Requirement Met: Leaf Gauntlet Unlocked.]

* [Equip Bonus: Magic +1]

* [Special Effect: Very Minor Stamina Recovery on hit.]

She spent the next three hours feeding everything she had into the weapon, unlocking minor variations and understanding the system. She realized she didn't just have to punch things—if she absorbed the right materials, she could inflict status effects, heal herself, or break armor. Combined with her real-world kickboxing experience, she was a walking, adaptable arsenal.

By the time the fire died down to embers, Maya was exhausted but incredibly satisfied. She had an ironclad weapon, a solid understanding of her skill tree, and the exact details of the kingdom's plot against Naofumi.

But as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the gravity of Myne's drunken confession weighed heavily on her. By tomorrow morning, the Shield will be stripped of his silver, his reputation, and his dignity.

Naofumi was alone out there. She had warned him, but was a warning enough against an entire kingdom's conspiracy?

Interactive Choice: The Morning Approaches

The sun will be rising soon, and the kingdom's trap for Naofumi is about to spring. What does Maya do?