Chapter 12
Everyone’s had a moment like this at least once in their lives.
You think you’re alone, singing your heart out—only to realize someone was standing behind you the whole time.
You wave enthusiastically at a familiar back, only for them to turn around… and it’s a complete stranger.
And the one thing those moments all have in common? They’re horrifically embarrassing.
The three seconds that followed felt like a decade. I couldn’t move a muscle.
Who were those people? And why were they watching this mess?
Every single thing I’d done up here tonight—was something I’d hoped no one would ever see.
Swinging my pickaxe twice before collapsing? Check.
Randomly chucking my pickaxe and dancing solo under the moonlight? Check.
And let’s not forget the passionate cursing at thin air…
As I mentally replayed the scene, my face flushed hot with shame.
Time to bolt.
Without hesitation, I slung my most expensive item—the mithril pickaxe—over my shoulder and turned on my heel.
“Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it…”
[SYSTEM] You’ve unleashed a heartfelt string of curses fitting for the Bregenz Empire’s most notorious villainess!
Stress greatly reduced. Stress -20
…Could this system not be so tone-deaf for once?
More importantly—how was I supposed to come back here tomorrow? What if those guys showed up again?
As all kinds of awful scenarios played in my head, I began my awkward, hasty descent down the rocky slope—completely unaware that those two men had mistaken me for a lunatic charging at them with a pickaxe.
✦✦✦
Over the next few days, I couldn’t sleep a wink. I didn’t even go back to the Calamari Mine.
Every time I closed my eyes, the memory of that humiliating night replayed in vivid detail.
As for avoiding the mine, well… it wasn’t just because I might run into those guys again.
More than that, I was afraid someone else might notice my nightly visits and start snooping around.
I wasn’t about to let anyone steal my mana stone field.
So I played it cool. Pretended nothing had happened. Sure, missing a few days of mining sucked, but… sniff… I’d live.
If only that had been the end of my misfortunes.
Turns out, the dance routine I’d come up with that night? Completely, utterly wrong.
How did I find out?
Let’s just say I didn’t want to—but the system made sure I knew.
[SYSTEM] Complete your daily goals to improve ‘Core Power’ and ‘Grace.’
· Dance Practice (1): Basic Step Routine – 3 minutes (0/20)
The moment I returned home and checked the daily quest log, it was painfully obvious.
The system, ever the strict grader, didn’t even count the steps I’d memorized. No credit for wrong moves.
So not only did I embarrass myself—I had to redo the quest from scratch.
Through sheer stubbornness, I eventually completed Dance Practice (1).
But what awaited me next was…
· Dance Practice (2): Intermediate Step Routine – 3 minutes (0/20)
Damn it. There was no end in sight.
“Did you rest well, my lady?”
“Ah, yes…”
I jumped up at the sound of Lady Doringer’s voice.
Since dance practice had started showing up in my daily quests, she’d brought back a dance instructor. She couldn’t just sit around while her lady floundered.
And it had been three days since the lessons resumed.
I glanced at the current list of quests.
[SYSTEM] Complete your daily goals to improve ‘Core Power,’ ‘Grace,’ and ‘Infamy.’
· Dance Practice (4): Beginner Dance Routine Mastery (0/1)
· Slap Practice (4/100)
· Stare-down in Mirror – 1 Minute (3/20)
It was getting harder and harder to keep up—but the stat gains were real.
I’d made solid progress across the board.
Name: Adelheid Ulmer
Age: 19
Occupation: Adopted Daughter of Duke Ulmer
Titles: Elder Beater, Devil’s Smile
[Base Stats]
· Core Power: 12/100 (↑4)
· Intelligence: 4/100 (↑1)
· Grace: 13/100 (↑3)
· Charm: 1/100 (↑1)
· Stress: 45/100
[Special Stats]
· Infamy: 180/999 (↑30)
· Karma: 25/999
· Persuasion: 6/100
· Sucker Score: 65/100
It may not seem like much at first glance, but compared to where I started? Huge difference.
So I decided to grind daily quests while avoiding the mine. Even if I had found a mana stone, I couldn’t do much with my current stats anyway.
‘Sucker Score’s still high, and 13 Grace isn’t going to get me into any royal ball…’
That stat needed serious work.
And I’d need to manage my stress before it hit max and triggered another breakdown.
“Focus, my lady!”
“Yes, ma’am—huff… huff…”
Lady Doringer’s voice had the sharpness of a dagger, and I instantly snapped to attention, moving in perfect rhythm.
‘How can someone change so much?’
She usually shrank in fear around me—but during dance training, she turned into a full-blown drill sergeant.
“Huff… Huff…”
I was already exhausted.
I thought beginner dances would give my arms a break, but no.
“Keep your torso upright! No matter how much your legs move, your upper body must remain steady—like a proud heron!”
“Yes—yes, ma’am! Huff… Huff…”
At this rate, if someone so much as poked me, my limbs would crumple into a twisted mess.
Both my legs and arms were jelly from all the ridiculous postures I had to maintain in the name of “perfect balance.”
“Lady Ulmer! Your head is drooping! Hold it high, like an elegant swan!”
“I… I’m dying…”
More like a swan on its deathbed.
My practice dress was soaked in sweat. I didn’t even look human anymore.
“You’re doing great! Now, spin!”
Moved by the fact that the infamous Lady Ulmer had practiced dance for three days straight, Doringer grew even more passionate in her instruction.
“I… I can’t…”
The moment I collapsed onto the floor, she rushed over in panic.
“Lady Ulmer! Are you all right?”
“Huff… Huff… I’m… fine…”
I glanced at the quest window between gasps.
Something had clicked. My muscles were shot, but I could feel that I’d nailed the steps.
[SYSTEM] Complete your daily goals to improve ‘Core Power’ and ‘Grace.’
· Dance Practice (4): Beginner Dance Routine Mastery (1/1)
· Slap Practice (4/100)
· Stare-down in Mirror – 1 Minute (3/20)
‘Knew it!’
I’d danced until my limbs were no longer my own—if that didn’t count, the system really was broken.
Before Lady Doringer could drag me through another round, I cried out,
“I’m not okay!”
“O-Oh my…”
She finally snapped out of her drill sergeant mode, horror dawning on her face.
As if realizing she’d just lost her mind and worked me to the bone.
“Now that I think about it… perhaps today’s session was a bit intense, my lady. I-I think you should rest now…”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
We were in perfect agreement.
Thankfully, she got the message and quickly bowed out.
And the moment she left—
Thud!
I collapsed onto the floor like a rag doll.
“Ughhh…”
I could breathe again.
Sure, I still had to slap the air and stare at myself in the mirror before bedtime, but at least the worst part was over.
Click.
Just then, I heard the door open near my head.
‘Did Lady Doringer forget something? Or maybe Sophie?’
But it didn’t sound like either of them.
Doringer would’ve said something.
And Sophie moved like a ghost—you barely heard her.
This… was too loud.
Something was off.
Sensing danger, I quickly sat up.
