GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter 21.1: Access Pending

Celia paused her demonstration, a proud smile spreading across her face. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before responding.

"Remember your advice about focusing on finesse over strength? I've been expanding my weapon choices while preparing for the Academy," she continued, executing a quick reverse grip transition. "Figured I should have backup options."

Hileya watched with open admiration as Celia demonstrated a fluid strike.

"Lady Celia is quite skilled," Hileya observed quietly.

"Well... I'm not really an expert. Just happened to find some manuals back in Elnor and did a little practice. Also, please just call me Celia," she said, clearly pleased by the compliment.

I felt a surge of pride watching her. She'd taken my advice and run with it.

"Now you try. Use your own dagger," Celia encouraged, stepping back to give her space. "Feel the difference between each grip."

Hileya adjusted her hold on the dagger she'd already drawn, her delicate fingers wrapping around the hilt with surprising ease. She immediately settled into the standard grip, her thumb naturally finding its place along the spine without instruction.

"Like this?"

Celia blinked, clearly surprised by how quickly Hileya had adopted the correct form. "Yes, exactly like that. Now try the reverse grip."

Without hesitation, Hileya flipped the dagger with fluid precision. Celia and I exchanged glances.

"It's not so different from holding a kitchen knife," Hileya said softly.

She did mention she's good with a knife, being a maid and all.

Celia moved into basic defensive techniques - "control and redirection" - demonstrating parries and counters. When she asked about target points for self-defense, Hileya spoke up before she could explain.

"Wrist, shoulder, outer thigh, lower abdomen, and collarbone," she recited, pointing to each location on herself.

Celia paused, surprised again. "Yes, exactly. How did you know that?"

A faint blush colored Hileya's cheeks. "Lady Halen's captain held training sessions in the garden every day. I was always there tending the flowers. It's hard not to... overhear his lessons."

I blinked, processing what she'd just revealed.

Wait. All the signs were there: her ability to move so silently I hadn't noticed her in my room this morning; the way she appeared and disappeared at Lady Halen's manor without drawing attention; her instinctive knowledge learned from observing.

"Try this defensive stance," Celia was saying, demonstrating a position that protected vital areas while maintaining mobility.

If I had to assign Hileya a role in an Aeonalus party, she'd be a stealth-based class. Not a damage dealer, but something like a Scout or Infiltrator—someone who gathered information, moved unseen, and provided tactical advantages through positioning and intelligence. The kind of character players often underestimated until they realized how valuable those abilities were in the right situations.

Did Lady Halen not know? Or... maybe she did. Lady Halen struck me as a politician who always thought moves ahead. This assignment might be less about giving me a maid and more about positioning an informant.

The question is...

I shook my head.

I'm just overthinking again. But speaking of which...