It was a tense standoff. The brick facade guarded Mireille’s back, but also blocked off any routes of escape, letting her chasers box the [Seamstress] in. The smog still made the air a tad hazy, but not enough to markedly affect visibility. The plume of smoke let off by the bottle in Mireille’s hand snaked off into the sky like a threatening viper, keeping the [Guard’s] cowed. For now.
Fayette knew it wouldn’t last. The situation had a certain balance right now—the [Guards] quietly and slowly advancing forward, and Mireille threatening them back. A balance the [Guards] did not mind, and Mireille could not change. However, the balance was already broken, reinforcements had arrived—the [Guards] just hadn’t noticed it quite yet.
Once they properly took her and Olivia in, Fayette knew the [Guards] would act. She had one option: Act first. A few heads had turned her way already, but it would take a few moments for her entry to properly register. There was no time for an elegant or thought-out plan, leaving only one simple option. Break through. Well, time for something simple then.
She started running forwards, dealing with her levelup as she ran. Skill merges were generally a good opportunity. Merging slots left one free, while still holding the functions of both old skills. She mentally accepted the skill merge.
[Cleaning Tool Proficiency III and Maid’s Poise III have been merged into Maid Martial Arts I!]
[Maid Martial Arts — A broom and skirt are no impediment to battle! Master the many techniques of MMA, and prove your superiority over foes!]
Her steps felt firmer, and her poise grew more ready. Her apron and skirt moved with her legs now, not impeding her steps. She adjusted her broom grip, moving to something more appropriate for a quarterstaff.
Good, should make this next part easier.
She drew her broom behind herself, ready for a swing. Just like the games she and Mireille had used to play—all she was missing was a ball. “Mireille! Throw!”
By now, the [Guards] had noticed her, but they were facing the wrong way. Mireille was not. It took the [Seamstress] but a heartbeat to register the command, and act. She didn’t hesitate, she trusted Fayette enough. She moved the smoking bottle to her right hand, readied for a proper pitch, and threw, sending the projectile flying over the [Guards].
Fayette braced for a home run. She wasn’t quite sure whether her current skill ranks would be enough for what she was attempting, so she decided to splurge a bit.
[Skill up: Sweep Dust has reached rank 4!]
Eh, might as well be thorough.
[Skill up: Sweep Dust has reached rank 5!]
Hm, no offer for an upgrade to uncommon tier. Guess I’m missing a condition.
Fayette didn’t really mind, as more important matters were at hand. Mireille’s throw finally reached her, and her broom hit the bottle, smashing it open, and smoke billowed out. Fayette activated [Sweep Dust].
Smoke is just dust in the air, right?
With her added level to the skill, Fayette had felt her control grow. She adjusted her handling on the skill, holding it in a constant sweep-out mode. The smoke that had begun to gather was suddenly thrust away from the broom.
The [Maid] swept her broom out in a wide arc, and like a [Painter] with her brush, started working on her canvas. The [Guards] that was. The smoke went out in a wide screen, covering the formation wholesale. Coughs and curses sounded out, and visibility for those within was reduced to nil. Fayette grinned.
Excellent—part 1, the distraction, is complete. Now, for the action.
She kept running forward, then checked beside her and saw that Olivia was still with her, following her closely. Fayette had just the right job in mind for her. “Olivia, you watch the outside. Keep them in the smoke.”
Olivia nodded, took out her surgeon’s knife, then slowed her run. “What will you be doing?”
Fayette shifted her gaze back forward and continued her run straight at the cloud of smoke. “Extracting Mireille.”
She held out her broom, and prepared for another swipe. Just as she reached the cloud of smoke, she swept from bottom to top, and [Sweep Dust] did its work. Feeling like the legendary saint, she parted the ocean, and a corridor free of smoke was swept up, revealing Mireille. And three [Guards].
One was blocking off the passage, back to Fayette, while the other two were in the center, advancing on Mireille. Alright, a simple one-two-three. Let’s go.
The first [Guard] blocking her path took a heartbeat to process the clearing of the smoke, and then began to turn towards the approaching [Maid], spear sweeping out towards her. Hmph, too fast for a nice backbrooming.
Well, Fayette had options. The [Guards] expression bore no nervousness at facing a [Maid] armed with a broom. A beginner’s mistake. Fayette turned her broom around in her hand, pointing the blunt end at the man, as if preparing for a forward thrust. The man smirked, confident he could block. Fayette did not smirk—though for some reason she felt an urge to do so.
The [Guard] was preparing for a direct fight, but he did not take note of how the other end of Fayette’s broom was subtly trailing the smoke. Here amidst the smoke, she was not just a combatant, she was a painter, and the smoke all around was her palette.
[Sweep Dust]. Instead of thrusting forward with her broom, Fayette swept it out sideways, dragging a mote of smoke right into the [Guard’s] face. His spear jerked, the prepared block skill falling to waste, and his defensive posture broke. Fayette moved closer.
Unlocking [Maid Martial Arts] had taught her much, and she felt an instinctual knowledge of hand-to-hand combat. She was eager to try it out.
Fayette dodged the wildly the swishing spear, thrust her broom between the man’s legs, and pushed his upper body forward with her full momentum. A simple lever action, and the man was sent tumbling into the smoke, with a slightly twisted leg.
Fayette had not slowed one bit with the encounter, and continued onwards towards Mireille. I think I’ll call that one the [Take Out the Trash].
With one obstacle out the way, she got a better look at Mireille’s situation. One [Guard] was writhing in pain on the ground, while the other was advancing. Somehow, Mireille was managing to dodge and weave out of his spear’s path.
Despite her running start, the [Maid] knew every moment of a prolonged fight would also prolong the risks. I need to help Mireille now, not when I finally reach her.
Luckily, she had a ranged option ready at hand. [Cutlery Control] rang out, a knife was pulled into her arm, and in one fluid motion, she flicked it at the [Guard]. The throw flew steady and true, clanging against the man’s helmet. No damage, but a distraction at least. The sound made the man twitch, and he turned his head back to find the source.
Just in time for Fayette’s second knife to take him in the cheek.
It wasn’t much in terms of stopping power or damage, but it was enough. A chance, a distraction. As the man shouted out in pain and gritted his teeth, he failed to stop the needle that flashed towards him from the other direction, burrowing into his clothes. The [Guard’s] clothes started to constrict around him, threads winding around in tightening motions, but not quite strong enough. He bent to cut at the threads, to free herself, and sliced apart the seams with his spear. Right in time for Fayette to arrive.
He was already bent over, giving Fayette a nice invitation for a brooming. She was getting quite adept at the art. With her [Maid Martial Arts] unlocked, her blows carried more weight with them too. She swung her broom, mimicking her earlier home run. His helmet rang out like a bell, and the man crumpled onto the ground.
Fayette took a second to stop, breathe, and take in the situation. The last [Guard] had been handled by Mireille and was not getting up. Fayette did not know quite what had been done to the man, but it did seem rather painful. She raised her gaze and met her friend’s eyes. Eyes that shone with relief.
Mireille raised her hand for a greeting. “Fay—”
Fayette grabbed it, shifted around, then bolted into a run. “Mireille, we need to go!” With the other assailants in the smoke, we should be clear for a getaway.
She pulled her friend with her, steps synchronizing, and got to the passage in the smoke. She took a breath of relief once inside it, as it took her a step closer to real escape.
“Fay, one of them can still—”
Just as Fayette began to register Mireille’s words, the smoke shifted right next to her, revealing a sword headed right at her head. Wait, how can he see me?
The position was awkward, and she could not bring her broom up in time. In a desperate block, she brought her arm up, bracing for the sword’s blow.
The sword hit her [Maid] uniform’s sleave and then glanced off, as if hitting hard armor.
Fayette felt herself smile. Her new skill was better than she had expected.
[Maid Armour – A Maid’s uniform is her armor! Gain defense proportional to how clean, prim and proper your uniform is. With this skill, you are set for an elegant battle!]
She had been very careful throughout the engagement, taking care to not touch the smoke at all herself or get any other traces of grime on her uniform. Her uniform had not a spot of dirt on it. Well, except for a trail of smokey black the sword had left on it. Fayette could already feel her defense weakening from it.
Better than I expected. Guess it's worth some investment.
[Skill up: Maid Armour has reached rank 2!]
Mireille’s eyes widened, and Fayette kept running, dragging the woman along. She hoped the confusion of the smoke would last for a bit longer, enough to make a clean getaway. She heard footsteps as someone stepped out of the smoke, into the passage cleared by her. The one who had just almost gotten her.
She got out of the smoke, passage closing behind her, and saw that Olivia had not been idle. The [Doctor] was standing guard outside, two heavily bleeding men crumpled by her feet. They were not moving at all. The [Doctor] quirked an eye at Fayette.
“You really managed to get her out of that? Formidable.”
Fayette intended to keep running, but Mireille, at last, made her stop, tugging the [Maid] to a standstill.
“Fay—we can’t run quite yet!”
Fayette turned back, confused. “What do you mean?”
Mireille pointed behind her, at the man who had appeared amidst the smoke. He was tall and built like a bull, heavy armor clanking with every move, and a feathery cap swishing with his head. No ordinary [Guard]. Fayette knew only important people wore hats with as many feathers on them as this man. She felt her class instinctively bristle, some hollow, missing part reacting to the man. A noble?
“That guy, he’s got some tracking skill on me. I've tried hiding and running, but he keeps finding me again and again. Probably how he just almost got you too.”
Fayette tensed. This was getting difficult again. “How do we solve that? Olivia can you do that swap thing?”
"Only if we want to move the mark to me instead," the [Doctor] said as she stepped beside them, examining the man with a [Surgeon’s] eye. “There is however always one easy way to remove a skill. Remove the skill user. You could try to break the limit of the skill otherwise too, bet this one’s distance.”
Fayette thought for a moment. Their party really was not built for rapid escapes, and she did not see their chance at that as good. She made her decision, nodded, and started digging through her [Apron of Holding]. She had just made a fresh batch of [All Purpose Cleaner] for this operation, and still had a bomb left too.
“Alright, then we face him.”
Surely this counts as a situation where it’s alright to kill a noble?
zechamp
MMA! MMA!
This chapter and the next were some of the toughest for me to write.
Discord: https://discord.gg/7VAe483QfP
Patreon (5 chapters ahead): https://www.patreon.com/zechamp
It was a tense standoff. The brick facade guarded Mireille’s back, but also blocked off any routes of escape, letting her chasers box the [Seamstress] in. The smog still made the air a tad hazy, but not enough to markedly affect visibility. The plume of smoke let off by the bottle in Mireille’s hand snaked off into the sky like a threatening viper, keeping the [Guard’s] cowed. For now.
Fayette knew it wouldn’t last. The situation had a certain balance right now—the [Guards] quietly and slowly advancing forward, and Mireille threatening them back. A balance the [Guards] did not mind, and Mireille could not change. However, the balance was already broken, reinforcements had arrived—the [Guards] just hadn’t noticed it quite yet.
Once they properly took her and Olivia in, Fayette knew the [Guards] would act. She had one option: Act first. A few heads had turned her way already, but it would take a few moments for her entry to properly register. There was no time for an elegant or thought-out plan, leaving only one simple option. Break through. Well, time for something simple then.
She started running forwards, dealing with her levelup as she ran. Skill merges were generally a good opportunity. Merging slots left one free, while still holding the functions of both old skills. She mentally accepted the skill merge.
[Cleaning Tool Proficiency III and Maid’s Poise III have been merged into Maid Martial Arts I!]
[Maid Martial Arts — A broom and skirt are no impediment to battle! Master the many techniques of MMA, and prove your superiority over foes!]
Her steps felt firmer, and her poise grew more ready. Her apron and skirt moved with her legs now, not impeding her steps. She adjusted her broom grip, moving to something more appropriate for a quarterstaff.
Good, should make this next part easier.
She drew her broom behind herself, ready for a swing. Just like the games she and Mireille had used to play—all she was missing was a ball. “Mireille! Throw!”
By now, the [Guards] had noticed her, but they were facing the wrong way. Mireille was not. It took the [Seamstress] but a heartbeat to register the command, and act. She didn’t hesitate, she trusted Fayette enough. She moved the smoking bottle to her right hand, readied for a proper pitch, and threw, sending the projectile flying over the [Guards].
Fayette braced for a home run. She wasn’t quite sure whether her current skill ranks would be enough for what she was attempting, so she decided to splurge a bit.
[Skill up: Sweep Dust has reached rank 4!]
Eh, might as well be thorough.
[Skill up: Sweep Dust has reached rank 5!]
Hm, no offer for an upgrade to uncommon tier. Guess I’m missing a condition.
Fayette didn’t really mind, as more important matters were at hand. Mireille’s throw finally reached her, and her broom hit the bottle, smashing it open, and smoke billowed out. Fayette activated [Sweep Dust].
Smoke is just dust in the air, right?
With her added level to the skill, Fayette had felt her control grow. She adjusted her handling on the skill, holding it in a constant sweep-out mode. The smoke that had begun to gather was suddenly thrust away from the broom.
The [Maid] swept her broom out in a wide arc, and like a [Painter] with her brush, started working on her canvas. The [Guards] that was. The smoke went out in a wide screen, covering the formation wholesale. Coughs and curses sounded out, and visibility for those within was reduced to nil. Fayette grinned.
Excellent—part 1, the distraction, is complete. Now, for the action.
She kept running forward, then checked beside her and saw that Olivia was still with her, following her closely. Fayette had just the right job in mind for her. “Olivia, you watch the outside. Keep them in the smoke.”
Olivia nodded, took out her surgeon’s knife, then slowed her run. “What will you be doing?”
Fayette shifted her gaze back forward and continued her run straight at the cloud of smoke. “Extracting Mireille.”
She held out her broom, and prepared for another swipe. Just as she reached the cloud of smoke, she swept from bottom to top, and [Sweep Dust] did its work. Feeling like the legendary saint, she parted the ocean, and a corridor free of smoke was swept up, revealing Mireille. And three [Guards].
One was blocking off the passage, back to Fayette, while the other two were in the center, advancing on Mireille. Alright, a simple one-two-three. Let’s go.
The first [Guard] blocking her path took a heartbeat to process the clearing of the smoke, and then began to turn towards the approaching [Maid], spear sweeping out towards her. Hmph, too fast for a nice backbrooming.
Well, Fayette had options. The [Guards] expression bore no nervousness at facing a [Maid] armed with a broom. A beginner’s mistake. Fayette turned her broom around in her hand, pointing the blunt end at the man, as if preparing for a forward thrust. The man smirked, confident he could block. Fayette did not smirk—though for some reason she felt an urge to do so.
The [Guard] was preparing for a direct fight, but he did not take note of how the other end of Fayette’s broom was subtly trailing the smoke. Here amidst the smoke, she was not just a combatant, she was a painter, and the smoke all around was her palette.
[Sweep Dust]. Instead of thrusting forward with her broom, Fayette swept it out sideways, dragging a mote of smoke right into the [Guard’s] face. His spear jerked, the prepared block skill falling to waste, and his defensive posture broke. Fayette moved closer.
Unlocking [Maid Martial Arts] had taught her much, and she felt an instinctual knowledge of hand-to-hand combat. She was eager to try it out.
Fayette dodged the wildly the swishing spear, thrust her broom between the man’s legs, and pushed his upper body forward with her full momentum. A simple lever action, and the man was sent tumbling into the smoke, with a slightly twisted leg.
Fayette had not slowed one bit with the encounter, and continued onwards towards Mireille. I think I’ll call that one the [Take Out the Trash].
With one obstacle out the way, she got a better look at Mireille’s situation. One [Guard] was writhing in pain on the ground, while the other was advancing. Somehow, Mireille was managing to dodge and weave out of his spear’s path.
Despite her running start, the [Maid] knew every moment of a prolonged fight would also prolong the risks. I need to help Mireille now, not when I finally reach her.
Luckily, she had a ranged option ready at hand. [Cutlery Control] rang out, a knife was pulled into her arm, and in one fluid motion, she flicked it at the [Guard]. The throw flew steady and true, clanging against the man’s helmet. No damage, but a distraction at least. The sound made the man twitch, and he turned his head back to find the source.
Just in time for Fayette’s second knife to take him in the cheek.
It wasn’t much in terms of stopping power or damage, but it was enough. A chance, a distraction. As the man shouted out in pain and gritted his teeth, he failed to stop the needle that flashed towards him from the other direction, burrowing into his clothes. The [Guard’s] clothes started to constrict around him, threads winding around in tightening motions, but not quite strong enough. He bent to cut at the threads, to free herself, and sliced apart the seams with his spear. Right in time for Fayette to arrive.
He was already bent over, giving Fayette a nice invitation for a brooming. She was getting quite adept at the art. With her [Maid Martial Arts] unlocked, her blows carried more weight with them too. She swung her broom, mimicking her earlier home run. His helmet rang out like a bell, and the man crumpled onto the ground.
Fayette took a second to stop, breathe, and take in the situation. The last [Guard] had been handled by Mireille and was not getting up. Fayette did not know quite what had been done to the man, but it did seem rather painful. She raised her gaze and met her friend’s eyes. Eyes that shone with relief.
Mireille raised her hand for a greeting. “Fay—”
Fayette grabbed it, shifted around, then bolted into a run. “Mireille, we need to go!” With the other assailants in the smoke, we should be clear for a getaway.
She pulled her friend with her, steps synchronizing, and got to the passage in the smoke. She took a breath of relief once inside it, as it took her a step closer to real escape.
“Fay, one of them can still—”
Just as Fayette began to register Mireille’s words, the smoke shifted right next to her, revealing a sword headed right at her head. Wait, how can he see me?
The position was awkward, and she could not bring her broom up in time. In a desperate block, she brought her arm up, bracing for the sword’s blow.
The sword hit her [Maid] uniform’s sleave and then glanced off, as if hitting hard armor.
Fayette felt herself smile. Her new skill was better than she had expected.
[Maid Armour – A Maid’s uniform is her armor! Gain defense proportional to how clean, prim and proper your uniform is. With this skill, you are set for an elegant battle!]
She had been very careful throughout the engagement, taking care to not touch the smoke at all herself or get any other traces of grime on her uniform. Her uniform had not a spot of dirt on it. Well, except for a trail of smokey black the sword had left on it. Fayette could already feel her defense weakening from it.
Better than I expected. Guess it's worth some investment.
[Skill up: Maid Armour has reached rank 2!]
Mireille’s eyes widened, and Fayette kept running, dragging the woman along. She hoped the confusion of the smoke would last for a bit longer, enough to make a clean getaway. She heard footsteps as someone stepped out of the smoke, into the passage cleared by her. The one who had just almost gotten her.
She got out of the smoke, passage closing behind her, and saw that Olivia had not been idle. The [Doctor] was standing guard outside, two heavily bleeding men crumpled by her feet. They were not moving at all. The [Doctor] quirked an eye at Fayette.
“You really managed to get her out of that? Formidable.”
Fayette intended to keep running, but Mireille, at last, made her stop, tugging the [Maid] to a standstill.
“Fay—we can’t run quite yet!”
Fayette turned back, confused. “What do you mean?”
Mireille pointed behind her, at the man who had appeared amidst the smoke. He was tall and built like a bull, heavy armor clanking with every move, and a feathery cap swishing with his head. No ordinary [Guard]. Fayette knew only important people wore hats with as many feathers on them as this man. She felt her class instinctively bristle, some hollow, missing part reacting to the man. A noble?
“That guy, he’s got some tracking skill on me. I've tried hiding and running, but he keeps finding me again and again. Probably how he just almost got you too.”
Fayette tensed. This was getting difficult again. “How do we solve that? Olivia can you do that swap thing?”
"Only if we want to move the mark to me instead," the [Doctor] said as she stepped beside them, examining the man with a [Surgeon’s] eye. “There is however always one easy way to remove a skill. Remove the skill user. You could try to break the limit of the skill otherwise too, bet this one’s distance.”
Fayette thought for a moment. Their party really was not built for rapid escapes, and she did not see their chance at that as good. She made her decision, nodded, and started digging through her [Apron of Holding]. She had just made a fresh batch of [All Purpose Cleaner] for this operation, and still had a bomb left too.
“Alright, then we face him.”
Surely this counts as a situation where it’s alright to kill a noble?
zechamp
MMA! MMA!
This chapter and the next were some of the toughest for me to write.
Discord: https://discord.gg/7VAe483QfP
Patreon (5 chapters ahead): https://www.patreon.com/zechamp
