There’s No Way My Maid Is a Villain

Chapter 37 : Growth

Growth

Sunlight shone upon a desolate plain. Though it was vast, there were no signs of life, only the scorched ground beneath their feet.

Suddenly, the sound of space shattering rippled through the air, and several figures stepped out.

"Hm, as a training ground, this place is quite spacious,"

Odin stood atop a rock on the plain, surveying the area.

"What did you bring us here for?"

Aili asked.

"Ah, places like this are my least favorite,"

Zhixi grumbled with dissatisfaction.

"Hm, this kind of sunshine... I really find it annoying."

Yinhua said.

"Ah la, it seems I've stayed in Yongye City for too long—I had almost forgotten this."

With that, Odin waved her hand casually. Instantly, it was as if a heavenly curtain had formed in the air, blocking out the sunlight.

"I agreed to the little highness's request yesterday and prepared to teach her some techniques,"

Odin turned to Aili and Zhixi as she spoke.

"Yes, I don't want to hold everyone back anymore. Master said, as long as I want to do it, I can definitely succeed,"

Yinhua declared with determination.

"Uh... that form of address isn't too good for my heart. Highness, just call me Odin, that's enough,"

Odin put one hand on her hip, a wry smile on her lips.

"Then, Odin, how are we to train?"

Yinhua was a bit nervous. She had learned a little swordsmanship, but she knew well her own meager skills.

"Well, highness, don't rush. Just watch us for now."

Odin walked slowly to stand before Aili and Zhixi, revealing a jet-black long blade and its sheath.

"What are you planning?"

Aili squinted her eyes.

"You both clearly have a big problem with me, so don't just talk—use your strength to prove it. If you can land a single hit on me, I'll listen to one request from either of you,"

Odin's tone was extremely arrogant, and her offer sounded utterly preposterous.

"Tch."

Being looked down on like this, even Aili couldn't help feeling a bit angry.

"Don't underestimate us—if you get hurt, it's not my business,"

Zhixi had also wanted to test just how strong an Absolute God could be, and directly charged forward.

"That's right, attack me with all you have. Compared to arguing in words, this method is the most direct, isn't it? Like marionettes, give your best performance until the very last moment."

Odin's petite figure took a fighting stance, deliberately provoking Aili and Zhixi. Judging by her posture, she didn't even intend to draw her blade.

"Hoo..."

Zhixi was unarmed.

She took a deep breath, locking eyes on Odin as though trying to see through her every movement.

With a "BOOM," she leaped like a wild beast, leaving a small crater where she had stood. Fist clenched, she instantly appeared before Odin.

Odin looked as if she hadn't reacted at all, standing unmoving.

At the moment her blow was about to land, with a thundering 'bang', even the rock behind Odin was shattered to pieces by the force, yet Odin, still smiling, merely used her sheath to block Zhixi's attack, then kicked her away.

"Ugh~"

Zhixi was sent flying a great distance by Odin's kick. There was no internal injury, but the pain was real.

"What? Is that all you have—just talk and nothing more?"

Odin taunted mercilessly.

Just then, a breeze swept by. Aili had already blinked behind Odin, her usual short knife in hand, slashing at Odin's neck with thunderous speed, showing no intention of mercy.

Odin sent her blade behind her without even a glance, and blocked Aili's strike.

Aili threw down her short knife, circled to Odin's front, and stabbed upwards with a dagger hidden in her sleeve.

Silk threads wrapped tightly around Aili's left hand, controlling the still airborne short knife to lunge at Odin from behind.

Now, Odin was under attack from both sides.

"Quite the trick,"

Odin's tone betrayed not a hint of panic.

She stepped forward, striking at Aili's right hand with her sheath, appearing unconcerned by the attack from behind.

"What strength..."

Aili thought to herself. If things kept going this way, she would be defeated before Odin even took any damage.

She had no choice but to stop controlling the short knife with the silk thread and use both hands to fend off Odin's assault.

But the gap in strength was too great. She couldn't even last three seconds before Odin knocked her to the ground.

The entire sequence hadn't taken even a minute. Odin's ceremonial dress wasn't even specked with dust, yet both of them were utterly beaten.

Aili understood well: the petite girl before her hadn't even used that divine spear—this was like a child toying with ants, able to crush them at any moment.

"Does it feel bitterly frustrating?"

Odin looked down at Aili lying on the ground.

"I felt the same way back then, but this emotion—this is the seed of your strength."

With that, Odin turned toward Yinhua, who had witnessed the whole battle and felt a tinge of fear.

"D-Don't tell me I have to fight like that too?"

"Of course not. With your current body, highness, you'd never get up again if I so much as touched you."

"Eh? Then how am I supposed to train?"

"Hmm, let me think..."

Odin walked to the shattered rocks left by Zhixi's blow. She bent down and picked up a few pieces.

"Try throwing this stone into the air, then hold it still up there."

"... Eh? ..."

After a few seconds of silence, Yinhua finally understood what Odin was saying.

"No no no, there's no way I can do that! I don't know magic at all!"

"This isn't magic. It's an ability you already possess—if you want to, you can do it."

"Really?"

"No problem at all."

So, Yinhua believed Odin. She tossed the stone upward, stared at it... and with a 'thud', it came down and smacked her right on the head.

"Ow!"

Yinhua clutched her forehead.

"No problem, try again."

And so... two hours passed.

Zhixi was yawning off to the side, and Aili looked drowsy as well.

"This isn't working—aren't there any tricks to it?"

"Ehhhh... Why not try yelling some incantations, like 'Za Warudo' or something."

"???"

Though she didn't understand what that meant, Yinhua gave it a try anyway.

"Za Warudo!"

Of course... nothing happened.

Odin sighed, realizing this wasn't getting anywhere. If things continued this way, their whole day would be wasted. She decided to intervene a little.

Suddenly, a wild wind gusted across the plain, and a giant tree nearly 25 meters tall was uprooted, tumbling straight toward Yinhua.

"Master!"

Aili cried, about to jump out to shield Yinhua, but her body couldn't move no matter how hard she tried. She could only watch, helpless, as the tree hurtled toward Yinhua.

Odin narrowed her eyes, showing no intention of helping.

At that moment, time seemed to slow by dozens of times, and Yinhua once again found herself in that blank, white world.

She saw Luna already seated, as if waiting for her arrival.

"You've come for my power this time, haven't you?"

Luna smiled strangely, utterly like a second personality of Yinhua—she knew everything.

"Yes, though it's rude, Luna, could I borrow your power?"

Yinhua pleaded.

"That power is yours to begin with."

"Then Luna, how can I use your ability?"

"You should know the answer, shouldn't you?"

Luna smiled faintly.

With that, Yinhua was transported back.

In reality...

"BANG!"

The massive tree crashed down where Yinhua had stood. Aili stared, stunned, unable to believe what she saw.

"Don't worry, Your Highness should be fine,"

After Odin's words, Aili looked over. She couldn't see any trace of Yinhua anymore.

"Ha... ha... ha..."

Right then, Yinhua was behind them, kneeling, breathing heavily.

"Master!"

Aili rushed up and hugged Yinhua tightly.

"It's okay. I'm just fine."

"What happened?"

Zhixi wondered.

'Teleportation? No... Did she stop time...?' Odin pondered to herself.

"That's enough for today. Let's go back."

With that, Odin tore open another rift and sent them all back.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Haha, author with the JJBA reference.

Also, with how Odin is making light work of Zhixi and Aili, there will probably be stronger enemies in the future...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】