Chapter 2: The First Maid
Inside the dilapidated wooden house, filled with dust and spider webs, Hal immediately opened the system missions panel. He clicked to claim the reward for recruiting a qualified maid.
He received the Battle Maid Armor Set (Epic), 1000 system points, and 1000 gold coins.
He also claimed the limited mission: First Maid Recruitment Completed, which granted the Black Wyvern Armor Set (Epic), along with another 1000 system points and 1000 gold coins.
These items were automatically added to his system inventory.
Hal took out the Battle Maid Armor Set and presented it to Freya, who stood before him.
At first, Freya was skeptical, but upon seeing the extraordinary armor and sensing the mana fluctuations emanating from the items, she—being a First Tier Knight herself—was convinced this was no ordinary magical equipments.
Freya's hands trembled as she accepted the armor and bowed. "Thank you... ah, how should I address you?" she asked.
"You can call me Hal."
"Yes, Master Hal," Freya replied, bowing again. She couldn't contain her excitement; her breathing quickened.
"Now, you need to drip your own blood onto the equipment for you to be able to activate the enchanted skills engraved on it."
"Yes, Master!" Freya responded quickly. She wasn't foolish—though she resented being deceived into servitude and unable to retaliate because of the mark, receiving an epic-grade armor meant showing respect to her master was necessary.
Without hesitation, Freya laid the armor on the ground, took out the knife she had used to threaten Hal earlier, cut her palm, and let her blood drip onto the equipment.
After a few moments, Freya was both surprised and excited. She could hardly believe that the armor casually given to her by her master was a set of epic-grade equipment.
Such equipment if it's known in the outside world, it will surely cause a bloodbath whenever it appears.
What made it even more exceptional was that this set was not only epic-grade but also enchanted. In the current state of the world, only dwarf blacksmiths could forge epic-grade gear. However, while dwarves could enchant excellent grade equipment, they lacked the skill to enchant epic-grade items. That ability belonged solely to the forest elves, who could inscribe high-level enchantments—epic and legendary.
Freya glanced at Hal. Though her expression remained cold, excitement shone unmistakably in her eyes. She didn't care whether it was called a maid outfit.
"Well, this set of equipment is prepared by me for you to wear," Hal said, watching as Freya donned her battle maid attire.
The Battle Maid Armor set includes several epic-grade pieces with unique abilities:
- Battle Maid Headband (Epic): When activated, it grants the skill Perception (B Rank), allowing the wearer to clearly see her surroundings within a ten-meter radius. This skill continuously consumes mana from both the equipment and the user while active.
- Battle Maid Gloves (Epic): These silver-colored plated gloves provide the skill Greater Arm Strength (B Rank) upon activation, tripling the wearer's arm strength for one minute. Cooldown: 1 hour.
- Battle Maid Armor (Epic): This piece offers the skill Physical Damage Reflection with a 30% reflection rate.
- Battle Maid Boots (Epic): These silver plated boots grant the skill Great Acceleration (B Rank) when activated, tripling the wearer's speed for one minute. Cooldown: 1 hour.
After Freya equipped the Battle Maid Set, Hal was mesmerized by her beauty.
Although Freya was annoyed by his lingering gaze, she still bowed and said, "Thank you, Master."
"All right, I have something to attend to for a while. Please stay guard and don't let anyone disturb me."
"Yes, Master. Leave it to me," Freya replied, her vigilance heightened. With her new equipment, her confidence soared. Though only a First Tier Knight, she felt she could rival even a Third Tier powerhouse.
Meanwhile, Hal prepared a wooden slab to sit on, and about to remove the dust.
Freya stepped forward. "Master, allowed me to clean it," she declared, fully embracing her role as Hal's maid.
Hal didn't stop her. With a wave of her hand and a surge of mana, Freya cleared the dust from the slab. Hal then sat down, while Freya stood silently by his side, keeping watch.
Remembering the limited items, Hal realized he could now purchase a hero template with his 2000 system points. Among the special limited items, which refresh every 30 days, was the Mythical Rank Template: Bloodborne Progenitor, Primordial Frost Maiden,and the Demon King Castle available at a 90% discount .
Without hesitation, Hal bought the Bloodborne Progenitor Template (Mythical) with 1000 system points.
Now, with only 1,000 system points remaining, Hal planned to buy a legendary template for Freya—but he knew this wasn't the right time.
As the thought crossed his mind, a transparent vial filled with blood appeared in his hand. Though it looked like ordinary blood, but it's the essence blood of the Bloodborne Progenitor.
Without hesitation, he removed the cork and drank the contents. Immediately, he screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground. His body spasmed, turning red; his face contorted in pain as if his entire body was boiling and his bones were shattering piece by piece.
Freya was startled and moved to help, but Hal stopped her. With no choice, she obeyed and watched helplessly as he endured the torment.
What felt like an eternity—about ten minutes—passed as Hal suffered through the agonizing pain. His body began to radiate a powerful aura.
Freya stepped back, trembling.
Suddenly, Hal's body lifted into the air. His bronze skin peeled away, replaced by smooth, pale white skin.
His rough, dry black hair transformed into shiny black locks. His previous injuries vanished, and he grew taller than before.
Hal opened his eyes, now a striking crimson instead of their former brown.
He felt an overwhelming surge of power coursing through his body, mana flowing freely in his veins.
As the transformation ended, Hal stood before Freya and tore off his dirty shirt.
With a thought, the Black Wyvern Armor Set appeared, floating in midair before him.
He sensed a new ability to control blood. Concentrating, a wound appeared on his fingertips, and the blood dripped onto the armor. The equipment recognized its owner, and the skills engraved on the epic-grade set revealed themselves in his mind.
The Black Wyvern Armor Set consisted of four items: a ring, cloak, gloves, and boots.
Hal picked up the ring and slipped it onto the middle finger of his left hand. Observing this, Freya spoke up.
"Master, allow me to help you."
She approached him, her delicate, pinkish fingers tracing from his chest down to his newly defined abdomen as she clung to him.
Hal was about to embrace her, but she deftly dodged and instead picked up the black wyvern cloak to drape it over him.
Hal picked up the black dragon gloves and slipped them on just as Freya finished draping the Black Wyvern Cloak over his shoulders.
"Master, please sit down," she said, picking up the Black Wyvern boots.
Hal followed her instructions and sat down, while Freya carefully slid the boots onto his feet.
Though there were no socks, Hal felt surprisingly comfortable in the boots, gloves, and cloak—the materials were smooth and soft.
"Come closer," Hal gestured to Freya.
"What is it, Master?" she asked.
"Don't worry, I'm going to bestow power upon you."
Hearing this, Freya's eyes shone brightly. As someone driven by a desire for power—to avoid being trampled like her mother once was—she eagerly stepped closer, her face nearly touching Hal's.
Hal raised his finger and began bestowing the Bloodborne Vassal's power from the Mythical Rank Template. This ability allowed him to infuse his blood essence into up to ten individuals, enabling them to inherit his bloodline skills and, in some cases, a lesser version of his powerful abilities.
These skills included:
- Rapid Regeneration (S Rank): Derived from the Immortality skill (SS Rank), this ability allowed wounds to heal almost instantly.
- Blood Transformation (B Rank): Enabled the user to transform into blood, granting mobility and immunity to physical attacks.
- Blood Manipulation (A Rank): Allowed control over blood in various forms.
- Bloodlust (A Rank): Enhanced physical abilities fivefold and instilled fear in opponents.
- Blood Absorption (A Rank): Permitted absorption of blood to recover mana and stamina.
With these five skills, Freya could overpower those of the same tier, and even a missing limb could regenerate instantly, giving Freya a significant chance of survival or escape.
Hal tapped Freya's forehead, and blood infused with a powerful aura appeared on his fingertips.
Freya cried out in agony as the blood essence merged on her forehead, nearly collapsing before Hal caught her.
Her body became enveloped in a crimson mist and began to levitate.
Hal released her and watched in amazement as Freya's affection toward him surged rapidly—from 25 points to 35, then 50, 55, 70—before finally settling at 75 points of affection.
Time passed—about ten minutes—and Freya's body began to move. Her fingers elongated and sharpened, and a pair of bat-like wings emerged from her back. Fortunately, the Battle Maid Armor didn't hinder their appearance; it seemed to accommodate the wings as if it had given way for them to manifest.
Freya opened her eyes. Her once-blue eyes had turned crimson, and she looked fierce and violent. However, when she glanced toward Hal, the aggression in her gaze softened, replaced by the glint of an excited girl. Without hesitation, she leapt into Hal's embrace.
Though surprised, Hal allowed himself to be hugged.
"Master, thank you," Freya whispered. "My strength has reached the third tier, and I now have the power to fight even fourth-tier powerhouses."
"That's alright. As long as you remain obedient, I can bestow even more powerful skills upon you in the future," Hal replied.
Freya grew more excited, hugging Hal tighter.
For the first time, Hal was embraced by a woman as beautiful as Freya—apart from his mother and little sister in his previous life— he couldn't help but swallow nervously.
"Master, there's something I want to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I have a sister, about your age. Could you please allow her to become your maid?" Freya asked.
"You have a sister?"
Freya nodded.
"All right, let's meet her first. If she has the qualifications, I will make her my maid like I did with you. Even if she isn't qualified, for your sake, I'll allow her to come with us."
"Thank you, Master," Freya whispered, then kissed Hal's cheek before stepping out of his embrace.
"Please, Master, follow me."
Hal nodded and followed her as they left the dilapidated house together to search for Freya's sister.