Chapter 7
Career Path Selection (A Questionable Choice)
Carol woke up to sunlight streaming through her windows and, for a blissful moment, forgot where she was.
Then reality came crashing back.
Right. Fantasy world. Pregnant. Married to The Butcher of the North. Seven death flags. Two percent survival chance.
Also, I had dinner with said Butcher last night and he was... actually kind of amazing?
Carol pressed her hands to her face, feeling the warmth creep into her cheeks just thinking about it.
Caspian Vanthorn was nothing like she'd expected. Yes, he was terrifying and powerful and had killed over fifteen thousand monsters with his bare hands (well, probably his swords, but still). But he was also intelligent, surprisingly funny in a dry way, and those green eyes—
"Okay, stop," Carol told herself firmly. "You have bigger problems than developing a crush on your own husband."
"Good morning!" Lumi chirped, materializing near the pillow with a cheerful glow. "How are you feeling?"
"Confused. Overwhelmed. Slightly terrified." Carol sat up, her hand automatically going to her small baby bump. "Also, I think I might be attracted to a man who could kill me with his pinky finger, which feels like a red flag."
"He won't kill you with his pinky," Missy said, appearing on the other side of the bed. "He'd use a sword. More efficient."
"Not helpful, Missy."
"I thought it was very helpful. You should know these things."
Carol swung her legs out of bed and walked to the window. The gardens looked even more beautiful in the morning light, and she could see figures moving in the distance—probably the staff starting their daily work.
Last night had been... surprising. Good surprising. Caspian had been suspicious and wary, yes, but he'd also listened. He'd almost smiled. Multiple times. And that comment about the eastern terrace—
"If you're going to watch my training again, you don't have to hide behind the hedge. The eastern viewing terrace has a better vantage point."
Carol felt her face heating up again. He'd been teasing her. The terrifying Duke of Death and Destruction had made a joke.
"You're blushing," Lumi observed. "Are you thinking about His Grace?"
"No," Carol lied.
"You're totally thinking about him," Missy said. "I can see it on your face. You've got that dopey look."
"I do not have a dopey look."
"Very dopey. Like a lovesick cow."
"I am NOT—" Carol stopped, took a breath. "Okay, yes, fine. He's attractive. Sue me. He's rich, powerful, handsome, and he wasn't actively mean to me at dinner despite the fact that I tried to poison him. The bar is underground, but he cleared it."
"That's actually kind of sweet," Lumi said.
"It's pathetic," Carol corrected. "My standards have been lowered by corporate trauma and survival instinct."
A familiar blue glow appeared in her peripheral vision. Carol turned to see the game interface materializing in front of her.
"Oh, good morning to you too," she said to the floating screen.
GOOD MORNING, PLAYER!
Daily Status Report:
Name: Caroline Holloway Vanthorn
Level: 10
Class: Unspecialized Noble
Stats:
● Water Magic: Level 5 (Beginner)
● Mind Magic: Level 7 (Beginner)
● Physical Combat: Level 1 (Pathetic)
● Social Skills: Level 3 (Formerly Terrible, Improving)
● Survival Instinct: Level 8 (Developed Through Trauma)
Status Effects:
● Pregnant (3 months): Stamina -10%, Emotional Volatility +15%, Glow +5%
● Married to Terrifying Duke: Stress +20%, Protection +50%, Luxury +100%
● Villainess Reputation: Public Opinion -80%
● Death Flags Active: Anxiety +40%
Current Titles:
● Duchess of Vanthorn
● The Hated Villainess
● Future Mother
● That Woman Who Tried to Poison The Butcher (unofficial but widely known)
Relationship Status:
● Caspian Vanthorn: "Extremely Suspicious But Willing To Observe" (+5% from "Openly Hostile")
Carol read through her stats with growing dismay. "Physical Combat Level 1? Pathetic? The system is judging me."
"The system is accurate," Missy said. "You can't fight."
"I don't need to fight. That's what my terrifying husband is for."
"That's actually a solid strategy," Lumi admitted.
The interface flickered and a new window appeared:
IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION:
You have reached Level 10 and unlocked CLASS SPECIALIZATION!
Please select your advancement path:
Option 1: SORCERESS
Option 2: ADVENTURER
Option 3: LAZY LADY
Would you like to review class options?
"Oh, this is the skill tree thing!" Carol said, perking up. "Yes, show me the options."
The screen expanded, showing three detailed paths:
PATH 1: SORCERESS
Harness your rare dual affinity to become a powerful magic user!
Early Skills Unlocked:
● Advanced Water Manipulation (Create tidal waves, water barriers, healing springs)
● Mind Control Mastery (Influence thoughts, create illusions, read surface emotions)
● Elemental Fusion (Combine water and mind magic for devastating attacks)
● Arcane Scholar (Increased magic learning speed, spell research abilities)
● Mana Expansion (Double your magic reserves)
Advanced Skills Available:
● Tsunami of the Mind (Legendary combined spell)
● Memory Manipulation (Alter or erase memories)
● Perfect Illusion (Create undetectable false realities)
● Water Prison (Trap enemies in inescapable spheres)
Ultimate Skill: Dual Affinity Mastery - Become one of the most powerful mages in the kingdom
Recommended for players with rare affinities! Maximize your potential!
Carol read through the Sorceress path and had to admit it sounded impressive. Powerful. Definitely useful for survival.
Also exhausting.
"That's a lot of studying," she said aloud. "And practice. And probably getting up early to train."
"But you'd be incredibly powerful!" Lumi said enthusiastically. "You could defend yourself! Clear death flags with magic!"
"Next option," Carol said.
PATH 2: ADVENTURER
Become a warrior and explorer! Adventure awaits!
Early Skills Unlocked:
● Sword Combat Basics (Learn to actually use a weapon)
● Bow Mastery (Ranged attacks, never miss)
● Dungeon Exploration (Navigate dangerous territories, find hidden treasures)
● Monster Tracking (Hunt creatures of The Blight)
● Physical Conditioning (Increased stamina, strength, speed)
Advanced Skills Available:
●Dual-Wield Combat (Fight with two weapons like your husband)
● Legendary Explorer (Discover ancient ruins, lost artifacts)
● Beast Tamer (Command and control monsters)
● Acrobatic Combat (Flip, dodge, look cool while fighting)
Ultimate Skill: Hero's Journey - Unlock the ability to change fate itself
Perfect for those who want to fight alongside the heroes and save the kingdom!
"That sounds like so much work," Carol said immediately. "Look at this—physical conditioning, combat training, exploring dungeons. Do you know how much running that would involve?"
"You could fight monsters alongside His Grace!" Lumi offered.
"His Grace kills monsters for a living. He's very good at it. He doesn't need my help." Carol shook her head. "Next."
"You're not even considering these properly!" Lumi protested.
"I considered them. I decided they involve too much effort. Show me the Lazy Lady path."
The interface flickered, and Carol could swear it looked reluctant.
PATH 3: LAZY LADY
Achieve maximum comfort with minimum effort!
CHARM brANCH - Early Skills:
● Puppy Eyes (Husband Edition) - Make Caspian unable to refuse reasonable requests
● Tactical Pouting - Express displeasure without actually having to argue
● Strategic Compliments - Say nice things to get nice things
● Damsel in Distress - Someone else solves your problems (very effective on protective husbands)
COMFORT brANCH - Early Skills:
● Power Napping - Sleep anywhere, anytime, wake up refreshed
● Dessert Radar - Always know where the best sweets are located
● Perfect Pillow Formation - Construct the optimal napping configuration
● Tea Time Mastery - The art of looking busy while relaxing
WEALTH brANCH - Early Skills:
● Detect Expensive Items - Know the value of everything at a glance
● Guilt-Free Spending - Enjoy luxury without shame
● Treasury Access - Convince your husband you NEED that diamond necklace
● Investment Intuition - Money makes money while you nap
SURVIVAL brANCH - Early Skills:
● Death Flag Radar - Sense approaching doom
● Villain Dodge - Avoid protagonist encounters
● Professional Apologizing - Fix reputation damage efficiently
● Plot Armor (Basic) - Survive obviously dangerous situations through sheer luck
PASSIVE BLESSING:
● Atahensic's Grace - The Goddess of Childbirth smiles upon those who choose comfort and joy. All children born to a Lazy Lady are blessed with perfect health, regardless of the mother's diet or lifestyle choices. (Translation: Eat all the sweets you want—your baby will be fine.)
Ultimate Skill: Eternal Leisure - Achieve a permanent state of comfortable wealth with zero responsibilities
Warning: This path does not utilize your rare magical abilities and is considered a waste of potential by 99% of players.
Carol stared at the Lazy Lady path.
"It's perfect," she breathed.
"It's TERRIBLE!" Lumi shrieked. "You have a dual affinity! You're one in ten thousand! You could be a legendary sorceress!"
"Or," Carol said, "I could take naps and eat dessert while my husband's money keeps me comfortable."
"That's not a real strategy!"
"It's the BEST strategy. Look—" Carol pointed at the survival branch. "Death Flag Radar, Villain Dodge, Professional Apologizing. These are specifically designed to keep me alive. And I get to nap."
"You could get those things by becoming a powerful sorceress too," Lumi argued. "And then you'd also have the power to defend yourself!"
"But would I have Guilt-Free Spending?" Carol countered. "Or Dessert Radar?"
"Those aren't real survival skills!"
"They are for me."
Missy was watching this argument with obvious delight. "I can't believe you're actually going to pick the lazy option. This is amazing. You're terrible at being a villainess but you're GREAT at being useless."
"I prefer 'strategically efficient,'" Carol said. She turned to the interface. "I choose Lazy Lady."
The screen flashed red.
WARNING!
Are you SURE you want to select LAZY LADY?
This path severely underutilizes your rare magical potential!
Your dual affinity is ONE IN TEN THOUSAND!
Selecting this path will:
● Waste your natural talents
● Disappoint magic scholars everywhere
● Make your academy instructors cry
● Cause the system administrator personal distress
Are you ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN?
[YES] [NO]
Carol clicked YES.
The screen flashed red again, more urgently this time.
FINAL WARNING!!!
You have a LEGENDARY DUAL AFFINITY!
You could become one of the MOST POWERFUL MAGES in the kingdom!
Think of the possibilities:
● Defeating The Blight single-handedly!
● Commanding respect and fear!
● Mastering the arcane arts!
● Making your husband proud!
Instead, you want to... take naps?
PLEASE RECONSIDER
[GO BACK TO OPTIONS] [I'M REALLY SURE ABOUT THE NAPS]
"I'm really sure about the naps," Carol said, clicking the second option.
The interface made a sound that could only be described as a digital sigh.
LAZY LADY PATH SELECTED
The system is disappointed in you.
But fine.
SKILLS UNLOCKED:
CHARM brANCH:
● Puppy Eyes (Husband Edition) - ACTIVE
● Strategic Compliments - ACTIVE
COMFORT brANCH:
● Dessert Radar - ACTIVE
● Tea Time Mastery - ACTIVE
WEALTH brANCH:
● Detect Expensive Items - ACTIVE
● Guilt-Free Spending - ACTIVE
SURVIVAL brANCH:
● Death Flag Radar - ACTIVE
● Professional Apologizing - ACTIVE
● Plot Armor (Basic) - PASSIVE
PASSIVE BLESSING:
● Atahensic's Grace - ACTIVE
NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: "Living My Best Life"
● Have tea in the garden (0/1)
● Take a guilt-free nap (0/1)
● Spend your husband's money on something frivolous (0/1)
● Use Puppy Eyes successfully (0/1)
Reward: 100 XP, 50 Gold Crowns, Unlock next tier of Lazy Lady skills, System's Reluctant Respect
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED:
"Waste of Potential" - Selected the easiest path despite legendary abilities
Reward: +10 Comfort, -50 Respect from Magic Community, Eternal Judgment
"I regret nothing," Carol announced.
"You should regret EVERYTHING," Lumi wailed. "You could have been powerful!"
"I AM powerful," Carol said. "I have Dessert Radar. Do you know how many times I wanted dessert at 2 AM working late and had no idea where to find good cake? This is life-changing."
"That's not what power means!"
"It is to me."
Missy was practically rolling in the air with laughter. "Oh, this is the best day ever. Bestie, you are absolutely unhinged. I love it."
"Thank you, Missy."
A soft knock at the door interrupted them. "My lady?" Daisy's voice called. "May we come in?"
"Yes!" Carol called back.
Daisy and Millie entered, both looking curious and slightly worried.
"My lady," Daisy said carefully. "His Grace's steward asked us to inform you that dinner will be at seven again tonight, and also—" She hesitated.
"His Grace wanted to know if you'd like to take tea in the eastern garden this afternoon.
He'll be training nearby if you'd... like to watch. From the terrace."
Carol felt her face heat up instantly.
He'd invited her. To watch him train. After she'd embarrassed herself yesterday by hiding behind a hedge.
"That's—yes. Yes, I would like that very much."
Both maids exchanged glances with barely suppressed smiles.
"We'll prepare your afternoon dress, my lady," Millie said, her tone carefully neutral but her eyes sparkling.
After they left, Carol turned to find both sprites staring at her.
"What?"
"You're blushing again," Lumi said. "Very intensely."
"And smiling like a fool," Missy added. "It's adorable. Disgusting, but adorable."
"I am not—" Carol caught sight of herself in the mirror. She was indeed blushing and smiling. "Okay, fine. He invited me to watch him train. After making a joke about it last night. That's... that's nice, right?"
"It's very nice," Lumi said gently. "It means he's interested in spending time with you."
"Or he's keeping you close to monitor your suspicious behavior," Missy suggested.
"Can't it be both?" Carol asked.
The interface chimed again:
QUEST UPDATE:
"Living My Best Life" - Progress Update
● Have tea in the garden - OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE
● Watch attractive husband train - BONUS OBJECTIVE UNLOCKED
New Reward: Successfully use "Puppy Eyes (Husband Edition)" during tea time for extra XP
Tip: Your husband is actively creating opportunities for you to spend time together. This is a positive development! Try not to mess it up!
"Even the system is rooting for me," Carol said.
The system is still judging you for wasting your magic potential, the interface added in a small text box at the bottom.
"The system can judge me from the comfortable lifestyle I'm about to build," Carol retorted.
She had tea to prepare for.
And a very attractive, very dangerous husband to... observe. Respectfully. From an appropriate distance.
While possibly using her new Puppy Eyes skill to see if she could get him to smile again.
For purely tactical reasons, of course.
Purely tactical.