Chapter 44:

The Ace Instructor in Their Dreams

The next day arrived.

Camellia woke up early and headed to the knights’ training grounds.

The knights who had already been training since dawn welcomed her enthusiastically.

“My Lady! Welcome! It’s such a pleasure to see you before we head out for outdoor training! Hahaha!”

“Our outdoor training was suddenly scheduled today… Please make yourself comfortable!”

The moment they finished greeting her, however, they all disappeared under the excuse that they had to prepare for outdoor training.

Only one pink twin-tailed trainee knight and the captain of the knights remained.

“M-My Lady! Welcome!”

Nashu ran toward Camellia with his usual bright smile, completely unaware of what had just happened.

Rohengrin, on the other hand, looked embarrassed by his subordinates’ behavior. His ears had turned red as he bowed respectfully.

“Welcome, My Lady.”

Camellia let out a dry chuckle.

“So? Is training going well?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“M-Mine too!”

Apparently delighted that she had come to visit, Nashu eagerly chatted away.

He proudly talked about how his hard work lately had helped him build muscle, how he had become better with his weapon, and many other things.

Camellia gently patted his head.

“Nashu, would you like to spar with someone who isn’t a knight?”

“A-A spar? W-With you, My Lady? I’d love to!”

Remembering how completely he had lost to her before, competitive spirit immediately lit up his eyes.

“Not me. I’m thinking of arranging a spar between you and one of the children I recently took in.”

Nashu tilted his head.

Didn’t My Lady bring back two children from the slums? Weren’t they both just kids?

“A-Aren’t they… weak?”

“The boy your age is quite strong. To be honest, he’d be a difficult opponent for you right now.”

“R-Really?”

Unlike the curious Nashu, Rohengrin’s expression became tense.

“My Lady, may I ask why you’re arranging a spar between that child and Shumel?”

“Because it will be good experience. And because it’s necessary.”

“But…”

“Do you not trust me?”

“How could I? I’m simply worried that Shumel might fail to meet your expectations.”

Rohengrin, who firmly believed Nashu was a genius, was actually this worried?

Camellia asked just to be sure.

“Have you met Vlad?”

After hesitating, Rohengrin nodded.

“…Yes.”

Since Camellia had personally gone to the slums to recruit him, Rohengrin had wanted to see whether the boy was someone she intended to take into the Tower.

That was when he realized Vlad’s abilities were anything but ordinary.

Even Jehar wasn’t this concerned about outsiders… and now Rohengrin too.

It seemed a bit excessive, but at least it saved her the trouble of explaining.

“Would I ask for your help without knowing how to win? Don’t worry. I have no intention of letting my knight lose.”

Camellia glanced at the holographic window.

[Rohengrin Ashen has reached Level 4.]

[Nashu Shumel has reached Level 2.]

※ Please distribute status points and skill points!

I was planning to do this today anyway.

Thanks to defeating the Pantheon Party, everyone except Netanel had leveled up.

She hadn’t been able to touch their status because of the recent patch, but now the timing was perfect.

I’ve been wondering how companion leveling works.

Her own stat increases had taken effect instantly.

But what about her companions?

And what happened when they learned new skills?

She already knew every class’s skills from her past life as a player, so she could naturally use them.

Her companions, however, couldn’t even see status or skill windows.

“Sit down first.”

Camellia seated both knights across from her.

Then she quickly assigned their stat points.

Strength for Rohengrin.

Vitality for Nashu.

“Do either of you feel any changes?”

The two obediently sat there before answering with confused expressions.

“…The floor feels cold.”

“M-Me too.”

Nothing?

Camellia immediately assigned their skill points as well.

She gave Rohengrin new shield techniques.

Nashu received a crowd-control skill.

Still…

They simply stared blankly at her.

Seriously? I gave them stats and skills, and nothing happened? Why is it different from mine?

As if responding to her irritated thoughts, the holographic window hurriedly appeared.

[※ A companion’s stat and skill changes are applied after a long rest!]

A long rest? So… after they sleep?

That definitely hadn’t been the case in the game.

Had the patch changed it?

Though doubtful, Camellia gave an order.

“Lie down.”

Because of their unwavering loyalty, both knights immediately lay on the ground.

“Don’t worry. I’m only making you take a short nap.”

Placing a hand on each of their heads, Camellia activated Domination.

The die rolled.

Success.

“Sleep deeply… and wake up in five minutes.”

The two instantly fell asleep.

Aisha, ever the professional maid, silently brought over a chair, laid out a cushion and blanket beside it.

Camellia sat comfortably and waited.

Exactly five minutes later—

“H-Huh?!”

“…!”

The two knights practically sprang awake.

Looking around in confusion, Nashu turned to Camellia.

“M-My Lady… can you appear in people’s dreams too?”

…Huh?

Not understanding the question, Camellia asked,

“What do you mean?”

“Y-You appeared in my dream… and taught me a technique for attacking an opponent’s legs…”

The technique Sweep Strike was indeed the skill she had assigned him.

But he had learned it… in a dream?

From her?

“H-Huh…? W-Was it just a dream…? B-Because… My Lady would never call me ‘Shu-Shu’ like the senior knights do…”

“Shu-Shu?” I called him that?

Camellia slowly turned toward Rohengrin.

Still looking bewildered, he spoke.

“You also appeared in my dream, My Lady. Whether it was truly you, I cannot say… but you taught me new techniques.”

Apparently “Dream Camellia” had said,

“Rohen-Rohen, first you need to learn Shield Charge, then Shield Slam.”

She even showed him visions of fighting monsters while giving what sounded like an actual lecture.

…What on earth is going on?

Camellia was utterly dumbfounded.

Having to sleep before new skills activated was annoying enough.

Now there was this absurd side effect too.

“C-Could it be… that you actually entered our dreams, My Lady?”

To make matters worse, they had reached the completely wrong conclusion.

Considering she had personally put them to sleep, denying it felt strangely difficult.

In the end, Camellia used the magical explanation that worked for everything.

“…It seems the Tower’s mystery is at work.”

“T-The Tower’s mystery!”

She had worried they might think it was some evil magic.

Instead, both Nashu and Rohengrin looked delighted.

“T-Then… if we keep working hard… will you keep teaching us like this?”

“If My Lady intends to continue using me, then I shall gladly follow.”

Fortunately…

It was a relief.

A very strange relief.

You two… if your boss starts invading your dreams to train you, you’re supposed to be terrified—not excited…

I really need to make more money and raise everyone’s salary.

Suppressing her guilty conscience, Camellia conducted several tests.

Could they feel their enhanced stats?

Did the new skills come naturally?

Could they perform skill combinations?

“I can definitely feel myself becoming stronger. I also instinctively understand how to use the techniques.”

“M-Me too! It feels like energy is overflowing through my whole body!”

Back when this had only been a game, she’d never thought much about it.

But now that it was reality, she understood.

The system’s leveling wasn’t ordinary growth.

It was closer to magic…

Or even a miracle.

And the rate of growth is unbelievable.

The difference was obvious just by comparing them to Ken’s party.

They had gone through the exact same battle.

Yet none of them had experienced anything resembling a level-up.

Even elite adventurers who had spent years repeatedly clearing the 30th floor were generally only around Level 5.

But my party is different.

By the time we reach the 30th floor, everyone should already be at least Level 6.

When it was just a game, she’d taken party-only leveling for granted.

But if the same rule applied in reality…

That changed everything.

This ability was far more powerful than she’d originally imagined.

If I use it well… I might be able to recruit even more companions.

People obsessed with becoming stronger would flock to her.

She might even be able to recruit NPCs who were originally impossible to obtain—people like Vlad.

She wanted to reorganize her companion list immediately.

But she restrained herself.

There was something more important to deal with first.

Camellia smiled.

“Sparring with your newly learned techniques should be quite enjoyable, don’t you think, Nashu?”

“Y-Yes!”

“Then let’s prepare.”

For a wager match—

One that promised to be very entertaining indeed.