The Summoner's Rebirth: Awaken, Milady

Chapter 158: Pathways

The following morning, Aria was already getting more and more adjusted to her life as a maid. She also learned that within the maid ranks, Lucy, the friend she made accidentally, was also somewhat of an outcast. Thus, Lucy had stated how glad she was to be able to find someone like Aria.

This made Aria think about how she could use this fact to her advantage. Lucy had already worked here as a maid for long, so Aria started to try and extract information from her.

"Say, what do you think the young master likes?" Aria asked cautiously, watching as Lucy's expression morphed into a disturbed one.

"Ehh? What is this all about?" Lucy raised a brow in wonder.

"..No, I just feel like.. He shouldn't be left there to cower forever. He hasn't done anything wrong." Aria answered hurriedly.

"...Aria, I'm going to say this again, but.. I think that you are a good person. I really think so. Only, our position here is to work as maids, not consultants or some kind of messiah. If your thoughts get revealed to the madam or anybody who works for her, she would fire you in one heart beat. Come on, let's just forget about the young master, alright? We are not in a position to help him. We are powerless!" Lucy pouted as she clung to Aria's arm, clutching it within hers.

"I.. really can't do that. My heart wouldn't be at ease. Hey, Lucy, I won't ask you to come with me, nor will I tell you to do something in my stead. I just want you to tell me.. whatever you know. Tell me your knowledge on this house, please." Aria begged.

Lucy was taken aback as Aria started to draw closer to her face. Aria's two bright eyes looked directly at hers, making her fall into a trance for an instant. Lucy hurriedly snapped out of it and shook her head. "You really- Do you not want to live?! What about your family outside? Your loved ones? Do you think that they will approve of you trying to throw away your life like this?? First and foremost, I will forbid you!" Lucy stood up, spreading her two arms to block Aria's vision.

"I don't have a family. They're.. no longer in this world. Loved ones.. I also don't have them, since I was thrown into this world blindly." Aria answered truthfully while still keeping some ambiguity, as if insinuating that the people she meant were all dead when in actuality, they really were not in this world.

Although, she also did not know who her genuine family members were.

If she had to name a loved one or a family member, then it would range from someone like her teacher and her the disciples she picked up to her beloved summons.

"Ah.. I'm so sorry. I didn't know that you.." Lucy covered her mouth, creasing her brows thinking that she had just struck a landmine.

"It's fine. I don't really mind, I've gotten over grief, sadness, or anything like that." Aria smiled.

"W-well, that's good for you. Anyway...! I don't approve of your decision, still!"

"Lucy.. Come on. If you don't want to tell me, then I will just look for another maid. I might even ask the madam herself." Aria fanned the flames. Lucy was genuinely a good person from what she had seen. Aria was a bit sorry for her ways, but she needed to get more intel before she could make any further moves so that she wouldn't be making the same mistakes like she did yesterday. Those were lapses that could've been avoided had she thought better.

Since she was starting to think of this more seriously now, she definitely had to plan out her moves from now on.

"Ariaaaa! Why are you this insistent on helping the young master?! You really make me frustrated!" Lucy stretched out her arms to pull on Aria's cheeks, but her moves were blocked by the other without even batting an eye.

"Ah! You blocked my attack! How unfair... Tch!" Lucy's reactions were actually rather comical that it made Aria want to laugh somehow.

"Don't laugh at me!" As if she was doing a stand up comedy by herself, Lucy was very entertaining even though Aria did not respond wholly to her. After scolding Aria a bit longer on how what she was trying to do was completely stupid, and that Aria's brain must've gotten fried before, she gradually calmed down.

She heaved a couple of heavy breaths. Her body got too stimulated by the anger, and she was having a bit of trouble trying to catch her breath. She sat back down next to Aria and panned her view to the blue sky, narrowing her eyes as the bright sunrays blinded her.

After a few moments of silence, Lucy spoke up. "Aria, I will ask you one last time. I have tried to convince you this many times, but are you still going to try and help the young master?"

"Oh dearest. What can I do to stop you? Nothing. You will not stop at all costs! Hays, you really make my blood boil. Alright, alright, I will agree to telling you the information. But I still value my life, so I won't participate in your.. struggles. Come, I will document eeeeverything I know about this manor!" Lucy stretched her hand towards Aria, gesturing for the other to take the grip.

Aria broke into a smile as she then walked alongside Lucy to take a trip around the manor, learning about the incidents and significance of each points they came across. Lucy did turn out to be the perfect guide for the job. She was aware of so many information that Aria thought would have not been discovered if it wasn't for the fact that Lucy was an outcast- naturally, she had more freedom to herself and could mind her own business.

Lucy gave her a lot of useful tips to maneuver around the building, and particularly ended up with one very important information. There was a shortcut that led up to Lucas' room. To be exact, it was a building malfunction that didn't get fixed because of Lucas' status, and that no one cared enough to issue workers to help him. Lucas' room had a fireplace that was connected to a chimney, but the roof of his particular area was actually deteriorating with time.

When Lucy accessed the attic and worked around that place by herself, she noticed that the ground was rather thin and that it was a bit hollow. She also noticed the wide pipe that was connecting the rooftop chimney to the fireplace. It was terribly dirty, and things from outside could easily enter the pipe through the roof. The fireplace was no longer in use, but surely pollutants infiltrated the young master's room through this pathway.

She ended up not doing anything about it and just left after doing the duty she was assigned to, but this path was kept inside her mind. It was a clear way to get inside the young master's room.

Hearing all of these exploitable shortcuts, Aria was amazed and looked at Lucy as if she was a strange creature.

"...You sure do some strange things yourself. Who are you to criticize me trying to help a child? Aren't you risking your own job as well? If these loopholes get discovered.. Do you know how easy it would be to cause havoc to the manor?"

"Heheh~ I've been told that I'm a curious one since I was a child, nothing can stop me if I want to explore! How is it, am I not impressive?! I bet you're thinking that you are very lucky to have met me, the great Lucy!" Lucy boasted about herself as she spoke. "At least I'm just risking my job, the worst case would be getting thrown out of the building. My life would be intact! Unlike you.. I still feel worried as we tour this place." Lucy humphed.

"Don't worry, I will try to keep my head intact. I will check out the shortcut you told me about. I have finished all of my daily tasks, so.. I'll go now, Lucy. Thank you for telling me!" Aria grinned as she gave a hug towards the woman and ran away without looking back.

The one left behind, Lucy, was starting to flush up.

Without caring, Aria went towards the attic that Lucy had pointed to her before. She met a couple workers on the way there, but she dispelled their questions and doubts regarding her entrance with the excuse of having to retrieve something.

The attic was covered in dirt and dust. The path leading up to it was also very narrow, making her have to squeeze herself through the slim corners and breathe a lot of dust in the process. Once she got past the tight crevices, she finally got to a bigger space where she saw the pipe that Lucy talked about jutting through the ceiling and the floor.