Charisma 100: My Academy Life As A Heartbreaking Commoner-Chapter 218: Monster Hunting 4

As the next morning arrived, Aegis didn’t spend too long in bed.

She was nearly finished getting ready, putting on just some black boots, gloves, shorts, and a white shirt, as Rosalie stirred in bed.

[... Almost feels like "the morning after", hehe.]

"Good morning," Aegis called out, adjusting her gloves.

"Morning, my Lady."

Rosalie sat up, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was a mess, green strands sticking out in every direction, and she had a pillow crease running down one cheek.

"Did you just get back?" she asked, squinting at the window. "It’s barely dawn."

"Got back a few hours ago, actually. Couldn’t sleep much." Aegis stretched her arms over her head. "Too excited."

"Excited about what?"

"Tonight." Aegis grinned. "I’m fighting the griffin."

Rosalie’s sleepiness vanished instantly.

"Tonight? Already?"

"The beast’s been attacking the cattle every few days. Based on the reports Lord Helmin gave me, it should come back tonight or tomorrow. I’d rather not wait around." Aegis gestured toward the table near the window, where she’d laid out all the ingredients from her nighttime expedition. "Which is why I need you to work your magic."

Rosalie climbed out of bed, still in her nightgown, and padded over to examine the haul. Her eyes moved across the Flame Lilies, the Quicksilver Moss, the sealed jars of less pleasant materials.

"Fire Resistance, Haste, painkiller, antidote," she murmured, already categorizing. "And this is... bait?"

"Griffin bait, yeah. Mix up something pungent. The bloodcaps and the, uh, other stuff should do the trick."

Rosalie wrinkled her nose but nodded.

"I can have everything ready by nightfall. Maybe earlier if I start now."

"Perfect. You’re the best."

Aegis finished adjusting her gloves and turned to grab her coat from the chair. As she moved, she noticed Rosalie had gone quiet.

Very quiet.

She glanced back.

Rosalie was staring at her. Specifically, at her chest. The white shirt Aegis had thrown on was still unbuttoned, hanging open enough to show a generous view of cleavage, the fabric barely clinging to the sides of her breasts.

Rosalie’s face went red.

"Hm?" Aegis looked down at herself, then back up at Rosalie with a slow smile. "Oh, this? I was getting dressed. Does it bother you?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"N-No! I mean, yes! I mean—" Rosalie spun around, facing the wall. "Please button your shirt, my Lady!"

Aegis laughed.

She took her time buttoning up, enjoying the way Rosalie’s ears stayed bright pink the entire time. Once she was decent, or at least decent enough, she walked over and gave Rosalie a quick pat on the shoulder.

"You can turn around now."

Rosalie did, cautiously, like she expected a trap.

Aegis blew her a kiss.

"I’m going to take a walk around the village. Want to see it on my own this time, without Lord Helmin hovering over my shoulder." She headed for the door. "Get those potions ready for me, alright? I’m counting on you."

"I— Yes. Of course, my Lady."

Aegis paused at the threshold and looked back with a wink.

"And maybe next time, you can look all you want."

She closed the door behind her before Rosalie could combust.

---

This time, Aegis tried to make damn sure her presence couldn’t be ignored. Sure, that would have been easier with a flashy carriage and maybe a royal cape or something, but she wanted to also look like one of them.

That was part of the point, after all. "No no, I’m not just any noble, I’m YOUR noble."

She walked slowly through the village, stopping to chat with anyone who’d have her.

The baker’s wife told her about how the griffin had destroyed their grain storage last week. Aegis listened, nodded, promised she’d make sure it never happened again. A group of farmers invited her to share their lunch, simple bread and cheese, and she accepted without hesitation, sitting in the dirt with them like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Eventually, her wandering brought her back to the blacksmith’s forge.

Durran was at his anvil, hammering away at a piece of glowing metal. He glanced up when Aegis approached, then went right back to his work without a word.

"Master Durran."

"Lady Starcaller."

"I need a sword."

The hammering stopped. Durran looked up at her, that same skeptical expression from yesterday on his face.

"A sword."

"To kill the griffin. Tonight."

He set his hammer down and crossed his arms.

"You’ve got weapons already. I saw those fancy daggers on your belt. Why do you need one of mine?"

[Because using a weapon from the village will make for a better story. But I can’t exactly say that.]

"I want to—"

"You want to make it look good." Durran cut her off. His voice wasn’t hostile, exactly. More like tired. "You want to walk out there with a local blade, kill the beast, and have everyone sing songs about how Lady Starcaller saved the village with a sword forged right here in Lenninsale."

Aegis opened her mouth to deny it.

Then she closed it.

[He’s not wrong.]

She let out a breath and dropped the act.

"Yeah. That’s exactly what I want."

Durran stared at her.

"You’re not even going to pretend?"

"What’s the point? You already figured it out." Aegis shrugged. "Look, I’ll be honest with you. I’m here because killing this griffin makes me look good. It helps my reputation, it builds my name, it gets commoners across Valdria to think ’hey, that Starcaller lady actually gives a damn about people like us.’"

She met his eyes.

"But here’s the thing. At the end of the day? The griffin’s still dead. Your village is still safe. Your people can go back to their lives without worrying about getting eaten every time they step outside." She spread her hands. "Does it really matter why I’m doing it, as long as it gets done?"

Durran was quiet for a long moment.

Then, to Aegis’s surprise, he laughed. A short, gruff sound, but genuine.

"Hah. At least you’re honest about being a self-serving bastard." He turned and walked toward the back of his forge. "Most nobles I’ve met would’ve spun some pretty lie about duty and honor."

He returned with a sword. It wasn’t fancy, no engravings or jewels, just a solid blade with a leather-wrapped hilt. Simple. Practical. The kind of weapon a village blacksmith would be proud of.

"Made this last month," Durran said, handing it over. "Was going to sell it to a merchant, but I think it’ll serve a better purpose in your hands."

Aegis took it, testing the weight. Good balance. Sharp edge.

"I’ll bring it back with griffin blood on it."

"You’d better."

---

Night fell over Lenninsale.

Aegis stood at the edge of the cattle field, the blacksmith’s sword at her hip and Rosalie’s potions strapped to her belt. The bait had been spread across the area, that pungent mixture of bloodcaps and animal droppings that apparently smelled like a five-star restaurant to griffins.

The village was quiet behind her. Everyone had been told to stay indoors, lock their doors, keep their lights dim. Lord Helmin had wanted to send a few men with her, but Aegis had refused.

[This has to be me. Just me. That’s the whole point.]

She rolled her shoulders, loosening up, and stared out at the dark hills in the distance.

Somewhere out there, the griffin was waking up. Getting hungry.

Coming this way.

Aegis drew the sword and held it at her side.

[Alright, you overgrown chicken. Let’s do this.]