I Will Create a Good Ending for the Yandere Villainess-Chapter 61: Building Mental Stamina? (edited)
"Whatever happened to that monster?" Lillian asked. Just now, remembering the thing that watched them from behind darkness.
The memory of it easily piercing through a Brawler’s shell caused shivers to pass through her body.
Marionette faced her, thinking for a brief moment. Most likely, recalling back something before answering.
"Could you clarify?"
"Well... did it like... try to approach us?"
Marionette shook her head before responding, her voice calm and rather interested as well.
"Did it approach us? No. Rather... it did the opposite once night fell. It seemed more hesitant of coming near the hill rather than coming in contact with the light."
’Well, that’s not totally worrying in a way.’ Lillian internally grimaced, glancing down at the hill before gazing at the tree.
"Do you think it could be because of this tree? It does look pretty unnatural... like most things in this world."
Marionette pulled her attention towards the tree as well—her eyes outlining different sections of it.
"Perhaps... who knows... maybe its leaves are poisonous to it... Or maybe it releases some kind of spore into the air that would infect any living organism in contact with it, causing it to sprout another tree like it."
"Eh? Wouldn’t that last one mean that we would’ve already turned into a tree?"
Marionette shrugged calmly.
"Maybe it could be a slow process... like I said, who knows... I’m merely naming out the possibilities of the reason why it didn’t come near."
Lillian continued to stare at the tree, finding what Marionette said to be reasonable.
What if this tree really was poisonous to the monster? Or does it perhaps really produce spores that travel through the air and infect the area?
She was definitely sure the latter didn’t happen because there would definitely be more of them instead of just one singular one resting on top of a lonesome hill.
A curious thought then sprouted inside her head. What is the origin of this tree? Why was it here? Was it planted here by someone?
Lillian held her hand out towards the tree, caressing its dark wooden bark. Her fingers stroke the body of the tree, feeling the small crevices and its uneven sides.
However...
The longer she held her hand up against the tree. She couldn’t help but feel something akin to a pulse—a faint pulse similar to a heartbeat.
Was this tree alive?
Was this tree secretly a monster?
’It hasn’t attacked us yet, even after we got so close to it and even snipped off a few of its branches and twigs.’
So, with the evidence gathered, this tree was definitely safe, right?
She turned to Marionette and saw she wasn’t as concerned as she was. Instead, all she was doing was putting out the fire before turning to her with an expectant look.
"Let’s continue with yesterday’s training."
***
"How long am I meant to keep this up for?" Lillian asked with a strained voice, holding onto a shaft that branched out several times outwards and towards the sky.
For the past half an hour or so, Lillian was kept in the same place, holding onto the abstract-looking construct of water that reached five or so metres into the sky under Marionette’s patient eyes.
"Long enough to where your mana runs out. Try to have its form stabilise and not wobble." Marionette commented, glancing at a certain branch that trembled.
While it may seem like a simple task to do, it is quite stamina-consuming to do this. It’s like moving your muscles, for example. If you do a strenuous task, your muscles will become sore.
What she was doing right now would be equivalent to holding a plate of weights to the sky like some magical sword.
"I know this is meant to build up my mental stamina... but wouldn’t sparing give out the same thing?"
"While that may be true, that would mainly benefit your physical body instead of your mind. Doing this would lay out a good foundation for you... which you are lacking..."
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Lillian’s face twitched.
"Must you insult me?"
Marionette then responded with her usual phrase, which Lillian had come to realise she liked using a lot.
"Who knows..."
Lillian gave an exasperated sigh and focused on the task.
An hour or so later, the water construct eventually collapsed, splashing over her body. She groaned, "You can’t be serious..."
Marionette tilted her head to the side, "You make it sound like you aren’t used to this outcome. Did you perhaps not train with your element once receiving it?"
Lillian scratched the back of her head, choosing not to answer this question, knowing what the past Lillian did, which was playing an ungodly amount of games on her PC while spending lots of money on them.
It was quite surprising she still had so much in her bank account.
Marionette sighed, "I see... we shall then continue this routine of sparing and mental stamina training for the... next four days."
"Hm? Four? Why four? And are we not going to look for the Boss Monster today? Or is that tomorrow...? Because I kind of wanna get out of here."
"We were given 7 days to get accustomed to the academy’s realm. This is currently our second day. And as I am sure you know, a day here is a day out there."
Lillian nodded slowly, letting Marionette continue.
"So having four days to train you would give us just enough time to look for the Boss on the seventh."
"EH!? Wouldn’t that mean once we find it and defeat it, we would barely have enough time for rest before going to class!?"
Marionette shrugged, "Oh well... unless you have a good knowledge of the major topics, you shouldn’t need to worry about it. From what I’ve seen, you’re intelligent enough, right?"
Marionette tilted her head at Lillian, who smiled back.
"Definitely."
’But that’s only because I pretty much know everything. Study the lore and books found inside the game, and eventually, you’ll have an entire mental library at your disposal.’
She then thought back to her school life.
’Why is studying game-related things way easier than schoolwork?’
And just like that, the day soon ended with not much happening.
