Chapter 9 : I Was Wrong
Chapter 9: I Was Wrong!
Lilia froze in place, her mind completely blank.
The two corridors looked exactly the same—there was no way to tell them apart!
【Time Remaining: 00:28:15】
The cold red numbers flickered before her eyes, each second slamming against her heart.
She couldn’t hesitate any longer!
Gritting her teeth, Lilia relied on instinct, chose the left corridor, and sprinted forward.
Clutching the maid outfit in her arms, she ran barefoot across the icy stone floor like a madwoman.
In the silent corridor, only her heavy breathing and chaotic footsteps echoed.
However, after running who knew how far, what appeared ahead was a cold, solid wall.
Lilia came to an abrupt halt, staring at the dead end in disbelief as all the strength drained from her body.
She leaned against the wall in despair, her body sliding down until she sat on the floor.
【Time Remaining: 00:23:49】
Time continued to slip away mercilessly.
It’s over.
This time, she was really done for.
Dying from getting lost.
What kind of death was this? It was too ridiculous!
Lilia’s eyes grew hot as a surge of grievance and unwillingness welled up inside her.
She didn’t want to die.
She had finally survived—no matter how humiliating it was, she still wanted to keep living.
Wait… the System!
A thought suddenly flashed through her chaotic mind.
This damn System was definitely taking revenge!
It must have heard her cursing it earlier, so it deliberately issued this impossible mission!
If it had emotions… then would apologizing work?
“System big brother! System father! System sister! System mother! I was wrong!”
Lilia threw away all sense of dignity, using every humble term she could think of in her mind.
“I shouldn’t have cursed you! You are the wisest, most understanding, and greatest System in existence! I was blind and ignorant—I deserve death a thousand times!”
“You are magnanimous, able to tolerate anything—please spare my worthless life! I’ll never dare again! I’ll work like an ox and horse for you!”
“I swear, from now on I’ll wholeheartedly serve Master Hera, work hard to increase my Feminization Index, and strive to become a perfect maid as soon as possible! Please give me a way to live!”
While frantically apologizing in her mind, she stared nervously at the system interface before her.
However, there was no response.
Only the blood-red countdown continued ticking coldly.
【Time Remaining: 00:15:02】
Lilia’s heart sank bit by bit.
Was it useless?
Was there really no way?
She sat slumped on the ground, clutching the brand-new maid outfit in her arms, staring blankly ahead.
Her mind began uncontrollably replaying her short life.
From graduation, to the car accident, to transmigrating into this hellish place…
Everything felt like an absurd dream.
And now, the dream was about to end.
She lowered her head, looking at her smooth, slender arms. Her pale skin glowed faintly under the dim light.
Lilia closed her eyes, giving up all resistance, quietly waiting for “erasure” to descend.
Thirty seconds remaining!
She felt as if her heart was about to stop beating.
One second remaining!
Just as Lilia felt her consciousness about to be swallowed by darkness—
【Ding!】
A crisp, pleasant notification rang out in her mind.
Lilia’s eyes snapped open.
The countdown before her had stopped at 【00:00:01】.
Immediately after, the blood-red numbers blurred and transformed into a new line of text.
【Detected strong survival instinct and sincere remorse from the host. Special leniency granted.】
【Mission time extended by 30 minutes.】
【Additional: A simple map of the lower servant quarters of the Demon King’s Castle has been issued. Good luck.】
“Holy shit!”
Lilia blurted out instinctively, then quickly covered her mouth.
No more cursing—she absolutely wouldn’t dare again!
She stared at the message, hardly believing her eyes.
It actually… worked!
This System really was that petty—and soft-hearted when handled gently!
The joy of surviving a disaster surged through her entire body, making her feel as though her blood was boiling.
A light-blue interface unfolded in the lower-left corner of her vision, displaying a simple map drawn with basic lines.
A blinking red dot marked her current position.
Another green marker labeled “Public Washroom.”
Beside it, an arrow clearly pointed out the direction.
【Time Remaining: 00:29:58】
A new countdown had already begun.
Lilia jolted into action, scrambling up from the ground, not even bothering to brush off the dust on her body.
Locking onto the direction indicated by the arrow, she sprinted forward again at unprecedented speed.
Guided by the map, she darted through the winding corridors, turning left and right rapidly.
Soon, she reached a corner.
Found it!
Joy surged in Lilia’s heart as she quickened her pace.
It was a fairly spacious stone chamber, with over a dozen water basins carved into the walls. Cold, clear water flowed continuously from the mouths of ferocious beast-head sculptures.
The entire washroom was empty.
Perfect!
She really was the first!
Lilia rushed to one of the basins. Ignoring the biting cold, she scooped water with both hands and splashed it onto her face.
The icy sensation instantly cleared her overheated mind from running.
She finished washing at top speed, then quickly removed the shameful lace short dress she was wearing and changed into the “Standard Apprentice Maid Outfit” she had been carrying.
The deep black long skirt, the clean white apron.
Though the material was ordinary, it fit her body surprisingly well.
The enveloping long skirt gave her a long-lost sense of security, and the +1 defense attribute made her feel more at ease.
After changing, she immediately brought up the map.
A new golden marker appeared on it—Hera’s bedroom.
An optimal route was clearly displayed before her.
【Time Remaining: 00:22:13】
There was still plenty of time.
Lilia took a deep breath, suppressing her racing heart, and began running steadily yet quickly toward the bedroom.
Through corridors of varying widths, up spiraling staircases—
The surroundings gradually shifted from the plain servant quarters to increasingly luxurious and grand architecture.
Finally, that familiar bedroom door, carved from a single massive slab of obsidian, appeared at the end of her vision.
She glanced at the system clock.
【03:59:50】
“Creak—”
The heavy door slid inward before her.