The Extra Who Stole the Hero's System

I was in my room, when a soft groan escaped my lips, a low, reluctant sound. The Sword Knight entrance exam. It’s closer than ever and I had promised Lady Sapphire I would take it, she gave a desperate plea to bring some semblance of hope back to the family. But the thought of the rigorous training, the sheer physical exertion, felt utterly exhausting after the emotional and physical trauma of the past few days.

I contemplated whether I should rest today or train tomorrow. But a quote from a show I watched in my past life, as Alex Miller. It helped me warm up for training. It went like this: "Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today."

I flickered my hand, and the system’s inventory screen materialized.

INVENTORY

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Obleric Diary

Blunt Training Sword

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My gaze fell on the Blunt Training Sword. It was a simple, heavy piece of steel, designed for practice, not for killing. I materialized it with a soft pop, the familiar weight settling into my hand. I needed to see how well I truly fared. My actual swordsmanship was still rudimentary, based on a few basic forms and desperate instinct. I couldn’t rely on the system since I had used up all my override points.

I walked out of my room, the blunt sword held loosely in my hand. The manor hallways were quiet, the silence broken only by the distant murmur of servants and maids. My footsteps echoed softly on the polished floors. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but my feet seemed to lead me instinctively.

I stopped outside Evelina’s room. The door was cracked open just a bit, letting a thin line of light stretch into the hallway. I pushed the door open gently and stepped inside.

She lay in her bed, utterly still, her face pale against the white pillow. Her blue hair fanned out around her, a stark contrast to the stillness of her body. Her breathing was shallow, almost imperceptible. She looked fragile, vulnerable, utterly helpless. The bandages on her chest stood out—bright white against her pale skin. They were a harsh reminder of the corrupted elixir... and everything it had taken from her.