Chapter 13: The Knight's Real Lesson (1)
As the day drew to a close and an early morning arrived, I woke up to find the maids who had come to attend to my morning routine standing before me.
"Uh, L-Lord Adrian. We've brought your meal."
"We'll help you change before eating. If you'll just lift your upper body for a moment...."
"Leave the clothes and food and get out."
"Y-Yes?"
"I can handle it myself, so fuck off."
They meant well, but I ended up snapping at them harshly anyway. I knew there was no malice, but their very presence grated against my inner sense of masculinity. If I spoke politely, they'd just keep hovering, so a sharp tone was better for everyone—for me, at least.
"A-Ah, yes...."
Reluctantly, they left the items behind and departed. As I sat down to eat in the spot they'd vacated, I overheard them whispering outside the room.
"Why's he so pissy?"
"Is it that time of the month for him?"
"He should know how to hold it in. We're all men here...."
"He's got a pretty face and now he's acting all high and mighty. What a sight."
...Heh, so just because I don't buddy up with them, they start talking shit behind my back. Just how girly do they plan to act? But in this world, that was normal, so I decided not to sweat it. From their perspective, I was the bad guy. As long as they didn't pick a direct fight, I'd let that much slide.
"Lord Adrian, Lady Renes has sent instructions."
Just as I finished eating and changing, another maid approached, and I perked up immediately. Regardless of anything else, that woman held my leash right now—I couldn't ignore her.
I silently gestured for her to speak, and she relayed Renes's orders.
"A new match is scheduled in one week, so she said to prepare for it in the meantime. In short, focus on training and conditioning."
Training, huh. It made sense—I couldn't just sit around doing nothing. To keep my current lifestyle, I needed to stay in that woman's good graces. Aware of my position, I asked the maid on the off chance.
"Do you know who my opponent will be in the match in a week?"
"That's to be kept secret. She said learning on the day would make the match more exciting."
Heh, that damn bitch. She doesn't want me knowing my opponent ahead of time to prepare? She probably gets off more on seeing me struggle. But even if it pissed me off, she held the power, so no choices here.
"There's a training ground ready, right?"
Resigned to it, I asked, and the maid nodded, leading me to the spot.
"This way."
Out of the room, down the hall... We arrived at an outdoor area fenced in, dotted with wooden weapons and straw dummies planted here and there. And in the center, a familiar face came into vague view.
"...Helia?"
"Yes, it's Helia."
She nodded, facing me. But her outfit was drastically different from our first meeting. A white shirt exposing her navel and short shorts covering her lower half—a casual "loungewear" getup. She spoke to me in a faintly pitying tone.
"So you've decided to train for the upcoming match. As a man, you could have chosen to avoid such harsh labors."
"Uh, yeah, well.... Now that it's happening, I can't just do nothing."
I had nothing else to do in this world anyway. For now, embracing life as a gladiator seemed ideal. After expressing that, I turned to Helia with my next question.
"But why are you here, Helia?"
Why was Renes's loyal knight in a place like this? She paused briefly before answering in a firm voice.
"I was waiting for you. Or rather, should I call you Adrian now?"
"Yeah, call me Aidan."
"Very well, Aidan."
Helia let out a small sigh, then explained her purpose.
"If it's alright with you, would you entrust the guidance of your upcoming training to me?"
"Huh? Training guidance?"
"I've already received Lady Renes's permission. She said it would be fine if you agreed, and that I could take full charge...."
Full training oversight. I'd never even properly been to a gym back home, so training solo wouldn't yield real results. Getting pointers from an expert like her was probably essential.
"...Please, grant me the chance to take responsibility."
Her conflicted tone as I mulled it over piqued my curiosity, so I asked right away.
"Take responsibility? What do you mean?"
"Truth be told, it was I who brought you to Lady Renes's attention, leading to all this."
Ah, right. If Helia hadn't mentioned me, Renes probably wouldn't have bothered noticing an intruder. Being an illegal entrant was just an excuse—normally, they'd ignore it if it wasn't an issue.
"You managed to win your first fight somehow, but fighting in the arena is grueling for a man. Moreover, Lady Renes places no ethical limits on future matches, so defeat could inflict grave wounds upon you."
Was she feeling deep guilt over it? Helia's face twisted in anguish as she bowed her head and pleaded earnestly.
"So at the very least, let me help you endure the trials ahead. Please, give me the chance to atone to you."
"No, you don't need to atone for—"
"I beg you. Let me help you."
Her knightly resolve was unyielding. It stemmed from genuine concern, but to me—unaccustomed to such things—it felt overwhelmingly heavy. Bluntly, it wasn't even her fault to begin with. She'd just done her duty. If anything, the root was Renes grabbing some random guy for her amusement.
Was it really right to hold her accountable...?
"...Alright."
No, refusing because her sense of duty burdened me would only put her in a tough spot. Better to accept the help. Having decided, I laid it out plainly.
"I was stumped on how to train alone anyway. Having someone like you guide me? I'd welcome it."
"You truly permit it?"
"Yeah, it seems best for both of us."
Color returned to Helia's face at my words. She bowed deeply, grasped my hand, and expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you. I will guide you with all my heart and soul, forging you into a proper gladiator."
"Yeah, I look forward to—"
"Ah!"
Mid-reply, Helia jolted and pulled her hand away. Puzzled by the reaction, I watched as she flushed red and bowed her head again.
"S-Sorry. I got carried away.... I was careless with a man."
"Huh?"
"I-I'll be more careful not to touch you so casually from now on."
Um.... Was grabbing a hand such a big deal that it warranted a deep apology? The thought crossed my mind briefly, so I tried contextualizing it with my old world's norms. A gym trainer suddenly grabbing a woman's hand.... Oof, yeah, understandable.
"It's fine, let's just start training."
By my standards, a woman holding a man's hand wasn't weird at all. Brushing it off, she cleared her throat with a still-reddened face and moved to proceed.
"Yes, then.... As you wish, Aidan, let's begin the training."
Great, training time. Bracing myself, Helia asked in a more serious tone.
"First, to confirm: do you prefer getting stronger slowly or quickly, Aidan?"
"Slowly or quickly?"
"Training with leeway, or something grueling but faster—which do you prefer?"
"Hmm, if I have to pick, the latter."
I sucked at exercise, but with unknowns ahead, getting stronger faster—even if exhausting—was necessary. High intensity it was. As I said so, Helia nodded, her expression hardening.
She grimaced, tensed her neck, and bellowed.
"Very well! As you wish, we'll crank up the training intensity from now on!"
"Uh, Helia?"
"At ease! From here on, address me as Instructor! Understood!?"
"Uh, uh...."
What the hell? Sudden switch-up?
"No answer!?"
"Y-Yes! Understood!"
"Too quiet! And you're stammering! If you want to get strong, answer with spirit! Got it!?"
"Y-Yes!"
Caught off guard by the abrupt shift, I blurted a reply. Before the shock faded, Helia pointed her wooden sword at the training ground and barked.
"Training starts now—fifty laps around the field, on the double!"
"Fifty laps?"
"Are you saying you can't!? Was talk of getting strong a lie!?"
"N-No, I can do it."
Ah, got it. Want fast gains? Instructor turns tiger. Grasping that, I shook off the daze and started running as ordered.
"Legs too slow! Can't you run faster!?"
"Sorry!"
"No time for apologies—move those feet! Think you can't keep up!? Every time I catch you, add ten laps! Don't want extra suffering? Run faster!"
"Y-Yes!"
...Damn. Who knew the exposure-fetish knight could be this ferocious. Part of me wanted to beg for lower intensity, but my male pride wouldn't allow it. Chased by her, I kept circling the field, finally stopping after fifty laps.
"Hah....! Finally done."
Had my heart ever pounded this hard in my life? Exhausting as hell, but pride swelled from accomplishing something I'd never done before. Yeah, this body could handle fifty laps.
"Aidan."
The satisfaction was short-lived. A voice from behind sent chills down my spine, and I whipped around. Helia stared at me, looking mildly surprised. But she'd been yelling orders just moments ago.
"Um.... Can't I rest now?"
I thought I'd done well—surely not?
"No, rest is important too. Good work. Let's take a break in the shade."
"Ah, okay."
Relief—training seemed to be going properly. I joined Helia under the shade, chugging water to quench my thirst.
"Your base stamina is top-notch."
Helia commented casually during the break. Catching the subtle admiration, I asked back, puzzled.
"W-Wait, was that a compliment?"
"Yes. Objectively, your physical abilities are exceptional. Even apprentice knights drop out after ten laps by normal standards. For a man to show this level of endurance is almost unprecedented."
Hmm.... So most women hit their limit at ten, but I—a man—did fifty. I'd never exercised, so it didn't fully sink in, but by her benchmarks, I'd performed impressively. Though it also meant she'd pushed me that hard.
"Did you... not think I'd make it to fifty?"
"To test limits, you set harsh conditions. If you'd quit midway, I'd adjust the plan accordingly. I'm grateful you endured my potentially excessive guidance."
"Ah, yeah, fair enough...."
True—I didn't even know my body's limits myself. Her call might've been wise. Swallowing water, I noticed her face drenched in sweat. Chasing me for fifty laps must've been tough on her too? Feeling awkward about it, she lifted her top to wipe her face, blatantly exposing her torso underneath.
"Pfft!!"
Catching sight suddenly, I spat out my water. Helia hurriedly lowered her shirt and looked at me worriedly.
"Are you alright? Any discomfort...?"
"N-No, fine. Just got hot suddenly.... Haha."
Damn, why is this woman so careless in front of a guy? Hiding my confusion, I absentmindedly lifted my shirt to wipe sweat and water from my face, baring my abs a bit.
"A-Aidan!"
Her stiff voice made me glance over curiously. Helia had averted her eyes, face beet red.
"Please mind your conduct."
Struggling, she continued.
"You're a man, aren't you? No matter how comfortable you feel with me—a woman—exposing yourself like that is simply not proper."
...A woman flashing her chest is fine, but a man showing abs needs caution? This world's sexual norms were baffling beyond belief.