Chapter 338: Complacency(2)
Chapter 338: Complacency(2)
Time tends to fly when life falls into a repetitive routine. This remained true even after I revealed my identity.
Before I knew it, the weekend had arrived. Humans are creatures of habit, and I had grown somewhat accustomed to the gazes following me everywhere.
I had always stood out because of this damn red hair and my looks, so not much had changed in that regard after my confession.
If I had to point out a difference, it was that the way people looked at me now was more like they were seeing a celebrity in the flesh.
In particular, whenever I went out, I had to be accompanied by Adelia and Kate.
Those two were striking beauties with strong personalities in their own right, so with me added to the mix, it was impossible not to draw attention.
To make matters worse, Kate was just as famous as I was, and she radiated a holy aura wherever she went.
For the first week, we were the center of attention everywhere, but by the weekend, people seemed to have accepted it as the new normal.
However, that only applied to the people who were already at the Academy. There were still those who came from outside after hearing the rumors.
The news that I was a student at Halo Academy had spread far and wide, and I had no intention of going anywhere else until summer break.
Because of this, the Academy was struggling with an influx of visitors, ranging from ordinary citizens to people with questionable identities.
Apparently, the Academy guards had their hands full because some people even tried to scale the walls. I heard the Empire, concerned about this, had even dispatched a unit of knights.
Fortunately, entry to the Academy required clear identification. If someone wanted to bring a guest who wasn't a student, they had to accompany them personally.
There hadn't been any reports of dangerous elements infiltrating the Academy yet, but it didn't hurt to be careful. After all, a Cardinal had turned out to be a high-ranking member of the Demon Worshippers.
So, it was possible that a long-time Academy affiliate, rather than a recent visitor, could be a Demon Worshipper.
Currently, the Church of Luminous, led by Kate, was conducting a massive investigation, and the Mora Sect was secretly lending a hand as well.
However, perhaps because only a week had passed, or perhaps because there really was no one, nothing significant had turned up yet.
Even if someone acted suspiciously, they were usually released after a brief questioning. Most of them were just people loitering to catch a glimpse of my face, so everyone tended to let things slide easily now.
Except for Cherry, whom I had granted permission for "legal stalking." In her case, she wasn't getting caught—she simply hadn't been spotted once.
‘It’s amazing she hasn’t been caught yet.’
Truly, until she spoke up herself, she hadn't been reported once. Despite having a look that stood out from a distance, Cherry didn't even spark rumors.
I’d thought this since the time she tailed Hiriya, but she really might have a talent for this.
Anyway, time passed, and the weekend arrived with plenty of leisure time. Usually, I would train with Adelia or go on dates with my lovers on weekends, but I skipped that this week.
We decided to be cautious for now, as we didn't know what might happen if we all went out together.
Furthermore, it was midterms season, and Cecile was busy helping Descal with state affairs, so the situation wasn't ideal.
Grab!
"Eek?!"
"You're lucky, Adel Nuna. It's just the two of us, so you don't have to worry about what others think."
I whispered mischievously as I gave Adelia a back-hug while she was changing into her workout clothes. I could feel her flinch violently at the sudden surprise attack.
Even through her workout gear, I could feel the firmness of her muscles. As usual, Adelia trained whenever she finished her duties, so her physique never faltered.
"You scared me. And I'm not playing, I'm working. Please keep that distinction clear."
"But you don't hate it, do you?"
"......Well, that's true."
Adelia had initially spoken as if drawing a line between public and private matters, but it seemed she couldn't suppress her true feelings.
I smiled softly at her as her face turned a faint shade of red. Though she always maintained a dignified front, she also showed this lovely side of hers.
Besides, contrary to her words, she didn't strictly separate public and private life. In the dormitory, the boundaries crumbled completely, and a subtle tension flowed whenever our eyes met.
If the atmosphere ripened further, we’d jump straight into "the game." I exercised patience when Mari and Cecile were around, but with them gone, there was no need to hold back.
It felt like the fox had become king while the lion and tiger were away. Though, Adelia was more like a puppy than a fox.
"So, what's the plan for today? We used to use the public training ground."
"We can use the equipment inside for strength training. The problem is cardio..."
Adelia pondered seriously while still in my embrace. She seemed to have grown used to this kind of playfulness since I did it so often.
"Can't we just go outside and run?"
"No. I'd rather not do it at all than do that."
Adelia rejected my suggestion with a firm voice. Even though a week had passed since our return to the Academy, she remained steadfast.
Being cautious in everything was good, but I couldn't help feeling a bit stifled.
Most Academy personnel had been investigated by the Empire and the Church of Luminous, and the Mora Sect was investigating the underworld.
Furthermore, not just the Mora Sect, but personnel from Helium, including Gartz, were involved.
In other words, the chances of an incident occurring at the Academy were extremely slim. Besides, we were only going to run for about an hour; the odds of something happening in that time were almost zero.
"Then how about we call Kate-san too?"
"Cardinal Kate?"
"Yeah. You can just exercise with her."
"Hmm..."
And if we added a reliable "insurance policy" like her, my safety would be guaranteed. Adelia looked thoughtful after hearing my words.
Kate was a sturdy shield for me. Despite the many unsettling factors, she was a guard just as reliable as Adelia.
"Do you really have to go that far? Kate-san would obviously say yes if you asked, but is it necessary?"
Adelia asked me with a puzzled expression after her deliberation. True, it was a rare weekend, and it was practically an imposition.
Kate must have her own private life, and I would be intruding. Of course, as Adelia said, she would do anything I asked.
But no matter how much of a saint someone is, they’re bound to get annoyed if their established routine is disrupted.
"I feel like I need to exercise regularly for the sake of the future. I feel uneasy if I skip even one day."
"Uneasy?"
"Yeah. Opportunities to build up stamina like this don't come often. Besides, as someone once said, the day I'll be used as public property isn't far off..."
"..."
Adelia looked like she didn't know whether to laugh or cry at my self-deprecating answer. It sounded like a joke, but it wasn't a joke at all.
It was only like this now because of everyone's individual circumstances, but once everything was over, they would surely pounce on me like unbridled fillies.
First, Cecile. She was currently helping Descal with Helium's administrative affairs, so she could hardly show her face.
What would happen when all the work was done? She’d undoubtedly pounce on me like a horse off its leash.
Cecile alone was terrifying, but she wasn't the only one. There was a line long enough that I’d literally have to set up a rotation.
"As you know, Nuna, Divine Power is a catalyst that aids growth. That's why Paladins can build their martial strength while offering prayers. And the more Divine Power you accumulate, the greater the rate of growth. In emergencies, it can even be used like a potion."
"That's true."
"And I need to convert the Divine Power I've accumulated into stamina whenever I get the chance. If I keep putting it off, it'll be like pouring water into a bottomless pit."
"Hmm..."
Even after hearing my persuasion, Adelia's reaction was one of slight incomprehension. More accurately, she understood it intellectually, but her mind couldn't quite accept it.
Though a believer in Luminous, she wasn't as devout as a cleric; she was someone who focused solely on martial arts. It was natural that she couldn't easily understand.
So, I gave her a simpler, more concise explanation.
"I might wither away and die."
"What?"
"I'm not lying. I might actually wither away and die from a lack of stamina. My muscle strength is fine, but I absolutely have to increase my stamina."
"Let's go right now. Does Kate-san have workout clothes?"
She was persuaded instantly. Of course, seeing her chuckle, she likely took it as half a joke.
The problem was that it wasn't a joke, but a future that Luminous herself had personally verified. I couldn't tell you how flustered I was when she had responded with silence.
Fortunately, thanks to the Xenon Biography, I would never run out of Divine Power, but it was even more surprising that it still wouldn't be enough.
‘Even handling one person a day won't be enough...’
I might have to deal with two or more people a day. Everyone's sexual appetite is different.
Moreover, unlike men, women's sex drives tend to get stronger as they age. This was all an investment for the future.
*
"Exercise?"
"Yes. Do you exercise, Kate-san?"
"No. Not at all."
"Pardon?"
I called Kate afterward, only to learn a surprising fact. It turned out that Kate didn't exercise at all.
She gave an answer befitting a devout believer: she would rather offer prayers to Luminous than spend time exercising.
"Didn't you say you were a Grand Inquisitor, Kate-san?"
"Yes."
"And you wear that white armor I saw last time and carry that heavy mace..."
"And I go around executing those filthy Demon Worshippers."
How? Naturally, both my gaze and Adelia's drifted toward Kate's arms.
Since it was the weekend and she had just come out of the dormitory, she was dressed lightly. Thanks to that, her slender arms were in full view.
They were delicate arms that looked as if they had never lifted anything heavy. Not only that, her overall physique was far from muscular.
At a glance, she looked similar to Mari. While Divine Power can enhance strength and stamina, it's inefficient, so most people still do basic physical training.
"It's not like you haven't exercised your whole life, right?"
"Not quite. I did receive training when I lived at the Order. I believe it was the same training the Paladins receive."
"And after that?"
"I haven't done it once. I never felt the need to."
What is with this person? How on earth did she rise to the position of Grand Inquisitor?
I raised an eyebrow at Kate's hard-to-believe words. Unaware of my thoughts, Kate just stood there with a blank expression.
"Um... Cardinal Kate? If you don't mind, may I check your body?"
Adelia, sharing my sentiment, made a tentative request with a voice full of doubt. Even though she had never sparred with her, it was a story that was hard to believe.
Kate nodded and gave her permission. Since it was Adelia and no one else, she seemed to grant it easily.
"Um... Cardinal Kate?"
"Yes. Go ahead."
"This might be rude, but I think you should exercise every weekend too, Cardinal Kate. No matter how much grace you've received, this is a bit..."
Apparently, her arms were quite soft. It was certain, given how seriously Adelia advised her.
In other words, it meant Kate's Divine Power and her ability to utilize it were second to none. It meant a single burst of strength reinforcement made her far stronger than a Paladin who had trained for decades.
But what if there was a moment when she couldn't use Divine Power? Kate would be nothing more than an ordinary woman. If such a situation arose, she would surely face a great crisis.
Her title as Grand Inquisitor had blinded us. It was a good thing we discovered this now; otherwise, something terrible could have happened.
"Wouldn't it be better to offer prayers during the time I'd be exercising?"
"That might be true for you, Cardinal Kate. But focusing on only one side isn't a good choice. A distinct strength can also become a weakness. If, by any chance, you become unable to use that strength, you'll be nothing more than a scarecrow."
"Hmm..."
Adelia offered her advice in a quite serious tone. Kate exchanged a silent look with her before turning to me.
It seemed she was giving me the final say. She probably thought it didn't matter either way.
Since I had to exercise anyway, it would be fine for Kate to build up her lacking physical abilities at the same time.
"Since it's come to this, I think it would be good to exercise together. I need your protection anyway, Kate-san."
"Understood."
"Oh, and Adel Nuna will lend you some workout clothes."
I lent Kate some workout clothes that Adelia had prepared in advance. Since she was shorter than Adelia, they would be big on her, but it was better than nothing.
Shortly after, Kate came out wearing black workout clothes. We could just buy shoes once we went outside.
Perhaps because she usually only wore a habit, Kate in workout clothes felt like a fresh sight. Her golden hair, reminiscent of a golden wheat field, fell lusciously to her chest, and her blue eyes, looking awkward, exuded a strange cuteness.
"How is it? Does the clothing fit well enough?"
"It's a bit big, but it seems to fit. Though my chest feels very constricted."
There was no malice behind it, but it was a statement that pricked a woman's pride. As soon as I heard it, I immediately looked at Adelia.
She was definitely smiling, but the corners of her mouth were twitching. Her face was slightly shadowed to boot.
Just in case, I should mention that Adelia is by no means small. In fact, she's on the larger side of average.
It's just that Kate's bust, which had grown lushly on Divine Power, was much larger. Come to think of it, it seemed I was surrounded by nothing but well-endowed women.
‘...Except for one person.’
I won't bother mentioning who that one person is. I'd feel bad, as if I were making a comparison.
Above all, that person also has distinct strengths, so she's by no means inferior. Depending on one's taste, she could even be considered overwhelming.
Anyway, the weekend stamina training began.
"Kate-san. Are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
Surprisingly, I found Kate keeping up well with mine and Adelia's routine. I wondered if she had actually built up her stamina, contrary to appearances.
"Cardinal Kate. Just in case, are you consuming Divine Power?"
"Isn't this how you're supposed to do it?"
Not at all. She had been using Divine Power instead of physical stamina from the very beginning. Normally, the standard way is to exhaust all your physical stamina and then use Divine Power like a potion.
Whether she had been taught wrong in the past or she just found this way more comfortable, it was a completely incorrect method.
Of course, the Divine Power itself would increase significantly. With the grace of Luminous on top of that, she was like an inexhaustible spring.
So, after restricting her use of Divine Power...
"Haah... haah... haah..."
"Kate-san. Are you okay?"
"Y-yes... pant... I'm... fine."
You don't look fine at all.
In less than three minutes, I found Kate staggering. And one more thing.
"Phew. Phew. Phew."
"You're suddenly perfectly fine again?"
"I recovered... phew... with Divine Power."
"..."
I realized that it wasn't that her stamina was high, but that her regeneration was absurdly high.
‘...I feel like I'm raising a tiger cub.’
It looked like an uneventful weekend was going to pass by.