Chapter 43
Chapter 43
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Empress Justina's Hellish Training
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hah... haah... I-I'm... gonna die..."
Early in the morning, amid the biting northern winds sweeping through the training grounds, a lone woman was running.
The grounds, usually filled with the knights' shouts and the clashing of swords, held only her today, for some inexplicable reason.
Silver hair clung to her sweat-drenched face.
She wore a loose white shirt and black silk pants.
It was Justina, the Female Emperor of the Daroa Empire.
The sensation in her legs had long since vanished.
But she couldn't stop.
The knights lined up outside the grounds rubbed their eyes and exchanged glances.
It was an unbelievable sight.
Wasn't this the haughty empress who considered even walking vulgar and rode in a palanquin everywhere within the palace?
Yet here she was, drenched in sweat, sprinting around the training grounds.
"Th-that's Her Majesty, right? Why on earth is she doing that first thing in the morning?"
A knight asked in a trembling voice.
The knight beside him shook his head with a bewildered expression.
"Quiet. Your voice is too loud. I heard she's taking responsibility for the recent defeat and training herself rigorously."
"Herself?"
"Yeah. She says she can't protect the Daroa Empire with a weak body and mind. Rumor has it she even summoned her master personally to beg for training."
Awe colored the knights' gazes.
A monarch who, despite sitting on the throne, refused to rest on her laurels, sweating and reflecting.
"To think the liege we serve is such a resilient soul..."
The soldiers' eyes grew misty.
But contrary to their misconceptions, Justina's inner thoughts were ablaze.
'You lunatic, devil spawn! Why the hell am I doing this crap...'
Her gaze turned to the platform at the center of the grounds.
There sat Darcor, leaning back in his chair in the most comfortable pose imaginable.
He lifted a steaming teacup and savored it.
Then, as if watching an entertaining show, he smirked and looked down at Justina.
Slurp.
Darcor took a sip of the warm black tea.
His languid body melted into a soothing haze.
Nothing beat the thrill of breathing fresh morning air while watching someone else suffer.
Especially when that someone was the arrogant empress who'd never run a lap in her life, now dancing to his tune.
'Can't hold back a chuckle...'
As expected from someone whose only exercise had been breathing, Justina's form was a mess.
Her upper body leaned back, her legs dragging pitifully.
At this rate, she'd wreck her knees before gaining any benefits.
"Hey, disciple."
Darcor brought a magic amplifier to his lips.
His bored voice boomed across the grounds.
"Your speed's dropping. Don't drag your legs."
"Hah?"
Justina flinched and glared at Darcor.
But he shook his head firmly and held up one finger.
"Last lap. First one finishes."
"W-what?"
"Run."
Justina's eyes rolled back in fury.
She was the only one running— what did "first one" even mean?
"I-I'm running alone! What kind of race is that?!"
"Talking back to your master? Tsk."
Darcor shrugged and held up two fingers.
"Two more laps."
"..."
Justina clenched her fists tight.
Devil.
He was definitely a devil in human skin.
"Ugh... raaaagh!"
Tears of rage streaming down her face, Justina started running again.
Her heart felt ready to burst—a sensation she'd never known—pain stabbing with every breath.
Gnashing her teeth, she circled the grounds.
'Just you wait... The moment I get a chance, I'll tear you apart!'
Clear murderous intent toward Darcor flashed through her mind.
Right then—
Zzt.
⚙ Blood Contract ⚙ [The subordinate cannot harbor murderous intent toward the superior. Violation incurs immediate physical pain.] "Gaaah!"
Justina screamed, clutching her chest.
Pain like her heart was being crushed wracked her body.
"Y-Your Majesty!"
"Are you alright?!"
The knights outside jolted in alarm, rushing forward.
The empress staggering, hand to her chest—it screamed emergency to anyone watching.
'N-no... Can't let them find out here...'
The contract had a confidentiality clause too.
⚙ Blood Contract ⚙ [If the blood contract's existence is revealed to others, it terminates immediately.] If the contract ended?
Her heart would go boom.
Justina steadied herself on trembling legs.
Cold sweat poured like rain, but she desperately raised a hand toward the soldiers.
"D-don't come! Stay back!"
Forcing up the corners of her mouth twisted in agony.
The spasms twisted it into a manic grin.
"H-haha... It's nothing. J-just a sudden cramp..."
"Are you truly alright, Your Majesty?"
"Y-yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about it."
The soldiers tilted their heads but returned to their positions.
Up on the platform, Darcor barely stifled his laughter, enjoying the show.
'Just getting started, and she's already whining.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "F-finally... arrived..."
Justina, barely hitting her target, collapsed spread-eagled on the ground.
The cold stone felt like the plushest blanket.
The sky spun wildly; her mouth reeked of acetone.
'O-over... It's finally over.'
Now she just wanted a bath, her bed, and soup fed to her by a maid.
To rest fiercely without moving a muscle.
Thud. Thud.
Darcor descended the platform and prodded the corpse-like Justina's side with his toe.
"Who said rest? Rise and shine."
"I-it's over!"
"What're you talking about? You've just warmed up. Sleeping now? You'll cramp up."
Justina's unfocused eyes turned to Darcor.
'N-no way, right?'
She'd nearly died already.
And this was just warming up?
"Y-you're lying, right? I feel like I'm dying! No warm-up now!"
Justina pleaded desperately.
No trace of imperial dignity remained—just a slave begging for mercy.
"Hey now. Cut the theatrics."
Darcor pressed a finger to his lips and clicked his tongue.
Putting on a stern master's face, he nodded toward the surroundings.
"Is that how you talk to your master? The knights are watching."
He was right.
The knights outside stared with curious eyes.
Begging for her life here would raise suspicions about their relationship—and from there, the blood contract.
Darcor whispered softly into Justina's ear.
"You know what happens if our deal gets out, right? So get up. Lower body time."
"..."
"Watch and follow. Mess up, and we start over."
Justina screamed internally.
'Aaaagh! You psycho tyrant bastard!'
Ignoring her muffled sobs, Darcor demonstrated.
Arms spread wide, bending and straightening his legs.
A ridiculous pose unseen anywhere in the Daroa Empire.
"This is a squat. Stand up."
Darcor's command was absolute.
The contract's magic tugged at her body.
Justina staggered to her feet, forced upright.
"Cadence is simple: One for focus, two for unity. Got it?"
"Nngh..."
"Speak up. Got it?!"
"Y-yes! I got it!"
Darcor nodded in satisfaction.
Hands behind his back, he circled the trembling Justina, barking orders.
"Begin. Match my calls. One!"
Justina bent her slender legs.
Her virgin muscles screamed in protest.
"F-focus..."
"Too quiet. Again—one."
"F-focus!"
Justina rose with a yell.
"Twooo."
"Unity!"
"O-neee."
"Fooocus!"
"Twoooo."
"U-nityyy!"
"That's it! See? Wasn't hard!"
Strange, unknown chants echoed through the imperial grounds.
The knights watched, heads cocked.
"Is this the secret technique of Her Majesty's master?"
"Never seen anything like it... What profound meaning does it hold?"
"Look at Her Majesty's face. Can't even imagine. I-I wanna learn too!"
The knights spun wild theories.
Darcor glanced at the dazed knights and smirked.
'Meaning? Just wrecking her legs.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "No breaks! Final twooo!"
"U-u-nityyy..."
Justina shouted the last call and slumped to the ground.
Her legs throbbed and quivered uncontrollably.
'Th-this time... really over...'
Darcor squatted before the sweat-soaked Justina.
He pulled a water bottle from his pocket and handed it over.
"Drink."
Justina eyed it suspiciously but snatched it, gulping desperately.
Gulp, gulp.
Was water ever this sweet?
Lukewarm, yet sweeter than any elixir she'd tasted.
"Pwaaah..."
As she caught her breath, she felt Darcor's piercing gaze from above.
Crimson eyes, chillingly intense.
The same eyes that terrified her last night.
But now... oddly calm.
"Stray thoughts gone now?"
Darcor asked indifferently.
"Hah... haah... Wh-what stray thoughts...?"
"The trash ideas about grinding up your people."
Justina's shoulders twitched.
Bullseye.
"Hard body means no room for schemes. That's humans for you. When you're gasping for air, who thinks of scamming others?"
Truth be told, she'd planned to mobilize everything to stop him.
Darcor chuckled.
"See? Mind's blank now, right?"
Justina wanted to deny it.
But true to his word, her head was empty—no schemes.
No total mobilization, no undead legions, no sacrificing citizens.
Just primal urges: legs hurt, wanna rest.
"..."
"You think I'm tormenting you for fun."
Darcor rose slowly.
'Well, that's half true...'
His shadow engulfed Justina.
She looked up blankly.
"This is all to make you human. Got it, disciple?"
"Y-yeah, got it..."
Darcor's words rang persuasively.
Exhaustion dulled her judgment.
She nodded in a daze, entranced.
"Good? Nah, your eyes say otherwise. Ten more laps."
"Wh-what?!"
"What? Run."
As bewildered Justina gaped,
Darcor's lips curled in a wicked, sinister grin.