Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Hellish Training and Hidden Truths
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"Ugh... my body aches..."
The sun blazed down brilliantly, birds chirped away, and the training grounds basked in a peaceful morning.
Justina was barely standing in the training grounds, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.
It was the aftermath of Emperor Darcor's hellish training—her muscles screamed in agony from head to toe.
And no wonder. For someone whose lifelong "exercise" had been breathing,
Darcor's brutal regimen was nothing short of torture.
Her thighs felt like solid rocks, her calves burned like they'd been scorched by fire.
Every time she tried to take a single step, screams erupted from every joint in her body.
Meanwhile, Darcor had never felt more refreshed.
He lounged in a chair, savoring steaming hot tea, relishing the world around him.
"Man, what a perfect day. They weren't kidding about the weather in the Daroa Empire."
Darcor set down his teacup and stretched languidly.
Crack.
At the sound of his joints popping, Justina flinched violently.
"Looks like my disciple's body is finally getting used to it. How about we start light today—just ten laps?"
"A-Adapted? What kind of crazy talk is that..."
Justina's face twisted in horror.
She shook her head vigorously, tears welling up.
"I-I can't... My l-legs won't move! I mean it, I can't take a single step!"
It wasn't exaggeration.
Her legs truly wouldn't obey her.
She'd only made it to the training grounds thanks to the maids propping her up—otherwise, it would've been impossible.
"I'd rather die than run. Just kill me now!"
Justina collapsed onto the ground.
Dignity as empress be damned—when your legs won't work, what choice did she have?
Running like a maniac again today would kill her anyway.
Whether from exhaustion or her heart bursting from the blood pact, death was death.
If she had to go, might as well go now.
'You mad tyrant! Devil Darcor! I won't die running at your whim.'
Watching her, the corner of Darcor's mouth curled up slyly.
All well within expectations.
"Knew you'd say that, so I came prepared."
"W-What?"
"You think I'd work my precious disciple that hard without a plan? Ah, here they come."
Darcor nodded toward the training grounds entrance.
Justina's head creaked around stiffly.
Two women approached, waving cheerfully.
One was a stunning blonde in holy white saintess robes.
The other, a bright-faced girl with an innocent smile.
Saintess Chloe and Hero Eris of the empire.
"Your Majesty, your legs won't move? Oh dear."
Chloe approached with a beaming smile.
Her eyes flashed a greedy golden hue the moment they landed on Justina.
"Oh my, look at those muscles all knotted up. Let me fix that for you."
"W-What is this?!"
Justina felt an inexplicable, primal terror.
The woman's gaze burned with a voracious golden light she'd never seen before.
"W-Wait! S-Stay back! Get away!"
"Now, now, hold still. Hasn't Your Majesty heard? I'm the saintess.
Just a touch from my hands, and everything heals. Trust me—you'll go straight to heaven."
Chloe placed her hand on Justina's rock-hard thigh.
"Holy light, save this lost lamb and make her human again... no, redeem this frail flesh!"
Boom!
A blinding light of healing erupted forth.
But it wasn't the gentle holy power anyone would expect enveloping the body.
This was Saintess Chloe's signature regeneration heal—maximum efficiency with minimal power.
Forcing cells to activate, stitching torn muscles back together by brute force.
Crunch. Grind.
"Gaaah!"
Justina's scream tore through the training grounds.
As her bones reassembled and muscles twisted, she writhed on the ground, clawing at it.
"It h-hurts! Is this really healing? What kind of cure hurts this much?!"
"Heehee, you think bones just knit themselves painlessly? Gotta endure the grinding..."
"W-What? I've n-never broken any bones! It just hurts!"
"Eh? Oh... right, yeah..."
Chloe wiped sweat from her brow with an awkward smile.
"D-Don't sweat the small stuff. Good medicine tastes bitter, right? So, how's it feel? All better?"
Just as Justina opened her mouth to yell nonsense,
miraculously, the pain vanished, and her legs felt light as if by magic.
Like they'd been swapped for brand-new ones.
"...Huh?"
Justina stretched her legs, eyes widening in surprise.
'They really move perfectly now?'
"Great, now you can run! Sis!"
Eris, who'd been stomping her feet impatiently, bolted forward and grabbed Justina's wrist.
"Let's go—ten laps, super quick!"
"W-Wait! You're t-too fast! Slow down!"
Eris dashed off with a sunny grin.
Justina, dangling from her grip,
was dragged along like a ragdoll.
"Waaah! H-Help! I can't run! I said I can't!"
"What are you talking about? You're running great, sis! I'll pick up the pace a bit!"
"L-Let go! I'm gonna hurl!"
Justina's wails and Eris's laughter formed a bizarre harmony echoing across the training grounds.
Darcor watched the scene fondly, sipping his tea.
"Our saintess and hero sure know how to get things done."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Huff... huff..."
Only as the sun began to set did the infernal training finally end.
Justina lay sprawled on the training grounds floor, soaked in sweat.
She didn't even have the strength to wipe the drool from her mouth, tongue lolling out as she panted.
'I-I'm dying for real... damn it...'
As she gasped for air, someone approached cautiously and offered a towel.
"G-Good work, Your Majesty."
A familiar gruff yet frivolous voice.
Justina laboriously lifted her head.
The owner was none other than Varkas, vanguard commander and dark mage of the Daroa Empire.
"V-Varkas? W-Why are you here?"
Thinking she'd seen wrong, Justina rubbed her sweat-stung eyes and looked again.
Why was the guy she'd thought dead standing there?
And why was he wearing an apron?
"A-And what's with that getup?!"
"Haha... well, it's a long story..."
Varkas scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
Just as he teared up, ready to spill his long tale,
"Everyone's sweated it out—time to eat. Gotta replenish with some meat."
Darcor stood and announced.
His words perked up Eris's drooping ears like a switch.
"M-Meat? Yay!"
"Got some killer marbled cuts ready. Our Varkas grills 'em to perfection."
"Whoa, mister's the best!"
Eris bounced in excitement, but
Justina waved her hands in horror.
"Ugh, meat? So barbaric. I'm vegetarian. I don't touch greasy, bloody stuff!"
Gurgle.
Traitorously, her stomach rumbled right on cue.
Mortified, her face flushed crimson, on the verge of bursting,
when Eris hooked her arm and dragged her along.
"Aw, sis, meat gives you strength. Come on, hurry!"
"N-No, I said! L-Let go. I'll just have salad!"
Justina flailed and shouted, but
of course, she stood no chance against the hero's strength.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Imperial Palace Gardens.
Beneath the sunset sky,
the rich aroma of charcoal smoke wafted through the air.
Varkas, once the Daroa Empire's grand magus, sweated bullets as he grilled steaks,
while the table brimmed with vintage wines and gourmet dishes.
"Dig in!"
"Not bad."
Eris wielded forks in both hands, inhaling meat like a vacuum.
Chloe played it cool, but her plate was piled with the priciest cuts.
Darcor swirled his wine glass, dining leisurely.
Justina alone scowled, one eyebrow twitching, poking at her salad while glaring at the steak before her.
'Hmph. Think I'll fall for barbaric slop like this? So undignified.'
Yet the savory scent assaulting her nose and the sizzling sounds tempted her relentlessly.
After running all day, hunger was only natural.
As she futilely tried to fill the void with salad,
"Sis, this is seriously good. Just one bite."
Eris sliced off a piece and shoved it toward Justina's mouth.
"N-No, I said get it away!"
"Aww, say 'ahh'! Ahh!"
"M-Mmph!"
Seizing the moment her lips parted,
Eris stuffed the morsel inside.
Justina recoiled to spit it out, but
the meat juices had already enveloped her tongue, flooding her mouth.
The instant she chewed.
Ting!
Justina's eyes shot wide open.
Fat melting tenderly on her tongue.
Rich juices bursting forth.
Perfectly balanced charcoal and herb flavors—a taste straight from heaven.
'Th-This flavor!'
Her dormant taste buds awoke.
All the grassy slop she'd eaten before was trash by comparison.
Nothing compared to meat earned through sweat and toil.
"..."
Justina quietly picked up two forks.
And began devouring faster than anyone.
"Whoa, sis, slow down! You'll get a tummy ache!"
Eris tried to stop her in shock.
Justina ignored her, chugging wine straight from the bottle.
Sipping elegantly had been her rule, but now it didn't matter.
"Gulp... D-Delicious... More!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The mood had ripened; everyone ate their fill, drank, laughed, and chatted.
Darcor swirled his wine and spoke casually.
"By the way."
His gaze fixed on Justina mid-bite.
"Why'd you invade?"
"..."
The forks slipped powerlessly from Justina's hands.
Clink.
Darcor tilted his head quizzically.
"There must be a reason. You don't strike me as dumb enough to start a war for no cause."
"W-Well..."
Darcor's eyes glinted ominously.
Justina froze, unable to continue.
Varkas's hands halted mid-grill.
His shoulders trembled.
The merry party vibe plunged like ice water had been dumped on it.
Even Eris and Chloe held their breath, gauging the mood.
Darcor didn't press.
He simply sipped his wine, waiting for her to speak.
After a long silence, Justina let out a deep sigh.
She gripped her glass with shaking hands.
"I had no choice..."
Her voice was thick with emotion.
"They said they'd kill us all otherwise."
"Kill you all?"
Darcor's eyebrow twitched with intrigue.
Varkas nodded, chiming in.
"W-We had no choice either. We were just hostages..."
"Who?"
Justina looked up, trembling violently.
Terror filled her eyes.
"Th-That..."
As she struggled to speak,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Karmic conditions fulfilled.] [Hidden quest activated.] Darcor eyed the system window and murmured softly.
A faint smile crept across his lips.
"This oughta be fun..."