13
Chapter 13
When I returned from dinner at the dining hall, the faculty office was empty.
Normally, I would have headed straight to the dormitory after eating, but I came back since today was the first makeup class.
Every day for two hours, from 7:30 to 9:30 PM.
No breaks on the weekends.
Four hours each on both Saturday and Sunday.
The only choice the instructor in charge of the makeup classes has is choosing between morning or afternoon slots.
However, I wasn't particularly worried.
'Can't you just tell me now? The makeup class is starting soon.'
'There's not much time left, so you can just see it for yourself.'
'If you keep this up, I might just read your memories...'
'Go ahead and try. I'll immediately take a leave of absence and go get a Special Blessing.'
A blessing from a typical priest can lift a curse.
Of course, I know now that Ark isn't exactly a curse, but a Special Blessing from a priest of Cardinal rank or higher is a different story.
A Special Blessing removes everything a human isn't born with, excluding magic power.
Curses, bodily toxins, and even mental brainwashing magic—everything vanishes.
You need the right connections and a wicked sum of 50,000 gold, but since I have the money from selling that artifact, I can afford to bite the bullet once.
'Would it kill you to tell me? You're always threatening me.'
Of course, I have no actual intention of getting a Special Blessing.
Ark can be loud and annoying at times, but the fact remains that he's helpful.
To be honest, it's also a waste of money.
I just use it as a threat because I hate the idea of him reading my memories whenever he feels like it.
"Isn't Instructor Bio off work? You usually leave early, so you must have a lot on your plate today."
Nordic, the 2nd Year Swordsmanship Instructor who shares the desk next to mine, spoke to me as he stood up.
Since our desks are close and he's less authoritarian than the other instructors, I get along with him reasonably well.
"I have makeup classes starting today."
Is he leaving?
I'm jealous.
"Ah! Was the makeup class starting today? Good luck with that."
Look at this guy.
It sounded like a normal conversation on the surface, but he was clearly mocking me.
He must have been very envious of how early I usually get off work.
'Aren't you leaving yet?'
Checking the time, I realized it was truly time to go.
I grabbed the list of applicants for the makeup class and left the faculty office.
Looking at the list on my way to the training ground, I saw that there were as many as twenty-five applicants.
Tsk, I clearly warned them not to apply on a whim, but since I didn't set a limit, a ridiculous number of them signed up.
When I arrived at the training ground, everyone was already waiting, so I gathered them around me.
"Before we begin the actual lessons, I have a few announcements for the trainees."
Perhaps because I mentioned I wouldn't make them do self-study like the theory classes, they all had expectant looks in their eyes.
"While there were no limits on applications, the purpose of these makeup classes is to prepare for the Greeta competition, so I cannot accommodate trainees who cannot keep up."
I felt like I'd said something similar when we first spoke, but the crowd began to stir.
"Does that mean if we can't keep up, we'll be kicked out of the makeup class?"
"Sounds like it."
"Quiet, everyone. I will now explain the training process. After assisting Instructor Amelia with the mid-term evaluation tests, I've concluded that your stamina is abysmal. Therefore, we will conduct basic physical training at the start of every session."
At the mention of basic physical training, they all looked confident, as if wondering what the problem could possibly be.
I had just told them their stamina was abysmal, yet they were so naive.
"We will start with 100 push-ups, followed by 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and finally, twenty-five laps around the training ground."
No sooner had I finished speaking than groans erupted from all directions.
I suppose they'd heard that physical training was part of the practical classes, but they didn't expect something this absurd.
"Quiet. I'm not finished. The use of magic power is strictly forbidden during physical training."
Normally, one would use magic power to reinforce the body and supplement a lack of stamina, but that would defeat the purpose of the training.
"Isn't this too much?"
"How are we supposed to do all that without magic...?"
Complaints poured in immediately, but I replied without so much as a blink.
"You're more than welcome to give up if you can't handle it."
'Isn't this a bit too much?'
Is this really all it is?
This training was the basic course for Black Agent training.
I had done it as naturally as breathing since I was twelve.
I thought people would drop out in droves due to the absurd physical demands, but surprisingly, no trainee left immediately.
'These trainees are quite passionate. Now that I think about it, did you not mention it because you thought it would be a disaster?'
Ark sneered, but I wondered if that was truly the case.
'This is where it really begins.'
As I looked over the trainees who had diligently started their push-ups, I spotted my first prey.
"Second trainee from the left, your form is poor."
"What?"
"Your chest didn't touch the ground. Do you think you can train like that? Start over from the beginning."
If they wouldn't give up, I'd just keep pushing them until they did.
"Trainee at the far right back, your form is poor."
"I did it correctly!"
"Don't talk back to your instructor. Who told you to use momentum during sit-ups? Start over from the beginning!"
As I nitpicked each one and made them repeat the sets, the reaction finally started to surface.
"I can't do this."
"Me neither."
"There's no need to tell me individually. If you feel you can't do it, just leave on your own."
Aside from the two whining trainees, four more stood up and left the training ground immediately.
Perfect.
Oh, some of them have already moved on to squats.
"You there, drop your hips lower. Do you think you're actually stimulating the muscles with those shallow movements?"
A trainee who had been doing reasonably well scowled and walked straight out.
After that, I continued to point out the students' posture.
As a result, more than ten people had given up before thirty minutes had even passed.
'Cruel guy.'
'If they can't even do this, they'll be eliminated before the finals anyway. No point in wasting their effort, right?'
"Third from the back on the left, poor form! Start over from the beginning!"
After about ten more minutes, only five trainees remained at the training ground.
More remained than I expected.
It was because the trainees began to focus more on accurate posture after being corrected several times.
Eventually, two trainees finished their squats and were about to start the final run.
Both looked utterly exhausted.
"Are you two resting now?"
"Only the run is left."
"If we just rest for a bit before running..."
"Start now. Also, I will be running with you."
Both wore expressions as if they were about to die, but when I asked if they'd rather start over from the beginning, they set off immediately.
Tsk, tsk. I knew they would.
They started because I pressured them, but they were walking at a pace that was embarrassing to witness.
"What are you trainees doing?"
"My... my legs won't..."
They looked like they were dying, but I showed no mercy.
"Your legs what? Did I tell you to walk, or did I tell you to run? Run!"
As I yelled and pressured them, the two who were reluctantly running left the training ground together before even completing a single lap.
When I returned to the center of the training ground, only one trainee remained.
There had definitely been three trainees who finished the previous steps before the run, but the other two must have given up after seeing me nag them while running.
'Is this really okay?'
'I really want to teach them, but what can I do if they can't keep up? Ah, what a shame.'
Ark went silent, seemingly fed up.
I told you I had a plan, didn't I?
Now, once I get rid of one more person, I'm finally free from this makeup class.
Moreover, the last trainee remaining is May Levi.
As the only person to get a perfect score on the mid-term, her written skills are superb, but her practicals are a disaster.
She's slower than the others and has only just started her squats.
Truth be told, she is slow, but I also think I made her repeat them a few times because of her form.
Seeing her drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, I figured I just had to wait a little longer.
"Trainee,"
"I... I'm doing the form correctly."
She's certainly slow, but her form is solid.
"You're too slow. Do you plan on staying here all night?"
"I'm sorry. I'll finish quickly."
She picked up the pace when I pressured her, but her breathing became even more labored.
How unexpected.
She looked so exhausted that I thought she'd give up immediately, but May stubbornly pushed through all 100 squats.
'She's quite the tenacious one.'
Tell me about it.
Honestly, it's exhausting just watching.
While I was chatting with Ark, May retied her shoelaces and started her run.
It wasn't really running; it was more like a brisk walk compared to the first group.
I considered running alongside her to pressure her, but it looked like she'd give up on her own soon enough.
'Is she actually going to collapse?'
'She's not a small child; would she really push herself to the point of fainting? She'll just quit when she's had enough.'
I tried to wait in my chair, but wow, she's hanging in there despite looking like she's on the verge of falling.
Thinking she wouldn't make it, I was about to get up and apply some pressure when I sensed a presence behind me.
I turned around to see Instructor Amelia approaching from a distance, her face twisted in a deep scowl.
"Instructor Amelia? What brings you here?"
"Instructor Bio, follow me this instant. We need to talk."
Her voice was practically dripping with ice.
It was obvious that the trainees who had quit had gone to her to whine.
It happened a bit sooner than I expected, but I had naturally foreseen this.
"Understood. Lead the way."
I left the training ground with Amelia and headed toward the Main Stadium.
"What on earth do you think you're doing right now?"
"What do you mean? I was just conducting the Greeta prep makeup class that was forced upon me."
"No matter how much you hate the job, how could you run training in such a manner?"
"Pardon?"
"Don't play dumb. I've already heard the full story from the trainees."
Just as I thought.
"And what exactly did you hear?"
"Are you really asking? The trainees are in an uproar, claiming the instructor in charge is blindly forcing them through meaningless physical training!"
She seemed genuinely furious, but then again, who told her to dump all this work on me?
"Blindly, huh... I don't think I asked for anything particularly difficult. I believe you're far too caught up in the trainees' complaints."
When I stood my ground, Instructor Amelia looked at me with an expression of sheer disbelief.
"You call that a reasonable explanation? One hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, one hundred squats, and twenty-five laps—that's nearly 10km. If that's not brutal training, then what is?"
"It's basic physical training. From what I understand, physical training is also part of the practical classes, isn't it?"
"I don't force them to do it as brutally as you do!"
"Is that so? No wonder the trainees' stamina was so abysmal."
"How are they supposed to do that using pure physical strength with magic power forbidden?"
"Why wouldn't they be able to?"
I'd been doing that as naturally as breathing since I was twelve.
"Are you saying that you can actually do it?"
"Now, why would I make the trainees do something I can't? There's no way they could achieve something that I myself couldn't handle, right?"
"T... then why don't you demonstrate it yourself? The trainees said you just made them do it without showing them how."
...This is becoming a hassle.
But I can't back down here.
"Fine. I'll do it right now."
As soon as I spoke, I quickly knocked out the push-ups, sit-ups, and squats.
Since I was wearing the prosthetic arm made by the Magic Tower, I deliberately used only my left arm so she wouldn't complain that I had an unfair advantage.
It took about ten minutes, but I wasn't entirely satisfied with my pace since it had been a while.
I feel like I used to finish them faster back then.
"You'll join me for the run, right?"
"What?"
"You'll need to run with me to make sure I'm not using magic power, won't you?"
"I... I can detect magic power from here..."
"It's boring to run alone, so let's go together. After all, you're the one who asked for a demonstration."
"F... fine."
"The Main Stadium is slightly larger than the Ranger Training Ground, but twenty-five laps is still twenty-five laps. Sound good?"
I didn't want to go back to the Ranger Training Ground, because she might find some way to claim I rested during the walk there.
I have to prove flawlessly that it's possible so she can't say a word.
"You're saying you'll run twenty-five laps right now?"
"You're the one who wanted to see. Let's go."
I started sprinting the moment the words left my mouth.
Amelia seemed taken aback for a moment, but she soon began to chase after me.
I took the first lap as a light warm-up, and as expected of a Practical Instructor, she kept up well.
Time to pick up the pace, then.
I haven't maintained myself as strictly as I did during my active days, but I've trained whenever I had the chance.
Besides, when I was training as a Black Agent, the running courses were mountains.
A flat surface like this is child's play.
I continued to increase my speed with every lap.
Amelia, who had been keeping up quite well, gradually began to fall behind.
By the tenth lap, I had gained a full lap on her.
"Are you struggling?"
"..."
"Instructor Amelia?"
"S... stop talking to me!"
"You're already a lap behind. If it's too hard, why not just give up? I'm moving on."
When I teased her, she grit her teeth and chased after me; she certainly has grit.
Grit is better than nothing, but you can't do everything with grit alone.
In the end, by the time I finished the final twenty-fifth lap, there was nearly a three-lap difference.
Taking a breather, I asked Ark how long it took: 30 minutes and 40 seconds.
Back in my prime, I always finished the run in under 30 minutes. I guess time catches up to everyone.
While cooling down, I saw Amelia running toward me in the distance.
"I've been waiting quite a while. Oh, do you still have three laps left?"
Normally, she would have snapped back, but instead, Amelia simply collapsed onto the ground.
Then again, it wasn't exactly easy for me either.
Furthermore, Amelia hadn't used any magic power manipulation, just as I hadn't.
"You really should have just used some magic power manipulation."
She had followed me to keep watch, so it wouldn't have mattered if she used magic. Was she actually trying to compete with me?
She must have felt the gap in our abilities during our last duel. Tsk, tsk.
Honestly, it's not even stubbornness at this point—it's pure recklessness.
"Haa... how can you... not be tired..."
"Are you asking if I'm a good runner?"
Amelia nodded with a look of frustration.
I was a bit exhausted myself, but I smiled and answered nonchalantly.
"I've done this as naturally as breathing."