16
Chapter 16
I left the Faculty Office immediately after telling them to handle it, but because the conversation had dragged on, I was about ten minutes late.
It was the kind of situation where she might misunderstand and think I was only talking a big game about teaching her.
However, when I arrived, May was already in the middle of sit-ups, drenched in sweat.
As expected, my intuition was spot on.
"Instructor, you're here?"
"I was delayed by some business. But who told you to start your training early?"
"You said yesterday that we'd be doing physical training every day."
"How many do you have left?"
"I finished the push-ups, and I've done twenty-two sit-ups so far. And I did them properly!"
Hmm. Considering the time and her condition, it didn't seem like she had cut corners to take it easy while I was gone.
If she had, she wouldn't have asked me to keep the training going in the first place.
"Carry on."
"Yes, sir!"
I watched May train by her side, just as I had yesterday.
To be honest, I had intended to lower the standards today and overlook a few mistakes, but perhaps because of yesterday's memory, her form remained perfect.
It took longer as a result, but I didn't find myself pushing her as hard as I did yesterday.
It was obvious that her current pace was the best she could do.
Even though the air had grown quite cool, her clothes were soaked with sweat and stained in places, yet May didn't stop.
After finishing the sit-ups, she moved on to squats.
Since squats were relatively easier, her expression softened slightly—though only relatively.
If I made her run immediately like yesterday, she would surely collapse again.
Perhaps because she had made a promise, May started running immediately after finishing her squats.
'I told her I'd teach her properly. At this rate, she's going to pass out again.'
Thinking the same as Ark, I approached May.
After about five laps, I stopped her; she was panting so hard she was practically walking.
"In... Instructor?"
"Let's save the remaining twenty laps for before the lesson ends."
She gasped for air and asked if that was really okay, and when I nodded, her face brightened instantly.
If she pushed any further, she really would have collapsed.
"You may sit... actually, you can just lie down."
"Th... thank you."
The moment the words left my mouth, May flopped onto the grass, limbs sprawled.
Looking at her, I used Subspace Magic.
I began rummaging through the space for something I had in mind, but I couldn't see it.
Did I throw it away?
No, I definitely stored it in the subspace a long time ago... Ah! Found it.
I pulled out a massive jar with a lid, roughly the size of a human torso.
Thud—
"Instructor, what is this?"
The loud noise startled May awake from her sprawl.
"This is a special tonic that this Instructor has prepared for a frail Trainee."
Leaving May with her bewildered expression, I pulled a wooden ladle and a bowl from the subspace.
The moment I opened the lid, a horrific stench hit me, and I instinctively took a step back.
I've smelled this dozens, no, hundreds of times, but I can never get used to it.
"..Is this really a tonic? The... the smell is strange. I don't know what it is, but it smells like it's rot... no, spoiled."
May spoke while pinching her nose, having already scrambled far away from me.
"It's not rotten or spoiled."
I had placed it in the subspace shortly after making it, and since time doesn't flow in the subspace...
This is just how it smells.
'What is that?'
'What do I mean? I mean it's a real tonic.'
And not just any tonic, but the special tonic the Intelligence Agency gives trainees during Black Agent training.
It's common to say that children have better stamina than adults, but Black Agent basic training is far beyond what that can handle.
The reason they can sustain that daily training is precisely thanks to this special tonic from the Intelligence Agency.
The smell and taste are a bit—no, honestly, they're quite bizarre and foul—but the effect is truly outstanding.
It dramatically improves the body's recovery rate and helps with physical strength and growth.
Of course, since May is already twenty, further growth is unlikely, but she can still reap the other benefits.
"Is it really not spoiled?"
Since May seemed genuinely worried, I took a small amount with the ladle and dropped it onto the back of my hand to taste it.
It was only a few drops, but a pungent smell immediately hit me, followed by a hellish harmony of fishy and bitter flavors.
Finally came a piercing sourness that made my tongue tingle.
It wasn't the taste I used to... Actually, maybe it's because it's been so long, but it seems even stronger now.
"The taste is fine."
As I answered, I filled the bowl to the brim with the wooden ladle and handed it to May.
"But In... Instructor, how do you know it's okay from just a little bit?"
"This Instructor also relied heavily on this medicine in my youth. It is precious, so do not spill a drop and drink it all in one go."
May looked like she was about to cry as she took the bowl.
She looked more like she was facing death than she did during training, but as I kept watching her, she pinched her nose and downed it.
"...Blegh... wa... some water, please...."
I pulled out a canteen and handed it to May, who was barely suppressing a gag while looking miserable.
Watching her desperately gulp down the water brought back vivid memories.
When my training instructors first gave me the tonic, I wasn't much different from May.
Among those with weak stomachs, some even vomited it right back up.
Thinking about the old days brought back memories of that tonic.
Was it five or six years ago? There was a time when I wasn't assigned a mission for nearly two months.
But there was no way my cruel boss, Old Man Daph, would just let me rest.
I was dispatched to the training camp to help with the reserve agent training.
While helping the instructors brew the tonic, I accidentally forgot to add the Merina Flower, which reduces the foul taste.
The instructors said if you don't add Merina Flower, no one can drink it and it has to be thrown away, but because I was self-conscious, I said I'd use it for a mission and kept it in my subspace.
"Instructor, is this really meant for humans?"
I could remake it with the Merina Flower, but is that even necessary?
The Merina Flower isn't a medicinal herb, but a seasoning that provides a strong sweetness.
It only slightly reduces the foul taste with sweetness, so the effect wouldn't be much different.
Honestly, it's a hassle.
Remaking it requires quite a few ingredients and needs to be simmered for at least a full day.
"From now on, you will drink one glass before every training session, so stop complaining."
"I... I have to drink this every day?"
Just this afternoon she told me to believe that she could do it, yet now she looks like she's lost everything in the world.
"Where is the resolve you showed me yesterday? Weren't you the trainee who asked to continue the training?"
"T... that's true, but yesterday I didn't know it was this...."
She must really hate it.
"This is the training you chose. Grit your teeth and push through it."
****
A week had already passed since I started teaching May in the supplementary sessions.
"Instructor, I've finished ten laps."
"Ten laps seem to be a breeze for you now."
"It's all thanks to you, Instructor."
It sounded like a mere formality, but seeing her answer with a smile, she really did seem to have some breathing room.
"This Instructor dislikes empty flattery. Since you've grown accustomed to it, we'll add three more laps before the lesson starting next week."
"You increased it by five laps just two days ago, and again?"
"If you do too much before the lesson, won't you have less energy to run at the end? Just catch your breath and begin the Mana Cultivation Method."
Whether it was the effect of the Intelligence Agency's special tonic, her stamina had increased significantly in just one week.
She still couldn't finish the basic physical training in one go, but unlike the beginning, she had grown to the point where she could complete 15 laps after squats without wearing out.
Her speed had improved a lot as well.
I suspect that if she didn't pace herself for the actual lesson, she might even be able to finish all 25 laps.
However, her weaponry skills hadn't improved as much as her physical strength.
May uses both daggers and bows; while she seems to understand the theory well, her body doesn't follow suit.
She had improved slightly thanks to her increased stamina, but the more I taught her, the more I realized her lack of talent.
I stood up and approached May, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She flinched for a moment, but since I had done this several times to check the magic power inside her, she soon focused back on the cultivation method.
The Mana Cultivation Method May learned is the Beluga Mana Cultivation Method, which every Imperial citizen knows.
It was a method revealed to the public by the First Emperor 500 years ago; currently, the Imperial Family and nobility use versions they have researched and improved upon.
Otherwise, it is common to learn the original method from 500 years ago.
Improved versions are far superior in terms of efficiency and stability when gathering magic power, but since they share the same root, one can learn a new method without side effects.
However, Mana Cultivation Methods are strictly managed by the Imperial Family and noble houses, making them difficult to learn.
It's fair to say they are inaccessible unless one becomes part of a noble family through marriage or receives the method as a reward from the Imperial Family for great merit.
Regardless, since I had learned the same method as May, I gave her a few tips I had picked up at the Intelligence Agency.
But there has been no significant change yet.
Of course, it's only been a week, but I don't think there will be much progress even as more time passes.
May's biggest problem is her magic power.
To be more precise, the root of the problem is her Mana Affinity.
When accumulating magic power in the body through a cultivation method, the higher the Mana Affinity, the more magic power can be stored—and May's is quite low.
While not as low as that guy from my past whose affinity converged toward zero, if an average person is a 10, May is around a 2 or 3.
At this level, even entering an academy is difficult.
In fact, even Seinty Academy, let alone Belierad, wouldn't typically accept a trainee like May.
If she were younger, there would be a chance for improvement as she grew, but May is already twenty...
She must have replaced her lack of talent by grinding through time and effort, but as time goes on, the gap can only widen.
It's not that the other trainees aren't putting in effort.
I can see that just by looking next to us.
"Over there! I told you that drawing the bow like that means you'll miss!"
At Instructor Amelia's shout, the trainee hurriedly corrected their posture.
I told her to do as she pleased, but I didn't expect her to go this far.
The day after our conversation, she visited the Dean upon his return from vacation and said she wanted to conduct supplementary lessons as well.
The Dean accepted after hearing the circumstances, and from that day on, Amelia began training trainees who had signed up.
They were all trainees who had given up after training with me.
The Ranger Training Ground isn't exactly small, but training this close is surely meant to pressure me; however, I don't particularly care.
If anything, seeing Amelia training the students with veins popping in her neck makes it seem like she's very conscious of me.
Lost in thought, I realized May had opened her eyes, having finished one cycle.
Though it was a bit early, I told her she could leave since she must be tired.
But instead of greeting me and returning to the dormitory as usual, May lingered.
She looked like she had something to say, and when I asked her, she glanced toward Instructor Amelia and began to speak.
She said that after the practical lesson earlier today, Amelia had called her aside and suggested that she learn from her instead of me...
"So that happened."
I pretended to be calm on the surface, but a bit of irritation began to well up.
I didn't interfere at all when that woman started supplementary lessons for other trainees, yet she tries this kind of trick behind my back?
"Instructor?"
"What is it?"
"Aren't you curious about how I answered?"
"Not really. If you want to learn from Instructor Amelia, I don't mind."
"I told her that I'll keep learning from Instructor Bio."
'See? I told you it was a green light!'
'Shut it.'
I gave Ark a piece of my mind, but I had roughly expected this.
If she had chosen Amelia, she wouldn't be learning from me starting today.
"You would've had it much easier learning from Instructor Amelia. Why stay?"
"I'm already learning from you, so it wouldn't be polite to switch."
"I believe I told you that I don't particularly care about such politeness."
"To be honest, I considered switching for the sake of the tonic, but then I remembered what you said."
"And what was that?"
"Whenever I seemed to struggle or look exhausted, you told me there's no easy path to becoming strong."
Ho, I thought she'd just take it as nagging, but I'm slightly touched that she recalled it in that situation.
"Since I can only take supplementary lessons from you now, you can't give up on me."
I told her to stop talking nonsense and go get some rest, as she spoke with a beaming smile.
I watched her for a moment after she bowed and turned away before looking back.
"Good work, everyone. Tomorrow is the weekend, but supplementary lessons start at 2 PM, so don't forget."
Looks like they're just finishing up over there.
Usually, I'd head straight to the dormitory after sending May off, but not today.
After confirming the trainees were leaving, I approached Amelia, who was tidying up.
"Instructor Amelia, let's have a word."
"What is it?"
"I heard you made an offer to May today."
"And what about it? I only suggested it because I felt bad seeing her subjected to your mindless physical training."
It's so typical of Amelia to be so confident without even realizing what she did wrong.
Even May, who's still a trainee, knew it was impolite.
"I'm not trying to make an issue of it; I just came by to offer some comfort since I heard you got shot down."
"Who said I wanted your comfort? I couldn't care less!"
Ho, that's unexpected.
Normally, she would have gotten excited, turned red, and started rambling, but it seems she's built up a tolerance after being dealt with so often.
"Well, that's a relief then."
"I don't know what words you used to lure the trainee, but it doesn't matter. That girl won't even make it to Greeta anyway."
"Where does this confidence come from? Did you forget how badly you were beaten in that duel last time?"
"Hmph. Someone told me that being skilled doesn't necessarily make someone a good teacher."
Oh, using my own words to attack me; her ability to handle things has definitely improved.
Of course, she's still right in the palm of my hand.
"Then shall we make a bet?"
"What kind of bet?"
"The representative selection for the academy is in two weeks, isn't it? Let's see if the Belliard Academy Ranger representative is May, or one of your students. How about it?"
"Pfft, are you serious? Fine. I have no reason to refuse."
She accepted with a smile immediately; it's almost hollow how easily everything went as expected.
Since there were no witnesses, Amelia demanded an Oath of Mana—where one loses all magic power if the promise is broken—to ensure things were official.
That was exactly what I wanted, so I accepted instantly.
The stake of the bet, as before, was that the loser must grant the winner one wish.
"Since the Dean protects you, I won't wish for you to leave, but you'd better be well-prepared."
Anyone watching would think she'd already won the bet.
"My, how terrifying. By the way, that part about skilled people not necessarily being better teachers—you were quoting me, weren't you?"
"So what? Is there some law that says I can't repeat something you said?"
"Of course not. I still think it's true, but wouldn't a skilled instructor still teach better than someone with no skill at all?"
At first, she just stood there blankly as if she didn't understand, but then her face flushed red as she realized I was mocking her.
"Good luck, then."
After throwing in one last provocation with a smile, I walked away quickly before Amelia could react.