028. Demonstration Lesson (6)
Even right after the incident that would send ripples through the entire academy,
Zeke resumed the lesson with a perfectly calm face.
The principal watched for a bit before sighing and heading off to check on the second prince.
"Rested enough? Then let's move on to arm muscle training."
For the rest of the time, Zeke wrung out the students like squeezing a dry rag.
Even Serena glared at him with furrowed brows.
She and all the other trainees stared daggers at him, as if he were their lifelong enemy.
But after witnessing him crush the second prince with a single baguette right in front of them, who would have the will to rebel?
They cursed him inwardly a thousand times over, calling him a bastard they'd tear apart,
but their bodies were honest in the face of that baguette.
With no choice, the students moved like corpses under his guidance.
And so the training wrapped up.
"H-Hell... like hell..."
"Ughhh... My feet, my feet won't move."
"Instructor Dios... I miss you."
"Me too. I don't even know what he looks like, but I miss him like my mom..."
It was the first day of academy classes, so whether commoner or noble, they'd all put effort into their appearances.
But those efforts meant nothing now.
The kids' hair stuck out wildly,
sweat streamed down their faces,
and their crisp new training uniforms were caked in sweat and dirt.
Serena Yohayden was no exception.
This every day!?
Northern noble. Northern noble. She'd only heard the words.
What kind of hell was that place? The training made her curious about its true nature.
Serena shuddered at the realization that pushing her body this hard could yield such results.
With less muscle mass and athleticism than men to begin with,
and no innate talent, it was an unavoidable gap from birth.
She'd accepted that disadvantage early and steeled herself for it,
so with sheer willpower, she'd managed to endure the class to the end.
Of course, enduring it didn't mean she'd performed well.
The other two commoner girls had long since burst into tears and fled the training grounds.
Now, Serena was the only girl left.
Still, if I keep this up, I can get strong. As strong as any man.
Serena hadn't forgotten Zeke's words or his promise.
She already knew how incredible he was, so this must be the ascetic path to that strength.
Right. I need this class to become a knight. The instructor isn't doing this to ruin me.
Serena steeled her resolve again.
In truth, the second prince Rosnante's defeat at Zeke's hands hadn't shocked her much.
Get thoroughly thrashed by a flower once, and anyone would end up like that.
Especially with that brutal(?) weapon in his hands.
"Good work, everyone. Class dismissed. Head home."
At Zeke's words ending the lesson, the students erupted in cheers.
"M-Mommy!!!"
"Freedom at last!!!!"
"Sob, I'm not the crying type, but tears are coming out."
"Hey, help me up. My calf's cramping."
Leaning on each other, souls half-drained, the students staggered away.
Only Serena and Zeke remained on the training grounds.
Serena struggled to her feet and called out to him.
"Instructor."
"Yeah."
"Shall we go too?"
"Sure."
Serena had a lot she wanted to say,
but for now, she decided to just head home together.
Thud. Thud.
Zeke walked ahead, but Serena stayed rooted, unmoving.
He glanced back.
"What?"
"I-Instructor."
Her voice trembled; she had something to say.
"M-My body won't move..."
With class over and tension released,
her body, forced to move during training, had completely given out.
Ah.
Zeke strode over to her.
He supported her calves and back with his arms and scooped her up.
The classic princess carry—the one Eric had shown the second prince.
"W-Wait!"
Serena's face turned beet red.
"Bear with it even if it's unpleasant. Your body won't cooperate, so I'll give you a massage tonight too."
"A m-massage!?"
"Yeah. After using unused muscles, relaxing them is as important as the training itself."
"Th-That... To Eily!"
"No. I have to do it."
An amateur like that? Massaging with a bit of mana... Yeah, that could work.
Serena wanted to stomp her feet in embarrassment and shame, but her body wouldn't budge.
Carrying her like that, Zeke thudded toward the academy gates,
when a shadow slinked away in the distance.
Narrowing his eyes, he caught sight of red hair fleeing.
Tatata!
Hm? Iriel Yustia...? Spying...? Guess I should check on her soon. Need to carve that filter into her body, clean up the back-alley scum, and her too... Sigh, so much shit to do. ...Three classes a week... Not bad?
*
I'm starving!
They say overtraining kills your appetite, but that was a lie.
If anything, using up all her body's energy had left her ravenous.
Back at the mansion in Zeke's arms, Serena immediately ordered a meal.
"Kitchen, prepare two servings of something ready to eat."
"Yes, milady."
She called Zeke to dine together.
He even brought bread to the table.
Having been stabbed by it a few times, Serena flinched.
"I-Instructor? Why that...?"
"Gonna eat it."
"That thing!?"
Zeke nodded.
He took an empty plate from the waiting maid,
swiped his fingers a few times as usual,
and neat slices of baguette piled up on the plate.
"You're... really gonna eat that?"
"Yeah. Waste not, want not."
"Even so..."
Serena gaped at the baguette, used all day to beat kids, now Zeke's dinner.
But to Zeke, it was perfectly natural.
In a dark fantasy world, proper food was rare.
Finding maggot-ridden animal meat sparked a festival.
Parasites? Just seasoning adding nutrition to the meal.
For Zeke, who'd starved and eaten dirt until acquiring magic resistance in year five and could hunt monsters,
tossing food with a bit of dust or sweat was unthinkable.
He dipped the bread in freshly made pokala sauce.
Munch munch—
"Hm, not bad."
Bread hardens over time,
but whether it was Hilais Bakery's secret, the inside stayed fluffy and chewy.
It better not harden. That'd make it a weapon.
That was why he'd demanded fresh bread from Soy Spoon every morning.
"Mm..."
Watching Zeke with complicated eyes, Serena thought,
I should ask Father to increase northern aid funds.
From their first meeting, he was penniless—no money, home, or memories.
Eating that bread crusted with students' sweat and training ground dirt like it was delicious... It tugged at her heart.
How hard had he lived!
No memories either!
Probably a habit etched into his body.
A heartbreaking sight, but Serena decided not to pity him.
Right. I need to appreciate my food more too.
With that thought, even her usual meal tasted better.
She slipped a piece of meat onto Zeke's plate.
"Hm? Thanks."
"Eat up. As much as you want."
"Yeah."
After dinner, Serena returned to her room.
"Eily, water ready?"
"Yes, you can go right in."
With Eily's help, she bathed.
Soaking in warm water finally made her feel alive.
"Aghhh..."
Muscle pain drew groans from her lips.
"Kyaa! What is this? Bruises everywhere!"
"It's fine..."
Serena replied in a dying voice.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
"Y-Yeah. It's okay."
"From Instructor Zeke today, right? He's too much!"
"Yeah..."
"How was it?"
How was it?
Suddenly, Serena wanted to pour out a 5,700-character essay to Eily about her ordeal.
"Just... haven't used my body like this in a while, so some soreness. The bruises are unavoidable training with the boys."
"Lady Serena..."
But she didn't want the mansion staff badmouthing Zeke, so she swallowed her words.
"Nothing happened."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Lady Serena, Instructor Zeke Clayman is here to see you."
A maid's voice from outside the bath.
Massage!!!!
"O-Oh! I'll be out soon! Tell him to come back in an hour?"
"Yes, milady."
Hearing the reply, Serena turned back.
"Eily, before that— that natural-look makeup technique, five variations done?"
"Hehe. Leave it to me."
Eily rolled up her sleeves with a confident smile.
An hour later.
Zeke knocked again.
Her voice invited him in.
He'd stayed over a month, but this was his first time in Serena's room.
A pleasant scent wafted as he entered.
Oh, the room feels just like Serena. Ah, that flower scent from before.
Sky blue and white blended for a cool, refreshing vibe,
with purple accents for a clean touch.
Flickering candles created a mystical, dreamy atmosphere.
No ostentation despite being a duke's daughter's room.
A large window showed the outside view.
As Zeke entered,
Serena fidgeted and spoke up.
"Um... I-Instructor..."
"Yeah."
"Visiting a lady's room late at night is a huge breach of etiquette. Usually, you send word and meet outside or in the parlor."
Serena sat on the bed, knees hugged, glancing up at him.
Huh? But didn't you come to my room late at night before?
He'd thought it fine, but apparently men didn't visit women's rooms.
"Oh, is that so? Sorry. Then tomorrow..."
"W-Wait! I'm telling you not to do that with other ladies! You and I are different!"
"Hm? How so?"
"W-Well... Right! Master and disciple! It's fine between us!"
Of course, it wasn't fine.
She hadn't mentioned it in etiquette lessons because it was basic common sense.
But Zeke seemed to have forgotten even that due to amnesia.
Stings my conscience a bit... Hmph! Whatever! It's just a master loosening his disciple's muscles! Yeah. Yeah.
Serena nodded.
She was the only girl in his class anyway.
No other woman could endure that grueling training.
"Alright, let's start the massage. Lie face down there."
At Zeke's words, Serena turned and lay prone.
Now, a man's hands would touch parts of her body untouched by anyone.
Realizing that anew, her heart pounded wildly.
Uwaaaah!! Is my outfit okay!?
Zeke's touch reached her toes.
Rugged, masculine hands. Yet delicate and caring.
Squeeze.
His fingers coolly kneaded the center of her sole.
Entrusting her feet to someone was embarrassing,
but it felt mysteriously intimate, like they truly cared.
Ah, feels good.
His hands slowly climbed her sole to her calf.
Eek! Not there!
Twitch.
Her body jerked like a spasm.
"Hm, really knotted."
"Haaaang... Hup!"
A moan escaped; she clamped her mouth with both hands.
His touch ignited her body with desperate heat.
Yeah, mana makes it effective.
But no lewd intent from his fingertips.
Just pure professional intent to relieve her.
Ugh. Kinda frustrating, but it really feels goooood... Eek!?
Suddenly, fingers dug deep into her calf like piercing through.
She bit her lip to endure, but a scream burst out.
"Aaaah!!! I-Instructor!!! G-Gently, gently!!! It huuuurts!!!"
"Endure it. It hurts at first. You'll get used to it and feel better."
"I'm dyiiiing!!!"
"It's fine. Trust me."
"Haa! Haat!!!!"
"Change position."
"Ah! Ah! Aah!! Not there, not th-there!!"
"Lift your hips a bit."
"Mmph!"
At the sound, Eily outside covered her face and slumped, cheeks burning.
W-What do I do!! I suspected a little when he carried her in today! B-But already this far!!! What if the duke finds out!!!
Serena's moans and Zeke's deep, calming voice
intermingled from the bedroom, echoing long.
Eily pressed her ear to the door till the end.
Gulp. She swallowed.
Instructor Zeke Clayman... Looks so proper, but lasts this long... And likes tormenting...
Gradually, Serena's moans shifted from pain to pleasure, breaths leaking out.
"Haa. Haa. Ah! Th-There, yes. Instructor."
"Lady Serena... So innocent... yet so naturally gifted..."