Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Afternoon Training and Dungeon Return
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"How do you feel?"
"Pardon? Ah... I slept so deeply..."
In truth, there wasn't much need to massage Ethan's body.
Just lying in bed amid the warm sunlight and floral scents had already started restoring his body rapidly.
All I did was gently press on his tense muscles with hands infused with internal energy to loosen them up.
That alone sent him into a peaceful sleep, and when he woke, he was fully refreshed.
Ethan slowly rotated his arms a few times, then exclaimed in surprise.
"It really feels better!"
It had to feel better.
Though I wasn't sure how much was due to me.
I nodded exaggeratedly on purpose and said,
"Yeah, it's a special massage I only give to close friends. Got it?"
"Yes!"
Ethan's mouth corners twitched upward, thrilled to receive a massage reserved for close friends.
The other knights in the order, excluding Dana, only ever teased him, so this treatment must have felt extra special.
Judging by that expression, he was itching to brag—maybe he'd spread the word on his own?
"...Alright, time to head out for afternoon training."
"Yes!"
Glancing out the window, the sky was already tinged orange.
The knights might return any moment, so it was best to train in front of the lodging to show off.
It wouldn't do to get caught skipping morning training and lounging around with Ethan all lunch.
We had to emphasize that we'd trained diligently from morning till evening.
"Hiya!"
As if to back up my thinking, Ethan stepped outside and immediately swung his sword vigorously.
He still had plenty of rough edges, inevitably.
But yesterday's clumsiness was gone.
Maybe because I'd demonstrated sword swings for him, he now faintly resembled proper swordsmanship forms.
Not bad for the first day of training.
So I told him to stop swinging the sword.
This wasn't the stage for that yet.
"Let's build up your basic stamina first."
I had Ethan do exactly three exercises.
Squats, sit-ups, and push-ups.
Of course, plenty of other exercises would help him, but I decided to start with these representative bodyweight movements for building strength.
Ethan struggled at first with the unfamiliar forms and poor posture, but after just a few corrections, he was performing them perfectly.
"Huff... Why am I so out of breath...?"
Yet Ethan, maintaining that perfect form, panted in confusion as he exercised.
These three exercises had that reputation.
Among bodyweight routines, they were fairly high-intensity, so proper form quickly drained stamina and stimulated the muscles without needing long sessions.
With Ethan's current condition, he'd feel it even more acutely.
He seemed flustered by the realization.
"Do as many as you can per set, four sets total."
"Yes!"
Showing him swordsmanship and teaching one modern exercise routine.
That alone should be enough to grow him.
He was the protagonist, after all.
Clank, clank.
"Hm?"
I turned toward the sound.
Thumping footsteps mixed with the scrape and clash of metal.
That steady rhythm drew my eyes automatically.
From the entrance, a group of knights in black armor approached slowly, like rolling black mist.
The Black Knight Order had returned.
Knight Captain Dana greeted me with a faint smile instead of words, and I nodded lightly back without speaking.
The knights following her waved or called out greetings as they saw me.
The odd part? Aside from Dana, they were all covered in dirt on their armor, breathing heavily in exhaustion.
What happened?
"Hm? What's that move?"
Knight Captain Dana asked, eyeing Ethan doing squats on the dirt ground.
"Stamina training."
"Does sitting and standing like that really count as training? At least with weights..."
Good point.
Once Ethan's base stamina built up, I planned to make him barbells.
Then he'd be the first in this world to measure the big three lifts.
Dana watched the exercise, curiosity piqued, then mimicked it herself.
Legs slightly wider than shoulder-width, hips back, squatting deep before rising slowly.
Perfect form.
She repeated a few squats, then nodded.
"Not enough stimulus for me, but not bad."
"...I'll make some barbells... I mean, weights."
"Sure, do that."
I turned down her offer to fund it from the order's coffers.
I had plenty of money anyway.
The order's entire funds probably matched what I had.
In the distance, knights murmured, imitating the squat Ethan and Dana had done.
Some started for fun, then got serious once they felt the effects.
I gazed at the open space in front of the lodging.
Should I turn this into a little outdoor gym?
Stronger Black Knight Order was nothing but good for me.
No way the whole order turns into gym buffs, right?
Lost in thought, I approached Ethan, now collapsed on the ground in exhaustion.
"K-Knight..."
"That's enough. Rest."
He tried staggering to his feet as I neared, so I waved him down.
First days were always like this.
I told his shaking legs to stay seated.
Consistency was key.
Overdoing it day one and skipping tomorrow would defeat the purpose.
His legs looked rough—upper body focus tomorrow.
Then a woman approached us.
Cecil.
"Haa..."
With a deep sigh, she placed a hand on my shoulder.
Even with my considerable height, her model-like stature made it possible.
"What happened?"
I'd been wondering about everyone's filthy armor—except Dana's—and their near-collapse expressions.
Cecil jumped at the chance, spilling the story.
Listening quietly, I murmured a word from her tale.
"...Dungeon?"
"Yeah, a dungeon. A massive one."
At "dungeon," Cecil sighed, scratching her red hair.
Her way of venting frustration.
"I thought this year would be easy..."
I recalled the original story, ignoring her pout.
Dungeons were one of the most crucial locations there too.
Where the protagonist grew, and later monsters escaped, endangering the captain.
Story-critical spot.
I wondered when it'd appear, but so early?
"...How tough is conquering it?"
"Beyond tough. You need Dana's level just to fight."
She recounted how ten knights tackled one dirt golem.
That explained the dirt caking them—golem remnants.
They took it down, at least.
Golem, huh.
Hard to imagine the strength.
"S-Such a dangerous dungeon..."
Ethan glanced worriedly at Dana.
Freting over the strongest here.
"Dana plans to report it up top anyway. Can't conquer without reinforcements."
Cecil sighed deeply.
"...Reinforcements will come properly this time, right? Last time they sent one geezer knight..."
Unlike her worries, perfect reinforcements were coming.
I knew from the original.
Skill no issue—personality was.
"Whew, body aches. Need rest."
After venting, Cecil looked relieved, watching knights head to rooms one by one before following.
As she stretched, rotating her shoulders, Ethan spoke to me.
"Won't you give Cecil a massage too?"
"Massage? Suddenly? This guy?"
Ethan's finger pointed at me.
Cecil's face twisted in disbelief.
"You do massages?"
"...A little?"
"How do you know? Did he give you one?"
"Huh? Yeah... He said only for close friends..."
"Whoa, hey! Why not me then?"
She appealed to me with a betrayed, indignant look.
I hadn't expected Ethan to play along so perfectly and stammered,
"...Uh, want one?"
"Perfect! My body's killing me!"
At my offer, Cecil eagerly showcased her stiff shoulders.
I told Ethan training was done for today—rest well—then headed to my room with Cecil.
She gasped in admiration at my completely revamped room, oblivious to what might unfold.