Training Rewards
After two hours of running, Garam collapsed onto the floor of the training ground, gasping for air.
Feeling as though steam were rising from her entire body, she muttered in a voice that sounded like she was on the verge of death.
"I'm dying... I'm really going to die at this rate..."
Her arms and legs refused to listen to her. Even though she tried to move as much as she could, her body felt so heavy that she couldn't budge an inch while lying on the training ground.
Sion looked down at her for a moment, then turned and walked out of the training ground without a word.
"Hey, old man! Where are you going! Come back and carry me out of here!!"
Garam struggled to lift her head and shouted, but Sion didn't look back. As she lay there, unable to move and cursing him under her breath, Sion returned to the training ground carrying something.
It was ice cream.
"......?"
Garam’s eyes widened, her gaze fixed entirely on the treat. Sion tossed it to her with a casual flick of his hand.
"A reward for training well."
"...I'm not a puppy, you know."
Despite her grumbling, she caught it easily, tore open the wrapper, and began to eat it with gusto.
The cool, sweet taste of the ice cream quenched the burning heat in her body. Soon, she was shivering with pure, unadulterated happiness.
Garam took a massive bite and shuddered with joy.
"Haaa... I'm saved. I've truly returned from the dead... Old man, this isn't just a reward, it's a lifeline. A literal lifeline."
Sion stood beside her, pulled out one for himself, and took a quiet bite. His expression remained stoic, but the corners of his mouth were turned up ever so slightly.
"It’s not like it’s worth making such a fuss over."
"It’s not a fuss, it’s the truth. You saved me! ...Ah, no, wait. To be precise, you almost killed me, and then saved me again with ice cream."
Sion glared at her playfully at her teasing remark.
"I've been feeling this since yesterday, but you sure talk a lot."
"I think it’s just that you talk an abnormally small amount."
Garam grinned and took another large bite of her ice cream. The exhaustion from her training had vanished as if it had never been there.
"Still, I do feel proud of myself."
"About what?"
"I’m enduring training led by the legendary killer Null, aren't I? Don't you think so?"
Sion, who had tossed his empty wrapper into the trash, retorted.
"Judging by the way you talk, it sounds like you’re ready for more training."
"I apologize. I won't get cocky just because I did well today."
Garam tucked her tail between her legs the moment he suggested more training. Sion let out a soft laugh and opened his mouth.
"...For a kid, you're doing well."
"Oh? I thought you wouldn't give me any praise at all, but you actually said something for once."
"Only while you're still a kid. Once you step into the industry, I’ll never praise you for doing well."
"Yeah, yeah. I bet you wouldn't."
Garam seemed to brush off his words, lying back down on the floor and stretching her arms out to the sides.
"Huu... well, a compliment is a compliment, so I'm satisfied."
"Don't get complacent just because you heard one compliment. What you're doing right now is merely basic physical conditioning."
"I know. I know I still have a long way to go."
In truth, Garam had begun to accurately gauge her own level. At the training facility, she had thought her skills were superior while watching the other children, but ever since meeting Sion, she had clearly realized the gap between her and a top-tier killer.
"But still, I got recognized by you, didn't I? By the S-class killer Null."
"...That's true. At the very least, I think your effort and persistence are worth praising."
"Hehe. Then that's enough for me."
Garam laughed mischievously, then sat up and asked.
"By the way, old man. Are you planning on just paying me in ice cream from now on?"
"If you're that happy with just one ice cream, is there really a need to do anything more?"
"That's cheap... seriously cheap. You're a legendary killer, but trying to bribe me with ice cream is just pathetic."
"It’s efficient. It’s cheap, and the effects are immediate."
"Ah, efficiency again! Are you really just a machine that only knows efficiency?"
"It’s thanks to that efficiency that I’ve survived in this industry."
It was a statement from a legendary killer, so she couldn't exactly argue with it. In the end, instead of pressing the issue, Garam puffed out her cheeks and muttered grumpily.
"...You're a man with absolutely no human warmth."
"Do you want to run away from home?"
"Ugh. You're being so incredibly petty to a kid."
As Garam pouted, Sion closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them slowly and placed his hand on her head, stroking it gently.
"You did well today. Good work."
"Wh-what... why are you praising me again all of a sudden?"
"I said I'd pay you in ice cream, but I'll give you a real reward next time. If you keep working as consistently as you did today."
Garam’s eyes sparkled.
"What kind of reward? Food?"
Instead of answering, Sion pulled a small box from his pocket and held it out to her. Inside were simple bandages, gauze, and a miniature emergency kit.
"...You aren't seriously giving me this as a reward, are you?"
"I'm giving it to you so you can treat yourself when you get hurt, since training is going to get tougher from here on out. If you work hard without taking a single day off until next month... I'll buy you some meat."
"Meat? Waaaaah...!"
Garam jumped up and shouted. But immediately, she asked with a suspicious look.
"Wait. You aren't lying to make me train harder, are you?"
"Why would I do that? How much could a bit of meat cost?"
"Then make sure it's Hanwoo. I want to eat Hanwoo, beef."
"Alright. But if you skip even a single day of training, you won't get it."
"You don't have to worry! Now that I have a goal, I’m confident I’ll work really hard."
With the reward set as beef, Garam clenched her fists, full of motivation. Sion chuckled and patted her on the back.
"Good. Go ahead and do your best."
"Yeah! For my beef!!"
"Honestly, you’re probably the only killer who endures training just to eat beef."
"What are other people usually like?"
"Usually, they do it to survive."
The atmosphere turned abruptly somber at those words. As Garam quietly shut her mouth, Sion tapped her head lightly, stood up, and held out his hand.
"Get up. Let's go wash up."
"Ugh... my legs still won't move."
"If it's that hard, do you want me to carry you?"
"Oh, a kind killer old man."
"...If you're going to talk like that, I won't carry you."
"But it's true that you were kind just now."
With a smile returning to her lips, Garam pushed off her trembling legs and barely managed to stand. Sion knelt down and let her climb onto his back.
"Haa...!"
The moment she was on his back, Garam wrapped her arms tightly around his shoulders.
Was it because she had no strength left? Or was it because of the fact that she was being protected?
Garam felt that the back she was leaning on was much more reliable than she had imagined.
"Wow... this is more comfortable than I thought?"
"Don't move around so much. You're heavy."
"What are you talking about, saying a kid like me is heavy?"
Sion raised one corner of his mouth and replied briefly.
"Even if you're a kid, if you can pull your own weight, you're never light."
"...? What does that mean?"
"Think about it when you grow up later."
Garam tilted her head and blinked her eyes on Sion’s shoulder.
"You're just trying to sound cool and brushing it off again. That's your specialty, old man."
Sion didn't respond. Instead, he walked on in silence, adjusting his grip on Garam as she slumped against him.
"Huu... I think I'm really going to fall asleep. Like, if I rest my head here, I'll pass out."
"That's because your body has reached its limit. You're sleeping because you can't endure any more."
"......"
Garam listened to his words blankly for a moment, then muttered in a low voice.
"...Strangely, I think it's because I feel safe on your back."
Sion’s footsteps faltered ever so slightly. But soon, he continued walking as if nothing had happened and said.
"It might be like this now, but in the future, you have to know how to protect yourself. That's the only way to survive in this world."
"Yeah... I know. But today, I just... want to leave it to you."
Her voice grew increasingly drowsy, and before long, Garam had truly fallen asleep. Her steady breathing against his shoulder reached his ears.
Back home, Sion glanced at Garam’s face for a moment.
It felt strange to see the child who had been grumbling and making noise all day sleeping so peacefully.
"Sleep well. Hopefully, without any bad dreams."
At Sion’s quiet whisper, Garam’s breathing became even more rhythmic.
She no longer looked like a child struggling to endure, but rather like an ordinary girl who had safely finished her day.
Sion looked around the room where Garam was lying one last time and closed the door. Then, he walked away quietly and muttered.
"Tomorrow... it will be a bit tough, but I believe you'll do well."