A Repayment That Took My Breath Away
The lady's repayment was bigger than my lungs. I seriously thought I was gonna die.
Really.
They'd gathered us students for "basic physical training," but that shit was anything but basic.
Sandbags strapped to both feet, running laps around the training field—it was pure hell.
"Run."
No matter how much I was dying, Bern just kept yelling at us to run and run some more.
"Huff... huff... How long do we have to keep running?"
"Until you graduate."
"......"
Bern's answer was rock-solid, like he planned to grind us into dust and drink us down. That was the result.
I collapsed first.
"Fuck, I'm done for."
I didn't have the strength to run another step. Pride? Gone. All I wanted was to melt into the ground and pass out.
Sophia went down next. Derek was still going, but staggering and gasping—he wouldn't last much longer.
One person was different, though.
Lia.
She didn't seem tired at all, circling the field at a steady pace without a word.
She spotted me collapsed and came over.
"Not running?"
"Too fucking tired. Go on without me."
"Class. Run. Get up quick."
"I said I'm beat."
"I'm not."
"......"
Her blunt tone grated on me, but I didn't even have the energy to snap back. Finally, when I ignored her, Lia gave me this baffled look and went back to running.
Derek collapsed after that. Bern, who'd been watching, finally barked,
"That's enough."
We could stop the brutal run only after everyone but Lia was down.
Even after class ended, Lia kept going. That monstrous stamina made the words slip out before I could stop them.
"What a freak."
Zing!
"Huh?"
I felt a sharp glare. Looking toward it, Lia was staring daggers at me, her cheeks puffed out in a pout.
"......Did you hear that?"
That insanely grueling basic training finally wrapped up.
I hadn't even used Super Acceleration today, but walking was a struggle. My legs didn't feel like mine anymore.
I just wanted to collapse and sleep right there.
"Are you Cain Ashubalt?"
A voice called out suddenly. Turning, I saw a white-haired old butler eyeing me.
"Who're you?"
"Butler of the Androsen family. The young miss sent me to escort you."
"Ah."
I remembered Elisicia saying she'd repay me. That meant following this guy would take me straight to her.
"......Right now?"
Honestly, I didn't want to go.
"The carriage is ready. Please, make yourself comfortable."
But who was this family? The Androsens, second only to the emperor in power. Elisicia, their precious only daughter, had invited me. Refusing? Not an option.
"Let's go, then......"
I held back the urge to bawl like a cow headed to slaughter and climbed into the carriage.
The old butler led me to a massive mansion emblazoned with the Androsen crest.
I knew Elisicia lived in her own place instead of the dorms, but this level of grandeur inside the academy? Fitting for Duke Androsen's family.
"You're here."
In the drawing room, Elisicia was already there, sipping tea. I sat across from her.
She spoke first.
"I said I'd repay you."
"You did."
"That's why I called you today. Alfred."
"Yes, miss."
The butler who'd escorted me placed a large box on the table and left.
"What's this?"
"Open it. It's my gift."
Click!
"This is..."
Inside was a suit. Black base with intricate silver embroidery—top-tier quality.
"I noticed you in your uniform at the party. I had this made. Wear it to the next event."
"......"
She'd remembered me in uniform at the opening ceremony banquet and prepared this.
"Try it on."
"Here?"
My brain froze at the sudden demand. Where was I supposed to change?
Apparently, I wasn't the only one stiffening up.
"Pfft... Ah ha, ahem! My apologies."
Elisicia stifled a laugh and said,
"I'll call the butler. Go change in the dressing room."
"Ah...... Yes, ma'am."
No choice. I changed in the dressing room. The fit was perfect, like it was tailored from my exact measurements.
Did she have me investigated or something?
Thinking that, I returned to the drawing room.
"How's it look?"
"It suits you just as I imagined."
"Can I head out now?"
Honestly, I didn't want to linger. For my quiet academy life, hanging with Elisicia was toxic.
I wanted to bolt, but she wouldn't let me.
"There's still tea left. Stay a bit. And I have something to tell you about the suit—listen before you go."
"Something wrong with it?"
"It's enchanted. Tougher than most armor."
A Magic Suit? That thing probably cost as much as a castle......
Suddenly realizing how insanely expensive it was, I started feeling the weight.
"And take this too."
Elisicia pulled out a palm-sized box and set it on the table. Opening it carefully, I found a ring. A green gem in the center glowed faintly—looked pricey.
"It's the Ring of Vitality. A new artifact from our family. It'll hit the market soon, but I set this one aside for you right away."
How much is all this worth?
I didn't even want to think about it.
"Why go this far for me?"
"Just because. Don't like it? You don't have to take it."
"I love it."
Before she could ask for it back, I slipped it on. A faint warmth spread through me, easing the throbbing pain in my legs from earlier.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Now I could leave, right? But as I stood, Elisicia sipped her tea casually and dropped,
"I looked into you."
"......Pardon?"
"About you."
My hand froze midway to my cup.
"Your record's impressive."
"You investigated me?"
"I did. And it's weird."
She set her cup down, purple eyes locking onto mine.
"The person in that report doesn't match the one sitting here."
"......"
"The you from back then and the you now. Are they really the same?"
Silence fell. I pondered how to respond.
Truthfully, I'm a transmigrator, so yeah, they're different, but who'd say that and get called crazy?
I bullshitted,
"People change."
"Change, huh......"
Elisicia wore an inscrutable expression, then stood.
"Well, maybe. Thanks for answering. You can go now."
"Phew... Thought I was suffocating."
Heading back to the dorms from Elisicia's mansion. The night air was cool.
Tiring day, but not empty-handed. Ring of Vitality and an enchanted Magic Suit.
Not bad. Head to the dorm, stretch out, and it'd be a perfect day.
A magic beast has been sighted in the academy's northern sector!
All students must immediately return to the dormitories. Repeating—
Until the warning blared across the entire academy.
Magic beast?
Unlike monsters, these were beasts mutated by concentrated mana. Their hides and claws, hardened by mana, made them deadlier than average monsters.
And the northern sector where it appeared? Right where I was.
Hide.
No point drawing attention. I'd wait it out till it passed. Scanning for spots—bushes, wall shadows, tree branches.
That's when it happened.
KUOOOOOH!!!!!!
A massive roar shook the bushes. Then it burst out.
The size was insane. Some bear-like beast charged me, eyes blazing red with madness.
"Shit."
Distance closing fast. Only Super Acceleration left. Hated the backlash—crawling later—but no choice. Otherwise, I'd be bear chow.
Things were going so well today!
Gritting my teeth to activate it—
Thwack!
Something slammed into the magic beast's side. It staggered back. A dagger was lodged in its flank.
"You okay?"
Familiar voice. Looking over, Lia stood there.
"What're you doing here?"
"Smelled something tasty. Came to check."