Chapter 57
"......Hello."
"......Yes. Hello."
Kaiser had been urgently summoned by the emperor. Though he'd brought Rainer—the most upright and kind of them all—he'd left with the blunt order to execute him if he became a nuisance.
Now, left alone with Rainer in the vast training hall, we'd already exchanged awkward greetings for the third time.
"I didn't want to meet like this."
Rainer muttered with a sigh, his face complicated ever since we arrived here.
I tilted my head, wondering what he meant, when he pushed off the wall and approached me. His ears were visibly burning.
What must it feel like to live with a face like that?
I inwardly marveled at Rainer's dazzling beauty as he drew near. Moonlit silver-gray hair framed a face sculpted by the gods, his golden eyes lending him a cool yet beastly aura. There was something about his looks that made women's hearts race—even I momentarily forgot our situation, just taking it in.
"Let's start with physical conditioning. Once your stamina's built up, Mir, we can train defense techniques alongside it. Does that sound good?"
"Yes."
"Then, to gauge your baseline stamina, we'll run 100 laps around the training grounds."
"Yes."
Rainer seemed a bit intimidated by me yet took charge of the training with familiar ease. Following his instructions, I started jogging in place, lightly emitting mana from my ankles.
With my body reinforced by mana, 100 laps would be a breeze.
"No. That's not allowed."
Rainer shot me a stern, pumpkin-like glare.
"......Pardon?"
"You're not to reinforce your body with mana. That wouldn't test your baseline stamina—it'd just check your mana control."
"Uh...... right?"
I'd become a Sword Master without any formal training, thanks to my unparalleled mana manipulation. I had an endless innate supply of mana and could freely wield even the most complex mana-based techniques once I grasped them.
The downside? I had zero fundamentals.
"100 laps, bare body only. I'll run with you, so no worries."
His resolute expression drained the color from my face—I'd only ever done long-distance runs with mana reinforcement.
"......Are you sure you're okay?"
After a while, Rainer glanced at me worriedly, breaking his stride mid-lap. We were on our 98th circuit; transparent sweat trailed down his forehead, brushing his long lashes.
How can a person look this fine?
I gritted my teeth, enduring as I watched him. Even drenched in sweat, he didn't smell—it only deepened his signature rosewood scent.
"I'm fine."
Pure bravado. I pushed on through sheer willpower. My body was soaked, legs trembling.
Rainer looked like he had a lot to say, but I lacked the breath to respond, lips pressed tight as I kept running.
"It's okay to stop if it's too much."
"I said...... I could...... finish."
I forced out the words in broken gasps. Honestly, I wanted to bite my tongue and die, but quitting midway wasn't in my nature.
I'm the Mercenary King Mir, for god's sake......!
That title's weight kept me at a steady pace, breathing evenly as I silently completed the laps. My legs had buckled around lap 60; now, only pride propelled me.
Half a lap left......!
I didn't sweat much usually, but my whole body was drenched. I feigned composure, but my soul had long fled my flesh.
Feeling my stamina's true weakness anew, I mustered a final sprint.
"Hng...... ha...... ha, uh......"
And done. I crossed the finish, stopping to catch my breath slowly. My lungs felt shriveled. Leaning against the wall, my legs shook wildly. The cold sweat under my mask was suffocating—I wanted to rip it off.
"Good work."
My hoarse voice betrayed the strain as I spoke to Rainer. Infuriatingly pristine, he nodded and offered me a water bottle.
Salvation.
Like a man granted life at death's door, I chugged it desperately. Half spilled down my chin, but it revived me somewhat.
The droplets trickled down my neck, slipping inside my already sweat-soaked clothes, making everything stickier. Fighting the urge to strip, I slipped a hand under my hood to roughly tousle my damp hair.
"......What are you doing?"
I glanced at Rainer and caught his gaze. He was tilting the water bottle as if to drink but staring blankly at me, letting it all pour over himself.
He didn't snap out of it at my call, so I stepped closer. He flinched back, setting the bottle down. His ears still burned—fatigue, maybe.
"Your stamina isn't bad, Mir. Compared to the average swordsman, that is. But against the Sword Master average......"
"Abysmal, right?"
Rainer affirmed with silence. Half-enlightened now, I plopped onto the ground.
He approached cautiously, sitting a polite distance away.
"We'll mix strength training and cardio. I'll draft a proper program next week and send it to you. Once we ramp up, you'll need proper nutrition—you're too thin."
Explaining the regimen, his tone turned nagging toward the end. Was Rainer the scolding type? It felt odd, but each word brimmed with concern, stirring something strange in me.
He's a kind guy.
In the original story, he came off indifferent outside duties, sword matters, or Aria-related stuff. Guess canon can't be trusted.
He rattled off worries without properly meeting my eyes.
"Sir Ainheart, should we do more training today?"
I cut him off. He eyed my state briefly and shook his head.
"First day— this is enough."
"Any special plans tonight?"
"None. Why do you ask?"
I grinned at his puppy-like head tilt.
"Then join me for dinner? My treat."
Things to ask. And thanks for the help.
If my plans panned out, we'd see each other often. Might as well bond now.
"D-Dinner?"
Rainer stammered uncharacteristically. His neck flushed crimson like a ripe persimmon. Irrepressible excitement lit his face.
Because I'm a Sword Master?
A sword-obsessed maniac crushing on one was natural. Odd he hadn't challenged me to spar on sight, but he did admire the strong.
"It's kinda like a date invite— you turning me down?"
His flustered flailing against that stoic, ascetic vibe was hilarious. I squinted, feigning hurt.
He shuddered violently, shaking his head frantically. Even his hands heated up.
"Absolutely not! I......"
A big guy like him squirming at my words was entertaining. Before he cried, I waited patiently. After agonizing, he spoke slowly.
"......Sure."
"Pardon? Didn't catch that."
I scooted closer on my butt, leaning in theatrically like I hadn't heard his mumble.
He jolted, hiding his face with massive hands. His palms were pink too—pointless.
"......I said sure."
After a long dry rub of his face, he lowered his hands. The eyes revealed gleamed differently than I'd imagined.
Flashing gold seized my vision. I flinched in surprise.
Emotions tangled like spiderwebs in those golden eyes—dominated by yearning.
Bottomless, dank craving. Parched like drought-cracked earth, filled with obsession, excitement, and an incomprehensible blaze.
Why is Rainer looking at me like that?
Felt like glimpsing the forbidden. Dangerous, yet I couldn't look away.
Something deep, festering, beyond mere Sword Master admiration.
"Come with me. I want it."
His cool eyes crinkled wildly. The narrowed gaze beneath still boiled with emotion.
I couldn't be sure he just wanted dinner.
We settled into a quiet tavern that doubled as an eatery, and I checked Rainer's complexion. As a commoner, I'd frequented these; a noble like him surely hadn't.
"Really okay with a place like this?"
"Plenty."
He sat casually on the worn wooden chair. His movements betrayed unfamiliarity, but no distaste.
"I could've taken you somewhere nicer......"
"Really, it's fine. The place doesn't matter to me."
His languid, meaningful tone fixed on me; I averted my gaze uncomfortably.
I'd planned somewhere fancier at first. Joining House Crisis brought me vast personal wealth—money was no issue. A high-end restaurant it was.
Problem: I only knew one in the capital.
Uh...... ever heard of 'Helene' restaurant?
Where I always met El. Rainer's face twitched briefly before he nodded.
Yeah. The one owned by the Pope, right behind the temple.
Oh, Helene's the Pope's? Explains why El treated it like home.
El used Helene freely; Helene was the Pope's. Ergo, El was the Pope. Puzzle solved.
Unlike my revelation, Rainer looked displeased. Always expressionless, but he bit his lip when moody.
Was gonna treat you to Helene...... but you don't like it, huh.
......Not the place. I dislike its owner.
Helene's owner was El. Why would Rainer hate El? I tilted my head, then shrugged—must be circumstances. Couldn't drag him if he hated it.
......Truth is, I don't know noble haunts well. Anywhere you'd like?
Stumped, I blushed and asked directly. No helping my commoner roots, but admitting ignorance stung.
Truth is, I don't either.
......Pardon?
I'll eat anything. How about there?
He stared intently at my evasive glance, then flatly suggested a dingy commoner spot.
A sub-marquess like him couldn't be clueless—pure consideration. I read it clear.
So thoughtful.
Whoever won his love would be blissfully happy, I thought.
"Drink?"
"No thanks."
"Just meals for two, then."
I ordered decent fare for us and settled in, propping elbows on the table, chin on laced fingers, gazing at him intently.
Exposed to my stare, he gulped nervously, throat bobbing.
"So, Sir Ainheart. Shall we talk?"