Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: 3. Training Begins (3)
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Vivian took off running, and I immediately pulled out my pocket watch.
If she finished within the time I'd set, she'd pass.
If not, she'd get bonked with the bonk hammer.
She was the only one running laps on this training field.
The aspirants, busy with their own training or classes, shot her curious glances.
What's she doing? their eyes seemed to say.
Training methods in this world were incredibly straightforward.
Want to master magic? Practice magic nonstop.
Want to wield a sword well? Swing it all day.
Not wrong, per se.
You'd improve that way, but there were limits.
To put it bluntly, it was wildly inefficient, so no one reached higher levels.
Like how practicing only kicks won't make you a taekwondo master.
You needed to boost flexibility, endurance, explosiveness—physical abilities across the board—and integrate them into real combat.
Knight and archer types mixed in various exercises.
But no one conducted progressive, systematic comprehensive training.
And no one realized even mages and priests needed physical conditioning.
They believed magic and miracles had nothing to do with the body.
Unfortunately, they were all dead wrong.
"Huff... haa... haa..."
Vivian staggered back after her first lap, gasping for breath.
She'd long exceeded my time limit.
"Good job."
I praised her anyway.
I hadn't expected her to make it on the first try.
"Heh... hehe..."
Even heaving for air, she grinned at the praise.
I bonked her smiling face with the hammer.
-Bonk!
"Eek!"
Even a light tap made her yelp like I'd hit her hard.
"You were still late, so you get the bonk."
"Ugh... sorry..."
"Now, just four more laps."
"Four... more?"
"One bonk per late lap. No stopping—keep running."
"W-Wait, let me catch my... breath..."
"Run."
I smiled gently as I gave the order, and Vivian, wobbling, tied her hair back with the ribbon from Taylor.
"Ugh..."
She knotted it tight and took off again.
Too long a break wasn't good either.
With her body warmed up, she needed to keep moving to pump that heart like a piston.
For someone on death's door, she ran pretty well.
Of course, she still didn't beat the clock.
Every time she passed me, I bonked her diligently, and my mouth never stopped dispensing advice.
-Bonk!
"Hic!"
"Breathe in through your nose! Out through your mouth!"
-Bonk!
"Nyaa!"
"Land on the balls of your feet! Core tight!"
-Bonk!
"Oof!"
"Head up! Step outside the edge or it doesn't count!"
Last of the four.
-Bonk!
"Hng!"
Vivian never quite made it in time.
But her lap times had shortened.
This was solid progress.
Considering her malnutrition, she exceeded expectations.
"You did great."
"Ugh... huh..."
Too exhausted to even respond, she collapsed to the ground.
I handed her a waterskin from my pocket dimension.
She nodded weakly and chugged it down.
"Rest up, then five more laps."
"Pfft—!"
Whoa, she spat it out like she was thrilled to keep going.
"F-Five laps...?"
"Yes. Want more if you're still hungry for it?"
"No no! Five! Five laps!"
So enthusiastic.
Loved to see it.
After sufficient rest, Vivian ran again.
Her face near tears at the start, but serious once moving.
Some aspirants glanced and sneered.
She bit her lip passing them, pushing through despite the sting.
Her grit was impressive.
Kaily and Aria had whined it was too embarrassing.
"She's running pretty well."
Mercy had a good eye.
She often watched the 1st Hero Party's training.
"Obedient too. What do you think?"
"Same here."
Vivian's form had improved nicely.
Upper body straight, core engaged, legs stretching fully.
Just needed more speed now.
-Bonk!
"Eek!"
"Good form—speed it up a bit!"
"Yes!"
Panting hard, but praise made her push harder.
Soon, she ignored the stares.
Mercy cheered from the side.
While cat-transformed Kati napped nearby.
Vivian ran and ran.
Finally, the last lap.
-Bonk!
"Hurk!"
Ten laps complete, she faceplanted into the dirt.
Never on time, but better than I'd predicted.
Hadn't thought she'd finish all ten.
"Good work. That's really it."
I handed her water again.
"Nuuuh..."
Too drained to drink, she just clutched the waterskin and lay there.
Mercy, squatting beside her, praised too.
"You ran so well! Honestly, I worried you'd collapse midway!"
"Heh... hehe... Did I... really do... good?"
"Yeah! Ian praised you, so it's definite!"
...Did I?
Whatever, she was happy.
"Ian too..."
Her eyes sparkled up at me, then her smile faltered.
Vivian looked ready to cry mid-grin.
"But... I didn't make time... Is it really good?"
That self-deprecating streak wouldn't vanish overnight.
First day of training, after all.
But I could see tiny changes.
Her uncertain words carried vitality now.
Not the old self-flagellation of "I suck."
Regret for not doing better—wanting to improve.
That small shift was enough.
Best to encourage now.
She had done well.
"No one starts perfect. Not lip service—you beat my expectations by a mile."
"Really...?"
"Why lie? Time's just something to shave down going forward."
"Going forward..."
She rolled the words around, then beamed brightly.
"I'll do even better next time!"
First time I'd seen Vivian smile like that.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 1st Hero Party's campsite.
Last night of roughing it.
Tomorrow: nearby city, show faces to citizens, lavish feast in fancy rooms.
Chatting with nobles and merchants, basking in praise—bliss just thinking about it.
Sylvia, contemplating tomorrow, wandered far from camp.
She'd given up counting days since Ian left.
But now, a new issue occupied her mind.
"......"
She gazed up at the cliff ahead.
Thirteen thick Ice Spears jutted from the jagged rock face.
Her magic was powerful enough to sheer mountainsides.
Casting Pass and Multi-Casting flawless as ever.
Even long after Ian's departure.
But...
...It's bothering me.
Mana circulating her open circuit felt less smooth than before.
She couldn't pinpoint why.
Intake unchanged, training reduced for more rest—yet spells didn't flow right.
Mood swing...?
Sylvia tried other spells.
"Lava Bomb, Water Barrier, Waterfall."
Beyond Multi-Casting one spell repeatedly.
Composite Multi-Casting: multiple spells at once.
Ground erupted in lava below the cliff.
A water veil shielded her from molten rock and debris.
Aerial cascade hardened the lava swiftly.
Steam billowed like a gale.
Still devastating power, complex calcs handled seamlessly.
Yet... off somehow.
"Haa..."
Chest tight.
Told Penny, but she shrugged: "You're the mage—shouldn't you know?"
Unfamiliar response.
Ian answered mechanically, brainstormed if stumped.
Even when she dumped issues on him, he'd solve solo and report back.
Now that reliable constant was gone.
Everything felt uncertain.
...What to do.
Kaily, Aria, Beatrice.
They just seemed glad—couldn't ask them.
Frustrating...
Unanswerable.
If she saw Ian, would he have answers?
Could she even see him?
No clue where he was or what doing.
Never cared before.
Disgusted with her sudden curiosity.
And powerless to change reality.
Never see him again...?
Sending him off felt satisfying—revenge for betrayal, spurning her confession.
Never considered aftermath.
Now, belatedly.
Even setting aside hearing his response.
One burning question.
Can I see Ian again?
Ian might not answer, but Sylvia felt she knew.
She shook her head, cleared thoughts, repaired the cliff with stone magic, and returned.
Think positive. City tomorrow—tons of fans...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Woooah—!"
Cheers crashed like waves as the gates opened.
Murmurs when shut; deafening now.
1st Hero Party's open carriage entered Badenverk.
Heroes aboard waved to roaring crowds.
Skin-tingling fervor.
Citizens chanted names.
"Kaily! Lady Kaily!"
Kaily nodded solemnly.
"Lady Aria—!"
Aria smiled kindly, waving.
"Beatrice! Over here!"
Beatrice winked playfully, blew kisses.
"Sylvia! Sylvia's the best—!"
Sylvia stood, arms waving wildly.
No trace of yesterday's gloom.
Each thunderous name-call.
Adoring public gazes below.
Sylvia felt alive here.
Trailing closed carriage: Penny and Badenverk's lord, Baron Ludwig.
"Truly grateful you accepted the invite."
"If it aids city stability, it's only right."
Polite smiles, pleasantries exchanged.
"Who knew Ian was like that... Shocking."
"Better late than never."
Penny had just shared: Ian embezzled funds, tormented members, got exiled.
"Does Lord Philip know?"
"Doubt it. He stays hidden, eyes the forest over trees."
"Ah..."
Ludwig frowned sympathetically, stroking beard.
To Penny, it felt like relief.
Ian gone, but Philip remained—trustworthy.
Nobles knew Philip was no myth.
"Speaking of—any decent dungeons nearby?"
"Can't reach Philip, eh."
Penny just smiled, nodded.
Didn't feel like smiling inwardly.
Needed Philip's location or a letter—nothing.
Extended camping for fear he'd lose them.
Believing he wouldn't, entered city late.
"Understood. Since you're here, I'll dig up that info."
"Thanks."
"One small... request?"
Ludwig tentative.
"Go ahead."
"Thanks to 1st Party, even our demon-proximal city had bumper crops. But trade lags, so last fall's black barley piles in silos."
Penny nodded, knowing the pitch.
"If Party could endorse our local black barley and beer... We'd be grateful."
Heard it often; first time facing it.
Famous parties flooded with such offers; 1st Party epitome.
But 1st Party never accepted.
Ian's policy.
Endless perks tempted, yet refused.
Penny saw him as coward, later traitor.
Ian feared heroes grasping their worth—slipping his control.
One reason she saw him as cancer.
Penny had no reason to refuse.
"No pressure to—"
"No, we'll do it."
"Pardon?"
Ian rejected all promo.
Simple: couldn't trust requesters.
Backfire inevitable, harm party.
No cash shortages, so he cut risks.
Penny's acceptance: 1st Party's first.
"Not bad for us—why refuse?"
"Ha... haha... hahaha!"
Ludwig's disbelief turned to hearty laugh.
"I see why Ian's gone. Famous in Managers' Guild too—makes sense. Penny."
"Just doing right."
Claiming what Philip should've, proxy for Ian.
Her "rightful one" meant him.
"I'll inform the heroes."
"Truly grateful. Badenverk'll give you an unforgettable night."
Penny and Ludwig shared smiles.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Feast nights passed in revelry.
Finally, Penny got A-rank dungeon intel from Ludwig.
She roused the hungover quartet, briefed them.
"...What?"
Kaily doubted her ears.
"You joking?"
Others mirrored her—irritation flashing over drunken flushes.