If You Can't Handle It, You're Weak
If you can't handle it, then you're weak!
Judging by everything so far, Nel's willpower was already exceeding expectations.
The way she'd somehow managed to keep pace with him at a full sprint had been genuinely impressive.
Of course, she'd been driven right to the brink of collapse from hyperventilation.
But the fact that she never gave up and ran all the way to the end—that was what mattered most. In fact, that alone was already something extraordinary.
Even most ordinary knights wouldn't have been able to keep up so recklessly.
She's definitely no gym newbie, so maybe I should go a bit hard from the start.
This wasn't free personal training. He'd received a proper fee.
That meant he was obligated to put in his absolute best effort and lead her properly.
Kyle took Nel and headed for the gym—that is, the indoor training hall.
The moment he stepped inside, an entire group of students turned to look at once.
Lately it feels like the number of people working out has suddenly exploded.
It wasn't just a feeling—it was real. Compared to before, the numbers had easily doubled.
Wondering if some kind of fitness craze had suddenly swept through the place, Kyle walked deeper inside.
He seemed completely unaware that the sudden training boom that had hit the academy was all because of him.
Right. How should he start? This wasn't simply about losing weight or sculpting a nice body.
Right now, Nel had to become a knight. And to become that knight, she needed the absolute best physique possible.
At this rate, she'd probably need to go through training on a level similar to Leto's.
Of course, her willpower and grit were far stronger than Leto's, so there was no need to start with his fists.
"Let's start by lightly loosening up."
"Lightly… you say?"
"Yeah. Lightly."
At Kyle's words, Nel looked at him with slightly flustered eyes.
He said they were just going to loosen up lightly, yet what he was bringing over was that thick bar.
Wasn't warming up normally done with preparation exercises or stretching or something like that?
"You've never done anything like this before, right?"
"No… honestly, all I've ever done is just swing a sword…"
"Swinging a sword is great. But just swinging a sword won't improve your arm strength. Same goes for your upper body. It can help as a supplement, but it'll never be the main thing. You're already feeling that, aren't you?"
Nel gave a small nod. From her perspective, it was inevitable.
Unlike the other knight candidates, she didn't have a senior knight who could teach her everything.
She had simply watched from over people's shoulders, preparing and polishing everything alone all this time.
So if she had somehow managed anything in a systematic way, that would have been the stranger thing.
"I told you clearly, Nel."
"Huh?"
"I don't know swordsmanship. The only thing I know is how to train the body."
"I'm well aware. So you don't need to worry…"
"Listen to the end. That's not the important part."
Kyle took one step closer.
And this time, his face held none of the earlier playfulness—only complete seriousness.
"From now on, we're going to do this for real. You brought this on yourself, so handle it."
He fully intended to cram the John Nassen method into this client with everything he had.
You work for what you're paid. It was a simple, obvious principle.
*
Hmm-hm~. Humming to herself, the Saintess was sweeping the dust from the chapel.
Her guards had tried to stop her—saying they would do it, asking why she was doing such menial work.
But the Saintess had shaken her head. What was wrong with the one who served the gods cleaning the place where the gods were served?
In fact, making someone else do her own work was the one thing that must never be done.
Having persuaded everyone who tried to stop her, she finally finished cleaning the chapel.
It should be about time for him to arrive.
He was a man who had never once been late. He always came to see her at the exact same time.
More precisely, he came to check on her training progress, but that was fine.
If the most wonderful person in the world was coming to visit, that alone was reason enough to be happy.
"Saintess."
A moment later the chapel doors opened and Kyle stepped inside.
At his appearance the Saintess was just about to greet him with a bright smile and a cheerful "Brother!" when—
"Excuse me…"
Today Kyle was not alone. A student was with him.
Because of that, the Saintess, who had been about to welcome Kyle warmly, tilted her head with a soft "Hmm?"
A quick glance revealed a first-year nameplate.
Apparently a freshman like Kyle, though it was hard to tell whether the person was a boy or a girl.
The male uniform made it just barely possible to tell they were a male student.
The only other notable detail was that they looked ready to faint at any second, completely drained from exhaustion.
"Brother Kyle? And the person next to you…"
"This is Nel. Like you, Saintess, another member… well, student whose training I'm overseeing."
"Ahh! I see. It's a pleasure to meet you, Brother Nel!"
"It's an honor to meet you, Saintess…"
Even the voice was thick with exhaustion.
It's a little sudden, but… it's not strange.
She already knew Kyle was also helping others with their training.
After all, the female student named Tisha had come before even the Saintess herself.
If people didn't gather around someone this wonderful and kind, that would have been the strange thing.
Thinking that, the Saintess pulled her gaze away from Nel and returned it to Kyle.
Will Brother be all right? Looking after several people must be exhausting…
Should she cast another blessing on him? She was just beginning to wonder when Kyle suddenly stepped right up to her and spoke in the most serious tone imaginable.
"Saintess. If it's at all possible, could you grant me a small favor?"
"A favor? Of course! For you, Brother, anything at all!"
Not "What favor?" but "I'll grant any favor!" That was the answer that came out.
Once again moved by the Saintess's lovely heart, Kyle got to the point.
"I was hoping you might cast that blessing of yours on Nel once."
"Ah… I think I can manage it. But if it's multiple times…"
"As if I would be so rude as to keep asking. Just once today will be enough."
Perhaps because he had tried to cram too much in from the very first day.
Unfortunately, the moment afternoon arrived Nel had completely collapsed and couldn't get back up.
There was still a mountain of things that needed to be taught and drilled into her body today, so this wouldn't do.
"If you put it that way…"
The Saintess stepped in front of Nel and gently stroked the top of their head.
There was, of course, none of the forehead-kissing that happened with Kyle.
A moment later, golden light seemed to bloom from her hand and settled around Nel.
"…It's done, Brother. After a short rest, they'll be able to move like normal again."
"Thank you, Saintess. Truly, thank you."
"I'm glad you're happy. Even though the favor you asked of me wasn't even for yourself, but for someone else. You really are a strange one, Brother."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
After joking around a little, Kyle headed with the Saintess toward the back of the chapel.
His third client, Nel, would take a short rest, and now it was time for his second client—the Saintess.
"All right. Let's see how much better you've gotten today."
"I can handle the form and the reps you tell me with confidence now!"
The Saintess declared it in a remarkably proud, vigorous voice.
At that, Kyle burst out with a bright "Haha!" and wore a thoroughly pleased expression.
Even a complete exercise noob could manage the basics if they just put in the effort.
"That's a relief, Saintess. I was just thinking it was about time to increase the reps."
"Y-yes? Wh-what did you just…"
"No need to worry. Come on! Shall we bump it up?!"
"Hiiieeek?!"
The Saintess was newly reminded of the scripture's saying that the tongue is a blade that cuts the body.
*
While Kyle oversaw the Saintess's training, Nel even managed to steal a short nap.
When Kyle woke her a little later, she realized her body felt incredibly light.
It was astonishing, but the first emotion that hit her was still bewilderment.
She had never in her wildest dreams imagined he would ask the Saintess of the Holy Order herself to cast a blessing.
"I never expected you to make a request like that to the Saintess, Lord Kyle."
"The Saintess is simply that generous. I figured if I asked, she would naturally agree."
After answering, Kyle asked Nel whether her body felt light again.
At his question, Nel rolled her arms and legs around a few times and then nodded.
"It really does feel much lighter. Refreshing, even."
"Good. Honestly, everything I hammered into you this morning and all afternoon was pretty rough stuff."
"Ah… n-no wonder I felt all my strength draining away so fast…"
"That's only natural. Originally it's a male-only routine, but I believed that with your willpower, Nel, you'd be able to handle it, so I put you through it once. You held up remarkably well."
At Kyle's words, Nel nodded with a "I see," and then suddenly—
"…Wait. Wait a second."
She sensed something strange in what Kyle had just said.
Why did he keep emphasizing the "male" part? Why?
"Lord Kyle. Don't tell me…"
"What. Whether I know that you're not a man but a woman?"
"Wh-wha…?"
"Of course I noticed. You think I wouldn't know the difference between a male skeleton and a female one?"