Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Why Is Ennis Prill Here?
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Morning dawned before the daily routine began.
And night fell after the routine ended.
Special classes were held during these two periods, or so he'd heard.
And today, the long-awaited first special class commenced.
Tail arrived early at the training hall after finishing his preparations and was loosening up when the door opened. Edan stepped inside.
Spotting Tail in the midst of simple stretches, Edan grinned.
"You're early."
"Yeah. My eyes just popped open ahead of schedule."
Edan did some light stretching of his own.
"Yujin and Ricky still asleep?"
"Yep. This is the first time I've woken up before them, I bet."
They were always ready to go by the time he stirred.
After a brief chat, Allen entered.
"Alright, enough chit-chat. Take these."
Allen tossed something to each of them.
Tail caught what Allen threw and his eyes widened the moment he saw what it was.
'A potion?'
The bottle sloshed with red liquid and bore the temple's emblem etched into it.
Meaning, this was the real deal—a potion made by the temple.
"It's a low-grade one, but it's an official temple product, so drink up without worry."
Potion.
This was different from holy water.
Unlike holy water, which was ordinary water infused with divine power, potions were crafted by pouring immense divine power into rare herbs and materials.
Needless to say, their price tag was exorbitant.
Especially a genuine low-grade temple potion—it was nearly impossible to obtain even for a commoner's entire yearly living expenses.
Of course, he'd heard that nobles with money and temple connections drank them regularly to restore their stamina.
That was why so many fake potions flooded the market, sparking controversies.
'Those fakes come with side effects, though.'
What was it again? Stomachaches, right?
Even at the monastery, genuine temple potions were stored like treasures, used perhaps once every few years—and only in truly dire situations.
Tail had never been the one to receive one, of course.
Except for that one time he'd applied the famous potion himself.
He'd twisted his ankle pulling Chloe away from a near-snakebite at the monastery, and she'd poured her potion on it out of guilt.
'It healed the swelling right away. That was miraculous.'
The moment the red liquid touched the injury, the pain and wound faded rapidly.
As Tail reminisced, staring at the potion, Allen spoke up.
"Not drinking? Tail?"
"Oh. Right. Down the hatch."
Glancing sideways, he saw Edan already chugging his away.
Tail shot Allen a question.
"Do we have to drink all of it?"
It felt wasteful to down the whole thing now.
How grueling would training be? Finish it all off already?
Allen, perhaps not grasping the intent, asked back.
"Why do you ask?"
Tail answered honestly.
"Wouldn't it be better to save half for after training?"
"Ah..."
Edan paused mid-sip at the sensible suggestion, but his bottle was already empty.
Allen chuckled.
"If you survive the training, you'll get potions four times a day: start and end of morning session, start and end of evening. No need to worry."
Relieved, Tail gulped his down.
A bitter, astringent taste filled his mouth.
Potions definitely didn't taste good.
'Ugh. So bitter.'
Tail furrowed his brow slightly.
But he could feel his weary, early-morning body gradually waking up.
His condition improving in real time, he thought to himself.
'So nobles have been downing these during extreme training all this time?'
Allen and Edan showed no reaction, confirming it.
Nobles endured harsh regimens with potion support.
'Damn, what kind of multi-experience-point events were nobles running?'
It was infuriating he hadn't been born a noble.
Meanwhile, he'd just swung wooden swords like a maniac—terrible efficiency.
His mouth tasted bitter.
Once Tail and Edan finished their potions, Allen handed them real swords without preamble.
They were hefty, crudely shaped blades, larger than usual.
'First time with real swords.'
Tail reached out to take the one Allen offered.
"Thanks."
"Appreciate it."
The instant he gripped it...
'Whoa!'
Tail staggered.
The weight was immense.
Even holding it properly was a struggle.
Edan fared no better.
'Isn't this just a greatsword?'
How had Sir Allen casually wielded two of these monsters?
Tail's respect for him surged again.
"This is the bastard sword, which I consider the most suitable for knights among battlefield blades."
Allen continued nonchalantly.
"A knight must wield his sword like an extension of his body. From now on, all training uses these."
Training with these heavy swords?
'Not gonna be easy.'
Neither complained, though.
'Gotta be this intense for special training.'
Edan felt the same.
Edan asked Allen.
"What kind of training with these?"
Allen replied confidently.
"Good question. Strap them to your backs and run laps around the training hall."
Edan and Tail's faces went blank.
Run with these heavy swords?
"How many laps?"
Allen's tone turned firm.
"Not laps. Two hours."
What nonsense is this?
They stared blankly at Allen, who pressed on.
"You think war has an end in sight? A few laps? What does that matter?"
His words sharpened.
"Push your body to the limit, your mind to the brink—that must be your daily norm. Endure without breaking."
Allen's expression was deadly serious.
"Two hours at dawn. Two at night. No mana. Just run."
Edan gaped beside him.
Two hours straight without mana was tough enough—now with swords on their backs?
It sounded like something out of a crazy shonen manga.
'Well, that's Sir Allen for you.'
Outlandish as it was, Tail had seen him roll his subordinates mercilessly at the monastery. No surprise.
"What are you waiting for? Run!"
Allen bellowed, and only then did Tail and Edan hoist the heavy swords and start running.
"Huff... huff."
I'm gonna die.
Is this how I go?
His mouth reeked of blood, yet quitting wasn't an option.
He hadn't noticed at the start, but this training's true horror—and extremity—was the time.
After running a while, he glanced to check how much time had passed.
No clocks anywhere. They'd been cleared out beforehand.
And Allen showed zero intention of kindly announcing the minutes elapsed.
'Fuck.'
Teaching battlefield endurance, huh? Basically, endure endless suffering without knowing the end.
Even with the potion, his body trembled, stamina hitting rock bottom.
Yet Edan maintained form, sweat pouring as he ran.
'Damn, he's impressive.'
Tail couldn't lag behind.
The moment he tightened up and reset his posture...
Creeeak.
The door opened.
Allen's eyes and Edan and Tail's gazes turned to it.
Through the hazy light, a girl appeared.
Radiant silver hair and deep black eyes brimming with darkness.
Doll-like features topped with a stiff, expressionless face gave her an otherworldly air.
It was Ennis.
"????"
The unexpected visitor halted Tail and Edan's steps.
'Why is Ennis Prill here?'
They weren't exactly close.
Allen shared the doubt, asking her.
"What brings you here? We're in the middle of special training."
"I know."
Tail furrowed his brow at her reply.
'Huh? How'd she know this is the special class spot?'
He hadn't even told Yujin, his best friend and roommate.
Ignoring his thoughts, she yawned hugely and padded lightly to a corner of the hall. She spread a handkerchief and sat delicately atop it.
Her natural poise left even Allen momentarily too stunned to stop her.
"I won't interfere. Just watching."
Allen had no choice but to nod.
Special classes weren't top secret, and if she was just observing...
Meanwhile, he roared at Tail and Edan, who'd stopped.
"What are you doing? Run! Gonna die in war like this?"
Chilled by his shout, they resumed running.
'The war's already over, though...'
But Tail couldn't voice it.
He needed to save his breath for one more step.