Chapter 6. Sandbags

“You live in District 14.”

I nodded at Johann’s words.

When applying for the purifier test, I had to fill out various personal details, which naturally included my address. After all, I needed to receive the test results and other information by mail.

By the way, why is he suddenly confirming where I live?

As I looked at him without much thought, I caught Johann’s lips twitching slightly.

What’s that?

Is where I live funny?

What’s wrong with District 14? Are you looking down on the outskirts!

As the words I wanted to retort piled up inside me, his next words continued as if my interpretation was a misunderstanding.

“It’s a decent distance.”

“……?”

What does he mean?

Now that I look closely, his eyes were shining meaningfully.

This is unsettling.

What on earth is he plotting!

No sooner had I wondered than I soon found out his scheme.

“I wonder if it would take about two hours if you run slowly?”

Johann asked, looking at Jesuf. Jesuf then looked me up and down as if he was evaluating ,e, and said in a tone that suggested it was unlikely,

“I think it would take three hours.”

“Oh my. It takes longer than I thought.”

Johann stroked his chin, looking troubled. But in the end, it wasn’t him who was troubled, but me.

“What do you mean…?”

Unable to contain my curiosity as they had a conversation that only I, the person in question, couldn’t understand, I asked. And a thunderbolt-like answer came back.

“I received a report that your stamina is quite poor.”

“Pardon…?”

A rather stupid-sounding voice flowed from my mouth.

Hey, who writes such a blunt report anyway?

“Stamina is essential for frequenting the battlefield, you know.”

“I, I have quite a history of going in and out of battlefields!”

“Only in the rear, that is.”

“……”

My heart pounded with anxiety.

Johann continued.

“A purifier is different from a healer. You need to jump into the midst of the undead at the forefront to purify them.”

I know, I know that much at least.

But just knowing it in your head and preparing for it in practice were completely different stories.

“From now on, run to the imperial palace every day.”

“What?! All the way here?!”

“Judging by your loud voice, you heard me correctly.”

“……!”

Johann grinned at my bewildered face.

“Since it takes three hours, you’d better cut your morning sleep by another hour.”

This bastard.

I almost cursed without realizing it.

But with remarkable self-control, I kept my mouth shut, not forgetting that the guy in front of me was the Emperor.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t fuming inside, though.

Is he joking?

Three hours one way. Six hours round trip.

Are you telling me to just get up and run!

As I swallowed the indignation that was rising to the heavens, I didn’t realize at this point.

That this was just the beginning of a hellish training.

* * *

“Huff, huff…”

I’m running right now.

Under the pretext that I had to do today’s running because I took a hired carriage for my first day at work, I was running in the garden… not even the training grounds.

Gasping for breath that was rising up to my chin, I looked up.

This damn garden was no less large than a training ground, but why train in such a beautiful place with statues everywhere and fountains spraying water…

“Seraphina, now’s the time. You must keep running without stopping now.”

Johann said leisurely, sipping tea while leaning against the window.

XX.

That’s right.

I was now training in the garden that could be seen at a glance from that bastard’s office.

So this is what he meant by overseeing!

“His Majesty is a busy person. Be grateful that he’s taking time to pay attention to you even like this.”

Jesuf said sternly, probably having read the dissatisfaction in my eyes.

That guy was actually in charge of my training, going back and forth between the garden and the Emperor’s office, but anyway, right now he was annoyingly looking down at me from the window along with Johann.

“Huff huff…”

“Your endurance isn’t bad.”

It’s willpower, you bastard! I swallowed the words I wanted to shout at Johann’s remark. No, actually, I couldn’t say anything because I was so out of breath right now.

I’ve been running for two hours straight without a single break, and it was truly hellish. It felt like my lungs were about to burst.

“You need to get used to that feeling of your lungs about to burst! Keep it up!”

XX!

Don’t cheer me on!

It’s X-ing pissing me off!

Is there no match for stamina?

I ended up glaring at Johann with disloyal eyes.

But Johann was truly a perverted psycho. The more I suffered, the more he seemed to enjoy it. The madman laughed with satisfaction, showing his Adam’s apple as he watched me panting.

“Haha! Excellent. That’s how you endure with grit.”

Damn it.

Just endure for 2 years, just 2 years.

No, can I really endure 2 years like this?

Everything went dark before my eyes.

I couldn’t see my future.

I gritted my teeth, quickly bringing forward my retirement plans in my head.

* * *

“You certainly have an eye for people.”

Turning his eyes from the window, Jesuf looked at Johann who was moving to his desk.

Clink.

Johann put down the teacup he was holding on the desk and opened his mouth as if to say ‘see?’

“A great emperor knows how to spot talent.”

“Well, about the first part… Yes. Anyway, her burning gaze, determined to somehow get through this, is impressive.”

“You see it too, right?”

Jesuf and Johann continued their terrifying conversation, exchanging words that would make Seraphina vehemently deny if she heard them.

“I think we can push her even harder.”

“Should we increase the intensity of the training?”

“I’ll prepare sandbags.”

“Good idea. Prepare four and attach them to all her limbs.”

Jesuf nodded as if to say he would implement it immediately.

There was nothing better than sandbags for building stamina and strength. It was something very simple yet definitely effective.

Johann called out to Jesuf’s back when he was about to leave to prepare the sandbags right away.

“Ah. Tell her to wear them starting from when she goes home today. Don’t forget to tell her to wear them even while sleeping, except when bathing.”

Watching Johann give such a brutal order so casually, Jesuf nodded nonchalantly as if agreeing. Then he muttered.

“That purifier is really lucky. To have Your Majesty personally pay such attention.”

If you live with sandbags attached all the time and only take them off once when bathing, you can experience the true feeling of your body becoming as light as if it’s about to fly away. Someone with burning determination like Seraphina, once she sees the results of training, will come to know the joy of continuing to progress.

“I look forward to her future growth.”

Johann smiled with pleasure at Jesuf’s words.

“I need to nurture her quickly and put her to use.”

* * *

Munch munch.

I was ravenously stuffing food into my mouth to satisfy my hunger.

I had been cursing Johann and Jesuf all day while running under the scorching sun, but when I was treated to a splendid dinner after finishing training, it felt like the bitterness that had been tightly wound up was melting away like snow.

These guys.

They’re not completely bad after all.

Right. Even if they work you hard, they should at least feed you.

And come to think of it, isn’t it all for training me? Passing me, an underqualified purifier, paying me, and even training me.

In a way, it was a huge investment from the imperial palace.

‘They’re even providing meals like this.’

The imperial palace cuisine was truly excellent.

Honestly, it was the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten in my life. The sensation of the meat melting in my mouth made me feel like my tongue had been transported to heaven.

I can say with certainty that you can’t buy food like this even with money.

Clank clank.

The sound of my fork and knife hitting the dishes rang out frivolously in the air as I was too hungry.

“It seems the meal is to your liking, fortunately.”

At that moment, Johann entered the dining room.

I stood up in surprise.

“Cough! Cough!”

And the meat I was swallowing got stuck in my throat.

“Oh my. Relax, relax.”

This is really ridiculous!

Who was it that was so strict about proper greetings earlier!

I felt indignation rising but could only pound my chest with my fist as I coughed out.

Johann looked at me intently for a while, then nodded to a maid. The quick-witted maid noticed my empty water glass and promptly filled it.

Gulp gulp.

Ah.

Now I feel like I can live.

After calming my throat, I looked at Johann. I could see Jesuf standing like a shadow behind him.

Johann put his hands behind his back and smiled quite benevolently.

“So. Was the first training manageable?”

As if it could be manageable.

But I couldn’t answer honestly. Jesuf was looking at me with an expression that said ‘Hurry up and express your gratitude!’

“Yes! Perhaps because I’m eating after sweating, even the meal tastes like honey!”

“It would taste like honey even if you didn’t sweat. I told the kitchen not to spare any expense.”

Johann added warmly.

“Your meals will continue to be taken care of every day from now on.”

“Thank you!”

“And…”

At Johann’s nod, Jesuf approached me.

Thud.

And he put something down next to my plate. It made a heavy sound.

“These are sandbags bestowed by His Majesty.”

“……?”

“From today, wear them on your arms and legs at all times, except when bathing.”

“……!”

My eyes widened.

The gratitude I felt for my daily bread disappeared as if it had been a lie.

I looked down at the sandbags with an expression as though I had been hit hard on the back of my head.

It was as if they were toying with me, lifting me up only to drop me again…

Are you kidding me, you bastards!