Chapter 88– The Harsh Reality of Training

The night had passed in silence.

I woke up early, my body still sore from the previous days. The memories of last night's thoughts lingered, but I pushed them aside. I went through my usual morning routine—freshening up, making a quick breakfast, and ensuring my weapons were in top condition.

Today was another day at the academy.

Arriving in class, I sat down quietly. The others slowly trickled in, murmuring about how Instructor Reinhardt's training was getting stricter.

Then, just as the last student took their seat, the doors swung open with a heavy thud.

A towering figure stepped in.

Instructor Reinhardt.

His graying hair, jagged scar over his left eye, and sheer presence were enough to silence the entire class instantly. His eyes swept over us, measuring, judging.

"All of you, follow me."

No further explanation.

We moved as a group, exiting the building and heading toward the vast training grounds of the academy. As we approached, I noticed that this wasn't just our class.

All of first-year students were gathered.

At least a hundred of them.

I recognized familiar faces—Leonhardt, Alicia, Seraphina, and the rest of the main cast—but also other students I had barely interacted with. Some had eager expressions, others looked slightly nervous.

Instructor Reinhardt stood before us, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

"Listen up, weaklings."

His voice carried across the entire field.

"The recent demon worshiper attack made one thing clear. You are not strong enough." His eyes narrowed, scanning the crowd. "This academy exists to shape you into warriors, not pampered nobles or arrogant children who think talent alone will save them. Strength is built through discipline, through hardship, through suffering."

A pause.

"So today, we begin your real training."

Many students gulped. Some glanced at each other, uneasy.

Then—

"Start running."

There was a brief moment of hesitation.

One student raised his hand. "Instructor, how many laps should we—"

"100 laps."

The student paled.

The training field was massive—at least 400 meters per lap. That meant 40 kilometers in total.

Gasps rippled through the students.

"And one more thing," Reinhardt continued, his voice like iron. "No mana. If I see anyone reinforcing their body or using spells to lighten their steps—" He cracked his knuckles. "I'll personally make sure you regret it."

That was all the warning we got before—

"Start."

A moment of silence.

Then everyone exploded into motion.

I controlled my breathing, starting at a steady pace.

I had trained my body enough to endure this, but many others weren't as prepared.

Within just 10 laps, some students were already slowing down, panting heavily.

At 20 laps, a few had collapsed, lying on the ground, too exhausted to continue. Reinhardt didn't even glance at them.

I focused on maintaining a stable rhythm. My breath, my steps, my heartbeat—everything needed to be controlled.

By 50 laps, even the main cast were showing signs of struggle.

Leonhardt's expression was determined. Alicia's red hair was damp with sweat, but she gritted her teeth and kept going. Seraphina looked exhausted, yet her icy blue eyes remained focused. Reynard, Luca, Sylvara, and Elena—all of them were pushing forward with sheer willpower.

I kept moving.

I wasn't unaffected—I could feel the strain in my muscles, the burn in my legs, the dryness in my throat—but this was nothing compared to what I had endured before.

By the time I finished 100 laps, my shirt was drenched in sweat, but I was still standing.

Only about 30 students had managed to complete it. The rest were either lying on the ground or barely crawling forward.

But it wasn't over.

As I caught my breath, Instructor Reinhardt stepped forward.

"Good," he said. "Now, 1000 push-ups."

Groans filled the air.

"Then 1000 sit-ups."

Some students looked like they were about to cry.

"And finally, 1000 squats."

I sighed.

This was going to be a long day.

Chapter – A Hidden Piece on the Board

Sweat dripped down my brow, stinging my eyes as I continued my push-ups. My arms ached, my muscles burned, but I controlled my breathing, keeping my pace steady.

Fifty-six… Fifty-seven… Fifty-eight…

All around me, students groaned, some barely keeping up while others collapsed onto the dirt.

I lifted my gaze slightly, scanning the crowd.

Most of the students were ordinary—background figures in the grand scheme of things. Some stood out, supporting characters who played minor roles in the story, and others were future obstacles, noble heirs with too much pride and too little discipline.

And then, there were the hidden ones.

Among them, I spotted three students whose auras felt… off.

Demon worshipers.

They blended in well, but I had read enough about them in the game's lore to recognize their type. Sleeper agents, lurking within the academy, waiting for their moment to strike.

I made a mental note.

But they weren't who I was looking for.

No, I was searching for someone else.

And then— I saw her.

Sitting at the edge of the training ground, far from the larger groups, a lone girl hunched over, hugging her knees.

She had long, messy black hair tinged with silver strands and scarlet eyes filled with exhaustion. Her pale skin only made her stand out more, despite the way she tried to make herself seem smaller, as if she wished to disappear entirely.

Anneliese Nocturne.

That was all I knew about her for now.

But in this world, nothing was ever meaningless.

I exhaled, dropping down for another push-up.

This world is brutal. Unforgiving.

Survival depended on power—but raw strength wasn't enough.

If I wanted to tip the scales in my favor… if I wanted to increase the main cast's growth rate so they could face what was coming—I needed to make my move.

And it would start with her.

"You're scheming again," Kurenai, my sword, hummed in my mind, her voice smooth but teasing. "What are you plotting this time, oh master of mischief?"

"None of your business."

"Hah! Liar. Everything you do becomes my business. It always leads to blood."

Shiranui, my fox companion, yawned lazily in my thoughts. "Can you two keep it down? I'm trying to take a nap here. Too much human suffering in the air makes me sleepy."

I rolled my eyes.

They weren't wrong.

This would lead to blood.

But if I played this right…

It would also lead to something much more important.

—

To Be Continued…