26: Dancing with Weights (and Death)

Morning After Hell

Pain.

Endless, all-consuming pain.

I woke up feeling like a golem had stomped on me repeatedly, then thrown me off a cliff just for fun.

"…Ugh."

I barely managed to lift my arm before immediately regretting it. My muscles screamed in protest, and even breathing felt like a workout.

'Why…?'

I knew I had drunk a high-quality recovery potion last night! I should be fine!

A shadow flickered near the window, and I turned my head stiffly—only to be met with the ever-amused gaze of my beloved tormentor.

["Ah. You're awake. And still alive. Disappointing."]

The Frost Raven sat on my windowsill, his icy feathers shimmering under the morning light. His tone was as smug as ever.

"…Why do I still feel like I got run over by a dragon?"

["Simple. That potion healed your injuries, not your muscle pain."]

"…Excuse me?"

["You spent hours running around the training grounds and practicing sword slashes while wearing twenty kilograms of extra weight. Your body is now screaming in protest."]

I stared at the ceiling, unblinking.

'So I basically tortured myself… for no reason?'

["No, no. There was a reason."]

I looked at him, holding onto a sliver of hope.

["It was hilarious."]

I exhaled slowly, resisting the urge to throw my pillow at him.

"…I hate you."

["You love me."]

No, I didn't.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

[System Alert!] (Visible only to Averis)

Mission: Dance of the Dead

Attend dance class while wearing 20 kg of weights.

Do not collapse before class ends.

Rewards:

+1 Agility (You are slightly less clumsy now.)

+1 Endurance (Pain is your best teacher.)

1x Minor Healing Potion (For when you regret everything.)

Title: Suffering Chick (Your suffering amuses the system.)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

I felt my eyelid twitch.

'…Even the system is bullying me now.'

The Frost Raven tilted his head.

["Something wrong?"]

"…No."

["You made that face again. The one that says you're being tormented by an unseen force."]

I ignored him and slowly—very slowly—rolled out of bed.

I hit the floor with a heavy thud.

"…Ow."

["A truly elegant start to the day."]

In the Dance Hall…

Dragging my feet inside, I arrived at my next battlefield.

The moment Baroness Danica Valmont saw me, she arched a perfectly groomed eyebrow.

"You look… heavier."

I sighed. "I wonder why."

Beside her, Isabella, my dance partner, was barely holding back a grin.

Baroness Valmont clapped her hands. "Well, no time for complaints. Let us begin."

I swallowed a groan.

This was going to be miserable.

Thirty Minutes Later…

I was suffering.

My legs were trembling. My back screamed in agony. My movements, which were already stiff, had now turned into something resembling a dying marionette.

Baroness Valmont's eyes twinkled with amusement as she watched my struggle.

"This is quite the sight," she remarked.

"…Glad my pain is entertaining."

"Oh, very."

Across from me, Isabella looked like she was actively enjoying my suffering.

"Try not to fall on me, my lord," she teased.

I barely resisted the urge to step on her foot on purpose.

End of Class…

The moment Baroness Valmont dismissed us, I collapsed face-down on the floor.

"…I hate dancing."

She chuckled, folding her arms. "Oh, you love it. You just don't know it yet."

I muffled a groan into the wooden floor.

I was never going to like dancing.

Ever.

Outside the Dance Hall…

I limped out of the room—only to see Sir Garret waiting for me.

Smirking.

"…You knew this would happen," I muttered.

Sir Garret patted my shoulder—hard.

"Of course. Builds character."

I mentally screamed.

The Frost Raven snickered.

["How was dancing?"]

I exhaled through my nose. "I'm going to bed."

Sir Garret grinned.

"Not yet. You still have noble etiquette class."

I froze.

"…You're joking."

He grinned wider.

"Nope."

My soul left my body.

END OF CHAPTER 26

note: Isabella is the maid and who is Averis one of dance Partner.