It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 171

As expected, it wasn’t possible.

I was at least dragging myself through, nearly walking by the end, but Vivian collapsed before even ten laps, retching and gagging.

Lionel, who had been smiling at first, was pleased that we had taken the initiative to train, discussing the program with Halid. But his expression gradually turned grim.

The same was true of Dantère, Ardin, and Halid.

They were profoundly shocked by just how weak a person could be.

“It seems we must discard all the discussions we’ve had.”

At Halid’s cold assessment, Lionel pressed a hand to his forehead.

“Of course. The academy entrance exam includes a basic fitness test. I shouldn’t have used that as the standard.”

Dantère rushed to Vivian as she sat heaving on the floor, stroking her back.

“It’s all right, Vivian. You don’t need training. Being soft, without a bit of muscle, that’s cute too.”

“Exactly. What matters is intellect and wisdom. Once you enter the study of magic, you don’t need this kind of physical training, Vivian.”

Dantère and Ardin would never think Vivian’s stamina was important.

They didn’t care if she fell asleep first, they carried on regardless, and if she was still asleep when they woke, they simply started again without waiting.

In truth, it was Halid for whom this was most difficult.

“In the North, even ordinary women know how to hunt or fight. Even alone it’s too much, but in groups of five or six they train to take down at least one beast.”

His words fell hollow, as he was a man raised in a land crawling with beasts and frozen under endless winter.

For a woman to be recognized as duchess in the North, she had to reach at least a certain level of stamina. But Vivian wanted the engagement broken, so he could hardly tell her to make the effort.

By the time I was stumbling through the final laps, half running, half dragging my feet, Lionel came to me.

“If it’s too hard, you can stop.”

I knew myself that running in such ragged breaths, form all broken, was useless.

But when I was young, my father and brother had made physical training the one obligation for me. Even if my body hadn’t followed, I still remembered what to do.

And now… I couldn’t stop. Not when the end was so near. Giving up becomes a habit.

Somehow forcing my breath into rhythm, I managed to complete the twenty laps.

“Well done.”

Lionel was certainly dismayed at the pitiful level of our endurance, struggling to keep his composure.

Now he surely understood why I fell asleep first every night.

“Now that I have a measure of your strength, we’ll begin properly tomorrow. I’ll prepare what’s needed.”

“Yes… thank you, Lionel.”

“Vivian, the same goes for you. One hour before dinner. You must keep this promise.”

Lionel did not look at Vivian but at Ardin and Dantère. A warning not to interfere.

“Hhh, ahh… understood, brother….”

Still clutching her chest in pain, Vivian looked pitiful. I approached her and poured divine power into her.

She had said she was taking medicinal tonics for vitality. If she combined that with training, she would recover quickly.

“Stay strong, Vivian.”
She boasted to Lionel that she’d definitely get those two men under control…

“Thank you.”

Her sweat-streaked face lifted weakly to me, her lips murmuring:

“I really am the worst.”

She must know herself that she couldn’t go on like this, not if she was to keep living in this body in this world.