More than three weeks had passed since Kazuki, Usato, and I were summoned to this world. Because I’d absorbed myself in training, I felt like I could fight well enough. But, then again, I’d never been in a real fight. I didn’t know if I could actually win.
On one particular morning, I had finished my training and had started eating lunch in a corner of the training area, under the shade of a tree with Kazuki.
“You’ve gotten a lot stronger, Kazuki-kun,” I said.
“I’m still nowhere near as strong as you, senpai,” he replied.
Kazuki wasn’t the only one growing at an almost inhuman speed. I was now strong enough to spar with the Llinger Kingdom’s strongest knight, Siglis, and the brilliant mage Welcie. On the one hand, I knew they were going easy on me. On the other hand, they were genuinely surprised by how fast I’d improved.
But deep down it simply wasn’t enough.
To me, the magic in this country simply wasn’t exciting enough. Throwing out some lightning bolts was enough to make the crowd go wild. Their cheers made Kazuki blush, but not me. I wanted to master long-range attacks that would send the battlefield reeling, to dish out lightning punches and other abnormal techniques.
“Guess I’ll just have to make them myself,” I said.
“Whatever do you mean?” a voice said in reply.
All I was thinking was: “Uh-oh. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
The girl who had spoken was none other than Celia Vulgast Llinger, the king’s golden-haired daughter. Even though she was the royal princess, she had been with us ever since Rose took Usato away.
Back then, King Lloyd had decided that bringing him back would be too hard. He assigned two teachers to Kazuki and me: One of them was Siglis, the army commander, and the other was Welcie, the kingdom mage who was known for her powerful spells. Along with our teachers, the king had also summoned his daughter, Celia, and had introduced her to us. We were all about the same age, so we’ve stuck together ever since.
Kazuki heaved a sigh.
He had just finished lunch and was gazing at the scenery outside the castle.
Hmm, judging by that listless stare, I bet he’s worrying about Usato.
“I wonder what Usato’s up to?” he asked.
Yup. So easy to read.
The last time we saw Usato he was being worked to the bone. At the time, I couldn’t tell if he was having trouble adjusting to life in this world or if rescue-team training was as demanding as it seemed.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what kind of person is Usato-sama?” asked Celia, seemingly curious about him.
Before I got to answer, Kazuki puffed out his chest and started talking.
“Hm? Oh! He’s a friend who came with us to this world, but we only became friends right before we were summoned.”
“Seeing how happy you are really does make me think that you have no other guys to hang out with.”
“Th-That’s not true!”
Kazuki insecurely muttered that he does, in fact, have friends, which made Celia giggle. But I knew the truth. The guys at school always kept their distance from Kazuki. Even if they’d only just become friends, Usato was an important friend to Kazuki, nonetheless.
“Where is he now?” Celia asked.
“The rescue team, I think? Yeah. He’s with them,” Kazuki replied.
“D-Did you just say the rescue team?!” she exclaimed.
“That’s where he is, right, senpai?” Kazuki said.
“Yeah,” I confirmed.
I had noticed something curious the last time I saw Usato. As someone who had mastered all sorts of sports back on Earth, I knew a lot about the human body, and I knew even more about muscles. But Usato’s arms were so built that they were unrecognizable. Even though he’d only trained for one week, his chest was already as buff as his arms.
If he’d have just let me feel his muscles, I would’ve known how built he was, but Usato refused ’cause he’s a big meanie. In any case, training so aggressively—and so suddenly—isn’t good for the body.
“I’m worried about him.” I murmured.
“Senpai?” Kazuki looked concerned.
“No, it’s nothing,” I said, quickly brushing him off. “Anyway, you were surprised when we mentioned the rescue team, Celia. Did something happen over there?”
“Well, you see, strange rumors about the rescue team have been spreading through the castle lately.”
“What kind of rumors?”
She must know what they are. Why else would she refuse to look us in the eyes after hearing he’s with the rescue team? Did something terrible happen to him?
“This is just hearsay,” Celia whispered, “but I hear that their training is so rigorous that all the members scream in agony, yet the new trainee powers through it without making a peep. I overheard the soldiers talking about it earlier.”
“Okay, now I’m really worried. Can we wrap up our training for today and go check on Usato-kun?” I said, my face hardening with concern.
“Yeah. I’ll go too.” Kazuki wore the same grimace and nodded.
Kazuki and I skipped our afternoon training and headed to the rescue team quarters with Celia. Having the princess leave the castle without a guard would be dangerous, so Siglis escorted us there.
The rescue team quarters stood amid lush, vibrant trees. There were no people in sight. It was a little eerie, since Usato wasn’t standing in front of the building like he had been when we’d visited the other day.
“Is Usato-sama here?” Celia asked.
“He’s supposed to be, but I don’t see him,” I said.
“Think he’s in the middle of afternoon training?” Kazuki wondered.
“Well, why don’t we find him? If we interrupt their training, we can simply go back to the castle. Siglis-san, won’t you lead the way?” I asked Siglis.
“As you wish. Follow me,” he answered.
Eager to quickly check on Usato, we followed Siglis through the lush trees to the rescue team training grounds. Celia’s eyes sparkled as she took in the outdoors. She was normally secluded in the castle and must have been excited by this change of scenery.
“Wow! This is incredible, Kazuki-sama!” she exclaimed.
“Celia-sama, you must stay close to me at all times,” Siglis reminded her.
“Oh Siglis, don’t be so overprotective!” she quipped.
She was the country’s princess, after all. I could understand why he was being overprotective. Siglis continued leading the way wearing a troubled expression.
“Sorry about all this, Siglis-san.”
“No need to apologize. I have matters to discuss with Rose, so it is no trouble at all. The training grounds are up ahead. I believe that is where Usato-sama will be,” Siglis said, pointing straight ahead.
“Okay!” Kazuki replied.
I had just been wondering how much Usato had improved since I last saw him when we stepped out of the woods. Siglis was pointing. I looked in that direction and saw a clearing about thirty meters wide. Usato was doing push-ups right in the middle of it. Kazuki and I should’ve shouted for joy as we stood side by side, but we didn’t. We were totally silent.
“What is the matter?” Celia asked. “What in the world is going on?!”
Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff!
Usato was doing push-ups . . . with a giant boulder on his back! It looked like it was about fifty kilograms. Usato was literally shouldering that boulder by himself. Sitting proudly on top of it was the rescue team captain, Rose!
“Yo. You’re slowin’ down, ya damn slug. Gonna give up just ’cause I gave you more weight?” Rose slyly remarked.
“Who the hell said . . . that I’m giving up?!” Usato hissed.
“Save your breath.” Rose said bluntly.
“Tch.” Usato was too annoyed to respond.
Did he just talk back to Rose? Is that really you in there, Usato? Is this the same boy we had fun banter with right before we were summoned? Where did that sweet Usato go?
“Oh? Did I just hear you say ‘tch,’ like yer angry or somethin’?” Rose mused.
“You’re so light I forgot you were there, Rose-san. It slipped out by accident.”
“Aww, I’m light. What a nice thing to say. If it’s that easy for you, why don’t we add summore weight?” Rose stepped onto the ground. Then she picked up an enormous cement block nearby and effortlessly chucked it onto Usato’s back.
The block fell on him with a thud, his arms shaking as his body sunk to the ground. Even so, he wouldn’t be bested; he gnashed his teeth together and continued doing push-ups. As Rose watched him do this, she broke into a satisfied grin.
“You know what? Yer really becoming my type of man. At this rate, I’ll be able to take ya there in no time. Hm? What’re you doing here?” Rose said, finally noticing us.
Did she just say he’s her type? Don’t tell me she’s forcing this grueling training on him to make him her ideal man.
We were all at a total loss. Instead of walking into a fantastical adventure, we had walked into an intense scene about training in martial arts. Kazuki rubbed his eyes in disbelief, wondering if what he’d seen was a dream. I was also dumbfounded myself.
Usato looked like an average high schooler, yet here he was doing push-ups. His eyes gleamed with anger. After seeing this, who wouldn’t want to run in fear? As this scene unfolded before us, army commander Siglis angrily walked toward Rose.
“Hey. What’s an old fart like you doing here, Siglis? Why’d you bring the heroes and the princess to my turf?” Rose asked casually.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Siglis fumed.
“Hm?” Rose seemed confused.
“I said, what the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Siglis shouted as he grabbed her by the collar. “Breaking the spirits of promising young men? You should be ashamed!”
I could understand why Siglis was angry. What she was subjecting Usato to wasn’t “training.” It was torture. As Siglis firmly grasped Rose’s collar, she reverted to a blank expression and then grabbed him by the arm. His armor crinkled loudly and twisted in her hand, but he held her collar tight without so much as glancing at the warping armor.
“Get your hands off me,” she said bluntly. “You gotta grand sense of chivalry, I get it. But don’t you dare try forcing that shit on me. I do things my own way, and this here’s my right-hand man. Wouldn’t be the case if he couldn’t clear these easy trials.”
“Right-hand . . . man?” Siglis looked confused.
“That’s right. This kid’s a diamond in the rough. He perseveres like a champ and never calls it quits. He’s got what it takes to clear my training. Already has my stamp of approval.”