NOVEL WEB Chapter 32.1
Stage 2-1. A Gift Just For You
Beads of sweat trickle down my cheek and drip onto the floor.
In a handstand position, I exhale deeply as I do one-handed push-ups, focusing the strength in my right fingertips.
“99… 100…!”
I switch hands, place both on the ground, and now use my left arm.
One hundred reps again, and that makes one set.
With that, my morning routine is over.
“Ouga-sama, should I add more weight?”
“Not today. This is enough.”
“Understood.”
Alice, who had been holding about 10 kilos of weights, gently sets them down.
At the moment, I have a total of 100 kilos attached to both legs—50 per leg.
Being able to handle this much training is thanks to the body granted by the world.
It’s just my theory, but I believe the world tries its best to maintain balance.
Commoners originally can’t use magic, so there’s no compensation for them. But I’m of noble blood.
In this world, being a noble but unable to use magic is quite a disadvantage.
As compensation, I’ve been granted a superhuman, resilient body.
It’s just a hypothesis, but I don’t think it strays too far from the truth.
Most famous magicians in history were either bad at physical activity or died young.
Mashiro’s catastrophic lack of athletic ability is probably because she has multiple magical aptitudes.
“…Is there something on my face?”
“No, I just find it curious that you don’t have noble blood, Alice.”
“I believe both my parents were commoners… if they were still alive, I could have asked them. My apologies.”
“There’s no need to apologize. Sorry for asking again and again. There are exceptions to every rule.”
Alice has been a muscle-bound gorilla since the day she was born.
Let’s just leave it at that for now.
“…Alright, that’s enough.”
While I was thinking, I reached my target number.
Alice, who had also been counting, removed the weights for me.
As I land lightly on my feet, now free from the weights, she hands me a towel, already prepared.
“I shall wipe you down.”
I could wipe myself, but that would rob her of her duty as a maid.
Besides, having a beautiful woman wipe away my sweat… now that’s an enticing thought.
If she’s willing to do it, I’ll gladly indulge.
This, too, is a pleasure only a noble can afford.
“How are you feeling?”
“No issues. You’ve improved.”
“It’s thanks to you, Ouga-sama.”
Back when Alice was new to the job, she was terribly clumsy, and terrible at gauging her strength.
I doubt I could’ve endured it if I didn’t have this body.
I’m likely the only one in the world who has experienced the rough grinding of a sweat wipe.
Feeling slightly ticklish from the occasional brush of her breath, she continues from top to bottom.
Right now, I’m bare-chested, but I don’t feel embarrassed, probably because of my trained physique or maybe because Alice’s gaze isn’t inappropriate.
“Well, then, I’ll proceed with today’s check.”
Saying that, Alice begins touching my body without hesitation.
This is Alice’s muscle check.
She’s checking to make sure there’s no imbalance or overexertion.
Alice is a professional, having trained countless knights as a Holy Knight. Her battlefield experience is extensive.
Leave it to the experts, as they say, so I trust her with this task.
“No issues. Everything seems in order.”
After stepping back for a final overall inspection, Alice declares that all is well.
“I see. Thanks for your effort.”
“It’s an honor to serve you, Ouga-sama.”
“I’m going to wash off the sweat. Has the package arrived?”
“Yes, everything is in order.”
Good. This time, I’ll succeed.
For the past few days, something’s been weighing heavily on my mind.
While my engagement to Karen is one issue, there’s an even bigger problem looming over me.
An event so depressing that even the pleasure of sweat trickling down my body fades away…
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