Chapter 140: I decline

“Is everyone with me?”

The bald instructor asked, looking around.

Seeing that he had the attention of everyone, the instructor smiled before stepping back and sitting on the chair that had been placed near him.

“Can you all see the trees lining the perimeter of the ground?”

On his words, everyone turned their attention to spot tiny trees, which were quite a distance away from them.

“You just have to run from here till you reach that boundary, then circle around them and simply return here.”

“That’s it?”

One of the students asked in disbelief.

Though the distance was huge, the training felt quite simple. Maybe the instructor was being lenient with them as it was their first training session.

“Yes, that will complete your first lap. And you just have to do it a hundred times.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

The words were spoken in a fluid motion, with no interruptions in between.

It took some time for everyone to properly process the instructions given to them.

“Did he just say a hundred laps?”

One of the students asked in a cracked voice.

“No.”

Another replied, making the previous guy sigh in relief.

“He said a hundred times.”

“…”

But the relief was short-lasting, as the words were clear to everyone.

“Isn’t that too—”

“One hundred and ten laps.”

The bald instructor interrupted the student, his face still having the same old disarming smile plastered all over it.

“But, sir—”

“One hundred and twenty laps.”

“…”

“…”

“Fuck!”

A single sound sliced through the calm silence.

“One hundred and thirty laps.”

No one spoke.

I too just observed the exchange in silence.

Looking at the instructor, I felt his training methods were similar to mine. And true to the thought, Diana’s gaze was already directed at me, her eyes boring holes into the back of my head.

Still, thinking back, Arthur too had adapted a similar approach at the start of my training.

Maybe… the people in this world had a fetish for such things.

I wasn’t one to blame.

As the instructor waited for someone to speak, I moved in silence.

Every head turned to look at me, though I kept my cool as my legs slowly made their way to the very front.

The baldy, seeing me, raised a brow, but still had his previous smile that was now directed at me.

Not looking at him, I picked up my pace, running to complete the target.

The moment I began to run, I could sense Noah joining me from behind.

Then another girl stepped in, and like that, one after the other, the entire class was on the move.

“And yes, don’t use your mana or else the laps will be increased by fifty every time someone tries to cheat!”

The instructor’s shout echoed across the entire area.

No one was stupid enough to go against his words, as the guy had proved himself to be a pure sadistic bastard who might have been enjoying seeing others suffer.

Personally, I didn’t feel anything, as such a run was below my average routine under Arthur’s training regime.

I had already covered half the distance, and the trees that previously felt like tiny sticks were now clearly visible to me.

With every passing second, I was increasing my pace, leading to everyone else being left behind.

Well… not everyone.

I could clearly sense Noah running closely behind me, though that distance was shortening with every heartbeat.

“You sure are fast, Kael. Isn’t it fun to run in the open?”

Noah was now running just beside me, his steps matching mine.

After increasing the initial pace, I had decided to maintain a constant speed so as not to tire out my body with unnecessary movements.

Noah too seemed to have taken a similar approach, though in his case, matching my speed was his prime goal.

His voice was as cheerful as ever, with his lips stretched in the same bright smile.

“It is.”

I replied.

Noah was taken aback for a second, as he hadn’t expected an immediate reply from me.

On my side, I wasn’t petty enough to ignore him if he was making such desperate attempts at small talk.

“Does Diana train with you every day?”

After composing himself, Noah questioned me again.

Why was each of my interactions with him always filled with questions?

Nodding my head, I increased my pace a bit, but Noah quickly caught up with me.

“What do you train exactly?”

Another question.

“Ask her.”

I politely declined, putting no effort into explanation.

“Ah… yes, she can tell too… hahaha… that was stupid of me.”

Noah let out an awkward chuckle.

“I just want to ask, and you can decline if you want—”

“I decline.”

If he was already giving the option, was there any need to think about it?

Silence.

Noah seemed to have come to the end of his patience, as he didn’t try to release another of his situation-diffusing chuckles.

I didn’t know why, but talking with this guy was fun.

I knew he didn’t like me, but still wanted to talk to me.

And what possible reason could be behind that?

The typical protagonist way—

’Learn from the rivals.’

’Surpass them with your cheats.’

’And then make them bow before you, with the banner of justice behind your back.’

Disgusting.

These justice lovers only learned the hard way.

Testing Noah’s limits had now become an amusing thing for me.

Reaching the boundary of the trees, I had began to circle around them.

And then—

The second half of the lap was on the way.

Haa…

Running really hit different.

All your muscles working together always gave me that unique feeling of pleasure.

The instructor was soon visible in the distance, as I had nearly completed my first lap.

It was far easier than I had previously thought.

Still, there were more to do.

“That’s some speed you have there.”

“…”

I stopped before the instructor, who had his eyes fixed on me.

Just nodding my head once, I began my second lap, awaiting the actual training that would soon follow.

Noah too had begun his next lap.

The guy had now gone silent, his entire focus on the run.

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