Chapter 181: A New Training Regimen

Cairo, Kael, Charlotte, and Lynx left the Student Council together.

"You’re really lucky this time, Kael. I can’t believe the Principal actually gave you permission to attack your fellow students," Cairo remarked, still somewhat surprised by how things had turned out.

He then turned toward Kael.

"I heard your conversation with Raya. I know you plan on attacking her, but she’s strong," Cairo continued, giving Kael a warning.

"I already know she’s strong. But you’re the second-ranked student among the second-years, which means you’re stronger than her. Besides, when we sparred, our fight ended in a draw."

Kael replied with a smug grin.

Cairo immediately hit him on the head.

"What the hell was that for? I wasn’t lying!" Kael complained, sulking as he rubbed the spot Cairo had hit to soothe the pain.

He’s definitely maltreating me on purpose, Kael thought.

"I know I’m ranked second, below the Student Council President, but Raya is faster. Her battle instincts are out of this world, and unlike me, she doesn’t know how to hold herself back. That’s why you rarely hear people talk about her sparring with anyone. I’m telling you this for your own good," Cairo continued.

Kael paused for a moment.

"You just happen to be telling me how good a training partner she might turn out to be," he replied.

"I don’t plan on backing down from any fight," Kael muttered.

Cairo shook his head, already worried about his protégé’s tendency to make random decisions.

"Her last sparring opponent was killed during their duel," Lynx suddenly added.

Cairo immediately turned toward him, his expression clearly asking, Why would you tell him that?

Charlotte grew worried as she looked at Kael.

"Are you sure that’s a good idea? There are other second-years we can ask to supervise us. It doesn’t actually have to be her," she said anxiously.

"No, don’t worry. I don’t really care if her last opponent died. I feel like I can take her. She’ll be the one supervising our party, and if I can’t take her down, I have no business trying to raid a B-rank dungeon."

"Wait a minute. You guys are still first-years! Even second-years need parties to raid B-rank dungeons, and you want to do it on your own?" Cairo asked, feeling as though he had chosen a suicidal individual to be his protégé.

First, he assaults a first-year student and challenges the authority of the Student Council. Now he wants to assault the Student Council Vice President, who is way above his league. And he’s doing all this just to raid a B-rank dungeon as a first-year!

Cairo felt as though he might collapse from stress. He had always thought that managing the Disciplinary Committee and dealing with all the miscreants in the academy who caused trouble would be his greatest challenge. However, Kael seemed to be all those problems combined into one person.

I should really retire from my position, Cairo thought as he walked away without another word.

Lynx watched his departing figure before turning toward Kael and Charlotte.

"You two should handle patrol this evening before returning to your dorms. This is when fights tend to get heated, so be careful," Lynx warned.

He then pointed in the direction Cairo had gone.

"I’ll go and look after Cairo. Who knows what he might do to himself?"

Kael watched him leave before turning toward Charlotte.

"Why does he seem so stressed?"

Charlotte and Lynx had already turned away, but the same thought echoed through their minds.

The problem is asking what the problem is.

Lynx left them alone, leaving only Kael and Charlotte behind.

"Should we go and check up on Lilian?" Kael asked.

"Well, she’ll be starting her training with Miss Stella today. It’s best to meet her later. For now, we need to complete our patrol," Charlotte replied.

"Patrol? Uggghhhhh!"

Kael whined, already feeling lazy at the thought.

"You don’t get to complain. After all, you’ve caused both the Disciplinary Committee and the Student Council a great deal of stress. This can be considered a minor punishment," Charlotte replied with a frown.

Kael sighed.

"Alright, I agree. Let’s go out and see what fun events we can find. If we’re lucky, we might even come across a fight."

"You shouldn’t be excited about fights! Our job is to stop them from happening in the academy, not encourage them!" Charlotte complained as she followed behind him.

However, a small upward curve appeared at the corner of her lips as she walked after Kael.

I’m really curious about how Miss Stella plans to train someone whose main ability revolves around healing, Kael thought silently as their patrol began.

Inside a gravity chamber in the academy’s training area, Miss Stella could be seen pushing Lilian through a series of physical exercises.

"Is this really necessary? I thought we were training my magical abilities," Lilian complained, already feeling the strain of the workout.

"You’re going to participate in the Inter-High Tournament. You should understand that, although it’s called a tournament, it’s more like an event than the one-on-one fights you witnessed during the First-Year Tournament."

Stella watched as Lilian completed another repetition.

"During the competition, you won’t be given the option to surrender. You’ll be disqualified only when the judges determine that you’re no longer fit to continue fighting. That means there’s no protective cushion where you’re teleported away when you come close to death. Students actually lose their lives during this tournament."

Stella’s expression grew serious.

"So, although this training might seem basic, it’s what you need to survive what’s coming."

Lilian continued exercising, trying her best to keep up.

"This training isn’t directly related to your magic. It’s meant to build your stamina to at least D-rank. You might not be a monster like Kael, who can develop all his stats across the board within a matter of months, but this gravity-training method should help you improve your physical attributes and might even accelerate your growth."

Lilian was stunned.

"Kael used to do this?"

"Every day, without fail. He trained under even greater gravity than you’re experiencing now. He’s like a diamond that grows stronger the greater the pressure placed upon it," Stella explained.

Lilian was astonished, but she continued her workout.

I don’t even know how long I’ll be able to keep this up. If Kael could do it, though, there’s no way I can expect to replicate his results. Based on the rumors I’ve heard and my own perception of him, Kael is the very definition of a monster—a talented genius. It would be impossible for me to do what he did.

She continued exercising, although her confidence was beginning to waver.

"You know, it’s funny. Kael chose you in much the same way he chose Charlotte. She also underwent this gravity training and trained alongside Kael in preparation for the First-Year Tournament. That was how she eventually made it into Class A," Stella remarked when she noticed Lilian becoming demotivated.

Wait a minute. Charlotte went through this too?

Lilian’s expression changed.

If she survived it, then so can I.

"I can do this," Lilian muttered as she began pushing herself once more.

Stella noticed the competitive spark in her eyes, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

Well, that seems to have worked. Comparing herself to that human error might have hurt the ego of an ordinary student, but Lilian seems perfect for this. After all, she isn’t a noble.

Stella smiled as she watched Lilian continue training.

Just then, the door to the training room opened, and the Principal stepped inside.

Lilian, who had been exercising on the floor, immediately struggled to her feet.

"Mr. Principal," she tried to greet him, although the words came out awkwardly.

Both Stella and the Principal turned toward her.

Lilian immediately blushed and decided to hide her embarrassment by returning to her training.

Mr. Principal? What the hell was I thinking? she scolded herself internally.

"What are you doing here, Dad? Can’t you see I’m training my student?" Stella asked, turning toward the Principal.

"Dad?! The Principal is your dad?"

Lilian blurted out the words before the increased gravity forced her back down onto the cold floor.

Her outburst caught the attention of both Stella and the Principal once more.

"Did I say that out loud? I’m sorry! Please don’t expel me!" Lilian quickly apologized when she realized she had spoken her thoughts aloud.

"Hahahaha!"

The Principal immediately burst into laughter.

"So, you haven’t told any of your students that you’re actually my daughter? Well, you’ve always hated attention," he remarked to Stella.

He then turned toward Lilian.

"Don’t worry, child. I’m not that petty. Just keep up with your training. I hear you’ll be participating in the upcoming tournament, and I really hope you’ll make our academy proud."

The Principal gave her a fatherly smile.

"Of course! I’ll do my best and train hard!" Lilian replied before immediately returning to her exercises.

"You have yet to tell me why you actually came here," Stella said, turning back toward her father.

The Principal looked at her with an expression of exaggerated disappointment.

"Is that how you greet your father? How cold of you!"

"After all, I really did you a huge favor. I wonder why you favor that student of yours, Kael Draven," the Principal remarked.

"I see. So, you actually did it. In that case, I might need you to do me one more favor," Miss Stella replied.

"And why is that?" the Principal asked.

"What exactly do you hope to accomplish through this?" he continued.

"Take it as the second stage of Kael’s training," Stella said with a smile on her face.