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I’m A Villager, So What? – Chapter 36 – part 4

The next morning. The time was 6 o’clock.
45 students from the bottom class were gathered on the grounds of the old school building.
After doing some simple stretches for about 15 minutes, they were supposed to run three laps around the perimeter of the school building.

「But, Ryuto-kun… Isn’t it strange?」

asked Saegusa, the exchange student from the East.
By the way, I haven’t spoken to Arthur and Brian since last night.

「Strange? What do you mean?」

「Look.」

As she said that, Saegusa pointed outside the school building.

「Beyond the perimeter wall… Once you’re 50 meters away from the school building… It’s a different world. It’s called the Maze of Lost Souls, a vast forest where monsters roam. But…」

「Inside the school building… or rather, within 50 meters from the perimeter wall, there are no trees or monsters entering, right?」

「That’s right! That’s right!」

「It seems that during the previous Great Calamity, this school building was the final defense line to determine whether an entire country would be abandoned. An abnormally powerful sacred barrier was erected.」

「I see, I see.」

Saegusa nodded repeatedly with great interest.

「By the way, didn’t they mention it during orientation? Pay attention next time.」

Saying that, I lightly tapped Saegusa’s head with my fist.

「Ouch… That hurts…」

I wonder why. This guy smells the same as Lilith.

It’s like, hitting him with a fist is allowed, or rather, if I don’t hit him, the conversation won’t progress…

「Well, leaving that aside… What about Lilith? You guys are roommates in the girls’ dormitory too, right?」

In response to my question, Saegusa clapped his hands and said,

「Oh, she has low blood pressure. Morning practice… pass.」

They look a bit similar, and I almost burst out laughing.

I thought she was just a small animal, but Saegusa seems to have a skill that shouldn’t be underestimated.

And then, I noticed something odd.

「You said ‘pass’… Is it really possible to pass?」

Yes, Saegusa nodded.

「She’s in the special scholarship class. And for special scholarship students, this training camp is optional.」

「Oh, I see.」

「And… special scholarship students can even choose which training items to participate in. If they don’t choose, everything will be replaced with self-study.」

「Hey, wait a minute…」

I was speechless.

「Seriously, is that so?」

「It seems that allowing capable individuals to have freedom helps them grow. On the other hand, they squeeze out the ones who aren’t good enough to the limit…」

「You have a point.」

Letting out a sigh, I declared.

「Starting tomorrow, I will have her join us.」

「What do you mean by that? Lilith-san is actually excellent, so rather than doing unreasonable thing like muscle training, it’s better for her to learn magic by herself…」

「It’s not bad, you know. This daily routine.」

「…What do you mean??」

「It’s not bad. This training menu.」

After thinking for a while, Saegusa asked,

「Why do you think so?」

「In this system, if you can exceed the standards set by the academy, the training camp will end in one month, but if you doesn’t meet the standards, it will be extended for another month, right?」

「That’s right. I certainly heard that it’s something like that. If you can’t meet the standards even after six months, you will have to voluntarily withdraw… so what about it?」

「To be frank,」I spoke to Saegusa,

「How many people here are talented enough to become royal magicians or a first-rate adventurers?」

「…Almost none. In the first place, such people would be in the upper class from the beginning.」

「Assuming that you can successfully clear this course, and you proceed to the normal course before graduating, the best option for you is to become an adventurer, and at worst you will be a third-rate, right?」

「…Probably.」

「And if you drop out here, you would either become a laborer or a fourth-rate adventurer, no?」

「…」

「Whether you clear this course or you drop out, most of the people here will be doing physical work either way.」

「So?」

「And, during the growth period of six months, if you train hard, you can build up your physique to a certain extent. Whether you clear this course or drop out, become an adventurer or a laborer… no matter which path you choose… the training we undergo here won’t be in vain.」

「…I see.」

「Moreover, the main purpose here is to glimpse the potential for magic talent. Some may bloom in a matter of days, while others may take months.」

「…」

「Well, if everyone had the talent, it might be good to focus on magic-related training from the beginning. But if we do that, those who fall behind… it would be a complete waste, so that’s how it is.」

「…」

「You are… Amazing… Lute-kun.」

Perhaps sighing from admiration, Saegusa let out a glamorous sigh.

「I… have never even thought about it that way.」

After thinking for a while, Saegusa tilted her head.

「By the way, why is Lilith joining us tomorrow? Isn’t it better for talented individuals like her to polish their magic skills through self-study?」

「She’s special. Both Lilith and I.」

「Special?」

「Well, you’ll find out eventually.」

To be honest, I feel like I’ve done everything I can to become stronger. While there is still room for Lilith to grow, she has already completed everything that can be done using the facilities of the Magic Academy.

And in the field we have been neglecting pure physical strength, both Lilith and I naturally find it convenient.
Cordelia mentioned that weight training is included in her daily routine as a basic, and I also think it is a meaningful activity to some extent.

So, one month of fine-tuning is really not a bad thing.

「Well, it’s about time.」

Looking at the clock on the outer wall of the school building, the time was 6:15.

「…Morning run… was it?」

「Yeah. If you can’t finish the run by 7:30, the group member’s breakfast will be cut in half because of joint responsibility. I don’t really know what Arthur and Brian will say about that. That said, it’s only ten kilometers. If your stamina is like everyone else, you’ll be fine.」

In reality, converting to a pace of 1000 meters, it’s about 7 minutes and 30 seconds.
Even in a world where pure muscular strength is disregarded, it’s hard to believe that a 16-year-old youth who leads a normal daily life wouldn’t be able to accomplish this.

From what I can see, there is no extreme obesity among them, and it’s likely that everyone can clear it with ease.
Well, considering that it happens multiple times a day, the fatigue would be considerable during the evening run… but well, that can be somewhat mitigated with recovery magic.

At that moment, Misae lowered her eyelashes and her voice almost disappeared.

「About that…」

「Hm?」

「I, I grew up in an environment where I never held anything heavier than chopsticks and a rice bowl.」

For a moment, I couldn’t understand what she meant.
That’s why I let out a dumbfounded sound.

「…Eh?」

「Naturally, let alone running, I have never done anything like walking long distances.」

I froze for a while.
For a few seconds, Saegusa’s words resonate in my head meaningfully.

「…In short?」

While looking apologetic from the bottom of her heart,

「I can never… be able to run ten kilometers.」

As expected, I have no choice but to surrender about this.
That’s right, the exchange student from the east: Saegusa Koharu was a child who couldn’t do any exercise because she was a sheltered girl.