"What a coincidence, young man. I didn't expect we'd run into each other at this time."
"I think it's quite a coincidence too, old man..."
"I really didn't expect you to get up this early. Could it be you have the same morning jogging habit as me?"
"..."
"Hmm? From your expression, did I say something I shouldn't have?"
"No, that's not it—It's just that I didn't have this habit before, but starting today I should have it..."
"Why?"
Why?
I'd really like to know why too...
According to the so-called Equal Contract rules—
Himmel, running at nearly supersonic speed around the central area of the castle on the Heaven Vein Dragon's back...
After hearing the question from the Hero of the South beside him, who seemed to be casually strolling alongside—
Fell into speechlessness.
Yeah...
What exactly did I, at only seventeen years old, do to make the Goddess send down such punishment?
And what exactly is this Equal Contract I've never heard of?
"What's wrong? Is it inconvenient to talk about?"
The Hero of the South during his morning jog raised an eyebrow, somewhat curious about Himmel's strange behavior.
Although the Hero of the South, as humanity's strongest, could undoubtedly be trusted,
Recalling what he had written in Agusheed's study yesterday—
After sobering up, Himmel had roughly guessed that this was due to his own doing.
And perhaps...
Mr. Agusheed really would use this as a basis for testing him.
After remaining silent for a long time, Himmel, who ultimately decided to hide the truth, smiled bitterly,
Then gave a polite response to this inquiring senior beside him.
"There's nothing inconvenient to talk about..."
Himmel, frantically running, barely managed to spare effort to slowly turn his head toward the Hero of the South beside him.
He forced a natural smile and struck a relatively handsome pose,
Then told the Hero of the South his prepared excuse—
"Old man, have you seen the 4 AM sun on the Heaven Vein Dragon's back?"
Hmm?
Although he immediately recognized that Himmel's words were meant to deflect,
Hearing his own famous saying come from Himmel...
The Hero of the South couldn't help but scratch his chin with interest.
Since he had no intention of pursuing any junior's secrets,
He, who had slowed down his speed ten-fold just to chat with Himmel, simply smiled slightly,
Choosing to go along with Himmel in skipping this topic.
"Now that you mention it, I've indeed seen less of it these years."
"Ten-odd years ago, I used to see it every day..."
BOOM!!
The Hero of the South's gentle voice was directly interrupted by the sudden appearance of Annihilation Lightning.
Himmel, who had been chatting with him beside him, instantly became convulsed all over, unable to stop.
[Please follow the contract and run 100 laps around the Heaven Vein Dragon castle central area during 4:00-6:00]
[In exchange for obtaining "Escald Flow Swordsmanship Complete Guide" (Elementary)]
[...]
[Friendly reminder: Please do not converse with others during the long run]
[Otherwise, you will be considered in breach of contract and subject to Annihilation Lightning Release Magic punishment]
[...]
[Final reminder: Please immediately enter a state of complete concentration, or you will receive double Annihilation Lightning Release Magic punishment]
[...]
[Three, two, one]
[Annihilation Lightning Release Magic, two percent power—]
[Release!!]
Being electrocuted all over in a refreshing way, yet perfectly timed not to affect his condition, Himmel felt somewhat helpless.
Having completely exposed his lie in front of the Hero of the South, he smiled awkwardly,
Then looking at those lines of dark, eerie text he had ignored while talking with the Hero of the South...
Himmel pointed forward at the culprit responsible for all this under the increasingly curious gaze of the Hero of the South.
"Alright... mmm!!"
"I'm actually doing this because I have no choice, hmph!!"
"Senior... ahhhhh!! Do you know... ahhhhh!! what an... ahhhhh!! Equal Contract is?"
"Old man... ahhhhhhh!! Can you see the text in front of me?"
Looking at Himmel in front of him, intermittently screaming while trying to convey information...
The Hero of the South, finding the situation increasingly interesting, looked where he pointed.
Nothing there, completely blank.
Magic That Can See the Future, activate—
The result remained unchanged.
"How did you manage to anger the teacher?"
The Hero of the South, confirming his inner speculation was correct, showed a light smile.
He had momentarily thought this might be Frieren having a tantrum with the junior in front of him...
But since even Magic That Can See the Future couldn't find the cause,
It could only be Agusheed taking action personally.
Although he had never heard of what an Equal Contract was...
Given that Himmel was being punished with Annihilation Lightning just for saying a few extra words to him—
The Hero of the South speculated this should be some special magic Agusheed mastered or some magic tool he didn't know about.
This junior is really unlucky...
What exactly did he do to make the usually good-tempered teacher treat him this way?
"I don't know either ahhhhhhh!!!!!"
Himmel's scream once again interrupted the Hero of the South's thoughts.
"I just filled out a time schedule ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!"
The blue-haired hero was on the verge of tears under successive intensified Annihilation Lightning strikes.
However, although he was electrocuted several more times,
He had completely confirmed the answer from the Hero of the South—
The culprit was himself in Agusheed's study yesterday.
Recalling Agusheed's expression and surprise at the time,
Himmel felt that probably even he hadn't expected him to push himself to this extent.
But since Agusheed didn't stop it—
That meant everything he was experiencing now had become part of the test.
So no matter what, he had to persevere to the end.
But... this didn't seem to be entirely punishment—
Glancing at the very conspicuous completion 'reward' in the dark text before him—
"Escald Flow Swordsmanship Complete Guide..."
Himmel murmured this unfamiliar name softly.
He suddenly remembered seeming to hear Agusheed mention this term yesterday in the study.
"So... I really brought this upon myself?"
The blue-haired hero smiled bitterly,
Then looking at the countdown starting again before him [Three, two, one]—
No longer puzzled and not wanting to experience electrocution again, Himmel endured the tingling sensation in his body.
He turned his head and smiled apologetically at the Hero of the South beside him.
The young hero, thinking this might relate to whether he could successfully achieve his dreams in the future, waved goodbye to his senior
Then reluctantly entered a focused state—
Running forward without looking back.
—
"How interesting..."
"Did that junior just mention 'Escald Flow Swordsmanship Complete Guide'?"
"'Escald'..."
"Is it the 'Escald' I'm thinking of?"
Looking at Himmel in the distance getting hit hard by Annihilation Lightning again,
The Hero of the South didn't catch up.
He maintained his speed, softly repeating the surname he had just heard from Himmel's murmur...
Connecting the name Himmel initially mentioned with his understanding of Agusheed,
Almost instantly—
The Hero of the South had a rough guess about the Equal Contract.
"Equal Contract—"
"This name plus the teacher's personality..."
"I understand. So that's how it is..."
The Hero of the South stopped, watching Himmel's figure almost disappearing from his view in the distance.
"You get rewards just by working hard—could there really be such a good thing?"
—Just from the single surname 'Escald',
The Hero of the South guessed the essence of the Equal Contract.
The reason was simple.
Because Himmel should not know this surname under any circumstances.
Because this surname had been virtually unknown for four hundred years.
"Unified Empire, the 'Sword Saint' family..."
"The teacher really is unexpectedly generous."
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates