"Excellent, very motivated!"
Hearing Garfiel's fighting declaration, Natsuki Subaru nodded in satisfaction.
However, after his fervor cooled slightly, Garfiel couldn't help but ask Subaru curiously:
"By the way, Boss, how long have you been training like this to get so strong?"
"Not long," Natsuki Subaru replied with a straight face, perfectly serious. "About two and a half years, I'd say."
In truth, Subaru knew perfectly well that he had only started this training regimen because the System issued it as a daily quest. All told, he had only been at it for about two months.
Completing the quest every day guaranteed him two stat points, a full status recovery, and a random box reward. This was the core secret to how his strength could skyrocket like a rocket.
But facing Garfiel, he naturally couldn't reveal the truth. Instead, he needed to maintain the reliable image of someone who succeeded entirely through persistent, hard work.
"Sorry, Garfiel, it's not that I want to lie to you, Boss, but this System thing is just too off the charts. You wouldn't believe me even if I told you. It's better to set an example for you that you can get stronger through hard work."
So Natsuki Subaru thought to himself.
"O-Only two and a half years?!"
Shock was written all over Garfiel's face, and a tempest raged within him.
"To reach the Boss's inhuman level in just two and a half years… That's terrifyingly efficient!"
"This is how I did it, one step at a time," Subaru continued sharing his valuable experience, his expression unchanging as he looked at Garfiel's incredulous face. "This training plan sounds simple, but it's extremely difficult in practice. The most crucial part is to persist day after day, rain or shine. While you're training your body, what's more important is to constantly temper your willpower."
This part, at least, was what Subaru truly believed.
The persistence was definitely real; after all, there was a penalty for failing a System quest.
As for willpower, whenever he was about to give up, he would just think of the smiles of Rem, Emilia, and the others, think of the people he needed to protect, and then he could squeeze out a little more strength.
"Willpower?" Garfiel pressed, not understanding. "What does that mean, exactly? Is it about gritting your teeth through the pain?"
"That's right, willpower!" Subaru first affirmed with a nod, then began to elaborate in a serious tone.
"But it's not just about enduring pain. It's the self-control to command yourself to go one more time when your entire body is sore and every cell is screaming for you to stop."
"It's the resolve to step out of your comfort zone and hit the road in harsh weather, be it biting wind or scorching sun. It's the tenacity to show up on time at the training grounds the next day after experiencing failure, setbacks, and even self-doubt. And it's the faith in the meaning of long-term persistence, even when you can't see any immediate hope of getting stronger."
Natsuki Subaru paused, then spoke from his own experience.
"In the beginning, I of course felt intense muscle soreness and exhaustion, both physically and mentally. Countless times, the thought of slacking off, of resting and putting it off until tomorrow, crossed my mind."
"But to increase my strength, I overcame all these difficulties and my own laziness through sheer willpower. Long-term persistence ultimately tempered and strengthened my body and spirit to a great extent. My body became tougher, and my mind became more resilient to pressure and more focused."
This latter part was also, more or less, the honest truth.
Even setting the System aside, if a normal person could strictly adhere to this level of intensity for two and a half years and constantly challenge themselves, the improvement in their physical fitness and mental fortitude would be absolutely transformative.
Yes, just like a certain bald hero from Natsuki Subaru's memory, who trained consistently for three years.
"Er, I think I got a bit carried away…"
Natsuki Subaru shook his head, clearing the stray thoughts from his mind, and looked at Garfiel.
This kid was hot-blooded, simple, and full of energy, and he was at the golden age for laying a foundation. This kind of solid basic training would undoubtedly improve his strength no matter what.
After all, the System couldn't be shared. The only thing he could guide Garfiel with was this purest theory of hard work.
"Boss… I think… I kinda get it." Garfiel looked thoughtful as he listened, connecting it to his own past experiences training alone in the Sanctuary. He seemed to grasp some of the meaning.
"Like when I used to lift, sometimes my arms felt like they couldn't move an inch, but I'd still force myself to do a few more reps. At that moment, I'd have this fire in my gut, just refusing to give up… Is that willpower?"
"Yes, that's the feeling exactly." Subaru immediately nodded and said with certainty, "It's about taking that refusal to give up and turning it into a conscious act in every single training session, every single day, until it becomes your habit."
Speaking of which, the way he allocated points to his strength stat was based on a similar principle, except the System allowed his strength to stack continuously, unrestricted by mortal flesh, giving him nearly limitless room for growth.
As long as he had stat points, he could keep stacking them indefinitely… He wondered if, in the end, he could become strong enough to shatter a star with a single punch.
Natsuki Subaru subconsciously glanced at his own seemingly ordinary fist as an extremely exaggerated thought flashed through his mind, and then he shook his head with a self-deprecating smile.
"Getting a little… ahead of myself."
Of course, Natsuki Subaru had the System's support, making this theory a miracle drug for him. But for Garfiel, its effect might be limited, at best serving as a highly effective basic training method.
But at least it could help him build a solid physical foundation.
After all, on his past world, Earth, those people who sweated buckets in the gym could build quite impressive physiques through persistence and scientific training.
"Remember, Garfiel…" sharing his experience, hoping he could truly benefit from it, "True training requires you to be free from any external interference or influence, to not care about the opinions or ridicule of others, and to remain focused on your own goals and training."
"This pure sense of purpose and unyielding willpower are, in themselves, important factors that will allow you to constantly break through your limits and become stronger!"
"I understand, Boss!"
Garfiel responded loudly, having clearly committed every one of Natsuki Subaru's words to heart.
"Of course…" As if suddenly remembering something, Subaru looked at Garfiel and couldn't help but casually add, "If you can train until you go bald in the end, then you've basically mastered it. You've officially graduated."
"Eh? Why bald?"
Garfiel was completely baffled, utterly unable to comprehend the logical connection between getting stronger and going bald.
"Because—" Natsuki Subaru drew out the word, a profound and mysterious smile on his face. He then turned and walked away with a flourish, leaving Garfiel with a statement that only deepened his confusion, "—When you go bald, you've become strong!"
"Huh? The… The Boss said, I'll be strong when I go bald?"
Garfiel stood there alone, bewildered in the wind. He subconsciously raised a hand to repeatedly stroke his own thick, fluffy blond hair, his face a mask of immense confusion.
"Eh… Do I really need to train to the point of baldness? The price of getting stronger… is my hair?"
Garfiel lowered his head in thought for a moment. The confusion in his eyes gradually gave way to a look of grim determination. He thought of his goals, of the people and places he had to protect, and his gaze became incredibly firm once more. He clenched his fists tightly.
"If this is the price I must pay to become stronger, then I don't care if I go bald in the end. As long as I can get stronger, I can do without my hair."
With that, Garfiel turned and ran toward the training grounds outside the courtyard. Since he had made up his mind, he would start training even harder, right now.
Having already reached the mansion's entrance, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but glance back.
He saw Garfiel sprinting towards the training grounds, his short blond hair tracing a bright arc in the sunlight, his back radiating the passion and persistence of youth.
Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.
"Garfiel, he actually believed it… But that's fine. At least it'll give him more motivation to keep going."
"Thank goodness I have the System's cheat. My path to power doesn't require sacrificing my hairline," Natsuki Subaru muttered to himself, touching his own thick black hair.
"Otherwise, even if my strength reached the pinnacle of this world, having a bald head that could reflect light… That image is too beautiful to imagine."
"After all, good looks are also an important component of combat power. At least during negotiations or intimidation, a handsome face is more persuasive than a shiny bald head… probably."
Just as Natsuki Subaru was lost in these irrelevant and rather narcissistic musings, a soft, petite body suddenly threw itself into his arms.
Although the styles of the two are completely different, the principles are the same.
"Hm?"
The girl in his arms let out a delicate yet slightly lazy call, nuzzling her head against Natsuki Subaru's chest.
The girl had long, golden twin-tails styled into luxurious curls and wore an overly ornate, gorgeous red dress.
Most strikingly, within her light blue pupils were distinctive pink, cherry-blossom-shaped patterns.
Seeing the girl in his arms, a gentle smile unconsciously bloomed on Natsuki Subaru's lips.
"There you are, Beatrice."
"Betty has been here for a while, in fact," Beatrice said, looking up seriously. "After all, comforting Subaru, who works so hard at his training every day, is one of the most important responsibilities of a contract partner, I suppose."
"Oh? So I get my own exclusive comforting service?" Subaru teased with a smile. "Well then, thank you very much, my dear partner."
Beatrice seemed to quite enjoy that title, tilting her chin up slightly.
"Hmph, as long as you know. Therefore, Subaru should accept Betty's comfort with gratitude, in fact."
"Yeah… but speaking of which, it seems like it's already been a week since I formed a contract with you, Beatrice."
Natsuki Subaru looked at the Great Spirit Beatrice in his arms, who had completely let her guard down, and couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
One had to remember that the previous Beatrice had spent nearly four hundred years alone in that dim Forbidden Library, like an exquisite, forgotten statue.
Since forming a contract with him, it was as if Beatrice had been injected with new life, almost never confining herself to that little world of hers anymore.
Now, most of the time, Beatrice either clung tightly to Natsuki Subaru's arm or insisted on walking with their fingers intertwined.
According to Beatrice's theory, which sounded very reasonable but always felt slightly off: A contract spirit must maintain close physical contact with their contractor to more efficiently absorb mana and maintain the stability and balance of their spirit form.
"Why bring that up all of a sudden?"
Beatrice tilted her head, a trace of confusion flashing in her light blue eyes, her long lashes fluttering gently.
"I was just remarking on how quickly time flies. A week has passed since we formed our contract in the blink of an eye."
Subaru smiled and naturally reached out to gently stroke Beatrice's soft golden hair.
"And I'm also sighing from the bottom of my heart that my Beatrice is the cutest in the world today as well~"
It was worth noting that from the start of the series of tense and dangerous events surrounding the Sanctuary until now, time had quietly passed.
In these days, which were neither long nor short, many things had undergone earth-shattering changes, but there were also things that had not changed and had, in fact, grown stronger.
A prime example of what hadn't changed was the ever-deepening bond between Natsuki Subaru and Beatrice, Emilia, Rem, and his other companions.
His connection with Beatrice, in particular, after they had experienced life and death together, confided their innermost secrets, and finally chose each other, had become as solid as tempered steel.
"Subaru is saying the same old things again, in fact. Nothing but nonsense."
Beatrice said this, but like a cat being petted into a state of extreme comfort, she slightly narrowed her blue eyes and even let out a soft, satisfied hum.
"However, Betty's cuteness is a fact as plain as day. You're rarely right about things, but you got that one correct, I suppose."
"Alright, alright, my dearest Betty…"
Natsuki Subaru tried to create a little distance between them, but unexpectedly, Beatrice hugged him even tighter.
"Beatrice, you know… I kind of miss your original, less-than-honest tsundere mode. Could you maybe switch back to it for a little bit?"
Hearing this, Beatrice immediately puffed up her flawless white cheeks, her small, rosy lips pouting high.
"Is Subaru saying he doesn't like the current Betty? Does he think Betty isn't cute anymore, in fact?"
In response, Natsuki Subaru quickly forced a couple of laughs and hurriedly explained:
"No, no, that's absolutely not what I meant. The current Beatrice is super cute, too. I just think you've been especially clingy lately, and I'm just a little unused to it."
"That's because Subaru is Betty's contractor, you know." Beatrice lifted her small head, blinking her pretty and innocent big blue eyes, and told Natsuki Subaru with perfect justification, "Betty has to be with you to absorb mana and survive. Isn't that a very normal and very reasonable need, I suppose?"
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Sorry for the trouble, tomorrow I will send a bonus chapter as compensation.
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