Kate, despite her almost zombie-like regenerative ability, had the basic stamina of an ordinary person.

Even running for just five minutes left her gasping for air as if she were about to collapse. Though she could use divine power to recover, she would still quickly become winded. Yet, what was surprising was that she somehow managed to keep up.

Cardio exercise wasn’t easy, and depending on how it was done, it could become incredibly intense. For instance, instead of jogging slowly, maintaining 80% of a full sprint, or accelerating the flow of mana in the body, turned it into high-intensity training.

The reason skilled fighters could battle for three days and nights lay in such techniques. They never went all-out from the start and had an almost absurd capacity for endurance, paired with the optimal distribution of stamina.

Even I, with my endurance-focused workouts, could handle intense activity all night long. For those who practiced martial arts, it was even more remarkable.

At the moment, I was focusing less on increasing my stamina outright and more on how to manage and distribute it. There were limits to merely upgrading the "hardware."

Even with divine power generously provided by the gods, how you used it made all the difference. That’s why I made it a point to train regularly whenever time allowed.

"Haah… haah… ugh…"

"Are you alright?"

"Yes… I’m fine."

It was inevitable that Kate, with no foundation in physical fitness, would struggle like this. Surprisingly, she had asked us not to hold back or make accommodations for her.

Her lack of basic stamina was offset by her ridiculously high regenerative power, allowing her to keep going, albeit barely. Still, I couldn’t help but worry—what if she suddenly just collapsed?

"Clerics are fundamentally people of great endurance…"

More specifically, devout religious individuals tended to have remarkable patience. They carried deep within them a steadfast faith in their gods, combined with a disciplined, ascetic lifestyle.

This was why holy knights of the church were often treated far better than ordinary knights. They followed divine commands without complaint, no matter how arduous the task.

They could also heal themselves, making them incredibly versatile in battle. Kate’s ability to keep up despite her near-collapse was likely due to this same principle.

Normally, a sound mind resided in a sound body, but Kate was the exact opposite. Her weak physical state was supported by an unshakable will. With time and consistent effort, she’d likely grow stronger—of that, I was certain.

"Haah… haah…"

However, even divine power couldn’t stop her from sweating buckets. Her hair was drenched, and the workout clothes she had borrowed from Adelia were soaked through.

A strong mind could build a strong body, but overexertion risked damaging it. Without sufficient stamina to support it, sheer willpower was meaningless. Push too hard, and the body would give out before the spirit.

It wasn’t even winter; the blazing summer sun made things even more grueling. With plenty of time on our hands, it seemed like a good moment for a break.

I signaled to Adelia, who nodded in agreement.

"Let’s take a short break here."

"Haah… yes, understood."

Kate’s expression immediately lit up with relief at the announcement. Even with her remarkable mental fortitude, this was high-intensity training for her.

Steel may grow stronger with repeated hammering, but the same wasn’t true for a person’s mind. A single crack could leave lasting scars.

Even someone like Kate, with her exceptional regenerative abilities, wasn’t immune. Regeneration could heal wounds, but it couldn’t erase the memory of pain.

As Kate caught her breath, I scanned our surroundings. Perhaps because we were openly exercising, a small crowd had gathered at a distance to watch.

At least they weren’t approaching us directly. Most of them just whispered amongst themselves or stared as if watching a celebrity. None dared to come closer, likely deterred by the academy guards keeping a watchful eye.

The academy always received notice of my outings, so people were unlikely to approach unless I initiated contact.

"Even if it feels burdensome now, I suppose I’ll grow used to it eventually."

Humans were creatures of adaptation. A few weeks of this, and even the constant stares would become something I could tolerate.

"Ahh… I finally feel alive again," Kate sighed.

As I turned my head, I couldn’t help but notice something striking. Kate, in an attempt to cool off, had partially removed her top, revealing a light, breathable undershirt.

Though not provocative in intent, her well-proportioned figure naturally drew the eye. It wasn’t lewd, but rather… impressive.

Still, the holy aura Kate emanated seemed to suppress any improper thoughts. Instead of lust, the reaction was more akin to appreciation—"Ah, so she has a nice figure."

"Feeling tired?" I asked.

"My body is tired, but my mind feels sharp."

"Your mental and physical strength are both outstanding. They’re so exceptional that they’ve been compensating for your physical limitations. I’ve never seen a case like this before, but you’re doing great."

Adelia handed Kate a water bottle she had prepared in advance. While Adelia herself was slightly sweaty from the heat, she didn’t show any signs of real fatigue.

Kate nodded and drank the water cautiously, as if it were lifeblood.

As Adelia had pointed out, Kate was a unique case. Most people trained their bodies first before developing their mental fortitude, but she had taken the opposite path.

"If you feel too strained, let us know. We can stop anytime," Adelia advised.

"I can’t let my struggles inconvenience either of you…"

"Kate, as someone who’s supposed to guard me, it’s unacceptable for you to be too exhausted to do your duty. Understood?"

"…Understood. I’ll work harder from now on."

Motivated, Kate resolved to put in more effort. From now on, she would likely join us in regular weekend workouts.

Exercise was always more motivating when done with a group. If I had been alone, I probably wouldn’t have even left the dormitory.

After the break, as Kate finished her water, I smiled at her and said, "Shall we start running again?"

"…Yes," she replied, her tone steady but her response slightly delayed, betraying her fatigue.

I chuckled at her effort and began jogging again. Adelia fell in step beside me, while Kate followed behind, sweating profusely but keeping pace.

"Honestly, I don’t see much danger here," I thought, glancing around as we ran.

Even on this scenic route, the presence of other joggers and walkers created a lively atmosphere. Encounters were brief, with people passing each other or changing paths to avoid collisions.

Crowded areas, like bustling streets, weren’t part of our routine. The likelihood of a sudden attack by demon worshippers seemed very low.

"Maybe it’s okay to make a quick stop…"

I considered visiting a store to pick up some manuscript paper. It wasn’t far, and Adelia could easily escort me if necessary.

But just as I started planning to run for another 30 minutes before heading out—

Thunk.

"Ugh."

I tripped. Whether it was because I’d been lost in thought or had missed a protruding stone, I wasn’t sure. My balance tilted forward, and I was about to faceplant into the ground when—

Grab!

Two hands caught my clothes at the same time, stopping my fall.

"Are you okay?"

"Are you alright? That surprised me."

It was, as I suspected, both Adelia and Kate who had simultaneously saved me. I regained my balance with their help and offered a sheepish smile.

"Sorry, I was distracted."

"What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing much," I replied evasively, not wanting to admit my thoughts and risk a lecture from Adelia.

She eyed me suspiciously for a moment before resting her hands on her hips.

"Let’s take another short break. It’s about time, anyway. Kate, do you agree?"

"Absolutely," Kate replied without hesitation.

Adelia smirked lightly, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as well.

A cool breeze passed through, helping us cool down further. As Kate drank from her water bottle again, I took the opportunity to scan our surroundings.

This area was mostly used by joggers and walkers, with few buildings and a long pathway lined with large cherry blossom trees. In spring, it would be a breathtaking sight.

Suddenly reminded of Cherry, I thought to myself, "Didn’t these cherry trees come from her family’s estate?"

It seemed likely, as large cherry blossom trees like these were unique to her family.

As peaceful as the moment was, it didn’t last long.

"Ugh…!"

"Huh?"

From somewhere ahead, I heard a groan. Looking up, I saw a man clutching his chest and collapsing to the ground. The peaceful atmosphere shattered in an instant.

Screams erupted around us.

"Aah! Someone call for a cleric!"

Before I could even react, Kate, wearing a serious expression, rushed toward the fallen man. It appeared to be a heart attack, but with Kate—a cardinal—present, he should recover quickly.

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder: how exactly would they treat something like this in this world? Would divine power simply heal him?

Just as I stepped forward, curious to see what would happen—

A sharp whoosh sliced through the air.