Three weeks have passed since Kazuki, Usato, and I were summoned to this world.

Due to the intensive training over these three weeks, I've become somewhat capable of fighting. However, I have yet to experience real combat against monsters.

Now, training for the morning is over, and we're having lunch in the shade of a tree at a corner of the training ground.

"Kazuki has become quite strong," I note.

"Haha, I'm no match for you, senpai," he replies.

In these two weeks, Kazuki has grown at an extraordinary pace.

Of course, I've also become strong enough to tie with the Kingdom of Ringul's strongest knight, Siglus, and a talented magician, Welcy.

They were holding back, but I remember they were quite surprised by my abilities.

Yet, I still feel it's not enough.

The magic in this country lacks romance. Merely casting a slightly stronger lightning spell receives thunderous applause. Kazuki might blush with embarrassment, but I'm different.

I want to use magic with more freedom and creativity.

"Do I have to create it myself?" I wonder aloud.

"What's the matter, Suzune?"

Oops, it seems my thoughts have slipped out.

The girl who just spoke to me, with blonde hair and blue eyes, is Ceria Bluegust Ringul, the real daughter of King Lloyd.

The reason she's here traces back to after Usato was taken away by Rose.

King Lloyd judged it difficult to retrieve Usato.

Thus, he assigned Siglus, the army commander, and Welcy, a renowned magician, as our instructors.

King Lloyd introduced us to his daughter, Ceria, who is about the same age as us, which led to us becoming friends.

...

After finishing our lunch, Kazuki gazes out at the landscape beyond the castle, looking somewhat melancholy.

I wonder if he's worried about Usato?

"...I wonder how Usato is doing now."

He's quite transparent.

The last time we saw Usato, he looked terribly worn out.

Was life in another world so alien to him, or was the training with the rescue squad that harsh?

"What kind of person is Usato-sama?" Ceria asks, showing interest in him.

Before I can answer, Kazuki, puffing out his chest, starts talking about him.

"He's a friend who came to this world with us. We became friends just a bit before we were summoned."

"From the joy on your face, it seems the rumor that Kazuki-kun has no male friends is true," Ceria teases.

"N-no, that's not true! I have, well, one or two male friends..."

Ceria chuckles at Kazuki's unconvincing denial. Well, I know the truth.

Given Kazuki's school life, even a short association with Usato must be valuable to him.

"A friend, you say. Where did he go?"

"To a place called the rescue squad, I think."

"The rescue squad!?"

"...? Yes, that's right, senpai."

"Right."

Reflecting on it, I was puzzled by Usato's condition when I last saw him.

Having been involved in various sports in my previous world, I had some knowledge about the body structure, particularly muscle composition.

When I last saw Usato, his legs had developed so significantly compared to when we first met that it was hard to believe they belonged to the same person.

His upper body muscles had also been trained, far beyond what could be achieved in a week.

While I admired his progress, it raised questions in me.

Rapid growth over a short period can be detrimental to the body, a concern that crossed my mind...

"I'm worried..."

"Senpai?"

"No, it's nothing. Ceria, you seemed shocked earlier when you heard about the rescue squad... is something wrong?"

Her reaction earlier was not ordinary.

"Well... there have been strange rumors about the rescue squad spreading around the castle recently..."

"Rumors? Like what?"

Ceria knows something about the rescue squad related to Usato.

She hasn't looked us in the eye since mentioning Usato, which makes me wonder if something happened to him.

She hesitantly begins to speak.

"It's just a rumor, but... it's said that a newcomer to the rescue squad has been silently completing training that even the squad members find tough..."

...

"Maybe we should cut today's training short and check on Usato's condition?"

"Yes, let's go."

"I'll come too."

With our muscles tensing, we decide to visit Usato at the rescue squad's barracks, skipping the afternoon training. Given Ceria's status as a princess, it's risky to take her out of the castle, so Siglus accompanies us as a guard.

The rescue squad's barracks are located in a densely wooded area, fitting for the outskirts of the kingdom, and devoid of people.

Usato used to be in front of the barracks, but he's not there now.

"Usato-sama used to be here?"

"Yes, but... he's not here now."

"Isn't it time for afternoon training?"

"Then, let's look for him. If we're in the way, we can just leave. Siglus-san, could you lead the way?"

"Understood. Please follow me."

We don't plan to stay long. Led by Siglus, we walk through the woods to the rescue squad's training ground.

Ceria, usually confined to castle views, looks around curiously and excitedly talks to Kazuki.

"Wow, Kazuki-sama! This is amazing!"

"Indeed."

"Ceria-sama, please don't stray too far from me..."

"Siglus is too overprotective!"

It's understandable for Siglus to be protective of a princess.

Kazuki apologizes to Siglus, who looks troubled.

"I'm sorry, Siglus-san."

"No need to worry. I also have business with Rose... The training ground is ahead. Usato-sama should be there."

"Really!"

Siglus points in a direction.

It's been less than two weeks since we last saw him. I wonder what kind of progress he's made in that time.

Breaking through the forest, we arrive at a clearing about 30 meters in diameter.

It's a training ground set amidst nature, perfectly sized for the elite rescue squad.

In the center, Usato is doing push-ups... but Kazuki doesn't shout for joy.

And neither do I.

"..."

"What's happening? Everyone, what's going on in front of―――"

Ceria peeks ahead and, like us, loses her words.

Before us is a scene...

"Ngghh...!"

"Oi, you're slowing down. What, are you a caterpillar? Don't start whining just because we added more weight."

"Who said I'm whining!!"

"Stop yapping."

Usato struggles with push-ups, which wouldn't be odd on its own. The problem is the block-shaped large rock on his back, possibly weighing about 50 kilos, with Rose, the rescue squad leader, sitting smugly on it.

"..."

"What, did I just hear a sigh!?!"

That sigh came from Usato, the usually gentle soul. Is he still the same Usato, or has he been possessed by some malevolent spirit?

"I'm just surprised at how light Rose-san is... I couldn't help but sigh."

"Oh, you're flattering me. If you've got that much spare energy, I can add more weight without a problem!"

Rose descends and adds another rock to the pile.

With a grimace but undeterred, Usato continues his push-ups, earning a beaming smile from Rose.

"He's shaping up quite nicely to my taste. Soon he'll be ready for that place... Hm? You guys are..."

Kazuki rubs his eyes, unable to believe the scene before him.

It's understandable. The typically mild-mannered Usato is now fiercely doing push-ups. Wanting to escape from reality is only natural.

But only Siglus, the knight commander, approaches Rose with an angry look.

"Yo, Siglus. What brings the Hero and the Princess to a place like this?"

"What are you doing?"

"What?"

"What are you doing, I ask! You're ruining a young man with potential!"

Siglus grabs Rose by the collar.

It's understandable for Siglus to be angry. What Rose is doing to Usato isn't just training; it's more like torture.

Rose grabs Siglus's arm with a plain grip, twisting his gauntlet with sheer strength.

"Let go. I don't hate your chivalrous spirit, but don't push it on me. I have my ways. Plus, I'm making him my right-hand man. He needs to handle this much, or it'll be a problem for me."

"Right-hand man...?"

"That's right. He's a gem I finally found. His stubbornness is good, his refusal to give in is good, and he's officially passed my training."

I take a step back, overwhelmed by Rose's determination.

Siglus tries to shake off Rose's hand without flinching.

"Madman! I was ordered by the king to bring you back to the army, but it seems impossible now!"

"Haha, I can't even open my right eye, so it was impossible from the start."

"Nonsense!"

Rose points to her right eye, scarred and closed, refusing to return to the army because of it.

"Hmph," Siglus turns back to us, worried for Ceria.

"I need to cool off. Princess, stay close to Kazuki."

"Yes..."

"I'll be back soon."

Saying that to Ceria, Siglus disappears into the forest, knowing staying would likely lead to a fight with Rose.

"Now that Siglus is gone, Hero and Princess, did you need something?"

"It's not "something". Hey, making me your right-hand man, what's that about? If I become your right-hand man, I'll gift Rose-san my right punch. Go ahead, if you want a right-hand man, offer your face with joy!"

"Should I give you a gift first? ...Though, I'd like to, but I'll head back first."

Rose, initially confronting Usato with a fist, changes her mind upon seeing us and heads back to the barracks.

Watching her leave, we approach Usato, who's putting down the weight and stretching.

"Are you okay, Usato-kun?"

"I'm fine, but... who is this person?"

Usato tilts his head upon seeing Ceria, who came with Kazuki and me.

"I am Ceria Bluegust Ringul. Please call me Ceria, Usato-sama."

"Sama... and you're Lord Lloyd's...?"

"Yes. His daughter."

Usato panics a bit upon hearing she's the king's daughter. Being addressed formally by a woman for the first time is probably new to him.

Kazuki also seems confused.

After Ceria tells Usato to treat her normally, he reluctantly agrees.

"By the way, how are Kazuki and the others' training going? I can kind of tell everyone's gotten stronger, but..."

"..."

"Why are you silent?"

We can't say.

We can't tell him our training isn't as harsh as what he's going through... It's not easy, of course?

The training we undergo is carefully designed not to harm our bodies while efficiently increasing our combat effectiveness. Usato's training is different.

It disregards the body's limits, dangerous and only possible for someone with healing magic. Considering the excessive training and rumors from the past three weeks, it's likely he's been undergoing it all this time.

His physique might not seem much different, but I can tell his body has undergone an incredible transformation in these three weeks.

Curious, I reach for his T-shirt.

"Excuse me, Usato-kun."

"Eh? What's going on, Inugami-senpai... Ah!?"

I lift Usato's shirt, and Ceria blushes at the sight.

"...I see."

The muscle damage from excessive training, forcibly healed by magic, resulted in densely woven muscle fibers, capable of extraordinary strength and endurance.

"You've transformed, Usato-kun. Amazing muscles...!"

"Are you excited, Inugami-senpai?"

"No, no, to achieve this in such a short period... I'm impressed."

Truly, the extent of his conditioning is remarkable.

"Suzune-sama... What did you do?"

"Sorry, Ceria. Even I don't understand sometimes. Senpai occasionally drifts away."

Frustrated, Usato forcibly removes my hands.

A bit disappointed, but I decide to step back.

I can't afford to be disliked by him.

"Ha. But it's good to see everyone's doing well."

"Usato seems... fine."

"Hahaha, lately, that's the only thing I've got going for me."

Usato laughs energetically without showing any signs of fatigue.

...He seems okay. Despite the harsh training, he's adapted well here.

Convinced there's no need to worry, we decide to leave and look for Siglus.

"Well, it seems our concerns were unfounded. Let's head back."

"Worried? Well, no matter. Next time, I'll visit you guys. I want to see the castle's training too."

"Please do come..."

Looking towards the castle, Usato seems distant. Ceria whispers, "What a person," shivering.

She probably didn't want to show the knights' training to him, fearing it might lower their morale. After finishing our conversation and deciding to look for Siglus, a large man approaches from the woods, carrying what looks like a lunchbox.

"Is that..."

"Do you know him, Usato?"

"Oi! The kind-hearted me brought your lunch!!"

I see a vein pop on Usato's forehead.

Though our acquaintance is short, I know Usato to be a gentle person. Seeing him now, enraged and confronting the tall man, I thought I was dreaming.

But reality is cruel.

Usato's harsh words towards the man confirm it.

"How dare you bring my lunch!! You wooden puppet!! Remember what happened a week ago, you moron!!"

"What? I don't understand a thing! Speak in simpler terms, you idiot!!"

"If I make it any simpler, it'll be baby talk. Oh, right, Tong-kun, your head is filled with cotton, not brains!"

"You!"

"Tong-kun's head is full of cotton candy~!!"

"Give me your face!!"

"Bring it on!!"

"Is that... Usato? ...Ah, ah, Usato is laughing, talking..."

"Stay focused, Kazuki-sama! What should we do... Suzune-sama!"

"Hell changes even the heart... how cruel."

"Is this the time for contemplation!? Forget Siglus, let's get Kazuki-sama back to the castle...!"

As we support a somewhat dazed Kazuki, I look back.

Usato, arguing fiercely with the imposing man, appears completely different from the gentle person we knew, yet somehow natural.

"Right, you've found your place here..."

Seeing him adapt quicker than anyone to this unfamiliar world, I couldn't help but feel a bit envious.