EP.171 Welcome to Jonathan, Little Chicks
Boom-. Boom-!
As they took each step toward the training ground, the tremors in the ground grew stronger. Initially, Tisha and Nell were full of anticipation, but fear gradually spread across their faces. Even Ian was visibly tense.
“Kyle, is there something else up ahead?”
“What do you mean, Ian?”
“I mean… like a giant monster being raised or something.”
Kyle paused and looked at Ian, his expression a mix of disbelief and amusement.
“Ian, do you think monsters come to the training ground to lift barbells?”
“No, I guess not.”
“Exactly. And if there were monsters here, the kids would come running and tear them apart.”
Even as they conversed, the loud rumbling continued at regular intervals, with an unimaginable weight behind it. Eventually, Tisha clung tightly to Kyle, her face filled with anxiety.
“What, what is it, Kyle? Is this an earthquake? Or a volcano?”
“No, it’s neither.”
“Then what is this sound…?”
“This sound is from doing leg extensions.”
They had added weights, which were more than ten times heavier than usual. With each repetition, the ground shook. That was all.
Boom!! Boom!!-
As they approached the training ground, Ian, Nell, and Tisha all swallowed nervously, their faces tense. They worried about whether they could endure the next two months.
“Father.”
Kyle opened the door and entered the training ground.
Boom!-
With a heavy sound, the equipment returned to its original position. The weights that seemed ready to crush the earth settled into silence. Beyond the equipment, a middle-aged man slowly rose.
“…”
Ian, taking in the sight of him, slowly lowered his head. Recently, he had become more human thanks to Kyle, but the pride of a strong man still existed. He wouldn’t bow easily, only to those worthy of it. Yet, even Ian couldn’t help but lower his gaze this time. He could feel it—he couldn’t even defeat a single finger of this man. If the man so much as gestured, Ian would be sent flying back to the academy.
“You’ve come, Kyle.”
“Yes, I just arrived.”
As Kyle bowed politely, the three others followed suit. Baron Jonathan, who had been maintaining a neutral expression similar to Ria’s, cracked a slight smile.
“You have quite a few guests.”
“It just happened this way. Starting from the left, Tisha?”
“Yes? Oh, yes. Yes!!”
Tisha, her face tense with anxiety, stepped forward slightly. She was terrified. Truly terrified. She had encountered monsters while living in the mountains, but this was incomparable. It felt like her soul was being crushed. Just looking into his eyes felt like falling into an abyss. Even though Baron Jonathan wasn’t doing anything, her legs trembled.
‘I must greet him properly. The princess has seen him, and the saintess has seen him.’
She had lost the first and second chances. The last one wasn’t hers, but it could change based on her actions. He was Kyle’s father. Family. So she had to make a good impression!
“Pleased to meet you, Baron. I’m Tisha!”
Even after hearing Tisha’s words, Baron Jonathan didn’t show much reaction. The reason was obvious—he was observing Tisha’s condition and let out a sigh.
“Hmm…”
He wasn’t entirely satisfied. It wasn’t bad, but he couldn’t say it was good either. That sentiment was fully conveyed in that single sigh. Sensing the unfavorable atmosphere, Kyle quickly stepped forward.
“Father, I’m teaching her. It’s similar to the case with the saintess last time.”
“Again? If you hold onto too many people, you won’t have time to exercise.”
The mention of lacking exercise time made Kyle shiver. If he wasn’t careful, he might face a grueling training session due to lack of exercise. Moreover, this time, he had no excuse to return to the academy. It was vacation. There was no reason to go to the academy for two months. In other words, he was stuck here for two months, ready to face hell again!
“So, how is she progressing?”
“Better than the saintess. Tisha already has a good foundation and enjoys physical activity.”
“…Really? When I visited the empire briefly, it seemed girls her age disliked moving.”
At Baron Jonathan’s words, Kyle nudged Tisha’s side. It was a hint to say something to earn some points. Fortunately, Tisha quickly caught on and spoke up.
“Oh! Actually, my hobby is hiking, Baron!”
“Hiking?”
“Yes! There are ingredients I need to gather before it gets too hot, so I climb the mountains early in the morning! Thanks to that, I have no problem exercising with Kyle early in the morning!”
Finally, a gentle expression spread across Baron Jonathan’s face. Climbing mountains early in the morning? That meant she was doing cardio at such an early hour. Considering how tedious and exhausting cardio can be, it was impressive.
“Tisha, was it?”
“Yes, Baron!”
“Welcome to Jonathan. I’d love to see you work hard here as well.”
When the Baron extended his hand, Kyle was more surprised. The Baron rarely showed such gestures. Even when a marquis visited, all he said was, “You’ve come.” He believed it was better to teach another exercise method. Yet here he was, welcoming her and offering a handshake?
‘What a great start!’
For Baron Jonathan, it was only natural. Kyle, his youngest son, had brought guests for the first time, so he had to take care of them. After shaking hands with Tisha, the Baron approached Ian and Nell, who were also visibly tense. Especially Nell, whose expression was quite varied.
“And you are?”
“Pleased to meet you, Baron Jonathan. I’m Ian.”
“Ian.”
The Baron quietly repeated Ian’s name, scrutinizing him closely. It felt like red lasers might shoot from his eyes at any moment. If one could dissect a person with a gaze, it would feel like this.
“Hmm.”
The Baron’s eyes narrowed slightly as he examined Ian. He had seen this reaction once before. When was it? Ah, yes. Ground Zero. When dealing with the drugged ogre in the west, he had the same look. Not that he thought of Ian that way, but it meant he found him interesting. The Baron thoroughly assessed Ian’s arms, legs, muscle condition, and overall balance. His gaze was so intense that Ian could only blink in a standing posture.
“You must have a very clear purpose for coming here.”
“…Yes.”
“Tell me your purpose. Why did you come here?”
A sudden question. This was a first. Even Kyle couldn’t offer much help, feeling slightly tense.
“I want to become stronger.”
The answer came out faster and more straightforward than expected. He could have given a more elaborate or impressive answer. But Ian explained his purpose for coming here with just that one sentence.
“You want to become stronger.”
“Yes.”
“The process won’t be easy.”
“I know.”
“No matter how much you try, you won’t reach what you’re aiming for.”
The Baron had clearly understood Ian’s goal. The young man standing before him aimed for none other than Jonathan, specifically Kyle. Being next to Kyle, it was only natural for him to have such thoughts.
“It doesn’t matter.”
But Ian, as always, was simple and straightforward. He just pushed forward with determination.
“Even if I can’t reach it, didn’t I try to?”
“Hmm.”
“That’s enough. I have no intention of stopping.”
This was the kind of answer that resonated with Baron Jonathan. Any other reason? None. He wanted to become stronger. He didn’t think about the process. Only one conclusion mattered. Reaching what he aimed for.
“There were other paths. Why this one?”
A final question. It implied there were many other paths besides this foolish one. For example, improving mana utilization or using the drugs that had been available recently. Why choose a path that seemed impossible to handle? Ian answered.
“Because this is the strongest place.”
Baron Jonathan nodded once and turned his head.
“Kyle.”
“Yes, Father.”
“I want to host this guest.”
The word “host” meant he wanted to personally train him. Considering he had never done this for any strong visitor before, it was quite an exceptional case.
“Are you sure? I heard from my brother…”
“It seems interesting.”
To express his intention to train someone step by step in such words. It seemed that being the protagonist made him stand out to others. Kyle thought to himself and agreed.
“And this friend…”
The Baron tilted his head slightly and looked at Kyle.
“Kyle, this wo…”
“Oh, Father! Isn’t it time for leg day? Let’s go do some leg exercises together!”
As expected of Baron Jonathan, and as his wife had said, he was about to say, “Why is this woman dressed as a man?” Kyle managed to divert the topic with the excuse of leg day.
“I’m Nell!!”
But Nell seemed determined to express her intentions to the Baron. Even as Kyle waved his hands to stop her.
“I want to become stronger too! I have to become stronger! I want to be like Kyle! I want to succeed! My dream is to become a great knight of the empire!!”
“Is that so? If you do it right, as you said, you could become a great knight of the emp…”
“Leg day! Let’s go, leg day! Come on, leg day, leg day!”
Kyle interrupted again, but it seemed too late. Tisha looked at Nell with a curious expression.
‘She figured it out.’
It was awkward. He had insisted to Tisha that Nell was a man. Now, Tisha might feel hurt for not being told the truth.
‘And Ian…’
How would Ian take it? It turned out to be an unnecessary worry.
‘As expected, protagonist debuff. Zero sense of awareness.’
Even with two hints from the Baron, Ian seemed completely oblivious.