Chapter 31

"I can't possibly..."

Camille couldn't readily accept Otto's proposal.

"You're Father's son too. Father thought of you as his son. So if we burn incense together, he would be pleased."

"But..."

"Don't want to? If you don't want to, forget it."

"..."

"I suggested it because I thought Father would be happy if you joined in burning the incense."

"...I will do it."

Camille accepted Otto's proposal.

"I'll hold the memorial service in three days, so get ready."

"Understood, I will prepare."

Three days later.

In the Kingdom of Iota, a memorial and requiem service for the Lord and Lady of Orics was held.

Otto held the incense burner with Camille and burned the incense.

This meant that Camille, who had been just a commoner servant, was now officially recognized as a member of the Scuderia family.

'Father. Otto has succeeded in his revenge. Also, Otto has changed a lot. He has shown the qualities of a great ruler. Please rest in peace...'

Camille prayed for the Lord of Orics and found peace in his heart.

After the requiem service.

"Knight Camille."

"Yes, I am here."

Camille knelt on one knee at Otto's call.

"I grant you a surname."

"Excuse me...?"

"From today, I recognize Knight Camille as an official member of the Scuderia family and allow you to use the Scuderia surname."

"......!"

"Now you're really my brother, Camille de Scuderia."

"Your Majesty...!"

"Still, you're my subordinate, so don't get any ideas about overstepping your bounds."

"Your grace... is boundless."

At that moment, a notification window appeared before Otto.

[Notification: Camille de Scuderia's affection towards you has changed to <Absolute Loyalty>!]

Now, Camille would no longer be hostile or distrustful towards Otto.

He might still think of him as pitiful at times, but he was now prepared to throw his life away for Otto without hesitation.

* * *

After the requiem service, Otto held a banquet to treat the palace staff who had worked hard.

In fact, the ones who had suffered the most were not Otto but the palace staff.

The maids and servants had endured the tyranny of Angéles, so it was necessary to hold a banquet to console them.

The next day.

"Hmm?"

When the head butler, Olive, went to wake Otto, he tilted his head in surprise to see Otto already up early in the morning.

Otto usually slept in, and if not woken, he wouldn't get up until almost noon.

"Already up? And you've even neatly made the bed?"

"To change the world, one must wake up early and make the bed first."

"Good attitude. But where are you going?"

"To participate in the morning physical training. Now that the curse is lifted, I want to start exercising."

"Oh?"

"I'll be back."

Otto immediately changed into his sports uniform and headed to the training ground.

Every morning, physical training was conducted under the supervision of Instructor Spooner, and Otto intended to join in.

'I need to improve my physical condition first.'

Although the curse <Such a Wretched Fellow> was lifted and he reached level 30, his health had not improved.

He was severely underweight, and it was hard to find any muscles on his body.

Given his current state, his strength and endurance were abysmal.

'With my current condition, I wouldn't survive inside the sanctuary even if I opened it.'

The <Sanctuary> was not just about opening it.

To obtain the ancient powers inside, one needed to be at least level 70.

So, for the time being, focusing on leveling up and training his body was the most important thing.

Of course, he wasn't without fear.

'Can I keep up?'

Otto was a veteran, but even during his service, he wasn't particularly fit.

Moreover, he had worked in a non-combat unit, so physical training wasn't a significant part of his military life.

After discharge, he hadn't even been near a gym, so it was natural to be worried.

'Ah, whatever. It's not like I'll die.'

Otto strode confidently towards the training ground.

To survive in this world, he needed to become stronger...

* * *

"Chu, loyalty!"

Even the legendary Instructor Spooner was slightly taken aback by Otto's appearance.

"Instructor Spooner! Preparing for morning physical training!"

"At ease."

"At ease!"

When Otto saluted, Spooner asked.

"Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

"To train. I want to join in from today."

"Excuse me...?"

"Why not? Is there a problem?"

"There shouldn't be, but... Your Majesty is the king of this country..."

"It doesn't matter. They say physical strength is national strength. What does rank or status have to do with exercise? We'll just sweat together."

"You're not wrong, but... my training methods are..."

"Treat me like any other soldier. Push me hard."

"But... but..."

"It's an order."

Otto drew the line.

"During the training, I will relinquish my rank and status. Just treat me as a regular soldier and push me as you see fit."

"Ah, understood."

After that, Otto regretted his decision within three minutes.

"Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff!"

Otto started lagging behind and gasping for breath three minutes into the 5-kilometer run.

"Go, go... huff! Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff!"

Just as Otto was about to collapse.

"What are you doing!"

An instructor appeared and pushed Otto's back.

"Can't a recruit run 5 kilometers? Is your stamina that poor?"

"Breath... huff huff... short... huff... huff..."

"5 kilometers is a distance you can run with willpower alone! Get up! Why are you collapsing? Would you collapse on the battlefield? Would you just die when the enemy is chasing you?"

"No, no!"

"Then run! Hurry!"

"Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff!"

In the end, Otto returned to the training ground last among those who started running together.

Thud!

He collapsed as soon as he entered the training ground, completely drained.

'Can the person who defeated the condor not even run 5 kilometers properly?'

'What about the person who used swordsmanship to defeat the chimera?'

The soldiers vividly remembered Otto's victory in the one-on-one battle with the condor and his use of swordsmanship to defeat the chimera.

For such a strong person to have such poor stamina in a mere 5-kilometer run was surprising.

The soldiers, unaware that Otto's strength was due to a temporary boost, were naturally puzzled.

"Huff... huff... huff..."

Otto lay on the training ground, gasping for breath.

But he couldn't rest.

"Alright! Next, we'll do push-ups! Five sets of 20 each! Start!"

"Start!"

The push-ups began.

"My arms... can't move... ugh!"

"What are you doing! Get up! Push harder! I'll help you! Clench your teeth and push! Hurry!"

"Yeeaaahhhh!"

But the push-ups were just the beginning.

"Everyone, hang from the bars! Start!"

"Start!"

"Next, we'll do pull-ups! If you can't do 20, you'll eat on the bar! Understand?"

"Ouch!"

The push-ups ended, and the pull-ups began, but Otto couldn't do a single one.

With the instructor's help, he managed to complete 100 push-ups, but his arms were completely exhausted, and he fell off the bar with a thud.

"Medic! Move the recruit... no! The trainee to the infirmary immediately!"

"Understood!"

In the end, Otto couldn't complete the morning physical training.

His will was strong, but his body couldn't keep up.

* * *

That evening.

"Groan... groan..."

Otto was bedridden due to the strain from the morning physical training.

His basic physical condition had severely deteriorated due to the aftereffects of the curse.

"Is it true that you were beaten in the morning physical training?"

"It didn't go well when I suddenly tried... groan."

"You won't even be able to get up tomorrow morning. Muscle soreness is worse the day after exercise."

"Y-yes, that's true."

"I'll help you."

"Excuse me...?"

"Clench your teeth."

"What do you mean by that...?"

At that moment.

Thud!

Olive's large fist struck Otto's back.

"Cough!"

Otto almost vomited from the punch.

It felt like his insides were being shaken.

Otto's frail body couldn't withstand the destructive force of Olive's punch.

"Why did you hit me...?"

At that moment.

[Notification: Received treatment (physical)!]

[Notification: Muscle soreness reduced by 1!]

[Notification: Fatigue reduced by 1!]

A mysterious notification window appeared before Otto.

'Is this treatment? It's just a punch...'

But Otto didn't have time to think.

Thud! Thud!

Olive's punches started hitting every part of his body.

"Aaaah! Aaaah!"

"Stop whining! Push through it!"

"Ugh!"

"Where are you making pig squeals! Keep your mouth shut and endure it!"

"Aaaah!"

Olive mercilessly punched every major muscle group on Otto's back, stomach, chest, arms, and legs.

[Notification: Received treatment (physical)!]

[Notification: Muscle soreness reduced by 1!]

[Notification: Fatigue reduced by 1!]

The effect was astonishing.

[Notification: Muscle soreness completely recovered!]

[Notification: Fatigue completely gone!]

[Notification: Strength improved!]

[Notification: Endurance improved!]

[Notification: Cardiovascular function improved!]

In about 30 minutes of being thoroughly beaten, Otto successfully recovered from the muscle soreness and fatigue from the morning physical training.

Additionally, he achieved a small growth in strength, endurance, and cardiovascular function.

"How do you feel?"

"It doesn't hurt at all? I feel refreshed?"

"It's a traditional healing method passed down in our tribe."

"Wow! Amazing!"

"But it's not over yet."

"Excuse me...?"

"Your body is out of balance overall. You have a forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and a pronounced lumbar curve. Your left-right balance is also off."

"Is that so? Then what...?"

"Lie down."

Olive pointed to the bed.

"Right now?"

"If I say lie down, lie down. Why so many words?"

"Aaaah!"

Otto was forced to lie down on the bed by Olive.

"Clench your teeth and endure it."

Olive then climbed onto Otto's back.

"What are you doing...?"

At that moment.

Crack!

"Aaaah!"

Crack! Crack!

"Help... Aaaah!"

Crack!

Olive massaged Otto's back, shoulders, waist, thighs, and calves with his large hands.

[Notification: Skeleton realigned!]

[Notification: Tight muscles relaxed!]

[Notification: Muscles became more flexible!]

[Notification: Joint range of motion increased!]

It turned out that Olive was not only skilled in physical treatment but also an excellent masseur.

"Aaaah!"

The only downside was the intense pain the patient was experiencing.

"Your Majesty!"

At that moment, Camille burst into the bedroom, having heard Otto's screams.

"What's going on...?"

Camille was startled to see Otto struggling under Olive.

He then took a few steps back.

"Excuse me. You two... have a good time..."

"Hey! What do you mean by a good time... Aaaah!"

Otto couldn't explain to Camille.

The massage from Olive was too painful, and he could only scream.