When Ritsuka was first told she'd be undergoing training, though she accepted it calmly, she still felt a bit anxious and nervous inside—perhaps due to some unpleasant past experiences.
However, if the Chief himself were to train her, she felt she could handle it. After all, the Chief seemed like such an easygoing person, and even when tired, she could just look at his handsome face to refresh her eyes. Ritsuka thought that sounded like a great idea.
When she saw Merry appear and was told that she would be the one training her, Ritsuka's heart grew even lighter—surely it would be easier with another woman!
But in reality…
"Run faster, little Ritsuka! If you slow down, you'll get caught!"
In the middle of the training field, Merry sat casually, snacking on potato chips. Following her gaze, Ritsuka could be seen desperately fleeing from a group of unknown creatures—pitch-black, covered in tentacles, resembling giant octopuses.
These creatures were Merry's training tools for Ritsuka. The training method was simple: let the unknown creatures chase Ritsuka, and she had to do everything in her power to avoid being touched until Merry said "stop."
It sounded easy enough, but—
"Little Ritsuka, you don't want your whole body drenched in milk, do you? Or have slippery tentacles wrap around you from every angle after capture? Though it's all just my illusion—it's actually just milk-filled balloons with little props attached…"
"Teacher, please stop talking!"
Ritsuka screamed in utter agony.
Honestly, if she could go back in time, Ritsuka would insist on having the Chief train her instead. Even if it were more painful, training under Merry felt like being imprisoned! It was torture!
Merry seemed to have a very strange sense of humor. Every day, she could come up with little props with increasingly bizarre additional functions. The first day had been fine, but from the second day onward, the content of the training grew increasingly strange. It got to the point where Ritsuka didn't dare face anyone else after training, only leaving the training room once she felt mentally stable again.
Today was no different. Even though the "creatures" chasing her were actually just milk-filled balloons with plastic ribbons attached, Ritsuka absolutely did not want to get caught!
She didn't want her entire body covered in milk and tied up like a turtle's shell! She still had her dignity as a young girl!
Watching Ritsuka sprint frantically around the training field, Merry smiled and glanced at the time on her phone. "Thirteen minutes… Even though the pursuers' speed was reduced, running that long shows decent physical endurance and mental determination. Not bad. Besides—"
She turned to the tentacle monster closest to Ritsuka and slightly increased its speed back to the initial level. The creature, which had been maintaining distance, suddenly surged forward!
"Uwaaaah~! Don't come closer!"
Realizing the sudden danger behind her, Ritsuka immediately channeled Mana into her Mystic Code. A burst of speed enhancement kicked in instantly, allowing her to dodge sideways and sprint back to a relatively safe distance.
(She can handle emergencies and decisively use magecraft… Well, maybe it's because she's gotten used to using the same Mystic Code for four or five days now. Still, her adaptability is impressive, and her evasion skills are improving.)
"But still nowhere near as good as the King~ It's okay, little Ritsuka, you can slow down if you want."
"I DON'T WANT TO!!"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Several hours later.
Midday, in the training room's rest area.
"Uwaaaaah~~~~ Mash~~~~ I'm not pure anymore~~~~"
When Mash arrived carrying Ritsuka's lunch, Ritsuka immediately lunged at her, burying her face into Mash's chest and bursting into tears.
"Even if it was all just milk… even if it was just plastic ribbons… but… but… uwaaaaah~~~~"
"C-calm down, Senpai, I don't understand what you're saying… Miss Merry, what exactly did you do to Senpai in today's training?"
Asked by Mash, Merry—who was casually eating her own lunch—waved her hand dismissively. "Nothing much. Just threw a few hundred milk-filled plastic balloons at her, made her all sticky from head to toe. Under the arms, inner thighs, collarbones—even in that spot."
Merry pointed to the slight cleavage visible on her own chest.
"Also, she was tied up in a pose similar to a 'defeat CG,' forced to sit duck-legged with her chest and rear deliberately thrust out—no big deal~ You'll get used to it. And it'll continue every day, little Ritsuka."
"Mash, save me!"
Seeing the satisfied expression on Merry's face and her senpai's despair in her arms, Mash took a deep breath, preparing to defend her upperclassman. "Miss Merry, isn't this kind of training a bit too—"
"Oh, right. This is for Mash."
Merry suddenly slipped a few sheets of paper into Mash's hand.
Mash frowned. "This is…"
"The defeat CGs of little Ritsuka. I took pictures."
Ritsuka: "!!"
Mash: "!!"
Seeing both of their faces instantly turn bright red, Merry—having once again absorbed a surge of emotional energy—smiled contentedly.
(Teasing young girls like this is truly more fun. At home, they're all experienced and unshakable. Even Ayaka got used to it in recent years… haaa~)
"Fou~~~"
At that moment, feeling a tap on her leg, Merry looked down and laughed, picking up Fou, who was scratching at her calf. "Fou's here too. But I'm not Merlin who abandoned you—hitting me won't help."
*PLAAK!*
Fou firmly kicked Merry in the face, then elegantly executed a spinning kick, striking the other side of her face.
"Fou fou fou~~~"
It was punishment for teasing Mash, you damn Merlin—Fou's cry seemed to scream that very message.
After a brief pause, Merry smiled as she lifted Fou up, then casually tossed her into a trash can across the hallway.
"Fou—!"
"Haah… I really miss my Fou. She was so obedient and cute."
Merry sighed wistfully.
At that moment, a voice suddenly echoed through Chaldea's internal broadcast system.
[Attention Fujimaru Ritsuka, attention Fujimaru Ritsuka. Please proceed immediately to the control room, please proceed immediately to the control room. Repeat—]