The next morning, Ruby woke up, and went to the area specified by Black Raven.
Black Raven was already there. It seemed she removed plants that would be in the way during the night, making this open area completely clean.
It was wide enough for children to play tag.
As soon as Ruby arrived, she spoke to Black Raven.
“Black Raven, you said you wanted to show me something last night, but what is this about?”
Ruby tilted her head while looking around.
“I will teach you martial arts, Lord Alchemia.”
“Eh?”
Ruby opened her eyes wide with surprise. Her life had never had any relation to that type of thing, so Black Raven’s words seemed odd.
“Hum, may I ask why?”
“To toughen your body.”
“Hm.”
“You lack stamina. Your limbs are frail, and I worry about whether you can stand the tough life ahead of you. I want to toughen you while we can.”
“I see. Understood. Teach me right away.”
Ruby responded positively, and Black Raven was happy with that.
She had no interest in martial arts, but thought Black Raven was right. There was also the fact that she wished to get along better with Black Raven, but she was too embarrassed to say that.
“It is good that you are motivated. Put this on your waist.”
Black Raven said while dragging from behind a boulder a wood carving that was about as big as Ruby.
Ruby was baffled, of course, but Black Raven ignored her reaction, and wrapped a rope made out of vine around Ruby’s waist, connecting her to the wood carving.
“B-Black Raven!? W-what is this strange figure? It’s really heavy.”
“Don’t exaggerate so much. It is made of wood, so it is not that heavy at all.”
“No, it really is!”
“I want you to do a lap around the island every day while carrying that.”
“I have to walk around the island with this!?”
“I did not say walk. Needless to say, you will be running!”
“Running!? I-I can’t do that.”
“Don’t assume that before you try. I have no need to leave someone alive if she is going to be useless and drag me down! You either die or run, decide now!”
Black Raven unsheathed her dagger, and pointed it at Ruby’s throat.
Her bloodshot eyes showed she really might kill Ruby.
“Eeeeeeek!? I-I just have to do it, right!?”
Ruby screamed, feeling her life was in danger.
And sure enough, she dragged the wood carving as she ran, just like Black Raven said.
“Too slow. Even a goblin is faster!”
But Black Raven did not watch silently.
She ran after Ruby, and if her pace slowed, she mercilessly whipped her. Ruby screamed every time she did, but Black Raven’s sadistic smile showed she had no intention of stopping.
Her guidance was inherited from White Rose, so it was naturally inhuman.
Ruby’s stamina mattered not, as this was the only method Ruby knew, and she had no intention of changing.
“Ugyaaaah!?”
An attack from Black Raven hastened Ruby’s pace.
“Ooh, wonderful. You have been running from pursuers for months, correct? Your resilience towards living is twice that of others. That ugliness of yours… Is a quality in martial arts.”
“That doesn’t feel like a compliment!”
Cried out Ruby.
“Wahahahahaha! If you don’t want to die, run, run!”
Black Raven was not infallible, and was not a great martial arts master.
If anything, the director she looked down on was a better teacher. However, no one could stop her in this situation, where there was nowhere to run.
There were two options, being able to do it, or dying.
“Nooooooooo!”
“Hahahahahahaha! Your screams have become quite enjoyable! I will show you over the next few days that hell exists in this world!”
“Someone heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!”
Ruby’s hellish training had just begun.
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