Honestly, I, Murmur, was confident about the Softy Trio Trial.
I had already learned a hidden skill from Professor Malea, so as long as I keep my wits about me, the outcome is obvious in the automaton duel.
After trying archery once, the answer became clear. There’s no way I can’t do this.
“Uuuuuh…”
The problem lies in the running.
Unlike the first two events, this one purely depends on my, Murmur’s, stats to determine the winner.
Of course, there are various techniques and tricks in running, but they don’t seem to hold much significance in the Elementary Unit’s 5th-grade world…
“Murmur! Just a little more! We can do it!”
“N-Nicasia… Too… Healthy…”
If I don’t pass the running properly, I won’t be able to proceed to archery.
No matter how well I perform in archery, since I couldn’t even start, I, Murmur, am currently practicing running.
And our esteemed princess, being the Super Sports Girl she is, is leisurely running around.
“Murmur is… Haa, haa! Even one lap feels so hard!”
“It’s okay! Murmur! I’ll go around one more lap and come back, so just keep running a bit longer?”
“Nicasia is too healthy…!”
Aaaaaaaaah!
Nicasia is the worst exercise buddy!
Even though she saw me fall earlier, she’s still running too healthily!
While I, Murmur, was panting, Nicasia, who was doing spot jogging in place, suddenly sprinted forward.
I knew that royal blood grants her an incredible amount of stamina, but I knew it!
Isn’t it a bit excessive how good she is? Isn’t it ridiculous for her to stride so confidently and return to me in an instant?
“Uuuuuuh…!”
My, Murmur’s, body is truly subpar and low-quality.
What did I expect to achieve with a Strength of 7 and Agility of 6?!
Still, not wanting to disappoint everyone, I moved my legs toward the visible starting point with all my might.
“Murmur-sama! Just a little more movement will do!”
“Murmur-sama! Fighting!”
“Ha, You were amazing at archery and dueling! And I’ve done running too!”
Near the starting line, I could see friends waiting for me with water and towels.
Aaaaah! It’s so embarrassing I could die!
Everyone else has already completed several laps, yet I, Murmur, have barely managed one?!
Is this what it feels like waiting for someone who has finished a marathon?
“Uuuuuuuuh…!”
But it’s tiring.
My, Murmur’s, small and soft body struggles even with one lap around the playground!
Is it even possible to properly handle the running portion of the Softy Trio Trial?!
“Murmur! Just a little more effort!”
Nicasia returned somehow.
Appearing beside me with a refreshing smile, not a single drop of sweat on her, she started spot jogging while clapping for me.
“Just a little more! A little more!”
“N-Nicasia… Y-You’ve done six laps… Why are you so relaxed?!”
“I usually run ten laps effortlessly, so don’t worry about it. Murmur.”
Ten laps?!
I knew she was a Super Sports Girl, but isn’t her enthusiasm a bit excessive?!
“Haa, haa… Haa!”
Somehow, crushed by Nicasia’s overwhelming power, I, Murmur, finally made it back to the starting point.
“Murmur-niim!!!”
Citrine was the first to rush towards me, handing over a cold water bottle.
“You worked really hard! Truly, you worked very hard!”
“Th-Th-Thank you, Citrine.”
Should I say drinking some water makes me feel alive again?
“You may rest comfortably.”
Vesta appeared out of nowhere with a chair, allowing me, Murmur, to sit down.
“Not giving up until the end, Murmur-sama, was truly remarkable.”
“When you fell earlier, I thought you wouldn’t make it back.”
Esme brought a towel for my head and gently patted it.
Monica treated the wound on my knee. Though it wasn’t urgent enough to warrant immediate treatment.
“Not giving up and doing your best was admirable. Murmur.”
Professor Malea, who had been observing from a distance, now approached and gently patted my head.
“… Isn’t everyone petting me a bit too much?”
It seems like a culture of patting has become trendy whenever someone speaks to me, Murmur?
“Even when you fell, you didn’t cry and quickly treated the wound on your knee, which looked really good.”
“Haa… Haa… If I get injured during the exam and give up, it’s game over.”
“That’s right, that mindset will surely earn you a good evaluation. Our cute little one!”
For some unknown reason, Professor Malea grabbed my cheeks and vigorously squished them.
“U-U-Ue?”
Is this praise for working hard? Or is it scolding me for being arrogant despite being a demon race?!
I don’t understand!
“Umm… Still…”
Nicasia approached me, Murmur, then suddenly grabbed both my legs.
Then, squatting down, she began massaging my thighs and legs with a kneading motion.
“Uw… Uwa…”
What is this? It’s incredibly tingling!
“There’s no denying that Murmur’s body is weak.”
“On the contrary, showing such great skills until now feels miraculous.”
So, I, Murmur, am completely hopeless at sports, right?
Why does everyone keep thinking I have hidden abilities?
“Still, if you keep moving your body, it will be fine!”
“Among us, Nicasia is the one who enjoys physical activity the most.”
Citrine said, looking at Nicasia.
“How about Nicasia teaching Murmur some workout tips?”
“That’s a good idea!”
“If Murmur is okay with it, I’d be happy to teach you.”
Nicasia smiled brightly and continued to massage my legs enthusiastically.
Hmm, what should I do?
There was no such event planned.
Still, maybe there’s a chance my stats could increase accidentally, and it might actually help with running…
“Is it alright if Murmur asks for help?”
“Of course! I’ll teach you diligently, Murmur!”
*
“Before starting exercise, we must stretch like this.”
Nicasia grabbed both my legs and pressed firmly.
What is this called? Leg splitting? Anyway, there’s a strong sensation of stretching inside my thighs.
“Alright, what’s next?”
“To loosen up the body as much as possible… Press the other side too.”
Stretching in front of everyone with Nicasia’s help isn’t bad at all.
I can’t ask Professor Malea for this kind of thing.
“After loosening up the body lightly like this, making it warm will make the next exercise easier.”
Nicasia handed me a jump rope.
“Just try it lightly. Us.”
“How many should I do?”
“Hmm, since Murmur finds it difficult to move, let’s do lightly 100… No, 50 times.”
Isn’t cutting it in half a bit excessive?
Still, I think I have a decent sense of body movement.
“Uuut…!”
Jumping rope was harder than I, Murmur, expected.
Is it because my body has shrunk? I used to easily do 100 in an instant!
“A-Ah! You’re doing well, Murmur!”
“Follow the rhythm and jump!”
There’s no need to cheer me on like that, right?!
Are you really thinking I don’t know how to jump rope?
It’s just unfamiliar because my body has shrunk!
“Haa, haa… 5, 50 done! Nicasia!”
Maybe 100 was a bit too ambitious.
My knees aren’t sore, nor are my legs, but my heart is dangerously thumping thump thump.
No, my ankles feel slightly painful too.
“By the way, isn’t Nicasia going to do it?”
“I don’t think I need to show you.”
“Uu… It’s unfair that only Murmur is doing it. Nicasia, do 50 too!”
Nicasia smiled slightly and nodded.
Then she took the jump rope and stepped back.
“Eh…?”
“Uwaaah?! N-Nicasia! Is that even skipping rope?!”
“She’s too fit!”
— Swish swish!
Nicasia jumped rope.
The rope drew perfect figure eights in the air above Nicasia’s head, slicing through the air with a swish swish sound each time she jumped twice.
Wasn’t this called ‘double under’? She skipped twice with every jump.
“I’ve done the 50 jumps Murmur mentioned.”
“… Huff.”
What is this? Isn’t her stamina excessive?
She finished 50 jumps in less than 30 seconds?!
Not even breathing heavily?!
“Murmur is curious… How many skips does Nicasia usually do?”
“I sweat, so I do around 500.”
“Ten times what Murmur does?!”
Nothing surprising, really.
Royalty is superhuman, right? They’re incredibly strong, after all.
Still, hearing it directly feels totally different.
“Does Murmur want to become better at running?”
“Yeah, Murmur wants that right now.”
“In that case, let’s strengthen your leg muscles. Us.”
Nicasia smiled and pointed to a piece of exercise equipment with both hands.
“Is that a stair climber?”
“That’s right, Murmur! It’s an exercise machine where you continuously climb stairs.”
The exercise equipment Nicasia pointed to was literally a staircase.
It seemed constructed by assembling various blocks, and there was an automaton sitting nearby.
“Does stepping on the stairs create new ones?”
“You got it at a glance? That’s right, Murmur!”
Blindly running might help, but slowly building leg strength seems beneficial.
“Got it. I’ll try it.”
I, Murmur, stepped onto the stairs prepared by Nicasia with both feet.
Then I moved my right foot first.
— Click click!
With the sound of gears turning, the stairs descended quite naturally and smoothly, and new ones appeared.
It feels like a famous gym machine was recreated surprisingly well.
“Huff… Uu…!”
The width of the steps posed no problem for me, Murmur, to step on and climb.
Thanks to that, I could press down firmly and climb enthusiastically.
“You’re doing well, Murmur! Keep climbing like this, and your legs will soon gain strength!”
“Murmur is… Huff, Huff…! Pushing through!”
But how long do I have to do this?!
“Murmur is already…! On the second floor! Let’s work hard and reach the 50th floor!”
“Nicasia only knows 100 and 50, right?!”
Isn’t 50 floors too much?!
“No worries, Murmur! Now you’ve reached the third floor!! Look, you’re doing great!”
I’m already regretting this somewhat, aren’t I?!
“Nicasia loves exercising, but this is insane.”
“That’s true. With Murmur-sama’s small legs, even reaching the 10th floor seems tough.”
“Isn’t Nicasia setting the bar based on her own standards?”
Isn’t there anyone who can help Murmur nicely?!
This feels like torture!
“Huff, Heeek… Huff…”
“Fight! Murmur! Fight! You’ve already climbed 10 floors!”
“Am I supposed to do this… five times?!”
“It’s okay, Murmur! They say it’s good to dream big!”
“That doesn’t relate to the current situation at all!”
Legs! They feel like they’re about to break!
Shaking violently!
“Huff, Heek… Huff…!”
My legs were trembling frighteningly.
My knees were already moving erratically, and my thighs felt like hot iron bars had been inserted into them. My ankles had been complaining since a few steps ago.
One step, another step…!
The clicking sound of new stairs appearing grew fainter and fainter.
“Now… This is really… Too much…”
“Murmur-sama!”
Finally, my legs collapsed completely while I was enthusiastically climbing the stairs. It felt like all the strength drained out of me like jelly.
Fortunately, Vesta appeared just in time, catching me with both hands, so I didn’t get hurt!
“Uwaa… Tired… Too much.”
I fell flat on the ground and looked up at Nicasia.
“Hehe, you did well, Murmur. Originally, I learned that you have to continue until you can’t do it anymore to build strength.”
“Nicasia… Too… Strong. Murmur feels envious.”
“Then shall I try the stair climbing too?”
When I, Murmur, nodded, Nicasia smiled mischievously and moved her legs to start climbing the stairs.
“But… Nicasia, what’s that on your ankle?”
“Oh, this? Light exercise doesn’t feel like exercise, so I just added a bit of weight.”
Like sandbags?
That makes sense for royalty.
“Then… Murmur will try… those later.”
“It might be okay for you? I find it just right, but Murmur might find it heavy.”
Still, I should give it a try.
When my archery skill improved, it felt natural, so maybe improving stats once makes the body less tired.
Wearing something like sandbags might be a condition to raise stats!
“Murmur will try it.”
Even though I was sitting slumped, I extended my hands.
“Hmm…”
Though smiling awkwardly, Nicasia untied the sandbags from her ankles and placed them on my, Murmur’s, palm—
“Huff…?”
The moment she placed them, my hand immediately dropped straight to the ground with a loud thud.
“Heavy… Really? Nicasia finds these just right?”
No no, this isn’t just heavy; it’s beyond that.
Did you wear these while jumping rope earlier?!
“Murmur doesn’t need to go this far. I just enjoy exercising until I sweat.”
Nicasia lightly took the sandbags back and reattached them to her ankles.
“M-Murmur… Will change exercise buddies!”
“A-Ah! Murmur! No! I’ll only teach you super easy exercises!”
“Vesta! Rather, Vesta should do it! Murmur can never follow Nicasia!”
I knew this would happen!
How could Nicasia’s exercise with stats like ‘Strength 14 Agility 14 Health 14’ possibly help me, Murmur?
No matter what trigger or anything, following her would just tear my legs apart!!
