“Ukh…! I think this is my limit.”
With a soft groan, I placed the barbell back on the rack and took heavy breaths. Kyle stood behind me, his gaze somewhat dazed.
“forty-five kilos on each side. That’s…”
He looked shocked.
Not only him, but looking at the others, I could see that they were also shocked.
’Wait until he realizes that this is still not my limit.’
I estimated that I could do 60kg on both sides. Maybe more.
However, it was best for me to stop here.
The fact that I could lift this much was already shocking enough. I didn’t want to stand out any further.
The rat’s presence, silently watching me, only reinforced that instinct.
’…This is crazy.’
Staring at my hands as I slowly clenched them, I couldn’t help but marvel at my own strength. It was far beyond anything I’d expected. Was this really because of my rising order, or was it the effect of my Decree?
I already had the book that Kyle had given me.
It was time that I gave it a proper read.
I needed to understand how this was even possible.
“Did you really not train before…?”
Taking off the weights, Kyle looked at me suspiciously.
“…I find it hard to believe that a beginner like you can lift so heavy. How did you manage to lift so much?”
It wasn’t just Kyle that felt this way.
Looking around, I could feel several gazes looking at me with the same sceptical look that Kyle was giving me.
I broke out in cold sweat in that moment.
’No, relax. This isn’t impossible to explain.’
There were plenty of excuses that I could come up with. And as my mind churned, I looked at him and shrugged my shoulders.
“I don’t really know myself, to be honest. I’ve never been to the gym, but that doesn’t really mean that I don’t exercise. I do, but in the office. Generally, that is what keeps me awake whenever I’m tired. I just do a bunch of pushups. I guess that accumulated over time.”
This excuse…
It wasn’t exactly terrible.
However, it was also not exactly the best.
But thinking about it, Kyle didn’t really have a choice but to believe me. So what if he didn’t believe me?
I was fairly certain that he already suspected that there was something wrong with me.
Even then, I was also somewhat confident that even if he tried to check me, the result wouldn’t yield a thing.
’In fact, there’s a good chance that he already had me checked during the hospital.’
I truly believed the system was deliberately hiding whatever powers and the Cognitive Shard that I was carrying.
’The fact that even the Section Chief didn’t notice anything weird with me kind of proves it.’
In this regard, I didn’t have to be too cautious.
“…..”
Kyle stared at me for what felt like an eternity before turning his attention towards my arms.
His brow rose.
“…Now that I think about it, you’re surprisingly fit.”
“I am?”
I looked at my arms.
Looking at them now, it did seem like they had become a little bigger. I rolled my sleeves up and stared at them better.
“Oh wow, you’re kind of right.”
It wasn’t anything spectacular, but my arms were certainly a lot bigger than before.
“…I guess you weren’t lying.”
Kyle moved next to me and poked my arm.
“Not bad.”
“Oy…”
I pulled my arm back.
Kyle didn’t look at all bothered as he squinted his eyes.
“You take steroids?”
“What?”
I pointed at myself and then looked at my arms. If this was the result of steroids, then I had certainly been scammed.
They were far too small for that.
Plus…
“Do you think I can afford them?”
“Haha, fair.”
Kyle laughed before patting me on the shoulder.
“I guess you have a point. I’m impressed. I’ll let you train in peace. If you have any trouble with any of the machines, you can just ask me or the others. I’m sure they’ll help you if you ask.”
“Yeah, sure…”
Looking at the others and seeing them look away from me, I silently shook my head before taking out my earbuds and putting them on.
As the music drowned my mind, I leaned back against the bench and started my next set.
’One, two, three…’
*
By the time I was done exercising, it was 8 A.M.
I stayed for exactly forty-five minutes before heading back to the dorms for a shower. As I walked back into the Guild and found my way towards the lower floors where the Containment Department was located, my body felt like it had been torn to pieces.
My chest, to be precise. I could hardly move it.
But strangely… For whatever reason, my mind felt clearer, sharper than it had in days.
Perhaps exercising wasn’t really that bad.
’I also need to better understand if the sudden increase in physical strength comes from the Order rank-up or my Decree. I should spend some time to learn more about my Decree.’
But before that…
I stopped right before a certain office.
’Okay, this is it.’
I took several deep breaths to prep myself for the inevitable.
I had already recited everything that I needed to say the day prior.
Taking another deep breath, I brought my hand forward and was just about to knock when—
Clank!
“Ukh!”
The door abruptly opened, smashing against my face as I took several steps back.
“Huh? Did I hit someone?”
Blinking in confusion, the Section Chief’s gaze eventually fell on me as our gazes met. Then, as if realizing what had happened, he pointed at me and laughed.
“Kek, that’s pretty funny.”
No, it wasn’t.
It fucking hurt.
“What’s going on here?”
Coming right after him was a woman with short black hair, deep hazel eyes, and a mole close to her eye. She was quite beautiful if I had to say so myself, and I did recall seeing her once, but I couldn’t quite recall.
“…Hm, I think I know you.”
She also did seem to recognize me.
However, just before she could recall, the Section Chief cut in.
“He’s the guy I’ve been speaking about before. Our trauma counselor.”
The Section Chief moved next to me and patted me on the shoulder.
“Very talented one.”
He then looked at me.
“This is Team Leader Soran.”
He then looked at her.
“This is Seth.”
Then, before anyone could get a word out, he looked back at me.
“…Are you here to ask me to join the main group? If you are, I can make it happen in a heartbeat.”
“No, thanks…”
“Hmm.”
The smile quickly faded from the Section Chief’s face as he clicked his tongue and pulled his arm away.
“What a pity.”
Seeing how fast he switched up, I was left speechless.
However, I tried my best not to mind it as I took a small breath before looking back at him.
“I am here for something, though.”
“If it’s not about joining the main team, then I’m not interested.”
“It’s not, but it’s about my game.”
“Game?”
The Section Chief blinked his eyes, his mind slowly processing the situation. Then, as if suddenly recalling, he smacked his hand against his open palm.
“Ah, right… There was that.”
My mouth twitched.
’So he only remembered now that I mentioned it…’
This meant that nothing had been done about my game. It wasn’t like I didn’t expect this, but it was still disappointing to know.
I sighed to myself.
But then—
“Game? Why are we talking about a game?”
The woman with shoulder-length black hair suddenly spoke, alternating her gaze between the two of us.
Her eyes then narrowed as she looked at the Section Chief.
“Don’t tell me—”
“No, it’s nothing about what you’re thinking.”
“Then?”
The Section Chief stopped her before she could continue.
He then turned his wrist and looked at his watch.
’Well, there might be some time…’ As he mumbled to himself, he looked at me and then her. Then… After a brief pause, he headed back into the office.
“Come inside for now. I’ll show you.”