Extra Chapter. Corporal Punishment

“Huff, huff, huff…”

“Again.”

“C-can’t you let it slide just once? I feel like I’m dying…”

“Again.”

“O-Orca? Stella? Anastasia?”

“…”

Everyone averted their eyes, ignoring my plea for help.

Why.

Even after I begged this desperately, why won’t anyone help me?

No, actually I know why. They’re all furious beyond reason, so of course they won’t help.

They’re angry that I jumped to conclusions and ran away without talking to the students properly.

That’s why they won’t help.

Feeling resentful toward these unhelpful students, I tried appealing to them again.

“I-I’ve truly reflected on my actions… C-can’t you please let it go now?”

“…You’ve really reflected?”

“Yes! Yes! Truly! Completely! I won’t do it again!”

“Hmm.”

The students who’d been watching my entire conversation with Leo (no, Leona).

The moment I arrived with my head bowed like a criminal, they started working me to death.

Saying it was punishment for causing them mental anguish.

Knowing how much I hate exercise, they’re forcing me to exercise until I die…!

At first I accepted it as my rightful punishment, but this is too much.

I can’t take it anymore. I might actually die.

My limbs tremble even when standing still.

I’m starting to dread tomorrow and the day after – surely this is enough?

Putting on my most pitiful expression, I looked up at Orca.

The reason I chose Orca over others…

Despite her somewhat intimidating appearance, Orca was the type who softened easily toward people she cared about.

“C-can’t you…?”

“Ugh.”

Yes, it worked.

A pained groan escaped Orca’s lips as my carefully practiced coyness hit its mark.

Her expression clearly showed she was thinking, “If she’s pleading like this, hasn’t she reflected enough?”

Just a little more pressure and I can rest!

…Just as that hope blossomed, cold water was thrown on it.

“Don’t be fooled, Orca. How do we know Teacher didn’t use hypnosis again?”

“…Huh, that’s possible too?”

“Of course. Especially coming from Teacher. We can’t trust her too easily.”

“Stella?!”

I haven’t used hypnosis even once this time?!

Whipping my head around in indignation, I saw Stella smiling at me.

And seeing that smile, I realized:

She knows I didn’t use hypnosis!

She deliberately said that to Orca anyway!

“Stella! No, Your Highness…! I’ve truly learned my lesson…!”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Teacher Ophelia. I merely stated a realistic possibility.”

“B-but…! I promise I won’t do it again?!”

“My. Is the perpetrator threatening the victim now?”

“A-ahhh, no, that’s not…!”

“I wouldn’t know. Their anger should subside in about a week, so I suggest you endure until then.”

“A… a week?!”

That’s impossible.

Exercise nonstop for a week?

When I’m already dying on the first day?

As I despaired at Stella’s outrageous suggestion, Eileen gently took my hand.

“Don’t worry too much, Teacher.”

“E-Eileen…”

“No matter what happens… I’ll be watching over you…”

“Eileen?!”

She’s terrifying.

Honestly, if I saw that face at night, I might actually wet myself.

Her tone is warm like usual, but her eyes are dead.

Is this what those yandere types from novels and games look like in real life?

A chill ran down my spine.

“If exercise is too hard, you don’t have to do it, Teacher.”

“E-Eileen? Wait a second…”

“Instead, stay with me. Let’s play games you like instead of exercising, okay?”

“W-wait. Let go of my hand…”

“I’ll never let go.”

Eileen refused my request with a chillingly firm voice.

…I shouldn’t have run away.

I should have at least apologized to Eileen before leaving.

Though I regretted it now, nothing would change.

Eileen’s obsession, born from my karma, showed no signs of releasing me.

“…Wouldn’t being with Eileen be punishment enough? Doesn’t seem bad.”

“Hmm, true. Honestly, it gives me chills too. Being the target of that obsession… I’d have run away immediately.”

“Right. Seeing that made us reflect too. When it reaches that level…”

“D-don’t say that and help me!”

No good. Orca and Eileen show no signs of listening.

Stella seems to have noticed my genuine remorse but isn’t trying to persuade others, probably for her own amusement.

Then my only hope is…!

“Anastasia…! Your Holiness! P-please! Just once! Help me just once! I’ve truly reflected! I’ll never do it again! Never!”

“…She says that. What should we do?”

“Hmm, I wonder. What shall we do?”

Maybe Anastasia will help.

She’s the Pope who reached her position through sheer charisma.

If she takes pity on me…

Maybe this hellish nightmare will end.

As I thought this, she smiled and spoke.

“Why not do both?”

“…Huh?”

W-wait.

What did I just hear?

Thinking my ears might be deceiving me, I stared at Anastasia.

Seeing her still smiling brightly, I realized:

This isn’t a joke. She’s serious.

“Make her exercise for a week while keeping Eileen attached. Not bad, right?”

“No! It’s terrible! Absolutely terrible!”

“That would be difficult, Anya. It’s hilarious… no, an effective punishment, but Teacher’s stamina couldn’t handle it.”

You totally said “hilarious” just now?!

I shot a resentful glare at Stella who’d revealed her true thoughts, but she just smiled back.

As if asking what I could possibly do about it.

Well, truthfully, there’s nothing I can do…

But Stella spoke truth.

Just exercising alone is killing me, but exercising with Eileen attached?

I wouldn’t last. I was certain.

Therefore, Anastasia’s absurd suggestion lacked any…

“What do you take me for? I can eliminate post-exercise muscle pain.”

…realism.

“Oh? Is that possible? Why haven’t knights used it then? Seems revolutionary.”

“Since it’s not a natural healing method, muscles don’t build from exercise. Muscles strengthen during recovery from soreness, but this skips that process.”

“I see, that’s problematic for knights. If they can’t grow stronger through training…”

“Yes, useless for knights. They can’t gain strength. But Teacher isn’t exercising to train, right?”

“Since it’s punitive, side effects don’t matter…”

“Exactly. And Eileen needs exercise too. She lacks stamina, not skill. Exercising with Teacher would be good.”

“…Perfect.”

“Right?”

Eeeeeeeeeek!

The heads of the Church and Imperial Family are having this horrifying conversation!

W-what? Eliminating muscle pain without gaining strength?

Then this exercise is pure torture!

True leaders of major organizations, they began discussing various methods as if they were experts on tormenting people.

And every topic was about how best to torture me.

What do I do?

The person I thought was my last hope is actively pushing me deeper into this nightmare!

I-I need to escape…

“Teacher. Don’t even think about running.”

“Y-yes? Leo. What do you…”

“I saw your eyes darting around planning escape. Just endure one week, so don’t think about running.”

How did he know…? I only considered escaping for a split second…

He detected that momentary thought?

What exactly did I do in the past?

Only now did I start regretting my past sins.

But regret changes nothing.

Orca kept constant watch, Eileen showed no intention of leaving my side.

Stella and Anastasia kept discussing punishments that were cruel yet not technically brutal.

Leo seemed to see straight through my thoughts.

“Don’t worry, Teacher. Just one week. After that, we’ll let you go. We have our own matters to attend to.”

“O-okay…”

Leo spoke reassuringly, but I felt no reassurance.

One week – how will I survive?

Feeling utterly hopeless, I hugged Eileen to my chest and collapsed on the floor.

I give up. Let whatever happens, happen.

(T/N: Being forced to exercise for a week and gaining nothing, this is too scary. Kids shouldn’t read this)