Reunion

After getting my cheeks thoroughly rubbed by Physique.

Physique and I exercised hard as usual.

“Huff! Huff! Huff!”

“I’m feeling even better about exercising today!”

“Huff! R-really?”

“Yes! I’m filled with determination to persuade Sister Luna, so I feel even more energetic!”

“Huff! T-that’s good.”

Talking while doing push-ups is tough!

Oh. I just realized I forgot flexibility training.

I stopped doing push-ups for a moment and stood up.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Brother Jin-sang?”

“I just realized I skipped flexibility training. Please continue, Physique.”

While Physique was working hard on strength training, I started my flexibility training beside her.

Looking at me, Physique said.

“I see it every day, but Brother Jin-sang is really flexible!”

“I endured a lot of pain to achieve this flexibility.”

Really, there was a lot of pain.

“So it’s the result of your efforts! It’s very impressive!”

“Hehehe.”

Getting praised always feels nice.

While I was continuing my flexibility training next to Physique.

“Physique! I’m here… KYAAAAH!”

“Huh?”

“Oh! Sister Miriana!”

I turned my head at the scream coming from the edge of the training ground.

There was a priestess with black hair, wearing a modest black nun’s habit unlike Physique, staring at me with wide eyes and pupils shaking in shock.

“P-P-P-Physique! A p-person with a completely broken spine…!”

Huh? Is she talking about me?

I am bending my back with my feet touching the ground, but still.

“Ah, are you surprised?”

“It t-talked!? A d-dead person is talking…!”

I’m not dead.

This person has quite the reaction.

“Heiyah!”

I straightened my waist and stood upright on the ground.

“Hello.”

“Huh? Huuh? W-what? What was that!”

“It’s been a while! Sister Miriana!”

“P-Physique! What is that!? Who is that person!?”

The person who seemed to be Physique’s acquaintance, Miriana, still couldn’t get out of her panic.

It took about 3 minutes before Miriana could calm down.

“Whew, phew… I-I’m sorry. I got unnecessarily surprised…”

“Hahaha, it’s fine. I’m just very flexible, you know. It’s understandable that you were surprised.”

After calming down, I was able to have a composed conversation with Miriana.

“Ah, I’m Lee Jin-sang, my surname is Lee and my given name is Jin-sang. I’m currently in a party with Physique.”

“I-in a party with Physique? Oh right, look at me. I’m Miriana. Physique and I grew up together at the temple.”

So she’s like Physique’s childhood friend.

“More importantly Physique, really? Are you really in a party with this person?”

“That’s right! With Brother Jin-sang! And also with Sister Luna who isn’t here right now because she’s not feeling well! We’re currently in a temporary party!”

“What, so it’s temporary.”

“But! We’re planning to form an official party soon!”

“What!?”

Miriana grabbed Physique’s shoulders and said.

“Physique, what are you thinking? What happened while we were away on the expedition!?”

“Please calm down, Sister Miriana!”

“Excuse me, Jin-sang? You might not know this yet, but Physique is in a special and unique situation. You might not have been in a party for long…”

“I know that Physique is extremely strong but has low endurance.”

“What? You know? Then why…”

Miriana looked back and forth between me and Physique, then opened her eyes wide.

“D-don’t tell me you’re after Physique’s body!?”

“No, I’m not.”

It’s true that Physique has a killer figure and her hair is soft and fluffy, but still.

“Sister Miriana! Such words! That’s disrespectful to Brother Jin-sang!”

“Ah! S-sorry…”

After being scolded by Physique, Miriana lowered her head and apologized.

Well, I understood her reaction, considering she’s probably seen Physique break her arms after throwing a single punch.

“Hmph. Don’t worry, Miriana. There are very understandable reasons why Physique wants to form an official party with us.”

“Understandable reasons?”

“Yes, that’s right! Brother Jin-sang! Uses healing magic so excellent that no one else can compare!”

“Physique, it’s recovery magic.”

“He uses recovery magic!”

I really like how she corrects herself immediately!

“Even if my arms break when I attack! He can heal them instantly without any aftereffects!”

Physique said, clenching her fist.

Miriana seemed unable to believe Physique’s reaction.

“Re… ally? Is that possible?”

“Brother Jin-sang can do it! I’ve been healed many times with this body of mine!”

Even though Physique declared it proudly, Miriana’s reaction wasn’t immediately like “Oh, I see, that makes sense!”

Well, it’s difficult to believe right away, so let’s change the subject for now.

“Miriana.”

“Ah, yes.”

“You said you returned from an expedition, right? Does that mean everyone else has returned too?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That’s good then. Physique, let’s stop training for today and you can go back now.”

“Brother Jin-sang?”

I gave Physique a thumbs up and said.

“Your temple brothers and sisters have returned after a long time. You should go hug them and welcome them back.”

At my words, Physique smiled brightly and said.

“Such consideration! Thank you! Brother Jin-sang’s kindness like this! I really like it!”

“I also like seeing Physique so energetic.”

“Yes! Sister Miriana! Let’s return to the temple!”

“Uh, yes? O-okay. Ah, Jin-sang. Excuse us.”

I waved my hand and said to Miriana.

“Let’s talk calmly next time.”

“Yes.”

And so Physique followed Miriana out of the training ground.

Only I remained in the training ground.

Hmm… I should finish training and then go take care of Luna-noona.

◈

After parting with Brother Jin-sang.

I headed towards the temple with Sister Miriana!

“Sister Miriana! Are the other brothers and sisters at the temple now?!”

“That’s right, I came alone to get you thinking you’d be at the guild. I didn’t expect… to see someone so flexible.”

“Yes! Brother Jin-sang is truly very flexible!”

His hair is also nice to pat… and he smells quite good!

“But are you serious, Physique? About really forming a party with someone other than our temple people.”

“I am serious! Brother Jin-sang has remarkably excellent recovery magic skills! I want to be in the same party as Brother Jin-sang and Sister Luna! To spread more of the goddess’s teachings! To directly destroy monsters that harm people with these fists!”

“If Physique is saying so much, his skills must be real…”

“I understand Sister Miriana’s concerns! But Brother Jin-sang is really not just skilled! He’s also a person of excellent character! Brother Ferguls too! Was indebted to Brother Jin-sang’s outstanding skills!”

“Ferguls too? Really?”

“Really!”

While talking with Sister Miriana.

We arrived at the temple!

In front of the temple were the dear brothers and sisters who had returned from the expedition.

“Brothers and sisters!”

“Oh! Physique!”

“Long time no see!”

“Have you been well?”

“You didn’t overdo things while we were gone, did you?”

The brothers and sisters who had been with me at the temple since childhood were happy to see me again!

I’m so happy!

“Of course I’ve been well! And I have good news for everyone!”

“Good news?”

After entering the temple first.

I explained to the brothers and sisters who went on the expedition about meeting Brother Jin-sang and Sister Luna, partly to explain to Sister Miriana as well!

“And so! I’m planning to be in a party with Brother Jin-sang and Sister Luna! To become the Strongest Trio!”

“”…””

After hearing my explanation, the brothers and sisters.

“Physique, is your head okay?”

“Are you having delusions or something? I’m sorry, we’ve been apart for too long that you’ve created an imaginary party…”

“We’ll always be together from now on!”

They were assuming that Brother Jin-sang and Sister Luna were characters I created in my imagination.

This made me very angry too!

“You’re all being too much! Brother Jin-sang and! Sister Luna are not my imaginary party! Sister Miriana also saw Brother Jin-sang!”

“What? Is that true, Miriana?”

“Um… yes. There was a person named Lee Jin-sang. He was so flexible it was a bit creepy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Anyway, you’re saying this imaginary friend is actually a super~ awesome healer mage?”

“It’s hard to believe?”

“If it’s that hard to believe! Then you can meet them tomorrow! Brother Jin-sang and Sister Luna really exist! I will become part of the Strongest Trio!”

“Tomorrow? Why?”

“As Brother Jin-sang said, today I’ll spend time with the brothers and sisters I’ve missed!”

“”Physique…””

There’s plenty of time anyway!

Today I’ll talk with the brothers and sisters I’ve missed!

Tomorrow I’ll let them meet Brother Jin-sang and Sister Luna at the training ground!

“But isn’t the name ‘Strongest Trio’ a bit tacky?”

“Be quiet! I like it!”

“S-sorry.”

If Brother Jin-sang had heard that, he would have been angry!

So I got angry on his behalf!