A breeze, drifting from nowhere, wandered through the trees. It gently brushed the sweet scent of blossoms against my skin, cooled the pale strands of hair clinging to my forehead, and slowly dried the sweat beading on my brow.
Technically, my only job during this morning’s training was to keep casting enhancement spells on her. But when she crossed her arms with intimidating flair, narrowed her eyes, and jerked her chin at me—demanding I match her pace while chanting spells—I realized… I’d been naive.
For starters, how was anyone supposed to keep up with her speed? She was a girl, yet she sprinted faster than I ever did as a guy running the 1000-meter back on Earth. Seriously—was she Olympic material? If she were on Earth, I bet she’d win gold at the Youth Olympics.
Worse… those sharp, thorn-like eyes of hers pinned me down. Bound by our Contract, I couldn’t refuse her orders.
After a kilometer, though, she finally noticed my deathly pale face slick with sweat. She seemed to remember I was stuck in a little girl’s body—nowhere near her speed or stamina. She slowed to 500-meter sprints with breaks. Only then could my stamina barely balance the drain… and that was *with* my own physical enhancement magic. Without it? I wouldn’t last a hundred meters.
But her combat power… truly terrifying.
Once, while I rested on the ground, she ordered me to cast an attack enhancement on her. What happened next froze me in place.
She punched a tree.
Not snapped it. *Shattered* it.
***CRACK!*** Her fist tore through the air with a sharp whistle. Leaves blurred before my eyes. The upper half of the tree she’d struck flew cleanly off, crashing five meters away—and exploded into dust.
She stepped back, but the ferocity didn’t fade. Like a crouching tiger waiting to pounce on prey’s weak spot… If that punch hit a person…
Half Contract compulsion, half genuine shock, I clapped right there on the ground. She flushed, turning away to fiddle with her hair. After a long pause, she mumbled in a trembling, shy voice: “I-I’m not saying I’m amazing or anything… It’s all thanks to Yiyi’s support. Milo Beast buffs really *are* the best on the continent…”
Her voice faded to a whisper. Probably her first compliment ever. Yet, with an Angel’s intuition, I felt her gaze snap to me the moment she finished.
“Thank you, Master! Yiyi will work even harder!”
Contract instinct flared at her praise—I couldn’t hide my excitement. She shuffled her feet, flustered. “B-But Little Yiyi,” she huffed, “this level of enhancement isn’t enough. My opponents won’t be pushovers. You need to train your magic *and* your stamina. Hmph. I won’t have my Contract Beast—the strongest one—knocked out before a match even starts.”
She ended with a cold sniff. I couldn’t help but smile. *So stubbornly cute.*
Just then, I sensed the distant, watchful gaze vanish. Probably reporting back to the Third Imperial Princess. Our act to lower her guard… seemed to be working.
But… a chill crept in. Even if the Princess underestimated me now—how could I, struggling to finish a jog, possibly stand a chance against the Crimson Dragon? A Contract Beast legendary across the entire continent?
